One of the biggest factors that impacts whether a new church will be successful is how well the church is able to build a community. Doing so isn’t always easy, and it certainly wasn’t easy for Jeff Moors, a church partner at the Association of Related Churches (ARC).
After years of trying to decide whether he even wanted to be the lead pastor at a church, Jeff and his wife Eryn finally decided to take the leap in 2019. With the help of the Association of Related Churches, the Moorses launched Rhythm Church in Southern California in January 2020.
Two months after launching their church with the Association of Related Churches, the Moorses—like many other churches around the world—had to shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They had to shift online at a time when they hadn’t really developed a full-on community yet.
But the Moorses still created their community. Here are some ways they did so.
Reach as Far as You Can
Without the ability to connect with members of the community in person, the Moorses instead reached out as much as they could online. In addition to holding ARC church worship sessions online, they reached out to people in the community via social media, email, and phone.
For the Moorses, the goal was simply to let people know they were there to offer support in any way that was needed. The pandemic was obviously a very volatile and fragile time for a lot of people, so reaching out was a great way to form connections and offer help.
Extend Your Support
There are so many ways ARC churches can support their community, and Rhythm Church was very creative in how they did so. In the early stages of the pandemic, the Moorses reached out to local schools, gathered and delivered groceries, and helped families who were in need.
They were very careful about how they re-engaged the community for in-person meetings when they were allowed to do so in 2020. Once they did, they were able to support the local community in many ways that are common for churches linked to the Association of Related Churches.
They also gave out gift cards to local restaurants, surf shops, and more. This not only helped to support the people in the community, but also supported local businesses that were struggling.
Jeff Moors said a great lesson here for other ARC churches is to not turn inward. Instead of focusing solely on how their church would weather the pandemic, Jeff and Eryn looked at how they could help their community weather it.
Love People More Than You Love a Pulpit
Jeff Moors looks at himself as a pastor of the entire community, not just his ARC church. He says that one of the most important things that pastors of ARC churches should learn is that you must love people more than you love the pulpit.
As a pastor connected to the Association of Related Churches, your actions should revolve around what the community needs. Take the time to listen to what people are talking about when you’re around town, at coffee shops, or at stores. Engage with business leaders and community leaders to learn more.
By doing so, you’ll be able to better serve your community, which should be the goal of any ARC church.
About the Association of Related Churches
The Association of Related Churches (ARC) represents a collaborative network comprising independent congregations from various denominations, networks, and backgrounds. Its primary mission is to provide essential support and resources to church planters and pastors, enabling them to effectively share the teachings of Jesus Christ. ARC’s operational approach revolves around empowering and equipping church leaders, thus helping them foster the widespread dissemination of Christ’s life-changing message. Established in 2000, the Association of Related Churches has evolved into a worldwide entity and has played a pivotal role in facilitating the establishment of over 1,000 new churches globally.
