Stay on Mission: How Skyline Is Experiencing Growth Through Evangelism and Discipleship

And again, it’s easy to isolate in those situations. You have to get with other widowers, other guys, because no one else understands. Everyone is compassionate and loving and caring, but they don’t know until they’ve lost a spouse. You need to be around other guys that are walking that and are a little bit ahead of you, further ahead. They can help clear the path, tell you which pitfalls to miss. But you need guys that also are in the middle of it, like you are, and that’s what Refuge does.

You mentioned burnout and how many pastors don’t retire as pastors. What gives you the most hope for the future?

I’m really encouraged to see how the kingdom is growing. [I] look at the talk of revival. And you see at CMA Fest, Brandon Lake and some of these other Christian worship leaders had the biggest venue, and had even more people at their worship event—I don’t even think it was meant to be worship; it just broke out into worship. As I’m reading about it, I’m like, This is unbelievable.

But you’re seeing it everywhere, right? Gen Z is really rising up. And you’re seeing things across the nation that are so encouraging, with churches growing, people coming back to church. For the first time in I don’t know how long, to actually see the numbers of church attendance going up across the nation. That’s super encouraging. Our church clapped loudly a couple weeks ago when I shared that. 

We champion other churches because we get kingdom credit; we don’t get Skyline Church credit at the end of all. We need to champion other churches. That’s why I tell people, “If this church doesn’t fit, don’t give up on church if we’re not your flavor. It might not be the thing for you, but don’t give up on church. Let us connect you to a church.” There are great churches all over San Diego, so I’m encouraged by that. 

People will tell me, “Hey, we used to go to Skyline, but now we’re going over here, and it’s better for this or better for that.” I’m like, “That’s awesome. I’m glad you’re going to church.” I’m encouraged by the mutual excitement of churches. I don’t see a lot of territorial [churches] in San Diego. We’re all for each other, and we want to see people into the kingdom. That excites me.