2020 has been a year of disruption and unforeseen opportunities. Our EYES motif continues to guide our priorities as we look to Jesus and eternity.
Evangelism
The first “E” in EYES stands for evangelism. Most of the evangelistic plans of 2020 were canceled or postponed due to COVID-19. However, new plans for virtual evangelistic meetings were implemented. Bible studies went online. Many pastors and churches now have an international media ministry. VBS was also virtual.
Still, because of social distancing and restrictions on public gatherings, there have been fewer people uniting with Christ and His church than normal in the first half of the year. Over the five previous years, the average baptisms and professions of faith in the first half of the year was 210. This year the number was 62. We believe there are many waiting until the ceremonies can be conducted with greater safety.
Youth ministries
The “Y” in EYES stands for youth ministries. The Pathfinders who were to go to the NAD Pathfinder Bible Experience couldn’t go. Adventurer and Pathfinder activities went online.
The Minnesota governor’s orders made it too difficult to operate our summer camp in the usual way, so our youth director worked with a reduced staff to continue a North Star Camp experience online. They also offered family retreats which allowed for distancing between attending families.
However, the disruption to the camp program provided the opportunity for maintenance projects such as trail preservation and play field improvement.
Education
The second “E” in EYES stands for education—Adventist education. COVID-19 extended spring break, giving our teachers an extra week to prepare for connected learning. Boarding students were sent home. Trips, programs and ceremonies were canceled or put online.
We now have principals, teachers and other faculty and staff in place, ready for our students no matter the mode of instructional delivery this school year. We will be educating for eternity with our EYES on Jesus!
Spirituality, service and stewardship
The “S” in EYES stands for spirituality, service and stewardship. Most churches put Sabbath school and worship services online. One of the surprises of online ministry was the reported increase in prayer meeting attendance. Many people are also taking in multiple sermons each Sabbath.
COVID-19, the disruption to the economy and the response to the death of George Floyd have presented numerous opportunities for outreach. Some family, friends and neighbors have been struggling financially, and multiple churches have cooperated to distribute food and necessities.
Many families are grieving. Memorial services have gone virtual or turned into drive-by services.
Some pastors and members peacefully marched for justice. Others wrote to lawmakers asking for changes in how people are treated and policed. Still others showed Jesus’ love by simply being present.
Whether as a result of COVID-19 or not, we do not know; but the number of member deaths is up significantly in the first half of 2020 compared to the first half of each of the five previous years. Through June 30, there were 47 member deaths reported. In the previous five years, the average was 27.4 deaths.
The sudden shut-down of small businesses left us with questions about the conference’s financial health. Plans and suggestions for continued collection of tithes and offerings were quickly put into place.
God and His people have continued in faithfulness. Through June 30, the tithe in Minnesota was up 2.6 percent over the previous year, even as tithe was down 2.79 percent in the NAD.
Still cost controls were put into place to mitigate long-term financial distress:
- Usual cost of living adjustment for employees will not be implemented in 2020.
- Conference office travel budgets were cut in half.
- A hiring freeze was implemented for two months.
- A reduction in pastoral force and office administration was instituted, saving the equivalent of two full-time salaries.
- The annual planning retreat to local meetings was reduced.
- August pastors and teachers meetings were held virtually.
In addition, numerous cancelations and postponements have saved over $100,000. The MAUC has also temporarily reverted 1 percent of the tithe back to the conference.
The Minnesota Conference has funds held in reserve for economic crises and catastrophic medical expenses. This practice makes it easier to survive and thrive in a year like 2020.
There is much to be thankful for as we look at what the Lord is doing in Minnesota. Let’s press together in unity—united in Christ, in mission and in diversity.
Our quadrennial constituency session was to be held in May, but was postponed until May 16, 2021. Until then, let us keep pressing into eternity with our EYES on Jesus!
Justin Lyons is president of the Minnesota Conference.
