A Sobering Reality
Across North America, the church is at a crossroads. Pastors are exhausted, leaving ministry early, or stepping away altogether. The leadership well we once depended on has run dry. The pastoral shortage isn’t a looming possibility—it’s a present reality.
The institutional church systems are no longer working. The traditional leadership models used by seminaries and denominations are failing. Demographics have shifted, costs have risen, and congregations can no longer wait for seminaries to “send” them pastors. As one of our partners said bluntly: In the future, only ten to 15 percent of churches will be able to afford a full-time pastor. What carried us in the past cannot carry us into the future.
Why This Matters
When the church struggles, communities suffer. Congregations without leadership often move into survival mode, losing their outward focus. Without renewal, churches close their doors. Without pastors, the next generation may never hear the Good News.
The stakes are high. This is not simply about numbers or institutional survival. It’s about the mission of God and the witness of His Church.
Decline Is Not Inevitable
The good news is that decline does not have to be our destiny. The Gospel is alive and powerful. Churches can rediscover mission, renew vitality, and raise up leaders from within their own communities.
But we cannot do it by clinging to the old ways. We need new pathways—creative, sustainable, and faithful to the Great Commission. That is why Momentum exists.
A Word of Hope
Momentum is not about returning to the past. It’s about facing reality with courage, sparking innovative mission, and multiplying disciples who impact their communities. It is a movement designed to help churches not just survive, but thrive.
If your congregation has ever wondered, “Where will our next leader come from?” or “How can we reconnect with our community?” you are not alone. Thousands of churches are asking the same questions. Momentum was created to help answer them.
The challenges before us are urgent, but they are not insurmountable. The time to act is now. Discover how your church can join Momentum—a movement to equip churches for the future.
Dr. Tracee J. Swank guides Kingdom-minded leaders, churches, and entrepreneurs to clarify their purpose, reimagine mission, and multiply hope—so they can lead entrepreneurial movements that transform communities and advance the Great Commission.