Tim Keller Predicts What Church Might Look Like in Wake of Coronavirus By Tré Goins-Phillips for Faith Wire News
Tim Keller, the popular retired pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, said recently church leaders around the country need to be ready to “do more with less” in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The 69-year-old preacher shared his predictions during an interview with Gabe Lyons at the yearly Q Conference, which was held virtually this year.
“Christian institutions are going to be faced with needing to do more with less,” predicted Keller, according to The Christian Post. He noted that, following the 9/11 terrorist attack in 2001, his church saw a 25% spike in attendance while having to operate with 25% less income because of a struggling economy.
Now is your chance to support Gospel News Network.
We love helping others and believe that’s one of the reasons we are chosen as Ambassadors of the Kingdom, to serve God’s children. We look to the Greatest Commandment as our Powering force.
Much like we are experiencing today amid this health crisis, Keller noted the number of people who lost their jobs and fled New York City in the wake of the Islamist attack. As a result, the number of people in need “massively expanded.”
“It’s the exact same thing [now],” he said. “All the churches I know are saying, ‘We have to do more with less. We have far more needs and we have less resources to do it.’ And so it means not only a new approach to stewardship but also thinking about what you spend your money on.”
He went on to note there will be an “interim period” between complete lockdowns and the release of a vaccination against COVID-19.
Coming out of the entire ordeal, Keller said there are two key takeaways: the church must be more innovative and its leaders have to be willing to “lead through sacrifice.”
“The church in general is going to have to spend more or less money on itself — that is, its own programs — and more money on people in need,” Keller explained. “And the only way to do that is to cut things that you’re doing right now.”
