Tag: Coronavirus

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How can you virtually deliver a sermon?

Cartoon of a man holding a tablet computer. He says, "I'll just hold the screen while our guest pastor delivers the sermon!"
Copyright © 2020 Kevin Spear for Church of God Ministries

Churches have enough challenges these days. One of the many obstacles has been how to virtually deliver a sermon to congregants who are staying home. COVID-19 has made life and ministry quite interesting!

Pastors and churches have found some incredible, creative ways to get their sermons out. Some have made use of Facebook Live while others have used YouTube. Others have polished up their web sites and made them more user-friendly. One great thing about these challenges is it has brought about innovation. We have all learned to use technology in ways we never would have dreamed of this time last year.

One of my goals for the coming year is to help pastors and Christian leaders use the Internet and social media more effectively. This continues to be the way many people get their information. Google has become the oracle many turn to. After all, when we have a question, how many of us type that question into Google to see what the results bring?

When it comes to public speaking and sermons, pastors are great communicators. However, it’s a totally different communication method to distill a sermon into a tweet, Facebook post, or blog. But since search engines depend on text, it is a vital part of today’s effective communication.

I feel for the church as it faces more challenges in the coming weeks. COVID-19 cases continue to climb as we get ready for Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas. November 2020 is beginning to feel a lot like March 2020. What will Christmas look like this year? Are all of the events canceled? Should they be?

We can still give thanks even when the event doesn’t look like it normally does. We can still celebrate and commemorate Christmas even though the annual choir extravaganza has been canceled. The holidays are about more than events.

I drew this cartoon for the November 2020 CHOGNews.

Cartoon of a man holding a tablet computer. He says, "I'll just hold the screen while our guest pastor delivers the sermon!"
Copyright © 2020 Kevin Spear for Church of God Ministries
Categories
church cartoons

Contactless Tithing

Cartoon of two men. One is about to catch a paper airplane. He says, "Look! There's another contactless tithe!"
Published in the October 2020 CHOGNews.

Welcome to the wonderful world of contactless tithing! There are things we used to take for granted that has now been complicated by the coronavirus. It has also generated some new phrases like…

  • social distancing
  • flatten the curve
  • contactless giving (also known in churches as contactless tithing)

We are all looking for various ways to avoid spreading the coronavirus. One advantage of the Internet is we can do various tasks without the need to be in contact with anyone. It even makes it possible to tithe without darkening the door of the church building.

Hi-tech Giving

Hi-tech giving in the church has been around for at least five years. I drew a cartoon about five years ago about the awkwardness of giving online when the ushers pass around the offering plate. How can you say, “I already gave,” without being obnoxious? Well, why not have a t-shirt proclaiming your actions?

Of course, with any new technology, some find a way to misuse or abuse it like this cartoon shows:

Electronic Giving is NOT E-Waste!

Strange New World

Just like other businesses and organizations, churches are learning to adapt to new ways of operating. I have to admit, it is very strange to visit a church now and not have an offering plate being sent down each pew.

But I suppose it is just as weird to see the enforced distancing at churches as well as sporting and community events. It’s also an adjustment to see people worshipping with masks on. It’s become that much easier to sing along without knowing the words. Humming while participating has never been so much more attainable!

On the plus side, electronic giving has now come into the mainstream. It has been around for several years, but now it is a lifeline to churches that have congregants watching from home. A paper airplane may have a limited range for contactless tithing, but texting to give, by app, or through a web site are now great ways to keep participating while we wait for this season to pass.

This cartoon was published in the October 2020 CHOGNewsletter.

Cartoon of two men. One is about to catch a paper airplane. He says, "Look! There's another contactless tithe!"
Published in the October 2020 CHOGNews.
Categories
motivation

Appropriate Modes of Transportation

Cartoon of of an angel waiting at a bus stop.

Commuting sure looks different this year as opposed to last year. Who would have thought a bus stop would be considered a risky endeavor before COVID-19?

Angelic transportation may be the way to go. We may feel safer at a bus stop if we knew a guardian angel was at our side. But would the angel be wearing a mask? Would he be giving you one?

Many people are considering what it will look like when they begin commuting to work once again. This article from Healthline.com says the CDC’s guidelines suggest solo commuting is the safest option. That’s what I’ve had to do most of my professional life, out of necessity. But what if that isn’t an option for you? What if you work in a city where public transportation is the only viable option?

In that case, the usual recommendations of wearing a mask, practice social distancing, and washing your hands frequently become that much more important. The article also says not to touch anything on your commute. Easier said than done, I know. Then again the trains and buses I have been on had quite a layer of gunk on surfaces. Maybe that layer would be great motivation to refrain from touching, or breathing anything while on that bus!

Cartoon of of an angel waiting at a bus stop.
Categories
motivation

Phoenix Church Ministers Creatively

I had the opportunity to write an article for Church of God Ministries. It is about a church that found a way to minister to the community during the coronavirus pandemic.

Phoenix Church Hosts Socially Distanced Drive-in Movie
I wrote this article for Church of God Ministries.

Arcadia City Church in Phoenix, Arizona, used an inflatable screen and some electronic expertise to have a drive-in movie family night. Pastors Michael and Christy Fay were inspired by their growing family. They observed how one of their children longed for connection during the quarantine.

I love how instead of getting frustrated and upset about how the crisis has changed how we do church, they were inspired to find a solution. As we continue to experience challenges, let’s all look for ways we can reach out and help others. We can all turn negative situations into solutions that can benefit us and our communities.

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books motivation Quotes

Why is isolation so dangerous?

"When we isolate ourselves from others, we become islands unto ourselves. And like Tom Hanks in the movie 'Cast Away,' we eventually draw a face on a volleyball, name it Wilson, and start talking to it." Mark Batterson in "Whisper"

Has anyone felt isolated lately? Of course, we have! After all quarantine is a synonym for isolation. Hospitals have isolation wards that keep infected people from spreading illness. In some situations, like a pandemic, isolation is necessary.

Health professionals have told us isolation has been necessary to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Yet, It isn’t easy for any of us. There has been several recent articles on how isolation is affecting us.

I liked today’s quote by Mark Batterson because of its humorous approach. It also reminds me isolation can become dangerous because it can cause us to do some crazy things.

  • We may start believing the negative self-talk that comes from our thoughts.
  • We may find unhealthy ways to numb the loneliness
  • When we finally get with people, we may come off as desperate, or a little neurotic (especially if you introduce you volleyball as your new friend)
  • It opens us up to scammers and others that take advantage of the lonely and isolated.

Batterson’s book is about how to listen to the voice of God. He reminded me that one way to hear His voice is to be in a community of believers. We all need friends and mentors to keep us from going off the rails. Isolation and a lack of humility can be a great disadvantage when you need someone to talk through an idea.

We are all social creatures. Even introverts need time with others. We may not be able to meet face-to-face. Technology may not be your strong suit. But I encourage you to find ways to reach out to friends even when it may take extra effort. We all need others to keep us from getting very lonely, and a little neurotic.

"When we isolate ourselves from others, we become islands unto ourselves. And like Tom Hanks in the movie 'Cast Away,' we eventually draw a face on a volleyball, name it Wilson, and start talking to it." Mark Batterson in "Whisper"