Let’s Be Trendsetters
Imagine walking into a pizza place called Tony’s Pizza and asking, “What’s your best pizza?” only to hear, “Honestly, the pizza is just okay. Try the chicken sandwich instead.” Sounds absurd, right? You’d expect a pizza place to deliver amazing pizza!
Now, think about this: 99% of pastors admit their churches aren’t very effective at outreach. That’s like a pizza restaurant being bad at pizza! Even more alarming, research from the Southern Baptist Convention reveals that 43% of their churches recorded zero baptisms or new believers in a year, and 34% baptized just one to five people. That means 77% of these churches baptized fewer than five people all year.
When evangelism is on life support, the future of the church is at stake.
As followers of Jesus, we’re called to be His hands and feet, sharing His love and message with the world. Yet, so many churches—including thriving ones—are growing because of consolidation rather than conversion. People shift from one church to another, but new believers aren’t being added to the faith.
This trend needs to change—not for the sake of numbers but because this is our mission.
In Acts 2:47, the early church modeled what we’re called to be:
“...enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
This is the picture of a church alive with purpose.
Living Out the Mission
A church that doesn’t prioritize outreach risks losing sight of its core calling. Outreach isn’t about programs or events—it’s about people. It’s about stepping into the lives of others, walking with them, and sharing the hope and love of Jesus in meaningful ways.
Our goal isn’t simply to grow in size but to grow in impact. We are called to make a difference in our communities, to offer belonging and hope to those searching for purpose.
When we embrace this mission, we reflect the heart of Jesus.
A Challenge to the Church
What if we became trendsetters?
What if we shifted the narrative of church growth from one of consolidation to one of transformation? What if we became known as a people who actively invest in the lives of others, helping them encounter the life-changing message of Jesus?
The world is looking for something real, and we have the answer. But it requires a commitment to live out our faith in tangible ways.
Let’s be bold. Let’s be intentional. Let’s be the church that leads with purpose and impact.
Moving Forward
The call to outreach isn’t about adding to a list of accomplishments; it’s about fulfilling our purpose as the body of Christ. Together, we can set a new trend—one that prioritizes people over programs, transformation over tradition, and the mission of Jesus above all else.
Let’s commit to being a church that doesn’t just exist—but thrives in its purpose to reach the world with the love of Christ.
