Why Hybrid Church? - Part 2

Problems and Opportunity, Pt. 2 of 2

This is Part 2 of a 2-part series.

In Part 1, we explained how the pandemic changed our lives, and most importantly how it shifted our expectations about what’s possible. Now, let’s dream together about what comes next.

The body of Christ has an opportunity unique in all of human history.

The timeline below shows the change in estimated global population over time. Notice how the world’s population remains relatively stable until the 1800s, when it begins gradually trending upward. Then, pay particular attention to the moment where we find ourselves right now:

Explosive growth is happening within our lifetimes, within our generation.

Just imagine: just as the world’s population is peaking—at more than 7 billion people—we now have better tools than ever before to reach all of them. God knows every one of their names, every one of their stories. He loves each of them deeply, and He wants to draw them to Himself. And, He has equipped us to reach them with His Gospel.

What is Hybrid Church? It’s leveraging every tool we have to reach people wherever they are, in physical spaces or digital ones, in whatever they’re doing, online or in-person. It’s serving those people with everything they need to take the next step on their faith journey.

Hybrid Church means getting more out of everything your church already offers—messages, pastoral care, prayer, benevolence, and more—by making all of it available throughout the week, to the same people you’re already serving. Imagine being able to help everyone in your church remain connected in biblical community, inside and outside your church walls, and to seamlessly move back and forth between them.

Imagine encouraging them to connect with God every day. Imagine challenging them to let God’s Word speak into their everyday lives.

Hybrid Church makes all of this possible.

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible… I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
1 CORINTHIANS 9:19,22

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Then before He ascended, He commissioned us, His Church, to go into all the world and make disciples. If our goal is to reach people, then we must go to them where they are. We need to learn how they’re interacting with the world outside of our church buildings. And we need to provide the people who attend our church everything they need to be the church in their daily lives, loving and serving a lost and hurting world.

This is Part 2 of a 2-part series. See Part 1


YouVersion for Churches is developing tools and resources to help you lead and minister in an increasingly hybrid world.