Revitalize and Replant Some Reasons Why It's Harder for the Church Today
Jun 12, 2025
Mark Clifton and Dan Hurst delve into the hurdles churches face today, emphasizing a shift from maintenance to outreach. They share humorous anecdotes from the early days of church planting, revealing the struggles of revitalizing older congregations. The discussion highlights the rise of newer churches and the need for strategic planning to foster genuine growth. They also tackle the complexities of balancing pastoral care with congregational engagement, encouraging authenticity in outreach amidst a challenging cultural landscape.
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Church Maintenance Over Outreach
- Over 93% of typical church work focuses on maintaining itself rather than outreach.
- This maintaining mindset leads to fear of the world and stifles growth and impact.
Growth Comes From New Churches
- More than 80% of denominational growth comes from churches planted within the last 15 years.
- Older churches tend to decline while newer church plants bear the weight of evangelism and growth.
Life Groups Reach New Communities
- Dan Hurst shared about starting Life Groups to reach gated and homogeneous communities overlooked by churches.
- The groups quickly grew especially with young people, illustrating the potential in focused outreach.