Photo by John Coleman. Herbierto Leon and Miguel Torres. Photo by John Coleman. Somewhere along the way, many churches forget about their call to exist for nonmembers. They begin focusing their activities, concerns, and ministries inward.
Pastors begin functioning as chaplains or caretakers of self-contained congregations.
Members want more of their pastors' attention focused on the pews and less on the parish. As inward-looking Christians, they want to have their own needs fulfilled. Eventually, such inward-focused congregations lose their way. They cease to bear fruit and they begin to wither on the vine. But restoring an outward focus is crucial to the health of our churches if we are to carry out Christ's Great Commission to go and make disciples.