While only a few churches were broadcasting services online prior to March, 2020, it became the primary means of worshipping for several months.

Many churches have recognized this is an opportunity for continued ministry even though they have restarted in person services. For a significant number of churches this has become a both/and opportunity.

We encourage churches to pursue and expand this ministry opportunity. Within your attendance tracking and annual reporting we have made provision for including online attendance in your church’s numbers.

Churches can include online viewers as long as they can utilize some means of those viewers registering their attendance for themselves and those in their household or the church has a means of viewing and verifying the number of attendees.

We encourage churches to look at ways to maximize the online component of their ministry. Many churches are assigning people to intentionally monitor and be in the online room during the worship service. It provides a contact to gather prayer requests, offer support and counsel, share components of the worship service in the online community, etc.

Having a person assigned to lead the online segment of people opens the door for direct ministry to those individuals. It is also a means of providing a check in to officially count the number of people in each “signed in home,” if there isn’t an online check in procedure. Some churches are even utilizing a person that is online and not present in the church building to serve in this role.

We encourage you to check out the options and see how you can expand your ministry.