Like most everyone out there, COVID-19 has disrupted my normal. I find myself on the phone hours every day. I have learned the joy of asking everyone on Zoom to mute their mics. My wife and I are juggling homeschool, work and trying to find toilet paper.

But in the middle of it all, I have had a sense that God was speaking to his people. That this season was prep for the next season. So here are the top 3 things I feel God is speaking during this season.

1. A healthy home-life is vital

Many of us have forgotten how vital home-life is. Creating space in our schedule for self-care, or quality time with our spouse, or talking with our children is not a luxury, it’s an essential.

I’ve found this is happening more and more in my family. We are returning to spending more time just talking to each-other. We are spending purposeful time together for Jesus-centered discipleship or telling stories around the fire. This is bringing community and connection back to families. It’s a reminder of the importance of these relationships.

2. We are all called to ministry

 In our current local church culture, everything is generally centered around one kind of person. Shepherds who can preach. If you’re extroverted and can preach, then you are a “pastor.” If you can’t preach, then you can’t lead. Now, this is an over-simplification and is a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much. 

We need to stop elevating one or two giftings above all others. Biblically, Church leaders are classified in five different gifting camps (read Ephesians 4:11-12). And the job of church leaders is to “equip the saints for the work of the ministry.”

The Church is not built on the educated few—it’s built on the teachings and leadership of Jesus. As church leaders, it isn’t our job to control the church. It’s our job to equip the people in the Church to do ministry themselves.

3. God is releasing his people to be themselves with purpose

This season has been a collective time to breathe, pray and prepare. But a season is coming where we will be released. 

As we begin to see church leadership differently, we begin to see ourselves differently. We are all called to minister to the people around us. We all have giftings and talents and dreams that God has invested in us to use. And use with purpose. Maybe you have been dreaming about starting a nonprofit or a YouTube channel. Maybe you have dreamed of writing or starting a business. All of this can be used for ministry and all of it has been given to you on purpose for a purpose.

It’s time to plan. It’s time to prepare. Because the next season will be a season of the people of God coming alive and taking territory for the Kingdom. Like Isaiah prophesied thousands of years ago “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Ryan Romeo

Ryan Romeo is a writer and speaker. He has a deep passion for the church and all things creative. He’s currently the Creative Arts Pastor at his local church, Living Streams and is the Creative Director and cofounder of OUTCRY Tour. He lives in Phoenix, AZ with his wife Blake and their children Toby, Adyn & Mae.