Virtual church meetings allow members to worship and keep in touch with each other. Churches can continue to coordinate community service events and hold prayer vigils online.
Using a video conference app like Zoom allows participants to engage with one another during a service. It supports group chat and allows attendees to mute and unmute their mics as needed.
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1. Convenience
Virtual church meetings offer the convenience of attending services when it’s difficult to get out of bed. They can also be a way for churchgoers to connect with other members outside of the traditional Sunday service.
For example, many people who work nine-to-five jobs and can’t attend church on Sunday often research online churches or community groups to find a place where they can connect with others. By sharing sermons and devotionals on a weekly basis, virtual church services reach those who cannot make it to physical church buildings and help them feel part of the church community.
Archived sermons can also help those who struggle to take notes during Sunday services. Many people learn better by rewatching the video or listening to a podcast of a sermon than taking hand-written notes.
2. Community
In the age of digital communications, it is easy to overlook how important face-to-face meetings are. Virtual meeting tools like web conferencing allow churchgoers to join events that they would normally attend in the physical world, such as fellowship activities, Bible studies and more.
This includes online prayer groups, food drives and choirs. These small group activities provide a sense of community that is missing for many during the pandemic.
Archived sermons also offer the chance to learn more about God’s word. Some people need to hear something a few times before it really sticks, so having the option of watching a sermon over and over allows them to do so without worrying about invading anyone’s privacy. Other ideas include online movie nights, faith-based trivia and virtual board games.
3. Education
When people watch a sermon online, they have the opportunity to take notes and study the message further. Many people also need to hear the same sermon multiple times before it really sticks, so having access to archived videos of services is a great way to allow them to keep learning at their own pace.
Some church members find their community through activities like food drives, choirs, or Sunday school teaching. The pandemic has lowered the number of opportunities for these types of socializing, but offering virtual activities allows church members to find their place in the community and continue to feel supported.
Some churches host special mini-sermons or Bible studies for their online church followers midweek. This gives church leaders a chance to connect with their audience and address specific questions or concerns they may have about the weekend service.
4. Spiritual Growth
Virtual church meetings give people an opportunity to grow spiritually by talking about their problems with fellow Christians. They can also share their joys and gains with the community. This can help them feel that they don’t have to face challenges alone.
Virtual meeting software such as Zoom makes it easy to organize prayer meetings. This service allows participants to chat and share screens on all types of devices. It also has a free plan that allows users to host meetings of up to 10 participants and create calendar invitations.
For example, Holy Cross Monastery has a virtual meeting that includes a time of silent prayer for each family. They also provide a list of available Christian counselors with pictures and details on their services.
5. Support
For church teams that need to transfer information, virtual meetings (or webinars) are one of the most effective tools available. Many church leaders are using group video conferencing apps like Zoom to hold these sessions, which also allow participants to mute themselves and control the volume of the audio.
Another way churches are supporting their members is by sharing archived sermons. This allows people to listen on their own time, which is especially helpful for workers who work nine-to-five and have to be home by a certain hour each day. It also helps those who need to hear the message multiple times before it sticks.