Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 32

20 of the Most Difficult Things Pastors Have Done in Ministry

The question was straightforward: What are some of the most difficult things you have done in ministry?

I asked this question on some of my social media channels, so it was an informal survey. 

The responses were high, over 600 in the first eight hours. While the quantity of the responses was indicative of the challenges pastors face, the pain evident in those responses was even more sobering. 

These 20 difficult challenges are listed by the frequency of the responses. In no way am I attempting to rank the pain or depth of these tragedies. By each difficulty, I offer a direct quote of one of the respondents. Some of the quotes have been modified for clarity. The substance of each of them was not changed. 

Here, then, are 20 of the most difficult things pastors have done in ministry: 

1. Pastoring a church during COVID.  “The tragedy of 9/11 two decades ago united us. The tragedy of COVID divided us. In 30 years of ministry, I have never seen so many angry church members.” 

2. Doing the funeral of a child. “The depth of grief of the parents is the greatest I’ve ever known. I will never get over these tragedies. I remember each funeral like it was yesterday.” 

3. Confronting a sex abuser. “I had a deep sadness when a person told me their dad had abused her and her siblings. I had an even greater sadness that the children would likely end up in foster care since the dad was a widower.” 

4. Officiating the funeral of a teenager. “The death was so sudden. One day he is the well-loved captain of the football team. The next day he is a fatality in an automobile accident.” 

5. Dealing with toxic church members. “What is most frustrating about toxic members I’ve had in my church is the unwillingness of any church member to support me to deal with the situation.” 

6. Telling a family that their loved one had been killed. “She was in her 30s with three small children when I went to her home to tell her that her husband had been killed in an auto accident.” 

7. Being fired from the church. “I thought my situation was unusual because I never heard a reason for my firing. I learned later that it was common in the ministry.” 

8. Staying at my church. “I am on the verge of emotional and physical collapse. My doctor has pleaded with me to leave the church. But I don’t know what I will do if I leave.” 

9. Letting go of a staff member. “I wouldn’t tell the congregation all the sordid details of the firing, so many of the church members turned on me.” 

10. Telling family members that their loved one had been shot to death. “I have done six funerals for victims who had been murdered. The funerals were a mixture of grief, anger, and hopelessness.” 

11. Dealing with the emotions of the elections of 2016 and 2020. “The polarization of our nation for the two presidential elections was played out painfully each time in my church. I fear the same for the 2024 elections.” 

12. Doing the funeral of a suicide victim. “I’ve done three in my ministry, and I feel like I did poorly ministering to the families at the funeral. I was at a loss for the right words.” 

13. Doing the funeral for someone I did not know. “These funerals are always a challenge because it is hard to personalize them even if you ask the family for information. It’s even more of a challenge if you have reasons to believe the deceased was not a Christian.” 

14. Closing a church. “I felt like a total failure to God, to the community, to the heritage of the church, and to the few members who were left.” 

15. Working multiple jobs. “My church thinks the salary they pay me is full time pay, but it is below the poverty line. I work several side gigs just to keep food on the table for my family.” 

16. Administering church discipline. “My church knew we had to deal with an individual. We had taken all of the biblical steps up to removing him. Then they refused to go further. I know I will soon have to leave the church, because this person is still unrepentant and active in the church.” 

17. Losing a loved one. “My daughter battled cancer for three years before she died. It was so difficult to care for the church when I was hurting so much myself.”

18. Leading a church that is not bearing fruit. “As I watch my church decline in numbers and in discipleship, I feel like a total failure. Every day I ask God to show me what I need to do, but the decline continues.” 

19. Being stabbed in the back by those who once supported me the most. “I have sadly learned in four churches that my biggest cheerleaders when I first arrive at church often become my biggest critics later.” 

20. Remaining faithful in the midst of opposition and false accusations. “This reality seems more pervasive today than at any point in my ministry.” 

These were the top 20 most frequent responses as I counted them. But there were more. Hundreds more. 

Love your pastor. 

Care for your pastor. 

Pray for your pastor.

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Know the Psalms as Never Before

For centuries, Christians have turned to the Psalms to teach them to pray, to worship, and to grow as disciples. A new series from Christian Union offers you the opportunity to deepen your experience with God through the words of the Psalms. More than typical Bible study, these volumes offer a devotional commentary that is more text focused and rigorous than most devotionals, but also more accessible and application oriented than a commentary. 

Proven through Christian Union’s ministry on the campuses of Ivy League universities, these studies provide a deep understanding of the Psalms through historical background, the meanings of key Hebrew words, and the underlying theology of the Psalms. The insights flow from an informed, responsible exegesis of the text, drawn from the best biblical scholarship and presented in an accessible and concise format. 

Through these new Bible studies, crafted for Ivy League Christian leaders, you’ll find theological implications and personal applications drawn from the text in a way that goes beyond traditional commentaries. The aim is to provide accurate and insightful commentary on the text, but to present that commentary in a way that is more engaging and accessible for the average reader than a commentary would be. 

And these studies will help you relate to God out of a deep understanding of God. Every lesson will draw attention to what each passage teaches concerning God’s character. The result is more than intellectual knowledge. It’s experiential knowledge.  A Bible study that connects head and heart. 

The new Christian Union Bible Study series includes three books: Psalms 1–41, Psalms 42–89, and Psalms 90–150. Each book has 10 lessons, and each lesson is divided into five distinct parts. Engaging questions and open space with lines for writing make these studies great for personal reflection or group discussion.

“I am excited about the release of Christian Union Bible studies because of the in-depth teaching and emphasis on the impact of the Word in the personal spiritual life of the reader,” says Christian Union Founder and CEO Matt Bennett. 

If you want to grow in your faith through in-depth studies of Scripture that supplement your regular Bible reading, this is the perfect resource for you. 

Far more teaching content than most Bible studies, with substantial commentary in every lessonAccessible format, with each lesson divided into five distinct partsEngaging questions for personal reflection and group discussionWorkbook format, with open space and lines for writingSemester-friendly format of 10 lessonsCan be used both for personal study at home and for church or small-group Bible studies

Michael Racine, the author of the Psalms Bible Studies, has been encouraged during his time researching and writing the series of studies. “The Psalms are so wonderfully beautiful and practical, teaching us how to pray in all circumstances and inspiring faith, hope, and love as we behold our great God and Savior,” Racine reflects.  

Christian Union is a ministry developing Christian leaders at the Ivy League universities and beyond. Christian Union’s ministry and teaching fellows mentor students and lead challenging, academically oriented Bible courses designed to help students develop a robust understanding of Scripture and the Christian worldview. 

For more on the Christian Union studies go here.  Learn more about Christian Union at christianunion.org.

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Eight Ways Any Church Can Get the Attention of the Neighborhood

God’s mission travels in one vehicle: the church. In the same way that different kinds of vehicles travel our roadways, many different churches share the good news message. No congregation has a corner on the Kingdom, and every Bible-believing church has the potential to be an asset in the Kingdom of God. 

The neighborhood will have one of three perspectives on your church: negative, neutral, or positive.

Negative: The neighborhood knows who you are and would rather you not be there.Neutral: The neighborhood does not know you or has no opinion about you.Positive: The neighborhood knows who you are and is grateful to have you in the community.

Some churches get a lot of negative attention. I’m not talking so much about scandals as putting out a negative message. For example, I heard of one church that circulated invite cards that stated, “We’re probably not the church for you!” and included a list of things they were against. The entire neighborhood now knows this church but for all the wrong reasons.

Other churches have a neutral impact. People drive by the campus. If they notice the building, they know nothing about the church. In our experience doing research and consultations all over North America, we believe most churches fall into this category. We often interview people from the community and ask about specific churches. A common theme emerges.

“I have no idea.”“I don’t know the church.”“Never heard of it.”

Sometimes these churches are right across the street. In one case, we pointed at the campus. The interviewee responded, “Oh, wow. I never noticed that was a church.”

Churches should seek a positive reputation by building rapport with the surrounding neighborhood. But how? Consider these eight ideas.

Inviting neighbors to Sunday lunch. Imagine a church where half of the people regularly invited their neighbors to worship and offered to have lunch with them afterward. Most everyone in the community would know about the church. And likely, they would have a positive perspective on the congregation.

Coaching and sponsoring local sports leagues. My church, West Bradenton, sponsors teams in the local sports leagues when the coach is a member. We consider these teams as ministries in the community, and our coaches as representatives of the good news.

Joining a neighborhood civic organization. Most communities have a variety of nonprofits other than churches. Pastors and church leaders can help build a positive reputation by being contributing members of these organizations.

Having Christmas Eve services. You will have more guests from the neighborhood on Christmas Eve than any other single worship experience. Christmas Eve is the most likely time an unchurched person will walk into your worship space. It’s a huge opportunity. I fear some churches go through the motions since Christmas Eve is the peak of the busy season, and volunteers are short in supply.

Supporting foster families. Fostering is one of the most overlooked ways to get your church to solve community problems. I often hear from churches, “How can we connect to the community? We don’t know where to start.” Take a foster child into your home, and you are immediately connected to some of the most challenging issues in your community.

Starting a service in another language. We recently began a Chinese service at our church. How? A group was looking for space, and no other church was willing to offer part of their campus for free. We are now connected to a growing part of the neighborhood that would otherwise be difficult to reach.

Opening your church facility to other non-profit organizations. Partnering with a local Christian preschool was one of our best campus decisions. Our church is alive Monday through Friday with children and their families. We also open our sanctuary to events for other nonprofits.

Beginning an ongoing prayer walking emphasis. Get your people walking the neighborhood and praying. Inevitably, the Holy Spirit will provide opportunities for gospel conversations. One of the best reputation builders for a church is to pray for people in the community and let them know.

You can’t reach your community unless you know your community. Church Answers recently updated our popular Know Your Community report with all new data. We’ve also expanded several new demographics and psychographics. Click here to learn more about this report and order one.

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12 Ways Parking Lot Greeters Can Serve

Greeters make a difference in a church, and some of the strongest churches I know have them everywhere from the parking lot to the welcome center to the hallways to the small group rooms. Here are some things greeters can do in the parking lot:

1. Be a smiling face as people enter the lot. Some folks coming to church have had a rough week. Maybe even a rough life. A smile can go a long way for them.

2. Direct traffic if needed. Even if the church has a separate parking team, greeters are sometimes pressed into service in the busiest times.

3. Help families with children. Clearly identified and vetted greeters can assist families who are unloading multiple kids with all their associated stuff.

4. Guide people to the right door. It’s not always easy to know which door is the best entrance to a church. Parking lot greeters can help with that decision.

5. Offer rides if the lot is large. A greeter with a golf cart is a welcome sight for some folks who must park a long way from the building.

6. Guard spaces for the handicapped. You might be surprised how often our church consultation teams have seen seemingly healthy people with no handicapped sticker park in these spaces. 

7. Provide umbrellas and an arm in inclement weather. Not everybody comes prepared for bad weather, and some people need a helping hand when the parking lot is slick or icy.

8. Answer general questions about the church. You never know what kinds of questions a guest or new member might have – and a greeter might be the first person available to answer those questions.

9. Pray silently for attenders as they arrive. How might a church service be different if every person who enters the building is a recipient of prayer?

10. Provide security. Just their presence, assuming the greeters are clearly recognizable, can be a deterrent to other problems like vandalism and theft. 

11. Welcome the late-comers to church. It’s easy to get frustrated (often, at somebody else in the family) when people are late for church. A friendly greeter can say, “It’s all good. We’re just glad you’re here.” 

12. Encourage people as they leave. Few churches use parking lot greeters in this way, so your church can be unique if your greeters serve after the service as well. A smiling face on the way out is just as important as a smiling face on the way in.

What would you add to this list? 

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Five Ways to Hurt Your Pastor Deeply

The times sure have changed.

Yes, the statement is cliché, but it is one I often make about the challenge of pastors today versus several years ago. When I was a pastor, I had my challenges. But they pale in comparison to what pastors face today.

Why is pastoring so challenging today? There are several reasons. Social media did not exist when I was a pastor. It is now weaponized to hurt pastors. Culture has shifted to being mostly adversarial to Christianity in general, and to local churches and pastors in particular. And we are undoubtedly in the midst of a great polarization in our nation and many parts of the world. 

The recent study by the Barna Group should come as no surprise then. Four out of ten pastors are considering quitting! That should be a sobering reality. 

For pastors, though, the greatest pain comes from within the church instead of the culture outside the church. One pastor told me that he used to refer to it as “friendly fire” until he realized there was nothing friendly about it. 

I recently asked pastors how church members hurt them the most. It was amazing to hear these five responses repeatedly. 

1. When church members say they are not being fed. These words are used to attack the pastor’s preaching. Think about it. Many pastors work on their sermons 15 or more hours each week only to be told that their preaching is weak. A number of these pastors indicated that the members who used this attack most frequently are the ones who attend the least frequently. One pastor responded to an infrequent attendee who told him they were not getting fed with this retort: “You can’t be fed if you hardly ever come to the dining table.”

2. When church members say, “People are saying . . . “ Of course, “people” are rarely identified, so the pastor can’t go to them and speak with them directly. A number of pastors said that they get complaints about something they did or did not do, and they have no idea when or if this alleged offense took place. Some people like to hide behind a keyboard on social media; others like to claim “people” are saying. 

3. When church members stop giving. Most pastors do not know what their members give, but word usually gets to them about someone who had decided to protest through withheld giving. These members obviously think it’s their money, not God’s money. 

4. When church members say, “I love you, pastor but . . . “ Pastors told me that they only hear what is said after “but.” They would rather the church member simply speak negatively rather than couch the complaint or criticism in pseudo-love. 

5. When church members complain about the pastor’s family. Pastors know that their spouses and children aren’t perfect. And if something needs correction, they are willing to hear about it. But most of these complaints are petty and unfounded. And because you are talking about the pastor’s family, the attack is particularly painful.

When your pastor resigns this year, you probably will not hear any of these five issues in their reasons for departure. But you can be assured that the ongoing complaints, criticisms, and attacks have taken their toll.

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Why Smaller Churches Must Be Better at Hospitality than Larger Churches

It’s not fair. I know. Smaller churches must be better at hospitality than larger churches. First, I will explain why. Then I will demonstrate how this perceived inequity is to the benefit of smaller churches.

Guests have different expectations of different-sized churches. When new people or families walk into an extraordinarily large church, most will expect anonymity. A 500,000 square-foot campus with thousands of people has a different feel than a smaller church with one hundred people.

For example, when I enter Tropicana Field for a Tampa Bay Rays game, I do not expect people to go out of their way to show hospitality. The ballpark is enormous, and there are—on average—between 15,000 and 20,000 others walking around. I’m thankful they focus on efficiency more than hospitality. I get frustrated when the parking attendant wants to have an extended conversation. When I walk into a small, family-owned restaurant, however, my expectations change. Hospitality is now the priority and not efficiency.

Churches are not ballparks and restaurants; I get it. But the sociology of being in a small group or a large crowd remains. It’s weird when you enter a room with a few people, and no one acknowledges you. It’s not as strange when the same happens in a room with thousands of people.

The Difference Between Friendliness and Hospitality

Many churches believe they are friendly, but too few demonstrate hospitality. The problem is friendliness is often directed internally. Members are kind and pleasant with each other and overlook guests. You can be nice to someone without showing hospitality. Hospitality involves generosity and sacrifice with outsiders. In the New Testament, the Greek word for hospitality means to love those on the outside. Peter wrote about the importance of hospitality in his first letter.

“The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” – 1 Peter 4:7-10 (NLT)

The apostle had a penchant for the dramatic. The world is ending! Please show hospitality. A couple of lessons emerge from this text. Hospitality is how the church will shine when the world is falling apart. Additionally, every believer, regardless of spiritual gifting, is expected to be hospitable. In other words, every spiritual gift is amplified by hospitality. I believe hospitality is one of the most underrated ministries in the church, and it is expected of all members! How can smaller churches use the greater expectation of hospitality to their advantage?

Five Easy Ways to Make a Splash with Your Hospitality Ministry

What makes a church visit memorable for a guest? Generally, the experience is the memorable part of being in a large crowd. But the personal connection is what people value in a smaller setting. Do larger churches get more guests because of their size? Yes, but they also assimilate a smaller proportion of them. A typical-sized congregation will not have as many guests, but they have a better opportunity to assimilate guests through a personal connection.

The problem is many churches (large and small) do not elevate the ministry of hospitality to take advantage of the opportunity. They believe the culture of being nice to each other (internally) will equate to guests feeling hospitality. The opposite is true. Many guests feel ignored or excluded when no one intentionally extends genuine hospitality to them.

How can a smaller church make a splash with hospitality?

1. Allocate more budget resources. Your church budget reflects your ministry priorities. Don’t cut the coffee budget! I realize most small churches do not have big budgets. But there are ways to invest in hospitality without breaking the bank. Give the pastor a lunch budget to treat guests and their families after church. Hand writing a thank you card to guests is inexpensive and one way to make a memorable impression.

2. Do not neglect your online presence. Monitor your social media accounts and respond quickly to questions. Make sure your Google business profile is up to date with correct addresses, service times, phone numbers, and hours of operation. Include pictures on your website of actual congregants. Don’t use stock photos. And please, for the love of all that is holy, don’t use an empty sanctuary picture as your primary image.

3. Train your first impressions volunteers. Personal attention is what sets hospitality apart from friendliness. Shaking someone’s hand and smiling is a friendly gesture. Hospitality is talking with someone, walking them into the sanctuary, sitting next to them while getting to know them, and inviting them to lunch. If you don’t know someone more after an interaction, then you may have been kind, but you were not hospitable.

4. Make a big deal about guests in the worship service and then follow up. Thank your guests from the platform each week (without singling them out). Ask for their contact information. You can use connection cards with QR codes (for those who prefer digital methods). Keep a fresh stock of pens available in your seats or pews. Contact every guest at least three times. Each one should receive a phone call from church leadership (or an email if no number is available). Follow up with a handwritten note if they provided a physical address. Then have a church member invite them to a small group or Sunday school class.

5. Lead by example. Hospitable churches have hospitable pastors. Titus 1 is explicit. If pastors do not practice hospitality, they are not fit to lead their churches. Having guests in your home is just as important as sound doctrine. Hospitality starts with the pastor!

Hospitality is the opportunity many smaller churches are missing. Frankly, good hospitality is in short supply in our culture. The church can make a memorable impression—and have a greater impact—by investing in hospitality.

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The Top Ten Lowest Attended Sundays in U. S. Churches

Most pastors, staff, and active church members have a good idea when attendance will drop on a given Sunday. Churches develop a discernible pattern that is repeated each year. 

We asked over 400 people, mostly church leaders, to identify their lowest attended Sundays on a recurring basis. Though our study was not scientific (comments and likes on two social media channels plus our Church Answers community,) the large number of responses developed into a clear pattern. 

To be clear, every church is different, and every community is different. Different contexts give different responses. For example: 

A congregation with a lower median age will likely have a lower Mother’s Day attendance than a church with older congregants. The younger church members travel to their mother’s home.
Hunting and fishing season can adversely affect church attendance. Deer season was mentioned most frequently.Travel and Sunday sports can be a killer to church attendance. Sunday sports for kids and youth have become the newest god to worship.Geographic location is important. For example, a church in a warm destination may have an influx of “snowbirds” in the winter, and then a decline when they leave.The weather of the day is an important factor too. If it’s raining, attendance will be down. If it’s sunny and warm, attendance will be down. In the South, if a snow flurry is forecast for Sunday, the grocery stores are packed on Saturday, and the churches are nearly empty as the people contend with 1/16th inch of snow on the ground.

Still, most churches have a pattern of low attendance that is consistent. Here are the top ten responses we received, ranked by frequency of response. 

Father’s Day.The Sunday after Thanksgiving day.Memorial Day weekend Sunday.Labor Day weekend Sunday.The Sundays before and after Christmas.The Sunday nearest the Fourth of July.The Sunday nearest to New Year’s Day.Time changes: spring forward.Spring and fall break Sundays.Summer Sundays, particularly in July.

Do these low attendance days align with your church’s low attendance days? What is the lowest-attended day in your church? Let me hear from you.

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Brothers & Sisters Flourishing Together: Why We Need to Keep Talking About Women

It seems like the internet and evangelical churches can’t stop talking about women. As a woman leader this can be exhausting, but at the same time, I think we are having vital conversations that need intentionality, grace, and understanding. My point in this post isn’t to dredge up a bunch of theological should and should nots, but to bring us back to the foundation of how God allows us to serve alongside one another in mutual ministry and mission. 

The Church and its members are not fully representing Christ and His church without the mutual flourishing of both men and women in discipleship processes and the collaboration of their giftings.

1) Both men and women bear God’s image. 

In Genesis 1:26-27, we see how God created humanity in His image and are both created to rule and reign together. In Genesis 2, we get to see the intricate detail of both Adam and Eve and how they are created. There is a distinction not only in how they are made, but also in the biological differences that come with their God-given genders. As God brings Eve to Adam, his song is not of distinction but of sameness: “Bone of bone and flesh of my flesh.” 

2) Both men and women carry out the mission.

Shiphrah and Puah defied the most powerful man on the planet to protect life.
Ruth faithfully teaches us covenantal love and the hope of a redeemer.
Mary learned at the feet of Jesus and was one of the first to proclaim an empty tomb.
Ten women are woven into the celebration of names mentioned in Romans 16 by Paul for their ministry, hard work, and faithfulness.

Women have been and will always be a part of the great redemptive story. I write in my book, The Calling of Eve, that the Great Commission is not gendered. Jesus’ final words to teach, disciple, and baptize have been given to all of us whose lives have been changed by the Gospel.

The church is described as a family with fathers and mothers (Titus) and brothers and sisters co-laboring alongside one another for the sake of the gospel (Phil. 1). How we work together, cling to unity, and walk out our daily sanctification is a picture of God’s heart for the world. 

When we siphon off responsibilities, diminish value, or control one another in fear of slippery slopes, we take away from the power of the Spirit and the beauty of mutuality. 

3) Both men and women need each other.

I would love to see more familial language in our conversations as we relate to one another as brothers and sisters in the family of God. Family is committed to one another, sticks up for one another, and seeks out the good of the other. When we focus on the ability to come together with our unique gifts, wisdom, and experiences, we are both stronger and wiser. We truly are ‘better together’ and more equipped to meet needs, move the mission forward, and celebrate the work God continues to do in and through each other.

We offer an incomplete picture of our loving Heavenly Father when we pridefully diminish the value, gifts, and wisdom of the other. In the same way that I hope my brothers would want my perspective or wisdom when it comes to teaching a text or dealing with a difficult leadership decision, I need them in the same manner. We all have weaknesses, blind spots, and biases, and it is God’s gift that he gives us one another to navigate life’s struggles and high points. 

A Quick Note to My Brothers:
I’m often asked, “What do women in my church need?” (I’m so grateful when I’m asked this!). This is just the tip of the iceberg for a response but a few things to look toward as you start to answer this question:

1) To Be Shepherded: Who and what systems do you have in place for women in crisis? Oftentimes women do not feel comfortable talking through issues of abuse, health concerns, parenting, or past circumstances with a male leader. 

a) Create a safe space for women to know they are protected and welcome in your church.

b) Provide visible women in the Church that are trusted and trained to meet with and counsel women.

c) Have a list of counselors and resources for them in the community. Here is a list of the resources I make available to our women. 

2) To Be Given Clarity & Opportunities to Use Their Gifts:

a) Whatever your framework or theological belief around women in ministry may be, there is an opportunity to utilize women in the church for mission and ministry. 

b) Be mindful of only communicating about women through the lens of what they are not allowed to do.

c) Think through what positions and areas of leadership women are able to serve in.

3) To Be Celebrated: Highlighting and elevating the value of women’s contributions in the church not only affirms the work that women are doing in your church currently but also helps to call out and call up those that aren’t yet fully functioning in their giftedness.

4) Invest in Your Female Leaders:

a) Enroll her in our Women’s Discipleship Certificate at Church Answers University

b) Purchase conferences, books, and resources to develop her as a leader.

c) Meet with her to listen, connect, and coach her through her own development as a leader.

A Note to My Fellow Female Leaders:
I hope you see the value, worth, and dignity God has infused within you as you serve and lead in diverse ways for the Kingdom of God. Oftentimes we can be held back by our own insecurities, questioning what God has for us, and isolated in the journey. 

My biggest encouragement is to continue saying ‘yes’ in big and small ways to the doors God is opening for you. Be a constant learner. Connect with other men and women in different areas of leadership. You are needed in Kingdom work. I’m cheering you on and here as a resource for you. 

Cheering you on,

Jacki C. King

*For more resources on equipping women in the Church check out ChurchAnswers.com/Women 

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The Looming Deferred Maintenance Crisis in Many Churches (and How to Solve It)

“It’s a custom color. Bradenton plum.”

The church council member and I laughed together about the project in front of us. He had been part of the original capital campaign in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

“The color was popular then, but I think it’s time for an update,” he said as we prioritized the deferred maintenance projects for our upcoming capital campaign.

A few years ago, we started tackling facility projects. Our church had done too few updates in the last forty years, and now we were in the position of doing several fixes all at once. Thankfully, the church rallied, and we raised the needed funds for the immediate problems. But we are still playing catch-up today because deferred maintenance was not a priority.

Not every church will have the luxury of chipping away at facility renovations.

Sticker shock with deferred maintenance projects will prompt some congregations to consider closing.

Deferred maintenance is the process of delaying needed improvements to infrastructure and assets because of budget and cash limitations. Churches are notorious for postponing these capital projects. We heard of one church recently that had worn the carpet through to the plywood floor. Rather than replace the carpet, they painted the wood floor the same color as the surrounding carpet. When you do these shortsighted fixes, the cost of collective repairs skyrockets.

Neglected facilities become an albatross around the neck of many pastors. Deferred maintenance has killed numerous ministers with good intentions. Even the best churches often have closets full of junk—old trophies, dusty puppets, and binders of music from the 1970s. In severe cases, the entire campus has not been touched in decades.

There is a looming crisis about to impact the North American church. Failing air conditioners, leaky roofs, unsealed brick exteriors, old windows, and worn carpets can potentially sink congregations. Redoing the central air conditioning of a 50,000-square-foot facility can easily cost north of $1 million. Sealing brick exteriors can be tens of thousands of dollars. A leaky roof can climb into the six figures if a lot of work is needed. Higher inflation and supply constraints only exacerbate the problem. Sticker shock is coming, and many churches will not be able to pay to keep their campus open, even if they have dozens of people in the congregation.

We’ve got to do everything we can to keep these churches operating. Why?

One of the greatest kingdom assets is location, location, location.

Church facilities are one of the most expensive, yet vital, tools church leaders use to shepherd God’s people. In a North American context, buildings are essential to God’s mission of expanding His kingdom. From a practical standpoint, the church building should be the place where the local community congregates. Uninviting church buildings make it difficult for church members to invite their friends and family to worship with them.

What are some ways to start tackling the problem of deferred maintenance issues?

1. Include deferred maintenance in your operating budget. Create a separate deferred maintenance line item in the building and grounds section of your budget.

2. Create a priority list of projects. Walk around your facility quarterly. Write down items you see need work. Continually update your priority list and use the deferred maintenance line item in the budget to chip away at projects.

3. Utilize budget surpluses on maintenance items. When you have a budget surplus, use these funds to do bigger deferred maintenance projects.

4. Communicate regularly with your church about projects and celebrate their completion. When you install new carpet or new windows, let the church know. Visible progress will energize the church and prompt more generosity.

5. Encourage people to give to a building fund on an ongoing basis. At my church, we have three major giving buckets. The first is our operating budget. The second is a missions fund. The third is a building fund. We ask people to tithe to the operating budget and give above and beyond to the other two funds.

The mission of the church is to be a kingdom presence in a particular location. Your church address is not an accident. What God began at 1305 43rd Street West in Bradenton is not supposed to stop until Christ returns. The same goes for your church location. Don’t stop until Jesus comes back.

For more information about the most recent research and current church trends, check out our resource Big Storms and Blue Oceans, which includes both an e-book and video content.

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Church Leaders Wandering Past the Cross

Many years ago, I visited a rocky hillside in Jerusalem that some scholars believe is the site of Jesus’ crucifixion. On this hillside were three trees that reminded me of the crosses at Jesus’ death, and in front of the hill was a busy bus station. The stench of diesel fuel hung in the air. The loud hum of old bus engines was compounded by a continual chorus of horns blowing in the traffic. What seemed like thousands of people speaking multiple languages stood in the station, waiting for transportation to take them to nowhere important. 

A young believer at the time, I stood as quietly and respectfully as I could, looking toward the trees growing on that small hill. “Here Jesus died for me,” I thought, “and I can’t believe that everyone is ignoring this place. How do people just drive by this holy place as if nothing happened here?” 

Years later, I have sadly learned that I, too, can get so busy with life that I inadvertently wander past the cross as if it didn’t happen.¹

Maybe we church leaders are most susceptible to this problem because our ministry responsibilities never end. How, then, do we know when we’re wandering past the cross? Perhaps my personal reflections and confessions can help you think about your own heart: 

1. I know I’m wandering past the cross when the story of the cross no longer melts my heart like it did when I first followed Christ. Back then, the whole story was amazing; now, too often, it’s routine.

2. I can sing songs of the cross with little brokenness and gratitude. It’s been a long time now, but I remember singing, with much gratefulness, hymns like, “The Old Rugged Cross” and “At Calvary.” The songs we sing are different now, but how I wish my brokenness over the cross were still the same!

3. When I tell my testimony, I speak more about my life change than about the cross and God’s gracious love. I certainly don’t skip the cross, but I do fear I don’t always focus there like I should. I admit that I don’t always sufficiently camp out at a wooden cross and a borrowed tomb.

4. Observing the Lord’s Supper with my church family becomes routine. And, that’s not because our church shares the ordinance too often; it’s because I don’t always dwell deeply enough on the significance of the Supper. I wander past the cross . . . .

5. Writing or teaching things like this post calls me to repentance . . . again. I wrote the words of the first two paragraphs of this post more than ten years ago. I confessed my struggle back then, and I confess today that I still have much room to grow. 

Being a church leader is no guarantee you will live in the shadow of the cross. Busyness can, in fact, get in the way of that focus. For those leaders who need it, may the Lord take us back to Calvary and then to an empty tomb.

¹These first two paragraphs are found in Chuck Lawless, Nobodies for Jesus: 14 Days toward a Great Commission Lifestyle (pp. 23-24). Rainer Publishing. Kindle Edition. I wrote this book to challenge all of us to regain our fascination with Jesus—and consequently, to do the Great Commission.

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