In my last post, I offered tips to ensure the Church could maintain worship services during the Corona Virus International Crisis. In this post, I would like to suggest tips the Church can use to continue its Day to Day operations should the area surrounding the Church is quarantined due to the Corona Virus. 

1. DO NOT put your staff and volunteers in a state of panic, create and disseminate a day to day ciris operation plan:
The Plan
Ensure your teams that as a result of the Corona Virus, the Church realized it needed an emergency crisis plan focused not only on the physical but also Day to Day Operations. Present the plan in hand out format and ensure that every staff member and ministry volunteer leader receives a copy with the intent to place the document in a safe place outside of the Church. (Should the area surrounding your Church become quarantined during non-operating hours, and they won't have an opportunity to retrieve the plan from their office). 

2. Telephone Communications:  
If your Church telephone system has capabilities to forward calls to an outside number, ask each staff member to forward their office phones to their cell phone numbers before they leave each night. This strategy ensures that members and vendors can still maintain daily contact with the Church, and the staff can conduct church business from home, again, if the area by which the Church is located becomes quarantined. Note- Make sure to advise your team that you are only requesting access to their cell phones during their regular work hours while operating within the crisis plan model.

3. Church Staff Meetings:
Stay in touch with your team by hosting daily or staff meetings using virtual conference call platforms. Two of my favorite- are Free Conference Call and Zoom. If you have a large staff, you may want to incorporate in your emergency plan that teams conduct team video conference calls daily.

4. Ministry Meetings & Bible Study
Again, I would suggest your ministry teams take advantage of Video Conference platforms and continue to meet at the originally scheduled times throughout the week.

5. Mail and Delivery
You can always ask the USPS to hold your mail at your local station if your area becomes quarantined as you don't want to have possible sensitive information left at the Church's front door or stuffed in the mailbox. 

6. Realize this is a new normal for a while and plan to operate virtually as you would if you were in the physical space.  

What does NOT have to be an option is engaging discussions about closing the church doors as there are platforms and software available today to ensure that the Church door is always open either, be it physical or virtual.

Blessings!

 PS: If you have not picked up your copy of The Church is Leaving the Building, NOW is the time to do so!!! Preview it here

Photo Credit:  Templegallery.com

I am sure you have seen the reports this week surrounding the global spreading of the Coronavirus and the current Government administration's reaction to it, "It's a Hoax!"

I would argue that the World Health Organization, CDC, and other organizations are suggesting the data collected notes otherwise. Many are reporting that it is now not a matter of "If"  the Coronavirus will become problematic to the United States but "When!"
Many of you have called my office during the last few days seeking suggestions on creating a long term strategy to address this issue; thus, I am sending you a short message offering both a short and long term strategy.

Short Term: 
Ensure that your Church has developed a Business NON-Profit Facebook and a Facebook private group page. If you currently do not have one or either of those, create one, TODAY! It's free and easy to create. These pages will allow your members who may become affected, continue to engage in worship and other ministry activities. 

• Setup your non-profit donate button to be placed on the Church's Facebook Page-

Create a YouTube Channel in the name of your Church

• Set up a Non-Profit Youtube Giving Donate Button on the Church's YouTube channel (churches are eligible but must be registered as a 501-c3).

Setting up these buttons is crucial as it could become your Church's primary way of collecting tithes and offerings if your Church becomes quarantined, members become self-isolated or just plain scared to come out to ample space.  

Get prepared to stream Live on one or both of these channels- if you are wondering my preference, it is YouTube as YouTube allows you to reach a wider audience and allows the opportunity for the Church to monetize off its viewership.

Every Church can go Live as long as you have a good camera (iPhone 11 XR or Samsung Galaxy 8 are worth the investment and project quality video that will suffice) and one double camera tripod.

It is no longer an option for Churches to go "Live" or not, as the Coronavirus threat is forcing pastors into a new normal in how they maintain Sunday Morning Worship, Bible Study, and Church meetings in times of emergencies and crisis.  

Communications:
During your pulpit acknowledgments, advise your congregation the importance of them liking and checking in on your Facebook page and subscribing to your YouTube Channel. Noting that these platforms will be the Church's primary mode of communication used to stay connected in a time of emergency or national crisis. Do not assume current members already connect to your existing social networks. This short term strategy allows you time to get everyone comfortable with what may become a new norm for a short period.

​Long Term Strategy: 
Two years ago, I authored a book, "The Church is Leaving the Building," and at the time of its publication, the goal was to provide Pastors with a blueprint on how to integrate e-church membership into their brick and mortar congregations. Little did I know at that time, that book would become an emergency plan needed today to help pastors continue to do ministry digitally in a time of a global health crisis.
"The Church is Leaving the Building" details for you how to continue to do ministry if or when the Coronavirus enters into your Church's geographical area.
I pray these strategies are helpful to you, and as always, here to assist you in setting up your systems as needed.