Pastor Snapshot – CJ Nissen

We asked Pastor CJ Nissen to give us a video update on what he is learning through the crisis.

So, how are Iowa pastors doing?

Better than they expected. Given the circumstances, most pastors are doing better than they expected to be doing right now. This is incredibly encouraging consider the number of challenges they were facing at the beginning of this crisis. We have seen so many pastors “rise to the occasion” to move out of their comfort zones, innovate within their ministries, and continue to advance the gospel in their church and community. As a result, most have found themselves coming through far better than they had feared. There is a feeling of guarded optimism and a sense that “there is light at the end of the tunnel.” Moreover, most pastors feel good about their ministries and about their personal lives.

Experiencing unexpected blessings

Everyone was expecting challenges. Indeed, some congregations were hit hard by sickness or unemployment. While we don’t diminish the negative impact of the crisis, one unexpected source of encouragement is the numerous blessings that have resulted from this crisis.

Many have found new opportunities to slow down and breathe. Pastors often don’t realize how fast they have been running until something forces them to slow down. Plenty of family time to spend with their wife and kids has been a real blessing for many pastors and is something they don’t want to lose.

Most churches report expanded exposure to the gospel through online services and other media engagement. In spite of social distancing, many in the church felt a new sense of connectedness. There has been a lot of innovative ministry happening “out there” in people’s homes and on front porches as church members take care of one another.

Many churches fared better than they expected in terms of giving. Though there is a lingering fear that we have not seen the end of it, pastors are stewarding resources in innovative ways that will prove beneficial for years to come.

We’ve also seen a resurgence of camaraderie between pastors and a sense that, “We’re all in this together.” The BCI Pastor’s Facebook Group and the Zoom meetings and webinars are great indicators of renewed partnerships. In tackling these new problems, no one is an expert and no one has all the answers. To move forward we have to work together to develop effective strategies and solutions.

Experiencing unexpected challenges

Heading into this crisis, church leaders were “expecting the worse and hoping for the best.” Some of the challenges were readily apparent, such as how to provide quality content on online platforms. Some challenges were not as obvious, such as how to navigate all the divergent views on reopening in-person services. Leading a leadership team to make dozens of decisions regarding the logistics of new service paradigms through multiple phases has provided plenty of opportunities for conflict.

Another unexpected challenge was how pastors can best care for families in crisis when the usual responses are not an option due to social restrictions or quarantine. Need to visit a member in the hospital? Nope. Funeral service? Nope. Pastors have had to be persistent and creative about how to shepherd in the midst of these crises.

Learning new things

What new things are pastors learning through all this? For some this is a time of intense self-evaluation for a pastor, a time to learn about themselves, how they prioritize, and how they function best. Learning to manage time well and stay focused on the task at hand was a common area of learning for many pastors.

Many pastors are learning that they CAN do things differently. Where they may have been resistant to change in a particular area before, they were pushed out of their comfort zone and have seen the benefit of doing things in a new way.

This crisis has caused us all to evaluate how we are to relate to our government. Pastors wrestled with how to come to a balanced approach in showing great faithfulness to God but also in cooperating effectively with the government. We were given a small glimpse of what it is like to not enjoy complete freedom, like the vast majority of Christians throughout history. Perhaps this has been a healthy exercise in learning to balance between being faithful to our Lord while submitting to the governing authorities.

Still plugging away

Throughout this crisis, pastors have pivoted, innovated, and disrupted their ministries to respond to every challenge. Now that we are moving closer to normal, many pastors are likely feeling the weariness catch up to them. But they can rally around what has not changed, the gospel of Jesus Christ and His mission. Plans and logistics may change, but those things are always changing. At the end of the day, people are still people, the gospel is still the gospel, and pastors can keep plugging away with joy.