October 1, 2026
Georgia Baptist pastors and ministry leaders are invited to join our next Church Renewal Conversations webinar titled “Why Good Churches Resist Good Change and What to Do Next.” This live conversation will take place Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 9:00–10:00 a.m. Eastern, and I will be joined by Dr. Rob Peters, founder of Corpus and a trusted voice in church revitalization. You can register now at gabaptist.org/renewal. Everyone who attends the live webinar will also receive a gift along with practical ministry tools designed to help pastors lead through seasons of resistance and transition.
A Conversation Every Pastor Eventually Faces
Most pastors eventually discover a tension they were not expecting when they first entered ministry. You step into a church that loves the Lord and cares deeply about one another. The gospel is preached faithfully, and the church has a long history of ministry. Yet when the conversation turns toward change, something shifts in the room.
Questions arise, concerns appear, and sometimes resistance emerges where you least expected it. In those moments, many pastors quietly ask the same question. Why would a good church resist something that could help the church reach more people for Christ?
Resistance Is Often a Signal
The answer is often more complex than we assume. Resistance in the church rarely comes from outright rebellion. More often, it grows out of fear, uncertainty, or the sense that something important may be lost. People may feel that a tradition, a ministry, or even their place in the church is being threatened. Understanding that reality changes the way a pastor responds.
One of the most helpful leadership tools is learning to see resistance as a signal rather than an enemy. When people push back, they are often protecting something meaningful to them. It might be a ministry they invested years building. It might be a pattern of church life that shaped their faith. In many cases, the resistance pastors experience is not opposition to the mission but anxiety about what the future might look like.
When pastors respond only with urgency or authority, tension often increases. But when leaders slow down and listen carefully, deeper questions begin to surface. People may be wondering where they fit in the future of the church. They may be asking whether the church they love will still feel familiar. These are not simply leadership problems. They are pastoral moments that require shepherding.
Learning From How Jesus Led His Church
Scripture offers a powerful example of how Christ leads His church through seasons of correction and renewal. In Revelation chapters two and three, Jesus addresses seven churches that were facing different forms of drift and challenge. What is striking is the way He speaks to them. Christ begins by acknowledging what is faithful and good among them. Then He names what must change and calls them back to obedience.
His correction is not meant to destroy the church but to restore it. Jesus always calls His people back to the mission and devotion that define His church. That pattern still guides pastors today. Renewal is not about abandoning the past or chasing the newest idea. It is about helping the church refocus on what matters most to Christ.
The gospel never changes, but the methods we use to reach people must continually be evaluated. Wise leadership holds those truths together. Pastors must remain deeply anchored in Scripture while also helping their churches respond to a changing mission field.
Why Change Feels So Difficult in Churches
One of the surprising realities of church leadership is that most churches do not struggle because they lack ideas. Many churches understand the need to reach new people and strengthen discipleship. The real challenge is that change looks at identity, culture, and trust. When long-standing habits begin to shift, emotions often rise quickly.
Pastors feel this tension deeply. They want to move the church forward without leaving people behind. They want to remain faithful to Scripture while also responding to the needs of the community around them. They care about the people they serve and do not want leadership decisions to fracture relationships. These pressures often remain unseen by those outside pastoral leadership.
That is why conversations about change must include both courage and compassion. Pastors need clarity about the mission Christ has given the church. At the same time, they must shepherd people patiently through the emotional realities that change can bring.
Strengthening Pastors for the Journey
This is one of the reasons the Georgia Baptist Mission Board created the Church Renewal Conversations series. These gatherings are designed to help pastors talk honestly about the challenges of leading change while also gaining practical tools for moving forward. The goal is not simply to diagnose problems but to encourage leaders who are faithfully serving their churches.
During this upcoming webinar, Dr. Rob Peters and PJ Dunn will explore several areas that help pastors navigate resistance wisely. They will discuss how to recognize the different sources of resistance and what people may be communicating beneath the surface. Process how leaders can distinguish between the mission of the church and the methods used to accomplish that missionand consider how pastors can lead with both conviction and compassion while keeping the gospel central. Another important part of this conversation will focus on the health of the pastor. Leading through resistance can be exhausting, especially when leaders feel isolated.
Moving Toward Renewal
The story of the church has always been a story of renewal. From the early church in Acts to the letters in Revelation, God continually calls His people back to clarity of mission and devotion to Christ. Healthy renewal often begins with honest reflection, prayerful dependence on God, and renewed alignment around the mission Jesus has given His church.
Across Georgia today, many pastors are asking important questions about the future of their congregations. Communities are changing, and the mission field outside our church doors looks different from what it did a generation ago. Yet the calling of the church remains the same. Jesus still sends His people to make disciples and carry the gospel into every community. If you are a pastor or ministry leader who has wrestled with resistance while trying to lead your church forward, this conversation is for you.
Join the Webinar: Why Good Churches Resist Good Change and What to Do Next
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
9:00–10:00 a.m. Eastern
Live on Zoom- Register at gabaptist.org/renewal
Everyone who attends will receive practical leadership resources designed to help pastors apply these ideas immediately in their ministry. More importantly, you will be joining a conversation with leaders who understand the challenges and the calling of shepherding Christ’s church. Because when faithful leaders learn to understand resistance rather than fear it, good churches can rediscover their mission and move forward together with renewed clarity and hope.
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Dr. PJ Dunn is the Senior Consultant for Revitalization of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. He can be reached at pdunn@gabaptist.org.
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