For a long time during this pandemic, “getting back to normal” was everyone’s hope; however, as time has dragged on and changes across the world have been implemented, it is now more proper to say, “what has become the new normal?”
Churches, of course, are not exempt from this shift form the “old normal” to the “new normal.” Whether a church likes it or not, online services and digital events are here to stay in conjunction with a more traditional in-person service. Instead of looking to break back into the old ways, churches need to look forward to how they can normalize the digital and online events which are inevitably going to become mainstay. Part of this normalization will be in how one invests into one’s online services. Now is the time to build a new and potent way to reach people from next-door to halfway across the world.
Two-way Communication
One of the best ways one can make more interesting and interactive online services is to promote two-way communication. Set up times where ministerial staff can answer questions from the online audience or can meet with them over some kind of video chat service. Look for ways to get regular members involved with a traditional service through having them read Scripture or perhaps giving special small devotions or prayers.
Although interacting in-person is still difficult in many places, a church should not treat the lack of this interaction through online as a shackle holding them back. Dedicate time to using modern tech and equipment to simulate or even enhance what used to be purely physical interaction in new and exciting ways.
Experimentation
Use this change as an opportunity to work towards creating new and innovative ways to interact with your audience. Not every church is going to need the same system of online materials, nor will most churches have congregations which want the same types of experiences with others. Ultimately, any statement which ends with “that is just the way we have always done it” is something which can be changed.
If your church craves small groups and interactions with fellow members, then work hard to create a way for groups to get together online. Have a large youth ministry? Perhaps now is the time to look for some games that would allows groups of them to play together. If your church is predominantly middle aged, then maybe an online get-together party with a streamed movie and some kind of dinner which each couple or family follows is in the books for you.
Now is not the time to be only looking backwards for things that your church can do online. One does not put a new engine in a forty-year old car. Innovate and reimagine how you can bring people together, even when they are apart.
Service Adaptation
Perhaps the most controversial of the three things in this post, look for ways to reevaluate services. Maybe it would be better to have announcements as a separate video or email chain outside of service. Maybe a reduction in live music is a smart move in the midst of an online service with no in-person members, or a shift towards only “specials” (i.e. small singing groups or musical numbers).
For the service itself, maybe it would be could to shift times or even add more, as people who work may have odd hours now that many are shifting to working from home. Splitting services up by age group may be a good move, or even prerecording something that children can watch while parents watch the regular service, or vice versa.
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Next time, we will discuss the more technical aspects of revolutionizing the online portion of your church, but now is a great time to brainstorm what you think your church may need as it continues to grow its online portion. Write some ideas down and what you think you will need to implement them, and come back with those things in mind as we discuss the importance of properly balancing audio and visual capabilities, along with some tools to help you as you start.
To learn more about this topic, check out this episode of ChurchMediaHQ: https://youtu.be/iPZIzf5Wqk
