In-person gatherings and the road back to normal
By Pastor Rob Paul
Huffman Baptist Church, Birmingham
At Huffman Baptist Church, where I serve as pastor, we have started the road back to normal. Some think we should flip a switch and be back to normal immediately.
Others are not even ready to start the journey. I am somewhere in between.
The road back to normal will require prayer. It also will require:
- Caution. So much about COVID-19 is unknown. Even within the scientific community there is no consensus. With an abundance of caution, our leadership enacted an extensive protocol for returning to gathered worship.
- Compassion. In my church, a third of our membership is not ready to return to gathered worship. One-third is ready to return, but they have concerns. We must have compassion for those who cannot return and for those who are not ready to return.
- Humility. We will make mistakes. I will make mistakes. None of us have ever traveled this road. And to continue the metaphor, some of us have trouble asking for directions. Lord, help me to be willing to admit when I got off at the wrong exit.
- Grace. Because leaders will make mistakes, the rest of us need to show grace when they do.
- Cooperation. Remember that those who are shepherding your church are making decisions with your best interest at heart.
- Patience. Enjoy the journey. Even in the pain and discomfort, God is teaching us something. Be patient. Some will want to anesthetize the pain. … I’m thinking there may be more lamentation than true celebration until we get back to “normal.”
- Evaluation. At our church, we will return to normal in measured phases so that we can evaluate. We want to be good neighbors and good citizens. We do not want to make decisions that put people at risk unnecessarily. And we certainly don’t want to be the epicenter of a new outbreak.
There are some things from our pre-pandemic days that we need to leave behind and many things from the pandemic that we need to continue.
Many of our churches that were inwardly focused have rediscovered what it means to serve our neighbors.
Churches that thought of their building as a meeting location have discovered that their address is a ministry point.
We have discovered that technology is an incredible asset. And we have discovered that Jesus is enough!
There are some things from our pre-pandemic days that we need to leave behind and many things from the pandemic that we need to continue.
Many of our churches that were inwardly focused have rediscovered what it means to serve our neighbors.
Churches that thought of their building as a meeting location have discovered that their address is a ministry point.
We have discovered that technology is an incredible asset. And we have discovered that Jesus is enough!
Support our educators
We are in the midst of truly difficult days. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to bring disruptions in ways we are simply not prepared for.
One area the pandemic is causing unique disruption is in our local schools. I know this first hand because my sweet wife, Shelby, is a third grade teacher.
Mrs. Curlee’s world is scattered and confusing right now, and yet she is hard at work preparing, adapting and growing.
All of our teachers are being tested like never before, but here’s what I see — passionate, innovative and caring teachers and educators who need our support more than ever.
Our students will take their cues from us. If we complain and fuss about all the challenges ahead of us, our young ones will do the same.
But if we lean into God’s grace, practice neighborly concern for one another and “go the extra mile,” then the upcoming school year will be successful in spite of the challenges before us.
James 5:16 says, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” I believe this in the very core of my being!
Superintendents, board members, teachers and school staff members, know that I am praying fervently for you. I trust you to make wise decisions based on the best information you have at the time.
I pledge my support, and the support of my church, to you all as we work together to see our students through this upcoming year.
Dear neighbors, I hope you’ll join me in doing the very same.
Pastor Ben Curlee
Lineville Baptist Church
Who won’t return to church?
It is one of the most common questions we get from church leaders: When will all the members return to in-person services?
Leaders do not like my response: Never. It is a reality that church leaders and members are hesitant to accept.
Here are the five most common dropout groups:
- The decreasing attendance members
- The disconnected church members
- The church-is-another-activity church members
- The constant-critic church members
- The cultural Christian church members.
Church leaders and church members, however, should not fret about these losses. You may feel the pain of the losses; that is normal. But God has a plan for your church to embrace the new reality to which you are headed.
Head into His future with confidence. God’s got your church. And He’s got you.
It’s cliché, but the best days are likely just ahead.
Adapted with permission from churchanswers.com. Read the full post by Thom Rainer at tabonline.org/the-wonts.
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“Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things.”
Henry Ward Beecher
American clergyman and social reformer
Please pray for the despair and anger that many are feeling to be channeled into service and sacrifice for others. Pray that God will use the brokenness being felt by millions to soften hearts to receive both physical and spiritual help.
Send Relief missions partner
Beirut, Lebanon
When we face adversity, Jesus wants His love and hope to spill out of us. The only way this can happen is if we draw close to Him. His love fills us to overflowing and changes the way we respond to life and those around us.
Katie Minter Jones
Musella, Ga.
One of our greatest responsibilities as leaders in Christ’s church is to clearly communicate what discipleship looks like and how one fits in the process of following Jesus. If we don’t communicate what our ministry is about or how discipleship happens, then those in our ministry will fill in the gaps we leave, and both you and those you lead will be frustrated with the results.
Cody Hensley
Pastor to students and families
Glynwood Baptist Church, Prattville
The greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions and not upon our circumstances.
Martha Washington
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
Author C.S. Lewis
It’s more satisfying and fulfilling to do a difficult thing that’s right than an easy thing that’s wrong. When your conscience speaks, listen.
Sports analyst Tony Dungy
Former NFL coach
That growing sense of entitlement ruins church leaders every time. When we stop believing that amazing grace has saved “a wretch like me,” we begin to act like God owes us His blessings.
Chris Crain via Facebook
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From the Twitterverse
@haines_matt
There’s getting things done and there’s doing things the right way, and sometimes those two things are far apart from one another. Wisdom is knowing how to do both.
@benmandrell
Send your pastor an encouraging text to stoke the fire for preaching. August is normally a wind-in-your-back month, but this year is different. It’s a challenge to stay motivated week in, week out. He’s likely feeling weary.
@richardaross
You will probably live one-fourth of your life AFTER you turn 65. If you adore King Jesus, your heart’s desire will be His kingdom and glory. “The righteous still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green” (Ps. 92:14).
@scottywardsmith
I’ve never regretted 1. assuming the best about people; 2. overlooking as much as possible; 3. offering more encouragement than advice and criticism; 4. remembering the log in my eye will always skew how I see my pain, disappointments and other people.
@MichaelCatt
My concern is the American church isn’t ready to tackle the new needs in the valley. In the midst of multiple crises, we’ve not prayed for power to address the pains and needs in the valley. #sermonnotes
@designsforhope
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Rom. 15:13).
@DrJIPacker
The Puritans were and remain an example of folk who lived slowly enough to think deeply about God.
@billygraham
“Happy is the person who has learned the secret of being content with whatever life brings him and has learned to rejoice in the simple and beautiful things around him.”
@desiringgod
Boldness without gentleness betrays the unrelenting kindness of God. Gentleness without courage betrays the God who never compromises.
@richardblackaby
Society tends to prefer lies it agrees with rather than truths it doesn’t like.
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