Staying in Touch

by Shopify API November 30, 2020

By Jane Robinson

No matter where you live in the country, COVID-19 precautions have upset your daily routine in the past month. Most of the plans we had laid so confidently have been changed or canceled, many of them overnight!

Emotions are high. We’re feeling grief, fear, sadness, loneliness . . . and we can’t wait to be back together again in worshiping communities and groups of friends!

As you think about staying in touch with the women in your care, remember that social media may not be the complete answer. For some people social media is intimidating and for others, it’s a bit scary. These ideas will help you navigate the coming weeks:

Use the Phone. Hearing a friend’s voice is reassuring. You may already have a phone tree set up in your church. If not, consider doing that for the short term. Make especially sure that someone is reaching out to women who are living alone, regardless of their age. Provide weekly questions for the women to talk about. Vary them from week to week, using fun ice-breaker questions and including questions that give the women a chance to talk and grow as friends of each other and of Jesus.
Drive and Drop Off. If you are not in a shelter-in-place situation, you could drive small care packages to the women and leave them at the front door. Include a devotion book, a journal, or a set of daily Scripture cards to read through the week. I’m sure in this time of frequent hand-washing, a small bottle of hand lotion would be most welcome, as well!
Use Email and Social Media. Send out a short email, including a Scripture verse, a bit of news about your church or community, and a prayer that everyone can be praying. The CTA Advantage website is open to everyone through April 17. Look through the General Adult Minute Fillers and share the content from those with your women.

If you’re looking for things to post on social media, you’ll find some free suggestions here.

You can also connect via a Facebook group or Zoom meeting (a quick Google search will give you lots of help in getting that going if you haven’t already). If you’re looking for material for conversations, visit the CTA Resource & Idea Center area that contains downloadable retreats and feel free to use discussion questions from those retreats.

Whatever channels you use to keep in touch, remember that what’s most important right now is caring for each other, reaching out with Jesus’ love and peace. All of us at CTA are praying for you, for your church, and for your ministry. God bless you!