No pastor or his church members like to hear certain words used to describe their church. Terms like plateaued or declining are among them. These terms carry a heavy weight of discouragement. However, acknowledging reality isn’t about losing hope; it’s about opening the door for God to do something new.
While it’s true the Free Will Baptist movement faces significant challenges, this moment is also filled with opportunity. Some churches are thriving, and their stories remind us God is still working in powerful ways. However, many churches are struggling so much that, without swift intervention, their only option will be shutting their doors.
If we face the facts with honesty and humility, we can also step forward with renewed faith and clear direction and make a difference in these cases.
When comparing the 2023 Digest of Reports to 2022, our denomination reported a net loss of 33 churches and averaged only 1.7 baptisms per reporting church. Behind those numbers are real congregations. Some churches witnessed salvations and baptisms, and others didn’t. That’s a statistical average, so let’s talk real numbers.
Many churches didn’t baptize anyone. They didn’t fill their baptistry all year. It’s also likely that in some churches, not a single person walked the aisle to confess Jesus as Savior. Not one person led another person to Christ, including the pastor, in an entire year.
Fifty-two weeks. 365 days. Not one salvation. No baptisms.
That is difficult to consider and even more difficult to say (or put in print). Acknowledging these numbers isn’t about assigning blame. It’s about clarity, and clarity is a gift. It helps us understand where we are so we can begin moving toward where God wants us to be.
These challenges are not unique to us. Across the country, the broader evangelical church is experiencing similar struggles. Lifeway Research reported 4,500 churches closed their doors in 2023, outpacing new church plants. Many congregations have not fully recovered from the pandemic, especially those already declining before 2020. This means we are not alone in the struggle, and we can learn from churches and denominations finding ways to reverse these trends.
For Free Will Baptists, our size adds urgency. With just under 1,950 churches nationwide, losing 30 churches a year for a decade would significantly reduce our footprint for the gospel. Fewer churches means fewer leaders, fewer missions resources, and fewer young people being equipped for ministry. Yes, we are planting new churches, and praise God for every new work, but currently, closures outpace openings.
The good news? Trajectories change. History is filled with examples of denominations, ministries, and local churches that turned decline into renewal.
The reasons behind these trends are varied. Our culture continues to drift toward secularism. Many families no longer consider Sunday sacred. Yet some challenges are internal as well — outdated methods, inward focus, leadership gaps, or a slow drift from the mission of making disciples. These are real issues, but they are also fixable issues. None are beyond the power of prayer, intentional leadership, or a fresh movement of God’s Spirit.
So where does this leave us? Not in despair but in a moment of holy opportunity.
Recognizing our struggles is not a death sentence. It is a wake-up call. The local church is still God’s chosen vessel for reaching the world. Jesus is still building His Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). If we want to see revitalization across Free Will Baptist churches, the first step is simply acknowledging where we are. The next step is believing God can take what looks fragile and breathe new life into it.
Decline is real. Urgency is necessary. But hope is greater.
This article isn’t meant to provide answers. Those will come later. It is meant to lift our eyes. God is not finished with Free Will Baptists. A healthier future is possible, and together, by God’s grace, we can move toward it.
Be sure to read coming ReFresh columns for practical, realistic steps toward lasting revitalization.
About the Columnist: Dr. Brad Ransom is chief training officer for North American Ministries.
