Back during the pandemic we heard a lot of complaining about “Zoom fatigue.” People were forced to work from home and meet online and they didn’t like it—as opposed to very different feelings today.
After we got back into church buildings most of us reverted to old patterns often overlooking the power we gained through those once detested meetings.
It is time to take another look at online tools beyond their use in podcasting or staff meetings.
It’s not about the tool—it’s about the people.
- Drive Time Is Disciplemaking Lost
Life is full. People are already managing kids, jobs, and packed calendars. When we ask them to drive across town for a midweek small group, we’re often competing with real-world limitations—especially for those barely keeping up with life.
Small groups that meet online can change all that. They let people show up without packing bags, finding childcare, or spending an hour on the road. When the gathering ends, they’re already home. That time savings often makes the difference between someone opting in or drifting away.
We don’t often think of commuting as a spiritual issue—but if it keeps people from community, it is. Removing friction creates space for shared life.
- Older Adults Avoid Night Driving (and Tech Can Help)
Most pastors in their thirties and forties haven’t yet felt the hesitation that comes with driving after dark. But for older folks—especially those in their 70s and 80s—it’s a real concern. Eyesight dims. Reactions slow. What was routine starts to feel risky.
These are not people who’ve stopped caring about church. They just don’t want to get behind the wheel at night. I’ve seen this again and again. Faithful, longtime members who gladly show up to serve in daylight hours simply opt out of nighttime gatherings.
But Zoom—or some other tool—gives them a way to re-engage. If we’re willing to meet them halfway—by helping them learn how to click a link and join a meeting—we open the door to a renewed sense of belonging. And don’t underestimate the power of this. These are often the people who helped build your church. They deserve more than a pat on the back. They deserve access to each other and to the care of your church.
- Online Meetings Include Otherwise Isolated People
Sometimes the roadblock isn’t driving distance or age—it’s a dynamic at home.
I’ve known believers whose spouses don’t follow Jesus yet tolerate Sunday mornings but draw a hard line on other church activities. It’s hard to grow as a disciple when your living room becomes a war zone every time you want to leave the house.
But online gatherings slip past those boundaries. They allow someone to join community without leaving home, and sometimes that quiet presence on the screen is the only way they can stay connected.
Years ago, before smartphones and Facebook, three women in our church had this problem. So every Friday night, they met by phone in a three-person small group. It worked because it met them where they were. Zoom does that today—only better.
In the End, It’s Not About Tech
This isn’t about technology. It’s about people. And it’s about flexibility in the way we make disciples.
Small group meetings are a tool, not a template. So if a tool makes it easier for busy families, older saints, and isolated believers to follow Jesus together—why wouldn’t we use it?
It’s not a compromise. It’s just good shepherding.
Ralph Moore is the Founding Pastor of three churches which grew into the Hope Chapel ‘movement’ now numbering more than 2,300 churches, worldwide. These are the offspring of the 70+ congregations launched from Ralph’s hands-on disciplemaking efforts.
He travels the globe, teaching church multiplication to pastors in startup movements. He’s authored several books, including Let Go Of the Ring: The Hope Chapel Story, Making Disciples, How to Multiply Your Church, Starting a New Church, and Defeating Anxiety.
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