Pastor Doug Beutler
I get this question all the time: What is Seeds of Change?
Some people think I’m selling a discipleship product. (I’m not).
Some think it’s a new book (maybe someday).
Others assume I’m starting a denomination (absolutely not).
Some imagine a ministerium or a consulting firm (we do some coaching, but Seeds is so much more).
Early on, my wife encouraged me to explain Seeds of Change using an acrostic of the word “SEEDS.” I tried and failed. Tried again and failed. After a year and a half, I finally found the right words. Here is what Seeds of Change really means:
Small Church Network
Seeds of Change exists to serve small churches.
When we started, our focus was on congregations under 100 people. According to the 2020 Faith Communities Today Study, about 70% of U.S. churches are under 100, and the median attendance is only 65. Lifeway research found that 23% have fewer than 50 people each week.
Most networks and denominations define “small church” as under 200, and that’s where we land today. Typically, these churches have fewer than two full-time staff or a mix of several part-time staff. These churches matter deeply to God—and to us.
Encouragement of pastors by pastors
One of our core convictions is that small church pastors understand each other in ways large church pastors often cannot.
Large and small churches are different organisms with different challenges. Researcher Arlin Rothauge discovered that pastors actually have more in common with others of a similar church size than of the same denomination.
At Seeds of Change, pastors from different traditions come together to pray, encourage, and strengthen one another. These times of prayer are consistently the highlight of our quarterly cohorts. One pastor told me, “I wouldn’t even consider Seeds of Change if you weren’t also pastoring a small church.” That says it all.
Education through training and coaching
Discipleship resources are everywhere. A Google search produces thousands of options. If resources alone created disciple-making movements, America would be overflowing with disciples.
But discipleship is not just about curriculum. It’s about life-on-life learning. That’s why we model relational, multiplying disciple-making from the very beginning.
Seeds of Change walks with pastors over the long haul—not just through a weekend retreat or one-time event. We coach, listen, pray, empathize, brainstorm, and share practical steps that help pastors start movements in their churches.
As pastors grow, they multiply what they learn by starting Seeds networks in their own regions. Disciple-making is multiplication, not addition—and we want to embody that from day one.
Denominational Diversity
Jesus prayed in John 17 that His followers would be one. Too often, the Church has fallen into denominational silos, competing rather than collaborating.
Seeds of Change is committed to kingdom unity. We’ve seen Nazarenes and Wesleyans at the same disciple-making table. Missionary Church pastors alongside independents. Evangelical Presbyterians next to Churches of Christ. United Brethren in Christ and former Methodists learning together.
Denominations still serve important purposes, but we all belong to the “Big C” Church. When pastors unite around Jesus’ mission, the world sees a powerful witness of God’s love.
Synergy for Community Impact
Unity leads to trust. Trust leads to cooperation. And cooperation leads to transformation.
We’ve watched churches across the street—once disconnected—now worshiping together. We’ve seen congregations partner for service projects and community meals. And we’ve seen the spark of disciple-making movements ignite in pastors’ hearts, spilling out into their cities.
When pastors catch this vision, excitement grows. Cooperation grows. Mission grows. Impact grows. We are truly better together.
The Dream
My dream is simple: that Seeds of Change will spread one church at a time, one community at a time, one state at a time—until small churches everywhere are equipped and encouraged to multiply disciples of Jesus Christ.
