Are You Seizing THIS Opportunity?
Here's today's question: Are you seizing this unprecedented opportunity to connect the current wave of unconnected people?
You have probably heard the term unprecedented a lot in recent days.
There are a lot of things that are true about this season being unprecedented. The collision of pace of life, worldwide mobility, technology, relational distance, and the contagious nature of the coronavirus is unprecedented.
And as a result of these unprecedented times, there is an opportunity to connect unconnected people that is...wait for it...unprecedented!
That's right!
The people who normally are content with finding their seat in their row in your auditorium, are suddenly discovering and feeling the absence of community (even the form of community they sense when they sit in their seat on their row).
Further, co-workers are suddenly discovering the importance of the brief interactions at the coffee pot or water cooler. They immediately began to feel a sense of loss when their work shifted to working from home (or not working at all).
And neighbors? Well, depending on your neighborhood, even interactions with neighbors, in the front yard or driveway or the mailbox have all come to a sudden halt.
Unprecedented.
The serious, underlying issue?
Unconnected people are always one tough thing away from never being at your church again. Loss of a job. Difficult marriage. Serious illness. Troubled teenager. One tough thing.
Unconnected people are always one tough thing away from never being at your church again. Loss of a job. Difficult marriage. Serious illness. Troubled teenager. One tough thing. Does the coronavirus fit as a tough thing? Share on X
Does the coronavirus fit as a tough thing?
Absolutely.
These are unprecedented times.
And there is an unprecedented opportunity to offer baby steps into community.
How to do it?
Offer a virtual guest central after every online service. You can do that with a Zoom meeting (joined right after the online service). See also, How to Use Zoom as a Virtual Guest Central (first step out of the virtual auditorium)
Offer an online small group connection. See also, Miss the Live Demonstration of an Online Small Group Connection? and 7 Things to Keep in Mind When Hosting an Online Connection
Give those who are connected a sense of mission about including others in their community.
Further Reading:
4 Obsessions of the Extraordinary Small Group Pastor
What’s Your Urgency Level for Connecting Unconnected People?