Covid-19: Respected Church Leaders Share Church Growth Tips For The New World.
If you are like some smart pastors we have meet, you're probably researching for tips for church growth in a fast changing world.
Look, our world is changing, and only the dynamic pastor can lead a church successful in today's world.
The world is changing rapidly, how rapidly are you catching up?
Take the Covid-19 crisis for example, many people are screaming "open the church" while others are completely confused on the "next step" to take.
I have seen some church experience exponential reach, while others are completely lockdown.
What should pastors and church leaders be doing in times like this?
Well, we spent hours upon hours trying to reach some of the smartest church leaders on the planet to share church growth tips that you can use to grow in a fast changing world.
Look, our world has changed, and our soul winning pattern must change, if we want to reach more people, and remain relevant to the people we want to win.
Want to see these tips for church growth?
Well, let's get into it!
Enter Peter Guirguis!
Peter is the guy behind alot of great things at Calvary Chapel South Bay.
Listen carefully to what he told me;
Peter Guirguis
1. We have created a connect page on our website and have communicated to our church members to go to this page.
They can sign up to receive notifications from us via email or text message.
Here is the link so you can take a look https://ccsouthbay.org/connect.
2. Here are my two biggest advice that I would give to churches and ministries going forward as it concerns COVID-19 and growing their churches.
1. Commit to praying and hearing God's voice. I can't stress this enough.
God has something very specific for you, your church, and your ministry to do.
It's important to know how to hear God's voice and do whatever He is uniquely showing you to do in your church or ministry.
2. Pray about sharing your service online and doing online evangelism and discipleship.
I believe that in the next era, the Lord is preparing the church for a great harvest, maybe possibly even as many as 1 billion souls that will be ushered into the Kingdom of God.
If that is the case, then it could be that God is going to accomplish this using technology.
So my recommendation would be to pray, get directions from the Lord, and see if you can move forward in doing more online ministry.
I believe that in the next era, the Lord is preparing the church for a great harvest, maybe possibly even as many as 1 billion souls...if that is the case,see if you can move forward in doing more online ministry.
Let's keep moving!
So, I spoke with another amazing person;
Well, she's not directly leading a church BUT she works with churches and leaders.
She shared what churches she has worked with are currently doing.
I would love for you to pay close attention to her;
Jenni Catron
1) While I don't directly lead a church or work at a church, I work with a number of churches and those that are calling their members and creating more opportunities for online engagement are having great impact.
2) I would encourage churches to go back to the fundamentals as you come through COVID.
Why do you do the work that you do? What is the mission, vision and values that are core to your ministry?
Reconnect with those guiding principles and then revisit your strategies for how you will live out your mission.
What did you learn about new or different ministry strategies because of the limitations of COVID?
What will you start, stop, and keep doing moving forward?
This is a great time to reconsider what is most effectively helping you accomplish your mission.
The true test of a leader is what he does or doesn't do when there's crisis, and like you know, there's crises in the world always.
Clearly define your mission, vision and core-values of your ministry, then create opportunity for online engagement to stand a chance to make impact.
First, clearly define your mission, vision and core-values of your ministry, then create opportunity for online engagement to stand a chance to make impact.
I need you to listen to this next person.
Ron Edmondson!
He's not only the Senior Pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, he's also a highly respected thought leader when it comes to leadership and church matters.
Ron Edmondson
1. We have increased our communication tremendously - adding a “Monday Update”, numerous online worship opportunities, calling members personally, and encouraging smaller group Zoom meetings.
2. Ask three questions - What are you keeping that you begun doing during this pandemic time? What were you doing that you are not going to do anymore because you can’t keep doing everything? What had you been doing that you will now do differently?
Also, now is the time to evaluate your staff/volunteer structure to accommodate the new add-on digital opportunities.
Those will not and should not disappear after we are back to “normal”.
They had been, but even more now the best “front door” for the church.
Pastor Sam Adeyemi came up with what some people will call "controversial" stand.
He's the senior pastor, Daystar Christian Center, one of the biggest churches in Nigeria, a respected thought leader on all things leadership.
He shared some church growth tips that you should consider right now!
He believes that churches with huge congregation will experience significant drop for two reasons;
1: He said most of the churches with huge congregation didn't really help their members during the pandemic, and people will begin to question their genuineness.
2: The corona virus pandemic has made people to have intimate fellowship with God in their bedroom, they will likely want to continue on that path.
Pst Sam Adeyemi
I have pondered upon this issue severally because the church may not be the same again after this COVID-19 experience.
As you can see, many people have been receiving messages via online broadcast from their homes.
It’s no longer like before that they have to be physically present in churches,
Now that many have been used to worshiping God from the comfort of their rooms, will they go to church when COVID-19 is finally over?
Many Christians may also feel relaxed on Sundays when they usually go to church.
Also, many Christians have start questioning the genuineness of their churches for them with little or no help coming their way during the pandemic period when hunger is holding sway,
As you can see, many people have been receiving messages via online broadcast from their homes. It’s no longer like before that they have to be physically present in churches,
Clearly, as you can see;
1: You can no longer do this as you use to, you must be dynamic because even the people you want to reach are dynamic.
Even Paul the apostle was dynamic in his days. He once said, unto the Jews he became as a a Jew, and unto the Romans, he became a Roman.
Why?
"That I may win them ALL".
2: You need to focus most of your efforts toward online ministry because that's where the people are currently.
I often tell pastors to take building their digital assets as they would their physical assets.
If you would spend $200,000 to build physical structure, you should also consider investing alot of money and time to digital.
The future of church growth is digital.
Anyone who doesn't take digital serious,doesn't take the future of his church serious.
Now is the time to make that move, today is the day!