When I was youth pastoring, I noticed an intriguing dynamic among families who had immigrated to America. Within just one generation, a clear pattern emerged. The parents would often attend an ethnically based church or a service conducted in the language they grew up speaking. Meanwhile, their kids would quickly disengage.
To be clear, these parents were extraordinary—working hard to create a better life for their children. Yet, despite their best efforts, their kids seemed disconnected from their church experience.
Curious, I decided to ask one of these kids what was going on. His response left a lasting impression on me and, over time, I saw his insights play out repeatedly. He explained how his parents attended a service that mirrored the life they had left behind—a place that felt familiar and safe. For the parents, church was a reprieve from the overwhelming Americanized culture they now lived in. It was a moment of respite in an otherwise foreign and chaotic existence.
But for the kids, it was a different story. Their world was nothing like the one their parents had grown up in. Their lives revolved around American culture, and the disconnect between their daily reality and the church’s environment left them feeling out of place.
This experience has stayed with me because it reflects a broader truth about church life for everyone. We all grow up with a certain way of doing church, and as the world around us changes—sometimes uncomfortably, sometimes chaotically—we cling to what feels familiar. For many, church becomes a refuge, a sanctuary of stability amidst the whirlwind of change.
The Resistance to Change in the Church
When a pioneering pastor introduces change in a church, resistance is often swift and strong. Why? Because two things have happened:
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Church as a Refuge
For many members, the church’s sameness feels as steadfast as God’s unchanging holiness. They equate the way they do church with the right way. Change threatens this sense of stability. -
The Reality of a Changing World
The world has changed drastically, and for some members, it feels as if life as they know it is unraveling. Even looking back a few years can make the present feel unrecognizable. In the face of such upheaval, the thought of change in their church becomes unbearable.
Navigating Change with Two Guiding Questions
So how do we lead a church through the necessary changes to fulfill its mission while honoring people’s need for stability? We must ask two critical questions:
- How can we honor people’s need for stability while embracing the change necessary to fulfill our mission?
- What should remain constant, and what must evolve?
The Mission vs. The Method
One of God’s characteristics is that He is unchanging. As beings created in His image, we often experience friction with change at a soul level. But this is where the distinction between mission and method becomes vital.
- Mission is the unchanging purpose of the church—making disciples, spreading the gospel, and glorifying God.
- Method is the way we accomplish that mission. A method is a pathway, not the destination.
For example, a “Giving Tree” outreach that’s been used for 30 years is a method. It’s good and effective, but it isn’t the mission. The mission is meeting the needs of the community. Leaders must help their people see this distinction, always connecting successful methods to the mission.
As a leader, I remind myself—and sometimes those around me—that I would change everything tomorrow if we found a better way to fulfill the mission. While that’s easier said than done, it’s a principle worth striving for.
Shrinking the Core Constants
The list of what must remain constant in a church should be small and focused. At its core, the gospel is the only non-negotiable. Beyond that, flexibility should be embraced. This approach helps a church adapt to meet new challenges while staying true to its purpose.
A Full-Circle Moment
Reflecting on those immigrant families, I remember inviting their kids to our youth group. Slowly, they became involved in discipleship at the church, and eventually, their parents started attending as well.
One day, a father approached me after a service. He thanked me warmly for including his son and said something that struck me deeply: “All I really wanted was for my son to follow Jesus. It didn’t matter what church it was at.”
That moment reminded me why we embrace change—not for its own sake, but to ensure we remain on mission, helping people connect with Jesus, no matter where they come from or what their world looks like.