 John 10:12–13 draws a clean line.
A hired hand runs when the wolf shows up. He doesn’t own the sheep. He doesn’t love the sheep. So when it gets dangerous, he’s gone. That’s true. But it’s not the whole picture. Sometimes the hired hand doesn’t run. Sometimes he stays. And staying can be just as dangerous. Not because he’s plotting harm. Not because he’s malicious. But because somewhere along the way, the relationship between shepherd and sheep quietly shifted. What began as calling became comfort. What began as stewardship became survival. What began as ministry became mutual dependence. I’ve seen this up close. A church declines slowly—then steadily—then predictably. Over decades. The reasons are rarely mysterious: unresolved conflict, poor leadership decisions, a resistance to change, a slow drift from mission to maintenance. The people who wanted to push forward eventually leave. Not all at once, but over time. They grow tired of the friction or the futility. What remains is a smaller, aging, faithful core. And into that vacuum, someone steps up. It could be anyone on staff. A pastor. A worship leader. An administrator. They start carrying more weight. Filling more gaps. Keeping things moving. They become the stabilizing force—the one who makes sure the doors open, the lights come on, the sermon is preached, the songs are sung. And the definition of success subtly changes: No longer about reaching people. No longer about making disciples. Just… being faithful. Keeping it going. Holding the line. More people leave. The congregation gets smaller. Older. Tighter. And here’s where it turns. The people don’t want to leave. This is their church. Their memories are here. Their friendships are here. They remember when the place was full. They want to see it alive again—kids in the hallways, baptisms, new families—but they’re not willing to risk losing the things they still have: the care they receive from the person holding it all together, their friends and the familiarity of it all. And that staff member? He loves them. He genuinely does. He visits them. Prays for them. Walks with them through loss and sickness and grief. He becomes their pastor in the truest relational sense. And they, in turn, love him. Affirm him. Depend on him. It feels meaningful. It is meaningful—on a human level. But it’s not healthy. Because now both sides are stuck. The people stay, in part, to take care of the pastor. The pastor stays, in part, to take care of the people. To them, Jesus is no longer the bread of life. They are trying to feast on the crumbs of their dysfunctional relationship. That’s co-dependency. And here’s the harder truth: sometimes the hired hand begins to feed off the sheep. Not in some obvious or predatory way. Much more subtly than that. He draws a paycheck he’s afraid to lose. He finds identity in the role he’s afraid he can’t replace. He receives affirmation he’s reluctant to live without. He convinces himself that staying is sacrifice, when in reality it’s fear… or comfort… or both. In an unguarded moment, he might admit it: “I don’t know if I could find another place.” “I’ve been here too long.” “I can’t leave these people.” It sounds noble. It feels pastoral. But it’s not the voice of the Good Shepherd. Jesus laid down His life for the sheep. He didn’t build His identity on their need of Him. He didn’t stay because He was afraid to go. He didn’t need their affirmation to validate His calling. He loved them enough to do what was necessary—even when it was disruptive. Churches like this don’t drift into renewal. They calcify. You’ve driven by them. Paint peeling. Parking lots empty. Signs still inviting people in, though the community around them has long since moved on. People in the neighborhood can tell, without stepping inside, that whatever is happening in there… it’s not reaching them. And inside those walls is often a small group of sincere believers and a loyal staff member locked in a quiet, unspoken agreement: we’ll keep this going as long as we can. The problem is--this can’t go on. No strategy fixes this. No new program turns it around. No clever rebrand changes the trajectory. Only God breaks cycles like this. It starts when someone inside—someone who loves both the people and the leader—develops a holy dissatisfaction. Not cynical. Not critical. But clear-eyed enough to say, “This isn’t what the church is supposed to be. And we can’t pretend it is anymore.” That kind of clarity is disruptive. It threatens the system. It also opens the door for repentance. The staff member has to come to terms with the role he’s playing. He has to remember that Jesus is the one who died for the church. He doesn’t have to. He can’t. And often—this is the part no one wants to say out loud—the most loving thing that a leader can do is leave. Not as a failure. Not as abandonment. But as an act of obedience. Sometimes renewal begins with subtraction. If there’s a controlling personality in the mix—a de facto pastor holding the reins from the shadows—that will have to be addressed too. Control doesn’t coexist with renewal. That person will either be broken and repent or removed, or called home by God. None of this is easy. None of it is quick. And none of it happens without deep, sustained prayer. But I’ve seen enough to know this: God is not hindered by stuck churches. He renews what people have written off. He breathes life into what looks finished. He does what no system, strategy, or staffing plan can accomplish. But He won’t bless a quiet agreement to settle. The hired hand in John 10 runs because he doesn’t care. Today, the danger is often more subtle. He stays… because he does care. Just not in the way that leads to life.
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 I Changed My Mind — Some Churches Need to Die
I’ve spent a good portion of my life trying to keep churches alive. I’ve walked into rooms where the lights were still on, but barely. Where the stories were strong, but the future was thin. Where people loved their church—but couldn’t quite figure out why it wasn’t reaching anyone anymore. And when God breathes life back into a congregation like that, there’s nothing like it. It’s sacred ground. It’s resurrection-level work. I’ve seen it happen. I believe in it. But somewhere along the way, I changed my mind. Some churches need to die. That’s not easy to say. It runs against instinct. It sounds harsh. It feels like giving up. But it’s not. It’s telling the truth. Death Is Not the Enemy We Think It Is We shouldn’t be surprised by this. Death is built into the gospel. Jesus didn’t call people to self-improvement—He called them to die. “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” John 12:24 That’s not poetic language. That’s a principle. No death, no fruit. And that applies to churches just as much as it does to individuals. The problem is—we’ve gotten very good at keeping things alive that should have been surrendered a long time ago. Not Every Church Should Be Saved Let’s be clear: I’m not talking about churches that are struggling but willing. I’m not talking about congregations that are small but faithful. I’m not talking about churches that are declining but ready to repent, change, and move toward mission. Those churches? Fight for them. Invest in them. Walk with them. I’m talking about something else entirely. I’m talking about churches that:
At some point, the issue is no longer capability. It’s willingness. When willingness to die to self and follow Jesus is absent - organizational death is certain. How long depends on how much savingings they have to pull from or property to sell to prolong their existence. The Hard Reality We Avoid In my work, I’ve learned something most people don’t want to admit: Not every declining church has the same problem—and not every church has the same future. Too many leaders rush to solutions:
That’s treating symptoms. But diagnosis tells a different story. Real decline is usually deeper—spiritual, cultural, organizational, relational. And until you deal with the cause, no amount of activity will fix it. And here’s the part that takes courage: Some churches are not just struggling. They are no longer viable in their current form. They are out of alignment with their mission, their community, and sometimes even the gospel they claim to represent. And instead of dying with dignity and purpose, they linger. What Needs to Die Let’s bring this down to where it really lives. Before a church dies structurally, it should have already died spiritually—in the right ways. Here’s what I mean. 1. The church must die to self. Jesus’ mission has to take priority over personal agendas. Always. 2. The church must die to man-made traditions. Not everything we inherited is sacred. Some of it is just familiar. Some from a previous era - long passed. 3. The church must die to divisive people and patterns. Division, manipulation, and control are not “just part of church life.” They are toxins. The healthy church members need to rise up and not tolerate those behaviors anymore. 4. The church must die to the sin it tolerates. What a church refuses to confront sin, it eventually becomes the rot that destroys a church from the inside out. 5. The church must die to false gospels. Comfort, control, and consumerism are enemies of the cross. They promise more than they can deliver - and what they offer isn't life, but bondage that leads to death. If the church members refuse to die to those things… eventually the church will die. When Death Becomes Mercy This is where the conversation shifts. Because sometimes, the most faithful thing God can do is remove a lampstand. Not out of anger—but out of mercy. Mercy for:
We don’t like to think this way. But Scripture does. And if we’re honest, we’ve all seen churches that are no longer helping the mission—they’re hindering it. A Better Way Forward This isn’t a call to abandon troubled or declining churches. It’s a call to lead them honestly. There are more options than just “keep going” or “close the doors”:
But those decisions require courage. They require leaders who are willing to say: “If we do nothing, here’s what happens next.” And even harder: “If we are unwilling to change, we may not need a strategy—we may need an ending.” That’s not failure. That’s stewardship. Final Word I still believe in church renewal. I still fight for it. But I no longer believe every church should be preserved as it is at all costs. Because the goal was never survival. The goal was fruitfulness. And sometimes.... the only way to make room for new life… is to let something die.  When Giving Dips, Don’t Reach for the Plate—Research the Potential Reasons
You’ve seen this before. The numbers come in. Giving is down. Maybe not catastrophic—but enough to feel it. Enough to start asking questions. And almost immediately, the conversation goes the wrong direction.
Maybe. But maybe not. Because declining giving is not the problem—it’s the signal. And if you don’t diagnose it correctly, you’ll treat symptoms while the real issue keeps spreading underneath the surface. Don’t Fix Symptoms—Diagnose Causes One of the most helpful actions in understanding organizational work is this: You move from observing symptoms to researching causes before you ever prescribe solutions. Most churches skip that step. They see the symptom (giving is down) and jump straight to intervention (talk about giving more). But what if giving isn’t the issue? What if giving is revealing something else? Let’s Talk About What Could Be Going On After walking with enough churches through decline, conflict, and renewal, you start to see patterns. Giving doesn’t drop randomly. It drops for reasons. Here are some of the most common ones—and they’re not what most people expect. 1. When Trust Drops, Giving Follows This is the big one. People give where they trust. And they hesitate where they don’t. And here’s the part leaders often miss—trust is rarely lost because of one big moment. It erodes over time through observation and personal experiences. People are watching:
If something feels off—even if no one says it out loud—giving will start to reflect it. Not as rebellion. As a caution. 2. When People Don’t See Impact, They Stop Investing Nobody gives enthusiastically to maintain a system. They give to advance a mission. If all people see is:
And maintenance doesn’t inspire generosity. You don’t need hype—you need clarity. Where is life change happening? Where is the mission advancing? If people can’t see it, they won’t fund it. 3. When People Feel Unseen, They Disengage Giving is more relational than we want to admit. When people walk through:
They may still attend. They may still serve. But internally, they disconnect. And when connection fades, generosity usually follows. 4. When Giving Feels Like Pressure, It Eventually Breaks There’s a difference between calling people to obedience and pressuring them to perform. When giving is framed as:
But over time, it creates fatigue—and sometimes quiet resistance. People don’t sustain generosity under pressure. They sustain it when it’s rooted in worship and mission. 5. Sometimes People Aren’t Giving Because No One Is Leading Them To Give This is the quieter issue. In some churches, giving is assumed—but rarely taught, rarely connected to Scripture, rarely tied to vision. So people drift. Not out of rebellion. Out of lack of direction. You don’t have to manipulate—but you do have to lead. Cast vision, share stories and then walk them through the process. 6. Some People Withhold Giving to Send a Message This one makes leaders uncomfortable—but it’s real. When people feel like they have no voice, they look for leverage. And sometimes, that leverage is financial. It’s not healthy. But it is revealing. It usually points to:
7. Some People Are Quietly Struggling Financially Not every drop in giving is spiritual. Some people are carrying:
And no one knows. If your only response to declining giving is to push harder, you may unintentionally crush people who are already under pressure. A healthy church makes room for both generosity and grace. 8. Some People Have Just Drifted No conflict. No crisis. No protest. Just drift. And when spiritual engagement fades, giving usually fades with it.
9. The Generous Generation is Passing Away New generations do not give at the same level - not even close. Younger generations don’t have the margin - typically. This means when grandma and grandpa pass away you lose generous givers who were loyal, consistent and committed - financially. The younger generations give, and their level of sacrifice might be proportionate but it’s not equal in terms of real dollars. They’re paying for housing, school loans, kid care and the like. Conversations and education can adjust your expectations to this reality. 10. Attendance Patterns and Process As much as we dislike this - it’s true. People are attending church less frequently. That means those who only give when they attend are likely missing regular giving. Now-a-days it’s becoming more rare that offering plates are being passed. Giving boxes and online giving became the norm during COVID and they haven’t gone away - except in some churches. If you don’t have multiple ways for congregants to give - you’re missing out. Honestly, for those diehard offering plate passers an honest reading of Mark 12 shows us that in Jesus’ day offerings were made in boxes or receptacles not passed plates. You can debate, and plenty, if this is normative or prescriptive or descriptive. But here’s the point not to miss. You need multiple ways for people to give - plain and simple. A Word to the Frustrated There’s always a group that gets irritated when giving drops.
Look for the whole picture. If you assume the dip in generosity is primarily moral, you’ll miss the deeper reality—which is often relational, cultural, circumstantial or leadership-driven. You don’t correct a symptom by demanding it change. You understand why it exists. So What Do You Do?If giving is declining, don’t start with a campaign. Start with clarity. Here’s where I would begin. Rebuild Trust Be transparent. Communicate clearly. Address what’s been avoided. Trust isn’t rebuilt through statements—it’s rebuilt through consistent, observable behavior. Reconnect Giving to MissionTell real stories. Show real impact. People give to what they believe is making a difference. Strengthen Care Make sure people aren’t slipping through the cracks. You can’t expect deep investment from people who feel unseen. Teach Stewardship the Right Way Not as obligation—but as worship. Not as pressure—but as participation in what God is doing. Actually Lead on Giving Don’t assume people will connect the dots on their own. Tie generosity to Scripture. Tie it to vision. Make it clear and consistent. Create Healthy Ways for People to Be Heard If people feel voiceless, they’ll find other ways to communicate. Give them a better option. Pay Attention to Real Needs Not everyone who isn’t giving is unwilling. Some are just overwhelmed. Go After the Heart Because in the end, giving follows devotion. Always has. Always will. Final Thought If giving is down, resist the urge to fix it quickly. Quick fixes usually mean shallow understanding. And shallow understanding leads to the wrong solution. Slow down long enough to ask better questions. Listen. Observe. Diagnose. Because when you actually deal with what’s underneath-- Giving doesn’t just come back. It comes back healthier.   There’s no shortage of help available for struggling churches right now. Books, cohorts, residencies, training tracks, revitalization systems—you can find a program for just about anything.
And that’s part of the problem. Most churches in decline aren’t suffering from a lack of programs. They’re suffering from a lack of clarity about what’s actually wrong. So they reach for a solution before they’ve understood the problem. Let’s get clear on terms A program is simple: a set of activities designed to produce a specific outcome. A book study is a program. A leadership pipeline is a program. A discipleship pathway is a program. Even a year-long pastoral residency is a program. Programs aren’t bad. They’re useful. They’re often necessary. But they are inherently limited. Every program is built to address something specific. It assumes you already know what the problem is. That assumption is where churches get into trouble. A process, on the other hand, is something entirely different. A process is a disciplined pathway that helps you discover reality, identify root issues, and determine what actually needs to happen next. A program says, “Here’s what we’re going to do.” A process says, “Let’s figure out what’s really going on before we decide what to do.” That distinction is everything. The short-sightedness of program-driven renewal Here’s what I see over and over again. A church is declining. Attendance is down. Giving is tight. Energy is low. Tension is high. So they adopt a program.
And for a while, it feels like progress. But six months or a year later, not much has changed. Why? Because the problem was never just one thing. Decline in a church is almost always layered. It’s not just attendance. It’s culture. It’s leadership. It’s trust. It’s mission drift. It’s unresolved conflict. It’s governance. It’s demographics. It’s fatigue. It’s misplaced priorities. And those issues don’t sit neatly side by side—they compound each other.
Now you’ve got a system problem, not a program problem. Dropping a single program into that environment is like treating a fever without asking what’s causing it. Programs treat symptoms. Process uncovers causes. Programs tend to focus on what’s visible.
Maybe. But maybe those are symptoms, not causes. A church might launch a discipleship program when the real issue is unresolved conflict. It might invest in leadership development when the real issue is a governance structure that blocks healthy leadership. It might push outreach when the congregation has already disengaged from the surrounding community. In each case, the program isn’t wrong—it’s just misaligned. And misalignment leads to frustration. What a real renewal consultation should do. If you’re serious about renewal, you don’t start with solutions. You start with diagnosis. A real church renewal process should do at least five things: 1. Surface reality: Look at what’s actually happening—attendance trends, giving patterns, leadership dynamics, community shifts, congregational health. Not what people hope is true. What is true. 2. Read the church as a system: A church is not just a worship service. It’s a web of relationships, habits, beliefs, structures, and history. You can’t fix one part without understanding how it connects to everything else. 3. Identify root issues: Ask better questions.
4. Determine sequence: Not everything can be fixed at once. Some churches need repentance before strategy. Others need governance reform before growth strategies. Some need to resolve conflict before they talk about vision. Order matters. 5. Prescribe the right responses: Only after diagnosis do you decide what tools to use. And yes—some of those tools will be programs. But now they’re chosen on purpose, not out of desperation. Process vs. Programs — the real difference: A clear path forward: Here’s the bottom line - If a church in decline keeps asking, “What program should we do?” it’s already behind. That question is too small. The better question is: “What is actually going on in this church—and what will it take to address it honestly?” Programs can help. They often should be part of the solution. But they are not the solution. Process is. Because process forces clarity. It surfaces truth. It exposes what’s really broken. And it helps leaders make decisions in the right order, for the right reasons. A word to pastors and leaders:
Otherwise, you’ll just stay busy. And busy churches can still be declining churches. Programs are tools. Process is the guide. And if you get that backwards, you’ll keep working hard without ever getting healthy.  There’s a lot of conversation right now—and a lot being written—about helping churches move from plateau and decline toward health.
In those conversations, three words surface repeatedly: Renewal, Revitalization, and Replanting. Each communicates something important. Each represents something different. When these terms are clearly understood, confusion begins to fade, strategy becomes more precise, and leaders are better positioned to guide churches forward—so that, by God’s grace, congregations experience the kind of change they are hoping and praying for. Clarity here is not academic. It is practical. Church Renewal - is the destination toward which every effort is aimed. It is the collective efforts—both spiritual and strategic—of pastor, leaders, and people to see their congregation renewed in spiritual passion, faithful obedience, and missional action to the glory of God and the good of the community in which He has placed them. Renewal is evidenced when:
This aligns with the description of restored health marked by submission to God’s Word, right relationships, and renewed mission. Renewal is not a model or method. It is the outcome every church is seeking. The challenge is discerning the right pathway to pursue it. Revitalization: Renewal From Within Revitalization is one pathway toward renewal. It is: “The supernatural work of God that restores health and vitality in a plateaued or declining church…” Operationally, it involves: existing church + existing leaders + existing structure + history + renewed/new effort Revitalization works within the existing framework of the church. It seeks to restore health without replacing core leadership structures or identity. It is often the most appropriate pathway when:
Forms of Revitalization Revitalization generally takes shape in three ways: Self-Guided Revitalization: The church leads its own process internally. Pastors and leaders take responsibility for assessment, direction, and implementation.
Assisted / Coached Revitalization: Outside leaders or organizations come alongside to provide guidance, coaching, and perspective.
Covenant Revitalization: A more formalized partnership is established with clear expectations, defined processes, and mutual commitments.
Observations on Church Revitalization Revitalization is the least invasive pathway, but it requires:
It often progresses slowly and can struggle to overcome long-standing cultural patterns or resistance within the church. It is also important to note that this approach is not well suited for churches facing imminent closure. Replanting: Renewal Through a New Beginning Replanting is a second pathway toward renewal. Replanting is: “The process in which members of a church facing imminent closure…begin a new church for a new season of ministry…” Practically, it includes: new leadership + existing people + new structures and approaches + outside partnership + new people + history Replanting recognizes that the current structure is no longer sufficient to sustain or produce renewal. It creates a new foundation while building on what remains. It is often appropriate when:
Forms of Replanting: Replanting can take several forms depending on context, readiness, and available partnerships. Solo Replant A new, qualified pastor is called to lead the church through a restart process.
Replant Within Leadership emerges from within the church to guide a restart.
Assisted Replant External partners play a central role in leadership, structure, and support.
Additional Replanting Expressions: in many contexts, replanting is expressed through specific structural approaches: Merger (Marriage) Two congregations unite, typically with a stronger church taking the lead.
Adoption / Campus Model A healthy church absorbs a declining church and assumes leadership and direction.
Fostering A temporary partnership where a healthy church provides support, leadership, and resources for a defined period.
Bringing Clarity to the Work: The relationship between these terms is straightforward, but critical:
Each pathway serves a different context. For pastors, this clarity informs how to lead their congregation. For associational leaders and convention staff, it strengthens assessment, recommendation, and support strategies. Final Thought: Clarity in these definitions leads to better decisions, healthier expectations, and more effective leadership. When the situation of the church is rightly understood, and the appropriate pathway is pursued, the likelihood of meaningful and lasting renewal increases significantly. And that is the aim--churches renewed in heart, aligned in truth, and engaged in mission where God has placed them.  Here’s the truth most churches don’t want to face: a discipleship problem almost always shows up first as a conflict problem.
We tend to treat conflict like a personality issue, a leadership breakdown, or a communication failure. And sometimes it is. But more often than not, those are just symptoms. The deeper issue is that we have people—sometimes even leaders—who have not been fully formed by the Word of God. And when discipleship is shallow, conflict gets loud. The Authority We Claim vs. the Authority We Use Most churches say the right things. Their governing documents often include language like: “The Bible is the inspired Word of God and the sole authority for faith and practice.” That’s good. That’s right. That’s necessary. But what we say we believe and how we actually make decisions are not always the same thing. Listen carefully in leadership meetings and you’ll often hear phrases like:
Those statements aren’t always wrong—but they become dangerous when they replace, rather than submit to, “God’s Word says…” That shift reveals something deeper than a communication style. It exposes the posture of the heart and the frame of reference for the mind: personal authority has quietly replaced biblical authority. Scripture Doesn’t Just Guide Us—It Exposes Us Paul makes it unmistakably clear: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16) Scripture isn’t a suggestion. It’s not inspirational content. It is the authoritative voice of God shaping how we think, decide, and live. And Hebrews takes it even further: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword… discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) When leaders default to preference over Scripture, it’s not just a methodology issue—it’s a heart issue. The Word of God would correct, confront, and refine those instincts. But if it’s not being applied, those instincts go unchecked. And unchecked hearts create unhealthy churches. When Opinions Lead, Churches Drift Here’s where it gets real. When opinions replace Scripture:
And slowly, almost imperceptibly, the church begins to drift. Not because people don’t care—but because they are operating from human wisdom instead of divine truth. You can have a strong constitution, detailed bylaws, and a clear mission statement—and still make deeply unbiblical decisions if Scripture is not actively shaping the process. That’s where dysfunction sets in. Then division. Then decline. The Root Issue: Deficient Discipleship At its core, this is a discipleship issue. Discipleship is not just about knowing more Bible—it’s about being formed by it. A disciple:
When that kind of formation is missing, people may attend church, serve in church, and even lead in church—but they are not functioning as disciples of Jesus in the moments that matter most. And that’s when conflict escalates. There Is a Better WayThere is a better way—and it’s not complicated, but it is costly. It requires a shift in authority, posture, and practice. The Bible before bylaws. Bylaws matter—but they must always submit to Scripture. If your process is sound but your foundation is off, you’ll still end up in the wrong place. The gospel informs every decision. Not just salvation—but how we lead, decide, spend, and resolve conflict. The cross shapes everything. The fruit of the Spirit governs our interactions. If the tone of your leadership is not marked by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—you are already off track, no matter how “right” your position may be. The demands of discipleship form our posture.
That’s not idealism. That’s obedience. Final Word Churches don’t fall apart overnight. They drift there—one decision at a time—when God’s Word is acknowledged in theory but ignored in practice. If you want to reduce conflict, strengthen unity, and see health return, don’t start with better policies. Start with better discipleship. Because when people are shaped by the Word, they don’t just make better decisions—they become different kinds of people. And that changes everything.  Every pastor of a plateaued or declining church has asked the question: Why isn’t our church growing?
The usual explanation is cultural. We hear things like:
But the evidence doesn’t really support that narrative. Interest in Christianity hasn’t disappeared. In some places it’s actually increasing.
People are still searching. They’re asking spiritual questions. They’re curious about Jesus. They’re looking for meaning. So if spiritual curiosity is still present in the culture, but many churches are plateaued or declining, that raises a different question. Maybe the issue isn’t a lack of spiritual hunger. Maybe the issue is how well the church is reaching the people who are hungry. Let me point to a few common reasons churches stop growing—and what can change if they want to grow again. 1. Your Church May Have an Evangelism Problem Lifeway Research recently studied discipleship practices among Protestant churchgoers and graded believers across several areas of spiritual maturity. One category stood out above the rest. Sharing Christ received an F. The average score was 54.8 out of 100. Think about that for a moment:
The primary evangelistic engine of a church isn’t the preacher It’s the people. When everyday believers begin talking about Jesus again, inviting people again, and engaging their neighbors again, churches often start reaching people again. What Needs to Change
If evangelism disappears from the life of the congregation, growth usually disappears with it. 2. Your Church May Have a Discipleship Problem The same research revealed another issue. Bible engagement received a D. That matters more than most churches realize. When believers are not consistently engaging Scripture:
Churches sometimes try to solve growth problems with programs, events, or marketing strategies. But healthy churches are built on something deeper. They are built on people whose lives are shaped by the Word of God. What Needs to Change
A church that produces mature disciples will eventually produce disciple-makers. And disciple-makers change everything. 3. Your Church May Have a Relationship Problem Another weak area in the research was building relationships. That’s not a small issue. Most people don’t start attending church because they saw a sign or an advertisement. They come because someone they trust invited them. And they stay because they form meaningful relationships. A church can have strong preaching and solid theology and still struggle to grow if newcomers never truly connect. What Needs to ChangeMake relational connection intentional. Ask honest questions:
Churches grow through relationships. Always have. Always will. 4. Your Church May Be More Inward Than Outward When churches plateau, something subtle often happens. The focus gradually shifts inward. Energy gets directed toward:
None of those things are inherently wrong. But when the church becomes primarily focused on itself, mission begins to fade. Jesus didn’t call the church to become a religious gathering. He called it to become a missionary movement. What Needs to Change
When a church begins looking outward again, momentum often follows. 5. Your Church May Be Protecting What God Intended to Multiply Sometimes churches stop growing because they become protective.
But the gospel was never meant to be protected. It was meant to be proclaimed and multiplied. Healthy churches continually ask a simple question: How do we reach the people God has placed around us right now? Not the people who lived in the neighborhood thirty years ago. The people who live there today. The Good News Plateaued churches are not hopeless churches. Many churches grow again when they address the right issues. Growth often returns when churches:
The path forward usually isn’t complicated. But it does require honesty. Instead of blaming culture, healthy churches ask a better question: What needs to change so we can reach people again? And here’s the truth many churches eventually discover.
When a church rediscovers its mission to make disciples and reach people with the gospel, something powerful happens. New life begins to show up. And sometimes… growth does too.  Every Renewal Pastor I know has been on the receiving end of energy they didn’t ask for — the pull of resistance, complaint, criticism, and sometimes outright attack. You spend your days trying to shepherd people toward health and mission, and you get slapped with the very energies that can drain the life out of a church.
That’s where Leadership Judo becomes a game-changer. What Leadership Judo Really Is Leadership Judo isn’t about domination. It isn’t sarcasm disguised as wisdom. It isn’t passive avoidance. It’s the strategic redirection of an opponent’s energy — taking negative force that could harm and steering it toward something productive. In other words: Leadership Judo is taking the energy of an opponent and directing it away from harm to a more productive place. (Replant Bootcamp) It borrows the heart of the martial art — the gentle way — and applies it to leadership instead of physical combat. The tactic isn’t force, it’s leverage. Verbal Judo vs. Verbal KarateThis gets confusing until you understand the contrast:
That difference is essential for Renewal contexts where emotions and history can run deep. Biblical Grounding for Judo-Style LeadershipTwo Scriptures are foundational:
Notice what both passages are really about: direction, impact, and outcome. It’s not about being nice. It’s about being strategically constructive. Why Renewal Pastors Need Leadership Judo Renewal pastors aren’t just fixing systems — you’re shepherding broken people and worn-out communities. That means conflict is always in play. Leadership Judo becomes the operating system for navigating those conflicts without derailing the mission. Here’s how it works in practice: 1. Respect First — Even When You Aren’t Respected Critics and complainers don’t usually show up with dignity first. But Leadership Judo starts there because: When people feel respected, resistance becomes discussable instead of explosive. That means:
People who feel attacked only double down. People who feel heard can be redirected. 2. Ask, Don’t Demand: A statement feels like a threat. A well-placed question feels like respect. For example: ❌ “This isn’t how we do things here.” ✔️ “Help me understand what you’re seeing here — what outcome you want?” Questions rebuild conversation. Commands build walls. 3. Offer Options — Not Threats People want to choose their way forward. Threats don’t change hearts — they only reinforce resistance. Leadership Judo reframes situations: Instead of “You must do X or else…” Say “Here are two ways we can pursue this. Which one resonates more with you?” You haven’t given up direction — you’ve enlarged the path forward. 4. Use Dissatisfaction as Fuel — Not Fuel for the Fire Complaints have energy. That energy can burn down culture or fuel wise change. Leadership Judo teaches you to:
Church renewal isn’t about silencing voices — it’s about steering voices into work that builds the church. 5. Preserve Relationships While Adjusting Direction This is the heart of Leadership Judo. You don’t attack the person or defend your ego — you:
You don’t walk away from hard conversations — you navigate them better than most leaders know how. A Challenge to Renewal Pastors You’re not called to be liked. You’re called to lead — and that demands both courage and grace. Leadership Judo isn’t a soft leadership style. It’s a strategic discipline that protects your soul, your team, and your church’s mission. It’s the difference between:
That’s what renewal leadership actually looks like. If you lead a Renewal context, Leadership Judo should be in your toolkit. Not as a gimmick — as a discipline that turns opposition into forward motion.  Every pastor who steps into a declining church carries hope—often shared hope. The church says they want to reach their community. They long to see new life. They pray for growth, renewal, and impact.
So when a pastor begins leading toward that future—and meets resistance—it can feel confusing, discouraging, and deeply personal. But sometimes what’s happening isn’t failure. It may be calling. Not every pastoral call is a “promised land” assignment. Some are unmistakably wilderness calls. And wilderness work matters just as much in the economy of God. Understanding the Season You’ve Been Given In Scripture, God often did His most formative work in desert places. The wilderness was not a detour—it was the assignment. Israel didn’t wander because Moses failed. They wandered because God was shaping a people who were not yet ready to live freely. Old idols had to die. New trust had to be formed. Dependence had to be learned daily. Some pastors are called to lead churches into seasons of fruitfulness and visible growth. Others are called to guide churches through desert days—seasons marked by resistance, fear, and slow, hidden work. That calling is not lesser. It is essential. When Vision Meets Resistance Many pastors discover that the resistance they face does not come from “the church” as a whole, but from a small number of influential voices. These individuals often see themselves as protectors—of tradition, finances, facilities, or harmony. They may genuinely believe they are acting in the church’s best interest. And yet, their fear, control, or need for stability can quietly restrict obedience and mission. For a pastor, this can feel like walking in circles—progress proposed, then delayed; enthusiasm expressed, then quietly undercut. In a wilderness season, the pastor’s role is not to force arrival—but to shepherd faithfully through uncertainty. The Work of a Wilderness Pastor Wilderness pastors are called to a particular kind of faithfulness: Formation Over FruitionThe work is often unseen. Growth is internal before it is numerical. Hearts, assumptions, and loyalties are slowly exposed and reshaped. Patience Over Speed Forward movement happens in inches, not miles. God teaches His people to walk daily, not rush ahead. Dependence Over Control The wilderness strips away illusions of quick fixes and human strength. Pastors learn again—and teach their churches—to trust God for daily bread. Clarity Over Comfort in desert seasons, truth must be spoken carefully but clearly. The pastor names reality, teaches Scripture, and calls the church to obedience—without demanding immediate results. Guarding Your Heart in the Desert Wilderness callings are hard on pastors. Discouragement comes easily. Weariness settles in quietly. Comparison becomes tempting. This is where calling matters. Some shepherds are called to plant and harvest. Some are called to plow rocky ground. Some are called to weaken old patterns so that future leaders can build more freely. If your assignment is wilderness work, it does not mean you will see the promised land with your own eyes. Moses didn’t—and his faithfulness was not diminished because of it. Faithfulness Is the Measure A wilderness calling does not ask, “Did you grow the church?” It asks, “Did you shepherd the people God entrusted to you?” “Did you teach truth?” “Did you model trust?” “Did you remain obedient when progress was slow?” The Kingdom of God is advanced not only through visible victories, but through long obedience in hard places. And many churches that later flourish do so because a faithful pastor once walked with them through the desert. If that is your calling, take heart. God does not waste wilderness seasons. And He does not forget the shepherds who walk them faithfully.  Most long-time church folks don’t like to admit it, but here’s the truth: our hearts often break over the wrong things.
We mourn the loss of a ministry program we liked. We grieve when a familiar rhythm changes. We get anxious when the sanctuary looks emptier than it did ten years ago. We feel threatened when our “safe” church world shifts. But those aren’t the griefs that move heaven. They’re just the griefs that move us. And too often, our emotional life around church is tied to nostalgia, comfort, predictability, and personal preference—not the spiritual condition of the people living right outside our doors. We love the building, the history, the memories, the stability. But Jesus didn’t give His life to preserve our comfort; He gave His life to rescue the lost. What Jesus Actually Grieved Over When Jesus looked at the crowds, He didn’t see:
He saw lostness. “He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” — Matthew 9:36 That compassion wasn’t mild. It was gut-deep grief. Holy grief. And out of that grief, Jesus didn’t tell His disciples to guard religious traditions. He told them to plead with God for more workers—more people willing to step into the harvest. So ask yourself: What am I actually grieving over? Our Common Griefs Are Too Small Let’s be honest. Many Christians are grieving over:
These concerns are real, but they aren’t eternal. Meanwhile, all around us are people wrestling with:
They are spiritually hungry—and they’re everywhere. This is the grief that should move us. This is the grief the gospel produces. What Gospel Grief Really Is Gospel Grief is not nostalgia. It’s not preference panic. It’s not irritation over change. Gospel Grief is the Spirit-shaped ache that comes from seeing people like Jesus sees them. It’s the inward movement that says:
Gospel Grief lays down preferences and prays: “Use me, Lord. It’s not about what I like—it’s about who You love.” Practicing Gospel Grief: If Gospel Grief is going to take root in your heart and your church, you must intentionally cultivate it. Here’s where to start: 1. Pay Attention on the Way to Worship - Look at the neighborhoods, people, traffic, storefronts, and lives you pass. Pray: “Lord, give me Your eyes today.” 2. Spend Money in Your Church’s Neighborhood - Buy gas, coffee, lunch, groceries close to your church. Learn the heartbeat of the community. See the faces. Hear the conversations. You can’t love people you avoid. 3. Lay Down Complaints Immediately - When the preference-based frustration rises-- “I miss the old way…” “Why don’t we still…” “It’s not the same…”
Then ask: “Who near us is spiritually adrift, and how do we reach them?” 4. Pray for the Spirit to Redirect Your Heart, not once—but continually. “Spirit, break my heart for what breaks Yours. Correct my loves. Shape my grief toward Your mission.” The Future Depends on Gospel Grief Churches stuck in nostalgia drift toward irrelevance. Churches fueled by Gospel Grief move toward mission. One path leads to slow death. The other leads to life. If we want to be faithful in this moment, we don’t need more guardians of church comfort. We need more harvesters moved by the same compassion that moved the heart of Christ. So let’s stop grieving the wrong things. Let’s start grieving the eternal things. And let that grief push us back into the mission of Jesus—right here, right now, among the people who need Him most. |
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