Reconnecting the Disconnected
One of the joys of ministry is connecting with people in the church. We rejoice in seeing newcomers delight in the life of the church and we are encouraged when we see the church organically value the ministry of engagement. We cultivate genuine love for one another that spans generations, demographics, professions, and hobbies. We hold seriously our vows at the sacrament of baptism and we mourn with hope and confidence in the passing of the saints. We connect because the Holy Spirit has united us in Christ. We are nourished in the corporate worship and through the fellowship of the body. But what happens when the fellowship stops?
When the various stages of “shutdown” began in the spring of 2020, churches were forced to make rapid decisions on how to operate and to rapidly consider opportunities for digital engagement. And while safety-conditioned in-person worship services resumed shortly thereafter in many areas, the pre-shutdown day-to-day life of the church has not likely resumed as it was in any area. Furthermore, many in our churches have not returned to the in-person activities which are offered or have only done so selectively, as they feel comfortable or are medically advised. All in all, we can expect that many in our churches have become disconnected, even if they would have intended otherwise.
Recently, while meeting with a fellow elder in my church for coffee, he commented how he has grown to feel detached from the church over this past year. Despite actively shepherding as he’s able, despite engaging in all the offerings of church activities, despite leading a small Bible study group faithfully through the hurdles of the year, he had begun to feel separated from the family of the church. Likewise, a deacon and I recently attended the joyful wedding ceremony of a sweet young Christian couple at a large church in a neighboring town. Afterwards, the first comment we made to one another was how much we enjoyed the singing of so many joined in worship, and how desperately we had missed it. But, unfortunately, we know the challenges that exist extend beyond an elder who desires to be more active in leadership and a deacon who desires corporate worship. We know the challenges elicited through this past year have affected our women’s ministries, our community outreach and mercy ministries. We have faced disruptions to our regular gatherings for teaching, discipleship, and the breaking of bread with one another. We have no doubt also struggled with the effects of sin in the hearts of sinners who are now not able to benefit from the accountability, exposure, and encouragement of their brothers and sisters in Christ. We have seen, or will likely soon see, many who do not return because they have endured a challenging year by dulling, drifting, and hardening.
Praise the Lord that it appears our world will soon be emerging from this pandemic. We must be expectant as churches, however, that when we turn the lights back on to all of our pre-pandemic church activities, the scenes will very likely look quite different. As our members, our leaders, and regular visitors, have been forcibly disengaged from the normal life of the church to which they had become accustomed, there will be increased work in ministry ahead and we should be intentional about this work. We should not presume that because we put the events back on the calendar in the back of the bulletin or on the church website, we should not presume that because we announce them from our pulpits or via an email blast, that everything will simply resume where they left off last spring. We must also be mindful to not presume that the persistent absentee is absent due to continued concerns about COVID. No doubt, in some ways the rapid gains in technological literacy, which provided for our continued connection during pandemic lockdowns, will provide a future convenience and potential temptation, leading to disconnection as we emerge from them.
Budget this time into your church’s ministry. Budget this work onto the agendas of your session, your diaconate, the Women of the Church, and other groups. Many feel disconnected when they otherwise would not have been, but as we know, disconnection, lack of engagement, separation, and distance can all become normative, even when we don’t prefer it. Be intentional about this work. The fields are indeed ripe for harvest, even in the challenges of this season.