Living – TORVINKRELLA

Guinness and Churchill: Lessons for Leaders in a Post-Christian World

I’ve been reading a fascinating book called The Search for God in Guinness—A Biography of the Beer That Changed The World. What caught my attention was learning that the founders were believers who, for generations, made a real difference in their culture. They pulled people out of poverty, made sure communities were well-nourished, and tackled social problems head-on.

It got me thinking about how we evangelicals have sometimes backed away from this kind of cultural engagement. I’m not suggesting we swap the gospel for social action. But we live in a pretty screwed-up world, and we need to think seriously about adapting to change rather than just fighting it.

The Staggering Pace of Change

The book mentioned Winston Churchill and the incredible amount of change he witnessed in his lifetime. Think about this: Churchill was born in 1874, when Ulysses Grant was president of the United States, fresh off his Civil War victory. Karl Marx sat in the British Library writing what would become the Communist Manifesto. Mark Twain worked on Mississippi riverboats, having not written a single book. The telegraph was hot technology—it had been around for about twenty years but was just becoming useful.

Radio, television, telephones, and certainly the internet weren’t on anybody’s radar. In 1874, four Ivy League colleges got together and drew up the rules for something they were going to call “football.” No NFL back then.

When Churchill died just ninety years later—and ninety years really isn’t that long (I’m almost 80)—men had orbited the earth, walked in space, and sent probes to Venus. Nuclear power had moved from the bomb to power plants. A car had driven over 600 miles per hour on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Large businesses had something called “computers” on their premises. And a guy named Donald Trump was in high school.

The Queen of England had just awarded the Beatles the Order of the British Empire—the same honor she’d given Churchill twenty-five years earlier for being the single most pronounced voice against Hitler, keeping the world from falling under Nazi domination. The world had changed!

Living as Sojourners

What are we to make of all this? We live in a post-Christian era, and a lot of us are struggling with it.

Some folks think recent political changes are going to turn everything around. Good things may be happening—but politics won’t win the cultural wars. Lasting change only happens through spiritual transformation.

I keep going back to the book of Jeremiah, written to exiles living in another land for better understanding. We’re living in a different land than the one I was born in. Same geography, different culture. Those exiles were told to build, plant crops, and seek the welfare of their communities. They were promised that as they blessed the people around them, they too would be blessed.

Here’s my simple proposition: Let’s embrace our role as sojourners. Let’s not fight against it. It is what it is. We must learn how to behave in it in a way that could potentially bring about another Jesus revolution in America.

Adapting Without Compromising

A lot of people today are fearful—of artificial intelligence, of medical advances, and cultural shifts. These are polarizing and often confusing.

The Guinness family understood this. For centuries, they never retreated from culture; they engaged it. They understood that being believers meant being agents of positive change in their world.

The question isn’t whether change is coming, it’s already here. The question is whether we’ll respond with fear and retreat, or with wisdom and engagement. Churchill faced unthinkable changes in his ninety years, but he adapted and made a difference.

So can we.

This appeared as the first in a series of short talks on my YouTube channel. Please join me there for the rest of it… https://www.youtube.com/@RalphMooreHopeChapel

Ralph Moore is the Founding Pastor of three churches which grew into the Hope Chapel ‘movement’ now numbering more than 2,300 churches, worldwide. These are the offspring of the 70+ congregations launched from Ralph’s hands-on disciplemaking efforts.

He travels the globe, teaching church multiplication to pastors in startup movements. He’s authored several books, including Let Go Of the Ring: The Hope Chapel Story, Making Disciples, How to Multiply Your Church, Starting a New Church, and Defeating Anxiety.

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5 Ways Pastors Can Avoid Losing Their Way

At some point, you have likely sung the words, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love…”[1] Though the soothing melody softens the blow, it’s a frighteningly true statement for Christ-followers—especially those in leadership.

In fact, one study of Christian leaders found that only 1 in 3 finish well.[2]

Aware of our own propensity to wander, we researched what causes leaders to lose their way. Although strong currents pull us away from a faithful finish, we identified five essential practices of leaders who remain steadfast and mission true for a lifetime.

Acknowledge your propensity to wander.

Leaders who think they aren’t vulnerable to losing their way won’t be aware of the subtle but significant impact of small compromises. When they hear of others’ falls or drift, they might think “How could they let that happen?” rather than, “How can I make sure the same doesn’t happen to me?”

Humble introspection is required to ask where, not if, we, too, are slowly drifting.

Focus on who you are, not what you do.

Henri Nouwen wrote that we inhabit “a world constantly trying to convince us that the burden is on us to prove that we are worthy of being loved.”[3] In our quest to earn what God says we inherently possess, we too often run roughshod over relationships, failing to love God and others well. Our first effort must be to reframe our way of thinking, to recognize that entirely apart from our achievements, aspirations, and machinations, we are the beloved of God, who absolutely delights in his children.

Slow down.

When the life of a leader is rushed, it’s hard to see when and where we’ve gotten off course. We become so preoccupied with doing that we fail to pause and ask if the things we’re doing are aligned with our mission. Speed limits our vision, depriving us of the ability to see beyond the immediate future and beyond ourselves to those around us.

Avoiding drift requires a change of pace: a time and place to regularly pause, consider, and take stock. We won’t know that we’re veering off course unless we slow down enough to look up and check our location.

Pray and obey.

Pastors who finish well prioritize prayer—not as a last resort, but as a non-negotiable first priority. Prayer is an essential guardrail that recenters us and reminds us who we are and who God is. Amid the immense pressures of pastoral leadership, mission true pastors pray and remember, “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Acts 5:29).

Keep others close.

On a safari tour in Akagera National Park, Rwanda, our guide pointed to a lone gazelle grazing and asked, “Do you know what that is called?”

“Gazelle!” someone helpfully offered.

“Dinner,” he replied.

1 Peter 5:8 warns that our enemy “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” And isolation makes us vulnerable. Leaders who drift often do so quietly, without notice, because they lack close relationships with others willing to ask hard questions or offer correction.

We need more than companions; we need friends who know us deeply and will speak the truth for the sake of our souls.

Who knows you fully? The Johari Window, developed by psychologists Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham, helps us see that we all have a “hidden area”—known to ourselves but undisclosed to others. Any growth in this area is a warning sign to pause, ask difficult questions, and invite trusted friends into the conversation.

If you’re ready to take practical steps toward finishing well, we’ve created a set of free tools to help you reflect, recalibrate, and refresh your leadership journey. Access the free resources at howleaderslosetheirway.com—and press on toward a faithful finish.

[1] Robert Robinson, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” 1758, https://hymnary.org

/text/come_thou_fount_of_every_blessing.

[2] J. Robert Clinton, “Listen Up Leaders!” (Barnabas Publishers, 1989), 7, https://

clintonleadership.com/resources/complimentary/ListenUpLeaders.pdf. Not all the

leaders Clinton identified were described in enough detail to be evaluated, but of

those who were, only about 30 percent finished well by Clinton’s definition. Although

Clinton conducted his research decades ago, there’s no reason to believe that what

has been true for millennia has changed in recent years.

[3] Henri J. M. Nouwen, Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World (New

York: Crossroad, 1992), 129.

Peter Greer and Jill Heisey are co-authors of How Leaders Lose Their Way, available September 16 from IVP.

Peter Greer is president and CEO of HOPE International, a global nonprofit working to alleviate physical and spiritual poverty in 29 countries around the world. Peter’s favorite part of his role is spending time with the remarkable entrepreneurs HOPE serves. A graduate of Harvard’s Kennedy School, Peter has co-authored over 15 books, including Lead with Prayer, Mission Drift, Rooting for Rivals, and How Leaders Lose Their Way. While his sports loyalties remain in New England, he lives with his wife, Laurel, and their four children in Lancaster, PA.

Jill Heisey is a writer who is passionate about helping leaders and nonprofits share their stories. She has collaborated on the books Lead with Prayer, Rooting for Rivals, and The Gift of Disillusionment; written the children’s book Keza Paints a Bright Future; and authored articles featured on Christianity Today’s Better Samaritan blog. Jill graduated from Messiah University with degrees in politics and Spanish and resides outside Washington, DC, with her husband, Bryan, and their two daughters.

The post 5 Ways Pastors Can Avoid Losing Their Way appeared first on Newbreed Training.

God as a Tragic Redeemer

C.S. Lewis once described God as a “tragic redeemer.” By this he meant that God takes even the worst tragedies of human life and turns them toward redemption. He works good out of what was meant for harm. The cross itself is the ultimate example: humanity’s rejection of Jesus became the very means of salvation for the world.

That same principle is at work in our world today. Evil does not have the final word. But if we are honest, evil is everywhere, and it often feels overwhelming.

Evil Is Always Spiritual

When we look at headlines filled with corruption, violence, and hatred, it’s easy to think these are merely political or cultural problems. But Scripture reminds us that the root is deeper. Ephesians 6:12 says: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

That means every form of evil—whether personal, social, or political—is ultimately spiritual. Laws and policies may restrain evil, but they cannot cure it. Only a spiritual awakening can truly transform hearts and, through changed hearts, change a nation.

Political Violence and Hatred

This spotlights political violence as evil. It doesn’t matter which side it comes from—left or right—it is still an expression of darkness. The same is true of hatred. When we give in to hatred, we allow evil to reproduce itself in us.

God’s people are called to something different. The apostle Paul urged us to “put on the full armor of God” so that we can stand against evil (without becoming part of it). Our weapons are truth, righteousness, faith, prayer, and the Word of God—not violence or venom.

Learning to Rest in the Lord

Psalm 37 gives us a posture for living in an age of conflict. It opens with the words: “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of those who do wrong; for they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.”

This whole chapter is a powerful encouragement when we are tempted to despair. It reminds us not to be consumed with fear or envy. Instead, we are called to commit our way to the Lord, trust Him, and wait patiently. The Psalmist assures us that the wicked will not prosper forever and that God will uphold the righteous. It is this Psalm that brought me into real relationship with Jesus as an adolescent.

Apparently written while David was on the run from Saul, his words stand in stark contrast to the fever pitch of today’s politics. While anger and fear drive people to extremes, the people of God are called to quiet trust, consistent goodness, and hope in God’s justice.

Youth and Renewal

There is a new surge of conservative politics among young people. On many fronts, this is encouraging—it shows a hunger for meaning, stability, and truth. But politics alone is not enough. A resurgence of Christianity is what we desperately need.

If this generation only recovers conservative ideas but misses Christ, the deeper sickness remains untouched. But if young people turn to Jesus, we may see not only cultural renewal but spiritual revival—a work of God that brings lasting change.

The Call to Stand

God is still a tragic redeemer. He is still bringing good out of evil, light out of darkness, and hope out of despair. But He calls His people to stand—not in hatred or violence—but clothed in His armor, confident in His promises, and resting in His justice.

It is actually a call to intercession. After eight decades I’ve still not figured out why prayer works or why it is necessary if God knows our needs before we ask. But it does change the world. God does answer. We must learn to intercede, not just for those in authority but for a rising generation spoon-fed dark lies about our nation and its founders and a “science” intended to bury God. Our hope is in Jesus in young people as it is always a rising generation that foments spiritual awakening.

It’s happened five times in the history of our nation. The culture was on the brink of ruin when Jesus came to the rescue. Let’s call for a sixth awakening.

The turning point for our nation will not come through elections or rallies. It will come through prayer, repentance, and awakening. It will come when we trust the words of Psalm 37 and live as people who know that God redeems even in tragedy.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

** Catch this on YouTube @ralphmoorehopechapel

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Radical Advice: How Not to Destroy an Acts 8 Moment

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44, NIV).

Jesus’ words confront our natural instincts when faced with hostility, persecution, and violence. The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk forces us to wrestle with this teaching in personal and practical ways.

What compounds this tragedy is how some celebrated Kirk’s death—reactions that reveal exactly why Jesus’ command to love our enemies remains both urgent and necessary.

The story of Stephen’s martyrdom in Acts 8 offers biblical insight into this modern tragedy. Stephen was among the first Christian martyrs, stoned to death for his faith. His death at first glance appears as a devastating defeat for the early church. Instead, it sparked unprecedented gospel expansion. The church grew stronger and more widespread because believers chose faith and resilience over retaliation.

This demonstrates a critical spiritual principle: the killing of a single individual can galvanize others. Kirk’s assassination, particularly when coupled with public celebrations of his death, creates exactly this dynamic. While his friends grieve, his attackers unwittingly canonize Charlie—doing the very thing they despise. Martyrs inspire deeper devotion and stronger commitment. They unite communities rather than dividing them.

When believers respond to mockers and opponents with anger, they fracture the foundations they seek to protect. Jesus’ demands that we respond in love. Not too ironically, that is what Charlie did for most of his adult life.

True faith reveals itself in times of conflict and testing. To pray for those who persecute us means acknowledging humanity and redemptive possibility in our enemies (think Saul of Tarsus). This reflects God’s own patience and mercy—his desire for restoration rather than destruction.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk challenges every believer to live out their faith with both humility and courage. We must resist the urge to respond with anger which only deepens divisions.

Loving our enemies doesn’t mean ignoring justice or condoning wrongdoing. It means approaching even the darkest moments while pressing for peace and transformation rather than vengeance. When the church responds this way, it is light to the world, a beacon of hope in a polarized nation.

It is the surest path to honoring the memory of those like Stephen or Kirk and furthering the gospel of the kingdom.

For more on this catch a video ag https://youtu.be/8CxlpRdfScY

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You are a Cog in the Machine

This article originally appeared on Dave Blok’s Substack. Adapted with permission.

“I feel like a cog in a machine.”

That’s what I blurted out in my very first ministry position out of college. I was 22, the energetic and overly dramatic middle school youth director, confessing my angst to the Senior Pastor.

His reply? “Well, that’s what ministry is. You are a cog in the machine.”

That answer didn’t sit right with me then, and it still doesn’t now.

Over time I realized what I was bumping up against: I didn’t fit the box they were trying to put me in. Ministry isn’t one-size-fits-all. God builds some leaders to manage and sustain the institution—to do the same faithful work over and over again. Those leaders matter. We need them.

But there are also leaders God designs for the edges—for the frontier. They don’t fit neatly inside the box. They are starters, explorers, experimenters. Trying to contain them doesn’t work because they were built to move.

In those early days, I didn’t want to become a pastor because I assumed that meant squeezing into the wrong box. What I didn’t realize yet was that my calling was real—it just looked different. Later I came to see that part of my role is to help the next wave of leaders imagine a bigger vision for how God can use them – so they don’t have to wait to figure it out on their own.

A Movement, Not Just an Institution

The Church was never meant to be a rigid system. At its best, it’s a movement with institutions—dynamic and Spirit-led.

Paul paints this picture in Ephesians 4:

“And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.”

The Body of Christ needs multiple nutrients to grow into the fullness of Jesus. It takes teachers who guide us into truth, prophetic leaders who call us back to faithfulness, evangelists who carry the message outward, apostolic leaders who mobilize and pioneer, and shepherds who care deeply for people.

Imagine a superhero team where every member has the exact same power. Four different people—but all of them just stretch like Mister Fantastic. That’s not much of a team.

The Church is stronger when we live into our God-given diversity of callings.

Discovering Your Place in the Movement

I once told a friend, “Maybe you should be a pastor.” He quickly shot back, “Absolutely not.”

But when I asked what he felt called to, he said, “I want to reach people in my sphere and shepherd them.”

Now—he may never stand on a stage and preach a sermon. But does that sound like a shepherd’s heart? Absolutely. The problem isn’t that he lacked a calling. The problem was that he thought “pastor” only meant fitting into a box we’ve created, so he sat on the sidelines.

That’s why we started a rising leaders cohort at the ministry I lead called Plant 616—to help people discover their place in God’s movement.

We believe there are restless disciples in every church—faithful volunteers who feel there’s something more they were made to do. That “something more” often can’t be contained in a program. It usually looks like a burden for the unreached, a gap that needs filling, or a deeply relational calling.

And those callings are as diverse as the people themselves:

“I’m called to reach the people in my sphere and shepherd them.”
“I’m called to be a servant.”
“I’m called to start something new and fill this gap.”
“I’m called to listen to people’s pain and to love them.”

When people articulate their unique calling, it doesn’t usually begin with a bang. It begins with a small, faithful step. A spark of imagination. The courage to move.

A Farm Team for the Future

At Plant 616, we want to grow a farm team of rising leaders. Not leaders who have to wait until they fit the box of someone on a stage—but leaders who are ready to take their next adventurous step into the movement Jesus started.

Don’t wait til you fit into the box.

God made you for something.

Do that.

The third round of Plant 616’s Rising Leaders Cohort begins October 2025. More details here

David Blok helped found and is now the Executive Director of a ministry called Plant 616. His ministry journey has been driven by 3 burdens: a love for the city, a passion for church planting, and a fascination with movements. This has led him through 20 years of urban ministry experience, pastoring and church planting in an urban neighborhood in greater Grand Rapids.

David received his Master of Divinity degree in 2010 from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary with an emphasis on Church planting. He is a certified dean of the Evangel School of Urban Church Planting, a Send Network church planter trainer, and a church planting coach. David has been married to his lovely wife, Amanda, for almost 16 years. Together they have embarked on a journey of neighborhood ministry, foster care and adoption. As a result, they are the proud parents of Anthony, Melvin, and Elliana.

Through his work with Plant 616, David is excited to connect with and encourage mission minded leaders in the 616 area code, equip the next wave of missional adventurers, and catalyze a movement of missionary disciples in every crack and crevice of the 616 area code.

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Struggling with Awe for Jesus While Knowing He’s My Friend

I don’t know about you, but I struggle sometimes with praying to Jesus. He’s my friend but also commands awe and deserves deep reverence.

I think we’ve humanized Jesus so much that my prayer life is becoming difficult. Jesus himself said we should ask things of the Father in his name, and that’s stuck with me. But I sense a tendency in myself to focus on Jesus’ humanity more than his divinity.

I came to the Lord as a kid, accepting Jesus at age five—I understood the gospel and it stuck. But around age 14, I met the Lord on a deeper level in the Psalms (that’s a story for another time). By 16 or 17, I got serious about obeying him. But I’ve always prayed to the God of the Old Testament, the big, awe-inspiring God who commands his universe.

In my prayer struggle, I’ve been thinking about the Athanasian Creed, which C.S. Lewis quoted in a few of his writings: “not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of the Manhood into God.”

This comes from a creed used in Western Christianity that explains the Incarnation, how Jesus is both fully divine and fully human. That phrase means the divine nature of Christ didn’t turn into human flesh; instead, God the Son took on human nature, joining it with his divinity.

In Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer, a fictional book where Lewis debates theology through fake letters to a guy named Malcolm who doesn’t exist, he says, “In the Incarnation, God the Son takes the body and human soul of Jesus and through that, the whole environment of nature, all the creaturely predicament into his own being.” To me, this means God the Son, the power behind the universe, the Word from John 1:1–4, invaded an egg in Mary’s body, subsuming that bit of humanity into his awesome divine nature.

I remember one day in chapel at Azusa Pacific College when the dean prayed to “Jesus.” Calling him by his first name felt good, close and healthy. It feels like we’ve gone too far. When I go to church, though, I hear people tossing around Jesus’ name casually, like he’s their buddy and not their lord. Some of the songs we sing feel watered down. I may prefer rock music in church but I want the lyrics to challenge me toward higher ground.

Lewis said something else that hit me. He talked about the “dark side” of Christianity, how you can’t have the light side—comfort and grace—without it. It’s like furniture: it’s cozy, but you’ll stub your toe if you’re not careful. God is awesome, even angry when we’re disobedient, and that demands surrender.

Paul says in Philippians 4:5–6, “The Lord is near, therefore don’t worry about anything,” and we can pray about everything because of Christ. But Jesus, who is near, isn’t just a friend; he’s God the Son, the Creator of the universe, the one prophesied in the Old Testament as the second Person of the Trinity.

I think we need to “re-christen” Jesus in our lives—not literally, but by remembering his awe-inspiring power. The Lord Jesus, the Christ. If we pray to a God, who deserves reverence and obedience, it makes it easier to trust, and to rest in him.

I’ll probably keep groping for that balance between Jesus’ closeness and his divine majesty but today the Athanasian Creed shined a little light on my path.

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If You Ain’t Writing You Ain’t Lasting

“If you ain’t reading, you ain’t leading.” Those were the wise words of Roy Hicks Jr., a friend I considered an older brother.

Just two years older than me, Roy led a youth group before I did, planted a church before I did, and pioneered church multiplication before I did. He always forged the path ahead. So, when he hit me with that statement, I paid attention. I’d gotten so caught up planting our first church that I’d nearly stopped reading, except for church growth books.

Roy sharpened his advice by urging me to dive into history and biography to build my character and leadership skills, rather than getting stuck on church growth material. His guidance molded me into the leader I am today.

I’d add to that: “If you ain’t writing, you ain’t lasting.”

If you’re not writing, you’re not building a legacy. You’re not leaving much for people you have yet to meet and some who might read your stuff after you move to heaven. A book is a time machine, letting you embed your ideas in a simple format that someone, decades later, can open and discover. For instance, I’ve often borrowed a book from a friend’s shelf, drawn in by just the title on the spine. In many cases, a long-deceased pastor or Christian leader sparked a new direction in my life. Those authors lasted. They built a legacy that enriched me profoundly.

I often challenge younger pastors about writing books, only to hear, “My church is too small to matter, and no one would care about my words.” I point them to my book, Let Go of the Ring. It’s vital because it captures not just what we did but why we did it.

We used it to screen and train new members. They’d read the book and quickly decide if they wanted to join us or move on, saving time for everyone. It also helped tackle potential conflict by embedding our core values and policies, giving us a clear reference to accept or reject new ministry ideas.

The book proved invaluable. It started as a history of Hope Chapel Hermosa Beach for the congregation when I left to plant in Hawaii. It resonated with people in Hawaii who were curious about our history. Later, Carl George pitched it as a church growth book, and we began publishing it for a broader audience.

To the pastor who says, “My church is too small for that,” I’d say, “Count the people in your church now, project reasonable growth, and multiply that number by 10 or 15.” That’s the potential reach of your book if you include your personal story, your church’s vision, core values, priorities, and how you do ministry. Your book will impact far more people than those currently in your seats.

Publishing a book used to be costly. We started with an expensive U.S. publisher, then shifted to a company in China. But Kindle Direct Publishing (formerly CreateSpace for paperbacks) changed everything. I updated Let Go of the Ring at no cost to our church or myself, aside from a cover photo I purchased. Amazon even helps promote it online. This is a powerful opportunity to create something that benefits your church and serves as your calling card. For example, I haven’t been a pastor for seven years, but I still share the book with people curious about our church-planting journey or with new friends I meet.

Last Sunday, I met a couple at church when I noticed the man wearing a Hawaii T-shirt. I introduced myself, and we quickly found common roots. I grabbed a copy of Let Go of the Ring from my car. His wife was thrilled, immediately flipping through the pictures (pictures pull readers into your words). We made new friends, and we’re having lunch next week.

If this sparks your interest, I’ve written two books you might find helpful. You Could Write for Amazon is a short guide on how to capture your ideas in a time capsule—not just for your church or future members but perhaps for someone who’ll read it long after you’re in heaven. The second, Your Book as Your Business Card, expands on what I’ve shared here.

You might feel a disappointed having read this blog expecting insights on church multiplication or discipleship. But this is about making disciples and multiplying churches. If it’s in your heart, it needs to be on paper. People trust what’s printed more than what’s on YouTube or preached from a pulpit.

As I write, I’m wrapping up a book for Exponential, crafting another for NewBreed, and modifying old Ephesians Bible talks for YouTube. I’m 79-years-old, a so-called retiree, still dedicating two days a week to sharing what God has given me. This habit started when I realized the power of reaching people I’ll never meet through the written word.

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Funding Your Church Plant: Why Your Financial Model Matters

Discover why choosing the right financial model is crucial for church planting. This article explores how a missionary support model, focused on long-term sustainability and reaching the unchurched can better align with your church’s mission and growth.

Planting a church is a spiritual endeavor, but it’s also an economic one. The financial model you choose will not only shape the church’s sustainability but also influence its mission and culture.

Many church planters set out with a heart for reaching the lost, but their funding strategy often prioritizes short-term survival over long-term mission. If your model assumes that your church will quickly become self-sustaining through tithes, you may unintentionally focus on reaching already-churched Christians rather than those far from God. Instead, we advocate for a missionary model of fundraising—one that better aligns with the missional nature of church planting.

The Impact of Your Funding Model

Your church’s economic system is more than just a financial tool—it’s a culture-shaping force. The model you choose will guide the trajectory of your church, often in ways you don’t fully anticipate.

For example, at Reliant, we’ve worked with church plants on secular college campuses—places where a traditional tithe-based model simply doesn’t work. Churches that embraced missionary funding have thrived, while those relying solely on tithes have often shifted into more traditional off-campus community churches, sometimes losing their original missional focus.

Missionary Church Planting vs. Traditional Church Models

Traditionally, churches operate on a tithe-based model, where funding primarily comes from members’ regular giving. This works well when your congregation consists of established believers who practice biblical giving. However, for missional churches focused on reaching those far from faith, this model is less viable.

Missionaries understand that the communities they serve will often not be able to fully support them financially for a long time—if ever. If church planters adopt this missionary mindset, they might realistically expect it to take 7 to 10 years (or more) to develop a self-sustaining local tithe. This approach is in line with a vision for long-term discipleship and transformation in communities with few believers.

Evaluating Church Planting Funding Models & Strategies

There are three primary approaches to church planting finances:

Denominational or Large Church Support

Some church plants receive significant backing from a denomination or large church. While this is helpful, it’s not a multiplication strategy—it’s an addition strategy. Denominations and large churches typically expect plants to become self-sustaining, and this model is unlikely to fuel the exponential growth needed to reach lost communities at scale.

Bi-Vocational Ministry

Some church planters support themselves through outside employment, reducing their financial needs. While this can be a viable strategic choice, especially when it aligns with the church’s mission, it’s more of a cost-reduction strategy than a sustainable funding model.

Bi-vocational ministry has benefits, like community engagement, but it also presents challenges:

Time & Energy – Does your job allow you to give your best to your family, church, and ministry?

Financial Viability – If making a good income part-time were easy, more people would do it.

Missional Impact – Have you considered whether your community needs a full-time, dedicated pastor? Parish models historically assumed a fully devoted spiritual shepherd.

The Missionary Support Model

In contrast, the missionary support model—where church planters raise personal support from individuals and churches—is scalable and sustainable. It follows the biblical pattern of missionaries being sent and supported by others. A strong support team consists of:

50-100 partners giving $50-$100 per month

Some larger startup gifts to help with initial costs

Ongoing committed giving for long-term stability

Unlike a tithe-based model, support-based fundraising can scale with staff needs, not just church attendance. As a missional church grows, its financial needs and tithe base likely won’t grow proportionally, and support-based staffing allows the mission to remain sustainable. This shift to support-based funding aligns with the biblical principles that undergird missionary work, offering a sustainable model for growth and mission expansion.

Biblical Foundations for Support-Based Ministry

The concept of missionary support is deeply biblical:

Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
—1 Corinthians 16:1-3 (ESV)

As Michael Frost reminds us: “There is nothing more Christian than sending. God is a missionary God—the Father sent the Son, the Son sends the Spirit, and Jesus sent His disciples.”

The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) begins with disciples, despite doubts and fears, being sent out. The DNA of the Christian life is to send and be sent. Every believer should consider supporting at least one missionary or church planter—not only for financial sustainability but for personal spiritual growth and active engagement in God’s mission.

Conclusion: Aligning Finances with Mission

Your church plant’s funding model is not neutral—it will shape your church’s mission and future. The missionary support model offers a sustainable, scalable, and biblical approach that aligns with the missional call to reach the lost.

Rather than relying on quick local tithes, consider a long-term view of financial sustainability. Support-based funding frees planters to focus on making disciples without the pressure to attract already-churched givers just to survive.

As you embark on this journey, remember: every Christian is called to send and be sent. By embracing a missionary model, you’re not only planting a church—you’re cultivating a movement that can thrive for generations to come.

If you are ready to explore how a missionary model could help your church plant stay on mission, reach out today at partner@reliant.org or learn more at reliant.org.

The post Funding Your Church Plant: Why Your Financial Model Matters appeared first on Newbreed Training.

Three Practical Reasons to Hold Some Small Group Meetings Online

Back during the pandemic we heard a lot of complaining about “Zoom fatigue.” People were forced to work from home and meet online and they didn’t like it—as opposed to very different feelings today.

After we got back into church buildings most of us reverted to old patterns often overlooking the power we gained through those once detested meetings.

It is time to take another look at online tools beyond their use in podcasting or staff meetings.

It’s not about the tool—it’s about the people.

Drive Time Is Disciplemaking Lost

Life is full. People are already managing kids, jobs, and packed calendars. When we ask them to drive across town for a midweek small group, we’re often competing with real-world limitations—especially for those barely keeping up with life.

Small groups that meet online can change all that. They let people show up without packing bags, finding childcare, or spending an hour on the road. When the gathering ends, they’re already home. That time savings often makes the difference between someone opting in or drifting away.

We don’t often think of commuting as a spiritual issue—but if it keeps people from community, it is. Removing friction creates space for shared life.

Older Adults Avoid Night Driving (and Tech Can Help)

Most pastors in their thirties and forties haven’t yet felt the hesitation that comes with driving after dark. But for older folks—especially those in their 70s and 80s—it’s a real concern. Eyesight dims. Reactions slow. What was routine starts to feel risky.

These are not people who’ve stopped caring about church. They just don’t want to get behind the wheel at night. I’ve seen this again and again. Faithful, longtime members who gladly show up to serve in daylight hours simply opt out of nighttime gatherings.

But Zoom—or some other tool—gives them a way to re-engage. If we’re willing to meet them halfway—by helping them learn how to click a link and join a meeting—we open the door to a renewed sense of belonging. And don’t underestimate the power of this. These are often the people who helped build your church. They deserve more than a pat on the back. They deserve access to each other and to the care of your church.

Online Meetings Include Otherwise Isolated People

Sometimes the roadblock isn’t driving distance or age—it’s a dynamic at home.

I’ve known believers whose spouses don’t follow Jesus yet tolerate Sunday mornings but draw a hard line on other church activities. It’s hard to grow as a disciple when your living room becomes a war zone every time you want to leave the house.

But online gatherings slip past those boundaries. They allow someone to join community without leaving home, and sometimes that quiet presence on the screen is the only way they can stay connected.

Years ago, before smartphones and Facebook, three women in our church had this problem. So every Friday night, they met by phone in a three-person small group. It worked because it met them where they were. Zoom does that today—only better.

In the End, It’s Not About Tech

This isn’t about technology. It’s about people. And it’s about flexibility in the way we make disciples.

Small group meetings are a tool, not a template. So if a tool makes it easier for busy families, older saints, and isolated believers to follow Jesus together—why wouldn’t we use it?

It’s not a compromise. It’s just good shepherding.

The post Three Practical Reasons to Hold Some Small Group Meetings Online appeared first on Newbreed Training.

The Power and Danger of Rules

A friend recently asked me to state, in one word, what I thought could kill a movement. As I reflected on that, my mind went to Acts chapter 15, where the Jerusalem Council met and struck down the whole issue of circumcision. This isn’t about circumcision, but it is about rules.

That was my one word answer—“rules.” Rules that have outlived their original purpose.

I believe rules have their place—they have their time, and then they’re done. Too often, however, rules hang around long after their purpose has expired. Some were meant for a generation ago—or maybe thirty generations ago—and yet they still hold back the work of the Kingdom of God.

If we’re serious about doing the things God has really called us to do, we need to regularly take a hard look at our rules. Maybe once a year, reassess: What are we doing? Why are we doing it? Should we keep doing it—or should we stop?

Lessons from the Jesus Movement

I came up during the Jesus Movement, and so much of what we did back then was considered off-limits by others—at least in their minds. The way people dressed, the simple fact that we served coffee after church—those things upset a whole bunch of people.

Then we got into a tangle with our denomination over something else. We had a 58-year-old aerospace engineer who volunteered his time as an associate pastor. This man had led very successful, large Bible studies in the region where we lived, and he was thrilled with what we were doing as a young church. He joined us wholeheartedly.

But I couldn’t get the denomination to give him a pastor’s license so he could officiate a wedding. I got into a heated argument over this with a wise denominational official. Eventually, he got them to change course and created an entirely new system for licensing pastors trained in local churches, not seminaries.

A New Generation Facing Old Rules

This brings me to a conversation I had a few weeks ago with a very exciting young couple. I had met three men, all missionaries from Liberia to the United States, serving alongside their wives. All of them are church planters, and all hope to multiply more churches.

One of these men is married to an American woman who had been trafficked in the sex industry as a young girl. The remarkable thing is that these people are now doing short-term missions to Kenya, where they have met young girls caught in similar situations.

The big problem? Their denomination has a rule: no woman can be a pastor. And these young women in Kenya don’t trust men—for obvious reasons.

She wanted to start an online church for these girls.

I felt my role in this situation was to remind this brave young woman that she wasn’t hired by the denomination, and that she could choose to do what God was putting before her. I’m not sure where that’s all going to lead, but I have a strong feeling it’s going someplace good.

Once again, the rules in place have their reasons. I happen to disagree with this particular rule to some extent. But in the end, the rules aren’t the main issue—the young girls in need of a pastor are.

And if this young woman is able to shepherd them through WhatsApp and other social media platforms, then she should be free to do what God has clearly placed in her lap.

Balancing Submission and Speaking Up

We need to remain submitted to our leaders and their wisdom. But we also need to learn when to respectfully push back and to hope and pray that, like the men at the Jerusalem Council, our leaders will respond to genuine spiritual need the way those men did when Paul and Barnabas presented their case.

What About You and Me?

My point here isn’t really about them—or even about the people who seem to be blocking ministry efforts in Kenya. This is about you and me, and whether we’re willing to assess the rules and policies we’ve put in place over the years—and ask if they’ve outlived their usefulness.

In our church staff, we always made this kind of assessment during our annual planning meetings. We intentionally looked for ministries that had outlived their usefulness so we could shut them down or phase them out.

It would have been wise for us to do the same with our policy manual. Throughout the year, we developed policies based on decisions we made, and at the end of each year, we would try to harvest those decisions that seemed worthy of becoming formal policy.

But we never quite figured out that we should spend the same amount of time asking which existing policies had outlived their usefulness.

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