I have a sore spiritual neck, do you? I think I have ministry whiplash, and if you do too - let’s help each other.

There’s a phenomenon that’s been coined as ‘COVID Whiplash’, where so many changes, so many lockdowns (well at least here in Victoria) and so many disorientating days lead people to feel the effects of more than just a virus.

Every new worry can bring a reaction. Every new change requires a response. And it can feel at times that at every turn there is a suggestion that we should do more of x, y or z.

This is happening all around us, and we need to care for one another in our church - for that is where we could get ministry whiplash and sore spiritual necks.

There is a whole bunch of excellent, intentional and well-planned ministries we prayed we could host this year. When we came to 2021 we thought, “phew, I’m so glad that lockdowns are so 2020…” (well', at least I thought that) but it does seem that we’ll have the “ghost of lockdowns past” for a while.

Instead of getting angry about this (and anger is the one who brings sin on a leash to leave crouching at our door), and rather than becoming anxious about things out of our control, and instead of ignoring the effects of this, I think we need to plan for this for the rest of 2021.

I feel the effect of ministry whiplash when every time we close down or open up due to lockdowns only to find that the complications of starting and stopping so many things is a wearisome task. We can’t keep it up. Then throw in remote learning for parents, kids and youth, working from home and a feeling of loss - life is complicated enough without adding a complicated ministry calendar.

So how can we help one another? We keep ministry simple. Even as things start-stop for the rest of this year, by keeping ministry simple we will be able to ride through with less whiplash and without the sore spiritual neck.

So what does simple ministry look like for us, Reforming Church? I think for the rest of the year we need to focus on simply two key parts of church family life: gatherings and groups.

You could say, “we’ll that’s obvious, captain (or captain obvious?)”, except I think we need to say it. It doesn’t go without saying in a season, a year, an event in history that is going to be part of this generation. We need to state the obvious.

Clarity is key, and I think COVID has meant we need to have clarity what we’re about as a church. What is our reason for existence? Why are we here? What are we doing? What’s the plan? What needs to stay central and what can be put to the side - even just for now?

So to be clear, I reckon we ought to focus our church on two key parts of church life, even if it’s just for the rest of 2021 and lockdown-life. Gatherings and Groups. That’s it. That’s my pitch, my prayer, my invitation.

What difference does this make? It looks as simple as what we are engaged in for the rest of 2021 and what we’re not engaged in. I think for our culture of Christ, our growth more like Christ, our reach for making disciples of Christ needs to see us all pray and plan to be intentionally engaged in gatherings of Reforming Church on Sunday and groups of Reforming Groups during the week. Simple.

I reckon we ought not continue to host Sunday Seminars for the rest of the year. It was really good to undertake a Bible Overview recently, and so I think that sets us up to be ready for 2022 - the year of the Bible at Sunday Seminars.

I reckon we could still host Men’s Breakfasts and Women’s Brunches, but only if this serves groups of men and women (and boys and girls!) grouping around the gospel.

I reckon we ought to pray that we can see Reforming Youth leaders raised up, with regular Youth Group nights happening.

I reckon we ought to pray for God to raise up more workers for the harvest who are Reforming Group leaders, to love, lead and get people engaged in the gospel as we group together.

I reckon we ought to simplify life in a whip lash world.

So can I help you, could you help me? Could we commit to love one another by being part of gatherings and groups?

Everything else can wait, as we find our joy in Jesus in sorrowful and discouraging times. As we wait on the Lord, let him lift our weary selves by simply being with him, part of his church.

Make Leaders Article by Russ Grinter | Pastor & Teaching Elder

Russ is weak, but Jesus is strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). Russ gladly boasts of his weaknesses by preaching, writing, and speaking the gospel - because Jesus changes everything.