Wednesday nights roll around and it’s time to start up our new virtual youth nights. As teens log on I’m happy to see them but I can’t help but wonder, “Is this the future of ministry?”
I do know that nothing will be what it was before COVID-19. There is so much change happening around us that it’s almost impossible to keep up. It’s exhausting to react to what’s happening in our communities, and that’s because waiting for change is stressful. Instead of reacting we need to be proactive with creating change.
But, intentional change is difficult. And while there is still a lot that we’re learning about the current situation, we also have to give ourselves permission to start asking the question, “How will this impact the way we do ministry?”
To answer that question not only takes intentionality but the ability to:
Does the idea of doing something different or new fill you with excitement or anxiety? Whether you are the leader or a member of the team it’s important to recognize the role you’ll play in the change. If you have certain talents or skills that are fundamental to the change that can create a burden that either causes you to lean in or retreat.
Sometimes the biggest obstacle to moving forward is your own reluctance to change. At the same time your willingness to lean into it could be the reason your ministry adapts successfully. To know where you stand you have to be honest with your emotions and have a grasp of your limitations. When you are aware of your strengths and limits you know when to jump in and when to get out of the way.
You can only change so much on your own. You will face opposition and that’s why a team is so important. There are men and women who can help you think outside of the box. There are parishioners who can hold you accountable. And there will be people who will sit with you when you struggle and celebrate when you succeed.
Find that team by knowing your vision and mission. Sit with people and share with them your struggles and situation. Be transparent and invite others into the conversation. After some time you’ll know who you can rely on to get stuff done. You’ll be able to identify your role players so that you can tackle the change unified.
To stay ahead of the change is pretty hard, but one of the key steps to being able to adapt is by understanding your audience. With the current situation, it’s easy to assume that what our audience needs is what we were providing before, only in a digital format. If that were the case things would be far simpler.
The people we are trying to reach for Christ are going through a drastic transformation. The way we function on a daily basis and how we perceive the outside world is being flipped upside down. To assume our audience needs the same things in the same fashion is naive.
To get ahead of the change we need to listen and learn. That means conversations with parishioners about how they are adapting and coping with everything going on around them. It’s observing how they capture the content and information you are putting online and in emails. As you plan for the road ahead it’s essential that you keep asking the questions, “Who are we trying to reach?” and “What is currently occupying their mind?”
We’ve all heard the statement, “That’s the way we’ve always done it.” There is comfort in the statement because it’s hard to push ourselves to change. But, a healthy ministry is one that asks questions and takes risks even if it means failure. They aren’t careless instead they are fearless because they know that they can’t afford to do things the way they’ve always done them.
As a staff tries something new and different even if it means failure. People might laugh at your attempts at something different, but it could set you up for success in challenging times (e.g., parishes who were live-streaming well before COVID-19 became an issue). The creativity you embrace will not only help you develop new programs but strengthen your ability to think outside of the box which is key for strenuous times like these.
What will parish ministry look like in three months? Only God knows; however, you don’t have to wait. Instead of reacting to what is happening, get ahead of the change and be intentional. Recognize your limits, rally a team and have fun along the way. Your ambitious charge towards change may be the hope your parishioners need.
How do you stay ahead of the change in your ministry?