Today, we're diving deep into the leadership crisis that's strangling 90% of American churches. Yes, you heard that right - nine out of ten churches are dying a slow death because they lack one critical ingredient. And I'm going to show you exactly how to address it. Whether you're a pastor, board member, or someone faithfully sitting in the seats thinking, 'this doesn't apply to me' - stick around. Because by the end of this episode, you'll know exactly why your church's future depends on YOU stepping up, and I'll give you a proven framework to do it. 

"When you step into leadership, you're not just helping with a program - you're creating a culture."

Other Quotes in this episode:

"Church vitality isn't about size - it's about health. And health comes when people like you step up."

"The question isn't whether you're qualified - the question is whether you're available. The question isn't whether you have all the answers - the question is whether you're willing to learn."

"Leadership isn't about having a title. It's about influence. And if people come to you for advice, if they trust you with their problems, if they look to you when things get tough - you're already leading."

_____________________________

* Since data shifts are continual and explanding, statistics and data may change or shift prior to this episode launch. 

Data:
¹ Hartford Institute for Religion Research. (2021). Twenty Years of Congregational Change: The 2020 Faith Communities Today Overview. Faith Communities Today. Retrieved from https://faithcommunitiestoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Faith-Communities-Today-2020-Summary-Report.pdf
² Thumma, S., & Bird, W. (2020). Megachurch 2020: The Changing Reality in America's Largest Churches. Hartford Institute for Religion Research. Retrieved from https://hirr.hartsem.edu/megachurch/megachurches.html
³ LifeWay Research. (2022). 7 Aspects of Healthy Church Leadership. LifeWay Christian Resources. Retrieved from https://research.lifeway.com/2022/06/06/7-aspects-of-healthy-church-leadership/
Church Growth & Decline Statistics:
⁴ Cooperative Congregational Studies Partnership. (2021). FACT 2020 Survey Results: 15,278 congregations across 80 denominations. Faith Communities Today. Retrieved from https://faithcommunitiestoday.org/fact-2020-survey/
⁵ Barna Group. (2023). A New Chapter in Millennial Church Attendance. Barna Research. Retrieved from https://www.barna.com/research/church-attendance-2022/
⁶ Barna Group. (2024). Small Churches Struggle to Grow Because Of The People They Attract. Barna Research. Retrieved from https://www.barna.com/research/small-churches-struggle-to-grow-because-of-the-people-they-attract/
Evangelism & Commitment Data:
⁷ LifeWay Research. (2022). 22 Vital Stats for Ministry in 2022. LifeWay Christian Resources. Retrieved from https://research.lifeway.com/2022/01/05/22-vital-stats-for-ministry-in-2022/
⁸ Barna Group. (2023). Year in Review: Barna's Top 10 Releases of 2023. Barna Research. Retrieved from https://www.barna.com/research/year-in-review-2023/
Leadership Development Research:
⁹ LifeWay Research. (2025). Equipping Men for Spiritual Leadership at Home and in the Church. LifeWay Christian Resources. Retrieved from https://research.lifeway.com/2025/07/17/equipping-men-for-spiritual-leadership-at-home-and-in-the-church/
¹⁰ Barna Group. (2023). Five Trends Defining Americans' Relationship to Churches. Barna Research. Retrieved from https://www.barna.com/research/current-perceptions/

Data Collection Periods Noted:

Most statistics reflect pre-pandemic (2019-2020) or post-pandemic (2021-2025) data.

Gary Moritz continues his powerful conversation with Mac Lake, diving deep into the heart of leadership development.

This episode reveals the game-changing shift from traditional leadership training to intentional discipleship. Mac challenges pastors to stop just filling roles and start discipling leaders who multiply other leaders.

You'll discover why leading like Jesus requires a different approach than living like Jesus.

What You'll Discover:

Theme: From leadership development to discipleship multiplication

Key Insights:

Resources:

This conversation transforms how you think about developing leaders. You'll shift from filling positions to discipling people, creating a multiplication culture that extends Kingdom impact far beyond what you can do alone.

Action Step: Stop training leaders and start discipling them. Get the free resources to build a culture of multiplication in your church.

In this episode, Gary Moritz talks about how summer is not just a break—it's a blessing. He challenges pastors to reframe these slower months as a sacred opportunity for both personal and church-wide renewal.

Gary walks through practical ways pastors can lean into rest, reconnect with their calling, and reimagine the health of their ministry. From spiritual renewal to leadership development, he outlines how summer can become a season of deep soul work that leads to lasting church revitalization. 

Gary Covers: Why summer matters more than we think; it’s a gift of margin for the soul. How to reset spiritually, physically, emotionally, and relationally.

The link between your health and your church’s health—they rise and fall together. Practical rhythms for July and August: personal retreats, leadership touchpoints, and family reconnection.

How to say yes to rest without guilt, and no to distractions without regret. Sabbath as a strategy, not just a suggestion, and why every pastor needs it now more than ever. How to close the summer stronger, ready for a powerful fall launch.

Takeaway: Summer is your chance to gain altitude, not to coast, but to climb. Rest isn’t weakness. It’s preparation. The clarity, healing, and vision you gain now will ripple into every sermon, decision, and relationship come fall. Take five minutes after this episode to pray and commit to one next step toward rest and renewal. Your ministry depends on it. 

Need help? Take the free assessment here, and let's book a call together. 

Join Gary Moritz as he sits down with Mac Lake, founder of The Multiply Group, for a game-changing conversation about church leadership development. Mac reveals why every pastor says "We don't have enough leaders" and introduces the leadership pipeline framework that transforms struggling churches into thriving communities.

This episode unpacks practical solutions for the leadership crisis facing churches today.

What You'll Discover:

- The real reason churches struggle to develop leaders
- What a leadership pipeline is and why your church needs one - Warning signs your leadership development is broken
- One high-leverage step you can take today 

 Resources Mentioned:
- Free eBook: multiplygroup.org/ebook
The Multiplication Effect (full framework) 

This conversation equips you to identify leadership gaps in your church and provides a clear framework to build leaders who multiply Kingdom impact. 

In this powerful episode, hosts Gary and Jana Moritz open up about the often-overlooked emotional challenges of church revitalization. Drawing from their decade-long experience at City United Church, they explore the personal cost of ministry leadership—from anxiety and isolation to spiritual warfare and leadership loneliness. The episode provides honest insights and practical strategies for maintaining emotional health while navigating the demanding journey of church transformation.

On this episode of Vitalnomics, we're diving into a topic that often makes people uncomfortable – money.

Did you know that U.S. Christians collectively make $5.2 trillion annually? That's nearly half the world's total Christian income. Yet despite this wealth, many churches struggle to keep their doors open.

Today, we're joined by Dr. Terry Dorsett, Executive Director of the Baptist Churches of New England, who brings his extensive expertise in Biblical Generosity and Multiplying Christ Followers. Together, we'll explore how churches can transform their approach to giving and create a culture where generosity thrives.

"When people can get their mind around the Kingdom impact, then they will find the money for the Impact." Dr. Terry Dorsett

"Brag on People for what they are doing and not berate them for what they are not doing"  Dr. Terry Dorsett

"Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”  Jesus

With the average churchgoer contributing just $17 weekly ($884 annually), we'll discuss what's possible when churches embrace generosity as a spiritual practice. 

Join us as we explore how your church can unlock its full potential through biblical stewardship and generous giving.

Sponsored by:  Everyday Dose Coffee  

Resources:

In this heartfelt episode of Vitalnomics, Gary welcomes his wife, Jana, and daughter, Jaden, for an intimate family conversation about one of the ministry's most critical challenges: raising children in the church environment. Drawing from their journey, they share five essential actions for pastors and ministry leaders to create a healthy family dynamic while serving in ministry.

The family explores crucial topics, including protecting children's private struggles, setting clear boundaries between church and home life, fostering independent faith development, creating safe spaces for mistakes, and nurturing personal identity beyond the 'pastor's kid' label. Through candid stories and practical wisdom, this episode offers valuable insights for ministry families navigating the delicate balance between church leadership and family life.

Whether you're a pastor, ministry leader, or simply interested in understanding the unique dynamics of ministry families, this conversation provides honest perspectives and actionable strategies for raising children who develop their authentic faith journey while growing up in the church spotlight.

Download the free Pastor Parenting scorecard for pastors.

Starbucks and Revitalization Go together!!! In this episode, we sit down with JP Fesperman, Regional Operations Coach for Starbucks, who brings fresh insights to church revitalization through the lens of corporate leadership excellence.

Drawing from his extensive experience creating high-performance teams, JP reveals practical strategies for casting vision, building culture, and developing leaders that seamlessly bridge the worlds of business and ministry.

From creating welcoming "third spaces" to handling challenging conversations gracefully, JP unpacks how churches can leverage proven business principles while staying true to their spiritual mission. He shares candid stories about the delicate balance of maintaining consistency while adapting to community needs and offers wisdom on sustaining passion through organizational change.

* Listeners will discover How to align mission and policies across all levels of leadership
* Practical approaches to training and empowering volunteers
* Strategies for quick intervention in performance issues while preserving relationships
* The power of differentiated leadership, inspired by Jesus' approach to his disciples

Whether you're leading a church, business, or nonprofit, JP's unique perspective on merging corporate excellence with spiritual wisdom offers fresh insights for any leader seeking to build and sustain vibrant, mission-driven organizations.

Church Revitalization Through Mergers: A New England Case Study
Guest: Pastor Logan Loveday, First Baptist Church, Marlborough, MA

In this illuminating episode, Pastor Logan Loveday shares his firsthand experience leading a successful church merger in New England. With approximately 80% of North America's 300,000 churches either stuck, struggling, or on life support, this episode explores how strategic mergers can breathe new life into churches and expand their Kingdom impact.

Key Discussion Points:

- Hear about FBC Marlborough and the initial merger process
- First-year strategic priorities: building renovation, relationship building, and targeted changes
- Financial and resource management through mission teams and community buy-in
- Successful strategies for blending two church communities
- Unexpected blessings: multi-ethnic outreach and downtown impact
- Challenges faced and overcome during the merger process

This episode provides practical insights for church leaders considering mergers as a revitalization strategy, with real-world examples from the New England context.

Connect with Logan

In this episode, Gary discusses the 5 Key Moves for Churches in 2025

Our Sponsor: Everyday Dose: A healthy choice instead of Coffee to fuel your body for ministry. 

This talk will discuss five emerging trends and practical solutions for church health and growth in 2025 based on real-world implementations and results.

Key Points Discussed:
1. The Power Block System  
2. The Ministry Audit Shift 
3. Next-Gen Integration  
4. The 60-Day Sprint Method 
5. The Hybrid Ministry Matrix

Key Takeaway "Healthy churches aren't built overnight, but they are built intentionally. One step at a time, one decision at a time, one day at a time."

Book Mentioned: Carry On