This course was a real-time walk through of the COVID-19 crisis. There are two sections. there are five classes on the epidemic and another five classes on the pandemic. At some point in the future, we will add more classes to give an overview of principles learned.
In a global medical and economic panic, don’t succumb to crisis thinking!
✔ We can meet the spiritual needs of our people. We can reach spiritually hungry, non-churched folks in our communities.
✔ We have spiritual, emotional, financial and staff challenges. We can solve them and thrive!
✔ We can be overcomers! Christ gives a message of hope for ourselves and our communities.
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
I Corinthians 15:56-58 NET Bible®
Questions
- How long can we pay staff?
- Can we improve online giving and generosity?
- What about our building campaign?
- What is our cash position and reserves, and how do we deal with them?
- How will we create a new budget based on current giving?
- Are we headed for an economic recession, and if so, for how long?
- How will we give pastoral care to our people?
- What about our summer ministry plans? VBS? Summer mission trips?
- How do we plan for a full plate of ministry in September?
- Are we headed for an economic recession, and if so, for how long?
- There are open positions on our staff and we need to fill them, how?
- There are open positions on our staff and we need to fill them, how?
- When can we meet again and how can we ensure safety?
- How are we handling people who work from home?
- Is it safe for our financial records and funds to be handled from home?
- What unexpected Covid-19 related things will arise in the next month?
Action Items
- In light of this week’s giving and of recent weeks, review your financial plan. Contact your lender as needed.
- Evaluate the quality and creativity of this week’s online worship.
- Enhance your online and mail-in giving strategies.
- Make it easy for new, spiritual hungry on-line viewers to connect in small groups.
- Continue to call each congregant every week. Transform the crisis into a time of high touch moments.
- Plan screening steps for when your campus re-opens.
- Work with staff and their families who are infected.
- Address the fears and concerns of your people—emotions, job loss, finances, spiritual.
- Order materials for when you re-open, such as gloves, masks and quick-scan thermometers.
- Continue weekly emails to the congregation (samples given by Fletch).
- Continue to educate staff, key leaders and your board, especially about a campus re-opening
- Pray for your trained teams that are serving the sick and needy in your community.
- Review plans for the weekend.
- Update plans based on national developments and recommendations.
- Rest—don’t burn out, it’s too easy in this season!
- Exercise—keep depression away by walking, hiking or getting on a workout machine.
- Invest in your family—they deserve quantity and quality time with you.