MINISTERING FROM AFAR T
he past two and a half months have been some of the most challenging months of pastoral work I have ever experienced. The ever-changing atmosphere of our world, rising tensions, mounting pressures, the daily toil of “normal” life today is taking a toll on everyone. To pastor, lead or evangelize in today’s climate is a new challenge we are each facing. How do we do church today? How do pastors lead a congregation now? What does sharing the gospel or evangelism and outreach look like in a “no touch,” social-distanced world? When the COVID-19 shutdowns began, I remember thinking this would be fun, almost like a mini-vacation. I would be home most of the day, I wouldn’t have to see anyone face-to-face, and I would have more time for reading and home projects. This could not have been further from the reality that was about to unfold. My daily workload went AUTHOR Natashia McVay from in-person meetings and Bible studies to hours of digital meetings and workshops on how to help others use the technology my husband and I had chosen to use for work and church. Most people were very gracious as I talked them through how to use Zoom, YouTube, Facebook, etc. I found myself chuckling occasionally as I felt a bit like a parent, explaining the same thing a
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million different ways, hoping one of them would help people would figure out how to do things. I also found myself amazed at how most of the older members of our churches embraced the use of new technology and worked hard to join the digital events throughout the week. Meeting electronically has been a wonderful blessing — a blessing I wouldn’t have thought of before this whole pandemic began. Being able to continue to meet with church members for Bible studies, gatherings, prayer meetings, Sabbath School and church has kept us together. But I still find myself wondering if I am actually doing effective outreach and evangelism.
