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As we approach the 1-year mark of when our lives were turned upside-down by Covid19, we could all name many things we’ve lost over the past year. Even in our congregational life, that list is long and worthy of lament.
But we are also approaching Good Friday and Easter when we are reminded that, in God’s story, out of death comes life! We have lost so much this year- but what have our churches gained, especially in their ability to love their neighbor? Here are a few things I’ve noticed with churches in our region:
1. Our new technology allows us to share the gospel far and wide. Encounter church saw its YouTube subscribers increased by 222% in 2020, and a recent campaign for their new campus received donations from 4 states outside of Michigan. Recently they celebrated 4 adult baptisms, done Covid-style with a small group of family and friends, before sharing the recording with the congregation. Comunidad Cristiana Internacional CRC, a church plant in Wyoming, MI, broadcast its Spanish-speaking worship across Facebook. Their network of relationships grew to include people tuning in from South America. Now Pastor Robert is mentoring new church planters in these areas to start churches of their own.
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