Many of you reading this didn’t gather with your local church last Sunday. Many more of you will not gather in coming weeks. Every aspect of life is very different today, and that is certainly true of the church.
But, remember, the church is not where you go, it is who you are. As you consider what it looks like to belong to and care for your church today, think about your brothers and sisters in Christ, not the building. Then, consider these steps:
- Pray for your church. Just because you didn’t gather on Sunday doesn’t mean that your church doesn’t need your prayers. Commit to praying regularly through the directory and for your leadership.
- Support your pastor. Did you gather for worship Sunday? Did you cancel? Trust me on this, your pastor is doing his level best to care for you and for the entire church body. You don’t have to agree with his decisions, but support him anyway. He is trying to love you as best as he knows how. There was never a COVID-19 course in seminary. Say special prayers for him as he tries to change his ministry to fit this new reality.
- Commit to personal spiritual disciplines. Corporate worship is incredibly important. However, you can worship at home. You can worship privately and you can worship as a family. Spend time in God’s word, in prayer, and in worship. Journal, sing, and celebrate God’s goodness and love.
- Tithe. When churches do not gather, people often forget that the bills of a church continue to have to be paid. Please, if you can, continue tithing. If you haven’t signed up for online giving, now is the time. You can also mail a check. Bless your church by tithing. And, if you are financially able to do so, give extra. The financial strain on churches will pile up if this goes on for more than a few weeks.
- Participate. You can’t go to the church building, but participate in a Facebook group or join in a group text with your Sunday school class. If your church is doing a live feed, plan to gather around a screen and join with your church body spread abroad as they break open God’s word together. Find ways to participate with your church even when you can’t gather together.
- Evangelize. The world is filled with fear. Christians are called to respond not in fear, but faith. As opportunity presents itself on the phone, social media, or even text messages, share the hope that is within you.
- Be patient. No one is more anxious to gather again as a church than your pastor and the other leaders in your church. Please be patient as they try to determine when the best time to do that will be.
- Share resources. If you are a part of a church that is pushing out digital content for discipleship during these days, share that with others. Post it to social media or text it to friends. By sharing resources, you are not only helping your church to minister to others, you are blessing those who receive the material as well.
- Check on your brothers and sisters in Christ. Check on the sick and pray for them. But, consider also the single and widowed in your church. As we all endure social isolation, this is especially hard on those who are isolated within their own homes.
- Pray For The Next Worship Service. I can hardly wait until we gather together again to worship at Malvern Hill. We know that it will be at least two weeks, maybe longer. But, I expect that when that day arrives, our people who have been deprived of corporate worship and isolated from their church body will respond with hearts of joy and gratitude. Pray for that next worship service. I’m praying that the next worship service is the beginning of a great revival in our country. Join with me in that prayer.
These are a few tips. Please share what you are doing to support your church right now. We are all learning together through this process.
