Why Ministries Get Stuck: Refusing to Embrace Change

Often, churches and ministries get stuck because they resist necessary changes. Here’s a powerful truth: making changes while things are going well prevents the need for crisis-driven changes later. If you’re praying in the Holy Spirit, He’ll reveal adjustments before the need becomes urgent.

When you face stagnant periods, it’s essential to evaluate what isn’t producing fruit in your ministry. Jesus teaches in John 15 that anything not producing should be cut off, but many churches avoid this principle. Change is the vehicle to the next level, and God desires us to move from glory to glory.

Steps to Break Free from Stagnation:

1. Identify Areas That Aren’t Growing Pastors, leaders, and ministry heads need to examine areas that haven’t been fruitful. If an area in your church hasn’t produced fruit for several months, it’s time to assess why. It might not be the ministry itself that’s failing, but rather the leadership overseeing it.

2. Replace or Shift Roles When Necessary Sometimes, a ministry’s stagnation stems from a leader who has reached their capacity in that role. This doesn’t mean they’ve failed; it simply may be time for a change. Adjust their role rather than letting them go. Transitioning leaders to roles where they can thrive can reinvigorate your ministry.

3. Make Strategic and Spirit-Led Changes While it’s tempting to listen solely to the advice of a team, as a leader, you need to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit. Some changes may not make sense immediately, but when they’re Spirit-led, they yield great results. Embrace change proactively to keep your church or ministry on the path of growth.

4. Reimagine Your Environment Familiarity can lead to complacency. Rearranging your sanctuary, repainting, or adjusting seating can bring a fresh dynamic to your church. Change the flow of your service, allowing more room for the Holy Spirit to move. In some cases, it’s beneficial to switch up worship arrangements or even update signage to keep the environment engaging.

5. Communicate the ‘Why’ Behind Changes Anytime changes are made, especially significant ones, explaining the “why” is essential. People resist change when they don’t understand the purpose. Show how the adjustments will expand the reach of the ministry, bring in new people, or improve service to existing members.

Practical Example: Overcoming Ministry Roadblocks One of our daycare ministries once faced a steep decline, dropping from 60 children to under 20. Though the team suggested shutting it down, we felt led to replace the leader instead. This simple change caused the daycare to flourish, growing to be the largest in our city. Often, it’s not the ministry that’s failing but the structure or leadership that needs an adjustment.

Embrace Change for Sustainable Growth Breaking through barriers in ministry requires a balance of faith, wisdom, and Spirit-led discernment. Churches can get stuck for decades, not due to a lack of calling, but because of an unwillingness to make necessary adjustments. Moving with God’s guidance brings sustainable growth, allowing your ministry to reach new heights.

Watch the Full Teaching This blog is a glimpse into the transformative teaching on ministry growth and change. For a full understanding of these principles and more examples, watch the video “Help! My Church is Stuck – Proven Steps to Break Through Barriers!” on YouTube.

If your church or ministry feels stagnant, remember: the Holy Spirit knows how to grow your church specifically. Embrace change, rely on His guidance, and take faith-filled steps toward the next level.