April 2021 Resource
Title:
The Post-Quarantine Church: Six Urgent Challenges and Opportunities
Author:
Thom Rainer
Publisher:
Tyndale Momentum, Nashville, TN
Book Review By:
Melvin Amerson
Premise of the book:
Post-pandemic, churches should prepare for and embrace ministry changes that were perceived as “temporary,” but will become normal ministry practices.
What this book does:
The Post-Quarantine Church is a good resource for clergy and lay leadership who want to prepare for the return of in-person worship and ministry. The author, Thom Rainer, offers suggestions for churches for moving forward and ministry practices adopted during the pandemic, since church will likely be different. He also shares insights into ministry and technology usage trends that were adopted and or accelerated during this period. Each chapter concludes with three reflective and thought-provoking questions to consider as church leaders plan for in-person worship and ministry to the community.
Contents:
Introduction: After the Quarantine
Challenge 1: Gather Differently and Better
Challenge 2: Seize Your Opportunity to Reach the Digital World
Challenge 3: Reconnect with the Community Near Your Church
Challenge 4: Take Prayer to a New and Powerful Level
Challenge 5: Rethink Your Facilities for Emerging Opportunities
Challenge 6: Make Lasting Changes That Will Make a Difference
Concluding Thoughts: From Challenges to Opportunities
About the Author
What are some important insights:
Readers will discover important insights in this resource regarding the return to in-person worship and ministry. “The pandemic gave church leaders an opportunity to rethink everything, including the use of their physical facilities.” (p. 87) Rainer believes the neighborhood church will make a comeback. Church facilities will be used in partnership with the community. People will attend worship in-person, online, and some will attend using both options. Also, some small groups will continue to meet online post-pandemic.
Possibilities as a resource for churches:
This is good resource for clergy and church leaders who are preparing for or grappling with the return to in-person ministry, filled with pandemic adopted worship, outreach, and administrative practices.
The Rev. Melvin Amerson is a member of the Texas Annual Conference and serves as a Resource Specialist and Area Representative at TMF. His experience and passion lie in encouraging and developing generous, faithful leaders and congregations.
Amerson is the author of Celebrating the Offering, Fruit for Celebrating the Offering, and Stewardship in African American Churches: A New Paradigm, as well as several articles covering topics from generosity, leadership, and visioning. He served as a board member of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center until it was dissolved in 2021 and is currently serving on the Texas Annual Conference Church Leadership Team. He is a nationally recognized generosity consultant known for his engaging presentations. Beyond strengthening congregational leaders, one of his favorite ways to use his skills is to empower Wesley Foundation staff to effectively fund their college ministries.
Melvin obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, an M.Div degree concentrating in Christian education from Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia, an Executive Leadership certificate from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and a certificate in Professional Fundraising from Boston University. Recently, he completed a fundraising certificate with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.