What I Learned from Taylor Swift and Comic Con

As many of you know, for the past few months I’ve taken a bit of a hiatus from this ministry to focus on my family and my (never-ending) home remodeling project. (Just a tip: don’t buy a fixer upper during a pandemic and don’t plan to remodel it during said pandemic’s aftermath. It’s been an interesting time to say the least). This year two of my children are seniors (one in college and one in high school) and two are freshmen (also one in college and one in high school). So, there’s a lot of nostalgia flowing in the Constant household as I realize that the saying rings true – time passes so quickly. Thus, my goal for this summer was to be intentional about spending time with each of my kids doing the things that they love. Which led me to travel, ride roller coasters, watch late night movies and The Office Superfan episodes, and embrace guiding a teen through driver’s training for the third time. I also got to attend my first Comic Con and my first Taylor Swift concert. Spoiler alert: I am now a fan of both! Spoiler alert #2: I learned a lot at the latter two events. So, as we celebrate the “back-to-school” season (my favorite!) may I present to you, “What I Learned This Summer.”

 First, there was Comic Con. One of my sons is a huge Marvel fan and comic book collector and he invited me along with him to the Comic Con in Orlando (our own backyard). I had no idea what to expect and upon lining up for the shuttle bus from the parking lot to the convention center, I immediately felt like an outsider. We were surrounded by people in full costume, with collectibles ready to be autographed, and speaking what sounded to me like an entirely new language. My kid was in his element. Me, not so much. But by the end of the day, I was hooked. What I discovered was a group of people united by a similar interest who were kind to one another, supportive of one another, and so very welcoming to oddballs like me who didn’t come in costume or even a comic character t-shirt. Everyone was together and having fun and passionate about their community of people from all over the country (and world!). Some were meeting in person for the first time after having been online friends for years. Some reunited with long time friends. There was even a wedding proposal from a groom-to-be who had met the bride-to-be at …. you guessed it … Comic Con. Together in one giant building were people of every different political persuasion, belief system, and background. A man in a 10-foot-tall robot costume, next to “Wonder Woman,” next to a kid in a Marvel jacket, next to me in my everyday shorts and t-shirt. AND WE ALL GOT ALONG. It was spectacular. It was FUN! It was … community. Genuine, heartfelt, kind, supportive community.

Fast forward a month or so to my next big event … the Taylor Swift concert in Tampa. I knew who she was, and I liked some of her songs, but I had no idea that she had a group of followers so devoted to her and one another that they had their own name … Swifties. I was unaware that the concert goers would be decked out in special outfits representing the Taylor Swift album (“era”) of their choice. I was unaware that we would be standing on our feet THE ENTIRE TIME and that everyone would be singing every single lyric. Once again, I felt a bit out of place. But I was embraced. By yet another supportive, kind, loving, and fun community.  By the end of the night, I had purchased a t-shirt and proclaimed myself to be one of Taylor’s newest fans. Why? Well aside from her awe-inspiring talent, work ethic, and thoughtfully written lyrics, she had managed to foster a wonderful community. As with Comic Con, I found myself in a huge crowd full of all different types of people … and we all got along. We all had fun. It was glorious.

And that’s when I heard it – the voice of God whispering in my heart, “Do you see? This is what an online church community could be like.” A kind, loving, supportive, welcoming place for all people to gather together in pursuit of Jesus. A community made up of people from all different backgrounds with a thousand different stories to tell from all over the country and even the world. A community that doesn’t get to gather together very often, but when they do, there is such authentic love and care that it is as if a thousand old friends are reuniting. A community who joins together not to shout the lyrics of a Taylor Swift song or wear the costume of a fantastical world, but a community who joins together to praise God. To hold one another up. To walk each other home.

I know many church communities are struggling in the pandemic’s aftermath. Questions abound. What does community look like? Is it just centered around brick-and-mortar buildings with congregations that meet in person? Can genuine community be created through a virtual meeting place? How do we capture the younger generation who is so desperate to belong to something, to find a footing in a world that eschews rules and foundations and traditions? How do Christians stay true to the foundation of truth found in the Bible while also meeting today’s people where they are with hearts willing to perhaps embrace a different kind of church model?

These are the questions that God has placed on my heart too. So many of you have reached out to me with frustration because you can’t seem to find a worship community that is a good fit. Yet online worship at most churches consists of watching the service and little else. There is no real sense of connection for the online participant. I’ve also talked to several church leaders who remain hesitant to grow their online community and offer additional online resources (Bible studies, small groups, etc.) because they don’t want physical church attendance to drop even further than it has post-pandemic. But I sense a gap that needs to be filled. My experiences this summer showed me that it is possible to cultivate authentic community in a digital environment. But it requires intentionality. So, as we move into a new year at Kimberly Constant Ministries, that’s what I’m praying about. Would it be possible for us to start an online worship community? What would a worship service look and feel like? How could we reimagine online worship outside of the mold of in-person worship? How would be intentionally embrace authentic relationships in an online format?

I’m not entirely sure of the answers yet, but I sense the Holy Spirit moving. I’m willing to venture out into the deep water of this very unchartered territory. So as I invite you to join me for Bible study this year, I also invite you to join me in prayer over this possibility. Let’s pray for a fresh breath from the Holy Spirit. For guidance and a vision of what could be possible. Personally, I think this is such an exciting time in the life of the Church and I can’t wait to see what the Spirit will reveal.

I hope to see ya online soon! And let me know, what did you learn this summer?