An opportunity for the Church

Kim Niles April 14, 2020

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Having a grief ministry, I hear the hurting share every worst case scenario that can affect a human life. People never contact me to tell me about their great day, how well and thriving their family is doing or the joy-filled memorable times of their life. 

Instead, they contact me when they feel life holds absolutely no room for joy, the worst case scenarios. They share how terribly things are affecting the ones they love most—asking how are they ever going to make it through this mess of an awful time.

Currently, churches are not able to meet face-to-face to provide encouragement in person. It’s painfully heartbreaking to all pastors and everyone in ministry. It’s what we do. When you have a calling to help the hurting and then are unable to do that effectively, it’s extremely disheartening.

However, after all of the pandemic has cleared, how prepared will we be to meet the extraordinary needs so many will be seeking and needing?

Just as medical workers were thrown into offering triage help to the sick, those in ministry will need to be prepared to offer triage and help to those who are hurting in heart, mind, and spirit.

With this pandemic, mental health professionals are already predicting many will be facing deep mental health challenges: depression, anxiety, PTSD and other disorders caused by isolation and trauma.

Many families and marriages will need counseling and spiritual advice for how to rebuild these vital relationships. Not everyone who is staying at home are having a blissful experience. In fact, marriage expert Michelle Weiner-Davis, has predicted an influx of marriages needing help due to the pandemic. 

Financial issues are already surfacing for millions of people. There has been massive financial loss and job loss. People affected will need financial advice and direction in the months and years to come.

Consider everyone in the medical field who has had a very unwanted front row seat in fighting this battle, (continually) seeing so much suffering and trauma every single day. They fear day in and day out that they could put their loved ones at risk due to contagion. The emotional and spiritual support they will need in the days to come is tremendous. 

With the death of so many and many more deaths to come, the bereaved will need dire help, hope and encouragement in processing their sudden grief and navigating life without their treasured loved ones. 

People are currently worried and it will all have a deep impact. Some will experience anger or bitterness towards God due to their sudden grief and loss.

Our work will be cut out for us so we can provide sincere help.

People will be seeking and greatly needing help, support, encouragement and real answers.

The Church will need to be ready to come alongside the hurting and compassionately offer genuine care. 

Just as this pandemic is incredibly unprecedented, we will have a majorly unprecedented opportunity to help and provide “life” answers as we love families, marriages, and individuals back to life.

We need to do an earnest and thorough overview of the ministry programs we offer and create new ones to meet the needs of so many who will seek support.

It’s a time like no other in history. We must wholeheartedly seek the Lord during this time and make sure these solid plans are created and in place. We need to consider how we can best meet the needs of those who will need it most.

None of us like what is happening in the world. I guarantee you we all have had a “breakdown” moment that was filled with tears. We all have had great concern for our loved ones, as well as everyone who has been impacted in the world. 

We need to remember how we feel now, create strong plans for actively helping others and discover new opportunities to genuinely help the hurting once the threat of this pandemic has cleared.

We’re about to be busier than we have ever been before as we offer encouragement, help, love and hope to our loved ones, hurting families, staff, friends, neighbors, congregations, peers and the world.

Photo source: istock 

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Kim Niles is the author of Getting Your Breath Back After Life Knocks It Out of You and is the co-founder of Grief Bites. She is also a writer and partner for YouVersion, a Community Leader at her church, and an inspirational speaker. Learn More »

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