This morning, I felt that I should look back at a blog I wrote at the beginning of April (Love Your Pastor), encouraging people to recognise the extraordinary efforts of pastors and church leaders of all denominations are doing in this season. We have the pleasure of being in regular touch with a number and know that as well as everything else they're doing, they are also trying to spend quality time with God to try and discern what the future holds for their church, as it is very clear that the old way of doing church isn't going to be possible for a very long time, if ever!
The recently announced relaxation of restrictions on places of worship hasn't helped our leaders workloads, if anything it's created more work, as some are being pressured into providing a place of private prayer and are being inundated with questions about the future. I have been so encouraged by what they have done/continue to do. More than ever, they are championing food banks and practical support for the vulnerable, whilst dealing with their own family issues etc.
They have been at the forefront of a real revolution in the Christian church, which has seen the gospel reaching a new audience in a new way. For too long, tv preachers were what our American cousins had and we sat back in judgement, highlighting the financial and sexual sins that the media presented us with. We're now at the point where nearly every church has an online presence and where engagement with many hundreds of people who would never normally darken the doors of a church, is taking place every week for many churches. Nationally, we are seeing hundreds of conversions each week, people signing up for online Alpha courses, and asking for prayer and support. Many leaders have made a stand during this last week, speaking into the race issue, which has been uncomfortable for many of them, but they realise that they must speak out and lead by example.
It's exciting times for the church, but it has definitely taken our leaders out of their comfort zones. More than ever, we need to be praying for our leaders and their families. In addition, we need to be supporting them and not criticising them when something goes wrong in a broadcast, we need to be encouraging them with texts, emails, Facebook messages, old fashioned cards, a quick phone call or a surprise gift. Why not challenge your friends to join you? You could even tag your leaders into this post!
The vision we have for Time2, is that we will have a home that is a place of rest and relaxation for church leaders and we know that there will be many in need of that whenever this pandemic comes to an end!
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