The Future of Online Services

We are now meeting in our church building for in-person worship services. A number of people have mentioned how much they have appreciated seeing each other, even if some of our activity is limited.

But what about the online services?

Putting worship services online on our YouTube channel was nice during the lockdown but is there any reason to keep them going? Isn’t there a danger that people will just sleep in on Sunday mornings and watch the service on their computer?

There is a danger in anything that we do that some people will misuse the opportunities that are given to them. But the positives outweigh the negatives when it comes to keeping our online services.

Here are some reasons why we will be keeping our online services going:

• There are people in our congregation who want to intend in person but cannot.
• It is an opportunity for people who are sick for a Sunday to not miss a service.
• Some people in our congregation might have to work on a Sunday but they don’t need to miss worship.
• It is an introduction to potential visitors about what our services are like.
• Some people with disabilities and mental illness find online services easier.
• It is a way for people from our congregation who move away to keep in touch.
• It expands our reach in spreading the gospel beyond our local area.
• It is a way to keep the services going if the weather is bad and people cannot get to church.
• It is a way for people in our congregation to share what we do with their friends and family by passing on the link through email or social media.

There are probably other advantages to keeping the online services as well but this is a good start. The online services will continue and we pray that God will continue to use them.