Obstacles to engaging my community: Part 2
In Part One of this article, I identified two obstacles that impact how I am engaging my community with the Gospel. First, am I waiting/longing for things to return to “normal”? Second, am I only listening to those voices that reinforce what I already think? This article identifies three more obstacles.
OBSTACLE THREE: Avoiding difficult conversations and issues.
The challenges in dealing with COVID and the protocols established by state and local government authorities led to restrictions that impacted church gatherings. Wearing masks, use of sanitizer and social distancing all became issues that churches had to work through. Depending on what information sources people followed, the decisions churches made in addressing these issues became complicated and sometimes controversial. Also, incidents of racism and violence fostered deep division in how to respond. Pastors and church leaders were confronted with division and misunderstanding within their church membership. I found myself struggling with how to lead the congregation that I was serving to make wise decisions to address these issues in our community.
CONSIDER: What have you learned in shepherding your flock through these issues? Give thought to gathering a team of respected leaders in your church and explore how to be that prophetic voice that calls out evil and affirms what is good, yet speaks the truth with grace while maintaining intellectual and moral integrity.
OBSTACLE FOUR: Ignoring shifts in how we now communicate.
Pre-pandemic digital marketers would often say, “If you cannot be found on the internet in a couple of clicks, you do not exist!” The reality of that statement hit home when access to our church buildings and gathering in homes or restaurants for small groups were limited, or even prohibited, by virus mitigation efforts. Many churches learned quickly how to make worship, Bible studies, home fellowship groups and even counseling accessible online. Maintaining a high-quality online presence will be critical post-pandemic as well. It is imperative that churches stay attuned to how social media and digital tools can continue to be a central part of the church’s Kingdom vision.
CONSIDER: Research has discovered that Facebook is increasingly becoming the social media platform for people over 50. What are the best ways to engage and communicate with those under 50 in your community?
OBSTACLE FIVE: Assuming that culture will carry or reinforce the message of the church.
When how we “do” church was impacted by the pandemic, we quickly pivoted to support those things that were most important to us — worship, connection, ministry, Bible study and prayer. We also found that those who were marginally connected to the church often dropped off altogether. Deep divisions surfaced surrounding politics, the pandemic and race. Christ followers cannot rely on “cultural religion” to sustain the values and commitments of the Kingdom of God.
CONSIDER: What is the discipleship strategy of your church? What do you need to do to help believers integrate Biblical knowledge, spiritual disciplines, Christian values and worldview so deeply in their lives that they can be influencers of the culture around them rather than being reflections of that culture?
Do you agree with my observations? What did I overstate or leave out? Email me at ssmith@bcne.net. Let’s start a conversation.
Stanley Smith serves as the interim church growth team leader for the Baptist Convention of New England.