All living things have a life cycle. Churches are a living organism. The life cycle of a church depends on the church’s ability to reproduce itself. Only 15% are estimated to be healthy growing churches. Unfortunately, it is estimated that 65% of all churches in the USA are not growing. In addition, 20% of churches are actually in serious decline and facing death. I relate those churches as to being in the ICU and/or on life support. 

Most of us try to prepare for retirement. We try to put at least a little something away. Unfortunately, many of us get to retirement age and realize we are not prepared to finish well. Additionally, those of us in career ministry often have made our ministry our life. The result is we are often not ready financially, personally, and even spiritually for the next step in life. We have no succession plan for ourselves or for the church.

    It has been suggested that eighty percent of people who go to a counselor are struggling with change. When we encounter change the difficulties we face are often related to a lack faith and/or courage.  

    I often use a favorite quote from Rick Warren (author of Purpose Driven Church), “The wrong question is what will make our church grow?” “The right question is, “What is keeping our church from growing?” I think this is not only true for the church seeking to be victorious but also for personally living a victorious Christian life. The reality is in both living the Victorious Christian Life and being victorious in ministry we will need to face opposition and obstacles.