Different times call for different ministry outreach.
After nearly half a century of church leadership, Pastor Dennis Aud understands that idea squarely amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
That explains why he recently held a drive-in Easter service at his Westside Community Church parking lot at 124 Tipton Lakes Boulevard in Columbus. About 85 cars of worshipers attended and rolled down their windows to hear him speak and sing from a truck bed.
At the beginning, when Aud held up a sign reading “He is risen,” motorists exuberantly laid on their car horns for a honk of praise.
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“We’ve got to be innovative these days,” he said.
His added innovation of late serves as merely one small example of Christian outreach in a community that for more than a month has been filled with streaming worship services, Facebook Live music clips, Zoom small-group Bible study groups and more.
He has been calling people on his personal and Westside cell phone list, from local funeral directors to media, just to touch base, ask how they’re doing, and ask if he can offer a prayer on their behalf. A simple gesture with a big sense of compassion at a time when many have been frazzled over current circumstances and perhaps frightened of the future.
Plus, he has personally visited some of his church members via what he terms “storm-door prayer.” He speaks with people through their storm door as a point of protection, about their concerns and then prays with them.
“It’s been directed toward anyone I’ve had any business or affiliation with, and anyone I have in my phone log,” said Aud, the founding and senior pastor at Westside. “I’ve called folks in different cities and states, just going down my list.”
For the record, Aud never suggested himself for a story, or recommended his efforts for any spotlight. But his adjusted work in a slower time for many churches, with no weddings, some scaled-down Sunday worship, and only brief funeral home services for the time being, shows that area clergy are finding new paths in an unprecedented age.
Aud also has been posting five-minute, daily video devotional prayers titled Points to Ponder, recorded from his office.
“These days, we’re kind of flying by the seat of our pants,” he said during one devotional about people facing and embracing change. “And things are constantly changing, and pretty quickly. Because of that, we’re doing things we’ve never done before.”
How true of those in ministry.
National figures from Christian research firm Barna show that such innovation may have to continue a bit.
In data collected through mid-April, Barna found that nearly half of pastors (47%) don’t expect to be back in their buildings until May, with another 35% holding out hope for June. Also, 43% assume the circumstances surrounding the pandemic could still worsen (9% say much worse, 34% say a little worse), a possible reality that could add even more unease to the current mental and emotional health of both pastors and their congregants.
Barna President David Kinnaman has said that church leaders must find new ways to care for people.
“This unprecedented time is forcing us to have better ways of really understanding a fuller picture of the people we lead and the congregations we serve,” Kinnaman said.” We’re beginning to understand that just because we saw someone at church over the weekend doesn’t mean there was a connection that gives a more holistic look at how they’re really doing.
“I think this time is going to force us to have some new rhythms so we can check in on people better.”
Aud mentioned that some people he has called have expressed surprise at his outreach.
“But the response has been very favorable,” he said.
His prayer for this current COVID-19 situation, has been two-pronged.
“You pray for God’s provision for people and for people not to lose heart,” he said. “A lot of these smaller, mom-and-pop businesses, without a sufficient, large cash flow to fall back on, are really struggling. That’s understandably frightening for them.”
The concept of ministry without the regular assembling for worship has been one of his larger challenges.
“We obviously can worship God anywhere,” Aud said. “But there’s great value in being together.
“And for those of us energized by being around others, isolation is just brutal. My own love language is physical touch. So, with this social distancing, I feel cut off. People energize me — all the handshakes and hugs I get on a Sunday morning. That fills my tank. So I’ll be glad when that (distancing) is all lifted.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About Dennis Aud” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Role: Founding and senior pastor at Westside Community Church in Columbus.
Ordained: 46 years ago (he first began preaching as a high school sophomore in Missouri).
Family: Wife Karen. Three grown children and three grandchildren.
About the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on ministry: "This is something both totally foreign and extremely challenging."
Church website: wccsharejesus.com.
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