While for some leaders this pandemic has been confusing, for Pastor Shalom, God has given her more clarity in things like tithe online giving.  Also, she shared that there are several sub-divisions in their community, and she has begun launching missional communities (her way of reproducing). This pandemic made her realize that she was putting too much emphasis on which home to have the people in the sub-division meet in. She has created links for each sub-division. They are all connecting with each other. The physical gathering does not matter now but will come later and more naturally once the people become cohesive as a group.  

The many, many, many who have been valiantly faithful to allow stretching in the technological arena as they think through how to stay connected with their church family and with their community. We celebrate leaders like Johanna Rugh/Elmonte Wesleyan Church (Hispanic District) who shared about their “You’ll get through this” study group moving to zoom meetings where the Spirit of God is transforming these technology-challenged sisters into warriors of faith. God is giving courage!!

Intentional focus in being the church “beyond the walls” to share God’s amazing grace. Many pastors reporting they have connected with hundreds more people through live-stream services – and with diverse engagement! DS Wes Smith emailed, “I think the Northwest District Network of Churches just had its best weekend ever! I think we engaged with more people over the weekend than on any previous weekend-other than perhaps an Easter weekend. New channels of connection were opened up and a high percentage of unreached people are ‘tuning in’.” God is loving and forgiving!!

Churches and organizations, like Waterline Church/co-pastors Danielle and John Freed (Crossroads District), who are effectively making NextGen resources available for parents to “pastor” the young lives God has entrusted to them. Parents excitedly sharing that God is talking to our children during family devotions – they are reading His Word with a new desire and perspective! God is instilling His truth!!

We’ve seen a number of people come to know Christ through our online experiences. There’s a woman 3 hours away who found our church, and I had the chance to talk to her yesterday and she said that she’s been longing to find a church like Movement and gave her life to Christ two weeks ago during one of our services. It’s awesome to hear her passion as she’s talking to her kids and grandkids about their relationship with God and how she’s found what she’s been looking for her whole life. 

So many churches and leaders are creatively finding ways to connect with their communities. Communities are even reaching out to churches. Resonate Church/Pastor Jervie Windom (Mountain Plains District) had the mayor’s office call wanting their upcoming programming times so city hall could put it out via their channels, uplifting people community-wide. Illinois State of Corrections asked Heritage Church/Pastor Shawn Cossin (Great Lakes Region) to live stream their service into ALL their state’s prisons. God is showing up in unexpected places!

For the many pastors connecting with their church family via Facebook Live – for encouragement, uplifting thoughts, fun, devotions like Pastor AJ Plaizier (Atlantic District) who has not used Facebook live personally before, but is willing to do whatever it takes. God is giving creative ideas!

Celebrating pastors, leaders, individuals who are seeing needs and jumping into action. Concerned people like Encounter Church/Pastor Mark Leist (Great OH District) realized with school out, this would impact students who would be without breakfast and lunch during the week; so Lisa Swickard organized a food outreach. Brandon Center Wesleyan Church/Pastor Juanita Brooks (Northeast District) opened her church for a drive-through food bank and a delivery service. God is supplying needs!