Every area of life is different to how it was a month ago. Despite there being many difficult things to come to terms with – I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to hear some positives from people. The BBC reported a few weeks ago that there has been a dramatic decline in pollution levels over China, for instance.
But what is the biggest change for the Christian world? And what is our opportunity to turn this for good?
While we’re all being told to stay at home, church just got kicked out of its building. We all know that church is not a location or an activity we do once a week, but now we have been forced to put our money where our mouth is. This could be the radical change we have been waiting for!
How has ministry changed for you? Maybe some of you are finding yourselves with little to do now as you can no longer have the same contact with others. Or maybe ministry is busier than ever as you seek to still connect with people in this new way of being.
One of our individual recipients, Luke, had started a film ministry with the aim to tackle the tragedy that 84 men in the UK commit suicide a week as well as the problem of the number of men in the church continuing to drop. His plan was to bring men together, using film as a springboard to facilitate conversations about real life issues among those both inside and outside the church. With so many stuck at home, Luke is now taking this ministry online, with people watching in their own homes and then having a discussion using Zoom afterwards. He is also planning to hold these film sessions more frequently as there is a greater appetite for connecting with others and also for something to relieve the boredom!
So here’s the question… what new opportunities did God just bring to your doorstep? What new ways of working for him can you embrace?
If you are a Stewardship Individual Recipient account holder, hopefully you received our email explaining that if you are unable to work your normal hours due to COVID-19, we are happy to continue making payments to you as normal over the next three months. In the meantime, I wonder what changes, if any, can be made to enable you to still meet the goals of your mission. We’d love to hear your stories of how God has changed your ministry.
Email us at: [email protected]
Just to add, we know that for some, this chaos has brought immeasurable challenges. We stand with you in prayer and trust God for the way forward.
Jo Arkell
Jo helps and encourages Christian workers to be fully resourced for the work God has put before them. She passionately wants people called into ministry not to scrape by but to be equipped, encouraged and to have the confidence in their support raising and creating new partners.
Previously Jo was at home for 15 years as a mum to four sons as well as taking on many roles including preaching and teaching in her local church. She also volunteers for Familylife, a couples ministry of Agape.
Jo lives in East London with her husband and four sons and anytime left over is spent running, swimming, cycling and walking the family dog, Pepper.
Jo supports causes that care for the most marginalised in our society, those caught in addiction, debt and causes that provide education for those with few opportunities.
