virtual church

Don’t we all hope that the online-only days are behind us? But with cool weather, flu season, and a million other variables, we just don’t know what to expect. Would you be ready for online church? Set up your attendees and staff for an easier pivot when you cover your bases and get ready for the possibility of another online church season.

Video conferencing for your entire church is not the same thing as several dozen small conversations happening in your fellowship room. Breaking up the experience into self-organizing groups creates room for deeper, more engaging connections and strengthens teams.

Receiving a church bulletin as you walk into a worship service has been the norm for decades. Certainly, church leaders have put the bulletin through several facelifts over the years. However, perhaps the most significant shift in recent years has been the move to a church app version of the bulletin.

Planning Christmas events and services takes coordination, communication, vision, and attention to detail. In 2020, we’ll add Plan B and Plan C contingencies for COVID-19 and any other surprises this year holds.

A new survey of churches across America reveals a turnaround for church financial health — halting a downward trend in offerings caused by COVID-19. The findings are welcome news for churches as the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) launches the second annual Bless Your Pastor (BlessYourPastor.org) campaign to equip churches for October Pastor Appreciation Month.

New survey data from Faithlife, the church technology company behind Logos Bible Software, reveals that while the majority of churches are returning to in-person gatherings, leaders face numerous challenges to church unity within their congregations.

With a different kind of fall looming in front of us thanks to COVID-19, many families, including mine, will be homeschooling or distance learning. All summer I’ve been thinking, “What will the fall be like? What could I do differently if we’re distance learning?” Although our kids are enrolled in California public schools, perhaps this is my opportunity to work in a Bible curriculum before they get started for the day. In the past, I’ve used a short devotional or reformed lectionary guide to get my kids a little scripture with their daily vitamins and orange juice. With less driving hither and yon, it is possible your family might have more time to work in a more robust Bible curriculum. There are multiple online Bible curriculums that have been beefed up during COVID-19 to give us homeschooling newbies a little more confidence. 

Just when you thought the days of the family-sponsored pew were over, COVID-19 has completely changed the way we do church. Now most members are required to reserve their seats in order to attend a church service. In parts of the country where the virus isn't running rampant and indoor events are allowed, most organizations must ensure social distance and 25 or 50 percent capacity per state orders. To do this effectively, churches must use a managed seating software program to make sure they won't have too many people attending their services.