EDITORIAL
From the Editor | Ed Stetzer
What fuels church health? Many factors contribute, but one of the most significant—maybe the most significant—is intentional evangelism. In this issue, we explore data from Exponential’s “Becoming Five Multiplication Study,” which surveyed more than 1,000 Protestant churches in the United States. The study evaluated churches on a scale from Level 1 (declining), Level 2 (stagnant), Level 3 (adding), Level 4 (reproducing) to Level 5 (multiplying). The results reveal reasons for both celebration and areas of concern.
Attendance at many churches has increased or at least rebounded since COVID-19, which is cause for celebration. Over one-third of churches (38%) are “adding” or Level 3. However, nearly two-thirds (62%) are declining or plateaued, even though fewer churches are at the lowest level compared to five years ago.
It’s encouraging to hear that more people are gathering to worship, hear biblical teaching and encourage one another in the local church. Yet, many churches with rebounding or growing attendance are not reproducing churches (Level 4) or even growing churches (Level 3).
One major issue preventing churches from “leveling up” is a lack of evangelistic growth. To become healthier, churches need to develop evangelistic people, evangelistic church plants and evangelistic church pipelines.
1. Equip the Saints to Share the Gospel.
Healthy churches equip their members to share their faith in everyday life, and they prioritize this commitment. Evangelistic Christians see it as a natural outflow of their relationship with Christ. Growing churches emphasize gospel clarity, prayer and relational evangelism, teaching members to live as missionaries in their own neighborhoods.
Developing evangelistic people involves intentional discipleship through both formal training and organic examples. Leaders must model gospel sharing and speak regularly about their own personal witness, teach biblical principles about evangelism, and provide practical tools for outreach. For example, the local church can train members to share their spiritual stories and provide resources to answer common questions, enabling meaningful spiritual conversations.
Churches will only foster evangelistic intentionality and fruit insofar as they foster a culture of prayer. Evangelism begins in the prayer closet and in prayer gatherings before it goes to the highways and byways of the community. As Christians intercede for their neighbors, co-workers and communities, their hearts begin to align with God’s mission, and he prepares the soil for the gospel to take root.
Prayer-fueled evangelism can rejuvenate a plateaued church. Nearly half (43%) of churches in the “Becoming Five” survey are stuck at Level 2: stagnant. What’s more, nearly two-thirds (62%) of churches saw fewer than 10 people come to Christ for every 100 members. Churches that pray for their neighbors, then step out in faith to share Christ can move beyond stagnation. They can “level up” and become a church that grows through conversions as they share and show the love of Jesus.
2. Start New Works to Reach New People.
Churches that level up from “adding” to “reproducing” view evangelism not only as person-to-person, but also a church-to-community. Reproducing churches plant new churches with intentionality, providing financial and ministerial support. Unfortunately, only 7% of churches in the survey have reached this fourth, reproducing level.
Church planting is one of the most effective ways to reach people with the gospel. Evangelistic church plants prioritize reaching the unchurched and dechurched, contextualizing the message without compromising its truth. Thriving churches see planting as a natural extension of their participation in God’s mission, investing resources and prayer into starting new congregations.
Evangelistic church planting requires a deep commitment to missional thinking. Such thinking goes beyond merely replicating existing models of “doing church.” Instead, it adapts to the unique cultural context of the mission––urban cores, rural towns or multicultural communities. Evangelistic church plants prioritize reaching people where they are.
The apostle Paul described his own approach to the Corinthians: “To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law—to win those under the law. To those who are without the law, like one without the law—though I am not without God’s law but under the law of Christ—to win those without the law. To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some” (1 Cor. 9:20–22).
Healthy churches also view church planting as an opportunity to cultivate partnerships. By collaborating with networks, denominations or other like-minded churches, they can leverage resources, share best practices, and extend their reach. This collaborative approach reflects the unity of the body of Christ and amplifies the impact of evangelism.
3. Develop Leaders for Multiplication.
The most startling finding of the “Becoming Five” study is that less than 1% of churches had actually reached Level 5: multiplication.
No, you didn’t misread that.
The survey found that almost no churches are planting evangelistic, multiplying churches that, in turn, plant more evangelistic, multiplying churches. While the solution to the lack of Level 5 churches is multifaceted, I think one major issue to address is the need to develop evangelistic church planters.
Churches committed to evangelism must think beyond their own walls, creating evangelistic church pipelines that train and send the next generation of church planters. These pipelines ensure that the work of evangelism continues to grow and multiply as leaders are equipped and sent out.
One leader of a fruitful, multiplying church remarked recently, “Maybe we should focus less on getting pastors to become evangelistic church planters and focus more on training evangelists to plant churches.” Leadership pipelines should begin with identifying and investing in potential leaders who are already actively doing evangelism. Healthy churches can then create pathways for future leaders to grow in their gifting, providing mentorship, theological training and hands-on ministry experience.
Residency programs, internships and apprenticeships are practical ways to develop leaders within the local church. Such programs immerse future leaders in the life of the church, allowing them to learn by doing. As they gain experience, they will be better prepared to lead new ministries, plant churches and engage in global missions.
All the while, the focus must never shift from the main calling of evangelism.
Building a Culture of Evangelism
Evangelistic churches share a commitment to seeing lives transformed by the gospel. Whether through equipping individuals, planting churches or developing leaders, the call to evangelism remains clear: We are sent to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to a world in desperate need of hope.
We need more Level 5 churches that have a vision for multiplication. We accomplish that through churches building a culture of prayerful evangelism and evangelistic prayer, integrating this vision into every aspect of their ministries. Evangelism isn’t just a program; it’s a lifestyle. Evangelism isn’t only the communication of a set of information; it’s an all-encompassing call to live gospel-sharing lives with those around us. From the pulpit to the pew, the message of the gospel should permeate the life of every church and the people within it. Leaders must consistently cast vision, celebrate wins, and challenge members to live out their faith boldly.
Finally, churches must remember that evangelism is ultimately the work of the Holy Spirit. While we are called to be faithful in planting and watering, only God can ultimately give growth to our churches (1 Cor. 3:6). Thriving churches depend on his power, trusting that he will use their efforts to bring about transformation.
In a world that desperately needs the hope of Christ, the call to evangelism has never been more urgent. By equipping church people, planting churches and developing leaders, we can level up our churches, reflecting God’s heart as we share and show the love of Jesus for his glory.