What COVID-19 Has Stopped and What We Can’t Give Up

A couple days ago, I emailed a few fellow staff members at our parish about the possibility of holding in-person gatherings at the parish. I didn’t realize what doors that conversation opened. Honestly, I just wanted to “fight” for the chance to still have youth ministry on site. Trying to recreate our youth ministry gatherings as a video call is simply ineffective and not engaging for youth. It feels (compared to in-person events) so impersonal and isolating. And that kind of personal, connective experience of friendship is so crucial to the relational element of effective youth ministry. The heart of the gospel is that God loves us so much that he would do everything to have us back. If people don’t feel known, loved, supported, and safe, why should they believe that there is a God who knows, loves, supports, and keeps them safe? People need a powerful, consistent, physical experience of these things. At youth ministry events, that’s the bare minimum youth should walk out with. I don’t think I’m willing to just “let go” of that experience for them.

But I also know how threatening COVID is. These “uncertain times” (what an overused phrase) have half the population so afraid. The other half is ignoring (or even resisting) any collective attempt to slow or stop it, attempts which are restricting our personal freedoms. Whether angry or afraid, everyone feels really threatened. Honestly, that powerful, consistent experience of being loved and cared for is what we all need, especially youth. But if we start having in-person events (at least, how we used to), I don’t think that’s what people will experience. I think they’ll experience fear, paranoia, and uncertainty. DANG IT! That’s the same experience I want to eliminate!

Another issue one of my co-workers brought up is how we are teaching ourselves to identify others primarily as “COVID-risks.” We tell ourselves to keep our distance and avoid any physical contact with others. We’re wiping down anything that had any kind of contact with anyone outside our household. All of our efforts seem to be validating this “new identity” of the persons around us: “COVID-risks.”

The frantic cleaning, self-isolating, physical distancing doesn’t speak to people’s identity as images of God, who are valuable and reveal who God is. And it’s too easy to forget and neglect that, especially in the midst of a pandemic. And a person’s theological identity is so much more true than their pathological identity. All the normal social interactions used to remind us of that.

We’re eliminating most of the ways we interact physically, but we can’t eliminate the ways we interact personally. I’m honestly not sure how to do that effectively AND operate in an appropriate context with minors (no exclusive one-on-ones) yet. But I think it’s going to involve a very personal and invested element. I can almost imagine a team of traveling youth ministry volunteers going to public events and houses to develop relationships that way…

But where is that team of adult volunteers? Who’s willing to put in that amount of time and effort? I am, for one. And not because it’s just my job—because I so desperately want people to know and experience the gospel. Holy Spirit, inspire us to be willing to pour ourselves out for the rising generation. And inspire us with creative ways to love those who need it the most.