Thriving as a church in the days of Covid restrictions.

Posted on 09 Dec 2021 - By Gradon

There is an element of irony out there as the church in the West has its first real taste of living under a government that seeks to limit church gatherings as it seeks to implement its Covid 19 “traffic light” system. I’m currently leading a Vineyard church (while we search for a new pastor) and we are struggling to know exactly what to do in our context. Lately, every pastor that I have talked to throughout NZ is meeting with other pastors trying to work out the next steps, it seemed to be the big stressor in everyone’s lives.

In the 2/3rds world, which has known all kinds of harsher treatment from Governments and religious opponents the church has learned to adapt to their difficult environment and is now experiencing a move of God over the last 10 years. One percent of the world population – that’s 75 million people, have left their religion and embraced Christianity.  Jay Matenga commenting on this move of God, in Missions interlink, November 2021Bulletin ( Click here ) writes “ As the church in the West haemorrages members, we would do well to zoom out and see a much bigger picture. …If you want to talk about something “unprecedented” this is it. “

So what could we learn from this church that is thriving in adverse conditions?

• They have trained its members well in evangelism  – they know how to share their faith and when they get a bit out of their depth they get their pastor in to help. They are largely new Christians who have lots of non-Christian families and friends.
• They have simple discipleship processes, so people learn not only how to grow in their faith but how to lead groups as new believers. One method used overseas is the 3/3rds bible study method that askes the same four questions of the text each week and expects people to decide what changes Jesus expects of them as a result of that day’s Scripture.

I recently was discussing on Zoom, with a church growth expert in the USA, called Mark Fortney, who works for a mission organisation called East-West https://www.eastwest.org/, how the NZ church might adapt and learn from the 2/3rd church in the developing world, where God is blessing this emerging church.

 Two ideas emerged:

1. Elder led discipleship groups ( instead of the failing “program church” model that is age group focused)

Elders could model an outward-looking, outreaching model of a house church (perhaps using the 3/3rds model). They would in time have oversight (hopefully) of several groups that have been raised up. They would also hold the church to its vision and encourage Sunday attendance, as the place to encounter God through good teaching and corporate praise and worship. In days of “red lights, “ the house church could continue to thrive reaching out to people feeling lonely and isolated.

I came across this model in Singapore is used in perhaps a different way. I met a gifted engineer who had decided he felt called to become a pastor. To test his call, his church gave him oversight of five house groups with a small salary so he could operate full time, and was told when he had grown them to 15 groups he would be seriously considered for ordination as a pastor! Perhaps this might be a good test for those desiring or seeking to continue in the office of an elder in your church!

• The other model was quite different.

Mark called it the Invest model (“invest in 3 “), which he had rolled it out in a large church he had led (and helped other pastors roll it out too)  in the US. The idea is that everyone has time for three significant relationships which was seen in the life of Paul.

• That each person would invest in someone who is not a believer – one who was interested in the faith. He noted that non-believers who come to a new church are looking for a friend, not someone who is friendly – we are talking about an authentic “reaching relationship” ( not an evangelistic project) The key in this relationship is to both demonstrate and share the love of Christ with your unsaved friend.
• That each person invests in the lives of a newer Christian who can benefit from the wisdom we have gathered over the years. An “equipping relationship” like Paul had with Timothy.
• And finally, build a meaningful relationship with someone more mature in the faith than us. This is an “encouraging relationship,” where we are being discipled while encouraging our friends. This would be similar to the relationship that Paul had with Barnabas.

If any of you would like to explore any of these two models,  I’m happy to set up a Zoom discussion with Mark Fortney. Mark is planning to be in NZ as soon as he can come in without having to stay at MIQ- so the discussion could grow into a visit to your leadership in 2022. Mark was the creator of the Church Mobilisation Journey in the USA, which we have been using with Kiwi churches to good effect. For more info click here.

This traffic light system, especially if you go the unvaccinated certificate route, is challenging us to change and explore new models of doing church. I have no idea what the future is going to look like, except that the church that will exist here in NZ in the next five years will be way different than it is today, as churches adapt or die in their new environment. If the old way is not working it’s time to look for ones that God is using.

I still hold on to what Jesus said “This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. Matthew 16:18 Message Version – I know he meant it.