Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 4

Don’t Just “Do” Discipleship (Build the Culture in Your Church!)

Culture encompasses the values, thoughts, attitudes, and actions of the people within it. According to John Kotter, culture is simply “the way we do things around here.” Every environment we encounter has its own culture.

Your home has a culture.Your workplace has a culture.And your church has a culture.

Culture is developed over years through shared experiences, including joys, pain, and responses to environmental factors. It is akin to a set of unwritten rules that people follow within that specific environment. It’s not just about actions—it’s about how you think, how you feel, and of course, how you behave. The culture of a given environment is what lies beneath the surface; it’s what truly governs that environment.

The concept of culture is like rebar on a construction site. No one looks at the rebar early on and is impressed by it. Instead, we wait until the structure begins to rise. We’re not interested in what keeps it stable; we want to see what makes it look nice. Even though rebar isn’t pretty, it’s incredibly necessary. Rebar gives a building its stability and strength. It’s what holds everything together below the surface, making a structure resistant against the forces of time and nature. Without rebar, a building crumbles because rebar controls the form of everything built above it. The same principle applies to culture.

That brings us to an important question: What do you want the culture of your church to be?

There are likely many answers here – we want the unwritten rules of the church to be kindness, joyfulness, truthfulness, and mission, along with more. But what if the best way to describe the culture in your church was summed up in one word? Discipleship.

Certainly, that’s at least part of—if not the main—answer to the question. This is the church’s broadest mission: to go and make disciples of Jesus. But it becomes part of the culture only when it’s not just the church’s mission, but also the mission of every member. It’s not part of the culture until everyone considers discipleship as part of their own job description.

Isn’t this where we want to be? Isn’t this the kind of church we want to lead? Not one where paid staff members run programs for people to participate in, but instead, one where every member sees the ongoing spiritual growth of the whole congregation as their personal responsibility. But how do we start to instill this value in our culture? How do we not just “do” discipleship, but build a discipleship culture? Here are three suggestions.

Distribute leadership more broadly. Too often, leadership in our churches is limited to a few individuals—the same people repeatedly. To truly embed discipleship into our culture, we must regularly empower and release new leaders.Free up margin for organic discipleship. Ironically, one obstacle to a discipleship culture is overprogramming. Often, our people are so busy with scheduled events that they lack the margin for spontaneous opportunities, such as inviting someone to read the Bible or meeting for breakfast and prayer. Instead, they are too committed to attending another discipleship class.Treat discipleship as a way of life. Do we need discipleship classes? Yes, we do. But even as we implement them, we must be careful not to treat or train people to think of discipleship as merely an intellectual activity. Discipleship is a lifestyle, and until people understand that, it will never become part of the church culture.

The call of Jesus to us (and our people) is to make disciples. Let’s do our best to ensure this call is deeply woven into everything we do in the church. When that happens, discipleship becomes everyone’s responsibility.

Rooted Network can help meet this need. Thousands of churches have discovered how the Rooted experience can create an Acts 2 discipleship culture—one that connects your people with God, the church, and their purpose, resulting in discipleship rhythms that cultivate continuous transformation in Jesus. To find out more, visit experiencerooted.com/churchanswers .

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Bomb Threats & Active Shooters: A Simple Plan for Church Safety (Free Download Guide!)

The phone call started a frantic series of events. I was informed of a bomb threat at the local private school on the same road as our church. It was a Wednesday afternoon, and the threat occurred during dismissal time. Complicating matters, their preschool utilizes our church campus. Several questions raced through my mind.

Was the preschool included in the threat?Do the police need to clear our campus?How should we help families who want to pick up their children?Should we cancel evening activities at the church?

Thankfully, the threat did not materialize into something more sinister. The police found nothing, and we were in the clear. The threat of an actual bombing or active shooter is low, but these tragedies do happen. Your church should have a plan.

Bomb Threat: Best Practices

When a church receives a bomb threat, the first step is assessment. Every threat must be taken seriously, but not every threat requires an evacuation. If a call is received, the person taking it should note the exact wording, caller ID, voice characteristics, and any background noise, then immediately contact law enforcement. If the threat is verbal, write the wording of the threat as heard and any characteristics of the person. If the threat is written, handle the note as little as possible and secure the document without altering it.

Law enforcement will assess the threat and guide the evacuation. If evacuation is ordered, follow established fire routes—no shortcuts—and move at least 300 feet from the building. If possible, leaders should account for everyone at the evacuation site.

People should leave all personal belongings (purses, backpacks, and briefcases) behind. Here’s why:

Speed—Taking time to gather items slows down evacuation.Safety—A bag could conceal a secondary device, or someone might accidentally move or place an item near a suspicious object, complicating the search for law enforcement.Clarity—Unattended bags left behind can later be checked and cleared by authorities. If everyone takes their bags, it becomes harder to identify what’s suspicious.

No one should re-enter the building until it has been declared safe by authorities. Preparedness and calm leadership are key to minimizing risk in a bomb threat situation.

Active Shooter: Best Practices

Active shooter situations are often over within ten to fifteen minutes and before law enforcement can arrive. Other cases of violence on church campuses also occur rapidly and require a quick response. Though no single plan of action is possible when preparing for an active shooter or other violence on your campus, what is most important is decisiveness. You have three immediate options when confronted with a perpetrator of violence: run, hide, or fight.

Run—Escape is the priority. You should leave behind any personal items and take as many other people with you as possible. Once you are in a safe place, call 911.Hide—if possible, in a room with thick walls and few windows. Lock and barricade the doors, turn off the lights, and remain silent.Fight—This option may not be palatable or possible for everyone, but there are cases where it is the best option. In one study of forty-one active shooter events, potential victims stopped the attacker in sixteen instances before law enforcement arrived. By fighting, lives were saved.

Whichever response you choose, quick and decisive action can save lives.

Different Approaches for Each Threat

Now, consider the differences between these two situations. Both are serious, but they require different responses.

In a bomb threat, the goal is to evacuate safely while communication is discreet to prevent panic. In contrast, during an active shooter situation, the priority is life preservation using the “Run, Hide, Fight” strategy. Communication in such cases should be immediate and direct to initiate lockdowns. While bomb threats call for movement out of the building, active shooter events often require people to stay hidden inside.

A Simple Strategy for Church Safety

When we started researching how to train our children’s volunteers to deal with potential danger, we found most guides to be overly complicated. We emphasized the response rather than focusing on the different types of threats. We needed something with two clear options: evacuation or shelter in place. This simple “stay or go” framework ensures clarity and quick decision-making. You don’t want people reading complex decision trees in the heat of the moment. This chart summarizes what we have in all our classrooms. You can download the full-color guide, Kidmin Emergency Response, for free HERE.

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Painting Pictures of the Word with Your Words

It happened again this week.

A friend had worked really hard in preparing his Bible lesson. He had taken notes on a previous teaching time, made plans to improve his teaching, and was looking forward to his teaching this time. Not only had he studied the lesson well, but he had also prepared an important technological visual aid so his listeners would hear and see the lesson. He was so excited when he started the lesson.

Except, the technology didn’t work.

No matter what he and others tried to do, it didn’t work.

All his teaching plans, it seemed, had gone awry. At least, he felt that way. Frustration captured him quickly—and his confidence in his teaching preparation wavered.

Maybe you’ve been there at some point, too.

In my early years of ministry, our visual aid options would have been quite limited – maybe a flannel board (remember them?) or a slide projector – and we simply didn’t think much about doing anything but speaking when we taught. We weren’t, though, more spiritual than teachers are today; we just didn’t have the options available today. My guess is that we would have used technology, too, had it been available.

And, hear me closely: I am not arguing against the use of technology to undergird our teaching. The educator in me thinks pedagogically, and the missionary in me thinks contextually—and both point to the importance of visual teaching and learning in today’s culture. There’s unquestionably, in my judgment, a place for using technological tools in teaching the Word today.

We just can’t depend on those tools.

We can’t depend on them because they won’t always work like we had planned. The electricity might go out. Your computer or projector might quit working. God might even give you an opportunity to teach in a place where there’s little electricity in the first place. Even in places around the world where cell service is surprisingly available, the use of cell phone technology for teaching is limited to its functioning properly.

More specifically, though, we just need to learn in general to use our own words to paint the pictures of the Word for our listeners as we teach and preach. The Word is powerful on its own, and we’re both privileged and challenged to teach it well. Think with me about some of the stories of the Scriptures that readily challenge us to read and explain the Word with vivid imagery:

the appearance of light in the darkness when God said, “Let there be light”Adam and Eve cowering among the trees in their sinthe questioning heart of Isaac as he and his father made their way up the mountain, “But where is the sacrifice?”Moses approaching a burning bush that would not be consumedMoses looking into a Promised Land he would not enterJoshua grieving defeat of the Hebrews at AiIsaiah crying out, “Holy, holy, holy!”Elijah calling down fire on the altar in opposition to the prophets of BaalJonah frustrated when God offers grace to Ninevehparable after parable that Jesus taught with imagery and intentionalitya hurting, desperate, blood-diseased woman made well and a synagogue ruler with a daughter now raised from the deada lame man now healed and leaping with joy in the temple areaPaul and Silas singing in a prison cellPaul writing words of gratitude and joy to the PhilippiansPaul’s describing the armor of GodJohn’s trying to describe the new heaven and the new earth

I could go on and on, but I trust you get the point. It’s easier to paint pictures of the many narrative accounts of Scripture, but you can take your listeners into all the Scriptures as you explain and show the texts with intentionality. Many of us just have to work harder at it.

Doing so requires us to prepare well not only to understand the Word, but also to communicate it—and helping our listeners hear and see the Word through our prayer-saturated, well-thought-through words is worth the effort.

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7 Non-Ministry Books Every Pastor Should Read

For reasons beyond the scope of this post, my younger self went many years without reading anything not at least indirectly related to pastoral ministry or my Christian growth. Commentaries, works of theology, homiletics, and church leadership comprised the bulk of my reading. Biographies had to be missionary biographies…unless they were biographies of Christian athletes. 

There’s certainly nothing wrong with that diet, especially for a pastor. Pastors surely want to improve their preaching craft, stay current on theological trends, and glory in the stories of our Christian forebears. But, just like anything else, ministry-related reading can become a bubble, within which expanded thinking is impossible, while endless refining becomes the norm. 

More than a decade ago, then still in full-time pastoral ministry, I shifted my reading to include more “regular” history, biographies of not-necessarily-Christian people, fiction, science, and more. I began (and still am) expanding my author list well beyond the easily recognizable names of pastors and theologians whose books dominate pastoral libraries. 

It’s been one of the best decisions I ever made. So, in that spirit and in no particular order, here are seven non-ministry books I think every pastor should read.

Lincoln’s Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness, by Joshua Wolf Shenk

I wish I had read this one when it was first published in 2005. Shenk uses an enormous amount of primary sources in examining Lincoln’s mental state from when he was a young man through his presidency. He also uses contemporary medical science to examine what Lincoln might have been dealing with at a time when “melancholy” was the typical word used for “depression.” Shenk doesn’t disregard medication; he isn’t using Lincoln as some kind of “He didn’t need drugs and you don’t either” totem. Rather, he honors a man who, lacking other alternatives, did not give up. 

Blood Done Sign My Name, by Timothy B. Tyson

Easily one of the most powerful books I’ve read on racism in the American South. From the jarring opening line through the contextualized and partly autobiographical telling of the cold-blooded 1970 murder of Henry “Dickie” Marrow in Oxford, NC, Tyson’s story rarely lets up. As his father was the local Methodist pastor, the role of local churches and Christians amid racial violence is not overlooked. 

The Devil’s Delusion: Atheism and Its Scientific Pretensions, by David Berlinski

First published in 2008 during the heyday of the New Atheism movement, Berlinski, an agnostic Jewish mathematician, wrote this invective against weaknesses he perceived in the way Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, et al, argued their points. Even as an unbeliever himself, he found the so-called “Four Horsemen” unconvincing. This book is a gem of debate, philosophical application, theological reflection, sarcasm, and wit.  

By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land, by Rebecca Nagle (Cherokee Nation)

Continuing in the path of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and Trail of Tears, Nagle’s work differs in that it is both history and current events. A murder on the Muscogee reservation in Oklahoma stirred a jurisdictional dispute, leading to a startling Supreme Court finding in 2020. Fire is riveting and opens the eyes to the plight of Native Americans to this very day. 

Peace Like a River, by Leif Enger

The only novel on this list, Peace Like a River is an extraordinary mid-20th century saga of love, family, responsibility, and what can happen when you try to do the right thing. Beautiful writing, engaging characters, and a penultimate chapter as satisfying and holy as anything you’re likely to read. 

Everything Sad Is Untrue, by Daniel Nayeri

I have recommended this one as much as any other book. Nayeri was born in Iran, then immigrated with his family to Oklahoma at the age of eight, after spending two years as a refugee. Written in the voice of his childhood self, it’s hilarious, moving, heart-rending, and oh, so worth the time. 

The Thing in the Bushes: Turning Organizational Blind Spots into Competitive Advantage, by Kevin Graham Ford and James P. Osterhaus

I cheated a little here. This is not technically a “ministry” book, but it addresses a flaw common to any group of people organized for any reason: the inability to see the real problems in the organization. This “thing” hides in for-profits, nonprofits, and religious organizations. The “thing” isn’t the same thing in every organization. It could be the culture, a single overbearing leader, organizational structure, poor communication, or something else. The Thing in the Bushes doesn’t evaluate your theology. It helps locate and fix the thing prohibiting your theology—and mission—from having the full effect.

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How Smartphones Reduce Physical Activity Among Our Young People

(Note: I am sharing four articles this month based on my upcoming book, The Anxious Generation Goes to Church . These articles focus specifically on the harm smartphones do to our young people. All data and statistics in these articles are supported in the book. In this fourth article, I summarize how smartphones are instrumental in reducing the physical activity of young people. My book will be released from Tyndale on August 19, 2025.)

We’ve all seen the scene: a group of teenagers sitting together, each hunched over a phone, thumbs scrolling, eyes glued to glass. They’re technically in the same room, but in truth, they’re each in their own digital world.

This scene has become the norm. And with it has come a silent but serious consequence: movement is disappearing from the lives of our young people.

It wasn’t long ago that kids spent hours outdoors—riding bikes, climbing trees, shooting hoops, and playing hide-and-seek until the streetlights came on. Today, the playground has been replaced by the screen. The ball has been replaced by the scroll.

And the culprit isn’t just “technology” in general—it’s the smartphone in particular.

Designed to Keep Them Sitting

Smartphones are engineered for one thing: engagement. With endless social media feeds, games, videos, and alerts, they’re designed to grab attention and hold it. The goal isn’t productivity—it’s captivity.

For young people, that captivity often comes at the cost of movement. Why go outside and break a sweat when you can stay inside and be entertained without effort?

And unlike watching TV—where parents could at least monitor the hours—smartphones go wherever the child goes. In the car. At school. In bed. On vacation. There’s no natural break in the cycle.

Movement has become optional. Sitting still has become the default.

The Numbers Are Telling

Physical activity among children and teenagers has been in steep decline for years. Studies show that fewer than 1 in 4 American adolescents get the recommended 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day.

The decline isn’t just about changing culture—it’s about changing behavior patterns. The more time a child spends on a smartphone, the less time they spend in active play, sports, or even simple movement.

The correlation is clear: as screen time increases, physical activity decreases. And smartphones are leading the charge.

Why It Matters—More Than We Think

When young people stop moving, it’s not just their muscles that suffer—it’s their minds, their emotions, and their development.

Lack of physical activity has been linked to a host of issues, including:

Obesity and related health problemsPoor sleep qualityIncreased anxiety and depressionDecreased academic performanceWeakened social skills and confidence

Movement is not just physical. It’s therapeutic. It’s developmental. It’s part of how God wired us.

We’re embodied beings. Our bodies aren’t just containers for our minds or souls. They’re instruments of joy, energy, service, and connection. When we neglect our physical health—especially in formative years—it affects every other part of our lives.

The Disappearing Joy of Play

Remember when kids used to invent games on the fly? When creativity and activity went hand in hand? That kind of free play—running, jumping, imagining—is becoming rare.

Smartphones offer dopamine with zero exertion. The games are already created. The fun is always available. No need to run, no need to explore.

But something beautiful is lost in the process. Movement isn’t just exercise—it’s discovery. It’s where friendships form and social skills sharpen. It’s where confidence grows and risks are learned. It’s where kids become more than just observers of life—they become participants.

A Biblical Perspective on Physical Stewardship

Scripture reminds us that our bodies are temples (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). While the context of that verse is specific, the principle is broad: we’re called to steward our physical selves for God’s glory.

That includes helping the next generation understand that their bodies are gifts, not burdens. That movement is not just a duty, but a delight. That physical activity is not just for health class, but for life.

Our children need to hear this from the pulpit, from the classroom, and around the dinner table.

What Churches and Families Can Do

We won’t change this trend overnight. But we can start by making intentional choices.

Parents: Set time limits for smartphone use. Encourage screen-free hours. Model active living. Go for walks. Shoot hoops. Make movement normal.Youth leaders: Plan youth activities that get kids moving. Don’t assume “active” equals “games.” Create moments of physical engagement with spiritual purpose—retreats, mission projects, or even post-sermon walks of reflection.Pastors and leaders: Talk about this issue. It’s not just cultural—it’s spiritual. A sedentary generation won’t become a serving generation. Movement fuels ministry.

The smartphone won’t go away. But our passivity toward its influence must.

Let’s remind our young people that God made their bodies for more than just tapping and swiping. He made them to move. To serve. To play. To dance. To run the race—literally and spiritually.

And maybe, just maybe, the first step toward renewal in this anxious generation is a literal step—away from the screen and into the world God made for them to explore.

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The Biggest Shift in American Religion You Probably Missed

Sometimes a major change in society makes all the headlines. For instance, public opinion around the issue of same-sex marriage had been shifting toward support for decades, but when the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, everyone saw a tangible manifestation of that societal change. When Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, it was clear evidence that the United States had moved into a more multi-racial future, and while racism had certainly not gone extinct, it was waning. 

Then, other major shifts often go almost entirely unnoticed because there is no clear inflection point. That’s what happens pretty often in the world of American religion. Many changes in this arena can be described as glacial. The share of Christians drops a single percentage point every two or three years. Because it’s occurring so slowly, it’s hard to detect such a change. However, over time, that leads

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How Smartphones Have Been Used Toward a Torrent of Cyberbullying

(Note: I am sharing four articles this month based on my upcoming book, The Anxious Generation Goes to Church . These articles focus specifically on the harm smartphones do to our young people. All data and statistics in these articles are supported in the book. In this third article, I summarize how smartphones have been used to inflict cyberbullying on young people. My book will be released from Tyndale on August 19, 2025.)

It used to be that bullies waited for the schoolyard. Not anymore.

Today, the bullying follows our kids home. It follows them into their bedrooms. Into the night. Onto their screens. Into their hearts.

The smartphone—what many call a communication device—has also become a megaphone for cruelty, a carrier for shame, and a tool for torment. With just a few taps, a teenager can be mocked, harassed, excluded, or humiliated—sometimes by people they know, sometimes by people they don’t.

Let’s not downplay what’s happening. This isn’t teasing. It’s cyberbullying. And it’s a torrent—relentless, anonymous, and deeply damaging.

A New Kind of Bullying

Smartphones didn’t invent bullying, of course. But they’ve changed its nature.

Before smartphones, bullying was limited by geography and time. The insults stopped when the bell rang or the bus ride ended. Now, there are no limits. The smartphone has made it possible for cruelty to be constant and boundless.

Kids are attacked through group texts, fake profiles, comment sections, and viral videos. Humiliation can be captured, edited, and shared in seconds. It can spread through an entire school—or the whole internet—before a parent even knows it happened.

And unlike a bruise or a black eye, this kind of bullying leaves no physical mark. But the emotional wounds cut deep. And the scars can last a lifetime.

What the Research Tells Us

The numbers are sobering. Nearly 60% of teenagers in the U.S. say they’ve experienced some form of cyberbullying. Many report being called offensive names, being purposefully excluded from group chats, or having false rumors spread about them online.

But beyond statistics, let’s remember: every number is a story. Every percentage point is a person.

A girl who cries herself to sleep because of a doctored photo that went viral.
A boy who deletes his social media accounts after months of ridicule.
A quiet teen who begins to believe the names they’re being called.

These are not hypothetical scenarios. These are real stories playing out in the lives of our students, including those in our pews.

The Smartphone’s Role

Why has this become such a problem? Because the smartphone makes bullying easy.

It gives bullies a powerful platform and a permanent presence. It allows them to say things they would never say face to face. It emboldens them with anonymity and distance. And perhaps worst of all—it gives the bullying a long life span.

What used to be a cruel comment whispered behind someone’s back is now a screenshot shared a hundred times. What once might have faded in a day can now live online for years.

The smartphone makes bullying not just possible, but persistent.

The Mental Toll

We cannot separate cyberbullying from the rising tide of anxiety and depression in our young people.

Victims of online harassment are far more likely to suffer from emotional distress, low self-esteem, and suicidal thoughts. For some, the phone becomes a symbol of fear, not fun. Every vibration feels like a threat. Every notification brings a new wave of dread.

And because teenagers are still forming their identity and resilience, these attacks cut especially deep. They’re not just words. They become wounds.

What Parents Often Miss

Many well-meaning parents are unaware this is even happening. After all, their child still smiles at dinner. They still post selfies. They still show up at youth group.

But behind that smile might be a screen full of insults. Behind that selfie might be a desperate cry for validation. Behind that presence at church might be a heart broken by what was said the night before.

Cyberbullying is often silent and secretive. Parents and pastors must be vigilant and informed. Ask questions. Watch for changes in behavior. Look beyond the surface.

The Church Must Respond

If the smartphone is being used to tear down, the church must be a place that builds up.

If the digital world speaks lies, we must speak truth. If teenagers are being told they are worthless, ugly, or unwanted, we must remind them they are fearfully and wonderfully made—created in the image of a loving God.

Our student ministries must not just entertain—they must equip. Our youth leaders must not just chaperone—they must shepherd. Our churches must not just assume students are okay—they must ask, listen, and love.

We may not be able to stop every cyberbully. But we can make sure our churches are sanctuaries—safe places where students are seen, heard, and valued.

The smartphone is not inherently evil. But in the wrong hands—or even in inexperienced young hands—it can become a weapon. 

Our young people are under attack. And they’re carrying the battlefield in their pockets. Let’s be the ones who fight for them.

The question is: will the church look away, or will we step into this digital darkness with light?

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What Happens in Churches with Long Histories of Short Pastor Tenures (7 Big Patterns to Watch)

Churches with a long history of short pastor tenures often face a host of systemic and cultural challenges. The point here is not to place blame on either pastors or churches. Instead, the goal is to describe what happens culturally, regardless of who is to blame. While each situation has unique factors, there are several common patterns that make long-term pastoral success difficult to achieve in these churches. Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward building a healthier, more stable future.

1. Congregational Trust Issues

When a church sees pastor after pastor come and go, trust inevitably erodes. While church members may respect the office of the pastor, building trust takes time. Members grow wary of investing emotionally or spiritually in a new leader, assuming they will leave before lasting relationships can form. Over time, a culture of cynicism toward leadership develops. Even pastors who cast a strong vision for the future may find their efforts met with skepticism, as the congregation anticipates yet another transition. This distrust can severely limit the momentum a pastor needs to lead effectively.

2. Lack of Long-Term Vision and Direction

Frequent pastoral turnover stunts the development of a cohesive, long-term vision. Ministries stagnate as interim periods pile up and new initiatives are abandoned midway. Each pastor may bring fresh ideas, but few stay long enough to see them through to maturity. Over time, this pattern leaves the church in a constant state of starting over, exhausting both leaders and members.

3. Leadership Fatigue and Dysfunction

In churches where pastors leave regularly, leadership dysfunction often follows. Long-time lay leaders—such as deacons, elders, or influential members—may begin to fill the power vacuum left by departing pastors. Unfortunately, this can breed power struggles, territorialism, and resentment when new pastors attempt to reassert healthy leadership. Meanwhile, faithful laypeople carry heavier burdens for longer periods, leading to burnout, frustration, and even their own eventual departure from leadership roles.

4. Financial Struggles

Financial instability is another predictable side effect of pastoral churn. When members feel uncertain about the church’s future, their giving often declines. Over time, these financial drains can inhibit ministry efforts and further discourage pastoral candidates.

5. Membership Turnover and Decline

Congregations that cannot maintain stable leadership also tend to experience higher membership turnover. Key families seeking stability may leave for churches with long-tenured pastors. New visitors can sense instability quickly, making them less likely to commit. Without consistent leadership to cultivate relationships and foster a sense of belonging, a slow but steady decline in attendance often follows.

6. Difficulty Attracting and Retaining Pastors

Churches that develop a reputation for short pastorates find it increasingly difficult to attract strong candidates. Word spreads quickly in denominational and ministry networks. Promising pastors may avoid applying altogether, fearing they will become the next casualty of a broken system. Those who do come may approach the position with a short-term mindset, viewing the church as a stepping stone rather than a place for long-term ministry investment.

7. Resistance to Change

Ultimately, many churches in this cycle fall into a survival mode mentality. Rather than dreaming about future growth, they focus on simply maintaining what they already have. Leaders and members alike may fear committing to new initiatives, strategic planning, or substantial change. The pain of previous losses can paralyze their willingness to move forward, even when change is desperately needed.

Breaking the Cycle

The good news is that churches stuck in a cycle of short pastorates are not doomed to stay there. But breaking the pattern requires intentional, sometimes difficult work.

Conduct an honest assessment: Before meaningful change can happen, churches must honestly confront their history. A candid evaluation of past leadership transitions can help identify patterns, wounds, and systemic issues that have hindered stability. Most of our consultations at Church Answers begin here. Church leaders reach out wanting an honest assessment, which is hard without an outside set of eyes.

Rebuild a positive leadership culture: Healthy churches have clear roles, healthy accountability, and shared responsibility between pastors and lay leaders. Establishing strong governance, open communication, and mutual trust between staff and lay leadership lays the foundation for a better future.

Establish a sense of identity: A stable pastorate requires a shared sense of mission. Churches must prayerfully develop a long-term vision that transcends any one leader. When the congregation is unified around clear goals, new pastors can step into an environment of collaboration rather than conflict.

Create stability before the next hire: Perhaps the most critical step is to address systemic problems before hiring the next pastor. If underlying dysfunction remains unresolved, even the most gifted pastor will struggle—and likely leave. Taking time to stabilize leadership structures and repair trust before calling a new leader can prevent the cycle from repeating.

While the path to stability is often not quick or easy, it is possible. Churches that do the hard work of self-reflection can experience healthy ministry again. By building trust, clarifying vision, and fostering a culture of long-term commitment, churches can offer pastors—and themselves—a future full of hope.

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3 Necessary Self-Cares to Survive the Pastorate

Pastoral survival can be a grim topic. Pastors deal with depression (18% of them, per Lifeway Research), loneliness (65% of all pastors in 2023), trauma, unrealistic expectations on pastoral families, and more. 

The life of a hireling is easier than the life of a shepherd. Caring for sheep (and not a few goats) is a life-giving endeavor. By that I mean shepherds give their lives for the sheep, just as Jesus did. 

Pastors grow mentally weary from sermon preparation; grow emotionally weary from bearing the burdens of the flock and their family; and physically weary from burning the candle at both ends—and often the middle as well. Even when successfully maintaining time alone with God, an active prayer life, and full trust in his plan, the struggle to maintain self-care is real. 

I’ve never heard of pastors who intentionally wear themselves down to nothing; it just happens. Here are three ways you can actively participate in your own survival.

Get enough quality sleep.

Sleep? What’s that? 

Something a lot of pastors don’t get enough of. “I’ll rest when I’m dead” is not biblical counsel. 

Anecdotally, pastors work 45-60 hours a week. Self-imposed pressure to study like Jonathan Edwards, minister like Amy Carmichael, write as much as John Piper, preach as deeply as Charles Spurgeon, and have impact like Martin Luther King, Jr makes for irregular schedules and irregular sleep. 

I remember one vacation during my last full-time pastorate. I wasn’t aware of being particularly tired, but when I awoke the next morning I’d slept for 13 hours! I was beyond exhausted and didn’t even know it. As many preachers have noted, there’s a reason Jesus fell asleep in a boat and had to be rousted during a squall. 

With few exceptions, adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. And it isn’t only the amount of sleep you get, but the quality of that sleep. With newborns in the home, quality sleep disappears for months. Young kids needing comfort in the wee hours disrupt sleep. Teens can require sleeping with one eye open for years. Aging is accompanied by overnight bathroom visits, often multiple such trips. It’s no wonder pastors don’t get enough quality sleep. 

But, “sleep quality is vital for our overall health. Research has shown that people with poor sleep quality are at a higher risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and mental health issues like anxiety and depression.” (Harvard Health) Quality sleep being hard to catch is no reason not to pursue it. 

Eat healthy, nutritious meals.

“Hey pastor, wanna grab breakfast this week?”

“Sure. Where and when.”

“7:00, [local house of sodium]” 

Sound familiar? Now add lunches and desk-drawer snacks. 

Pastors can fall victim to the same bad eating habits as the unhealthiest people around. In a 2024 survey of pastors enrolled with Guidestone, 28% admitted their physical health is not what it should be. A 2020 survey of 560 pastors found only 14% with a healthy Body Mass Index, with 46% of the respondents being obese. 

Eating healthy is hard and eating bad is easy; that’s the root problem of the American diet. The time—and cost—of buying healthy food, preparing healthy meals, and cutting down on unhealthy “treats” takes as much Spirit-controlled living as conquering other parts of our undisciplined lives. 

But it’s crucially important that we pay attention to what we eat and make necessary changes to our diets. 

There is no dearth of articles and books on gut-health, heart-health, healthy meal prep, and balanced diets for every phase of life. Take small steps if needed; but take the steps. 

If eating healthy is a struggle for you, see your doctor to find a path of proper nutrition. “Don’t,” as my former professor told his class, “dig your grave with your teeth.” 

Make and keep friends who invite and protect honesty.

For many pastors, a lack of close friends is inextricably linked to the loneliness referenced at the top of this article. Trusted communication is the warp and woof of close friendship, but can be a challenge for pastors. The bonds of pastoral trust (or “sanctity” in some traditions) limit much pastoral conversation to sports or other innocuous topics that avoid revealing private information. 

Pastors need friends with whom they can be completely open and honest with no fear of being stabbed in the back or left out in the cold. 

To be clear, there are times when a therapist or counselor is needed. I don’t intend to say having friends will always solve deep-seated challenges. Pastoral PTSD, as some have termed it, needs more than a few coffees or a round of golf. 

But having friends isn’t unimportant, either.

Pastors need friends who invite and protect honesty. That means people you don’t judge your authentic struggles, provide a healthy place to unload and sort those struggles, and keep personal issues confidential. 

For me, it’s a text group of three pastors, one former pastor, and myself. We’ve never lived in the same city—we met online more than 20 years ago. I think each of us would say, aside from other friends we have, that group is a protected space where we each work out different aspects of our own salvation with fear and trembling…but without concern of leaked details. 

I continue to believe most pastors have a strong desire to please God. They spend time in the Word, evangelize, minister, and pray. All these things are surely included in what Paul referenced as his ministry with the churches. It’s all Kingdom work, but it can break you down. So take care to self-care. It isn’t selfish; it’s godly.

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Running on Empty? How Pastors Overcome Fatigue and Reclaim Energy

For many pastors and church leaders, feeling tired has moved from an occasional issue to an ongoing one. Fatigue is no longer a seasonal challenge but a chronic issue. Unfortunately, too many pastors and ministry staff across the country are running on empty, struggling to find the energy they once had. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. There are proven strategies that can help you break the burnout cycle and reclaim the joy of ministry.

A Tipping Point: The 50-Hour Rule

Studies show that productivity begins to decline sharply after a 50-hour workweek. By 55 hours, your effectiveness plummets. While an occasional long week will happen, overworking month after month and year after year is self-defeating. You are no more productive working 70 hours every week than 55 hours—logging 70 hours doesn’t actually get more done. In fact, overworking leads to poor focus and diminished discernment, often causing leaders to spend more time on less meaningful tasks.

What’s a simple but helpful first step? Track your hours for a month. If you regularly work 70+ hours per week, it’s time to make strategic adjustments.

Delegate tasks that someone else could do. Delegation is an opportunity to equip others!Reduce unnecessary meetings or repetitive tasks. Is that weekly meeting necessary? Or can it be monthly?Remove duties altogether by outsourcing, like landscaping or facility maintenance. Perhaps someone else can mow the church lawn, clean the facility, or replenish pew racks.

The Pervasiveness of Compassion Fatigue

You’ve likely heard of decision fatigue, when someone makes several decisions in a short amount of time and then struggles to make additional decisions. However, compassion fatigue among pastors may be more prevalent.

Compassion fatigue is an excessive weariness due to the cumulative effect of caring for, listening to, and helping people with emotional and spiritual problems. The issue is more pervasive than most realize because pastors are the first spiritual responders in moments of crisis. They experience repeated exposure to deep and troubling matters. The result is detachment, leading to reduced compassion. Guilt then surfaces because of an inability to serve others, and a vicious cycle forms.

Understanding the Root Causes

Ministry fatigue doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s an accumulation of pressures that wear leaders down over time. From constant accessibility to the weight of unrealistic expectations, these forces combine to drain energy. Several factors can drive ministry fatigue.

The Always-On Phenomenon: Technology has created 24/7 access. Texts, calls, and social media messages don’t respect boundaries—and often, neither do we.Jack-of-All-Trades Expectations: Pastors are expected to preach, counsel, manage facilities, run tech, and more. Everyone expects something different.Unpredictable Rhythms: No week is the same. That variability makes it tough to plan or rest well.Blurry Boundaries: Ministry and personal life often overlap. It’s hard to know when you’re off the clock.Discouragement with a Lack of Progress: Declining attendance, rising expectations, and fewer volunteers can create a heavy sense of futility.

A Path Toward Fulfillment

The good news? You can reverse burnout and rediscover fulfillment. Church leaders who are overcoming burnout aren’t just hoping things get better—they’re making practical changes in every area of life and leadership. Here’s how you can begin restoring your energy and finding fulfillment again.

Physical: Prioritize sleep, movement, and mental wellness. Your body is not a machine. Treat it with care. Hit pause. Margin matters. Schedule breaks into your calendar—and don’t cancel them when things get busy.Relational: Surround yourself with encouragers. Spend more time with people who uplift you and less with chronic critics.Spiritual: Change up your prayer rhythm. Journal your prayers. Pray in nature. Read Scripture out loud. These small shifts can reignite connection.Mental: Reduce decision fatigue. Delegate more. Micromanaging drains energy and undermines effectiveness.Tactical: Set smaller goals over shorter timelines. Think in six-month bursts. Progress—even in small doses—builds momentum.Educational: Learn something unrelated to ministry. Curiosity refreshes the mind. Let yourself enjoy learning again, whether it’s baseball stats or historical biographies.Instructional: Get a coach. Ongoing coaching gives you space to vent, gain perspective, and receive honest outside input.

You don’t have to stay stuck in fatigue. And you don’t have to figure it out alone. Countless leaders are rediscovering the joy of ministry through healthier rhythms, intentional boundaries, and proactive support. Fulfillment is possible again.

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