November 7, 2023 COVID-19 … What? As in the year 2019? Can it really be true that the global pandemic that spread from Wuhan, China started nearly five years ago? Wow! In some ways, it seems like it was yesterday. Thankfully, it wasn’t. It is certainly no surprise to anyone that COVID has changed how we do so many things … at least almost everything that involves social interaction. While change isn’t always bad, the stresses that were brought to bear on the church were nearly universally negative. Now you might counter, and say that many churches were pushed into social media broadcasting of their worship services, and I’d readily agree, but time will tell whether that is a good thing, on balance. There may indeed be positive takeaways. It certainly seems that the “reach” of our churches has expanded, but it could also be true that deep impact on people has been diminished due to less face-to-face interaction. Whatever the result, the pressure on the church and its leaders was hard. Pastors are leaving the ministry at an alarming rate. The Barna group conducted a research study that quantifies the reality. Quoting its 2022 summary: As of March 2022, the percentage of pastors who have considered quitting full-time ministry within the past year sits at 42 percent. This is consistent with data from fall 2021 when Barna first reported on a sharp increase in pastoral burnout, and it confirms the growing number of pastors who are considering resignation—up 13 percentage points from 29 percent in January 2021.
You can read more of their analysis by Clicking HERE For another look into the cumulative effects of COVID-19, the folks who produce “Church Salary” for Christianity Today have completed a yearlong study of 1000 pastors and churches, and have summarized their findings in an online resource. It is a fascinating read in which they detail nine common themes they believe emerged from the pandemic. While every church in every place may not have felt all of these things, I think you’ll resonate with much of what they reveal as a shared experience. The results of their study can be viewed HERE. I don’t mean to sound all gloomy, however. Here’s the grand truth - - the church of Jesus Christ has been assailed before, by bigger foes than a pandemic. And you who bear HIS NAME are sent into a hostile world as witnesses of the greatest truth ever told! God loves people, and nothing in heaven and earth will ever change that. Be encouraged, and be His ambassadors!
HAVE AN AMAZING WEEK!