How can
I live out God’s call to follow Jesus in a day when physical proximity could
endanger the health of others? How can I mobilize a local body of believers
when our local government has asked us to shelter in place? How can I make an
impact in what could be one of the greatest times of social distress in the
history of our nation? And what about missionaries deployed around the world?
How can I continue my support of them? Here are some thoughts borne out of a
love of community and community missions and a passionate desire to see the
Body of Christ fully engaged:
Working with a team almost always produces a better
result… Leaders cannot and should not do it alone. Teams not only help
us share the burden of ministry action, they also produce a creative dynamic,
value spiritual gifts, and include the biblical component of encouraging our
growth as disciples. To have an even greater impact on your community, make the
strategic choice to create an associational or multi-church team.
Remember that there are organizations that existed
already to meet community needs… Churches, community organizations,
local government and even businesses in your community have developed systems
that address all manner of needs. Some of these organizations are unable to
serve right now due to an older volunteer base. However, some are continuing
faithfully and will be overwhelmed very soon as the effects of “sheltering at
home” impact wages and resources. Instead of starting something new, try
initially conducting a phone survey of these organizations in your ministry
area. Ask questions like: What community ministries and organizations need
help? What kind of help would be best? Supplies? Finances? Volunteers? Systems?
What community needs are not being addressed? How can and should the church
effectively address these needs?
Embrace the witness of prayer… Believe it or
not, our post Christian culture still values the work of prayer! So pray! Ask
how you can pray for those you see out in public. Go door to door in your
community and offer to pray for your neighbors (be extra disciplined in keeping
at least 6 feet distance). Pray genuinely and specifically. But don’t use your
prayer to preach to your neighbors! Some prayer strategies in a time of social
distancing are:
Prayer Calling, Prayer Driving, Praying “Off” the Porch, Virtual
Prayer Groups, Prayer Conference Calls, Prayer Lines, Prayer Partners. Also use
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to invite people to send you requests.
Identify the most vulnerable… You know James
1:27. This is what the church should always be known for. And if, in the face
of overwhelming need, you don’t know where to start, God has answered that
question for you! Seniors and individuals with serious preexisting medical
conditions were already isolated! Imagine how they must feel now! Apply this
question across your entire community and the opportunities to serve/connect
for Jesus exponentially multiply! Single parents, service sector workers,
foster families, deployed military…the list goes on! Think of how great a
blessing it would be for you to offer to mow the lawn for someone whose
breathing was compromised! Some of the simplest acts will mean the most!
Support front line personnel… Prayer of
course! Check on their families. Serve the institution. Identify needs they may
have. Again, go overboard in protecting their safety. Medical and public safety
personnel, social services employees, and many others. But in the face of a
pandemic, front line personnel might also include those that provide essential
public services like appliance repair, utility services, and even some retail
employees like those in pharmacies or grocery stores.
Go virtually as much as possible… There are a
myriad of ways to have face to face conversations without leaving the house.
Use every one of them! If someone does not have the capability or knowledge to
interact virtually, help make it happen! Be assured that there is an
opportunity for reaching out virtually to every single solitary group you can
think of in our society today.
Invite people to worship “with” you… Promote
your local church online – worship services, Bible studies, kids lessons, and
family resources. As you produce this content, remember to transition from
focusing on comforting and equipping your church family to content that will
engage the unchurched and the formerly churched as well. This is actually a
great time to connect your church body with a greater community that will
potentially come in person when this crisis is over. By the way, these are
strategies the church should prepare to continue when things are back to
normal.
Encourage giving financially… We may not be
able to go right now in the same way we usually go. And we have already
discussed praying! But we can also give! Give faithfully to local church
offerings and community needs, but also mission offerings and needs! In SBC
churches, remember how important the Annie Armstrong EASTER Offering is to the
North American Mission Board. And the organizations that assist people in need
every day in your communities are very likely about to have significantly more requests
than they can handle! What about Meals on Wheels? Or homeless shelters? Or free
clinics? What about a significant outreach in place that is considered a
hotspot?
Connect with missionaries… Maybe you know
someone who is on the mission field? Find out what their needs are! Minister to
their family back here in the US. Send them care packages. Let your kids talk
with their kids online. Then imagine inviting some of your church members – any
age group – to join you in an online conversation with one of our IMB or NAMB
missionaries.
·
To find out how to learn more about and even
connect with missionaries that serve through the International Mission Board go
to IMB.org and look under “Resources.” Click the “For Churches” link and you
will go to a page that will give you many great options including “Connecting
with a Missionary.”
·
To connect with a North American Mission Board missionary,
go to NAMB.net and look under “More.” Under “Contact Us” you will see “Request
a Speaker.” Reading through the options you will see several alternatives to
having a speaker on site, one of which is to schedule a video conference call.
Partner with your local association and state
convention… If you are a Georgia Baptist church, go to www.gabaptist.org/churchstrengthening
where you will find the members of our mission team. Contact the one for your
region and let us help you as you serve your community. If you don’t know your
region, just give any of us a call, and we will be glad to help you out!
Keith Ivey
Mission Consultant
Northeast Region
Georgia Baptist Mission Board
*With contributions from the Mission Team of the Georgia
Baptist Mission Board
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