Growth Barriers: Where Pain and Progress Collide
Every church leader dreams of growth. And most want growth for the right reasons:
- More people coming to Christ.
- More families finding hope.
- More impact in the community.
But what happens when the dream hits a wall? When no matter how hard you work, your church seems stuck?
These moments are growth barriers—points where your current systems, structures, or leadership capacity aren’t enough to sustain the next level of growth.
Whether you’re stuck at 100, 250, or 500 attendees, the good news is this: these barriers aren’t walls—they’re invitations to change.
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People: Are you equipping leaders or trying to do it all yourself?
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Structures: Are your systems scalable, or are they bottlenecked?
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Leadership Development: Are you raising up capable, godly leaders to share the load?
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Space: Do you have the physical and organizational capacity to grow?
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Outward Focus: Are you still focused on reaching the lost, or are you stuck maintaining what you have?
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Personal Growth: Are you stretching yourself spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually to lead at a higher level?
If any of these areas are neglected, your church’s growth will stall. Let’s break them down and explore how you can move forward.
6 Growth Barries Every Church Faces
1. People: Are You Equipping Leaders or Doing It All Yourself?
One of the most significant barriers to growth is you. If everything depends on you as the pastor—making decisions, leading teams, running ministries—your church will hit a ceiling.
Practical Advice:
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- Evaluate Your Leadership Pipeline: Do you have a straightforward process for identifying and developing new leaders? Start by mentoring one or two people to take ownership of key ministry areas.
- Empower Others: Resist the urge to micromanage. Instead, give leaders the authority to make decisions within their roles.
- Focus on Multiplication: Remember, it’s not about what you can do but what you can equip others to do.
NOTE: Every church working with me has unlimited access to our resource center, which includes the Leadership Toolbox Course. One module is all about delegation.
2. Structures: Are Your Systems Scalable or Bottlenecked?
As your church grows, the informal systems that worked at 50 attendees will no longer work at 250. Growth demands scalable structures—clear processes for communication, decision-making, and follow-up.
Practical Advice:
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- Streamline Communication: Is everyone clear on who makes decisions and how information flows? Create simple, consistent processes to avoid confusion.
- Build Sustainable Systems: Ensure your systems—whether for guest follow-up or volunteer recruitment—can handle double your current volume.
- Use Technology Wisely: Church management software can simplify processes and free up time for ministry.
NOTE: As I mentioned, our resource center is full of systems, frameworks, and documents to help you scale your church.
3. Leadership Development: Are You Raising Up Godly Leaders?
Your church will only grow as fast as you can develop capable leaders. Without a strong team, growth becomes unsustainable.
Practical Advice:
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- Invest in Spiritual Growth: Leadership development isn’t just about skills—it’s about character. Ensure your leaders are spiritually healthy and grounded in their faith.
- Provide Ongoing Training: Equip your team with tools for success, like conflict resolution, time management, or vision casting.
- Delegate Responsibility: Don’t just assign tasks; assign ownership. Let leaders take charge of ministries or projects with your support and guidance.
4. Space: Do You Have the Capacity to Grow?
Physical and organizational space can be major barriers to growth. Whether it’s an overcrowded sanctuary or an overwhelmed staff, limited capacity will eventually stunt your church’s growth.
Practical Advice:
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- Evaluate Your Facilities: Is your building helping or hindering growth? Consider creative solutions like adding services or reconfiguring spaces.
- Expand Volunteer Capacity: Recruit and train more volunteers to share the load. You can never have too many!
- Plan for the Future: Don’t wait until you’re bursting at the seams to think about expansion. Start planning now.
5. Outward Focus: Are You Still Reaching the Lost?
As churches grow, it’s easy to shift from mission-focused to maintenance-focused. Growth requires a relentless focus on reaching people outside your walls.
Practical Advice:
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- Revisit Your Mission: Regularly remind your church of its purpose—to make disciples and reach the lost.
- Equip Your Congregation: Encourage members to invite friends, share their faith, and engage with the community.
- Evaluate Your Ministries: Are they designed to reach new people, or are they primarily serving those already in the church? Adjust as needed.
6. Personal Growth: Are You Leading at a Higher Level?
Finally, the most important question: Are you growing? If you’re not actively stretching yourself—spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually—you’ll struggle to lead your church to the next level.
Practical Advice:
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- Prioritize Your Spiritual Health: Spend regular time in prayer, Scripture, and reflection. Your relationship with God is the foundation of your leadership.
- Seek Feedback: Ask trusted mentors or peers to speak into your blind spots.
- Invest in Yourself: Read books, attend conferences, or work with a coach. Your growth is one of the greatest gifts you can give your church.
When You’re Stuck, Look at the Obstacles
When growth feels impossible, it’s tempting to blame circumstances or settle for the status quo. But growth barriers are opportunities for transformation.
The question isn’t, “Why are we stuck?” It’s, “What do we need to change?”
Growth always brings pain, but it also brings purpose. By examining these six areas—people, structures, leadership development, space, outward focus, and personal growth—you can identify obstacles and take intentional steps toward a healthier, stronger ministry.
So, where do you need to focus today?
Call to Action:
Feeling stuck? Don’t wait to make a change. Explore how our consulting and coaching services can help your church break through barriers. Visit the Church Accelerator Community to learn more.
Quotes for Inspiration:
- “Great leaders don’t do more—they equip more.”
- “Growth barriers aren’t walls—they’re invitations to change.”
- “Your growth is one of the greatest gifts you can give your church.”
Resources for Further Learning:
- Book: “The Ministry MBA: 10 Practical Courses to Build a Thriving Church“
- Tool: Church Accelerator Leadership Assessment
One More Thing…
Are you confident that your church is effectively making disciples?
Discipleship is the fundamental mission of the local church. And it affects everything in and around a local church.
Unclear pathways, siloed ministries, and disengaged congregants keep churches stuck. I created the Discipleship Accelerator to help churches get back on mission.
The Discipleship Accelerator is a step-by-step process to help you evaluate your current discipleship efforts, craft a clear and measurable pathway for growth, and implement it confidently.
Whether you need resources, consulting, or a coaching relationship, we’ve got you covered. Let me know how I can help.
Leading With You,
Dr. Gavin Adams