Episode 10

David & Rhonda sit down with Eric Spivey, Pinnacle Associate and pastor of First Baptist Church of Gainesville, Florida to talk about the work of reconnecting church after COVID.

  • Rhonda shares a metaphor about Reconnecting Church: the Family Reunion

  • Eric Spivey talks about how he led his church to create a rule of life they dubbed “The Trellis”

  • Eric’s church will have a “Grand Reopening” in September complete with the launch of plans for the year (a fixed plan may help alleviate the anxiety created by constant changes)

  • David acknowledges a “shadow-side” of reconnecting: recognizing people who don’t reconnect

  • Eric suggests 20% of the pre-COVID church community will not return post-COVID

  • Eric shared some wisdom from a parishioner who told him: “No one paints the battleship in the middle of the storm. Your task is just to get us through the storm.”

Rhonda Blevins