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August 19, 2025 23 mins

Just like people, churches go through life cycles and if you’re part of a church, you’re living in one right now. Steve shares a sobering statistic: in the U.S., 8,000–10,000 churches close every year. Drawing from his work as an executive on the board of Venture Church Network, he takes us behind the scenes to explore why churches close and how understanding a church’s life cycle can reveal its overall health.

One key factor stands out above the rest: vision. A church with a clear, Christ-centered vision will thrive. But when vision drifts out of focus, things can quickly unravel. True vision isn’t about “preserving and protecting”, it’s about making disciples for Christ.

Rich asks pointed, thought-provoking questions that shed light on why vision is the driving force in every church’s life cycle. This conversation might just change the way you think about vision and about the church you call home.

Learn to read & study the Bible with Rich Holland this fall

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