What Barna’s latest study reveals about future-focused churches

It’s a well-known truth that yesterday’s strategies won’t solve tomorrow’s challenges. For churches to thrive today, leaders must balance the demands of the present while keeping an eye firmly on the future. 

According to Barna’s latest research, this kind of future-focused leadership is one of the defining factors of a healthy, growing church. 

But how can churches effectively embrace this forward-looking mindset? And what tools do they need to guide their congregations through a rapidly changing world?

Traditional methods alone may not be enough to help churches thrive in today’s landscape. The good news? With the right tools and a future-focused approach, churches can deepen engagement, grow their communities, and make a lasting impact.

Barna’s insights: Why future-focused leadership matters

In their recent State of Your Church study, Barna identified 15 dimensions of a thriving church, with future-focused leadership being one of the key elements. This research highlights a striking insight: 61% of church leaders say their congregation is on a future-focused path, but many acknowledge there’s still room for growth.

Barna’s insights: Why future-focused leadership matters
Source: Barna State of Your Church study

Being future-focused isn’t just about casting a vision—it’s about empowering congregations, especially the next generation, to participate in shaping that vision. Yet, according to Barna’s findings, younger leaders and congregants often feel disconnected from their church’s future plans. For example, only 49% of Gen Z leaders feel their church effectively communicates its vision compared to 72% of Gen X leaders.

This gap represents an important opportunity for churches to engage their communities in more meaningful, creative ways. Churches that empower the next generation to be part of shaping their future are more likely to thrive in the long run.

Subsplash: Empowering churches to lead with innovation

Subsplash: Empowering churches to lead with innovation

Barna’s data reveals the urgent need for churches to adopt new tools and tactics in their ministry. This is where Subsplash comes into play.

As Tim Turner, CEO & Founder of Subsplash, puts it, “Over the last few years, pastors and the Church as a whole have experienced huge disruptions to ‘business as usual.’ They’ve been launched into a polarizing, controversial, tech-centric culture—often requiring rapid adoption of new tools, methods, and ways of thinking. This can be complex and challenging.”

At Subsplash, we provide churches with a unified suite of digital tools to meet those challenges head-on. Whether through dynamic mobile apps, live streaming, or seamless online giving, the Subsplash Platform equips churches to reach their communities wherever they are. By providing future-focused digital tools, churches can easily innovate while staying true to their core mission: making disciples.

Our platform is designed to eliminate the guesswork of digital engagement, allowing church leaders to expand their capabilities, streamline their processes, and focus on what matters most—building relationships and deepening connections with their congregations.

Leading with vision & boldness

What does it mean to be a future-focused leader? It means embracing innovation and having the boldness to adopt new strategies. Barna’s research proves that thriving churches are those willing to take a proactive approach, whether through adopting new technology, rethinking their worship styles, or finding fresh ways to engage people in discipleship.

Subsplash is committed to helping churches stay ahead of the curve. Our Ultimate Engagement Platform™ enables churches to thrive in today’s tech-driven world.

Ready to lead the way?

The future of the church depends on the ability to look ahead and innovate. The world is changing, and the church must evolve with it to stay connected with its people and its mission.

Subsplash provides everything a church needs to be future-focused and thrive in today’s digital landscape. With a suite of tools that bring your church’s digital presence under one roof, you can quickly and simply deepen engagement, drive growth, and inspire the next generation.

Want to see these tools for yourself? [.blog-contact-cta]Schedule a free consultation [.blog-contact-cta]to learn more today.

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Author

Jeff Harvey, Sr. Manager of Content Marketing
www.subsplash.com

Jeff lives in Austin, TX and is a husband, father, and bonsai enthusiast. He’s served churches for over 20 years as a pastor, teacher, and missionary. He also holds a MBA from George Fox University and is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish.

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