In December 2019 the future seemed so clear. But then 2020 happened, and you know how the story goes. COVID-19 struck. And the world fast-forwarded five years in five months. 

Now we’re in December 2020. What adaptive changes should you consider now to reach more people for Jesus? Fast Company magazine noted future shifts that could give you some ideas of where to start thinking.

1. The New School

In 2020 models of mass education based on packing people into rows of learners became untenable and unsafe. From kindergarten to university, education will have shifted to ones in which caretakers, students, and teachers reimagine notions of bush schools, “pod” schooling, and community schooling, which will be enhanced by a more accurate understanding of where digital and face-to-face instruction is required.

—Elizabeth (Dori) Tunstall, Dean of Design, OCAD University 

QUESTION: How will you optimize houses, apartments, or 3rd places as face-to-face and digital spaces for discipleship, reaching lost people, counselling, small groups, etc?

2. Social Media Without Boundaries

Communities and dedicated spaces for people to talk about what’s happening will be at the forefront. Successful social media services will be those where people feel safe, comfortable, heard, and connected within their communities. What won’t change: people’s desire to connect with each other online, and feel a sense of togetherness and close community while having conversations about what’s happening and what matters most to them.

—Dantley Davis, Chief Design Officer, Twitter

QUESTION: What digital spaces are you using to create community for seekers and saints?

3. Pandemic Response, at the Speed of Amazon Prime

The COVID-19 pandemic has armed the delivery of healthcare with 21st-century technology. Doctors and patients learned to enter into a virtual relationship through telehealth, remote monitoring, and other digital tools. The coronavirus fundamentally redesigned our health-journey map. In the future, “digital healthcare” will just be referred to as healthcare.

—Bon Ku, Director, Health Design Lab, Thomas Jefferson University 

QUESTION: How will your discipleship pathway change to make use of digital delivery? In the future, will “digital discipleship” just be referred to as discipleship in your church?

4. Businesses Move Outside

The pandemic is forcing long-term changes on how we engage with built environments and space. Ten months into this pandemic, we’re already seeing that how we interact with existing and future urban spaces won’t return to the status quo. This pandemic will likely accelerate the creation of new engagement, which will rapidly transform the places we use in new and powerful ways.

—Brad Lukanic, CEO, CannonDesign

QUESTION: How will you re-purpose your facility 24/7 to offer resources and care for your community?

5. Mental Health

Wellness will be embedded at the heart of project briefs. Until recently, health and well-being may have been a “bonus” element, but going forward it’ll take center stage.

—Paul Priestman, Designer and Chairman, PriestmanGoode

QUESTION: How will you position mental health support on centre stage for your congregation and community?

6. Innovative Shifts

2020 has been the catalyst accelerating the development of things that were meant to happen 10 years from now. Entertainment has changed to conform with new realities, with theaters closing and studios streaming via on-demand services.

—Marti Romances, Creative Director, Territory Studio

QUESTION: How will you create and deliver on demand content that answers questions seekers are asking?

7. The Mega-retailer as Your Personal Assistant

Delivery (be it by crowdsourcing, drone, autonomous vehicle, or the usual truck) will be huge, and convenience will be king. More than any technology or service, it will be about companies knowing you as an individual and making your life easier. No one wants to be a no one everywhere; they want to be a someone somewhere.

—Janey Whiteside, EVP and Chief Customer Officer, Walmart

QUESTION: How will you assist everyone in your community be known, connected and equipped for service?

Does all this feel overwhelming? Irrelevant? What you’ve already been thinking about? Post a comment below and join the conversation.

Read the full article on Fast Company here.

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