CCCC surveyed its members recently asking how they were doing so we could see how best to help them. In replying, our members shared a lot of great wisdom that other ministries could benefit from. Members told us:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 267 respondents roughly reflect our membership with a 90% confidence level, 95% of the time. Here’s what we found out and what we will do about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We’ve come a long way from the crisis mode of March, April, and May when most people thought there was a real risk of losing many Christian ministries. Now, when asked how confident they are about their church or ministry surviving the pandemic, we heard:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Assuming that ministry staff have a realistic assessment of their own ministry and the probable course of the pandemic, these overall good results indicate that most ministries have adapted to the new conditions. I know from talking with people that some types of ministries are in much more difficult circumstances than others\u2014camps, for example. But even then, two camps report they are doing okay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since so few people had doubts about survival, we put them all into one group, leaving us three groups to analyze:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only four statistically significant differences between the three groups emerged, two related to the Uncertains and two related to the Doubters:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Confidents, Uncertains, and Doubters all have done what people would expect them to do. They:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This quote comes from a Confident:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The giving of our community has not be [sic]<\/em> determined by our PROGRAMS, but on our RELATIONSHIPS. <\/p>Church in a city with annual revenue between $100,000 and $300,000<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
This small church has it right. People before programs! Those ministries that have invested years building strong relationships with people are now seeing the payoff. Don’t just serve people\u2014love them! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These quotes are from Uncertains. It’s not just the Confidents who are navigating well through the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some things are in the works, but those we’ve been able to do so far include (1) strengthening our ‘under-supported missionaries’ fund 10-fold (mostly from internal donations); (2) moving more training content to a virtual platform, (3) cutting non-essential budget items, (4) virtual Orientations for candidates, (5) using Zoom for world-wide prayer mtgs once a week (appointees, Board members, int’l staff, home staff, retirees, and donors), (6) allowing office staff to continue working from home as much as they would like, (7) monthly virtual meetings with appointees and int’l staff on home assignment who find themselves “trapped” in N America, (8) calling all of our donors to thank them for their giving and letting them know about a dedicated email for prayer requests they can send to us, (9) creating a separate, more streamlined website for interested candidates.<\/p>Overseas mission with annual revenue between $1 million and $10 million<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
What really impressed me in this answer from a missions agency is that they didn’t try changing just one thing; they did nine things differently! Even if some changes don’t do anything for survival, there’s got to be a number of them that will end up making a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We updated our website, began recording our services and posting them online. We also made it possible for our congregation to send tithes through e-transfers. We have also begun utilizing our social media site more often which is helping to get information out to more people, or even the same people multiple times.<\/p>Church in a town with annual revenue under $100,000<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
For those who think they are too small to make significant changes, note that this last quote comes from a church with under $100,000 in annual revenue. They did a lot of new things. I’m very inspired by this church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Current Challenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There is wide agreement on the current challenges that Christian ministries face. They are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Public fatigue with the upheavals caused by the pandemic,<\/li>
- Inability to travel and social distancing requirements are hampering the ability to do ministry overseas and domestically,<\/li>
- How to get everyone back in church given the current limitations on gathering sizes,<\/li>
- How to do children’s and youth ministry in today’s circumstances,<\/li>
- Keeping people connected, not just with the ministry, but even more with each other,<\/li>
- Inability to find staff or volunteers,<\/li>
- How to budget in such uncertainty,<\/li>
- Donations are down,<\/li>
- Disagreements between those who want to be safe and those who insist that pandemic-related safety measures are unnecessary,<\/li>
- Keeping up with all the pandemic regulations and programs and their updates,<\/li>
- Maintaining good mental health\u2014personally, for staff, and for the people served, including managing pastoral discouragement, and<\/li>
- Digitizing the office for remote work.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
To help ministries work through these challenges, I have added a discussion thread for each one in The Green’s COVID-19 Response<\/a> room. Non-members of the CCCC will need to register<\/a> to access the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I thought these quotes from the Uncertains were worth highlighting here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the President of our charity, I am most challenged by these two items: 1) Discovering other leaders to learn from, even if this is an online or by phone medium. 2) A place (even if online or by phone) to “air out” questions of uncertainty due to all the changes around us; and to encourage each other’s faith in God’s care for each of us and those we serve.<\/p>Overseas mission with annual revenue between $1 million and $10 million<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
I highlight this quote because it reflects the very reason why I first thought CCCC should provide an online community, which is now available to members as The Green. Members can access it from their personal homepage on our website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to deal with people who are anti-mask and anti-policy as we begin to move back into our building. We want to follow all the guidelines required by the province, region and insurance, but also don’t want to ruin relationships in the process. I guess it boils down to how to navigate challenging conversations and conflict.<\/p>Church in a town that has annual revenue under $100,000<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
This is a troubling matter for many pastors and it shouldn’t be. It’s unfortunate that Christians are arguing with each other and causing division and strife within the church. What a blessing Christians could be to the world by showing how to heal the bitter divisions that plague our world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Basic Strategies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Except for one stunning difference, the Confidents, Uncertains, and Doubters all described similar strategies for surviving the pandemic. The foundational elements of their pandemic strategy are to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Pray<\/strong> – They are praying intently to discover where God “is” in this pandemic and what he would have them do.<\/li>
- Communicate<\/strong> – Everyone is communicating as much as possible, using as many channels as they can, to understand their stakeholders’ needs, to encourage them, and to keep a strong and healthy relationship with them. Many are doing this not only through mass communication but by phoning and talking one-on-one with them. Pastors are getting their elders to help make this form of communication happen.<\/li>
- Convert or create<\/strong> – Virtually everyone had either converted existing programs to an appropriate format or taken the opportunity to create new programs, such as home groups.<\/li>
- Obey<\/strong> – A significant number mentioned specifically that they are following all laws and guidelines from the government and health officials and have avoided arguing with people over them. They’ve simply told people they care about the health of everyone associated with their ministry and are acting for their good.<\/li>
- Be Faithful <\/strong>– Many mentioned that they have maintained a “business as usual” attitude because the Church’s mission still exists and Christ will build his Church even through the pandemic. Respondents frequently made the point that now is the time to stay faithful to their mission, to “keep to the plan.”<\/li>
- Reflect<\/strong> – Quite a few are taking the opportunity to reflect creatively on their mission and how they are ‘doing’ it (or ‘doing’ church).<\/li>
- Grow<\/strong> – A few decided they would do everything they could to grow through the pandemic.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The one striking difference between the three groups was the strategy of “waiting out the pandemic.” You would think this strategy would be one that the Doubters or the Uncertains might hold to, but none did. It was two of the Confidents who said this was their strategy! I thought they would all be decidedly proactive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quotes from the Confidents<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Some comments about strategy really stood out as particularly noteworthy, either because they captured an idea quite well or, in a few cases, because of who said it. All the following quotes except for the last one came from the Confidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The impact on our ministry is almost non-existent. I don’t see any issue with us surviving the pandemic. We’ve actually expanded our reach as a result of using Zoom for online meetings because more folks are joining in on Sundays that would normally show up in our church meetings. We can reach seniors better this way and we’re also serving the needs of some very small churches that don’t have the same resources as we do.<\/p>A church in a town with less than $100,000 annual revenue<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
This quote is awesome! It came from a demographic that was typical of the Uncertains (ministry in a town) and Doubters (a small ministry) and yet it is from a Confident ministry! Here’s a small ministry not letting its circumstances dictate its future! They are making lemonade from lemons. And note especially that this charity, with under $100,000 in revenue, is generously sharing what it has with churches that are even smaller than they are! Kudos to this congregation! May the Lord bless you mightily for your faithfulness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take things as they come – focus on what we can do NOW and not dwell on how things used to be.<\/p>A rural church with annual revenue between $100,000 and $300,000<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Very practical advice from a small, rural church. This is a forward-looking pastor focused on opportunity, not loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since the beginning we have daily prayed and declared that our Mission will not just survive the crisis, but will thrive in its midst and flourish in its aftermath. To that we have added prudent physical oversight, cancelling annual budgeting in favor of 90 day physical plans. So far we are on target for having one of the best years in our 30 year history.<\/p>An inner-city mission with annual revenue between $1 million and $10 million<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
I love the attitude! This ministry is doing what CCCC is doing. We committed to thriving and flourishing through the pandemic, determined to come out of the pandemic as a stronger organization. Since the pandemic was declared, we have spent serious time reflecting on our mission, who we are, and how we are going to fulfill our mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seriously? Our hope is in the bodily resurrection of the dead. Jesus didn’t come to earth to extend our days here; he came to give us peace and hope for this age because of the promise of the age to come. Our “strategy” is recognizing that this pandemic is just another one in a long line of pandemics before us and in a long line of pandemics after us; in other words; life on a broken earth is suffering but with Christ, there is joy in the suffering as well.<\/p>Church in a town with annual revenue between $100,000 and $300,000<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Talk about having a good perspective, this smaller church has it right! Through all that history has thrown at us, we have persevered, done our work, and lived to see a brighter day each time. I was so encouraged to read this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Approaching this season as one in which the organization can learn and improve its operations rather than simply to “survive” and then to revert to operations pre-COVID.<\/p>International relief & development agency with annual revenue between $1 million and $10 million<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
In this final quote from a Confident, we have an excellent example of how we can redeem a very bad circumstance: assess and learn from the past, and then use that information to prepare for a new and different future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n