Pastoring Students in the #CoronavirusPandemic

This is the first week that schools, government agencies and churches are experiencing closures and the broader social impact of Covid-19. The young people in your church and community are feeling this acutely, as their schedules are likely the most impacted with extended spring breaks, courses shifting to online format, and stress at home as other realities impact parents.

Even though in-person gatherings may be disrupted for some period of time, students and college adults will have extra time on their hands as they are home from school and activities. Empower small group leaders to be in regular contact with them throughout the coming weeks, taking advantage of their increased availability. Find creative ways to connect with them yourself. You can increase the relational connection with other leaders and fellow students even if in-person gatherings are temporarily suspended.

In addition to practicing the recommendations of the CDC, our diocese and your own church, along with Ministry Safe guidelines, here are some practical ways to stay close with the Next Generation in this season of social distancing. Your students will benefit from prayerful, non-anxious, practical and compassionate leadership from you. Don’t forget to empower the other leaders in your ministry to be in relationship and contact with students as well.

Lead with Prayer: Choose your orienting prayer. While there are many resources for this, we recommend “In Times of Social Conflict or Distress” (Occasional Prayer 44, page 659). I love how it invites us into neighborliness and care for one another. It also calls us to examine our state of exile and respond in strong peace.

The Mailbox: For a solid non-digital option, remember that the mail and Amazon are still working, and you can send a Survival Pack or just reminders that you miss your students. This can include photos, stickers or other inexpensive items. You might even include something for them to bring to your first gathering after the Coronavirus-imposed break. This could be a puzzle piece, a paracord bracelet or just about anything to provide a sense of unity and reunion.

Gaming: Renew your Xbox Live account, jump on MineCraft, restart the NBA season on NBA Live, and join the fun with your students. This is a key opportunity to join this space if you haven’t already. Be mindful that you are in their space, and the ability to control or dictate language is different than at church.

Keep the Conversation Going: GroupMe, and other apps like it, are perfect to stay in conversation and send communications to groups and individuals. Better than simple texting from a Ministry Safe perspective, GroupMe is a supplement to your normal social media efforts.

Small Groups: Zoom is going to be your friend. Free for meetings of up to 100 people and up to 40 minutes, this is a great resource for your normal coffeehouse small group. Send a meeting link ahead of time to your small group and their parents.

Prayer and Scripture: Set up a regular live stream or conference call for Compline or Midday Prayer (choose your best option from the BCP 2019) with your students. These are both brief and resonate deeply with our current situation and need. Know the difference between a live stream or video conference: live stream does not allow for interaction, cutting down on distractions but limiting connectedness; video conferencing can mean increased glitches or distractions but does allow participation. Try offering Compline Monday and Wednesday evenings at 8pm CST— late enough to be after dinner, early enough to allow for conversations to continue at home.

We have an opportunity to lead our students through these troubled times. Although people all over the world throughout history have experienced these sorts of threats before, this is likely the most dramatic and upsetting disruption they’ve experienced in their young lives. As people who have answered the call to be their spiritual companions during this season of their lives, we have a responsibility to accompany them through this season, however long it may last, with compassion, courage, and faith.

Aaron Buttery, Ryder Mills and Dave McCune are all part of C4SO’s NextGen Leadership Team. Check out more of their resources here: https://www.c4so.org/nextgen-leadership/