Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Classifieds
  • Your state news
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Classifieds
  • Your state news
  • Request a free trial

Rashional Thoughts: Will church life require a dual approach going forward?

  • January 27, 2022
  • Jennifer Davis Rash
  • Church Life, Editorials by Jennifer Rash, Georgia, Latest News, North American Mission Board, Opinion, Rashional Thoughts
(Unsplash photo)

Rashional Thoughts: Will church life require a dual approach going forward?

Pastor Johnny asked the questions sincerely and with a heavy heart: “Is it just our church? Are we the only ones who have more than half of our people not wanting to return? Are we the only ones who can’t find staff members?”

His fellow pastor friends sat quietly, nodding in agreement, as Johnny described the frustration and discouragement he is experiencing.

I’m not sure if he was seeking suggestions from his peers or if he merely needed confirmation he wasn’t alone, but his willingness to express it was encouraging despite the downtrodden tone of his voice.

Stating it out loud and owning the situation provides the needed foundation to figure out the next step.

The other pastors assured him he wasn’t alone and the concern was not only statewide but nationwide.

They didn’t solve the situation that night, but they shared a moment of camaraderie and will likely be able to talk more freely about it going forward.

As I listened to the discussion, I thought of a comment I heard a few days prior, a comment from another Pastor Johnny — veteran Georgia pastor and North American Mission Board senior vice president Johnny Hunt.

Hunt said in an interview with our team, “If you’ll listen to people, they’ll tell you what’s important.”

It doesn’t mean people will always say or portray what’s weighing on their hearts, but if we will truly listen, then we’ll find it.

“Is it just our church?” indicates a plea for assurance that he isn’t alone, and the other pastors were sensitive enough to hear his heart and provide assurance.

“Are we the only ones … ?” might also be a way of asking for help.

My mind swirled through several scenarios wanting desperately to provide a suggestion about what to do, but I’m not sure any of us know exactly what to do at this point.

Latest stats

Even recent articles featuring experts discussing the stats and research reports stop short of sharing tips for how to adjust to this new church life situation.

Lifeway Research reports that as of September, 75% of churchgoers returned.

And while that percentage is much higher than our pastor friend shared with his peers recently, the question remains: What happened to the churchgoers who have not returned?

“The Ripple Effect: Congregations, COVID, and the Future of Church Life,” a fall 2021 study from Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts, suggests those who didn’t return might already have been among the least active group.

Infrequent churchgoers were more likely to stop attending in-person worship than those who regularly attended church before, according to Grey Matter.

Of those who attended church less than monthly before the pandemic, 25% chose to stop attending once the pandemic began, the Lifeway report explained in its review of the research.

Only 11% of those who attended church at least monthly prior to the pandemic made the decision to stop attending in-person services.

The same applied for Bible readership and small group attendance, according to Grey Matter.

Among those who read the Bible weekly, 10% decided to stop attending in-person services. For those who read the Bible less often, the percentage jumped to 19%. Similarly, 9% of those in a small group chose to stop, while 16% of those not in a small group made that decision.

Learning to relate

Still, we all know plenty of extremely dedicated believers who remain cautious about gathering in crowds because of health-related concerns, so the statistics certainly don’t tell the full story and shouldn’t cause us to judge or shame those who haven’t returned.

At the same time, it’s helpful to think through all the potential reasons and compare what’s happening at church with what’s happening in the workforce as well as all public activities.

It’s also important to make sure we are shepherding the congregation we have — both those who show up on Sunday and those who are connected from a distance — without spending energy worried about who isn’t participating. Do focus on those who disappeared by staying in touch with them as much as possible, keeping the welcome mat out and seeking to share Christ with all who don’t yet know Him. But avoid the temptation of coaxing those who have left back at the expense of caring well for those who are actively participating.

Going forward, we’ll likely need two approaches to church. In fact, those with strong homebound ministries already in place have the advantage.

And finding clear forms of consistent communication is an important step in keeping the entire congregation united. Click here for church communication tips and reach out to our team at The Baptist Paper to brainstorm ideas that fit your specific situation.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Suspected Islamic extremists kill 4 Christians in Sudan
    Suspected Islamic extremists kill 4 Christians in Sudan
    January 29, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Pakistan legislation would extend blasphemy laws
    Pakistan legislation would extend blasphemy laws
    January 29, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Rashional Thoughts: Would you know what to do if you encountered human trafficking?
    Rashional Thoughts: Would you know what to do if you encountered human trafficking?
    January 29, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Suspected Islamic extremists kill 4 Christians in Sudan

A church pastor and three other Christians were killed in Sudan on Monday (Jan. 23) when suspected Islamic extremists shot them to death, Morning Start

Pakistan legislation would extend blasphemy laws

Pakistan’s lower house of parliament has passed legislation to make the country’s blasphemy laws stricter even as their blatant misuse again came to light in

Rashional Thoughts: Would you know what to do if you encountered human trafficking?

Denise George’s research into how churches can respond to human trafficking reminded me of a conversation I had last year with Mark Colson, president of the

Hearing, following guidance of Holy Spirit in Baptist associations

Where is the voice of the Holy Spirit clearest: in the administrative offices of a national entity or institution, in the programmatic events of a

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel