Once, there were two pastors: one led a very successful church, while the other was never taken seriously. Neither pastor attended seminary, yet both had risen in ministry to lead their churches for years.

The first pastor led his church through covid-19, and his church is thriving; it has grown exponentially since covid-19, taking in new members. The church is thriving during covid-19 because of this pastor and his leadership team.

The second pastor's church has struggled since covid-19. After Covid, the church dwindled to a small group who sat in an empty sanctuary every Sunday. The church became so small that their attendees decided to meet in a house. Even though this pastor is still leading his church, he is not leading them very well.

Even if we don't want it to, the COVID-19 pandemic crisis is a turning point for the church. The church's aim has not changed. However, execution of that goal varies during COVID-19 and will undoubtedly differ after the epidemic is over.

You can't usually do what you were doing previously in a crisis. The situation requires us to perform the task differently. That's all there is to it. It comes down to a simple choice: will you want to be a pre-COVID-19 church that refuses to recognize the pandemic's potential for innovative ministry or a post-COVID-19 church that views the crisis as an opportunity to revitalize its ministry?

An opportunity not only emphasizes the church's goal — to make disciples — but also calls attention to God's call on our lives. Is God inviting us into something new?

We need to be careful not to transfer nonessential practices from pre-COVID-19 into post-COVID-19, anything that jeopardizes our mission or vision. The church's disruption will be more long-lasting than COVID-19 if we continue engaging in nonessential activities and busyness.

What We Do is not as Important as WHY We Do What We Do

As we try to figure out how to function post-Covid, the "why" might disappear amid the endless logistics of moving from old ways of doing church to new. We have to stay focused on the church's original purpose, its mission.

In addition to reminding ourselves about why we do what we do, it would be wise of us to make a list of post-COVID-19 intentions and purposes that are essential for our churches' health. We need to prioritize the list. And then we have to ask ourselves: are these priorities or activities essential?

The importance of the "why" cannot be overstated. Now more than ever, the "why" is crucial. The church is fragile, but its "why" has a long reach. The church's why has staying power.

If the church and pastors are not careful, we will revert back to our old ways of doing church post-pandemic. We do not want that to happen because Covid-19 provides us with a golden opportunity to clarify our mission and explore innovative ways of doing ministry.

Remember The Past, Don't Re-live It

Pastors and church leaders who wish to return to the way things were before the pandemic, there is no indication that they have learned any lessons.

Uncertainty is the only sure thing. It's wise to expect the unexpected because we rarely get what we desire. We can be fortunate and figure out why something has occurred. However, the greatest lesson we can take away is that a person may discover a lesson and learn from it, which is preferable to being lucky any day.

Maybe we've been asking the wrong questions all along. We used to rely on in-person worship and small groups before COVID-19.

"When are we going back to in-person services?" "When can we have Sunday school or small groups again?" These are the wrong questions to ask. Instead, we should be asking questions such as:

- How can I serve my community during covid-19?

- What are some innovative forms of ministry that will engage the church?

We need to embrace change and try new things. We have to do what is necessary to adapt to covid-19 circumstances. And then we have to be creative.

Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing

COVID-19 has given some people an opportunity to rediscover gratitude. Others have learned the significance of generosity and perseverance. But what is the purpose?

Gratitude, generosity, and patience are all lessons taught by the church in response to the crisis. Most churches focus on protecting the community and maintaining the status quo, often at the expense of excluding others. But how can excluding individuals help those who are doing it?

Before the pandemic, making disciples was hard. Why? People use social media and other things to talk about things that are not good for their faith. Keeping the main thing (our mission) is good because it will keep the leaders from being distracted by things that cause division.

COVID-19 has generated new questions about the church, but it is not a crisis in itself. The church was born to keep people focused on Christ during every crisis and challenge. COVID-19 provides an opportunity for the church to reflect on its mission again.

The church's disruption will be more long-lasting than COVID-19 if we continue engaging in nonessential activities and busyness. This pandemic has given some people an opportunity to rediscover gratitude. Others have learned the significance of generosity and perseverance.

God gave us this opportunity to rediscover and uncover what we've taken for granted, such as giving and gratitude. At the heart of it all, you will find mission-focused, Christ-like leaders who possess a deep conviction toward the mission of God.

A new breed of church leader will emerge post-covid-19, able to lead in the power and love of Jesus Christ over all obstacles. They will be mindful about what matters most while enduring hardship so that others also might make it through.

Are there additional moves you see that the church must make in order to thrive post-Covid?