Changing Church
Church is changing! At least, church as you and I know it. Or have known it. As we draw close to the end of 2020 the fallout of the COVID pandemic has impacted churches, here in Australia and throughout the world. The church as we know it at the end of 2020 is much different from the church as we knew it at the start of year. Church in-person attendance was non-existent for months. Where restrictions on gatherings have eased the return of attendees at public worship, for the most part, has been slow.
So where is all of this heading into 2021? According to the research done by the Barna Group (Six Questions About the Future of the Hybrid Church Experience) 81% of churched adults say it is very important for them to experience God alongside others at a physical church gathering. More than half (56%) aim to return to the public wors
hip services when these services return to "normal." Yes, the majority aim to return to online gatherings, but what about the other 44%? While in-person church attendance is still important, 79% of Christians look beyond regular church attendance to grow spiritually.
It is also important to point out that online church services are having a positive impact on the lives of believers. 82% of practicing Christians feel like they are making a meaningful contribution to their church when they attend church digitally. 85% feel connected to their church community. 82% feel cared for by their pastor. And a large majority of these Christians (62%) agree that churches should use digital resources for gathering their people together after the pandemic.
Given all of this, what will in-pers
on church attendance look like post-COVID? In another survey conducted by Barna we see a dramatic generational shift happening. While Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) primarily (71%) prefer to attend physical gatherings only 41% of Gen Z (those born between 1999 and 2015) want to return primarily to in-person worship. The reality is that the majority of Gen Z, Millenials, and Gen X don't prefer to return to in-person gatherings. The changes we are seeing when it comes to church attendance is not just cultural; it is generational.
So what can we do in the midst of all these changes? Well, first don't be an ostrich and bury your head in the sand, hoping these realities will disappear and we will return to days of yesteryear. Post-COVID we will be living in a new normal. So rather than dismiss the positive impact of your church's digital presence, embrace it! The vast majority of church leaders and pastors in the CRCA are Boomers. Boomers prefer physical gatherings. I get that! I am one of them. But if we are going to reach people for Christ, we need to invest in an online presence for our churches. Look at your church's budget lines. What percentage of your church's budget is spent to have effective online presence for your church? Most churches are spending less than 10% of their resources (time, staff, and money) on an online presence -- the one thing that will have a massive gospel impact on those people born in the last 50 years.
In addition, as we move forward into 2021, have the latter generations around your table as you make decisions for your church's future. I will never forget the gathering I attended at King's College in Edmonton some years ago. We had gathered to discuss the future of the CRC in Canada. Around every round table discussion there were not just men and women, but young people and young adults. These young generations came from all over Canada to not just share their opinions but to help us make decisions about the future of the CRC in Canada. We need the Gen Z, Millenials, and Gen X generations at our tables as we set direction, create budgets, and seek the leading of the LORD into the new normal. We need them around our tables not just to listen but to learn how to move forward together for the good of God's people, the salvation of the lost, and glory of God.
Yes the church is changing! But that is not all bad. In fact, there is a whole lot of good. In spite of all the lockdowns, restrictions, and delivery methods for the gospel, people are growing in their faith, feel connected to other believers, and cared for by their leaders. Good gospel ministry is not restricted to brick buildings and wooden pews. We are discovering something anew what has never changed: people "are God’s field, God’s building". (1 Corinthians 3:9) Wherever people gather in Jesus' name -- online or in-person - He is among them. (Matthew 18:20) In the midst of the changes what is most important never changes: "Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)
About the author
Jack De Vries was hired on by the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia and began his work as Ministry Training Coordinator in January 2008. In 2012 this role shifted to that of Ministry Development Coach.
Jack came from Canada where he pastored three Christian Reformed churches: Alliston CRC, Alliston, Ontario(1983-87), a church plant: New Life Community Church, Pickering, Ontario(1987-95), and Bethel CRC, Listowel, Ontario (1995-2007). Jack is a graduate of Calvin Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity - 1983) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Doctor of Ministry - 2003) Jack and his wife Jeannie currently live in Petrie, a northern suburb of Brisbane in Queensland. They attend and are members of Bray Park Community Church. They have four adult children and seven grandchildren living in the USA and Canada.
In Isaiah 58:11 we read: "The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Australia has seen times of drought and floods. There is another type of drought in Australia; there is a spiritual drought. But God promises to provide refreshing rain, a never ending supply of refreshing water. The water he provides will satisfy the needs of all Australians. As we take up the missional vision God has given us we extend the life changing invitation of Jesus: "Come! Whoever is thirsty, come, and take the free gift of the water of life!" (Revelation 22:17)
