March 2, 2025
One of the great dangers of the modern church is that we have come to rely on our thinking, strength, wit, and skill and believe we can strategize, market, and promote our way out of the place in which we and our churches find ourselves.
August 22, 2019
By Barney Wells “In this part of the country, there’s a Christian church every five miles, and three in between,” quipped the minister, who had served small-town congregations in the Midwest for decades. Though an overstatement, it does point to a challenge for the rural church. Many rural churches were planted in the days before automobiles and good roads, when the population density of the rural countryside was much greater and you could travel only a few miles in 30 minutes. Back then, more schools, stores, and churches were needed. Over the years, schools have consolidated and stores have closed,
August 22, 2019
Why do many small and rural churches struggle to find and retain leaders and even to survive? More importantly, what are some solutions? Christian Standard asked Jerran Jackson to lead and manage a project to study these issues. He teamed with four other seasoned leaders who have expertise in the small church to develop this topic. _ _ _ By Jerran Jackson and Barney Wells Many rural and small-town churches are struggling. LifeWay Research found that 60 percent of Protestant churches are plateaued or declining in attendance. And 46 percent say their giving decreased or stayed the same from 2017
November 7, 2011
Mark A. Taylor considers signs of declining church influence and asks what religious apathy, struggling congregations, and weakening spiritual vitality reveal about the state of the church in America.
June 1, 2008
John Derry urges churches facing stagnation to seek faithful catalysts for renewal, adapt wisely to changing conditions, and pursue growth without compromising their mission.
July 29, 2007
When a struggling church finally sought a consultant’s help, it was too late to recover. Closing the doors brought peace—and sparked a new calling to help other churches seek help sooner.
Sponsored
Sponsored
Sponsored
Learn how to turn the sermons you’re already preaching into searchable, shareable content that helps people discover and connect with your local church. Access Be Seen, Be Heard on demand with Wes Woodell and Trey Sheneman. A two hour course for preachers, church media and website teams, and anyone who wants to help their church reach more people online.
October 6, 2026
Rick Cherok
October 6, 2026
Landon Shuman
October 6, 2026
Doug Redford