When will life return to normal?” is the common cry today, with health experts pushing the date farther and farther away. Christmas 2021, maybe, one prominent doctor predicted in February for having some semblance of normalcy after COVID.
For those in quarantine, or awaiting a vaccination, or simply exhausted by the pandemic, Christmas seems a long time off. And for the congregation still holding at half its pre-COVID worship attendance, the better question is “What can we do to start over right now?”
LifeWay Research asked pastors how worship attendance at their church compared to what it was in January 2020, before the pandemic halted nearly all in-person services. Around 3-in-10 (31%) said attendance in January 2021 is less than half what it was a year ago. A slightly larger share—37%—measured attendance between 50% and 70%, while another 3-in-10 said attendance is close to normal.
While most churches have opened again, it’s reasonable to wonder if the stop-and-start patterns of the last year have slowed momentum for churches trying to get back to normal. Recent numbers from The Unstuck Group showed average weekly attendance fell 32% over the 12 months encompassing the pandemic.
Let’s do launch
Easter is traditionally one of the three times each year when it’s good to start something new in church life. Along with the back-to-school season marked by Labor Day, and the Sunday after New Year’s, Easter is an open door. It offers a time of personal interest in spiritual things among regular attenders and seasonal guests. Plus, the window of up to eight weeks between Easter and Memorial Day is a great opportunity to help people establish a new habit ahead of summer.
Even in this COVID-affected time, why not turn that window into intentional opportunity for new ministry and for new momentum? One step in regenerating momentum is simply making the desire known. The weeks leading to Easter are already a natural build-up in hope and expectation. That emotional journey can be leveraged for long-term renewal.
Yes, there may be some risk in encouraging a whole congregation to get excited about something they can’t yet see, but that didn’t stop Moses from leading the exodus. Or Jesus from promising his return.
On a (much) smaller scale, we can encourage the congregation to get ready for better days. The things we usually do at church at this time of year take on greater importance: Spring cleaning, making the building guest ready, thinking in terms of “launch.”
Consider hitting the reset button in these three areas: Bible study/small groups, community outreach, and online connections. Participants may still want to mask up for a while, but there’s hunger in the heart to be out of the house and with people again—in some fashion. And for the local congregation, that equals the first swell of renewed momentum. Let’s maximize it, starting at Easter.
The church’s unique opportunity
“Content used to be a competitive advantage,” church growth expert Carey Nieuwhof wrote recently. But after a year of constant online content, most people want—and need—something else. “What is deeply scarce right now are community and connection,” he said.
Recent research suggests the pandemic’s lagging effects are amplifying depression and anxiety. In its 2020 “Stress in America” report, the American Psychological Association said factors people previously identified as stressors were compounded by the pandemic that has “profoundly” affected Americans. “We are facing a national mental health crisis that could yield serious health and social consequences for years to come,” the report said, with particularly dire consequences for teens and young adults.
Even as more people are vaccinated and case numbers drop, the hopelessness and fear of the past year may be hard to shake for many. More than ever, we need authentic, loving, genuine community, Nieuwhof said. “Every church should be running to fill that hole.”
What it actually looks like depends on the context of a particular church. But nowhere does it have to be complicated. The goal is simply connection, Nieuwhof said, initially and then consistently. “Nobody should be able to out-community the local church.”
Ways to reconnect
LifeWay’s Joy Allmond recently wrote about identifying which worship attenders are still engaged—even from home—and which ones truly need to reconnect. Three signs worshipers are still connected, she said, are that they’re in touch regularly with church leadership, participating in virtual ministries besides online worship, and still giving their time and resources to support the ministry of the church.
For those who don’t meet those criteria, Allmond offered three ways to reconnect:
- Deliver Sunday school or small group curriculum to their door. If they’re home, stay for a socially distanced visit. If not, leave a personal note with the materials.
- Give them a job. Ask if they’re interested in a ministry assignment they can do from home, like making contact with a small group of fellow absentees.
- Include an online “roll call” in virtual worship services. Assign an online greeter to encourage viewers to say hello in the comments, and then greet them back.
“Perhaps you, your church leadership, and the volunteers can find the resolve to use creative ways to keep the physically absent spiritually present as we pray and wait for the fog of this pandemic to be lifted,” Allmond said.
Reset is a biblical concept
For the disciples, the period between the Resurrection and Pentecost was one of uncertainty. Jesus said he was going away, and he did, eventually. After he rose from the dead but before he ascended to heaven, Jesus appeared on occasion, first to one and to a few, then to larger and larger groups. In those weeks of sporadic and intermittent contact with their rabbi, the disciples came to grips with their own uncertainty, first mustering their courage, emerging from the Upper Room, receiving instruction about their new role as Gospel preachers, and ultimately taking on holy power to continue the work of Jesus in his absence.
Easter 2021 can be much like that for a congregation emerging from its hibernation. With summer before us, now is the time to establish momentum for a busy and effective season, rather than anticipating a prolonged hot-weather respite. We’ve had enough respite.
Let’s hit the reset button. Let’s get to work.
-The Editors, with info from Baptist Press and CareyNieuwhof.com