How To Plan For A Hybrid Model Of Church
Remember the joke - “How do you make God laugh?” “Tell God you have a plan.”
When it comes to post-isolation and post–COVID-19, no one seriously knows what will happen, let alone when things will happen. Making plans is challenging to say the least. However one factor that leaders should bring into their planning is the reality of a hybrid model of church.
A hybrid is something that has two different types of components performing essentially the same function. A hybrid church has two components – onsite and online – fulfilling the Great Commission.
Being forced to move the church online has engaged people who never darkened the doors of a church building. All across Alberta, in churches rural and urban, large and small a similar story is repeated – people that declined invitations to attend onsite have readily engaged online. They showed up for weekend services, or daily devotionals, commented in chat boxes, and attended online groups. Many of these viewers would fit the demographic of a “none” – someone that would identify as spiritual but not religious.
And most surprisingly, many have engaged with a degree of vulnerability that is turning previously held preconceptions into misconceptions.
Three factors that ready the church for a hybrid model:
1. The obstacles are down.
The COVID-19 pivot helped pastors overcome the hurdle of learning how to conduct ministry on a digital platform.
Now that church-goers have overcome the online learning curve there are less obstacles that would hinder them from seeing online services or an online group as authentic ministry. Church online is seen as a much better “front door” or “side door” to bring new people into the church.
2. The possibilities are up.
Pre-COVID-19 a small minority of Alberta churches made use of a digital platform for a church service. Since COVID-19, over 90% of Alberta churches broadcast an online service. This massive shift to leveraging digital technology has opened up possibilities to many who were hesitant to lead their churches online.
Church online is not just a temporary fix for ministry in isolation. Online opens doors for the questioning, the doubting, the unsure, and the curious to hear the Gospel.
More and more people are looking to connect the church on their own terms. Church online is available as people are looking for us and to reach people with a physical disability or social anxiety who might have a hard time coming to church.
3. The harvest is white.
The opportunity exists to reach exponentially more people. Online can help people see church as relevant and not outdated. Alberta can see souls (Four Billion) come into the saving knowledge of Jesus and be discipled into a life giving relationship with the Saviour through our ministries – onsite and online.
There are two equally important components of Church Online:
i) Content or the online church experience. The content is like a bonfire for everyone to gather around. When they gather you can go deeper with them.
ii) Community. This is the piece that focuses on people gathering, contributing, being known alongside the content. This is about discipleship and relationships. Right now, connecting is more important than converting viewers from online to onsite.
Online community is as viable as onsite. Assigning time, techs and personnel to Church Online is a strategic choice.
The Hybrid Church is one plan that won’t make God laugh.
Check out these resources for Church Online:
Online Virtual Staff (coming soon)
Online First Steps and Next Steps – Turning Viewers Into Members
Online Discipleship Path (coming soon)
Bob Jones is the founder of REVwords.com, an author, blogger, and coach with 39 years of pastoral experience. Bob is also an Advance Coach with the ABNWT Resource Centre. You can connect with Bob here.