Four things pastors don’t have to do right now
By Aaron Wilson
FactsandTrends.net
God created the local church to operate in a rhythm of gathering for corporate worship and being scattered on mission. But during this off-balance season when churches can’t come together in person, pastors are having to adapt.
This creates extra work for pastors. A church that’s constantly scattered takes more effort to shepherd.
Still, God intends for pastors to worship Him through rest, even during a pandemic. To help achieve this, here are four things you can cross off your to-do list as a pastor during COVID-19.
- Pastors don’t have to recreate the essence of a physical gathering.
As worship services have moved online, pastors are feeling the pressure to digitally replicate a typical Sunday morning experience. But regardless of the production quality of virtual gatherings, they will never replace the power of worshipping together in person. It’s unnatural for a local church to be physically apart week after week. Services that take place online will therefore always cause you and your people to feel like something is lacking. This is actually a good thing as it reminds your people what they were made for and what they’re missing. - Pastors don’t have to analyze their online preaching stats.
Online services now allow pastors to track views, impressions, finishes, likes, comments, shares and even what turns of phrase elicited certain emojis on Facebook. Most of this data isn’t truly reflective of a sermon’s impact and can be easily misinterpreted if you’re not accustomed to tracking such stats. Don’t give into the feeling you must scrutinize your online sermon analytics. Preach as faithfully as you can to an empty room, take a break and then move on to the next week’s message. - Pastors don’t need to have all the answers.
“When will this be over? Why is it happening? What is God up to?” Because pastors have the gift of teaching, they instinctively want to help answer such questions from their people. But in these strange times, it can be an act of worship to replace the need for answers with a simple trust in God. Don’t entertain the impossible burden of trying to help your people make sense of everything that’s going on. There’s freedom and worship found in a pastor saying, “I can’t answer all your questions, but I can model what it looks like to trust God during this time.” - Pastors don’t have to carry the church on their shoulders.
The challenges presented by COVID-19 are real and demand solutions that require creativity and resourcefulness. But as pastors tap into a spirit of pragmatism, they can start to believe the lie that it’s up to them to hold the church together. Christ boldly declared to Peter, “I will build my church,” and Paul wrote that nothing in all creation would separate God’s people from His love. That includes the coronavirus. As COVID-19 continues, take time each week to reassess how you are spending your time. Look to delegate or even eliminate activities that could be fostering burnout or neglect to your health and the care of your own family.
Christ is the head of the Church. The government will rest upon His shoulders. Regardless of how it may feel, it’s not all on you to hold things together. Christ lovingly corrected Mary for being “worried and upset about many things,” imploring her to make “the right choice” of focusing on what was necessary. What might the Lord be encouraging you to shave off your list of expectations during this season of busyness so that — in the midst of a pandemic — you can make the right choices for your family and ministry?
EDITOR’S NOTE — Aaron Wilson is associate editor for Facts & Trends. Read his full article at tabonline.org/4-things.
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There are things you don’t really think about until you see them first hand.
I was grabbing a quick lunch at a drive-thru, and there was an elderly couple walking from an 18-wheeler parked at a nearby parking lot. They tried to order on foot, and the restaurant worker refused to serve them.
They looked defeated.
I understand in “normal times” this is a safety precaution, but we can all see that times aren’t normal. Things can and should be adjusted.
I understand no inside foot traffic is allowed, but there has to be a better way for truck drivers trying to get a warm meal and not just a bag of chips from a gas station.
I paid and got my order and was able to get their attention before they made it back to the truck. They accepted my offer to get their food “legally” from my car in the drive thru, and I waited again.
This didn’t take too much time out of my day, but I can only imagine they may have been searching for hours.
I’m [overwhelmed] over simple things that Christ shows you when you pay attention. Be kind. Serve others.
My heart is thankful to have met Charles and Linda from South Carolina at a “social distance.”
LeAnn Andrews
Birmingham, Ala.
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The Church in Action
The Baptist Campus Ministries (BCM) of Coastal Alabama Community College in Monroeville gave a $500 gift to Wes and Ashley Costello, church planters in New York City through the North American Mission Board. The Costellos moved to NYC from Montgomery last summer. Wes is the housing and project coordinator at the Metropolitan New York Baptist Association. Using gifts from Alabama Baptists, the Costellos made 44 goody bags filled with a Bible, masks and snacks. They delivered the bags to residents in their neighborhood. They also used gifts to provide lunch for doctors and nurses at a local hospital. The Costellos ask that we all continue to pray for ways they can reach out to their community and have gospel conversations along the way.
Toni Kelly, BCM Director
Coastal Alabama Community College
So grateful to God for sacrificial servants. It was awesome to see people volunteering all over the county to help those in need [following the April 19 storms]. Please continue to pray for those still without power and needing assistance.
Tyler Eiland, DOM
Chilton Baptist Association
Many individuals and families in Lee County lack adequate food. Providence Baptist Church, Opelika, is serving as a distribution site for the Lee County EMA and the Food Bank of East Alabama.
Providence Baptist Church Opelika
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It is a beautiful sight to see when communities come together to help each other.
Craig Carlisle
Director of Missions, Etowah Baptist Association
During these stressful, uncertain days we need each other’s prayers more than ever. Set up a weekly time for a video chat to pray with your missionaries. Keep it to a small group, and pray specifically for each other’s needs. Use the time to encourage each other with stories of how you have seen God at work around you and in you.
Hugh Johnson
IMB.org
A few days ago someone asked me what I was thinking of about the COVID-19 outbreak. My immediate response was: “I am thinking about how big God is and how small I am.”
Roger Willmore, DOM
Calhoun Baptist Association
The term crisis means “a turning point for better or worse.” It comes from the Greek word, “krisis,” which literally means “decisions.” A crisis puts us at a crossroad where decisions must be made — under pressure — that will impact the course of our lives, positively or negatively, from that moment forward.
Gregory L. Hunt, author
“Leading Congregations Through Crisis”
Neither the absence of sports nor the shortage of toilet paper nor the abundance of Zoom meetings, neither home-schooling nor the pounds we’ve added since we’ve been stuck at home, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:38–39, COVID-19 Translation)
Pastor Travis Collins
FBC Huntsville
Churches, your pastor is now limited as to what he can do. Please do not penalize him in these days. His family still needs the income that he normally receives from your church.
John Killian, DOM
Fayette Baptist Association
Spend as much time preparing for the invitation as you do the sermon. Just like you already know where you’re going in your sermon, you need to know where you’re going in your invitation.
Shane Pruitt
North American Mission Board
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From the Twitterverse
@DustyMcLemore
It’s easy to acknowledge God’s ability to calm the storms of life while sailing upon a calm sea, but its quite a different reality when you’re in the middle of a raging sea!
@BWard_13
My 4 year old: Dad, can we go to church? I’m tired of watching it on the TV. I want to actually go there. We haven’t been there in a long time. Me: I know son, I know.
@DrStevenJLawson
When you stand before God on the last day, you will need someone to represent you. Jesus Christ is an Advocate who has never lost a case. Trust Him.
@philwaldrep
Every person in the world continues to look for satisfaction. They will not find it until they meet Jesus.
@craiggroeschel
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” — Proverbs 19:21
@Tedashii
Loss has taught me to not take anything or anyone for granted. What’s here today can definitely be gone tomorrow.
@TrevinWax
We study the truths of God’s word, so that our hearts may be engaged with our Maker and our hands and feet be moved to action.
@tonymerida
The greatest need of the hour is a revived and joyful church. … Unhappy Christians are a poor recommendation for the faith. … The exuberant joy of the early Christians was one of the most potent factors in the spread of Christianity.
— D.M. Lloyd-Jones, 1964
@greglaurie
We cannot control circumstances. Nor can we control what people say to us or about us. We cannot control everything that comes our way, but we can control our reaction to it.
@shadesmtn
Paul thrived in isolation because he set his gaze on Jesus. In what ways do you need to reorient your focus this week?
@PastorJFC
No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord.
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