Is Your Church Really Successful? Maybe You're Keeping the Wrong Score.

Pastor Doug Beutler

How do you know if something is really working?

Even more challenging, how do you know if your church or ministry is truly moving in the right direction?

For decades, churches have measured success by what many have called the "Three Bs"—Butts, Budgets, and Buildings. How many people attended? How much money came in? How large is the facility?

Those numbers may tell part of the story, but they don't necessarily tell the story that matters most to Jesus.

The Scorecard Is Changing

The Church is changing.

The statistics tell us that. Pastors tell us that. Congregations tell us that. But more importantly, Scripture calls us to something much deeper than simply gathering crowds.

A growing number of churches are discovering that the real questions aren't about attendance charts or giving reports. Instead, they're asking:

• Are we building authentic relationships?

• Are we having spiritual conversations?

• Are we walking alongside people toward spiritual maturity?

• Are we making disciples who make disciples?

That's a completely different scorecard.

And I believe it's the scorecard Jesus intended all along.

Why I Love the Discipleship Tree

One of the reasons I am so passionate about the Discipleship Tree is that it helps churches measure what truly matters.

Rather than focusing solely on how many people show up on Sunday, the Discipleship Tree helps us see:

• Who is intentionally building relationships.

• Who is discipling others.

• Who is multiplying disciple-makers.

• How many generations of discipleship are taking place.

The tree isn't simply about recording names. It's a tool that allows pastors to evaluate spiritual fruit.

As we look at those relationships, we begin asking better questions:

• Are people taking meaningful next steps in their faith?

• Are they demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit?

• Are they spending time in God's Word?

• Are they developing a consistent prayer life?

• Are they having spiritual conversations with people who don't know Christ?

• Are they participating in Bible studies?

• Are they gathering faithfully for worship?

• Are they serving others?

• Most importantly...are they multiplying?

If those things are happening, healthy discipleship is taking place.

If they're not, we know there is a problem we need to address.

The Fruit We're Seeing

Over the past several months, I've had the privilege of walking alongside pastors throughout the Seeds of Change Network with my good friend Jeff Horsman. Together we've worked with churches to develop their Discipleship Trees.

One thing has become abundantly clear.

God is at work.

Lives are changing.

Disciple-makers are multiplying.

People are growing spiritually.

In fact, I honestly believe there are churches that might not even be open today—or would still be stuck in years of decline—had they continued focusing only on attendance instead of intentionally making disciples.

The Numbers Are In

This spring, we surveyed every participating church in the Seeds of Change Network and created a Discipleship Tree for each congregation.

At the time, 21 churches were part of the network.

Here's what we discovered:

• Average weekend worship attendance: 46

• Average disciple-makers per church: 9

• Average people being intentionally discipled: 72

• 62% of churches had disciples reaching the third generation

• 38% had disciples reaching the fourth generation

Read that again.

The average church in our network is intentionally discipling 56% more people than attend its Sunday worship service.

Collectively, these 21 churches represent:

• 958 average weekend worshipers

• 192 disciple-makers

• 1,520 people currently being discipled

Think about that.

When was the last time you heard of a church with almost 1,000 people attending on Sunday but intentionally discipling more than 1,500 people?

That's a different kind of success.

That's Kingdom success.

Bigger Isn't Always Better

For far too long we've assumed that small churches have little to offer the Kingdom—that they should simply merge into larger churches because bigger automatically means better.

I don't believe that's true.

Small churches possess incredible strengths.

They build deeper relationships.

They know their communities.

They can respond quickly.

And when they embrace disciple-making, they often become multiplication movements that far exceed what their attendance numbers would ever suggest.

The churches in the Seeds of Change Network are proving exactly that.

Most of these churches will probably never become megachurches.

And that's okay.

Because they're becoming something even more important.

They're becoming churches that make disciples who make disciples.

A New Definition of Success

I believe these churches are on the leading edge of what God is doing to bring spiritual renewal to communities across our nation.

The scorecard is changing.

When we begin measuring what Jesus actually commanded us to do instead of simply counting who showed up on Sunday, we discover something remarkable.

God has been moving all along.

Maybe we've just been keeping the wrong score.

Praise the Lord—God is on the move.

Seeds of Change Advances to the Finals of the Next Ventures Shark Tank

We are excited to announce that Seeds of Change has been selected as a finalist in the Next Ventures Shark Tank!

After completing yet another application process, Seeds of Change was chosen as one of only 12 ministries invited to participate in this unique event. The invitation-only competition will take place in Jacksonville, Florida, on September 29–30, where ministries from across the country will present their vision and ministry models before Christian leaders, ministry partners, and denominational representatives.

What a Journey!

For those who may not know the story, this journey actually began back in March at the Exponential National Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Seeds of Change applied for the opportunity to pitch our ministry as part of the Next Ventures initiative. We later learned that approximately 450 ministries submitted applications, and only about 40–50 were selected to make presentations.

Our assignment was simple but challenging: present the ministry in seven minutes, followed by three minutes of questions from the panel.

One question caught me completely by surprise. The very first thing they asked was:

"How can we help you?"

That question revealed the heart behind the event. This wasn't simply a competition—it was an opportunity for ministry leaders to come alongside organizations seeking to expand God's Kingdom.

At the conclusion of the presentation, we were told that finalists would be notified within a couple of weeks. Two weeks later, I received an email informing us that Seeds of Change would be advancing to the next round. Another application followed, and then came the waiting.

Learning to Wait

If I'm honest, waiting is not one of my strengths.

I like answers. I like clarity. I like knowing what comes next.

Yet over and over again, God has led me into seasons of waiting. While they are rarely comfortable, they have consistently proven to be good for my soul. Waiting forces me to trust God's timing rather than my own.

Nearly two months later, another email arrived.

Seeds of Change had been selected to advance to the finals.

The emotions were difficult to describe.

I felt humbled that God had opened this door and that others saw value in what Seeds of Change is doing.

I felt excited about the opportunities that might come from this experience.

I felt terrified at the prospect of pitching before influential Christian leaders, Exponential partners, network leaders, and denominational representatives.

And if I'm being completely transparent, I also felt that familiar knot in my stomach that whispers:

"What are you doing? This is way outside your comfort zone!"

Following the Holy Spirit's Lead

This entire experience has been another reminder of what it means to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Step by step, I have simply tried to be faithful to where Jesus is leading. Looking back, I can clearly see that God has opened this door far wider than I ever imagined possible.

On September 28, my wife and I will travel to Jacksonville for two days of presentations, conversations, and ministry networking. Along with hearing 9-11 other ministries share their vision, we will also be leading a one-hour breakout session where we can introduce Seeds of Change more fully and answer questions from ministry leaders.

At the end of the event, the ministries will be ranked from first through twelfth place. Every ministry will receive some level of support, with the grand prize reaching up to $25,000.

Why This Matters

While the financial support would certainly be helpful, what excites me most is the opportunity to expand the mission of Seeds of Change.

Our passion is helping pastors and churches—specifically churches with fewer than 100 people—create multiplying disciple-making movements.

Across the world, God is stirring revival on multiple fronts. One of the most surprising places where He is moving powerfully is within the small church.

For years, many people have overlooked the potential of small congregations. Yet we are witnessing God do extraordinary things through faithful pastors and ordinary believers who are committed to making disciples who make disciples.

We have seen this happening within our own church and throughout the Seeds of Change network. Lives are being transformed, leaders are being developed, and new disciple-making movements are emerging.

As we prepare for Jacksonville, we are grateful for your prayers and support. Most of all, we are eager to see what God will do next.

The journey continues, and we believe the best is yet to come.

Don’t Retire Your Greatest Disciple-Making Resource

By Pastor Doug Beutler

“I don’t feel needed at my church anymore.”

“People tell me I’m too old to make a difference.”

“The leadership says I don’t fit the image they’re looking for on the platform.”

“My ideas are dismissed as outdated.”

These are not uncommon sentiments among many Baby Boomers in our churches today. Many have entered retirement, are searching for renewed purpose, and are wondering where they fit in the life of the church.

What many church leaders fail to realize is that these men and women may be some of the most effective disciple-makers in their congregation.

If your church is unintentionally sending Baby Boomers into ministry retirement, you may be overlooking one of your greatest disciple-making assets.

1. They Have Time

One of the greatest challenges younger adults face in disciple-making is simply finding time.

Recently, a young father shared with me how much he loves discipling others, but with three children under the age of five, he struggles to find the energy and availability to invest consistently in people.

A working mother expressed a similar frustration. Between a full-time job, a son involved in marching band, and a daughter playing volleyball, she found it difficult to carve out time for intentional disciple-making relationships.

Most Baby Boomers are no longer carrying those same responsibilities. Their schedules are often more flexible. They can meet someone for coffee in the middle of the day, spend extended time in conversation, or invest consistently in relationships without the demands that younger generations face.

One man in our church, now in his seventies, visits Starbucks three or four times each week. Several years ago, during Pride Month, he questioned whether he should continue supporting the business. As he prayed, he sensed the Holy Spirit asking him, “Shouldn’t you be a light here?” That simple question changed his perspective. He began intentionally building relationships with employees, customers, and regular visitors. Conversations turned into friendships. Friendships opened doors for ministry. Today, he continues to impact lives simply because he has the time to be present and available.

2. They Have Experience

Experience is often one of the greatest teachers.

I remember seeing a commercial featuring an elderly man living in an assisted living facility. At first glance, he appeared to be an ordinary retiree. Then the narrator began listing his life accomplishments: World War II veteran, successful executive, pioneer in medical advancement, husband for sixty years, father, grandfather, and mentor.

Suddenly, you realized there was an incredible story behind the face.

Many Baby Boomers carry decades of life experience that can be invaluable in disciple-making.

Disciple-making is not simply teaching a class. It involves walking with people through real-life challenges. Divorce, job loss, financial struggles, family conflict, emotional wounds, mental health challenges, betrayal, and past trauma often surface in discipling relationships.

Older believers have often faced many of these challenges themselves. Their wisdom, perspective, and testimony can help younger disciples navigate difficult seasons with faith and perseverance.

Their experience doesn’t make them experts in every situation, but it often gives them the credibility and maturity to connect them to resources and walk alongside others through life’s most difficult moments.

3. They Are Looking for Purpose

Retirement can be a difficult transition.

After decades of working, leading, raising families, and serving in various roles, many retirees wrestle with questions of purpose and significance. Feelings of boredom, loneliness, and uncertainty are common.

Disciple-making offers a powerful answer.

Investing in others provides meaningful relationships, a renewed sense of mission, and the opportunity to continue making an eternal impact.

One retired couple in our church experienced this firsthand. A friend of theirs moved into an assisted living facility and, after a few weeks, asked if they would be willing to start a Bible study for residents.

As they explored the opportunity, they discovered there was virtually no spiritual ministry taking place in the facility. They approached me with a simple question:

“Could we start a satellite campus there?”

Our answer was immediate: “Absolutely.”

Because they were already engaged in disciple-making, we began helping them prepare for this new ministry. Watching their excitement grow as God opened doors and transformed lives has been inspiring. What began as a simple Bible study has become a meaningful ministry bringing hope and spiritual growth to residents who might otherwise have little access to Christian fellowship.

Don’t Overlook Your Greatest Resource

Church leaders, don’t underestimate the potential of the Baby Boomers sitting in your pews.

They have time.

They have life experience.

They are searching for purpose.

Rather than viewing retirement as the end of ministry, let’s see it as the beginning of a new season of Kingdom impact.

Some of the most effective disciple-makers in your church may not be the youngest, trendiest, or most visible people in the room. They may be the retired men and women whom God has been preparing for decades to invest in the next generation.

Don’t retire them.

Mobilize them.

Doors Opening: Seeds of Change and the NEXT Ventures Opportunity

By Pastor Doug

As Seeds of Change continues to grow, it’s been exciting to watch how God keeps opening new doors. One of the key people He has used in this journey is Jason Stewart, Executive Director of Mobilization for Exponential - a global organization committed to advancing church planting and disciple-making movements.

A few months ago, Jason encouraged me to consider pitching Seeds of Change at the NEXT Ventures Shark Tank event. This annual gathering highlights innovative ministry leaders who are actively shaping the future of the Church. Each year, 12 leaders are selected to present initiatives that are already making an impact and have the potential to multiply. Those chosen receive not only funding, but also coaching, visibility, and strategic connections to help accelerate their mission.

In January, I submitted an application for the opportunity to pitch at the Exponential Global Conference in Orlando in March. By February, I received word that Seeds of Change had been selected. Out of approximately 350-400 applicants, the field had been narrowed down to around 40 ministries—an encouraging and humbling moment.

The process was both simple and intense: submit the application, attend the conference, and deliver a precise seven-minute pitch - no more, no less - followed by three minutes of questions from a panel of four judges.

My turn came on Wednesday, March 18th at 3:13 p.m. I was the final presenter in a group of four. The presenter before me shared an impressive vision of planting micro-churches around the world using breakdancing as a way to reach people - a tough act to follow.

When I stepped up, I simply told our story.

I shared how LifeWater Community Church has, over the past 13 years, transitioned from a Level 2 church - a church that has plateaued - to a Level 4 multiplying church. Today, we are seeing disciple-making extend to the third and fourth generation, and we’ve helped plant other churches - all without growing beyond 100 people. That story is what Seeds of Change is built on: helping small churches become multiplying churches.

After the pitch, I was told I would be notified whether I would advance to the next stage—an opportunity to present at the national event in Houston this September.

No matter what happens next, one thing is clear: God is moving.

And I can’t wait to see where He leads next.

What a ride.