Raise your hand if you had church plans cancelled by new gathering restrictions just before Christmas 2020 or Mother’s Day 2021? Now that we all have our hands raised we can agree that we need to start planning differently moving forward. Agility is the key to anything we think through now. Rigid plans have a distinct possibility of failing more than ever. We have to be willing and able to change on the fly.

Reaching souls and making disciples did not stop because of a global pandemic. We have to be even more creative and intentional about doing them whatever comes our way. 

1. No excuses not to reach and disciple.

Commit to personally lead a few women and men in a discipleship group that meets diligently no matter what. When you gather your group tell them you will use whatever means necessary to be consistent in your meeting rhythm. Let them know that if there is a time when meeting onsite is not possible you will meet virtually. There really is no excuse not to anymore. 

Lead your group to think about and pray for the people they need to share Jesus with.

Tell your congregation about your group. In your messages accentuate the determination to connect no matter what and reach souls no matter what. You are modelling leadership for the rest of your team and congregation.

2. Plan content beyond preaching subjects. 

One thing is certain: the people you want to reach will be online. While you’re preparing your messages and other teaching topics, plan to pull content from them to share on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, in newsletters, or on your website. 

Use short video or audio clips from your message for social media posts. 

Plan ahead for not just the clips, but for when and where you’ll post the content. How many times each week can you share three to four clips from your message to encourage people on social media and which days will you post them?

Which topics in your series would make a great Q&A session to dig deeper into it and connect with people? Plan a Facebook live Q&A time on an evening.

Create special online content like a summer devotional for vacationing families or a back-to-school prayer guide for September.

3. Disciple people as you reach out.

Yes, video production takes time and some level of skill. Ask your leaders to identify people in your congregation and their friends from the community (especially pre-believers who are good at media production) to become your production team.

Making disciples and reaching souls are at the heart of everything you do. Focus on the opportunity to mentor people before they become believers. Production of Jesus-focused media clips is one more net you can cast.

Pick your first clip to produce, when you will post, and where.

Build from there.

4. Never retire your phone tree.

Engaging your congregation pre-crisis through support and service will position you for crisis. 

Support addresses questions, concerns, complaints, and connection. Ask, “What value can I bring to this person or family?”

Service involves praying, meeting needs like grocery pick-up, or referrals to community supports.

A phone tree will serve you 12 months of the year. We discovered during COVID that a personal phone call is like gold.

Don’t have a phone tree? Here’s how to set up one.

5. Give important small events the profile they deserve.

More important than the big, in-person events that we may or may not be able to have in the Fall or at Christmas, are the small, culture-shaping events that matter more than you imagine.

Choose people over projects and set aside dates for the small but effective events that push ministry forward, encourage people, and serve the community.

For example, your church is making it their mission to get more involved with local organizations this year. Schedule a Sunday that’s dedicated to highlighting the organization’s cause and call for volunteers. 

God saw COVID-19 coming. He gave us a mission and vision that transcends anything else coming your way. We’ve had 15 months to see the need of being pandemic-proof. Today’s your day to start crisis-proofing your church and reach souls no matter what.

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