The "New" New Testament Church

The "New" New Testament Church

Who would have believed that the world with all its technological advancement and human capacity would run to hide behind closed doors to preserve humanity from the novel Corona Virus disease - Covid-19, which broke out in November, 2019? 

Covid-19, a disease which has no respect for persons, race, age, social status, or religious beliefs, forced governments to close all borders with no entry or exit except for essential needs. 

Since the world took cover by staying safe at home, no one could go to Church, not even the Pastors. The Church resorted to reaching out to her members via the internet using the various social media platforms available. And this has been the "New" New Testament Church since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Now that the Church in most nations are getting set to reopen for congregational worship, the Lagos state government in Nigeria has given a nod to allow the Churches in the metropolis to also resume on 9th August, 2020.

The question now is "what should be expected as actions, attitude and behaviour of the members and leadership of the Church?" 

Considering that the Lagos Church congregated last on 29th March, 2020 which is over 4 (four) months and some days, a lot would have happened as a result of the lockdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic ravaging the world.

With the reopening, the Church Leadership - Pastors, Deacons, Elders and Heads of units should be trained to receive the members of the Church with a new approach.

The Church would not look like it used to be before the lockdown.

A few psychological and physiological apprehension would resume with the Church before things steady in the next few weeks or months.

Apart from the fact that members have lost touch with congregational fellowshipping, there are underlying fears of contracting the Covid-19 virus in large gatherings, there would be trust issues in holding hands during fellowship greetings and many would find it difficult to allow their children to mix easily with others in the Church.

Aside from these fears, it would take some time for parishioners to settle in to worship like they used to. There would be general redundancy such as members sleeping more during worship service, especially during (lengthy) sermons. A few loss of concentration here and there, frequent movements in and out of the Church to use the convenience or stretch should also be anticipated. 

There would also be battle with phone mannerism and usage during worship services as many now do business transactions on weekends.

Also, there would be some level of lateness to Church on resumption at least for some weeks, before adjustment. Many assemblies would have some strange faces joining them particularly those whose Churches are far from their homes and the reverse side to cope with are members who would not return to the Church soon or never. Many are now so accustomed to the Online Church and that is where they would stay at least for some good time until the near end of this pandemic.

One last set the Church should expect are a few weak spirited members who would have so mingled with the world and have lost touch with the things of the spirit. Some would still be highly moral and ethical while others would have returned to ground zero spiritually.

How should the leadership of the Church respond to all of these?

Top on the list alongside prayers, is understanding and accepting each member or family as they are at first. Remember, Jesus came for all to be saved, just as they are.

Patience should be a lifestyle to help the members of the Church resettle. 

For now, to manage the redundancy, Church service should be full of activities that bring excitement to praise God.

Sermons should be short and precise, no matter the intent of the impact.

The real "new" new Testament Church members are the Online followers of the Church. The Church should do her best to remain online and engage these set of worshippers. They have come to stay.

Leaders should be prepared to attend to members who are burdened with job loss, business failures, financial bankruptcy, economic hardship and debt. Others will be battling unexpected poverty, hunger, sicknesses, diseases and even bereavement. In some cases, there would be matrimonial brouhaha, abuse, assaults, among others.

The Church should focus on helping each of these cases as they come, especially with messages of hope, prayers and soul lifting worshiping of God. 

This is the best time the Church counseling team should regroup and engage services of psychologists (medical, clinical, social, managerial and child development) to train them and support their cause.

After counseling with the word of God, meet the direct needs of your members as much as you can no matter how little. The Church should know that "people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care".

At the centre of the welcoming package for resumption is "Care".

It is worthy of note also that the Church leaders too are facing personal challenges. We are all first human and it's the humanity in us that gives us courage to help others while we are also down. If a leader has not been able to manage a personal problem, such should also seek help, first, before attempting to help others.

It's a new normal and the Church should seek to find her place and continue to be relevant. Take all precautionary measures as stipulated by the World Health Organization, Centre for Disease Control and all Government health safety rules at a time like this. 

According to the Scriptures, in Genesis, the last plague (pandemic) in Egypt was death, God gave the Israelites rules to follow while asking them to stay safe inside their own houses in the land of Goshen. All in the name of being spiritual and full of faith, no Church should neglect the precautionary works of safety health measures to prevent the further spread of Covid-19.

Once again, welcome to the "New" New Testament Church - the Church within and without walls. 

Shalom!