If we’ve learned anything over the past year, it’s that the world can change in what seems like an instant. And the fact that the pandemic continues even after a year proves that we cannot simply hunker down and wait until we can go back to what we were doing. We could do that—but if our aim is to invite, form, and send disciples to help transform the world into the realm of God, our old familiar ways won’t get us there.
We also learned last year how difficult it is to predict the future. But we can observe trends that could help us invite and welcome new people into a relationship with God and God’s people.
Here are a few trends I’ve learned from a variety of sources and some possible implications for churches.
Story and experience
Virtual reality—computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional environment that allows people to interact with it in a way that seems physically real—will continue to grow, writes Prasenjit Roy in “Marketing in 2025: Five key trends that will drive the future.”
I’m not suggesting we abandon reality in favor of virtual reality. But we can adapt two aspects of this technology: storytelling and customized experiences. The church has something real to offer the world. If virtual reality orients our culture toward story and custom experiences, the church can offer these through engagement with real people.
Story is something that should come naturally to the church. After all, Jesus frequently taught by using stories. Story, unlike simple instruction or direction, draws people into being full participants in their spiritual growth.
Story also communicates wisdom. While knowledge is information (and that is necessary), wisdom entails deeper virtues of gratitude, wonder, humility, forgiveness, and more. It’s obtained through life experience and transmitted through media such as art, music, drama, and story.
In some ways this also speaks to “customization.” Story communicates on many angles. The hearer brings to her listening her own experiences and concerns. The gathered group listens to the same story, but each person may walk away having learned something different, based on God’s leading.
Furthermore, each person has their own stories from their own lives. When given a safe place in which to tell others of these experiences, people learn from each other. Relationships are strengthened among people and with God.
Moments
Churches habitually turn to events and gatherings to teach or otherwise communicate. In his “6 Disruptive Church Trends that Will Rule 2020,” pastor and author Carey Nieuwhof observes people today have different expectations for gatherings. These still have value; we simply need to use them for different purposes, he says.
Information is much more easily obtained in the age of the internet, so that need not be a significant part of a gathering. People do not have to be in the same room to obtain information, and they are less likely to come to an event—even weekly worship—for that purpose. However, people will still gather for “movements, moments, and missions,” as Nieuwhof calls them.
Worship and sacraments have long been the church’s way to connect people with God and each other. Avoid letting Intentional, reverent, creative, and thoughtfully planned worship get bogged down by information-sharing or announcements.
Further, don’t use music primarily as a tool to energize worshipers or otherwise influence a group mood. Rather, incorporate art and music to illuminate who God is and how God acts in the world.
This is also true when inviting people to explore Scripture or engage in compassion ministries together. “People don’t just want to know what’s true; they want to know what’s real,” Nieuwhof says. “And what’s real is deeper than just an idea—it’s an experience.”
This suits us as Methodists. After all, Charles and John Wesley, the founders of Methodism, both had “heart-warming” experiences of assurance from God and considered such experiences important. Why not reclaim this?
Mission
Nieuwhof reminds us that our task is to invite people not only to attend worship, but to take part in the church’s mission. Many people, especially young adults, are not looking for ways to fill their calendars with activities and committee meetings. However, they do want to make a positive difference in the world. The church calls this mission, and this passion among young adults is a gift from God that the church can embrace and harness.
How is your church making God’s realm a reality in your community? Providing groceries for school children to bring home to their families who would not otherwise have enough? Organizing visits to legislators to call for public policy that would honor God’s good creation or confront discriminatory housing practices? There are people, including young people, who are eager to take part in this.
Movements
Don’t assume that your church has to invent these opportunities. It is likely other organizations in your community are addressing them. Demonstrate your church’s commitment to the wellbeing of the wider community by collaborating with these efforts, recommends Dr. Penny Edgell, a prominent sociologist of religion. (These are what Nieuwhof calls “movements.”)
These are opportunities not only to follow the prophets’ instructions to love our neighbors, but also provide us a chance to build relationships with our neighbors. Make sure to meet those who are attending, particularly those who are not part of your church. Listen to their interests and concerns. This information will help your church know how to provide meaningful community that introduces others to the unconditional and life-changing love of God.
People are finding out about events largely online, and particularly through social media, Edgehill told me. This winter, I helped welcome visitors to Mount Asbury’s Christmas lights display. When we asked our guests how they found about the event, many said they saw it on a community Facebook page or received a friend’s recommendation. Be sure to use these ways (among others) to invite others.
Ultimately, we hope to help people experience the power of God’s grace that transforms lives. Moments, movements, and mission cannot manufacture life transformation, but they can set a hospitable environment for people to encounter God and find a home with God’s people.
Our mission is the same as it has been for 2,000 years. Regardless of what the future holds for The United Methodist Church or the world around us, our mission remains. Over the centuries, the church has adapted to change in order to stay faithful to its mission. This is the church’s task in all times. When we have a missionary passion to bring God’s love and grace to their neighbors, though words and actions, we will learn new cultural languages to tell the “old, old story” of God’s love.
