The ongoing need to be hybrid – choices are changing all the time

Things have changed a lot since the pandemic began two years ago. Then we were all scrambling to simply react quickly enough to get online and keep going. There was a lot of adrenaline that kept us going and most of figured out how to do ministry and survive.

Two years later and it is clear that what we expected is taking longer than we thought. It is also clear that much of what we learned. Is worth more than we thought too – there are tools in our toolbox now that are routinely used that we didn’t have when all of this started.

We are now at the point when being a hybrid church is really before us. We have so many options and we can do this or that (or both) when it comes to so many things. We can meet in person, online or use hybrid tools to have people physically present in a room with technology so that others can log in from elsewhere. We can worship in the sanctuary, online or livestream from the sanctuary while others worship in person. The list goes on and on…

More choices means more opinions. Not everyone agrees on what is best, what is needed and what can be dropped. The need to strategize, discuss and discern increases. Working as a team and having the help you need to make good decisions becomes essential. And as we watch around the church, we see that many are growing tired and reverting back to what they did before the pandemic began because it is familiar and therefore easier, even if the call of our time offers and demands new tactics.

So even if you are tired or have to stretch to learn new things, don’t give in to the temptation to avoid conflict or the deeper conversations that need to happen. God will use the best you have to offer to bring new opportunities for ministry for you and the people involved in ministry where you are.

Becoming a Hybrid Church is filled with chapters to discuss how to move forward in lots of ministry areas (teaching, congregational care, small groups, stewardship, worship and more). Each chapter has scripture, discussion questions and a prayer to help you and the people in your setting reflect on what you can do where you are with the new world in which we live. Enter coupon code “HYBRID2022” at checkout for 10% off your order!