Coping In Covid
It started out as “two weeks to bend the curve” and then it moved to second wave, third wave, and now a fourth wave. Just when it seemed like things were picking up and we could plan for a fall launch of ministry, restrictions came into place delivering a proverbial “gut punch” to many of our pastors and ministry leaders. We’ve gotten knocked back, again. We’re not out, but we’re sure tired of all of this.
So, tell me how you really feel.
Let me shoot straight, this sucks. Momentum is hard to generate without a pandemic, let alone with all of this chaos and craziness going on. But this isn’t time to stay down. We need to get back up and keep moving. There may be some mechanisms that we’ll need to cope with COVID during this fourth wave. Let me list a few:
Save your energy. When you’re going up a steep climb, this isn’t time to put on the gas, it’s time to make sure you’re conserving your energy. Sleep. Eat healthy. Don’t strain and pressure yourself to move at a fast pace. If your fall kick off was cancelled due to COVID then just save it for next year. No need to strain yourself to make something happen.
Get help. We say this all the time at the District Resource Centre, “we are your free part time staff”. Please take us up on it. You need something researched? You need some online curriculum? You need to figure out how to improve your live stream? Contact us. Reach out. There are other churches that want to partner with you as well. Don’t go this alone, get help.
Stay on mission. All the conversations happening right now are set to knock the church off its mission and onto a trajectory that will lead to division — politics, vaccinations, masking, end times. These things are not the mission. The advancement of the kingdom is. Souls saved and lives transformed have always been the mission throughout history no matter what plagues, wars, or crisis may come. Refuse to be drawn into debate, rather make it about souls that need to know the grace and love of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Don’t try and keep old ministries afloat and old methods alive. You can shelve old things and start new things. You can be nimble. You can turn quick. This is a new reality for most churches — embrace it. There was a time when we said, “the church is a big ship with a small rudder” but we are living in a time when change is happening so rapidly and people are adapting that you can make similar changes in the church. You don’t have to do things the way you’ve always done them. Just because you did it one way this week, doesn’t mean you need to do it the same way the next week. Take risks. Try new things. If they don’t work, try something else.
Connection is key. In all of what is going on, remember that we need to be connected. Your congregation and community is asking two questions, (1) “Am I loved?” and (2) “Am I needed?” These are the two fundamental questions every human being is trying to get answered. Stop trying to get people to come back to church or get them to watch online. Instead, do everything you can to let them know that they are loved and needed. Pour your resources into connection over presentation. Let that connection meet them where they are, rather than try and drive them to where you are.
Galatians 6:9 rings in the air, Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Pastor, do not give up. Do not grow weary. We will reap a harvest. That’s the promise.
Jeremiah works as an Effectiveness Coach with the ABNWT District of the PAOC. He is a passionate and creative leader who believes that the church is the hope of the world. He uses collaboration, innovation, and inspiration to challenge churches and their leadership to engage in the only mission Jesus ever sent his church on: making disciples.