Reopening Church Safely After COVID with Pastor Josh Street
Updated November 7, 2023 |
Reopening Church Safely After Crisis
Whether it be a powerful hurricane or a pandemic that suddenly closes churches, how do we respond to crises? In this podcast, Josh Street, Finance and Operations Pastor of Northstar Church in Panama City, FL shares how to serve others outside the four walls of the Church, and, when we come together again in the Church, how we can do so in a much safer way.
How To Be The Church
Without gathering inside church buildings, there have been many calls to be the Church. For Josh, “It was never about a building, and it’s never about even the people you can recruit. It’s about your community, and how you’re willing to serve it.”
The Church is not the four walls that make up a building. It’s the people who meet together to worship God, grow in their faith, pray, praise God, and share their lives.
Coping With Crises From Hurricanes To Covid-19
God never takes us through something without a reason for doing it. At Northstar, they ask the question, “God, what are you trying to teach us with this?” when something happens outside of their control.
After the hurricane, two of Northstar Church’s three campuses had sustained catastrophic damage. Josh didn’t let that get in the way of being the Church, and connecting to the community. “When all your buildings in your entire city are damaged, you don’t have a choice. You’ve got to have a place for people to meet and people to go. You do what you gotta do.”
When Northstar began reopening and hosting indoor gatherings, they made a plan to keep people safe. Matthew 5:14 says, “You are the light of the world,” and how fitting that light has become a key element that allowed Northstar Church to reopen safely. Through natural sunlight and an affordable UVC light system that kills airborne viruses on contact, Northstar reduced potential transmission and the spread of COVID-19 inside their buildings. Simple changes like these can have a profound impact, allowing churches to confidentially reopen, knowing the environment is safer as they worship together again.
Check out this episode of our Moving Mountains Podcast on being the Church, and creating a safe space for your community to gather.
Resources For Pastors And Church Leaders
Can you imagine navigating this situation without the support of technology and community? Your team should be leaning heavily into tools, such as worship planning and online giving, as you plan to reopen after a crisis. Here are some of our favorite resources, along with resources Josh recommends in the podcast episode.
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