Why Yesterday’s Strategy Might Be Killing Tomorrow’s Growth

“This Is Just How We Do It” Is a Death Sentence

Remember the Montell Jordan song, “This Is How We Do It”?

This could pretty much be the theme song for most churches. I doubt Montrell was thinking about the church when he crafted the song. But the title sure does fit the local church

Your church may be deeply committed to the Gospel…

But if you’re more committed to your methods than your mission, you’re in trouble.

If you, staff, elders, or volunteers often say, “This is how we do it,” the end may be near.

Here’s the part most pastors don’t realize until it’s too late:

Irrelevance doesn’t show up overnight.
It creeps in quietly—one outdated system, one protected program, one “we’ve always done it this way” at a time.

Churches don’t drift because they stop loving Jesus.
They drift because they keep doing 1995 ministry in a 2025 world.

And the scariest part?
You may not even notice the drift—until it shows up in declining attendance, burned-out volunteers, and shrinking community impact.

Models Are Built for Moments—But Moments Change

Your mission is sacred. Your model is not.

Every ministry model was born in a moment—out of a need, a movement, or a meaningful insight.
But if that moment has passed, the strategy should, too.

Healthy churches aren’t afraid to evolve. It’s what keeps them healthy.

They’re willing to:

✅ Evaluate what’s working—and what’s not
✅ Rethink outdated programs and ineffective systems
✅ Kill sacred cows with grace and clarity
✅ Reorganize staff roles around the current mission
✅ Innovate how they reach, disciple, and deploy people

Because leadership isn’t about preserving what is.
It’s about paving the way for what could be.

The churches that thrive tomorrow will be the ones that innovate today.

Make Innovation Part of Your Culture

So here’s the question that matters most right now:

Are we serving our mission or just protecting our model?

If that question makes you squirm a little, that’s actually a good sign.
Discomfort is often the front door to progress.

This week, invite your team into a simple but strategic conversation:

“What’s one part of our ministry that’s no longer helping us reach our mission—and what could we do instead?”

Don’t overcomplicate it.

Just identify one area that feels stuck, tired, or ineffective.
Then start imagining something better.

And most importantly—go first.

Change doesn’t start with a spreadsheet or whiteboard brainstorm.
It starts with a leader willing to ask better questions and take brave steps forward.

You weren’t called to maintain yesterday.

You were called to build for tomorrow.

Stop serving the model.
Start serving the mission.

Quotes to Share

“Irrelevance doesn’t happen overnight. It happens one protected program at a time.”
“Your mission is sacred. Your model isn’t.”
“Healthy churches evaluate, innovate, and evolve—because the mission matters more than the method.”

Call to Action

While this may sound simple, evaluating your model with an open heart and hand is challenging. It’s hard to participate in a conversation of this nature and facilitate. This is why so many churches bring me in for an In-Person Leadership Lab.

 Join a FREE Pressure Valve Session
These live sessions tackle real ministry pressure—like this one—with practical solutions you can use right away.
 Attend a Leadership Lab
Need more than insight? You’ll leave with a practical ministry strategy built around clarity, margin, and growth.
 Take the Pressure Inventory
This free, 5-minute tool will help you identify which of the 7 Deadly Pressures is weighing you down the most.

Leading Through The Pressure Together,
Dr. Gavin Adams