I have spent the last four decades establishing/planting local churches as well as overseeing them. As a result, I have learned several lessons as it relates to the success and failure of churches.  In this article, I will pinpoint several salient issues related to church plants that can make or break them. My frame of reference will be New York City, the city in which I live and work. 

In reading Scripture, I am convinced that the devil cannot close a local church or denomination. Jesus said in Matthew 16 that the gates of hell cannot prevail against the Church. Jesus also said in Revelation 2:5 that He would remove the lampstand if there was no repentance. This lampstand was the Church (Revelation 1:20). 

I have given my life in the service of Christ’s Body. I firmly believe that God’s plan for the local Church is that it will be the means in which His divine purpose for the earth is fulfilled. 

The following are some of the main reasons why I believe many Church plants fail:

1. The lead pastor never heard from God that he was to launch a church.

I am old fashioned and believe that the first and foremost question a prospective pioneering pastor should ask is, “Did God give me the assignment to start a church?” Asking this question follows the biblical model. Jesus personally called His twelve disciples to be fishers of men (Mark 1:17, Mark 3:13-15). I have found that leading a local church is so tricky that you will not be able to endure the significant challenges you will face unless you are convinced God has called you to serve as a pastor. If someone launches a church merely because they think it is a good thing to do, or because they need a way of making a living, they will quit once the fiery trials come their way.

2. The lead pastor and family are not acclimated to the culture of the city.

Many gifted church planters have walked away from their church because they could not adjust to the challenges of living in a complex metro area like NYC. Before one launches a church in a new city, my advice would be to live in it for several years. I would suggest that one serves as a secondary leader in a local congregation in that new city before becoming a lead pastor.

3. The high cost of living becomes burdensome.

Most church plants will have a difficult time sustaining themselves for more than a few years if they do not have an adequate financial pipeline from a Mother Church or a denomination. The cost of living is high in a city like New York compared to most other places in the world. As a result, it is essential to have adequate planning as the cost must be counted before the church is launched. My wife and I began a church in NYC in the 1980s without neither money nor a church planting team. To make matters even more challenging, we planted the church in a very rough community that was replete with drug-related violent crime and witchcraft. Despite such seemingly insurmountable handicaps, we have lasted. This is because we were sent by the word of the Lord which was confirmed by our Pastor and our Mother Church.

4. The leaders are not rooted in the gospel.

Some church plants have a lead pastor and core team with grave theological differences which often hinder their ability to walk together in unity  (Amos 3:3). In the process and rigors of church planting, as the pastoral team works together, they are forced to confront their character flaws, doctrinal differences, and leadership styles. If those are not appropriately addressed, then the team will fall apart. 

5. Churches do not own a facility. 

Most new congregations will not have the money to purchase a facility and may often resort to renting a public school. While the price of renting may be cost-effective, the church is often put in a situation in which they are at the mercy of the Mayor. These churches end up being adversely affected when such government officials decide to change policies in an attempt to evict these churches. Some pastors in Manhattan think they have to toe the line very carefully when it comes to preaching controversial social issues because they may risk getting evicted.  Congregations that do not rent from a public school usually have to pay exorbitant rents for a different location. Not owning a facility puts the church at the mercy of a landlord who can decide to raise the rent. They often have to move frequently from facility to facility, which makes it harder to grow a church with stability and consistency.

6. Churches build upon talent, not committed disciples.

Often new churches are so desperate for ministry volunteers that they will place people in leadership (like the worship team), who are not committed and mature disciples. This eventually causes frustration to the lead pastor because these immature people often act out of their egos, become unreliable when the thrill of the new plant is gone, or when they do not get their way.

7. The core team of the church doesn’t have a common DNA.

Another issue I see is when church planting teams do not share the same vision. It’s important that the team has a history together before it plants. This ensures that they all have a common DNA as it relates to their values, methodologies, style of leadership, and mission. Teams that are put together too fast or without prior relational capital have a higher risk of failure due to division and lack of unity.

8. Churches were never adequately prepared and sent from a mother church or denomination.

Many lead pastors start without being sent from a Mother church, an association of churches, or a denomination. I have known of many independent churches led by a pastor who split off from another congregation. Churches that start in an unbiblical manner tend to have a short shelf life. The biblical model is found in the way the leaders of Antioch heard from God and sent Barnabas and Saul to plant local churches (Acts 13:1-2). Every lead pastor was either “sent” or just “went.”

9. The lead pastor is not functioning in one of the five-fold ministry gifts. 

In Ephesians 4:11-12, we learn that God calls individual leaders to operate in one of five ministry gifts, which are for the edifying of Christ’s Church. If a person is not functioning in one of these five gifts (apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher, evangelist), they have no business attempting to serve as a lead pastor and will not be graced to equip His church as an overseer. In my estimation, many lead pastors are not functioning five-fold ministers, rather they are people with a good heart who want to love and serve the Flock of God.  In many of these cases these pastors are better suited to be deacons, elders, administrators, or staff pastors/counselors. They do not have the anointing, grace, and leadership capacity to pioneer or lead an assembly.

Purchase Joseph Mattera’s latest book, “The Jesus Principles”, available now on Amazon here.

In Brooklyn, NY, where I live, there were dozens of old church buildings spread along a main avenue that had thriving congregations. Some of these buildings have been torn down and redeveloped, while others are used to hold social programs or are rented out to other newer congregations. I pondered this and have concluded that there are ten primary reasons established churches eventually fail.

1. Churches eventually fail because they are not intergenerational. 

Many of the churches in my community were attended by older people who failed to pass down their faith to their children. When I first moved into the community, I noticed that most of the believers in these churches were over 60 years of age. Today, there are still many large congregations populated primarily with older people. The probability of these churches existing in two decades is small. 

2. Churches eventually fail because they refuse to adapt to the changing demographics. 

Many churches refuse to reach beyond the culture and predominant ethnic makeup of their congregation. It is the job of the lead pastor and elders to continually analyze their community’s changing demographics so they can stay ahead of the curve. I once warned a group of pastors that they would not have a church in 20 years if they did not adapt their strategies to the rapid gentrification taking place in their communities. To reach specific people groups, a church has to focus on developing leaders who can effectively represent that group. Eventually, such leaders should be given a prominent role in decision-making and public ministry.

3. Churches eventually fail because they use old methodologies. 

The outreach strategies and methods of ministry in some churches are the same today as they were 40 years ago! Churches need to dress, speak, relate to the congregation, and evangelize in a way that is relevant to the current culture without compromising the Gospel. In the same way, we are called to exegete Scripture and exegete our communities if we want to continue to thrive.

4. The churches lose the zeal of its founding members.

Many established churches initially start with great passion and vision, but eventually lose their fervor. They morph into an organization that merely consolidates, maintains, and administrates their image with the next generation. The beginning of every mainline Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox denomination was marked as a thriving, apostolic movement. It is the challenge of every established church to generationally pass on the torch of their original vision and zeal so that their love for Christ does not dissipate. Established churches that lose their vision and zeal eventually go from power to programs, revival to routines, and community transformation to perpetuating mere church traditions.

5. The churches fail in their succession plan.

Indeed, there is no success without a successor! Established churches that pick the wrong lead pastor to succeed the original apostolic visionary risk losing everything they built. Succession is tricky, often messy, and hard to map out since every local church has a different culture, context, and community. Succession planning needs to be done with prayer, fasting, inside and outside consultation, and with checks and balances. In most cases, the best successor is usually a spiritual son of the congregation, who already has within him the DNA and vision of the house.

6. The core leaders lose their oneness.

Satan’s number one plan to thwart the vision of a local church is to sow seeds of discord, disunity, and division in the ranks of the elders and leaders of a congregation. Churches that fail to maintain biblical oneness amongst their essential leadership will have a rocky road ahead due to the intense spiritual warfare and complexities in which every church has to navigate. Only a strong, unified core team will continue to move forward and perpetuate their vision. Leaders have to “keep first things first” and learn to overlook petty differences for the sake of Kingdom advancement.

7. Churches succumb to the values of secular culture.

Many established denominational and independent churches have gradually gone down the slippery slope of secular accommodation. To be relevant and accepted by the surrounding community, church movements and denominations have accepted cultural norms that are antithetical to biblical values and ethics. When churches allow the culture to inform their ethics and values instead of Scripture, they lose their distinction from the world and begin to decline. All historical Protestant denominations that have embraced liberal theological constructs have been seen to rapidly lose members; It’s not surprising that some have even died off. The only churches that are continuing to grow worldwide are Evangelical churches that are biblically based. Jesus said if the salt has lost its saltiness, it is good for nothing but to be trampled under the feet of men (Matthew 5:13). Churches that cease to reflect His light fail to be salty and risk being closed down by the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 2:5).

8. There is no provision for a lack of vision.

Proverbs 29:18 teaches us that without a vision, the people become discouraged or perish. When there is no longer any compelling vision in an established church, there will not be enough volunteers motivated to serve in the ministry, and the finances will rapidly drop (Psalm 110:3). God only gives provision for that which reflects His Vision.

9. There is no long-term financial solution.

If at all possible, established churches that own their building should attempt to utilize their facilities to support their ministry financially. Whether it is developing their property or renting space to another entity, creating an income stream enables a church to function even if their tithes and offerings drop. Creating a long-term financial base is a wise move to compensate for the uncertainties of a church’s life.

10. Churches lose their prophetic edge.

Established churches that fail to maintain consistent corporate prayer and fasting, eventually lose their prophetic edge and operate according to fleshly wisdom. This results in them missing divine opportunities, kairos moments, and presumptuously making decisions that result in a loss of momentum, key people, and Kingdom advancement. When lead pastors, elders, and core members are too busy to spend quality time seeking God together, they will miss what the Spirit is saying to the Church and will continue down the road to failure (Revelation 2:7).

In conclusion, my prayer is that every church planted by God will last for generations and be effective until Jesus returns for His Bride.

Purchase Joseph Mattera’s latest book, “The Jesus Principles”, available now on Amazon here.