The gospel advances through the character and compassion of the people of God. And as we are on mission with Jesus for the restoration of all things, we can expect divine provision for sustaining our churches and blessing future generations. Scripture tells us so — from Jeremiah’s encouragement to exiles to, “build … plant … increase … and seek the shalom of the city” (Jer 29), to Jesus and the Apostles’ encouragements to shine brightly in a dark world (Matt 5:14–16; Phil 2:14–16).
But the work of sustaining our churches may also prove to be challenging. What do we do then?
A challenge for every pastor and local church
On a good day, the pastoral calling is both exhilarating and exhausting. The work fills us with hope as people grow and teaches us heartache as mission is met with resistance. Each day we see both the fruit of the Holy Spirit and real spiritual warfare as “the other team on the field” opposes our efforts.
Economic stress (alongside emotional pressure) is one of two challenges universal for church leaders. This stressor is a constant for most pastors.
Even if one’s personal accounts are okay, the pressure of stewarding a church’s finances can still be daunting. For a small rural church or a large urban multisite, money challenges are always near. Stress is eased as believers step up in consistent generosity, but the offering plate alone will not meet the needs of the mission.
We are called to partner with our Lord in seeing people and communities flourish. As a part of that, we also lead economic and social change in our communities. Whole-life discipleship is more than particular spiritual disciplines — it encompasses all of life, with no separations of faith and work, sacred or secular, spiritual or social realms, as the authors of Life in 5D: A New Vision of Discipleship note. Through member participation, partnerships with others, and creative outreach, every local church can be a hub of socio-missional transformation. And that economic stress? Doing this work strategically and in this kind of partnership can help ease that, too.
3 Ideas for a more sustainable ministry
There is, of course, not a one-size-fits-all recipe for every church. But for churches large and small, these are some general insights that when prayerfully applied, can help move a mission and sustain the church.
1. For exercising discernment when developing strategy and strengths
There will always be more needs and opportunities than any one church can pursue. Refining focus is hard, especially with congregants passionate about various good causes. These three questions from Amy Sherman and Steve Garber are helpful in developing a clear path forward for collaborating, commissioning, and creating.
- Where can we collaborate with other agencies, churches, and non-profits for the common good consistent with our church culture?
- How are we commissioning our congregants for influence, leadership, and initiatives that are kingdom-focused but not part of our programming?
- What specific programs and structures must we create to fulfill our mission?
2. For Spirit-led thinking and considerate design
The Chalmers Center and Tabitha Kapic have been especially helpful leading churches in this area. They teach that church leaders must listen to the Lord concerning the spiritual issues of the community, including historical injustices, cultural conflicts and opportunities, as well as the history and present state of church unity and gospel witness. Along with prayerful attention, church leaders also listen deeply to the dreams, fears, and hopes of the people being served by church programs. Church leaders must also gather data, listening to the influential women and men in various domains of the community.
By these considerations, a church can achieve greater clarity on the specific initiatives their church body should pursue.
3. For establishing structures that make for effective outreach and economic sustainability
You may be asking, “Pastor, all the theory is great, but we are struggling to pay our bills and help a new generation of believers learn to give? How can we do more?”
Another question, then, naturally arises: “Is this just another trendy idea to fund the church?”
The goal of good structure and economic vision is not just, “funding the church.” The goal is the glory of God. The pursuit is the common good as the gospel is shared in deed and word, bringing life to neighborhoods and nations. But pursuing effective outreach and economic sustainability does not include lessening our discipleship around generosity. We want all of God’s people to give as an act of worship, extending their faith so that more people can be reached. Church leaders must keep teaching biblical generosity. And they must steward well what the Lord provides through God’s hard-working people.
By establishing structure and economic vision, the church is positioned for reception of new private and public funding and for real problem-solving. Here are some structural ideas that have proven helpful globally and locally:
- Church Constitution and Bylaws
These should include clear moral and theological standards for all leaders, members, and staff, while affirming compassion and service to all. - Operating agreements
The church and all its entities should be on the administration and economic vision. - Connected and distinct non-profit agencies
Many churches create either 501c3s or non-profit LLCs to house the programs the community needs and to manage properties and assets well. These are eligible for private and public funding, and there are many types of programs that both government and philanthropic agencies respect (e.g. entrepreneurship and business incubation, after-school care and education, life skills and job training, family services and teen empowerment, poverty alleviation, economic development, character education, and more). - An endowment for legacy giving
This is an opportunity to make the church sustainable for generations to come.
Looking ahead
The insights noted above are all pieces of sustainable flourishing, not momentary splashes of good. It’s important that as a church establishes a vision and path forward that they also establish the enduring nature of the mission.
This work begins with the Holy Spirit — encouraging us in our specific contexts, showing us congregants and partners with the passions and skills we need. All of the organizational details noted above are in service of a clear, focused, and growing mission.
As we are yoked with Jesus, the words of missionary pioneer William Carey will be our ethos: “Expect great things from God … attempt great things for God.”