The Church Revitalization Podcast – Episode 265
Innovation in ministry is essential for churches to remain effective and relevant, but it must be approached thoughtfully to avoid derailing successful existing programs or losing sight of the core mission. The key is finding the balance between necessary change and maintaining focus on discipleship and spiritual growth.
It’s important to remember that ministries have a shelf life of effectiveness. Times change, people change, and culture changes (internal and external, good and bad). As church leaders, we have to monitor the effectiveness of our ministries and make adjustments along the way. It’s also important to remember that not every idea is a good idea, so staying focused on the mission first will help keep changes in alignment with the main thing.
Iterate to Innovate
The most effective way to innovate in ministry is through careful iteration rather than wholesale changes. This approach involves making small, incremental improvements to existing programs and evaluating their impact before moving forward. For example, when addressing challenges in small group ministry, churches can systematically test different meeting times, childcare options, or content delivery methods one at a time. This methodical approach allows leaders to identify which specific changes truly make a difference in participation and engagement.
Iteration also minimizes resistance to change since small adjustments are less likely to provoke widespread pushback compared to major overhauls. Additionally, by making one change at a time, church leaders can better understand which modifications are actually driving improvements.
Beta Test within Secondary Ministries
Before implementing major changes across the entire church, it’s wise to first test new ideas within secondary ministries. Secondary ministries—those programs that support but aren’t central to the church’s core functions—provide an ideal environment for experimentation with less risk.
For instance, before launching a church-wide leadership development program, try it first with a small group of willing participants. This beta testing approach allows churches to identify potential issues, gather feedback, and refine the program before a broader rollout. The goal isn’t to achieve perfection immediately but to learn and adjust based on real-world experience.
Note: For more information about Primary and Secondary ministries, check out Building a Disciple-Centric Church.
If You Add, What Will You Subtract?
Churches must carefully consider what they might need to eliminate when adding new programs or initiatives. This isn’t about maintaining a strict mathematical balance, but rather ensuring that each ministry serves a distinct purpose in supporting the church’s mission of making disciples.
When considering a new ministry, leaders should ask:
– Does this fill a genuine gap in our discipleship pathway?
– Are we currently doing something else that serves the same purpose?
– Do we have the resources to maintain this long-term without compromising existing effective ministries?
– Could we achieve better results by improving an existing ministry rather than adding a new one?
The goal isn’t to limit growth but to maintain focus and prevent program bloat that can drain resources and dilute impact. If ending ministries in your church sounds scary, we get it. Check out our article, “How to End Ministries Without Ending Yours.”
Successful innovation in ministry requires a balanced approach that embraces necessary change while maintaining focus on the church’s core mission. Through careful iteration, beta testing, and thoughtful evaluation of existing programs, churches can implement meaningful improvements without creating unnecessary disruption or losing sight of their primary purpose: making disciples and nurturing spiritual growth.
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A.J. Mathieu is the President of the Malphurs Group. He is passionate about helping churches thrive and travels internationally to teach and train pastors to lead healthy disciple-making churches. A.J. lives in the Ft. Worth, Texas area, enjoys the outdoors, and loves spending time with his wife and two sons. Click here to email A.J.