Church for me now includes:
Dozens of friends in the YouVersion Bible app. We encourage each other when we see one another highlight verses or finish reading plans. I get to passively look over their shoulder, and seeing them in the Word encourages me.
A conference line prayer call with a small group of guys every Thursday at 6:30a.
Two email chains with dozens of Christian brothers on them who I know will pray for me or direct me to good counsel when I need it.
A Slack channel with brothers in the SF Bay Area in regular dialogue, sharing ideas, job leads, Scripture verses, and more.
A Google Group of guys from across the USA for an 8 week study on "Love that Overcomes" so we can work on our marriages.
A Facebook group of guys called Holy Smokes that love to smoke stogies and talk Jesus.
Regular phone and Zoom videoconference calls with my mentors and advisors in Dallas, San Jose, Boston, Colorado, places other than my home of Philadelphia.
What's my point?
Church to me is now at least nation-wide, sometimes international, aided by technology.
This is not at the expense of my involvement in my local church, the place I go most Sundays. Rather, the two compliment each other as a network of Christians with different gifts and roles.
And, with each example from above, the group often moves from digital to analog aka real life meetups, and when we do, we're more familiar with where we're at, where we've been, and how to move forward together.
This is deeply encouraging to me.
I hope it is for you too!
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and ball the more as you see the Day drawing near.”