Church Trends for 2025: Thriving with Less Through Staffing, Systems, and Stewardship

Show Notes:

In this episode of the Ministry Architects Podcast, we’re diving deep into the biggest shifts happening in churches today. The landscape of ministry is changing—budgets are tighter, staffing models are evolving, and volunteerism remains a challenge. But churches aren’t just surviving; they’re finding smarter, more sustainable ways to thrive.

Join Renée Wilson, Trey Wince, Annette Safstrom, and Brandon Collins as they break down what’s working, what’s changing, and what’s coming next for church leaders in 2025.

The Biggest Trends in Church Leadership Right Now

1️⃣ Smarter Staffing: Part-Time is the New Full-Time

  • Bivocational ministry is on the rise. More churches are hiring part-time and hybrid staff instead of full-time roles.
  • Churches are struggling to find qualified staff at the pay they can offer. Annette noted, “We’re asking people with 7+ years of experience to take an entry-level salary. That’s just not sustainable.”
  • Remote administrative support is becoming normal. Churches are finally catching up to the business world, outsourcing admin tasks to specialists who don’t need to be on-site.
  • Hiring is tough, but persistence pays off. Annette shared that our search team spoke with over 800 applicants last year and placed 25+ candidates in full-time church roles. If a hire doesn’t work out in 12 months, we go back to work.

✅ Action Steps for Churches:

  • Reevaluate whether a full-time hire is necessary or if a bivocational or hybrid role makes more sense.
  • Consider outsourcing admin tasks through Ministry Admins to free up staff for ministry work.
  • Be flexible and creative with compensation—offering professional development, hybrid work options, or other benefits.

2️⃣ Stronger Systems: Doing More with Less

  • “Every church is asking, how can I do more with less?” – Trey Wince
  • Churches are simplifying processes, automating where possible, and using tools like the Volunteer Accelerator to make recruitment easier.
  • Leaders are learning to offload tasks that drain them. “The things that drain you are the easiest to delegate,” said Brandon. “Why is the pastor booking flights for a mission trip? That’s not their job.”

✅ Action Steps for Churches:

  • Use a volunteer-matching tool to streamline recruitment and help people find meaningful roles.
  • Identify admin-heavy tasks that could be outsourced or automated.
  • Help ministry leaders focus on what they do best by eliminating non-essential responsibilities.

3️⃣ Sustainable Stewardship: Rethinking Church Finances & Property

  • Churches are finally taking property stewardship seriously. Trey called this the biggest overlooked opportunity in the American church today.
  • “We feel weak because attendance is down, but the church is still one of the most property-rich institutions in the country.” – Trey
  • Churches are exploring social enterprise models, renting space, and forming partnerships to generate income while staying on mission.
  • Grant funding is becoming an essential part of financial health. “It’s not about chasing money; it’s about finding funding that aligns with your mission,” Trey explained.

✅ Action Steps for Churches:

  • Audit your church’s square footage and consider partnerships, rentals, or mission-driven enterprises.
  • Establish grant-seeking rhythms—small, consistent efforts throughout the year instead of last-minute fundraising.
  • Move beyond Sunday giving as your only revenue stream.

4️⃣ The Volunteer Crisis: It’s Not Just About Recruiting—It’s About Mission

  • Volunteerism remains the #1 struggle for churches. Annette said, “In 13 years, I’ve never consulted a church where this wasn’t a challenge.”
  • The key is helping people see volunteering as mission, not just filling a role.
  • Churches using the Volunteer Accelerator have seen significant success in matching people with the right roles.

✅ Action Steps for Churches:

  • Stop recruiting volunteers—start casting vision. Instead of “we need help in kids’ ministry,” say: “Our church is raising up the next generation of Jesus followers. Here’s how you can be part of it.”
  • Use tools like Volunteer Accelerator to match people with roles that fit their strengths.
  • Make volunteering relational, not transactional. Check in with volunteers, thank them often, and make sure they feel valued.

📌 What’s Coming in 2025?

Trey predicts that in the next year, three major shifts will take place:

  1. Churches will rethink their property usage more seriously than ever before.
  2. Administrative support will continue moving remote as churches embrace outsourcing.
  3. Churches will get better at leveraging multiple revenue streams instead of relying solely on weekly offerings.

💡 “Churches don’t have a money problem. They have a systems problem,” Trey emphasized. “The resources are there—we just have to manage them wisely.”

🔗 Resources & Next Steps