How do you react to the phrase “what if”? Does the phrase pull you in a hopeful direction that sees opportunities? Or does it lead you down a path of dark, foreboding scenarios?

I usually think of “what if” in the positive light, but I’m well aware of the alternate interpretation. Especially in this season, the list of concerns seems unending. What if our people don’t come back when the pandemic is over? What if we run out of money? What if we have to lay off staff or key staff leave? I’m sure you can add to this list, either with your own concerns or ones that are being expressed by key leaders in your church or ministry.

I won’t deny that a pandemic creates a downward pull on our ability to dream. But “what if” can be a question that opens us to new ideas and future possibilities. Consider the following:

• What if God wants to do something amazing through our church or ministry?
• What if we use this season to rethink our ministry model?
• What if we intentionally don’t restart some programs that drain resources while bearing little fruit? 
• What if we leverage what we’re learning about digital ministry to reach new people?
• What if we creatively offer the hope and love of the gospel to a community that needs it more than ever? 

“What if” isn’t a good or bad phrase – it’s neutral. It’s up to leaders to decide how to frame it. What is the “what if” question that you can ask to turn from negative to positive and to move your church or ministry forward?

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I have cast my vote in the 2020 election. No, this blog is not about who you should vote for or what values should guide your decisions. It’s not even about the importance of voting. Instead, I’m wondering why I, and millions of other Americans, took the time to vote. And I’m wondering what this could mean for church leaders.

I can argue convincingly that my vote doesn’t really matter. Even in a “close” congressional race, the margin of victory is usually several thousand votes. And yet, I faithfully cast my ballot in every national election and most local ones. Why? Concepts about civic duty and the privilege of voting are so deeply ingrained that I can’t imagine not voting. It’s what we do.

Shouldn’t something similar be true for people who identify as followers of Jesus? Shouldn’t it’s what we do describe the disciplines of Scripture reading, prayer, and worship? Sadly, this isn’t the case. Somehow these core practices are treated as if they’re reserved for super serious believers.

So let me offer four lessons for church leaders based on my observations of the political arena:

• Make the message simple and then amplify it. The political message is one word: “Vote!” and we hear it everywhere. I know the faith journey isn’t simple, but for believers, can’t we boil down the core message to “Spend time with God”? If this were a continuous refrain, not just from pastors but from all church leaders, it would begin to shift behavior.
• Emphasize the impact. How often have you heard, “Your vote counts”? Even though I’m skeptical of this claim, I still vote. We have ample reasons to believe that spending time with God transforms people’s lives. Shouldn’t we say this more often? Shouldn’t we provide real examples of Christ’s life-changing power? 
• Make it easy. One of the big storylines this year has been efforts to make it easy for everyone to vote. My county offered drive-through and 24-hour options. Can we make it easier for people to spend time with God? Once they hear and accept the message, they need to know what step(s) they can take. 
• Don’t apologize. No one in the political arena worries about stepping on someone’s toes or apologizes for their get-out-the-vote efforts. So why do ministry leaders back away from advocating practices that are Christ-centered and life-changing? I’m not suggesting that we resort to manipulation or unleash a wave of robocalls, but we should be unapologetic about the call to spend time with God. 

Can you imagine how furious we’d be if someone created a screening process that allowed only a select group of “seriously committed citizens” to vote? And yet, we act as if those who spend time with God are in an exclusive club. My vote is that we work to change this, because when people regularly encounter God, lives, churches, and even nations are transformed.

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What comes to mind when someone says “be strong”? You may think of one of the biblical references where this phrase appears. Or maybe your thoughts drift toward another saying: “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.”

The second idea is not biblical, but it is deeply woven into American culture. Even if we don’t use those words, we’ve learned to admire the rugged individualist who overcomes all obstacles through perseverance and willpower. Our stories are filled with these heroic individuals whose solo strength enables them to succeed in the face of overwhelming odds. 

It’s quite possible you’ve whispered “Be strong” to yourself in this challenging season. But the biblical directive to be strong looks nothing like our American hero. Consider the picture of strength painted in Scripture:

• “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous … for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
• “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:1)
• “… those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40:31)
• “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him and he helps me.” (Psalm 28:7)

As leaders, we need to be strong in this season. We need to carry the heavy burden of guiding our churches and ministries into an uncertain future. We need to deal with conflicting perspectives on the “right” answer when answers are not obvious. We need to care for people who are confused and hurting and anxious, even when we are experiencing the same emotions ourselves.

But we don’t have to do it on our own. The Lord is with us and offers to give the grace and strength that we need. 

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In many sports, injuries are more frequent in the latter stages of a game. Why is that? I’m not a physiology expert, but the simple explanation is that the accumulated fatigue makes the athlete’s muscles less resilient and therefore more susceptible to injury. 

No leader can avoid making mistakes. But taking a page from the sports world, you can improve your chances for success. How?

• Ask for a sub. Substitutes are a normal and necessary part of the game in team sports. A sub brings fresh energy and allows other players to rest so that they can be at their best when they return. Can you allow a sub to take some of the leadership tasks off your shoulders?
• Recognize signs of fatigue. There isn’t a formula to determine when an athlete needs to take a break. That decision depends on the awareness of the athlete (or the coach). What signs let you know when you’re pushing too hard? Does someone close to you have permission to speak up when you need a break?
• Play your role. Some people run out of energy sooner than they should because they’re trying to do their job and someone else’s. It doesn’t work for an athlete to play several positions at the same time, and it won’t work for you either.
• Use time off the field wisely. Have you noticed an athlete on the sideline riding an exercise bike or getting attention from a trainer? They’re not doing it because they have nothing better to do. They’re doing it so that they can get back in the game. What changes do you need to make so that your time off is restorative?

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Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.” Few people would debate that we’re in a time of crisis. And while we wouldn’t say the crisis is “good,” it’s worth reflecting on the statement.

Before covid, many churches and ministries had trouble breaking out of the mindset of “this is how we’ve always done things.” Needless to say, that’s less of a challenge today. And yet, status quo thinking lurks in the shadows every time someone talks about “getting back to normal.” 

That is why we shouldn’t waste the crisis. Our current challenges are an opportunity to break out of our ruts and be more creative. This may be the right time to make a long overdue change or try something out-of-the-box. For example, you may want to: 

• Rethink the way that you’re fostering spiritual growth in your congregation, with increased emphasis on personal spiritual practices and relational discipleship.
• Create a more robust digital offering. (I realize that everyone has upped their digital game, but is it where it needs to be? If you’re not sure, ask the digital natives in your audience.)
• Eliminate a worship service or a program that has been struggling for years. 
• Restructure your staff, eliminating or adding positions based on emerging priorities. 
• Leverage volunteers whose traditional roles are on pause but who still have time and talents to offer.
• Streamline decision-making by eliminating bureaucratic obstacles that slow progress and preserve the status quo. 

Two notes of caution. First, any changes should be consistent with your church’s or ministry’s core identity. Second, you may be tempted to ignore your board (or whatever your governing body is called) in order to move quickly. The last bullet above says “streamline,” not disband. While this is the time to be bold and creative, playing the heroic lone ranger is a fool’s mission. 

What opportunity is the crisis placing at your doorstep?

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Some high-profile individuals are known for dressing the same way every day. Think of Steve Jobs always wearing a black turtleneck and jeans. The explanation is that this is one less decision for the busy leader to make each day.

Many church and ministry leaders are suffering from decision fatigue right now. There are more decisions, and many routine decisions have become more complex. A year ago, none of us were having to decide whether to open the doors for worship on Sundays. Even if that decision has been made, the list of other pending decisions feels like the waves of the ocean that just keep coming. 

So what can you do if you’re experiencing decision fatigue?

• Reduce the number of decisions that you have to make. I’m not saying the questions should go unanswered, but I am suggesting that someone else can answer them. Now is the time to delegate. If you have been deeply involved in worship planning worship, this may be the time to let that go to give you bandwidth for other decisions. Don’t hold onto decisions just because you’ve always done it that way.
• Expand the circle of people who are authorized to make leadership decisions. It’s the only way that you will be able to reduce your involvement. No, they won’t always make the same decision that you would make, nor will they always get it right. But if you have a competent team, trust and empower them to do their jobs.
• Choose the right time horizon for your decision focus. Week-by-week is too short for any meaningful planning. Looking a year into the future seems futile for most issues in the current climate. (Although some opportunities require a long-term perspective.) Pick a time frame that makes sense. Focus on programming decisions for the fall, not the entire school year. Consider a 3-month rolling budget rather than a 12-month one.
• Act rather than getting stuck in constant deliberation. “Paralysis by analysis” describes the desire to have all the information before choosing the path forward. But we never have all the information, and that’s especially true in our current environment. So get the right people in the room with the best information available, decide the right next step, and act.

I don’t expect you to be any less fatigued even if you take all these steps. But I am confident they will help you and your organization step into an uncertain future.

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What is the overarching narrative that runs through your church or ministry right now? At the risk being too simplistic, it is probably one of two extremes. One is a story of woe and discouragement. It’s captured in the phrase, “2020 is trying to kill us,” and it includes a recitation of all the different difficulties that we are experiencing. 

A second says, “In the midst of a lot of bad news, God is doing something.” It’s a narrative that expresses curiosity and anticipation. It is not a naive view that ignores reality, but it is anchored in confidence that God is with us and is at work in our world. 

It’s important to note that you can point to facts that support either narrative. More important to note is that those in leadership largely determine which of the two narratives has the most traction within an organization. The themes and stories that you emphasize in your communication will set the tone for your organization.

The first narrative emphasizes survival. Phrases like “hunker down” or “conserve resources” or “circle the wagons” characterize this narrative. This is a natural instinct when the world seems to be a dangerous place.

The second narrative emphasizes opportunity. Leaders may talk about “taking new ground” or “better to try and fail than not try at all” or “getting out of our comfort zone.” It calls for movement that breaks out of the status quo.

What narrative would best serve your church or ministry right now? And how can you use your platform to shape that narrative?

You probably know the term “Ebenezer,” which means “stone of help.” You may know the story from 1 Samuel 7 in which God miraculously intervenes to deliver the people of Israel from an enemy army that was poised to attack. The passage concludes, “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up … He named it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far has the LORD helped us'” (1 Samuel 7:12). This is one of several instances when God’s people set up markers to remind themselves of God’s deliverance in the face of impossible odds. 

The practice of remembering is a rich spiritual discipline. When faced with difficult circumstances, our human tendency is to either give up or muscle up. One is an act or resignation and the other an act of self-reliance. But a better response is to look up and remember how God has intervened in the past. 

How? Here are 5 specific ways:

• Look back at old journals. If you have kept spiritual journals, review some of your old entries to be reminded of prayers that God has answered.
• Start a new journal. Perhaps you don’t have old journals to review. You can always start one, reflecting on the “God moments” in your life.
• Talk to a joyful person. Some people just exude joy. Have a conversation with one of those friends and ask their secrets for maintaining such a positive outlook. 
• Redirect doomsayers. At the other extreme, some people quickly pull you into a whirlpool of negativity. If you find that happening, interrupt and ask what God might be doing or teaching in this moment. 
• Read the inspiring stories of faithful saints. Whether in Scripture or contemporary accounts, these stories remind us that we are not alone and that God is present and active in all circumstances. 

Try one or more of these practices. You may discover that Ebenezer stones are all around you. 

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The title of a recent article in the Wall Street Journal read, “America is reopening to tension: Easing restrictions is in some ways turning out to be more divisive than shutting down.” I find this statement to be painfully accurate as I listen to pastors and other ministry leaders. The first few weeks of the covid-19 pandemic were difficult, but regathering poses even bigger challenges now and in the weeks to come.

Why? In the first days of the pandemic, most churches and ministries shifted to 100% online. It wasn’t easy, but the steps to make the transition were relatively clear. Now we’ve entered a season of “in between” where the best path to take is much less obvious and the demands on leaders will be even greater than before.

Church and ministry leaders are finding themselves in between:

• Competing pressures to fully reopen and to remain closed, with a variety of other options in the middle. The people on both ends of this spectrum are often vocal and uncompromising, making it impossible to please everyone.
• Continuing online excellence while ramping up on-site offerings. A “hybrid” model (online and on-site) may sound like a great solution. But the cost required to accomplish this both/and approach can be weighty for leaders who already feel overwhelmed.
• Short-term tactical decisions and long-term creative ones. It’s easy to get whiplash going from questions about requiring masks to imaging what ministry should look like in a year (and how to prepare for that now). Both kinds of discussions are necessary and time consuming. 
• “We’ll eventually get back to normal” and “Ministry will never be the same again.” In those moments when you try to engage a team in creative conversations about the future, you may encounter a confused look or someone asking, “Why do we need to change?” 

I don’t have an easy solution for how to lead well during this in between season. But I am certain that the path forward begins with naming the stress and fatigue that you’re feeling. It requires pausing long enough to take inventory and to stop doing things that drain your energy and produce little fruit. It means making the best decisions you can (with your team) and then extending grace (to yourself and them) if you get it wrong. And it calls for carving out moments to rest – even though you “don’t have time” – because the “new normal” may be a long season of in between. 

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Two quotes from the news last week caught my attention. As Italy began to loosen its restrictions, an NPR reporter reminded listeners of the early days of the lockdown when Italians lifted their spirits by singing from their balconies. But the reporter noted that patience was wearing thin, and concluded, “Now the singing is over.” In a separate editorial, David Brooks wrote, “We have entered the endurance phase of this pandemic.”

I recognize the emotions underneath both of these quotes because I feel them myself. I’m ready for the pandemic to end, but it’s clear that we have a long road ahead. I’d like to be able to make plans – for the summer, for my family, for my work – and yet it seems impossible to plan anything. When I look into this uncertain future, I don’t feel like singing. When I hear “endurance phase,” I want to grit my teeth, not burst out in song. 

But even as I say that, I’m reminded that for followers of Jesus, the singing should never end, regardless of our current circumstances. This is especially true for leaders. (See my previous blog about confronting the brutal facts and retaining faith that we will prevail.) If the music has become faint among the people you lead, you may need to:

• Remind them (and yourself) of the reasons to sing. The news and stories we read and hear directly affect our attitude and outlook. No one wants to sing if they are feasting on a constant stream of gloom and doom. Keep holding up the promises in Scripture and the hope that we have in Christ.
• Form a choir (figuratively). Those early balcony performances were often solos that seemed to shake a defiant fist at an invisible viral enemy. But it’s hard to sustain a solo, especially when it seems like the enemy isn’t being beaten as we had hoped. Especially in this time of isolation, double your efforts to help your people connect with each other in meaningful community. “Two are better than one … If either falls down, one can help the other up” (Eccl. 4:9-10).
• Write new songs. One reason people have quit singing is their growing realization that we won’t “get back to normal.” The grief that comes with that awareness is understandable. And while we shouldn’t ignore the grief, now is the time to begin envisioning a different future that while different, can still be vibrant and beautiful.  

This blog is particularly poignant in light of the questions about the safety of congregational singing during the pandemic. And yet, that is one more reason for pastors and ministry leaders to begin writing “new songs” – creating new ways to help their people see where God is at work and how the Holy Spirit might be calling them to respond. 

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