THE PROBLEM

Across the SBC, more churches are declining and dying than are growing and being started. When a church declines or eventually dies, a traumatic event occurs. The grief is not only felt by the members who experience the sadness and shame of closing the doors but also by past members who lose a piece of their heritage.

The larger body of Christ loses part of itself, including the community footprint for the gospel which could be invaluable to other ministry opportunities.

Mark Clifton observes that declining churches reinforce a narrative that the church is disconnected from real-life.

 THE SOLUTION(S)

There was a day and age when the only perceived solution was to put new resources into the community and start a new church to replace the dying one. After all, the Bible discusses new wine and old wineskins. Church planting is a vitally important strategy for kingdom expansion, but it is not the only strategy. 

What if declining and dying churches found new life again? What if the thousands of churches across the country with only a handful of people in them every Sunday were instead thriving again? What would it say about God and his redemptive desires for his creation? What would it say about God’s people and the lengths they will go to actually share the good news of Jesus Christ?

None of this is possible without a movement of God. Where there is a fresh movement of the Holy Spirit, a group of people humbly committed to do whatever it takes for the gospel led by courageous leaders, supported by a plan and process, new beginnings and fresh starts are possible.

We’ve seen it first hand. UBA partners with churches to help bring all the pieces together for the sake of the kingdom and the community.