Developing a Future-Focused Church, Part I

In this episode of the Pivot podcast, discover the three research-backed checkpoints that distinguish future-focused churches.

Is your church organizational culture stuck in patterns that no longer serve younger generations? After working with over 1,000 congregations through their Growing Young Cohort, researchers Dr. Kara Powell, Dr. Jake Mulder, and Raymond Chang discovered that thriving churches aren’t distinguished by their programs or budgets, but by their willingness to transform their church organizational culture around three key checkpoints: relationally discipling young people, modeling kingdom diversity, and tangibly loving neighbors. These aren’t flashy new strategies but research-backed, kingdom-oriented practices that create the kind of church organizational culture where faith naturally forms across generations.

In this hopeful conversation, the co-authors of “Future Focused Church” share why they believe “the best days of your church are ahead” and reveal how small wins can reshape entire congregations. Learn why “culture eats strategy for breakfast,” discover the four essential skills for leading change (here, there, who, how), and hear practical stories of churches that moved from programs to people, creating meaningful community in our post-pandemic world. Whether you’re struggling with declining attendance or wondering how to engage diverse communities authentically, this episode offers both theological grounding and practical hope for transforming your church organizational culture.