DO YOU KNOW WHERE BUTTERCUP IS?

Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, Proverbs 27:23

This is, undoubtedly, a challenging time for pastors and churches. I hear it from my pastoral coaching clients and church attendees as well. I read about it in Social Media posts, blog entries, and personal messages. I feel it myself. We all just want this time to be over! It is not surprising that pastors might feel like it is a good time to stick their heads in the sand and turn a blind eye to what they, and the congregation God has given them to care for, are dealing with. 
However, as I tell the business clients I work with, a Godly leader knows that it is their God-given responsibility to know the current condition of their people (their flocks) and the assets that they oversee. How can you make wise decisions or set good strategic directions if you don't know how people and things are doing?

Doing this will help:

1. Prioritize Person to Person Communication. The pastors I know whose congregations are doing well during this time, prioritize simply being in touch. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that your weekly online service or even online small groups will serve the purpose by themselves.  Research stays that less than 50% of church members are even watching online. Your people need someone who is calling and asking "How are you doing?", "How can we help?"
   Here is where the small and medium size church has the advantage. They, more often, know who it is they serve and find it easier to get in touch each one of them.
   As the senior pastor, you may not be the one making the calls. In fact, you ought to be keeping up with your leaders and checking in to see how they are doing. Recruit some "assistant shepherds" and have them schedule some time to call through your membership list.
   
   
2. Ask The Hard Questions. It is easy to call and simply say; "I'm just checking in to see how you are doing." What your people need it the gently probing questions, "Are you feeling isolated? How is your walk with God doing during this time? How are you holding up emotionally." Of course, these are questions that assume a level of emotional intimacy that you might not have with ever parishioner. But, if you are doing your due diligence as pastor, and calling your leaders, you should be able to make these inquires.
   When you reach out, most people wonder, "Do they really want to hear how I am doing or are they just 'doing their job'?" When you ask the deeper questions, they know they answer: you really do want to know.
   
   
3. Follow Up. If, in your call or when your assistant shepherds call, you discover a significant, or significant problem, follow up. Call back soon after the original call and offer them resources that can help them. Send them a book. Write an email with a link to something useful for what they are going through. Just don't leave them hanging. Show you care by taking action.
   
   
4. Use a Variety of Methods to Connect. If you can't visit, a phone call is probably the gold standard. However, there are a thousand other ways to connect. Email, Social Media, cards and notes in the mail, dropping something by their front door and so many more, are great ways to keep the connection working. Never opt for the easiest and most convenient when you could be creative and do more.

As with all difficult times that we go through as leaders, this one will end eventually. What we have to ask ourselves now is; "What am I doing to keep the people spiritually and emotionally healthy during these challenging times." It is your call, your responsibility and they will appreciate the love you show.