SimpleChurch Journal

Covid-19: Missional Opportunity?

Is it possible that we have been given the opportunity of a lifetime for people to respond to the Gospel? Does the uncertainty of our time create openness in people’s hearts like never before? It is certainly possible.

My question is, how are we responding to that? Especially given the unique circumstances of social distancing and a greater reliance on technology to communicate.

This post is more about asking questions than providing answers. I hope that you will share your experiences, ideas, and aspirations to reach people during this season.

Here are some of the universal principles that normally guide me.

• Pray, pray, pray.
• Sow abundantly. Look for new opportunities to both love and connect with others.
• Demonstrate the love of God.
• Always be ready to share the Gospel starting with your testimony/story.
• Make disciples using ‘discovery’ tools and teach them quickly to do the same with others.

And here are a couple of tools that have recently encouraged me: Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversations by Jimmy Scroggins, and the resources offered by No Place Left.

But what does all of this look like in our current, isolated contexts? Ideas? Thoughts? Recent experiences? What tools and/or methods are you using? What are you trying? What is working? Share with us!

Also, if you are looking to connect with others, virtually, who are specifically interested in encouraging mission among one another, use this form and check box "c" where the form asks you to "Choose the one that best describes your number one reason for meeting in a virtual house church."

Virtual House Church

I want to do three things:

1. Share some of my own experiences with house church via group video chat.
2. Invite you to share, if you have experience with virtual house church gatherings, by commenting at the end of the post.
3. Offer a form here where you can sign up if you want to find others who are interested in doing house church via group video chat. I make no promises that I will be able to connect you with others, but I will try. You can also use the same form if you already have your own group members but want some additional technical or practical help in doing a virtual house church

I have been meeting now with two different virtual groups and we are all learning.

Here are my thoughts so far.

I recommend 5 or 6 people as the maximum size. Moving conversation from one to the next takes some time and larger groups may become tedious. If you already have a larger group, you may want to divide it into two groups.

It is more important than ever to know the purpose of the group so that everyone has the same expectations and are on the same page. Is the group primarily to share in fellowship and be a place of prayer, care, and support for one another? Or is it primarily to provide an opportunity for discovery of the word of God together? Or is it primarily to be a base for planning and carrying out missions, works of compassion, and discipleship with an outward focus? Or a balance of all three?

Assuming that the modus operandi of the group is that all participate, it is important that there is a good facilitator who keeps the conversation moving, does not let one person dominate, and invites conversation from those who would, otherwise, remain quiet. The facilitator (who can rotate among the group, by the way), should be responsible to carry out the purpose of the group as mentioned in the previous paragraph.

In regards to technology, I have experience with Zoom, GoToMeeting, Google Hangouts, and Skype. There are pros and cons to each and there are others, but they all serve the basic purpose of getting you face-to-face virtually with others.

If you have been doing or just starting a virtual house church group yourself, please do use the comments section to share:

• What technology are you using?
• Are you incorporating worship? If so, how?
• What are some of the challenges you have seen?
• Benefits?
• Anything else that might be helpful to the rest of us?

Finally, as I mentioned already, I will try to assist you if you want to connect virtually with others and do not have a group. OR, if you have a group of people but could use a little encouragement on how to get started. Either way, you can communicate with me here and I will do my best.