“I don’t care what you change, just change something!”
One of my district leaders gave this sage advice whenever a church found itself in plateau or decline. The point was to stop the insanity of doing the same things over and over again, expecting different results. It was also an admonishment to be more innovative and creative in ministry.
It’s easy to get stuck in a rut.
For most pastors and church leaders, innovation can feel daunting, especially with sermons to prepare, people to counsel, disciples to make, conflicts to resolve, and dozens of other weekly responsibilities. Perhaps the disciples felt the same way as they were trudging through Samaria. Jesus stopped them and said, “Open your eyes and look! The fields are ripe unto harvest” (John 4:35). They needed a fresh perspective.
Maybe you also need a fresh perspective, a pause from the daily grind of ministry to open your eyes, lift your head, and consider what God might be doing. Opportunities are all around. To that end, I want to share five areas of opportunity that can lead to innovation. These five areas can unlock ministry imagination and offer a new way to engage your congregation or community.
1. Unexpected Opportunities
The most straightforward and accessible source of innovation is often the unexpected. It could be a surprising success, failure, or opportunity – anything that catches you off guard. I’ll never forget an outreach event we launched when I was planting our first church. It was a gimmicky idea to discount Hawaiian Falls waterpark tickets for anyone who attended our worship services and joined us for an after-party at the waterpark. We averaged a couple hundred people in weekend worship at the time, and our team figured we might see a slight bump in attendance. Instead, nearly 700 people showed up for our worship services!
This unexpected occurrence triggered a more extended conversation at our staff meeting that week that ended with an innovative partnership with the Parks and Recreation Department to coordinate and plan many of their community events. When something unexpected happens, take time to reflect. Ask your team, “What surprised us this week?” and consider how God might reveal a new direction.
2. Resolving Gaps
Instead of an unexpected outcome, this second opportunity occurs when something seems “off,” and there is a disconnect between expectations and reality. These gaps can create fertile ground for innovation. Here are a few examples of addressing incongruities in ministry:
- A church notices that while attendance is growing, volunteer engagement is declining. By asking why, they discover that many younger members prefer short-term commitments. In response, they create a flexible “Serve Once” program, allowing people to sign up for single-day projects.
- A rural church with a large senior population realizes that many members struggle with transportation. To address this, the church partners with a local rideshare company and volunteers to create a “Ride to Worship” program.
- A church plant aimed at young professionals finds that its target audience doesn’t attend worship services but is highly active during weekday coffee shop events. Therefore, the church pivots to prioritize midweek gatherings and digital content.
As you lead your team, ask, “What feels out of sync in our ministry?” or “What problem have we not solved?” These misalignments can reveal paths for growth and impact and often can spark an innovative conversation.
3. Shifting Demographics
Demographic changes – both nationally and locally – present significant opportunities for innovation. Our nation is aging (the youngest baby boomer is now 60), becoming more diverse, migrating from north to south and east to west, having fewer children, and becoming increasingly polarized and isolated. No doubt your local community has experienced many shifts in demographics as well. How might these changes result in more effective ministry?
- A suburban church observes an influx of immigrant families in its community. To build bridges, it launches ESL (English as a Second Language) classes and hosts multicultural worship nights.
- A church in a college town notices a rise in remote workers relocating to the area. To accommodate them, it creates co-working spaces during the week and offers “Faith and Work” seminars tailored to professionals.
- A downtown church facing gentrification is seeing an increase in young families. To address this, the church has adapted its children’s ministry to include parenting workshops and community playdates.
Understanding your community is key. What are the trends? Who is moving into the community? Who is moving out? By staying attuned to these changes, churches can remain relevant and effective and find new ways to innovate.
4. Reframing Perceptions
Perception matters. Changing how people see a problem or opportunity can open doors to innovation. In the same way, understanding societal biases and perceptions is essential. There was a time when most Americans had a positive view of the church. Today, a popular Barna study revealed that only 21% of non-Christians share that same optimism and another study revealed that over 50% of non-Christians don’t trust local pastors. Here are a few other examples of reframing perceptions:
- A church in a declining neighborhood shifts its narrative from survival to mission. Instead of lamenting population loss, it embraces its role as a “lighthouse” for the remaining residents and focuses on outreach programs to reframe their perception.
- A congregation grapples with declining trust in institutions, including the church. To rebuild trust, it creates transparent financial reports, hosts town hall meetings, and engages in visible acts of community service.
- A pastor notices that his members view evangelism as intimidating. He decides to reframe the issue as “sharing your story” instead of “persuading others,” participation in outreach initiatives doubles.
Reframing perceptions often involves a new perspective on old challenges. I remember a season of ministry when our congregation lamented the rise of drug addiction in our neighborhood and advocated for relocating our church. Instead, we reframed that challenge as an opportunity and started a recovery ministry. To unlock new possibilities, we continually asked, “How might we view this differently?”
5. Gaining New Knowledge
Finally, a fifth area for unlocking ministry innovation is leveraging new knowledge of an issue. Our world is experiencing incredible shifts, and there are regular breakthroughs in science and technology. Churches can use these advancements to enhance their ministry. Here are a few examples:
- After learning about new advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), a church was inspired to create an AI-driven prayer app that connects members with personalized daily prayers and scripture readings.
- New research on mental health and spirituality leads a church to partner with local counselors and offer faith-based support groups for anxiety and depression.
- A church decides to use virtual reality (VR) technology to provide an immersive discipleship experience. This allows members to “walk through” biblical locations and the worship experience.
Staying informed about new developments in various fields can spark innovative ideas. This knowledge can also include a greater understanding of cultures, industries, ethnic groups, psychology, or other areas. Encourage your team to explore how this new knowledge might impact your ministry.
“I don’t care what you change. Just change something!”
I still smile when I picture the exasperated look on my district leader’s face. He meant well. His statement was intended to jolt pastors into action. But prioritizing change is easier said than done. The five points in this article provide a place to start. By looking at unexpected opportunities, resolving gaps in ministry, addressing shifting demographics, reframing perceptions, and gaining new knowledge, you can start down the road of meaningful change and innovation. A few other suggestions:
- Keep it simple. The best innovations are clear and focused. They solve a specific problem or meet a specific need.
- Start small. Test new ideas on a small scale before expanding. Many successful innovations began as pilot projects.
- Find leaders. Most innovative change requires someone to lead the effort and set a new standard of excellence.
- Commit to the work. Innovation requires diligence, persistence, and focus. Talent and knowledge are valuable but no substitute for hard work.
Jesus asked his disciples to “open their eyes,” and I pray that your eyes might also be opened to new ministry innovation.
