In it, Not of it – A Forced Quarantine, a Re-Focused Mission

Our world has changed, is changing, and will most likely continue to change in the months to come. “Normal” has a new meaning, an ever-changing meaning. Weeks of self-isolation, physical distancing, forced quarantine combined with a limited re-opening of businesses and services have changed our world. Yet it has also changed us. It has forced us to be creative in the planning of church services, connecting with family and friends and meeting the needs of those who are vulnerable, sick, and anxious. It has also challenged our internal sense of well being and our outlook on the future.

In his book “Missional Map-Making”, author Allan Roxborough says; “The internal maps we all grew up with that tell us how the world works are no longer relevant. The world has changed.” Or perhaps, like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, we have come to the realization that; “We’re not in Kansas anymore Toto”! So, what do we do now?

Social media is full of articles, blogs, and lessons from COVID-19.  There are lists of quarantine activities and creative alternatives for almost every event and social engagement from weddings to funerals to family celebrations. Our world has indeed changed, but what has not changed is our mission as the Church. The lesson from a forced quarantine is a re-focused mission.

“A church sent into an ever-changing environment must be fluid in its capacity to adapt while maintaining a clear commitment to its unchanging purpose and God’s eternal truth” (Milfred Minatrea in “Shaped by God’s Heart”). For almost two thousand years the Church has re-focused its mission with each world-altering event. From early Roman persecution to the Black Death and other plagues, world wars, economic depression, and systematic persecution by totalitarian and dictatorial governments that in some places has forced the Church underground. In all this, the Church continued its mission – to make disciples of all nations. Our circumstances do not change our mandate. What changes is the form, the way we carry out our mandate, a re-focusing of our mission.

The first-century world of those early disciples was also changing. Jesus challenged His disciples to look beyond the normal, beyond the status-quo, and re-focus on their mission. He is using those same words today to call and challenge us to re-focus our mission and engage those around us in a new way, a new normal. “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest... The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (John 4:35, Matthew 9:37-38).

The lessons of COVID-19 are many and are still being written. Our world has changed, and most likely will continue to change. But have we changed? Have we been able to re-focus our mission, focus our eyes on Jesus despite our changed circumstances, and with all joy engage those around us with the good news of the Gospel?

COVID-19 and a forced quarantine do not change the mandate we have.

Re-focused, and ready to serve!

Rev. Bill Allan
AGC President