Outreach in an Age of Social Distancing

Written by David Hulme

Some wisdom adapted from various sources:

Be informed and safe – Stay current on safety guidelines and observe ALL guidelines. Be mindful of your safety and the safety of others.
Form a leadership team – Select gifted, ministry-minded people to help in leadership, decision making, and coordination. The job is too big for one person.
Form a communications team – This ensures consistent and reliable information from your church or leadership team because it’s from one source; not multiple sources. Keep people informed, but don’t overload them with information.
Be a ministry-friendly church – Reduce or eliminate barriers that hinder the church’s ability to conduct ministry, such as multiple levels of approval.
Don’t try to take on too much – You don’t necessarily need to start a bunch of new ministries. Focus on what you already do well.
Find out what other organizations are doing – Diversity of ministry and services is important. Instead of duplicating services or ministries, look at partnering with other churches or groups to maximize resources
Pace yourself – It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Take steps to care of yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Be flexible – Don’t get hung up on the way you’ve always done things. Be open and able to pivot in a different direction if necessary.