Want to share a story? Church campuses will be smaller, more energy efficient and will maximize smart technology. Should you find any, invest your time in training and equipping them. Jesus died to break the power of death and the Devil. When he died he destroyed death and defanged the Devil. But this is whats amazing: there is a cure. Everything will be as its supposed to be and function as it was meant to functionin peace and righteousness forever and ever. There is a sure promise that there will be a day when all such things will end forever and we will be in a place where there will be no more sickness and no more suffering. Christians need not fear death but we must fear for what death in hell will do to everyone who has not yet put their faith in Jesus. All Rights Reserved. The majority churches will continue to have a Sunday worship service, but effective churches will create multiple options to connect on days other than Sunday. A few weeks into the current health pandemic, I was jolted into reality when I heard Bill Wilson, executive director of the Center for Healthy Churches, suggest, We should prepare for COVID-19 to change the way we do church more than anything in our lifetime.. The risk worth taking is not one that endangers someones physical wellbeing by violating the spatial separation we must maintain. Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. Hall is the leader and founder of Pulse, an evangelistic organization that reaches young people around the world with the Gospel. In these moments, its tempting to doubt Gods goodness, to doubt his wisdom, to doubt his power, to doubt his ability to control. Prepare a two-minute testimony and casually share it via video on social media. Pulses online evangelism broadcasts reached young people around the world in 2020. Take the extra steps to be available for conversations that lead to the hope we have in Christ. The pandemic, loss of income, and altered daily rhythms torment us outwardly, yet those realities can be overshadowed by the fear, anxiety, loneliness, and anger that erupt within. Responding Faithfully: COVID-19 | Duke Divinity School Despite this, however, Southwestern Seminary . The final promise of the gospel is this: that in this present world, we will face troubletroubles of various kinds (John 16:33). Ask how they're doing and how you might pray for them during this uncertain time. The next chapter of church life will be much more incarnational and much less institutional.. Southern Baptist evangelist Sammy Tippit has plans for gospel witnessing during the coming months in Iran, where 45,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported. Volunteering to serve will mean a lot to your church leaders during this season. and his wife, Christy, lead Christian Challenge at California State University, Chico, where they seek to introduce college students to Jesus and raise up multiplying disciples. Thousands of churches have now successfully transitioned into livestreaming or broadcasting pre-recorded weekend worship services and have learned that this is a wonderful platform for gospel proclamation. Of those people, 130,556 became Christians. Everyone is online now, and most have more time on their hands, so going live has great potential. Churches will be more community oriented. Their people are being encouraged to invite friends and neighbors to join in. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, these efforts have been put on pause. With today's population literally 6x's bigger, if a similar flu bug spread globally today it could potentially kill hundreds upon hundreds of millions of people. The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics helps Christians show unbelievers the truth, goodness, and beauty of the gospel as the only hope that fulfills our deepest longings. Jesus died as a human sacrifice for all of humanity's sin. As 2 Corinthians 5:8 reminds us,"to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." But what if you took time to reflect Jesus to others? Be sure to share these ideas in the Facebook group. It is my contention that leaders will need to be creative and think out of the box to discover new strategies and platforms for these challenging times. What does it take to begin a relationship with God? Preaching in the Wake of COVID-19 | Preaching Today "My sister had hope. As parts of our everyday life evaporate, they reveal a world desperate for deliverance from the effects of sin. This has understandably made evangelism harder to prioritize in the church. This is the day to make that phone call, send that email, write that letter explaining the hope we have within us (1 Peter 3:15). Paul is the author of Tips for Starting a College Ministry and the co-author, with Steve Shadrach, of The Fuel and The Flame: Igniting Your Life and Your Campus For Jesus Christ. Although only 2 percent of churches say they've had to cut an outreach ministry due to COVID, many pastors report pandemic-related difficulties including personal exhaustion and concern about the safety and well-being of members. Therefore, the place to begin your evangelism is always with prayer. During COVID-19 it might seem easy to sit at home and fear all the unknowns. If you have specific questions for a ministry, please use the contact information on the ministrys staff page. There is more openness now than ever before, Hall said. Rather than conversion being thought of merely as an introduction to Jesus, salvation language will employ multiple expressions that describe a re-orientation to following Jesus and holistically adopting the Jesus way of life. Invite them to accompany you on visitations. While it is true that many struggling churches may close, merge or re-purpose in the near future, this process already was under way and will only be accelerated by factors related to COVID-19. We hope you will! The spread of COVID-19 has convinced the world to consider the imminence of death and the purpose of their lives. She mentioned shed been struggling with serious family issues and felt broken and lost. And you see, whats deadly about that is when you doubt Gods goodness, you quit running to him for help because you dont tend to go for help to someone you no longer trust. Ive met kids in Russia who learned English by playing 'Call of Duty,' said Hall. Your pastors are working hard to serve and love you. With the variety of online programs now available, pastors are seeking the best ways to train/equip (often using how-to videos) their small group leaders to construct/host engaging out-of-the-building gatherings. If you'd like you could kick off the conversation with the coronavirus and then lead them to the three power points in Hebrews 2:14,15. Bible App for Kids . We must point them to the only One who can deliver/rescue us. It gets everyoneit gets everyone from birth. All rights reserved. Others are simply phoning or Facetiming with church members and former worship guests to inquire if they need prayer or assistance. Stay safe, hunker down, and remember Jesus and the glories of his gospel of grace. People are rarely offended when invited to something. Theres a lot of people who are now seekers. How Can We Love Our Non-Christian Neighbors During COVID-19? Follow up personally with those who comment. . Hall is the leader and founder of Pulse, an evangelistic organization that reaches young people around the world with the Gospel. Most evangelical leaders agree that the current COVID-19 epidemic and quarantine provides churches with wonderful opportunities to do community outreach and share the good news of Jesus. We must tie in current events with the timeless truth of Scripture to help our teens have a Biblical worldview of, well, the world. In 2020, events have shaken many institutions that people once considered invincible, said Hall. Hebrews 2:14. Turn your church into a daycare specifically for healthcare and safety workers (in cooperation with the city in order to comply with the essential expectation). Because ethnicity is part of the good of creation, we seek to honor and celebrate the ethnic identity of those with whom we serve as well as those we seek to reach. April 30, 2023. You can call or message them and say something like, One thing thats keeping me encouraged and connected during this time is my small group from church. Pray daily for the unbelievers we know. [Todays youth] have been raised by the internet. God has used COVID-19 to create the greatest evangelism opportunity in history, said evangelist Nick Hall. Spaces will be multi-purpose and shared by multiple groups. Because unbelievers have probably never been more willing both to listen and to consider the gospel of our Lord Jesus in their lifetimes than during this health crisis. 3 Questions For Setting God-Centered Goals, 3 Strategies for College Outreach During COVID-19, Dear College Students: The Mission Isnt Canceled, Get Updates About The Coronavirus In Your Inbox. Calling/texting neighbors when doing a grocery run to see if they need anything. Historically, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has had a formal door-to-door evangelism program titled "Everyday Evangelism" wherein professors and students venture daily into the neighborhoods around the seminary in order to share the Gospel with local residents. Tell them something you got from the sermon. The same can be said of the Gospel. We have the eternal Word of God that transforms lives. He draws near in love and grace, empowering us to face what we could not face without him. But, if you haven't also made more time to pray, you need to do that ASAP. To locate a specific ministry, use the site map on the home page. Create Covid-19 Kits filled with toilet paper, hand sanitizer and dried goods; distribute these in low-income neighborhoods. Consider implementing them now, during the coronavirus crisis, and then think of ways they can be ongoing evangelism opportunities. Copyright 2023, Southern Equip. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had[the power of death. The question now is, what step will we take today? They risked their lives to care even for non-Christians, demonstrating radical biblical values quite unknown in Roman culture of their day. Once youre on the call you can use a three-story outline: (1) their story, (2) your story, (3) Gods story. Here are five ways Ive been encouraged to reflect upon how this pandemic points us to the gospel. One young church plant that normally sees just over 200 in Sunday attendance is now delighted to find up to 1,500 viewers to their online services. Yet many of us are wrestling with how this is to be done wisely and winsomely with government mandated restrictions upon us. Ive heard of churches using their parking lots or drive-in movie theaters to provide drive through virus testing and/or food pantries for the needy. We are now six months into dealing with coronavirus concerns, and we are still discerning the impact the health pandemic will have on the church in the short term and the long term. Gathering together is the best way to get out the message and be heard. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected activities for many people. Many churches will have online members from different communities who connect with worship and mission virtually. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. While we are currently in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, portions of this guide remain helpful and relevant for LCMS congregations. Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Crus annual report and more. Because teenagers are talking about death now more than ever because of what's in the news (i.e., the coronavirus outbreak, Kobe's untimely death, etc) it is an important conversation to have with our teenagers right away. Gathering with those in your spiritual community will continue to be an important spiritual practice, but not necessarily perceived as the most important thing. Philip Ryken: Defining and Proclaiming Our Shared Gospel Message . I live in Center City, Philadelphia. The early church was known for sacrificially serving the dying and unselfishly embracing the sick, wounded and destitute who were often abandonedand so must we. The old six-point envelope system from my childhood, which included being present, on time, studying your lesson, bringing your offering, staying for worship and reading your Bible daily will become completely obsolete as a way of measuring spiritual fidelity. He sent his son to live as we could not live, to die an acceptable death, and to rise againconquering sin and death so that there would be a cure for the ultimate disease. We who know Christ have unchanging hope in the gospel and confidence He is working all this out for His sovereign purposes, for our good and for His glory. With total views of people hearing the Gospel last year, we had more people in a single year hear the Gospel than weve had in the last 15 years combined, he added. PDF Creative Evangelism Ideas And yes they will see Christ in how we serve (Matthew 5:16). Here are other creative and doable servant evangelism ideas suggested by and adapted from the Billy Graham Centers Send Institute: These are certainly challenging times with lots of uncertainties about what the future holds.