Top 10 Post-COVID Realities and Strategic Adjustments

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I don't know about you and your church and community, but I can tell you what we're experiencing in Las Vegas. i can also provide an overview of our most important post-COVID adjustments.

First, a little background:

Canyon Ridge stopped meeting in person in mid-March of 2020 and resumed the first weekend in October of 2020. Our pre-COVID weekend adult in-person worship attendance averaged 4500ish (with another 800 to 1000 online). During the nearly 7 months of online only we averaged 1200 to 1600 ip addresses. When we resumed in-person worship in October we dropped to 800 to 1000 online and saw initial in-person attendance of 1000ish. In-person has since increased to 1400ish and online remains 800 to 1000. (These numbers are estimates, not exact)

Here are what I think are our Top 10 Post-COVID Strategic Adjustments:

As the dust clears on 2020 and all that the pandemic brought to our lives, we are increasingly aware that the tried and true tactics and strategies of the past are not working. Or at least, are not working right now.

At the same time, we're aware of certain opportunities and open doors that we rarely experienced before COVID. For example, from October until just last weekend, worship attendees were required to register. Think about that from an engagement standpoint. For the first time ever we knew when new attendees arrived for the first time.

There are more than a few wrinkles of opportunity that still exist as we step further into the post-COVID world. There are also some important post-COVID strategic adjustments.

1. The people who are coming back (or coming for the first time) are hungry for connection and community.

Far beyond pre-COVID interest, we're experiencing a constant flow of requests for a small group. This cannot be overstated. And we don't think it is a temporary blip, but even if it is we must take advantage of the opportunity to connect unconnected people while the iron is hot.

2. There is a lower fear of meeting in homes than we anticipated.

Although we anticipated there would be a high demand/preference for an on-campus experience (due to COVID concerns about meeting at a stranger's house), we've discovered a greater than expected openness to meeting in homes.

3. Matchmaking is a workable solution (at least temporarily).

Because there has been so much demand for connection and community, we've intensified a version of match-making. While we're still preferring to invite to an upcoming connecting event (over immediately trying to match them to an existing group), we remain mindful of the interest/need to connect now.

4. Gathering up-to-date information about existing groups is worth the effort.

We've also intensified our effort to gather up-to-date information about our existing groups (when they meet, are they open to new people, what are they studying, etc.). This greater awareness will help us match-make more efficiently.

5. Instead of pausing new group launches as summer approaches we are adding new opportunities to join a group.

Where our long-standing strategy was to bear in mind the decreasing viability of starting new groups after Easter, we don't anticipate pushing pause on strategies to launch new groups in May and June.

6. Increase your effort to keep your senior pastor at the forefront of communication.

There has been no more important time in over 25 years of small group ministry to work closely with your senior pastor to promote the importance of community and the ease of connecting. Working ahead, staying acutely aware of message themes and working in tandem with other ministries will pay off richly if you're just paying attention.

There has been no more important time in over 25 years of small group ministry to work closely with your senior pastor to promote the importance of community and and the ease of connecting. Click To Tweet

7. Remember, language is everything!

Ratchet up the use of phrases and expressions that play up "a toe in the water" or a short-term "test drive." Make sure to highlight the temporary and optional nature of a 6 week group (and then do everything you can to make the experience become permanent and essential.

Ratchet up the use of phrases and expressions that play up a toe in the water or a short-term test drive. Make sure to highlight the temporary and optional nature of a 6 week group (and then do everything you can to make the experience… Click To Tweet

8. Pay even closer attention to the topic of study!

Whatever you invite unconnected to do must matter to the needs, interests and desires of the customer. If nothing else, one thing unconnected people have learned over the last year is that their needs, interests and desires will be accommodated and even catered to. Everything and everyone else (from Amazon and Walmart to Uber Eats and Door Dash, from touchless delivery to curbside pickup, from buying or selling a car online, to Zoom meetings in your pajamas and virtual happy hours...everything must make sense to the customer.

9. Baby steps are more important than ever.

Better to offer an almost imperceptible micro step that anyone can do, that moves the masses in the right direction than a giant significant step that moves only the center of the bullseye of your primary newcomer.

10. Paying attention to the needs and interests of your neighbors has never been more important.

Learn their names. Learn their kids' names. Assume they don't know any of their other neighbors and introduce them. Slow down and stop when they're outside.

These are just 10 post-COVID strategic adjustments, but they are an important look at the opportunity.