Four opportunities for growth in crisis

This global pandemic we are facing has given churches a blank slate of opportunity. In conversations with pastors around New England, I have been hearing many insights on how this crisis is forcing churches to rethink and refocus priorities and processes. Here are some lessons churches are learning as they strive to establish the new normal. As obvious as they seem, it is important for us as pastors and leaders to measure how well we are leading our churches in these areas.

1. Church cannot be limited to a few hours in a building on Sundays.

Many have become accustomed to the Sunday gathering as a definition of church. The main activities or programs always revolved around the facility, thus preventing members from having an outward focus. In this crisis, Christians have been pushed out of the four walls and onto the mission field. What is your church’s strategy to mobilize members for outreach?

2. Discipleship must be at the forefront of the church’s mission.

For a long time, the church has survived off of a mix of many activities or endeavors. If there is one lesson we have all learned from this pandemic, it is that the church has got to be effective in making disciples of Jesus. The biblical mandate for Christ-followers is that they become fishers of men as a result of maturing in Christ. Does your church have a clearly defined discipleship pathway?

3. Love needs to be more than just something we talk about.

Sadly, many churches have done very little to practice the love that is preached in their gatherings. True love shows itself by the quality of a believer’s relationship with the Father, with self and with others. Jesus lived and died for people as a result of His love for the Father and the Father’s love for us. He brought glory to the Father by being obedient to His will instead of cherishing earthly, material things. The love that Jesus embodied meant serving, giving, sacrificing and caring. How does your church measure in these same aspects of love?

4. The quality of our leadership sets the standard for the quality of our church.

Crisis brings forth a radically truthful measuring stick. Many pastors have come to the realization that they need to mature in their approach to leadership. What used to work in years past will not necessarily work in the new normal. The investment in new leaders with fresh insights and ideas has paid off for those churches that have a strong leadership development pathway. Some churches have even grown in the midst of this crisis because they were prepared with a strong, high-caliber leadership infrastructure. Pastor, it is your responsibility to recruit, develop, equip and unleash Biblical leaders! How intentional have you been in fulfilling this daunting yet essential task?

May God grant us discernment as we face the reality of adapting to the new normal.

Joe Souza serves as the pastoral leadership development coordinator at the Baptist Convention of New England.