Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 31

Why We Need to Ask More Numerical Questions about Our Church

I’m well aware that it’s easy to get focused on numbers when evaluating church growth. Too many church leaders report “butts in the seats” and “bucks in the plate” more than anything else—without really evaluating even those numbers. For example, we might report a significant attendance increase without pointing out that most of that growth came from transfer growth rather than conversion growth. 

On the other hand, numbers do matter. I do want to know if my church is reaching non-believers and making disciples—after all, Jesus told us to make disciples of all the world (Matt 28:18-20)—and checking numbers is one means to evaluate how we’re doing in that process. 

My concern in this post, though, is that we often ask only the attendance growth numbers without regard for other numbers that matter, too. It’s not that we give too much attention to numbers; it’s that we give too little attention to them. 

For example, here are a few other numbers I would also want to know: 

How many believers in my church daily practice the spiritual disciplines of Bible intake and prayer?How many Christian couples pray together daily?How many parents are intentionally discipling their children beyond bringing them to church?How many believers can name non-believers (or even one) with whom they are intentionally developing a relationship, loving them and working toward sharing Christ with them?How many church members have been trained to give their personal testimony?What percentage of members have shared the gospel with someone in the past year?How many members have, with the help of other believers, identified their spiritual gifts?How many attendees are actively engaged in a small group in the church?What percentage of our church members have served at least short-term on the mission field?How many members have we sent out in the last five years to do church planting/pastoring/missionary service either in North America or around the world?How many members are actively working on scripture memorization?What percentage of members are involved in a mentor/mentee relationship with another believer?How many members would say, “If I’m honest, I have never truly been discipled”?

I realize this list is not exhaustive, but I trust you get my point. What other numbers would you add to this list as you evaluate your church? What numbers in this list had you not considered?

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The Death of Evangelism: Five Issues We Must Address

The issue may be the biggest surprise of my ministry. 

On the one hand, I am surprised at the decline of evangelism in most churches. But that is not the biggest surprise. The issue that perplexes and surprises me the most is that very few church leaders and members are even acknowledging the death of evangelism in their congregations and denominations. 

As but one denominational example, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, measures evangelistic effectiveness by baptisms. Annual baptisms have declined from a peak of 445,725 in 1972 to 180,177 in 2022, a 60% decline! But when the 2022 statistical report was released, many of the comments noted that baptisms had increased 16% from the previous year. While that is true, we cannot use 2021 as a valid comparison year because churches were still regathering from the pandemic.

Likewise, it is becoming increasingly common for local churches to neglect, or even forget about, evangelism. 

For both denominations and churches, denial is not a good strategy.

What is discipleship? Recall how Jesus called his first disciples, Simon and Andrew, in Mark 1:17: “Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people.’” Also, recall his last words on earth to his followers in Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

Jesus’ ministry on earth began with evangelism and concluded with evangelism.

Why, then, is evangelism dying or dead in most churches? Why do denominations seem to be talking about everything but evangelism? Here are five issues that we must address to answer these questions: 

1. Denial is not a good evangelistic strategy. Many church leaders and church members, as well as denominational leaders, do not talk about the anemic evangelism in their churches. Some have evangelistic amnesia. Though it’s cliché, we can’t address the problem of evangelistic lethargy until we admit we have a problem. 

2. Evangelism is spiritual warfare. Jesus was physically present with his first disciples when they traveled and shared the gospel. Jesus promised us the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit when He ascended to heaven. Simply stated, evangelism is at the forefront of spiritual warfare. We can’t go it alone. We must have the Holy Spirit leading us and empowering us. Satan will do anything in his limited power to stop the spread of the gospel. 

3. Prayer must accompany evangelism. Since evangelism is spiritual warfare, we cannot and must not attempt to share the gospel in our own power. The most effective evangelistic churches strategically wed prayer and evangelism. We have a resource at Church Answers that does just that. It provides a 30-day reset of evangelistic priorities. We call it The Hope Initiative. I plead with you to look at that resource. If you cannot afford it, let us know, and we will do everything we can to help. Email us at Hope@ChurchAnswers.com. 

4. Churches must learn to celebrate evangelism. It’s another cliché, but you become what you celebrate. Celebrate conversions, baptisms, and professions of faith. Celebrate faithfulness of church members who are sharing the gospel. Celebrate the changed lives of new believers. 

5. If your church does not have enough time to prioritize evangelism, you have ceased to be obedient to the call of Christ. We work with pastors and other church leaders to learn how to prioritize their work. Evangelism, preaching, prayer, and small group leadership are critical. If you are too busy to lead in evangelism, you are too busy. 

The most common trait of churches who address these five issues is that they have a pastor who personally prioritizes evangelism. While we would never suggest that churches look at a pastor as a hired hand for evangelism and growth, we can say unequivocally that an evangelistic church must have an evangelistic pastor. 

Evangelism is dead or dying in most American churches. Perhaps God is awakening you and your church to reverse this reality in His power. 

I would absolutely love to hear your thoughts on this issue. Why is evangelism dead or dying in most churches? What examples do you have of churches that are defying this terrible trend? 

Let me hear from you.

The post The Death of Evangelism: Five Issues We Must Address appeared first on Church Answers.

Why Your Church Is Larger Than You Realize (And Pastors Are Busier Than Ever)

How big is your church?

It’s a common question. The top metric of success in a church is worship attendance. Maybe it shouldn’t be. But average weekly worship attendance is the most common and most touted church health metric. This figure includes children, assumes each person is counted only once, and includes all worship services during the week but excludes traditional Wednesday night and Sunday night activities.

Your church is likely much larger than your worship attendance average.

Let’s use the example of 400 people. If you average 400 in attendance, your church is larger, potentially much larger. To understand the actual size of your church, you must consider membership and attendance frequency along with the average weekly attendance.

Membership. For some churches, membership is defined as who is on the church roll. I’ve worked with churches that had 2,000 on the roll and only a couple hundred in average attendance. For other churches, membership is those who have committed to meaningful participation in the body. And some churches even push back on the term “membership,” but most keep a database of people associated with the church. Unfortunately, in many churches, membership figures are inflated, inaccurate, and less meaningful.

Attendance Frequency. This figure measures how often a person comes to church. For example, an “active” member was once considered someone who came twice, or even three times a week. Today an active member is considered someone who comes twice a month.

How big is my church? Your congregation is most likely smaller than your membership roll or database. Most church leaders cite average weekly attendance as the metric of size. And your church is likely to be larger than your average weekly attendance. When you reply to the person asking, “What ya runnin’ these days?,” your church is actually larger than your answer, unless everyone in your church is there every week.

Consider the church of 400 in average weekly attendance. Let’s assume this church is relatively healthy, and people—on average—attend three out of four weeks. This church actually has 533 active people. Below is a simple way to do the math.

(400 * 4/3) = 533

If your church is less healthy, and people—on average—attend two out of four weeks, then a church of 400 is even larger in total size:

(400 * 4/2) = 800

The point of this exercise is to understand how many people church leaders are shepherding. Church leaders are accountable to God for knowing (and guiding) those under their leadership. Additionally, church leaders should attempt to understand how frequently people are attending. In many cases, people don’t suddenly leave a church. They fade. A person who once attended four out of five weeks, but is now attending two out of five weeks, is in the process of fading from the church.

Ministry is busier than ever.

Your church’s demands are more than your weekend worship attendance reflects. Most church leaders feel this reality even as they look around on Sunday mornings and see fewer people. So what’s going on? Why is ministry busier than ever?

Attendance numbers are not a good gauge of church size like in the past. The ratio of church attendance to actual church size has changed because people are not coming as frequently to worship services. Historically, active church members attended three times a week—Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening. Now, people are considered active if they attend every other week. Many others attend once a month. This change in attendance frequency means churches appear smaller today than they really are.

A church in the past: 400 people in worship meant a church size of about 500 to 600 people.A church today: 400 people in worship means a church size of about 1,000 to 1,200 people.

This trend of decreasing attendance frequency means your long-time members are asking, “Where is everyone?” While at the same time, you’re feeling swamped with ministry. Fewer people in the seats does not mean less work for pastors and church leaders.

Fewer people attend worship, but there is more ministry to do. The people who come once every four or five weeks still consider you their pastor. They ask you to do counseling sessions and will text prayer requests. They call as much as the person who attends every week. Even though they attend less frequently, many of them still require the same amount of attention.

The post Why Your Church Is Larger Than You Realize (And Pastors Are Busier Than Ever) appeared first on Church Answers.

Why Your Church Will Die Within Five Years

I became fascinated with dead and dying churches about thirty years ago. 

I know. It’s morbid on my part. 

My fascination turned into somewhat of an obsession that I wrote a bestselling book on the topic, Autopsy of a Deceased Church, several years ago. It still has robust sales today. It obviously hit a nerve. 

One of our team members at Church Answers got the domain, churchmortician.com, as a joke a few years ago. We still have it, and it is forwarded to churchanswers.com. 

The Church Consultation Requests Deluge  

We are receiving more consultation requests at Church Answers than at any point in our organization’s history. Consequently, we are doing more on-site and virtual consultations than ever. 

But here is the difference. About half of the requests are from churches that will likely die within five years. The congregations are on a death march. For the first time, the leaders of these churches, pastors and laity alike, are no longer in denial. They know their churches must change or die. 

We pray each time that our intervention is not too late. 

The pandemic accelerated and exacerbated the gradual declines of churches where they became obvious paths toward death. There have also been dramatic culture shifts to a less favorable, even antagonistic, posture toward churches. 

Why the Churches Will Die  

I really don’t think I have an obsession with dying churches. My primary focus is living, not dying. It has always been my prayer that I can learn from the deceased churches to help living churches thrive. 

We see a very clear pattern in place with dying churches. I hope these five observations can help you and your church move toward thriving instead of dying. 

Dying churches have abandoned evangelism. Your church will not have sustained growth without evangelism. You are no longer in a Christian-friendly culture where non-Christians desire to be identified with a local congregation. According to our consultation work in the post-COVID world, your church should be reaching one person (usually measured by baptisms, conversions, or professions of faith) for every twenty in average worship attendance. Thus, if your church averages 100 in attendance, you need to see God reach five non-Christians every year who will become followers of Christ and a part of your church. And the five per 100 number is just to stay even. That can be daunting for many churches. We began offering The Hope Initiative to help churches jumpstart prayer and evangelism. We know beyond a shadow of doubt that the need is great.  Dying churches major on minutiae. As a favor to a local pastor, I met with the few remaining members of his church. For some odd reason, the pastor was convinced they would listen to me and get serious about doing whatever it takes to survive. After I made an impassioned plea for the church to become a Great Commission force in the community, the pastor asked if there were any questions. One woman asked with a bit of an edge, “Will we have to read the hymns on a screen?” The church closed its doors seven months later.  Dying churches have high levels of gossip and conflict. Church members will expend their energies in one direction or the other. If the church is not reaching beyond its walls, the members will become inwardly focused. They will gossip about the pastor and other members. They will have silly arguments over inconsequential issues.  Dying churches do not comprehend the urgency exacerbated by the pandemic. The majority of American churches were in decline prior to the pandemic. COVID accelerated and exacerbated the decline. Dying churches are in denial. Their leaders and members simply do not realize how little time is left before they must close their church.  Dying churches see the pastor as the silver bullet. Consequently, the pastor is consistently the perceived person to blame for the decline in the church. It is also common for dying churches to fire pastors frequently. They think that the silver bullet pastor is out there somewhere. 

I have been doing church consultations since 1988. I have never seen so many churches just a few figurative breaths away from death. Church Answers created The Hope Initiative (hopeinitiative.com) as a 30-day jumpstart in prayer and evangelism. We pray that churches of all sizes and levels of health will engage in this ministry. 

We specifically pray for the dying churches. 

We pray they will do something before it’s too late.

The post Why Your Church Will Die Within Five Years appeared first on Church Answers.

Why Your Church Will Die within Five Years

I became fascinated with dead and dying churches about thirty years ago. 

I know. It’s morbid on my part. 

My fascination turned into somewhat of an obsession that I wrote a bestselling book on the topic, Autopsy of a Deceased Church, several years ago. It still has robust sales today. It obviously hit a nerve. 

One of our team members at Church Answers got the domain, churchmortician.com, as a joke a few years ago. We still have it, and it is forwarded to churchanswers.com. 

The Church Consultation Requests Deluge  

We are receiving more consultation requests at Church Answers than at any point in our organization’s history. Consequently, we are doing more on-site and virtual consultations than ever. 

But here is the difference. About half of the requests are from churches that will likely die within five years. The congregations are on a death march. For the first time, the leaders of these churches, pastors and laity alike, are no longer in denial. They know their churches must change or die. 

We pray each time that our intervention is not too late. 

The pandemic accelerated and exacerbated the gradual declines of churches where they became obvious paths toward death. There have also been dramatic culture shifts to a less favorable, even antagonistic, posture toward churches. 

Why the Churches Will Die  

I really don’t think I have an obsession with dying churches. My primary focus is living, not dying. It has always been my prayer that I can learn from the deceased churches to help living churches thrive. 

We see a very clear pattern in place with dying churches. I hope these five observations can help you and your church move toward thriving instead of dying. 

Dying churches have abandoned evangelism. Your church will not have sustained growth without evangelism. You are no longer in a Christian-friendly culture where non-Christians desire to be identified with a local congregation. According to our consultation work in the post-COVID world, your church should be reaching one person (usually measured by baptisms, conversions, or professions of faith) for every twenty in average worship attendance. Thus, if your church averages 100 in attendance, you need to see God reach five non-Christians every year who will become followers of Christ and a part of your church. And the five per 100 number is just to stay even. That can be daunting for many churches. We began offering The Hope Initiative to help churches jumpstart prayer and evangelism. We know beyond a shadow of doubt that the need is great.  Dying churches major on minutiae. As a favor to a local pastor, I met with the few remaining members of his church. For some odd reason, the pastor was convinced they would listen to me and get serious about doing whatever it takes to survive. After I made an impassioned plea for the church to become a Great Commission force in the community, the pastor asked if there were any questions. One woman asked with a bit of an edge, “Will we have to read the hymns on a screen?” The church closed its doors seven months later.  Dying churches have high levels of gossip and conflict. Church members will expend their energies in one direction or the other. If the church is not reaching beyond its walls, the members will become inwardly focused. They will gossip about the pastor and other members. They will have silly arguments over inconsequential issues.  Dying churches do not comprehend the urgency exacerbated by the pandemic. The majority of American churches were in decline prior to the pandemic. COVID accelerated and exacerbated the decline. Dying churches are in denial. Their leaders and members simply do not realize how little time is left before they must close their church.  Dying churches see the pastor as the silver bullet. Consequently, the pastor is consistently the perceived person to blame for the decline in the church. It is also common for dying churches to fire pastors frequently. They think that the silver bullet pastor is out there somewhere. 

I have been doing church consultations since 1988. I have never seen so many churches just a few figurative breaths away from death. Church Answers created The Hope Initiative (hopeinitiative.com) as a 30-day jumpstart in prayer and evangelism. We pray that churches of all sizes and levels of health will engage in this ministry. 

We specifically pray for the dying churches. 

We pray they will do something before it’s too late.

The post Why Your Church Will Die within Five Years appeared first on Church Answers.

4 Essential Tools for Navigating Discouragement with Your Husband

It comes in a text message or a phone call.
It comes in the middle of the day or it can awaken you in the middle of sleep.
It comes loud like a loud and jarring freight train but it can also come as the most deafening silence.

“It” is that all-too-familiar feeling of discouragement, exhaustion, and depression that can cast a shadow over our lives. As a pastor’s wife, I know well the unique challenges that come with being married to a leader in ministry. We witness their dedication, passion, and the immense weight they carry to shepherd their congregation with love and wisdom.

According to a recent Barna study, there has been a concerning rise in the number of pastors reporting emotional and mental exhaustion, increasing from 22% in 2015 to 31% in 2022. Additionally, the feeling of being supported by close ones has significantly decreased, going from 68% to 49%. These figures highlight the alarming isolation and discouragement prevalent among leaders today, but what remains unexplored is the impact on those married to these leaders.

As a pastor’s wife, I’ve personally experienced moments of searching the internet desperately for answers or seeking solace through tearful messages of a trusted few. If you too are married to a pastor and find yourself wrestling with discouragement, you are not alone. 

Here are four essential tools that have helped me navigate discouragement as a pastor’s wife:

Tether Yourself to Wisdom

As a pastor’s wife, you hold a unique role as one of the few safe places for your husband, being his only spouse. As he pours out his shortcomings and frustrations, the temptation for us is to step into “fix it” or “mama bear” mode. As a pastor’s wife I continually find myself in the tension of when do I speak up and when do I stay silent? When do I share the problem and when do I keep it to myself? These questions don’t have one-size-fits-all answers; they vary based on the circumstances and the day. But the way we respond is crucial and depends on the position from which we answer. Reacting from pride, self-preservation, or a fight for justice, without the tenderness of the Spirit, can lead us down a path of fleshly responses instead of wise ones. It is essential to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit, listen with empathy, and approach each situation with love, humility, and discernment.

Put it into practice: Read James 3:13-18 and list your questions and fears to God.

Pray Heaven Down

We cannot be the saviors to our husband’s pain. While God may use us as agents of love, grace, and support, the deepest wounds, longings, and questions in our husbands’ hearts can only find true healing through God’s work in their lives. Hardships and struggles often lead us to rely on God more than ever before. Therefore, in times of his discouragement, let us earnestly pray that God becomes his ultimate place of retreat, strength, and renewal. 

Personally, I’ve struggled with this at times, as I tended to treat prayer as a last resort or a secondary option compared to trying to work through solutions myself. This realization exposes my own lack of faith and a desire to maintain control. However, I’ve come to understand that there is nothing more powerful that I can do than to wholeheartedly ask God to work and move in ways that only He can. It requires letting go of my own agenda and trusting in His divine wisdom.

As a pastor’s wife, I can offer my husband love, support, and encouragement, but I must recognize that the deepest aspects of his life are in God’s hands. By surrendering control to Him and consistently lifting my husband up in prayer, I acknowledge that God’s plans and actions are far greater than anything I can accomplish on my own. This humble reliance on God’s guidance allows me to be a true source of strength and support to my husband, as I trust in God’s perfect timing and His ability to bring healing and renewal in his life.

Put it into practice: Pray Colossians 1:11-14 each morning over your marriage, family, and church family. 

Remember God’s Faithfulness

Leadership demands perseverance, and through this perseverance, we develop the ability to focus and realign our hearts with God’s work in the past, present, and future. In our journey as a couple in ministry, my husband and I often find ourselves reflecting on moments of conflict or hurt when it seemed impossible to make it to the other side. Yet, in those moments, we remind each other of how God faithfully sustained, grew, and carried us through.

With over two decades of experience in ministry, we no longer question whether God will come through, as we did in the past. Instead, we firmly hold onto the truth that we can trust Him, and we continually seek Him to strengthen our faith. These experiences have taught us the value of relying on God’s faithfulness, leading us to cling tightly to His promises and the assurance that He will always guide us through any challenges we encounter. As we persevere in leadership, we draw confidence from God’s past faithfulness, find purpose in His current work, and anticipate with hope His future plans for us and those we serve.

Put it into practice: Spend time together listing how God has been faithful in big and small things in the past. 

Don’t Fight Alone

Over the weekend, Josh and I spent a few hours with another pastor and his wife. It was a simple gathering. No fancy arrangements. Just genuine connection. We shared the unique privilege and burden of ministry, feeling seen and understood. It’s essential to find people who can share the load, celebrate wins, and pray through tough times. Consider communities like Church Answers Central and Church Answers Women, or local associations, online groups, and reaching out to fellow pastor’s wives. Building this support network makes a significant difference in our ministry journey, providing encouragement and strength along the way.

Having this network of understanding and compassionate individuals can make a significant difference in navigating the highs and lows of ministry life. It allows us to share our hearts openly, find strength in one another, and be reminded that we are not alone in this rewarding yet challenging calling of serving as pastor and pastor’s wife. Together, we can encourage, uplift, and inspire each other to continue serving with love and dedication.

Put it into practice: Text or call one other woman in leadership and let her know how to pray for you this week.

One final, tender thought to leave with you. As you read through these tools, there is a temptation to read them as a checklist. Approach them with empathy, not just as a checklist. I understand the real wounds and hurt you may be facing, especially from second-hand criticism, gossip, or betrayal in ministry. Your feelings are valid and deserve acknowledgment. In your discouragement, know that I’m praying for and cheering you on as you lead, love, and support your spouse and faith families. Healing takes time; be gentle with yourself. You’re not alone, and together, we’ll find strength in our shared experiences. 

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The Big Warning Signs Your Church Bylaws Are Working Against You and Not for You

Every church needs a good set of bylaws. Put simply, the bylaws are written legal documents establishing the governance of a church. Church polity and ecclesiology will have an impact on the contents of bylaws. The size and structure of a church will also affect bylaws. For example, multi-site churches will differ from single-site churches.

Consider the following points about church bylaws.

Bylaws are subordinate to the constitution of the church. The constitution is usually a much shorter document detailing a church’s fundamental principles. The bylaws set forth the operational rules to support the constitution.Bylaws typically include instructions on church meetings, conflict resolution, leadership structure, doctrinal parameters, financial oversight, and membership requirements.The constitution of a church rarely changes, while the bylaws can change as often as needed.Every church should review bylaws every two years to make sure they are current.If a church operates without bylaws, then issues among congregants may go to state courts. You relinquish a lot of governing ability without current bylaws.Bylaws should be clear and specific about how the church operates. If they are vague or overly complex, this can lead to confusion, misunderstanding, or manipulation. They should be written plainly for all to understand and not use legalese.

No two church bylaws are alike, which is to be expected. Churches are not carbon copies of each other. However, we do see some common problems in bylaws.

The bylaws are used in a reactionary way to deal with one-off problems. Church bylaws should be proactive, not reactive. We heard of one church with a lengthy section detailing the sale of cassette tapes on campus. Another church stipulated which types of drinks were permitted in the sanctuary. You should not attempt to insert every potential issue into the bylaws.

The bylaws are viewed as set in stone and cannot be changed. Every set of bylaws should include a mechanism for amendment. The bylaws may become stagnant if this process is overly complex or non-existent. We do not recommend allowing the amendment process to occur in one meeting, which leaves the possibility of the bylaws being hijacked by those with ill motives.

The bylaws contain more stop signs than guidelines. Church bylaws are meant to reflect your current practices, not dictate what you are supposed to do in perpetuity. They should bring order and not become an obstacle. If your church grows, for example, you will likely change how you operate in the bylaw to accommodate this growth. The bylaws should not become a hindrance to growth.

The bylaws have become a weapon for an individual or group. When a group shows up to a business meeting with the bylaws and copies of Robert’s Rules of Order, you know something is about to go down. Weaponized bylaws can create a lot of collateral damage and even split a church. One church had an executive pastor that used his ability to select committee members to coalesce power among his friends and oust the lead pastor. Bylaws should be available and understandable to the congregation. If they are kept secret or written in such a way that only a few can understand them, this can be a sign of a problem.

The bylaws are outdated and no longer relevant. Your bylaws should be known but in the background. As a leader, you must be an expert on your church bylaws. Do not operate a church without an understanding of the legal guidelines. Remember, bylaws are your own rules and can be changed if needed. But they are still what the courts will recognize if anyone challenges the church. Outdated bylaws are a ticking time bomb. We know of cases where the courts held churches to the standards in their bylaws. These churches regretted not keeping their bylaws current.

Good bylaws provide proper guidance and legal protection for the church. Bylaws will work against you when they are reactionary, outdated, weaponized, or viewed as set in stone. 

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8 Reasons Potential Pastors Would Rather Begin Ministry with an Internship or Assistant Pastorate

When I started pastoring more than 40 years ago, most of us called to pastoral ministry wanted to get started on the task quickly. Right or wrong, we typically leapt into ministry as soon as we could. Now, young leaders preparing for ministry are much more inclined to look for an “entry-level” position before stepping into a lead pastorate. Here are some reasons why: 

1. Young leaders have seen enough internal church struggle that they approach ministry with trepidation. They don’t want to deal with the same stuff they’ve seen other ministers face—at least not if they have to face it all alone. At a minimum, they want the buck to stop at somebody else’s desk while they learn the ropes of ministry.

2. Many churches and pastors have done a poor job of “calling out the called” and helping those called to understand God’s work. In some cases, they’re just not prepared to guide someone who expresses a ministry call; the result is that those called must figure out ministry on their own. Few young leaders I know want to do this by themselves.

3. On the other hand, churches do give more attention to mentoring/equipping/setting apart potential pastors than they did in my day. Because of that commitment (and because the internet has made these options well known), young leaders are more aware of these possibilities—and they want that option before taking a lead role.

4. Young leaders are much concerned about prioritizing and guarding their families while doing ministry. Again, they’ve seen too many marriages fail and pastors fall, and they want to avoid those tragedies. Learning to do so, though, is probably easier when they’re not bearing the full weight of ministry alone. They want role models to guide them.

5. Their ministry heroes, whom they often know best through the internet, typically pastor larger churches that offer internships. Not every church can offer the same level of training for up-and-coming pastors, but those that can are often well-known churches. Consequently, young leaders hear of their internships more readily and want that experience.  

6. Because of changes in accreditation rules, churches with qualified leaders can now offer graduate-level courses to students connected with their congregations. The program for Southeastern Seminary, where I teach, is our EQUIP Network program—and students who are learning at the feet of good pastors are grateful for these local training opportunities. No longer must they move to a campus to get strong training; an internship or assistant pastorate in their home church may be an option.

7. Internships allow young leaders to determine if they’re ready to do full-time ministry. Even those who sense a call to ministry might be struggling with the calling in general, or they might be wondering if bi-vocational ministry may be an option. An internship allows them to test their calling without a long-term commitment.

8. Some internships include service in several areas of the church, thus helping young leaders more specifically determine their calling. For example, one three-year internship I know requires leaders to serve six months in each of six primary areas of the church’s ministry. The various assignments prove invaluable to those called to pastoral ministry. 

What other reasons might you add to this list?

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Top 25 Hymns: 2023 Versus Ten Years Ago

Many of you were definitely eager to share your favorite hymns via social media. We had over 2,000 responses when I finally stopped counting the results. 

I took your responses and compared them to a similar list we compiled ten years ago. There are some differences between the two sets of rankings. The 2013 hymns were data we received from Lifeway Worship. A large number of them likely represent songs chosen by music leaders purchased for congregational use. The 2023 poll is broader since anyone could name their favorite hymns. 

By the way, there was a bit of a debate regarding the proper definition of a hymn. I am just reporting your responses. Here are your favorite hymns today and a decade ago:

Did your favorite hymns make either top 25 list? Are there any surprises on these lists? Let me hear from you.

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The Top Ten Reasons Why Pastors Have Anxiety (And How to Overcome It)

“The best pastors have a healthy level of paranoia.”

My father’s advice struck me as odd. I was in my early 30s, pastoring through a difficult situation with the potential to split my congregation. I was anxious. He didn’t feed my anxiety, but his words weren’t comforting either. The advice was honest. And real.

At the time, a group of people intended harm, and I needed to be cautious. Or, as my father put it, have a healthy level of paranoia.

“I emphasize the word healthy,” he reminded me, “But you must watch your back.”

Platitudes only make anxiety worse. What I needed was a realistic perspective and practical solutions. My father offered both.

Pastors and church leaders experience anxiety for a variety of reasons. Unsurprisingly, almost two out of three pastors report stress in ministry. Usually, it is the compounding of multiple stress points rather than one singular item that creates anxiety.

Constant availability. The pastor’s role often requires round-the-clock availability for emergencies, further blurring the line between work and personal time.Perceived isolation. Despite being surrounded by people, pastors can often feel alone, particularly if they can’t share their struggles for fear of seeming weak or lacking faith.Public scrutiny: As public figures, pastors can feel pressure to always be “on” and maintain a certain image.Emotional labor: Pastors are frequently the first point of contact during personal crises or grief. They must keep confidence about any number of personal issues in the congregation. Sexual sins, substance abuse, and spiritual neglect are common problems among parishioners that pastors must keep secret. This emotional labor can be exhausting.Financial pressure: Many pastors face financial instability, often working with limited resources and sometimes receiving inadequate compensation for their work.Personal neglect: Pastors can become so involved in meeting the needs of their congregations that they neglect their personal needs, including physical health, mental well-being, and quality time with family and friends.Increased polarization. Like other areas of society, churches have people at the extremes—politically, ideologically, and theologically. Navigating spiritual waters is challenging when more people are rocking the boat. Conflict is almost always stressful. Add in a couple of bullies, and the ride can be nauseating.Uninformed criticism. All leaders should expect criticism, but the burden of answering uninformed critics is wearying. I once had someone get quite upset with me. She went on a long, forceful diatribe about one of our ministries. After several minutes of hearing from her, I realized she was talking about another church.Unfair comparisons. Some pastors place unreasonable expectations on themselves and their churches. You cannot be someone else. But church members can also be guilty of unfair comparisons. The best sermons from the best preachers can be accessed instantaneously from anywhere. Why can’t you preach like him? Why is our worship service not like that? The questions are deflating, if not humiliating.Unhappy spouse. When a spouse struggles in a church, the pastor’s job becomes incredibly difficult. Some churches place unreasonable expectations on the spouse. The mentality of hiring two-for-one is a common problem. In other cases, the spouse can feel pressure to minister in ways that do not align with their gifting.

The combination of these stress points can create complex and nuanced problems in ministry. But there are some practical ways to combat the inevitable anxiety of ministry. Consider these tactics.

Stop using all-or-nothing reasoning. Idealists make terrible pastors. Perfection is an unachievable goal. One error does not ruin an initiative. The perfection-or-failure mindset can create a massive amount of stress. Rather than letting one setback create a domino effect of anxiety, view failure as a way to learn. Besides, most things in the church are a mixture of good and bad, positive and negative. Optimism, as opposed to idealism, is the better approach. The optimist recognizes the setbacks for what they are but keeps plodding forward.

Make potential stress an ally and not an enemy. Fine furniture is not crafted without the friction of sandpaper. The best art and music pieces are usually produced in a crisis. Identify what makes you stressed and channel your emotional energy into productive exercises. Ask questions about what you can control rather than dwelling on what you cannot change. The power once went out in our sanctuary. There was no need to panic over what I could not control. I called everyone closer to the front and preached from the floor. No one complained. The Sunday service was memorable but not a failure.

Learn to laugh at the one-off blunders. I was once so sick preaching, I walked backstage, passed out, and puked in a live mic. The sound guy was asleep as usual, so everyone got to hear the thump of my body on the floor, followed by what sounded like an exorcism going badly. My nickname was “puking preacher” for several weeks to follow. You have two choices in a situation like this one. Be anxious. Or laugh.

Use the word “no” more often. You can’t do everything! Nor should you. Pastors should be accessible to the congregation, but there is no way a pastor can always be available. This tiny, two-letter word may be the most powerful tool you have to reduce anxiety. Most pastors do too much, not too little. Properly shepherd your church’s expectations. When you try to do everything for everyone, you train the congregation to expect “yes” every time. It’s unfair to you, your family, or a future pastor who may have to replace you due to burnout.

Every pastor will experience stress. Do not let the pressure build to the point of anxiety.

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