covid-19

Due to the coronavirus crisis, churches all across the country are learning how to host worship and fellowship online instead of in the sanctuary. In making this switch, many church leaders are facing the unprecedented challenge of relaying the importance of continual generosity to their congregants without being able to encourage them in person. 

With the government temporarily requiring churches around the nation to shut their doors in response to COVID-19, online worship services are becoming the new norm. We don’t know how this will affect the way we do church in the long term. For the next few weeks or months, your church needs to figure out how to make an online worship service feel more like the real thing and welcome people who’ve never experienced a live stream service before.

Live streaming isn't right for every church. In an ideal world, equipment would be cheap and every church would have the infrastructure to host their own service via live stream. Now, many churches are struggling to make something work in a short amount of time because of COVID-19. This isn't a perfect world and while God isn't surprised, many churches have been. So, with that thought in mind, what are some things you can do today to maintain community and meet other than live streaming?

Basketball analogies are common among people growing up in Indiana, myself included. We compare most everything to a full-court press, slam dunk, or a variety of basketball terms. The Coronavirus is no exception and is certainly a game-changer for the American Church. Suddenly we find ourselves without the comfortable lead we have always enjoyed. The preparations we make over the next few weeks will have a great impact on the outcome for our church and its congregation.

This week has brought with it unprecedented events as churches throughout the United States comply with state recommendations to promote 'social distancing,' thus suspending Sunday services until further notice. It's been a fast-moving train, or perhaps more like a race car, as local, state, and national protocols have changed by the hour.