This season may not seem beautiful at the moment, but I believe we have a unique opportunity to see our ministries thrive today and in the days to come. Some of the greatest moments in church history have occurred when the boldness of the gospel meets severe constraints. While we often assume creativity and innovation come from an abundance of resources, necessity is truly the mother of invention. Constraints do not have to be a hindrance; instead, they can be the catalyst for a new movement of faith.
For example, a friend working for a missions organization shared how the gospel is spreading through China during the pandemic. Protective masks have rendered facial recognition software ineffective, allowing Christians to share their faith with significantly less risk. These believers are creatively and boldly turning a constraint into a gospel opportunity. I want to help our leaders approach the current crisis with that same innovation as they seek to restructure, realign, and navigate the specific phases to reopen your church.
As we process these transitions, we must realize the journey won’t be as neat as a spreadsheet. Asking critical questions before reopening is essential to your success. By focusing on the right attention points for reopening, your congregation can find a healthy rhythm and emerge stronger than ever before.
I want to help our churches approach the current crisis with boldness, creativity and innovation to restructure, realign and go through the phases to reopen. I know we are all processing the phases of reopening then hoping to find a normal rhythm of church, but we must realize it won’t be as neat and clean as spreadsheets.
9 CONSIDERATIONS TO REALIGN, RESTRUCTURE AND REOPEN YOUR CHURCH
Here are nine things to consider.
1. What are your current constraints? How are you embracing them? You should view constraints not as a restrictor but as a stimulus for increased creativity and positive change.
2. What is your posture or mindset related to your current constraints? Are you responding as a victim, neutralizer or transformer? You must understand your mindset, methodology and motivations as you face constraints.
3. Have you recently heard “That’s the way we’ve always done it …”? Sometimes, we get locked into doing things certain ways without even thinking about why. However, a crisis forces us to challenge our assumptions and break path dependence.
4. How are you currently using your resources? Your church and ministries will likely need to reallocate resources during this time. You must consider what to stop, shift, strategize, and scale in ministry.
5. How can you shift the attitude of “We can’t because …” to “We can if …” to find new solutions that you didn’t consider previously? You must ensure your team remains optimistic, flexible, and focused on what essential ministry has to happen with a “make it work” approach.
6. What have you observed that informs how you realign ministries to serve your people best during the crisis and after? You must consider how to do ministry during the crisis, what ministry looks like right after the crisis, and how the crisis establishes a new normal for your ministry.
7. What’s your contingency plan? Contingency planning ensures continuity of church and ministry operations as you respond to the crisis and will help your church to restore normal operations with the least amount of disruption following the crisis.
8. How are you evaluating your ministries and adjusting as needed? As we face uncertainty, sometimes we must quickly move forward in making a decision. The quicker you are at making solid decisions, the better leader you will become.
9. What are the components of your church’s success right now? Or what are the things that may be hindering it? You must understand the key components of success in leading through this time.
Want more information on these nine considerations? We have created a free course that includes nine videos and 15 downloadable documents to help your churches move toward a new normal in response to COVID-19. Get started here.
This article originally appeared on NewChurches.com and is reposted here by permission.