How to Pastor During a Pandemic Apart From Technology
Most of the conversation about pastoring during our current pandemic has revolved around technology. Pastors have rushed to learn how to livestream, to record YouTube videos, to setup online giving and to lead Zoom meetings.
There are going to be some pastors that are totally in their element. They have thrived on technology and finally our congregations are forced to welcome this technology.
But there are other pastors that are not so excited. Technology is not their thing. This has more to do with disposition than generation. Either they don’t have the knowledge and resources to go digital or they are doing it but are not enjoying it.
Has our only option become that we are now e-pastors?
Even if a pastor has not set up online worship services, there are things that can be done. And for those of us who have gone digital, there are still pastoral needs apart from technology.
Here are some things that pastors can do apart from technology:
- Pray for your people. If you have a directory, go through it family by family.
- Call people on the telephone. Counsellors are doing therapy by phone, surely we can visit and pray by phone.
- Write letters and cards to your people. We received a handwritten letter mailed through the postal system from someone in our congregation and it meant a lot to us.
- Study the Word. Instead of feeling guilty about all your extra time, use it to dig deeper into the Bible.
- Develop new skills. Remember when we didn’t have time to learn that new skill? Now we do. This pandemic is eventually going to be over. Let’s prepare ourselves.
You do not have to be a techno-wizard to be a pastor during this current pandemic. I would advise taking advantage of the technology as much as you can, but there are other options.
How are you pastoring right now?
