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What’s Up:
90% of pastors say ministry isn’t what they expected … and it’s breaking them. (https://www.pastoralcareinc.com/statistics/)
So What:
Seminary didn’t prepare you for the politics, power struggles, or practical leadership required to lead a church that actually grows. But there is another way to stem the flow of pastors leaving ministry.
The Point Is:
The Illusion Shatters Fast
Most pastors enter ministry expecting to shepherd disciples. What they find is an institution filled with opinions, resistance, and spiritual apathy. Just because someone is a baptized church member doesn’t mean they’re a Jesus-Follower.
Functional Atheism Runs Deep
Church members say they believe … but there’s statistically no moral difference between believers and non-believers. The real problem? They’ve not been discipled.
Seminary Isn’t the Solution
I’ve got three degrees and teach at a seminary. But higher ed isn’t preparing pastors to lead. It’s theory. Real ministry requires experience. Period. (And CPE is not a substitute!)
Apprenticeship Prepares Leaders
Want to learn how to grow a church over 200 in worship? Then train under someone who’s done it. Big churches teach transferable skills … and real leadership.
And … ?
There’s a reason most new pastors wash out within five years. They enter the ministry thinking they’re joining a congregation of faithful disciples. Instead, they inherit a board of status quo gatekeepers protecting personal preferences with a side of passive aggression. That’s not the kingdom. That’s an ambush. Seminary doesn’t prepare you for that. But it should.
If we want to stop watching good leaders burn out or give up, we need a new model. I believe in an apprenticeship approach. Spend two years, full-time, under a seasoned leader of a healthy, growing church … one that’s over 500 in weekly worship. Learn to lead real people with real resistance. Learn to make real disciples and raise them up into leadership. And learn how to grow something beyond what you inherited. That’s why we built the Growing Church QuickStart Track. It gives pastors the practical, step-by-step tools they need to shift their church toward growth. No ivory tower required.
Action!
Start your free two-week trial of the Growing Church QuickStart Track. It’s time to lead with clarity and grow your church with confidence: Learn more.
