COVID-19 caused us to have to shut down some of our most valued institutions, and in many cities across the United States, the church was one of them. The irony of religious services having to suspend due to the pandemic is that this is when many people need their spirituality the most.
Whether it’s recognized as such or not, the church is an essential service for many people. Many churches have been able to stay active by moving their services to the home of the pastor or one of the members. If you’re considering starting your own house church, read this before launching.
Make sure it’s okay with your neighbors.
Starting your own church in your home is a noble idea, but there are factors you have to consider. The first thing you need to do is converse with your neighbors to make sure they’re okay with you bringing your congregation to their street. Even if there are no zoning laws against you having church services in your home, you wouldn’t be setting the right precedent as a spiritual leader if you were to go ahead with services at the expense of your neighbors’ peace and sanctity.
Safety First
Even though we finally have vaccines for COVID-19, it will be a while before most people are inoculated, and even then, it will still be critical to practice caution when you host social gatherings. Many people are probably considering holding church services in their homes this Christmas, but if you’re planning to do so, you need to exercise the same caution you would if you had services at church.
Before inviting people into your home for worship, you should stock up on PPE and disinfectant. Wipe down all surfaces before your guests arrive and after they leave. As long as this virus is raging, disinfectant, hand sanitizer, and face coverings are as essential to your holiday services as advent candles and communion wafers.
Make space for your congregation.
Even if we weren’t practicing social distancing, making sure you have enough space would be critical to launching a successful house church. One of the benefits of holding services in your home is that it’s a more intimate setting, but you still want everyone to be comfortable. When you were thinking of what steps to take before buying a home, the chances are holding church services there wasn’t in your thoughts, but how quickly things change.
If you’ve been considering upgrading your home, adding a home theater is a great way to add some space to your home and give it a little more entertainment value. For ideas on how to create a home theater that your family will love and will also suffice for a church space, visit qentertainment.com.
Be an agent for change in your community.
There’s no better way to grow your church than to get active in your community. During these trying times, many families are struggling to make ends meet and even put food on their tables. You can help struggling families in your neighborhood by using your tithes and offerings to donate to charities that provide essential services like food banks and testing sites.
Another way to impact your local community is to hold weekly food drives. If you reach out to grocery stores in your area, some of them might be willing to donate food they can no longer sell. Food usually doesn’t expire by its expiration date, but grocery stores aren’t allowed to sell food after it expires. You could partner with local grocers to feed hungry families and prevent good food from going to waste.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Churches should be about community and working together. Just because you’re holding services in your home doesn’t mean you should have to do or provide everything yourself. Don’t be afraid to get financial and volunteer assistance from your church members. Not only will they be more than willing to help, but taking part in the church’s operations will make them feel more involved and may even enhance their worship experience.