The new year is generally an exciting time of new beginnings and renewed commitments.
Here are some of my thoughts about ministry this year.
1. It’s not going to get any easier this year. As culture continues to accept more philosophies and actions contrary to the gospel, our work will be even more counter-cultural. We desperately need God’s help and power.
2. Some pastors who successfully survived the last few difficult years will fall morally in 2022. The strain and stress of these COVID-19-influenced years may well have worn down some pastors who will make wrong choices in the next year. None of us is immune to stupidity.
3. At the same time, it’s time to stop blaming the pandemic for issues we face in the church. These kinds of issues will likely always be present in some way, but our calling remains the same. We have to lead through the crisis, not let the crisis defeat us.
4. Church leaders will have to decide if/how to minister to members who have never returned to live services. Should the church discontinue live worship services online in an age when offering online options is significant? Should the church determine the best way to minister via online while simultaneously trying to reach these fringe members? Might the church simply begin disciplinary steps toward those who haven’t returned? Or, is there some other option?
5. Until short-term missions opportunities return, we must find ways to support those already on the field. Connect with them by electronic means. Pray for them. Give to their work. Develop international partnerships now you can build on when travel opportunities return – and build relationships with church planters and re-planters in the US now.
6. Local networks will increasingly become more important to church leaders than national denominational commitments. Some of that will happen as controversies continue to envelop denominations, but more of it is simply a desire of leaders to have somebody walk with us in this journey. Local fellowship and camaraderie matter.
7. Preaching teams will become more the norm. They’re not the norm yet, but more and more churches – particularly younger ones – are emphasizing teams over a single preaching elder. They do not want to build their church around one leader, and they want to develop new teaching elders along the way.
8. Having a part-time pastor will become more acceptable, even though some will still question whether this role should be long-term. When I’ve written about the value of bi-vocational ministry in the past, I’ve received pushback about this “calling.” More recently, though, more God-focused churches and God-called pastors seem open to discussing these options.
9. Some things will not change. For example, churches that emphasize reaching non-believers will have a pastor and staff who model an evangelistic lifestyle. At the same time, though, only if laity catch this fire will anything change in the North American church. I trust some churches don’t want to go another year without reaching many people for Christ.
10. Somebody you’ve been praying about for many years may come to Christ in 2022. If we don’t start the year believing that reality, we can’t expect it to happen. But, our God is still in the business of doing miracles. That, too, won’t change this year.
(EDITOR’S NOTE – Chuck Lawless is dean of doctoral studies and vice-president of spiritual formation and ministry centers at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C., where he also serves as professor of evangelism and missions. This article was first published on his website ChuckLawless.com. Used by permission.)
