Resilient Inspired Spiritual Excellence R.I.S.E.

The pandemic shut down church and many other things. Zoom became the main place to connect with people. Many churches had to figure out a way to connect and maintain engagement with their members. There were a lot of churches that failed at retaining all of their members throughout the pandemic. Many church members adapted to being at home virtually attending service and did not return in-person to regular church service.

There are many small churches that never regained full attendance from their members as we see the aftermath of the pandemic. It is also true that many people still feel uncomfortable returning back to their regular church home. A lot of churches also lost their members to bigger churches’ virtual member base they started offering. For instance, bigger churches started to create programs and options to be a part of their ministry as a virtual or e-member as it is coined.

So, with all this said is the regular church attendance still relevant today. Is it better to attend church in pajamas via a zoom, website, or YouTube link on a regular basis? Some will say maybe not regularly but the real question is how are you are attending church on a regular basis?

In my eyes, there is nothing like attending church in person. I do a mixture of both. I get lazy sometimes and would rather sit at home with my pancakes, eggs, bacon, and coffee in pajamas and my television like many of us. There is something so personal about going to church face to face. It does not match the new way many people get their godly message each week.

I enjoy the warm hugs from my church members, the prayers we pray over each other as needed, morning worship is different. Hearing the music in person, singing alone, clapping my hands, and enjoying worshipping with others in the body of Christ.

Hearing the word in person gives a different impact as well. There are times when I go to my church and there is a word, I feel was meant for me. I leave out of church with my problems feeling lighter than when I walked in. This is something that us childhood bread church goers will always connect with.

I believe we all need a church, local divinity group, or a place to connect with God and other believers. There are times in our lives where a virtual church won’t have the impact we need and once we cut off that service we are no longer engaged. If we do not actually live near the service or church offering the virtual experience, we are limited in personal support. A lot of people have been pulled into bigger virtual ministries. What do you do when you have a spiritual crisis that these ministries cannot support? You will need local churches no matter what.

They are still the backbone of every community. I enjoy having a church family who check on me and make sure I am doing well. I have access to an online experience but when I need personal support, they cannot help me. No matter how much society changes local churches will always be needed.

I do not like that church attendance for many ministries have felt the unfortunate impact of losing members or members never returning to in-person services. This is a new reality. I am unsure of what will get members engaged to return to in-person attendance. I think the church is going to have to go old school and visit some of these members face to face. The members need to feel supported and welcomed to come and fellowship in church.

Unfortunately, we spent so much time isolated I believe a lot of church members feel forgotten. Normal is long gone, and the desire for going to church has had a hard impact from the pandemic. No matter what you choose, in-person, virtual, or a mix of both going to church is still relevant.