GREEN PASTORS: Looking Ahead - The Next Ten Years
The cultural, technological and demographic shifts we are witnessing today will accelerate in the years ahead. For many, these changes provoke anxiety. Will our churches survive? Will we reach the next generation? Will faithfulness mean fading into irrelevance?
While the next decade’s challenges are real, so are the opportunities. As a green pastor, I see the coming years not as a crisis to endure but as a frontier to explore. The value of a younger perspective includes creativity — seeing beyond obstacles to embrace new ways of fulfilling the Great Commission. We can navigate these shifts with a clear vision if we take a biblical approach. Here are some key challenges I predict will face our churches in the next 10 years and how we can respond faithfully:
• Cultural Shifts and the Opportunity for Biblical Clarity — We are witnessing the rapid secularization of American culture. Biblical Christianity’s values are increasingly at odds with the mainstream. I see this divide when I speak with my neighbors and community members. I see it especially clearly when I visit with my unchurched family. Topics like gender, sexuality, religious liberty and absolute truth are likely to remain battlegrounds where the church must take a stand. Consequently, this divide will continue to increase.
We have an opportunity for biblical clarity. Instead of retreating into fear or compromising truth, churches can recommit to teaching sound doctrine (II Tim. 4:2-3). The next decade will require us to become places of both grace and truth — where the unchanging Word of God is preached with conviction and applied with compassion. We must equip believers to engage the world with wisdom, not as cultural warriors but as ambassadors of Christ.
• Declining Attendance and the Opportunity for Discipleship — Several sources have widely reported the trend of declining church attendance, especially among younger generations. Even young pastors struggle to keep young people engaged. We must not sacrifice discipleship for entertainment.
Instead of chasing relevance, the next 10 years are fertile ground to double down on true discipleship. Jesus did not call us to make converts but disciples. Churches focusing on relational, life-on-life discipleship will retain younger believers and raise a new generation of leaders. This means shifting from a passive church model to an active one — where every believer can grow and share their faith with others.
• Leadership Transitions and the Opportunity for Equipping New Leaders — Many small churches will face pastoral transitions in the next decade as more experienced pastors transition to self-supported ministry. Our challenge is twofold — a shortage of young men entering pastoral ministry, and many churches are unprepared for leadership transitions.
Our opportunity concerns raising up leaders from within. Churches must return to the biblical model of training faithful men who can teach others (II Tim. 2:2). We need to develop a culture that recognizes and empowers churches to equip young men for the ministry. I anticipate that only the churches that have successfully done this will be the ones thriving 10 years from now.
• Technology and the Opportunity for Gospel Advancement — Technology will continue to shape how people interact with the world. Churches need to decide how to engage with technology if they are to be successful. Despite my youthful status, I am among those who have resisted digital tools. Still, the reality that technology is here to stay demands our attention. If used wisely and discerningly, technology can become a powerful evangelistic tool.
The Apostle Paul used the tools of his day — letters, Roman roads and public forums to advance the gospel. We are stewards of the available digital platforms. Do we use them to reach people with the Word of God? Whether through live-streamed services, online Bible studies or social media evangelism, technology can help small churches expand their reach without compromising biblical integrity.
• Financial Struggles and the Opportunity for Greater Faithfulness — Among our work, many churches operate on tight budgets. Our financial pressures will increase in the next decade. As costs rise and giving patterns shift, churches must learn to steward their resources in a way that is relevant to our times.
Our opportunity here can be found in embracing greater faithfulness in giving and financial planning. Churches need to teach biblical stewardship and encourage their members to give as an act of worship. Additionally, churches must allocate resources wisely by prioritizing missions, discipleship and community impact over unnecessary expenses.
• Evangelism in a Post-Christian World and the Opportunity for Personal Witness — The days when people naturally came to church are fading. Many in our communities have little exposure to Christianity and are skeptical of organized religion.
The next decade will require a shift from attractional evangelism to relational evangelism. Instead of expecting people to attend church independently, we must go to them. Every believer must be trained and encouraged to share their faith. Personal evangelism — through relationships, hospitality and community engagement — is key to reaching the lost.
• Bi-Vocational Labor and the Opportunity for Associational Involvement — We continue to see churches post opportunities for bi-vocational service on job boards. However, I’ve never met a bi-vocational pastor with “part-time” responsibilities. Having served in a bi-vocational role for the first five years of my ministry, I’m familiar with the struggle.
Among our work, we have a tremendous opportunity to empower small churches with men who can serve full-time in ministry while splitting their attention between the church and our departments and parachurch ministries. The opportunity to share ministry ownership in meaningful ways as an association remains untapped.
Moving Forward in Faith
The challenges ahead are not insurmountable. God has not called us to fear but to faithfulness. Small churches have unique strengths. We tend to be tight-knit communities that possess deep relationships and the ability to adapt with agility. The younger generation brings fresh perspectives that value authenticity, creativity and sharing the mission. If we embrace these strengths, we will not only survive the coming decade, but we will thrive! May we look ahead, not with fear but with expectation, trusting that the God who has sustained His churches since their birth during His life and ministry on earth will continue to do so. The harvest is plentiful; let’s prepare to labor in the fields for years to come (Matt. 9:37-38).
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Derrick Bremer
Derrick A. Bremer grew up in Northwest Arkansas where he met his wife, Michelle, in their 9th grade English class. Derrick surrendered to the gospel ministry in 2018 at Temple Baptist Church of Rogers, Arkansas under the leadership of pastor Wade Allen. Derrick was ordained in 2020 when he was called to serve as the pastor of Denver Street Baptist Church in Greenwood, AR.
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Derrick A. Bremer grew up in Northwest Arkansas where he met his wife, Michelle, in their 9th grade English class. Derrick surrendered to the gospel ministry in 2018 at Temple Baptist Church of Rogers, Arkansas under the leadership of pastor Wade Allen. Derrick was ordained in 2020 when he was called to serve as the pastor of Denver Street Baptist Church in Greenwood, AR.
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