Many of us talk to churches about how to rethink our approach coming out of the pandemic. This is a chance to do things differently. If there really is a high degree of interest in spiritual things, we must seize the opportunity.

Do we try to tweak the current model so it works better? Do we try to radically change our structure and ministry model? I tell churches I am all in on the radical change viewpoint.

So here are a few suggestions that I think would change everything for our churches. They aren’t radical in theory, but they are different from how most churches operate.

What if elders went all out to look for the one lost sheep, contacting the members of the flock who have wandered away? What about elders’ wives who did actual mentoring with young wives and mothers? How about elders who got directly involved in the lives of struggling believers who need someone to pray with them, walk alongside them, and speak truth into their lives?

What if members were encouraged to call the elders if they saw a marriage in crisis or to let them know someone in the hospital had taken a turn for the worse? Members could do ministry but call elder couples when more spiritual wisdom was needed.

What if preachers decided this was the year to do less ministry and more evangelism? What if ministry staff told the assembly to please contact them if they wanted to know more about Jesus, or met visitors with an invitation to answer their questions or to talk about Jesus?

How about if members were encouraged to call the staff when they were talking to non-believers and needed help answering questions or with next steps? Members could be doing ministry and evangelism, using evangelists when they needed more help.

How about deacons who said we will identify and take care of members in need? Servants and servant couples could be involved in making sure needs were met.

What if members called deacons when they identified a need that was more than they could do on their own? Members could be doing ministry, calling for the identified servants when they needed additional resources.

Members doing ministry led by the deacons. Preachers committing to evangelism. Elders doing spiritual leadership and restoration. Churches would boom.

Or we can keep doing church the way we always have and hope things will be different this year.