On Tuesday, I wrote a post on disruption: “You Don’t Need a Crisis to Change: 5 Signs It’s Time to Disrupt the Status Quo.”
Many of you (mostly church leaders and pastors) replied to me about the 5 signs, so I’m taking us on a deeper dive to help you selectively disrupt your church.
Churches Don’t Usually Crash. They Drift.
Most churches don’t collapse overnight.
They drift.
They drift while still holding services.
They drift while still preaching messages.
They drift while still “doing ministry.”
That’s why the most dangerous season for a church isn’t when things go wrong. It’s when things feel… fine.
You don’t need a crisis to change.
Let’s take a more in-depth look at the five signs that it might be time to disrupt the status quo in your church—with practical examples and actionable ideas for pastors, ministry leaders, and church teams.
1. Engagement Is Declining
You don’t always see it in the metrics but feel it in the room. And, eventually, the metrics will catch up to the waning momentum.
The energy is off. Volunteers are burning out. Guests visit but never connect. You’re offering solid services, but no one’s talking about them. Or inviting people to them.
What this looks like in your church:
- Volunteer teams feel understaffed and under-energized.
- People arrive late, leave early, and rarely stick around to connect.
- Signups for groups, classes, or events are sluggish or nonexistent.
- You feel like you’re constantly pushing a rock up a hill to get people to commit.
Questions to ask:
- Are we measuring attendance but ignoring engagement?
- Are people just watching ministry—or participating in it?
- Do we have enough proper steps (on ramps and next steps) for people to move forward incrementally?
How to disrupt it:
✅ Refresh your volunteer experience—from onboarding to appreciation.
✅ Use a short survey to discover what’s connecting and what’s not.
✅ Rebuild your “next steps” strategy around emotional and spiritual movement.
✅ Create an incremental approach to generosity.
✅ Consider offering different types of groups targeting different types of people in your church.
NOTE: Growing church engagement is a core offering in my consulting practice. I’ve worked with hundreds of churches in this space. Let me know if you want to discuss a potential working relationship.
“In just two months, 122 people gave to Centerpoint Church for the very first time, and we added 18 new recurring givers! Working with Gavin on our generosity system gave us a plan to grow giving and fully fund our church.” – Bryant Golden, Senior Pastor, Centerpoint Church – Tampa, FL
2. Your Team Is Maintaining More Than Innovating
When ministry becomes a checklist, mission takes a backseat.
And when every staff meeting is reactive, there’s no space to dream.
What this looks like in your church:
- Events happen out of habit, not strategy.
- Your team avoids change because “it worked last year.”
- Nobody’s whiteboarding ideas—just checking off tasks.
Questions to ask:
- When was the last time we asked, “Should we still be doing this?”
- Do we have permission and a process to try new things?
How to disrupt it:
✅ Designate one monthly meeting for innovation only.
✅ Empower one team member to bring a new idea each quarter.
✅ Cancel one outdated program and test something new in its place.
This article may help: Church Innovation is a Choice: 4 Decisions Every Leader Must Make to Unleash Progress
3. What Used to Work Isn’t Working Anymore
Every ministry has a shelf life. What once reached people may now miss the mark entirely.
What this looks like in your church:
- Giving is steady, but ministry momentum is slowing.
- Once-popular programs are now running on fumes.
- Outreach events feel more like traditions than impact.
- You spend more time reminiscing about the past than planning for the future.
- You blame people for not attending or committing more than you look in the mirror to determine why.
Questions to ask:
- What are we doing out of loyalty instead of effectiveness?
- Are we creating for our past audience—or today’s?
How to disrupt it:
✅ Retire a legacy ministry and launch something relevant.
✅ Ask new attendees why they stayed—or why they didn’t.
✅ Rethink your discipleship model with the current culture in mind.
This article outlines the “5 Rights of Effective Discipleship”: Why Church Programs Fail: Get These 5 Things Right to Get Everything Right
4. You’re Behind and Playing Catch-Up
You’re not failing—but you’re not leading either.
And in ministry, delay costs more than dollars—it costs mission.
What this looks like in your church:
- You’re launching things years after others already did.
- You spend months and months debating a new idea.
- You have retreats and planning meetings that produce great ideas that never seem to be implemented.
- Your systems are stuck in the analog world.
- Your digital presence feels more like an afterthought or obligation.
- You make excuses for not following the “trends of culture.”
Questions to ask:
- Are we reacting because we ignored this for too long?
- What have we delayed that needs immediate action?
How to disrupt it:
✅ Assign someone to study current church trends and report quarterly.
✅ Audit your systems and eliminate friction in first impressions.
✅ Prioritize speed and iteration over perfection in new projects.
5. You’re Winning—But You Know It Won’t Last
Ironically, the clearest sign it’s time to disrupt is often success.
Because what got you here… probably won’t get you there.
What this looks like in your church:
- Your services are full, but your systems are strained.
- Giving is growing, but your vision isn’t expanding.
- Church consumption is more prevalent than participation.
- More people are coming but not staying, serving, or multiplying.
Questions to ask:
- Are we structured for where we’re going—or just where we are?
- What cracks are already forming beneath the surface?
How to disrupt it:
✅ Build a leadership pipeline before you hit capacity.
✅ Create scalable systems that grow with your momentum.
✅ Expand your vision and revisit your strategic plan before decline begins.
Final Thought
Disruption doesn’t require a disaster. But it does require discernment and the guts to act early.
The best time to challenge the status quo is before it challenges you.
- Don’t wait for decline.
- Don’t settle for comfort.
- Disrupt on purpose. And lead your church into its next chapter.
🔧 Call to Action:
What ministry or system in your church is coasting on yesterday’s success? Pick one and start asking better questions this week.
💬 Quotes for Inspiration:
- “Churches don’t collapse overnight. They drift.”
- “What got you here may be what holds you back from what’s next.”
- “Disruption doesn’t require chaos—it requires courage.”
📚 Resources for Further Learning:
- The Ministry MBA: 10 Practical Courses to Lead a Thriving Church
- Free resource: Discover the Sermon Strategies Driving Growth in America’s Fastest Growing Churches
- Blog: When Interruptions Become Disruptions & Stuck in Place? 7 Strategies to Increase Organizational Flexibility
- Workshop: Church Accelerator 2-Day Strategic Planning Intensive
One More Thing…
At Church Accelerator, we offer consulting, workshops, content, and community to help churches break through barriers and grow their church.
Work with us in the way that best works for you:
✅ RESOURCES: Save 49 hours every month for only $49.
✅ WORKSHOPS & WORKING SESSIONS: Experience our Church Accelerator Workshop, a 2-day process with your core team where we clarify your vision, dream about your future, discover your current reality, and design an actionable plan.
✅ CONSULTING ENGAGEMENTS: Great churches don’t happen by accident. We coach and consult with churches with fewer than 100 attendees to churches with over 10,000 to improve discipleship pathways, communication and preaching, church engagement, and church leadership.
✅ ON-DEMAND EXECUTIVE: Add me to your executive team conversations and get a fresh perspective through a personal partnership.
Starting at just $49 – 🚀 Don’t wait—become a partner today.
Leading WITH You,
Dr. Gavin Adams
