Post-Pandemic Commitment

July 06, 2021•2 min read

As I have repeatedly written about in this past year, the opportunities available to the church at this pivotal time in history are endless. All of these opportunities are grounded in one key foundational understanding. And, that understanding is in purpose. That is, the understanding in why the church exists. The church is one of the few organizations that exists not for the benefit of its members. The church exists to live out the Great Commission:

“Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.

Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:16-20 (MSG)

I am struck by the Message’s translation when referring to the disciples not being sure “about risking themselves totally.” Is that not where we might find ourselves as individuals or as the church today? Not quite sure? Not maybe willing to risk? Not being totally all-in? We have indeed all been through so much in this past year. If we have learned nothing else, I would hope that we have learned that the only thing that is steadfast and solid is Christ in turbulent and uncertain times. Everything else shifts, but God is unshakable. So, if we can’t be all-in and risk ourselves totally for Christ, then what or who are we willing to risk for?

Church, this is our season of commitment. As we move out of this pandemic, it is time for us to deepen our commitment to the Great Commission. It is time for us to be all in! We do this through our commitment to our own personal, intentional discipleship journey, being a part of a faith community that focuses on reaching new people for Christ (service and evangelism), and a commitment to the community your church is taking responsibility for reaching, serving, and loving.

Our commitment has to move way beyond and get way past privileges of membership to the understanding that being a disciple of Jesus is about commitment. It is about the responsibility of the church for living out the making of disciples. When a faith community develops this deeper understanding and commitment, they will indeed be able to take advantage of this pivotal time in the life of the church and reach people who are looking for community, hope, love, and a sense of belonging. Are you all-in?

Kay Kotan

Kay’s purpose is to Equip and Empower Leaders of Faith Communities How to Engage in More Effective Ministry. Kay Kotan is the founder of You Unlimited (coaching, consulting and training company) and The Greatest Expedition – a collaboration of more than twenty thought leaders providing resources and insights for a congregational journey to develop new MAPS (ministry action plans) to reach new people in your community. Kay also launched Multipliers’ Movement – a gathering of kingdom multipliers for sharing, equipping, and encouraging. She is a CoachU and Advanced CoachU Graduate, an accredited coach (PCC: Professional Certified Coach) with the ICF, International Coaching Federation, a Certified Path 1 Coach, and once served on the faculty at Coaching4Clergy. As a passionate lay person, she has a banking background and has been a business owner for more than 25 years. Kotan has served as a church developer for conferences and worked with churches, pastors, conferences, and judicatory leaders across the country for more than a decade. She is most proud to be the wife of Bob for over 30 years and the mother of their adult son, Cameron. Kay is the author of multiple books, workbooks, and resources including Gear Up: Nine Essential Processes for the Optimized Church, Cry From the Pew, Full Schedules, Barren Souls, Being the Church in the Post Pandemic World, and Journey Preparation: Surveying Your Church’s Landscape, as well as the co-author of the books titled: IMPACT!: Reclaiming the Call of Lay Ministry, Small Church Check-Up, Insights on Productivity, Renovate or Die – Ten Ways to Focus Your Church on Mission, Ministry 3.0 and Get Their Name , Ten Prescriptions for a Healthy Church, Necessary Nine – Nine Things Effective Pastors Do Differently, Launching Leaders: Taking Leadership Development to New Heights, Strategy Matters: Your Roadmap to Planning a Strategic Ministry Planning Retreat, Voices of Christmas: A Daily Devotional for Advent and Expanding the Expedition Reach Through Marketplace Multipliers. Mission Possible for the Small Church. Inside Out: Everting Ministry Models for the Postmodern Church, and more. Kotan and her co-author Bradford published their third version of the best-seller, Mission Possible: Simple Structure for Missional Effectiveness. Mrs. Kotan spends her time investing in pastors, laity leaders, congregations, and judicatory leaders through equipping, coaching, and creating resources to help them discover and live into their fullest missional potential of effectiveness and fruitfulness to reach people for Jesus Christ. Through her enthusiasm, truth-telling, and passion, she challenges those who encounter her in both their thinking and their doing.

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