Church Trends 2023
Church has been a central part of my life for almost 50 years.
For 40 years, I have been a pastor in a local church... TWO churches.
14 years at Living Word as an associate pastor.
7 years at First Baptist Church in Cortland (now Grace Church) as lead pastor.
14 years back at Living Word as an associate pastor.
7 years at Living Word as lead pastor.
Not only have I participated in church, but I have shaped church. I have tried to help others have deep experiences of connect, grow, serve, and reach. I have worked with leaders to help them make church a place of grace and love, of resources and relationships.
I've seen a lot of changes over the 40 years, and the last few years the changes have been fast and furious.
As the world around us is in massive transition, the church experiences those changes.
If you could see how we did church at Living Word in 1978, and then in 1990, and then in 1996, and then in 2005, and then in ______, you would see the same church in many different phases, as we sought to be the missional servants of Jesus making disciples in our local community and around the world.
What about 2023?
For 40 years, I have been a pastor in a local church... TWO churches.
14 years at Living Word as an associate pastor.
7 years at First Baptist Church in Cortland (now Grace Church) as lead pastor.
14 years back at Living Word as an associate pastor.
7 years at Living Word as lead pastor.
Not only have I participated in church, but I have shaped church. I have tried to help others have deep experiences of connect, grow, serve, and reach. I have worked with leaders to help them make church a place of grace and love, of resources and relationships.
I've seen a lot of changes over the 40 years, and the last few years the changes have been fast and furious.
As the world around us is in massive transition, the church experiences those changes.
If you could see how we did church at Living Word in 1978, and then in 1990, and then in 1996, and then in 2005, and then in ______, you would see the same church in many different phases, as we sought to be the missional servants of Jesus making disciples in our local community and around the world.
What about 2023?
As you read these 8 trends, think about how they impact you. Think about the ongoing changes in how we experience life at Living Word.
And thank you for being a part of this journey.
Pastor Brian Rice
Posted in Church