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Working Remotely: 4 Basic Skills to Master

By
Jonathan Smith
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communicating with the unchurched

The pandemic has thrust many changes upon us in rapid fire succession. Things we used to take for granted are available no more and our daily lives and jobs are in a constant state of flux. One of the proposed solutions to the current situation to keep the economy running is for employee to start working remotely. While working remotely is a tremendous tool it is not a one-size-fits-all solution and in some cases may do more harm than good.

Working remotely has been an option that was chosen by the employee. Employees either requested to work remotely because they knew it would benefit how they worked, or the employee applied for jobs that specified the requirement to work remotely. Either way it was a choice and not something forced on an employee after the fact. What’s happening now is employees who did not apply for remote jobs and who are used to working in an office are being told to work remotely, which is a significant, unplanned, and often unprepared for expectation.

The adjustment to working remotely can be difficult for some. I work remotely about 50% of the time. For me the benefit and ability to work remotely makes much of my ministry possible but I recognize it isn’t for everyone. Here are some tips to make the transition easier if you are struggling.

Communicate

If working remotely isn’t for you it is best to speak up sooner than later. Don’t wait until you start falling behind in your workload and begin to require more resources than you’re providing. The process of communicating is also different when you are working remotely which can further complicate your ability to be productive. Talk to your supervisor, use the chain-of-command and get help if you are struggling working remotely.

Set Boundaries

Boundaries are important to establish a balance between work life and home life now that the two have become one. When possible have dedicated spaces at home for work and home life. For example, use the dining room for school and work and the kitchen for eating. If that isn’t possible, make a room transition by removing all school/work from the kitchen before using it for dinner. These transitions help ensure the space you are occupying doesn’t become a hindrance.

It is also beneficial to communicate when you are working vs. when you are home. Everyone in the house should know when you’re working. This can not only help avoid awkward interruptions while you are on video calls but helps enforce a needed boundary. When you communicate that you are working your family should connect with you as they would if you were not physically working in the house.

I have a dedicated office at home and when I leave my office and go to the kitchen for lunch or when I’m done working for the day I announce, “Honey I’m home.” Even my wife’s dog Boiler, short for Boilermaker, after the Purdue Boilermakers, has had to get used to not have access to me all day even though I’m in the house. But he comes running as soon as he hears those magic words, “Honey, I’m home.”

Read, Write, and Take Notes

As I’ve mentioned, working at home isn’t for everyone. One area where that becomes quickly evident is when folks fall behind due to the volume of reading remote work requires. Without the ease of walking down the hallway many meetings and discussion are happening via email or online chat. Video conference calls also have a more intense nature as you have those talking, those chatting, and those sharing documents. It can all be a lot of information to consume in a relatively short period of time. Not to mention all the instructions and procedural changes being sent out to cope with rapid operational changes in your organization.

Writing is also key as that becomes the primary way to communicate back to your coworkers. Writing concise, well organized emails and the ability to chat briskly to keep meetings moving are crucial to keeping current with the swift flow of data that surrounds us.

Here are a few ways you can keep up if you aren’t a voracious reader or able to write volumes:

  1. Reference your existing resources. Before asking someone to say or send something again check your inbox, sent items, deleted items, and chat histories. This is a great way not to drain resources.
  2. Take notes. There is nothing wrong with using a Word document, or OneNote/Evernote, or even an old fashion legal pad to keep notes. Notes of any kind can be a great personal reference.
  3. Even though you may not be in school these changing times requires us to spend our time differently. Study and review what happened during your day and prepare for the next day.

Get a Routine

It can be easy to just wing your working from home routing. Research suggests that is not an effective way to work from home and as we appear to be in this for the long haul keeping a schedule and routine is as important for the remote worker as it is for their family.

Keeping a routing also helps ensure that normal life isn’t forgotten. It is still good to brush your teeth and comb your hair and make sure you’re presentable for all those video calls, at least from the waist up. Keeping a routine is a surefire way to maintain productivity and not drain resources from your organization.

While this may sound stringent, remember the goal is to stay productive. There are many benefits to working from home. I’ve been able to have more lunches and spend more time with my family. We are creating quarantine memories.

Remember, God has put us in this situation for His glory and our benefit. If you aren’t wired to work remotely, remember this will end. Also remember employee’s will be evaluated (on heaven and on earth) so if you need help, get it before it’s too late.

 

 

Jonathan Smith is an author, conference speaker, and the Director of Technology at Faith Ministries in Lafayette, IN. You can reach Jonathan at jsmith@faithlafayette.org and follow him on Twitter @JonathanESmith.

 

 

Tom Lin and Sharon Koh Make History Becoming the Key Executives of Prominent Ministries

By
Megan Briggs
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communicating with the unchurched

This spring, two major ministries have named Asian Americans to fill their top positions of leadership.

Earlier this week, Taiwanese American Tom Lin was announced as InterVarsity’s new president, and in April Rev. Sharon Koh was announced as the new executive director of American Baptist International Ministries (IM). Lin’s Taiwanese American heritage makes him the first non-white president InterVarsity has had. Koh is the first woman to hold the director position of IM.

In an interview with Christianity Today, Lin commented, “It is significant … for any large, North American evangelical organization to have a non-white president.”

Lin is the first president of InterVarsity to work with the ministry while he was still a student. Lin started the Asian American chapter of InterVarsity at his alma mater, Harvard.

Koh grew up on the missions field, living with her parents in Singapore, the Philippines, Korea and the U.S. She is no stranger to missions work, an attribute that will certainly serve her well in her new position.

These appointments are noteworthy, not only for their historical significance, but also because they allude to the fact that the church in America is becoming increasingly diverse. InterVarsity has purposefully sought to empower ethnic minorities in positions of leadership. The election of Lin to the office of president is an indication of a goal met in their eyes.

It makes sense for major ministries in the U.S. to diversify. Not only does it provide protection against the temptation to elevate one tradition of man over another (instead of uniting around the gospel), it also speaks to the changing demographics of the American church and our nation at large. In recent years, Asians have surpassed Hispanics in terms of new immigrants to the U.S. We are seeing this influx in our churches as well. In fact, according to a 2012 Pew study, 31 percent of the Chinese immigrants coming to the U.S. identify as Christians.

Our prayers are with Lin and Koh as they take over their respective appointments later this year. My the Lord use them, their histories, gifts and leadership skills to spread the gospel.

Free Printable: "Jesus Feeds 5000" Skit

By
Daniel So
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image

Free Printable

Download and print this script to help teach the biblical story of Jesus feeding the 5000 from John 6:1-14.

From Ministry to Children, “This skit can be read during a Sunday School class to give the children a feel for what happened without staging an elaborate drama.”

Get Download Now

Resource provided by Ministry-to-children.com

Download Instructions: To download this resource, right-click on the link that says “Click here to download this printable script” and choose “Save As.”

Rick Warren: Our Churches Should Be No-Shame Zones

By
Rick Warren
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communicating with the unchurched

Shame has no place in our churches; in fact, they should be no-shame zones.

And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. Ephesians 4:32 (HCSB)

Our world is broken; everything and everyone in this world is broken. In fact, there are only two kinds of people in the world: those who know they’re broken and those who are broken but don’t know it. God wants us to know that we’re broken.

That’s why our churches should be no-shame zones, places for broken people to come when they hurt.

Colossians 3:12 says, “[A]s God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (NIV). Because we know how much God loves us, we can demonstrate compassion, kindness, humility and patience with others. And that’s exactly what the church has been called to do. It’s the place for the broken, the place for those whose lives don’t work out as they should.

The truth is that the church shouldn’t just “accept” hurting people. We should want hurting people in our midst. We’ve got to realize that every sinner has a future and every saint has a past.

Recovery ministries (like Celebrate Recovery at Saddleback) aren’t a sideline show in the church; they’re at the core of what Jesus calls the church to do and to be. We’ve all got hurts, habits and hang-ups that we need God to transform. God wants to use the church to do that.

That means since you’re the church, He wants to use you.

God wants us to be people of the second chance. But we can’t be second-chance people until we realize how much of a second chance we’ve been given. Too many Christians don’t feel forgiven—so they don’t let anyone else feel forgiven either.

When we realize how much grace God showed to us when He saved us, sharing that kind of grace with others will only be natural. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as God forgave you through Christ.”

Second chances aren’t just for addicts and convicts; second chances are for all of us. No matter how squeaky-clean our lives have looked on the outside, the Bible is clear that we’ve all needed a second chance at some point in our lives.

In fact, it’s when we realize how much God loves us and has forgiven us that we’re able to properly take that love to others. The people who are best able to show God’s love to others are the ones who feel God’s love the most fully.

Saddleback Resources offers a small group Bible study related to these devotionals: The Invisible War—Winning the Battle of Temptation.  

Are You REALLY Interpreting the Bible Literally?

By
Stephen Altrogge
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communicating with the unchurched

Interpreting the Bible literally can be a good thing. It probably means that you want to know exactly what God says and obey his words. It means you don’t want to play Bible roulette with which verses you obey. It means you’re willing to obey all the commands of the Bible, even the painful ones.

But, interpreting the Bible literally can also get you into a lot of trouble. Harold Camping thought he was interpreting the Bible literally, which in turn led him to mispredict the end of the world…twice. Pinstripe wearing prosperity preachers think they are interpreting the Bible literally, which leads them to teach that God never wills illness. Heck, the hellfire, hate-throwing folks at Westboro Baptist Church probably think they are interpreting the Bible literally.

So what does it mean to truly interpet the Bible literally? How can we be sure that our “literal” interpretation of the Bible isn’t actually a theological hack job? Here are some simple questions to help you truly interpret the Bible literally.

What did the original author intend to convey to the original audience?

The first question to ask when reading the Bible should not be, “What does this mean to me?” The first question always must be, “What was the original author trying to say to the original audience?” Ask questions like:

  • Was the author seeking to encourage the exiled people of Israel?
  • Was the author seeking to convince the Jewish people that Jesus was the Messiah?
  • Was the author seeking to correct theological error in the church?
  • Was the author seeking to encourage Christians in the midst of persecution?

Understanding the original intent of the passage guards us from reading a modern meaning back into Scripture. Does it take work and study and thinking to wrestle the original meaning from the text? You bet. But it’s valuable, necessary work.

What writing style is used for this section of Scripture?

The Psalms are primarily poetry, which means we should expect word pictures, similes, and metaphors. The epistles of Paul are letters, which means we should expect a relatively straightforward, logical progression. The gospels are narratives, which means we should expect all the elements of an eyewitness story to be in place. Revelation is apocalyptic in nature, which means we should expect highly symbolic language. We can’t interpret the Psalms in the same way we interpret the espistles of Paul. We can’t interpret the gospels in the same way we interpret Proverbs. Each Scripture must interpreted in light of its literary genre. We get into trouble when we start mixing up our genres.

Where does this section of Scripture fall in light of salvation history?

All of Scripture must be interpreted through the lens of God’s plan of salvation. When reading the Old Testament, ask yourself, “How do these stories, commands, or prophecies point to Jesus, and how are they fulfilled by Jesus?” After all, Jesus said that all of the law and the prophets spoke about him. We get into theological trouble when we start applying Old Testament commands, stories, and prophecies without first looking at them through the lens of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, ascension, and return.

What is God’s intended outcome for this section of Scripture?

In other words, how does God want me to respond to this command, promise, warning, or rebuke? Should I worship? Should I repent? Should I take courage? Should I marvel? God’s word is not meant to be read and dissected like a chemistry textbook. It is living and active. God speaks to us when we read his word. He wants us to respond to his word, to obey his word, to live by his word. We are to be doers of the word, not hearers only.

How does this passage line up with the rest of the Bible?

A general rule of thumb for Bible interpretation is that clear passages always interpret unclear passages. So, when James says that we are justified by our works, we interpret that passage in light of all the Bible says about justification by faith. When Paul says that women must stay silent in church, we interpret that in light of Paul’s teaching that both men and women can publicly prophecy in church. We get into trouble when we isolate passages of Scriptures.

Massive books have been written on the subject of Scripture interpretation. Obviously I can’t cover all my bases in one short blog post. These are general rules of thumb, and need to be applied with wisdom. If you’re looking for a good book on the subject, I recommend How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth by Gordon Fee.

Three Differences Between Moving Slowly and Being Patient

By
Eric Geiger
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communicating with the unchurched

Being patient.

Moving fast.

Leaders have likely encouraged others and been encouraged to do both. The two are often set up as being contradictory to one another, as if being patient means moving slowly. But being patient is not the same thing as moving slowly. Some leaders claim they are being patient when they are really just moving slowly. In the same way, some leaders claim they are moving fast when they are really just moving haphazardly. Moving fast and being deliberate don’t have to conflict with one another. Here are three differences between moving slowly and being patient:

1. Slow is passive; patience is active.

It takes active patience to form a strategy with a community of leaders. It takes active patience and grit to stick with a strategy and not continually shift directions. Slow, on the other hand, is paralyzing. When moving slowly, endless analysis is used to justify never actually making a decision. 

2. Slow is reactive; patience is proactive.

When leaders move slowly, they live in a reactionary posture. Instead of proactively leading, their days are filled with merely reacting. Thus, the teams they lead move slowly even though the days can be filled with reactively and chaotically putting out fires.

3. Slow is dragging your feet; patience is walking deliberately.

Sometimes leaders move slowly because they don’t know where they are going. A leader can move fast and still move with intentionality.

For years, hanging on the walls at Facebook was one of their cultural values: Move fast and break things. The value emphasized speed to the point that bugs and necessary fixes were tolerated. In recent years, the value has been changed to Move fast with stable infra. Speed is still valued, but as the company has grown and matured, so is having a stable infrastructure. The new value essentially says, “Let’s still be fast, but let’s also be very deliberate.”

There are, of course, times to slow down as leaders. Times to be still and evaluate. Times to prayerfully and deliberately plan. But being patient doesn’t always mean moving slowly.

This article originally appeared here.

What Will Ministry in a Post-Covid World Look Like?

By
Josh Reich
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communicating with the unchurched

The other day, I was on a Zoom call with a bunch of pastors, and we were talking about what is working and not working in this new post-covid world. As the call went on, we started to discuss what will come next for churches.

The world is different today than it was in January. And while some think once everything opens up, life will return as it was, I don’t believe that. Yes, some things will go back to “normal,” but the world will be different, and consequently, the church will be and look different than it did in 2019.

That is exciting and scary all at the same time.

So, as I processed that call, I wrote down some questions I think churches and leaders need to think through in this post-covid world:

How long will it take people to come back to church?

I’m finding there are two schools of thought on this: one group says that the moment churches are allowed to meet, everyone will flock back and fill up the room. The other side thinks people will be timid and come back slowly.

Who’s right? I have no idea. Only time will tell.

I fall into the camp that says people will come back slowly. I think there will be people who are there week one a church is back open, but also people will stay home and continue to watch online. Not only because of ease but also because of fear. And while some will say there shouldn’t be fear, there is. The job of the leader is not to wish a new reality, but to face reality and lead through it.

People may come running back to church; they may go back slowly. Will parents send their kids to school once they open, or will more parents homeschool next year? The answers to those questions will have an enormous impact on how ministry is done moving forward.

After watching church online, how will that change the way people view video teaching?

If you’ve been around church circles for the last decade, the debate around video teaching and whether or not online church counts has raged.

I think that after spending months watching church online and watching their pastor on a video will have an impact on how people connect with church and teaching in a post-covid world. What is that impact? Right now, it is hard to say, but I think the idea of watching a pastor on video won’t be as weird as many once thought it was.

Yes, people will still want to be in a room with a pastor, but will this change how they consume teaching?

How will this change people’s view of leadership and their confidence in leadership?

We live in a polarizing political world. Just look at social media, and you will see people throwing stones left and right. Regardless of your political view, most of us assume the other side is lying, not leading well, getting in the way, etc.

How do you lead in this world?

For those who feel like the government hasn’t done an excellent job in this crisis, have they lost confidence in leaders and leadership? How will that affect pastors moving forward?

If the government says, “you can gather with 100 or 200 people,” what does that look like for worship gatherings?

There is a chance that things will open up, but there are limited to the number of people who can gather. For smaller churches or campuses, this might not be a problem, but for larger churches, this could change things.

Do you pivot and do smaller gatherings and do them more often? On different days? Do you go to the venue route and have different styles of worship? What about teaching in those spaces?

Have we built a strong enough leadership pipeline?

Many churches are using more and more staff to do things right now because of safety and guidelines, but when churches are back together physically, the finances will be different than they were before. At that moment, as churches are rebuilding, the strength of your leadership pipeline will be seen.

The view of this crisis also seems to have different viewpoints, and most of that is seen through age. Many people over 45 view this differently than those under 45. How much of a voice does the under 45 crowds have in your leadership meetings right now? As you move forward?

How will this change how we do community?

One thing that will change through this is community and how we do groups. Yes, people will return to meeting in people’s homes for groups, but I think more people will see the value in an online group and want to do that.

I think we are also being reminded about how important community and presence is to our lives. We once took a hug from a friend for granted or sitting with someone and laughing over a cup of coffee. I don’t think we’ll take that for granted anymore.

How has this changed our view of life and death?

I’ve heard it said that by the end of this, everyone in the world would know someone who has died from this. I’ve already lost someone from covid-19. How does that change how we think about life, what is essential, and what we go after in terms of goals and priorities? What about death and what happens after death? Do we now view those differently? Do we focus on those a little more than we used to? Does that close us off and make us more callous towards life?

I don’t know for sure, but I think we’ll look at life and death differently.

The world is different and changing rapidly. This has always been the case, but it feels like it is overdrive right now.

And no, the world, school, work, and church will not go back to the way that it was before. Some things will return to what they are, but the vast majority of things will be different.

For leaders, this isn’t necessarily a good or bad thing, but just a thing.

This article about the post-covid world originally appeared here.

Free Graphics Package: "Steps of Faith"

By
Daniel So
-
communicating with the unchurched

Free Graphics Package

Download this graphics package to use for church newsletters or announcement slides.

This graphics package includes:

  • Main Slide
  • Side Slides
  • Empty Slides
  • Spanish Version Slide
  • Web Banner Slide 900px by 400px for your church website

Get Download Now

Resource provided by CreationSwap

Download Instructions: Click on the blue Download button and then click on the blue Agree button to download these resources.

What Does It Mean to Partner With Parents?

By
Rachael Sibcy
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communicating with the unchurched

As ministry leaders, we cannot deny that partnering with parents is a big need in our churches. But, what does this actually look like? How do we make parents feel like they are being partnered with, versus solely expressing the strategy that it’s what we desire to do? Partnering with parents looks different for every mom and for every dad. Because of this, we must find their parent-partnering language!

Think, Gary Chapman, “love languages.” Just as a husband and wife can feel loved and appreciated through different love languages, each parent will sense our parent/church partnership differently. I have walked alongside one mom who enjoys coming by my office. She feels like she has a partner when I share my time with her, reinforcing my observations on her being a thoughtful and amazing mom. She also appreciates when I take the time to tell her about myself. I have found that this mom needs to be affirmed in addition to being able to trust me.

I have another mom who prefers we grab coffee together, while another set of parents seeks me taking their teenage daughter out to coffee. The first mom needs “another adult” to speak into her day, while the latter set values someone speaking into their daughter’s high school social life. Parents of two toddler girls have asked me to keep them up to date on the best parenting resources. They don’t have time to come by the office or grab coffee as they both work full-time, but they want to be purposeful about learning and growing as parents. These parents feel like they have a partner when I value their time and send them resources that fit their needs as they progress through each phase of their children’s lives.

Partnering with parents doesn’t always mean you have to be directly involved. Encourage your volunteers to look for the “partnership language” that best speaks to each family they interact with. An example of this is Cole’s parents. They adore their son’s preschool small group leaders. They love seeing Cole receiving cards in the mail from them and seeing them show up at the soccer field for his game. Another example is Jenna’s single father. Her dad needed to be introduced to a godly man who would walk alongside him and mentor him through this season of life. Although you may not be directly involved with every parent in your ministry, the way you strategically set up your ministry and equip your team will determine the effectiveness of each parent partnership. My role as a ministry leader is to enlist volunteers who serve out of a true desire to build meaningful connections with children and their parents.

Almost all parents want to be good parents; however, many, if not all, feel like they are ill equipped to do so. That gives us a great opportunity to step in and help parents be the best parents they can be. It will look differently in each church and in each family. It might be in the form of a parenting class or baby dedication ceremony. It might be a book, magazine or blog. It might be one-on-one time or a prayer written on a postcard. There are many ways to partner with parents, however, you have to be intentional about discovering which ways parents will receive your relationship best.

Partnering with parents can simply be a catchy little phrase or an amazing way to do ministry to impact the next generation for Christ. Partnering by definition is “a person who shares or is associated with another in some action or endeavor.” As far as I am concerned, there is no greater endeavor than for the church to share with parents the awesome opportunity and responsibility to raise children to know and love the Lord. Partnering with parents so they feel this partnership is done best in the context of authentic relationships. So, let’s do this thing!

Let’s mix a whole bunch of yellow with an insane amount of red and create a big ORANGE movement that raises up the next generation of Christ followers together!  

This article originally appeared here.

5 Reasons to Give Up Trying to Live the Christian Life

By
Frank Viola
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communicating with the unchurched

“For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest…”

~ Hebrews 4:10-11

Years ago, I came to the place in my spiritual journey where I gave up trying to live the Christian life.

Yep. I gave it up for Lent.

Here are five reasons:

  1. I was sick and tired of failing and feeling frustrated at my attempts at being a “victorious” Christian.
  2. I came to the eye-opening conclusion that I couldn’t live the Christian life. If the Christian life was going to be lived, the Lord Himself was going to have to live it.
  3. I discovered that Jesus Himself didn’t try to live the Christian life. He said, “By myself, I can do nothing.” Over and over again, Jesus testified that He did nothing of Himself, but lived by His Father’s indwelling life instead.
  4. I concluded that Paul’s words in Galatians 2:20, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me,” weren’t a special experience that only Paul had.
  5. I was tired of living in Romans 7 and desperately wanted to live in Romans 8. So I consigned myself to Romans 7:24, giving up the whole project. In so doing, everything changed.

The rest of the story is told in a conference message that I delivered five years ago entitled, “Living by the Spirit.”

The message is a deeper-than-usual look at Romans 7 and 8. It presents the discoveries I made along the journey and why I believe the Christian life – and the living of it – is impossible for all of us. It’s only HIMpossible.

The message unpacks that statement.

One overlooked truth is that Romans 7 and 8 introduces us to three different life forms and four different laws. Understanding the significance of each and how they all work is vital. It’s all in the talk.

I wish every devoted Christian – especially those in their 20s and 30s (that’s most of you) – would put this talk on their iPods or smart phones and give it a listen. I also hope that you’ll share this post with your friends in that age group (via the Share buttons below) as it just may spare them many years of agony.

Click here to listen to Living by the Spirit.

Essential Guide to Reopening Your Church Post-COVID-19

By
Jason Daye
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communicating with the unchurched

In many ways, the Church will never be the same post-COVID-19. Throughout her history, the Church has developed in response to major global events, and today is no different. Churches have experienced so many adjustments in such a short period of time. Individuals, families, communities, even entire nations, have all been impacted in real and lasting ways. Although we do not know exactly what life will be like after the dust settles from this pandemic, we do recognize that we will be living in a new state of normalcy. As you pursue reopening your church, we desire to help your church navigate into this “new normal” in a manner that will strengthen your ministry impact.

This Essential Guide to Reopening Your Church Post-COVID-19 provides resources to help you prayerfully reflect on where your church is today, assess the possibilities of what tomorrow may look like, and develop thoughtful plans for living on mission while reopening your church doors to your community.

Yes, many things have changed.  However, some things remain unchanged:

  • God is still God. We serve a God who is unshaken by the events that unfold around us. We join Job in declaring that God is our Redeemer, and our Redeemer lives! God is in the work of redemption, taking that which was meant for evil and redeeming it for His purposes and His glory. We believe that is exactly what He is doing with this crisis, taking the piercing pain of this pandemic and redeeming it in such a way that many will learn of the hope found in Jesus and embrace the truth of Christ.
  • Our mission and calling remains the same. Regardless of the changes in ministry methods we have made during this time, our purpose still stands: making disciples as we introduce people to the life-transforming Way of Jesus. We are called to continue seeking ways to introduce others to the hope and truth of Christ.
  • Wise leadership continues to be necessary. People are looking for direction, guidance and truth. Humble, discerning leaders are a necessity. Encouraging and equipping the people God has entrusted to you and your ministry is of paramount importance, especially in times of change and transition. When situations are rapidly evolving, wise leadership helps ease anxiety and uncertainty.

Essential Guide to Reopening Your Church Post-COVID-19: Contents

Initial Church Assessment

Nine Vital Considerations for Post-COVID-19 Church Ministry

#1 Plant Seeds Prior to Reopening Your Church

#2 Communicate Your Open Status & Safety Priorities

#3 Continue Your Online Ministries

#4 Provide Safe Sanitization

#5 Prepare Your Church to Welcome People In-Person

#6 Consider Your Stage of Life Ministries, especially Kids and Senior Adults

#7 Prioritize Outreach in Your Community

#8 Evaluate Your Budget & Resource Allocations

#9 Seize Opportunities to Expand Your Church Presence Offline

Checklist: Essential Guide to Reopening Your Church Post-COVID-19

 

Initial Church Assessment

To adequately prepare for reopening your church doors, it is best to understand where your church is now in relation to some of the projected realities we will be facing in the wake of this pandemic. We do not know exactly how the government will choose to adjust shelter-in-place orders or what gathering restrictions will be enforced, but we must begin processing through the possibilities and planning for the future.  Following are some recommended topics for conversations with your ministry leaders to assist you in assessing the steps your church will want to take, along with some practical options for ministry moving forward.

    • Staggered openings. From what is currently being reported it seems permission to gather publicly will roll out in different ways based on your geographical location. Many models for COVID-19 indicate that some hot spots will cool down while others might flare-up. If that is the case, in some areas public gatherings will be permitted while others will have tighter restrictions. Assess the current impact COVID-19 has had in your locale.  Consider how your local government has been responding, and what you might anticipate in the days ahead so you can best prepare. You will want to keep this in mind as you work through the rest of this guide.
    • Size of gatherings. Government restrictions on the size of gatherings will impact how soon you can meet publicly. For example, in the US the federal government has released a phased plan for reopening the country. State governors can implement the plan on either a county-by-county or statewide basis contingent on certain criteria being satisfied. In Phase 2 of this plan, social settings of more than 50 people should be avoided, however places of worship can operate under physical distancing protocols.You need to develop a plan for how your church will approach ministry when smaller social gatherings are permitted. Depending on the size of your church, you might choose to have two or three weekend worship times and limit the number of people to 50 in each. If your church is larger, you may decide it makes sense to wait until larger groups can gather before relaunching your in-person weekend worship gatherings. Smaller affinity-based gatherings might work, however, so you may be able to host events like women’s bible studies, junior high ministry, volunteer team gatherings, etc.
    • Your own building or rented facilities? If you have your own church building, then you will be able to make decisions based upon the lifting of restrictions and the recommendations of your local government. However, if you are a mobile/portable church that is renting facilities, you should prepare for the possibility that you may not be able to get into those facilities for a prolonged time. Schools that have closed for the year are unlikely to open over the summer for churches to use.  Movie theaters and other community spaces may be more hesitant to open up for church gatherings, and some may stop renting facilities altogether.

Top Military Chaplain Facing Disciplinary Measures Over John Piper’s Book…Piper Responds to Complaints

By
Christine Yount Jones
-
communicating with the unchurched

Camp Humphreys garrison chaplain Col. Moon H. Kim is the target of a complaint letter regarding his recommendation of John Piper’s free online book: “Coronavirus and Christ.” According to ArmyTimes.com, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF)  has called for an investigation into Col. Kim who serves as the Senior Chaplain at the largest U.S. military installation outside of the United States.

Col. Kim shared the book in an email to 35 chaplains in what the MRFF perceives as a tacit endorsement of all Piper’s views. The complaint takes specific issue with Piper’s assertion that the current global pandemic is part of God’s judgment.

Camp Humphreys Garrison Chaplain’s Actions ‘Deplorable’

The complaint letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper from MRFF’s founder and president Michael Weinstein begins: “I write to you today regarding an absolutely egregious and deplorable act taken by one of your most senior DoD chaplains serving today. A number of Christian military Chaplains from the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force have asked the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) to represent them regarding their collective outrage about this matter, and feel that they would be subjected to reprisal, retribution, revenge, and retaliation if they attempted to register their objections via the chain of command without anonymity.”

Weinstein upholds Piper’s right to his views and Kim’s rights to his beliefs. Where he draws the line is “that Chaplain (Colonel) Kim shares a document which propagate beliefs in vulgar contradiction to DoD and Army regulatory policy and the UCMJ and sends it out in his supervisorial capacity as THE Senior Chaplain at USAG Humphreys is in direct and wretched opposition to good order, morale, unit cohesion, and discipline. Indeed, it irrefutably establishes, by the very nature embedded in the power of his office, that this book by John Piper is his established or preferred view.”

The MRFF strongly explains that John Piper’s doctrinal position is not consistent with those of all serving military chaplains. Weinstein writes, “The book, pushing the belief that the Coronavirus is God’s judgment, is written by fundamentalist Christian preacher and author John Piper, and singles out, among other things, ‘the sin of homosexual intercourse’ as deserving ‘due penalty.’ Many of the Chaplains who received this unsolicited book from Chaplain (Colonel) Kim are from mainline and Progressive Christian denominations which do not subscribe to the ultra conservative/Reformed/evangelical Christian theology of John Piper.”

Weinstein asks the Defense Secretary: “Is Chaplain (Colonel) Kim stating that this is THE preferred and established theology? Are military Chaplains of lesser power and rank free to raise their concerns and differ in the midst of a male, conservative/reformed/evangelical dominated, fundamentalist Christian technical Chaplain Chain? Those military Christian Chaplains on the receiving end of Chaplain (Colonel) Kim’s gross malfeasance, who have asked MRFF to speak for them, don’t think so.”

Weinstein closes with this demand: “MRFF demands that Army Chaplain (Colonel) Kim be officially, swiftly, aggressively, and visibly investigated and disciplined in punishment for his deplorable actions described above.”

John Piper Responds to the Complaints

What are the assertions that John Piper makes in his Coronavirus and Christ book and how does he respond?

In the May 11, 2020, episode of Ask Pastor John on DesiringGod.org, Piper addresses several issues. [This conversation contains excerpts from the audio transcript on the site.]

Q: As you read this response, what do you think of how you are quoted and interpreted? And is the letter a fair interpretation of your book?

Piper: Well, Tony, some of it is. I think it would be fair to say that some of my views about what the Bible teaches, even rightly understood, the author of that letter hates; he hates what I think. “They are,” he says, “incendiary,” “bigoted,” “vulgar”—not just because he misunderstands, but, in part, because he does understand, and that’s how he thinks and feels about some of what the Bible teaches. For example:

Gaining Leadership Support for Improving Child Safety

By
Alex Smith
-
communicating with the unchurched

How do I get leadership to support child safety initiatives for improving child safety?

While sometimes difficult to tackle, it’s an important step to help make your kids area a safe place. Support for your child safety initiative may be less about what you’re proposing and more about how it’s presented. Get prepared to help convince those making the decision.

Define Why Leadership Should Care

Defining the “why” of your child safety efforts sets the foundation. Take the needed time here as it drives effort, actions, outcomes. Know why you’re going down this road. Clarity gives strength to overcome objections.

Child abuse brings indescribable pain, however, you can play a vital role in working to protect the children in your care. Clearly defining the goal of your efforts creates a positive domino effect. There is great value – stay the course.

Lead With Expert Data

Child abuse and prevention are sensitive topics. Familiarity with current facts provides a platform for conversation and helps remove emotion.

Seek out data that helps define the need and paints a picture of the landscape. Use data that speaks directly to your action plan to help garner support, plus give leadership talking points for defending the course of action. For example: 

  • 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 4 boys will be sexually assaulted before the age of 18
  • Over 80% of child victims know their abusers
  • Greater than 90% of convicted offenders consider themselves religious or highly religious
  • There are over 859,500 registered sex offenders in the US alone
  • There are more than 100,000 sexual offenders who fail to report every year

Helpful websites for child protection trends include: stopitnow.org, childrenssafetynetwork.org, safelyeverafter.com.

Create Alliances

Before you present, find a champion in your organization that understands and supports your initiative. Someone who will back you up, ask good questions, defend your request, and have both influence and credibility. Consider current board members, executive leadership, those in peer positions with regular contact with leadership, or positive external influences.

Know Your Audience 

Meet with your champion to gain an understanding of how your request fits into the overall goals and vision. Be prepared to listen more than you speak. Come equipped with questions that help:

  • Identify obstacles you may face
  • Uncover changes or suggestions to make your request more relevant and effective
  • Advise how to further build your case

Answer Questions With Confidence

Preparation is key. Before the leadership meeting, be sure to anticipate questions that may arise and how to answer. This helps you answer with confidence. Questions may include:

  1. Can abuse happen in our organization? Everybody knows everybody.
  2. Child predators aren’t like us. Why would they target us?
  3. Our facility is safe. Why do we need to do more to protect kids?
  4. What’s your primary purpose for making this change?
  5. Will the new policy discourage people from volunteering or becoming involved?
  6. Will the new policy require a different screening protocol? What is the existing process? What will change?
  7. How often and to what level will background checks be performed? Is the cost in your budget? If not, what are you going to cut?
  8. How will we know if the initiative is successful? What metrics will you use?

Communication Is Key

After presenting and successfully receiving buy off, or perhaps while still waiting for a decision, share what you’re trying to accomplish. Educate staff, volunteers, and the member community on steps you’re taking to improve child safety. Give regular progress updates to champions and those supporting you.

Communication vehicles may include meetings, newsletters, social media, emails, bulletins, inserts, flyers, etc. You want the message to go far and wide.

Continue the conversation even after approval. Leadership needs to see you’re holding to your commitments. Communicate at least once a month the positive effects. Share parent and child feedback. Offer to present periodically on the success.

Wrapping It Up 

Do

  • Research and know your position well
  • Communicate regularly about what you’re trying to accomplish and why
  • Be prepared to answer questions at any time
  • Continuously meet with those who might champion your efforts
  • Make training and communication top initiatives
  • Focus discussions on prevention efforts and both moral and legal responsibilities

Don’t

  • Second guess your effort to make safety and abuse prevention a top priority
  • Buy into “false assumptions” your organization is safe, no one would target us, we’d know a predator
  • Give up. Change isn’t easy, but this is worth fighting for and pursuing
  • Think proposed changes will be a slam dunk. Use opposition as an opportunity to start conversation
  • Forget your responsibility is the safety of the children, not the board member or parent who doesn’t agree with what you’re doing

Tony Spell: Church Will Comply With Orders When ‘they sell popsicles in hell’

By
Megan Briggs
-
communicating with the unchurched

Pastor Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in East Baton Rouge, Louisiana is still defying state government orders concerning church gatherings. Drawing more than 1,000 people at his services during the pandemic, Spell has already been charged with a misdemeanor and arrested for other aggressive actions. However, the embattled minister doesn’t seem to be slowing down, even as Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has loosened restrictions to allow churches to reopen at 25 percent of their normal capacity. Doubling down on his defiance, Spell announced he would open his church this weekend to 125 percent of its capacity and welcome guests from other states, including New York.

“We will comply with the Governor’s orders, whenever they sell popsicles in hell and set up an ice skating rink in the lake of fire and sell tickets for admission,” Spell said in a video posted to his YouTube account. “We will never comply with any anti-God, anti-church, anti-free-American Christian order that says ‘do not have church,’” the pastor emphasized.

The title of the video update is “Change of heart” because Spell says he has changed his position after telling reporters earlier that day that the church plans to comply with the Governor’s orders when hell freezes over, essentially. Instead of simply defying the Governor’s orders, Spell explained, the church plans to “become more vile yet and thus” by operating at 125 percent of the capacity specified for its building. Additionally, Spell said he is expecting visitors from Illinois, Indiana, California, Georgia, and New York (a new state for the church). 

The pastor promised to “preach the unadulterated word of God from an unfettered tool kit with boldness that will cause Satan and his imps to cower back into the lake of fire where they belong.” 

Louisiana Governor Moves State Into Phase One of Reopening

Louisiana Governor Edwards moved the state into phase one of its reopening strategy starting today, May 15, 2020. Under the Governor’s order for phase one, churches are allowed to operate at the aforementioned 25 percent of capacity so long as they follow strict social distancing guidelines. The order also stipulates churches may hold outdoor services.

However, Spell says the idea of holding church outside isn’t a good one, pointing in the video to the thunderstorms currently enveloping the “liquid sunshine” south. Spell noted the storms are forecasted to last until Monday. “This is why we will never comply with the Governor’s orders to move church services outside,” Spell said, raising his voice.

The pastor also drew attention to the ankle monitor he has to wear during his house arrest. He is currently in a legal battle on a few fronts. One being a misdemeanor charge for holding services despite Edwards’ orders. The second is an aggravated assault charge for backing a bus near a protestor who was demonstrating outside his church. Finally, Spell is suing Louisiana Governor Edwards and other local officials for the ban on gatherings, which he attests unfairly targets churches. In the video, Spell mentioned he had attended a federal trial earlier that day with his lawyers that lasted an hour and 44 minutes. At the moment, it is not known what the outcome of that trial might be. 

For now, Spell says, “we continue to do what we do with a change of heart that says ‘Let’s do more of it’ in Jesus’ name.”

Mission Aviation Fellowship Mourns Loss of Joyce Lin

By
Jessica Mouser
-
communicating with the unchurched

Joyce Lin, a pilot with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), died on May 12, while transporting school supplies and COVID-19 rapid test kits to a remote village in Indonesia. Lin was 40 years old and was following her dream and God’s calling by using her skills to bring people the hope of the gospel.

“We feel a great sense of loss but a great sense of comfort as well,” MAF president David Holsten told Christianity Today, “because Joyce was doing what she loved to do and she was faithful to the calling that God had placed on her life. She gave her life serving the Lord in a way that was impacting others.”

Lin left the town of Sentani in a Kodiak airplane at 6:27 a.m. Tuesday, heading for a remote village called Mamit in the province of Papua. She sent out a distress call only two minutes after takeoff, after which her aircraft crashed into Lake Sentani. A search-and-rescue team found Lin’s airplane in the lake and also recovered her body, which was submerged 40 feet underwater. She was the only person on the aircraft, and officials are still investigating the cause of the crash. Lin is survived by her parents and two sisters. 

In Memoriam: Joyce Lin

Joyce Lin’s interest in mission aviation was sparked in 2010 during a summer internship in Papua, Indonesia, while she was enrolled at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Prior to going to seminary, Lin had earned two degrees in engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), been an officer in the U.S. Air Force, and worked in cybersecurity in the private sector. Even though she believed God was calling her to mission aviation, Lin still had many hurdles to overcome in order to be a trained and licensed pilot with MAF. She also had some health challenges that made her ability to work in Indonesia doubtful. However, Lin overcame these difficulties and in 2019 made it to Sentani, where she served as a pilot and IT specialist.

“I am most grateful to personally know God,” said Lin, “who has never forsaken me in my lowest times (as there have been many) and has repeatedly turned ‘mourning into dancing’ (Ps. 30:11) in ways I could not have brought about on my own. While I will always be excited to fly planes and work on computers, I am most excited to share the love of Jesus Christ by helping to transform other people’s deep discouragement and mourning into dancing and joy.”

Writing to her supporters in December, Lin shared, “One of the best things about my short time in Papua has been talking to the missionaries that MAF serves. Those missionaries have embedded themselves in Papuan villages, literally in the middle of nowhere…One thing that has been transformative for the villagers is the understanding that God’s love casts out fear.” 

She also described what it was like to finally fly a real Kodiak after training in a flight simulator. “It felt amazing to land the Kodiak on my own for the first time,” Lin said. “This has been my dream airplane ever since I found out about mission aviation.”

When Papua locked down because of the coronavirus pandemic, Lin only became more thankful for her ability to serve people in need. In an email update at the beginning of May, she said,

It may sound strange, but these trying times have enhanced my feeling of purpose here in Papua. With every flight I see first-hand how MAF is connecting isolated villages with vital supplies and medical care. This can’t be taken for granted in normal times, but especially now with all of the travel restrictions, the people remind us how thankful they are every time an airplane is able to land in their village.

Brock Larson, regional director of MAF Indonesia, said of Joyce Lin, “She was extremely generous, giving of herself and her treasures selflessly…Her years of effort following God’s calling were being rewarded and rewarding others daily. Joyce was a light reflecting Jesus, and she will be deeply missed.”

How to Use Audio Livestreaming to Benefit Your Church Community

By
Shannon Martin
-
communicating with the unchurched

In these times of social distancing, everyone has turned to new ways to handle day-to-day activities and stay connected. For many churches, this has meant ramping up streaming services and other technologies and means of communication. Fortunately, a lot of these changes can benefit our communities in the long run also. They may allow us to bring inspiration to church members in their daily lives, build stronger connections, and even reach a wider audience.

Podbean provides an audio livestreaming and podcasting platform that is popular worldwide for church communities of all sizes. We’ve seen explosive growth in Podbean Live’s use since its inception last autumn, with a big spike since social isolation measures have furthered the need. 

Podbean Live is free to use, for both the host/streamer and the listeners.One benefit Podbean offers is simplicity and accessibility. You can stream from your computer or your phone. Listeners join right from the Podbean app on any mobile device. The interface is intuitive without the learning curve and glitches that sometimes come with other technologies. Also, as an audio-only platform, listeners can truly focus on the message and you can set up and run sessions with utmost ease.

Today, we’ll share some of the ways church communities are using livestreaming, some considerations and tips.

Ways to Use Audio Livestreaming 

Live Sermons

Broadcast your sermons, allowing church members and a wider audience to experience your messages. They don’t need to learn any complicated technology, they can access your sermons right from their mobile phones with the touch of a button. 

Additionally, you can turn your sermons into podcast episodes for on-demand content to better meet your church members’ needs. You can either automatically publish your livestream recording using Podbean with a click or you can download the recording to edit and repurpose. You can easily send out these recordings/links in your emails or other communications so no one ever needs to miss your sermons.                

Bible Studies and Classes

One of the best features of Podbean Live is the ability to interact with members calling in or via text chat. This can enable your community to continue Sunday School classes, Bible Studies, and more. You could even bring in a special guest speaker from anywhere in the world. Use Podbean’s Unlisted Mode to make these sessions invitation-only.

Ministry, Meetings, Interactive Sessions

Similarly, Podbean Live can be used for any kind of interactive session or meeting you need to hold. This makes everything ultra-convenient for your members and may help you increase participation and engagement.

Best Practices for Audio Livestreaming for Churches

Podbean Live is so easy to use that you can be up and running in a few minutes. We also offer free webinars so you can get a run through of how it works and ask any questions. If you have Bible Study teachers or other church leaders who might use livestreaming, invite them to join a webinar to learn more too.

Tips for Your Audience

You will be able to send out a link via email, text, or social media to invite your community to your livestreams. All they need is their phone and the free Podbean app. If you are running classes or interactive sessions where listeners will be calling in, advise them to use a headset to avoid echoing. They can simply use their normal phone earbuds, they don’t need anything fancy.

Running Your Livestream

You can run the livestream right from your computer browser, also using any headset or earbuds (or a microphone and headphones, if you already have that set up). Or, you can also simply use your phone and livestream directly from the app. We recommend you run a quick unlisted livestream to test out your equipment and the program.

Preparing to Livestream

Otherwise, preparing to run a livestream is not that different than preparing a sermon or class normally. Outline your topic and review what you want to cover. For classes or interactive sessions, set expectations with attendees. Give an introduction and explain how calling in or chatting will work (and any ground rules, such as holding questions for a Q&A period). Remind listeners that they should use a headset if calling.

Here are some more general livestreaming tips to help you and your listeners have the best experience.

Do More With Less: Repurposing Your Content

After you complete your live session, you will have the option of publishing the recording as a podcast on Podbean instantly. If you don’t already have a podcast set up, it is easy to do with Podbean. You can also download the recording to use it anywhere you’d like. A great way to repurpose this content is to put it on your website (if you have a podcast with Podbean, we give you an embeddable player) and/or send it out via email to your members. You can make better use of livestreaming by thinking ahead about the different uses, as well as multiple ways you can share the content. 

Get started: Uplift your community and expand your ministry.

This platform can really expand what you’re able to offer your church community and help you reach out to a wider audience. Because the tools are so easy to use and take minimal set up, you can be more efficient and effective in sharing your messages and inspiring your members.

How the Master’s Way 21-Day Course Delivers Financial Freedom

By
Mark Rose
-
communicating with the unchurched

Over 35 years ago as a young married guy, I was a reliable tither but a lousy money manager. I just figured that if I was faithful with my tithe, God would take care of the rest. I was ignorant of the fact that God wants us to be faithful stewards “It is required in Stewards to be found faithful.” (2 Corinthians 4:2) and be an example of to our spouses, children and the world. Fact is, what better measurement tool is there than this character quality regarding how we handle our finances. Then came the teachings of Larry Burkett; I had been listening to his daily radio broadcast and saw how my out-of-order lifestyle had brought much unrest into our marriage. We had a home mortgage, car payment and credit card (that was always maxed out) plus I was always at least 1 month behind in my bills “borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.” One day I came home and told my wife “I think we need to get on a budget,” immediately she did an about face, went straight to the bedroom and broke down in tears. Long story short we ordered Larry’s material, I took the lead and dove into the paperwork.(click here for more) We soon began to use the envelope method, (outlined in my book – The Masters Way) filled out the CFC budget Form 1 and soon discovered we were over budget by $500-$800/month!

After a few months using the envelope method and adjusting to this new “control system,” (we all need one to teach us this new Godly habit and to forsake the old) we were then able to look at the bigger picture thinking “what about the home mortgage?” We had retired all other debt including the car, but Larry had said “once you set your mind to that goal, God will bless and you can do it!” We engaged his system (outlined in my book) and in 18 months, yes just 18 – we were out of debt; credit card, car and mortgage! We never looked back, and thought “wow, we saw these miracles happen to us as God blessed our obedience, (and forgave my stubbornness of not listening to my spouse) so what about others?” Can they too receive the miracles and get out of debt also? Well, fact is, we did see them and many others escape their home mortgage payment and with God’s help, do so in 18 months! All we could say when they began was; “if God did it for us, He can do it for you,” and He did!

Master’s Way 21-Day Method

Our Method: by using our new web-based training aid, the Masters 21 Day online course plus The Masters Way companion workbook, we have found these together solve the #1 challenge in achieving success in this arena; that is, reducing or eliminating the feeling of futility and hopelessness often associated with this process. By using our 21 lesson biblically based teaching plan systematically moves the student toward Financial Freedom one lesson at a time, employing a multi-disciplinary teaching approach utilizing powerful imaging, video explanation and most importantly Scripture. Add an advanced online quiz format, reinforced with positive real-life examples dramatically accelerates this process. We have seen amazing results using the 21 lesson period concept, allowing the student time to assimilate these foundational elements and in many instances, see changes in just a few weeks!

Multiplication to the Church – We at Two Masters seek to multiply our teaching system into church leadership and pastors. This goal in mind, we are offering a free coupon code for your leaders to take the online course at no CHARGE in hopes you also will experience such to; “demolish strongholds” relating to this vitally important issue that often burdens the church, its marriages and our youth in these days.

This teaching can and will transform the people and your church, we are absolutely confident of this fact. That said, such a radical transformation is never free nor easy. The endeavor to begin and sustain a Stewardship Ministry in the church takes commitment, prayer, resources and patience. Like any good cause, in the end you and your people reap the full benefits and a transformation will take place surely to affect many lives in a lasting and positive way.

Here’s a summary of what you and your church can expect using the Two Masters System:

1) End poor spending habits and replace them with new Biblically based ones, making every spending decision a Spiritual Decision

2) Embrace the wisdom relating to finances and possessions as taught in God’s Word – that’s where the real power is found on this topic

3) Complete the written worksheets with their spouse or other counsel and submit to one another. Engage your people to communicate openly on this topic

4) Start by giving – for giving breaks the power of money and releases God’s blessing toward you! (Malachi 3)

5) Expect a miracle that encourages you as you seek His Way of handling finances and receive the Peace that comes through knowing God sees you and has plans to give you a Hope and a Future! (Jeremiah 29:11)

New web-based 21 lesson financial training program FREE for Pastors, The Masters Way 21 lesson course. Use free coupon code: M21DAY

The Three Most Underserved People in Your Community 

By
Church Source
-
communicating with the unchurched

The heart of outreach is loving people enough to do something about it. Here are three underserved people in your community that you and your church can adopt, Bibles designed specifically for them, and organizations that can help you get started. 

1. Prisoners Are Underserved People in Your Community 

There is no life so broken that it can’t be restored and made whole again by God. Your church can bring hope to the men and women behind bars. The family members of prisoners are often also in need of assistance and encouragement. 

WAYS TO HELP: 

  • Our friends at Prison Fellowship make it easy to get involved and connect with local chaplains. Visit PrisonFellowship.org to learn how your church can minister to prisoners and their families.
  • The Free on the Inside Bible features personal testimonies, extra study helps, the easy-to-read complete Bible text of the New International Reader’s Version, a generous 9.3-point type.

2. Law Enforcement and Emergency Personnel Are Underserved People in Your Community 

Police, firefighters, and EMTs dedicate their lives to protecting others and saving lives. We can show them our gratitude by delivering homemade cookies, notes of thanks and encouragement, and prayers for their safety and protection as they serve. 

WAYS TO HELP: 

  • Two organizations, Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers and Fellowship of Christian Firefighters, can connect you with more ways to serve your local emergency personnel. Connect with them at FCPO.org and FellowshipOfChristianFirefighters.org.
  • Peacemakers and Answering the Call are compact and portable New Testaments with Psalms and Proverbs featuring real-life stories and the easy-to-read New International Version.

3. Immigrants and Refugees Are Underserved People in Your Community 

There are so many ways your church can help displaced families who are now living in your community, from English classes to clothing drives—even something as simple as helping them navigate the grocery store for the first time. 

WAYS TO HELP:

Expert Tips for Reading the Internet

By
James Emery White
-
communicating with the unchurched

Did you know that the spread of the coronavirus is connected to the expanding 5G network? If you’ve been reading the internet, you can read about it online. Just google it.

Actually, don’t. Yes, it’s a theory you can read about, but no, it’s not true.

In this internet age, heightened by the pandemic, there is an avalanche of information and a painful absence of wisdom. Many very smart people are accepting unsubstantiated ideas, out-of-context or simply false information, and then spreading them with evangelistic zeal through their various social media channels.

Of course, this was happening before the pandemic as well.

As a professor, working with my graduate students, I have often recommended Mortimer Adler’s classic How to Read a Book. The subtitle is telling: “The classic guide to intelligent reading.” That is the key—to read intelligently.

Adler poses four questions that every reader should ask:

1. What is the book about as a whole?
2. What is being said in detail?
3. Is the book true, in whole or part?
4. What of it?

The same four questions can be posed for any website, podcast, blog or post. Of particular importance is the third question. Yes, a case is clearly being made. Yes, it sounds convincing based on the presentation. Yes, it may offer up “facts” or even “statistics.” Yes, it may play to your own predilections.

But that does not mean it is true.

And truth is not subjective—we cannot say, “What’s true for you is true for you, and what’s true for me is true for me.” If I say “It is raining,” it’s not a matter of opinion, not a question of whether someone feels it should be raining, nor that they want it to be raining. Step outside your door and see: it either is or is not currently raining.

This is the nature of objective truth and it matters. Even a skeptic as hardened as Sigmund Freud had to maintain that if “it were really a matter of indifference what we believed, then we might just as well build our bridges of cardboard as of stone, or inject a tenth of a gramme of morphia into a patient instead of a hundredth, or take teargas as a narcotic instead of ether.”

But how do you determine what is true?

When it comes to reading the internet, there are three very important principles to follow:

Reading the Internet Principle #1: Discern the Agenda

This is low-hanging fruit. If a case is being made for or against something, it’s usually clear. What is important is remembering the agenda. If someone is making a case for something, they are doing just that—presenting their case. But just like in a court of law, it can be convincing until you hear the case made against it. Why? Because whoever is making their “case” is not going to bring forward evidence that might contradict it or call it into question. If they are wanting you to do something, believe something or avoid something, you must realize what it is they are wanting you to do. As with any sales pitch, don’t forget they are very much wanting you to buy what they are selling.

Reading the Internet Principle #2: Consider the Source

We live in a day of suspicions. Some mistrust the government, others the medical establishment, others educational institutions, others the media. So when someone says, “consider the source,” the first instinct might be to immediately dismiss those you hold suspect. In a deeply divided, deeply partisan world, this is almost instinctual.

But it would also be playing to emotions as opposed to intellect. The truth is that there are clearly people and institutions that have dedicated themselves to areas of knowledge or research, who have conducted careful science or testing, who have devoted their lives to a particular subject or field. And then there are those who haven’t.

Strongly consider the ones with the education, experience, credentials and background that best speak to the issue at hand. Yes, there may be a “mainstream” view that you are wanting to dismiss in light of a minority report, but don’t forget that mainstream views on various issues became mainstream for a reason.

The seduction of so-called “fringe” views is that you know something the world doesn’t, or that this is information that is being “covered up.” The attraction of a conspiracy is strong, particularly during times when you feel powerless. But again, this is emotion at work more than intellect.

Reading the Internet Principle #3: Avoid the Silo

Let’s be honest. If we want to believe something, or want to do something, we will look for anything and everything to affirm that “want.” We gather the voices that affirm our choice and we dismiss those that do not. The internet caters to this, allowing you to find an affirming and enabling set of sites to reinforce your desire to do or believe almost anything.

This creates what University of Chicago professor Cass Sunstein has called the “Daily Me”—a self-created world where we see only the sports highlights of our favorite team, read only the issues that address our interests and engage only the op-ed pieces that we agree with. The highly lauded personalization of information protects us from exposure to anything that might challenge our thinking or make us uncomfortable. Left unchecked we begin to follow only the echo of our own voice.

So take advantage of the internet and all that it has to offer. Just remember one thing:

Don’t check your brains at the door.

Sources

Ben Macintyre, “The 5G Coronavirus Conspiracy: These Spasms of Superstitious Terror Are as Old as Time,” The Times of London, May 1, 2020, read online.

Mortimer Adler, How to Read a Book.

Sigmund Freud, cited in “Truth,” in The Great Ideas: A Syntopicon of Great Books of the Western World.

Cass Sunstein, Republic.com.

This article about reading the internet originally appeared here.

Two Ways to Refresh Your Worship Time

By
Chris Skinner
-
communicating with the unchurched

Being confined to the house during the COVID-19 crisis has brought many challenges. Personally, I’m not sure how I would handle the ever-changing tumult without vibrant personal worship. The fact is, I need Jesus now more than ever. Here are two things I’ve done during this time that could also refresh your worship. 

1. Get Up Early to Refresh Your Worship

I try to get up at least ninety minutes before the rest of my family stirs. This gives me time to get ready, make some coffee, grab my Bible, and spend time with Jesus.

Rising early, before the hustle of the day, and meeting with God is something even Jesus practiced. In Mark 1, after a full day of calling disciples, casting out demons, teaching, and healing many, it says, “And rising early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (Mark 1:35).

I’ll be honest, sometimes getting up early, with the sting of sleep still in my eyes, can feel like a “desolate place.” But taking the time to commune with Christ before email, news, social media, texts, and the general demands of the day has been incredibly rewarding.

My days are filled with varying levels of “noise.” I’m willing to bet yours are too. It might be the noise of family, social media, work, school, financial worry, or health concerns. Maybe it’s a combination of these. Maybe it’s more. Whatever the noise, I’ve found that starting my day with “quiet” enables me to listen to Jesus before all of the noise sets in. Then I can draw from his well of living water throughout the day to respond to life’s challenges with the grace of Christ. So, I pour that coffee, open my Bible, and pray that the Spirit will make me a willing listener in the quiet.

Depending on your life stage, early morning might not work best for you. But I challenge you to think about when the “quiet” part of your day is and dedicate it to personal worship. A time like this could form a habit of communion with him that lasts well into your future.

2. Change Your Posture to Refresh Your Worship

I was challenged about two years ago to get on my knees more when I pray. It’s a simple idea, but it made me realize that I couldn’t remember the last time I had bowed myself before Jesus. So, I started to make it part of my daily prayer routine. And I have to admit, I love it.

There are many biblical examples of people bowing and lying prostrate before God in prayer. To me, the most compelling is Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. In Luke 22:4, we read that  Jesus “…withdrew from them about a stone’s throw and knelt down and prayed…” What followed was one of the most earnest prayers ever uttered, where we see our Savior’s emotional reaction to the task before him. A few verses later, Luke writes Jesus was “in agony” and sweated blood. The King of kings and Lord of lords was on his knees, desperate before his Father.

Brothers and sisters, if Jesus Christ was humble enough to bow in prayer, you and I ought to be as well. Getting on my knees helps me remember these two things:

  1. I desperately need God and his intervention every day
  2. I need to regularly humble my heart because of pride’s strong gravitational pull

I’ll admit, it’s not comfortable. The first few weeks gave me sore knees. I got acquainted with the floor and the things that live on it in new ways. I was also keenly aware of how awkward it looked on the rare occasion that a family member stumbled upon the sight of me. But if I’m honest, I could use a lot less comfort and a lot more spiritual desperation. I find that I pray more earnestly when I’m on my knees than when I’m comfortably seated on the sofa with my freshly ground coffee.

I know that for some this is physically challenging. For others, it seems like eye-rolling legalism. But I challenge you to take stock of the posture of both your body and your heart before the Lord. I don’t think any of the founding fathers of the church would regret a single second of the time they spent with Jesus on their knees.

Do You Need a Refresh?

Getting up early and changing my posture have helped me refresh my personal worship, but maybe they are not what you need. I don’t know where your personal worship needs attention. But, I’m willing to bet that you need more quiet and less noise, more prayer and less comfort. So, give these two things a try or seek the Lord for how you personally need to refresh your worship. You won’t regret it.

This article about how to refresh your worship originally appeared here.

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