CNLP 765 | The Real Difference Between Growing and Declining Churches: Thom Rainer on What Reaches The Anxious Generation
The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
Carey Nieuwhof
4.8 • 2.2K Ratings
🗓️ 6 November 2025
⏱️ 67 minutes
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Summary
Thom Rainer explains the difference he's discovered between what growing churches do and what declining churches do. It's simpler than you think. Plus, how can you help the Anxious Generation feel comfortable coming to church? Thom explains what the research reveals.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | When we begin to look at what is happening in churches, we have discovered a corollary factor. |
| 0:08.8 | Now, let me be very careful. Corollary factor is not causation. Churches that have at least three |
| 0:16.7 | outwardly focused events on their calendar in a year are the churches that are growing and |
| 0:22.6 | reaching Gen Z. That sounds too simple. |
| 0:30.3 | Welcome to the Kerry Newhoff Leadership Podcast. It's Carrie here. I hope our time together |
| 0:34.3 | today helps you thrive in life and leadership. Today, what is a real difference between growing and declining churches? |
| 0:41.0 | Tom Raynor Ways In? |
| 0:43.1 | You're new to the podcast. Welcome. |
| 0:44.8 | If you're a regular here, we're so glad you joined us. |
| 0:47.5 | And if you haven't subscribed yet, please do so. |
| 0:50.7 | It makes a big difference. |
| 0:52.3 | We have great conversations like this. We have an archive now |
| 0:55.2 | of, well, over 750 other episodes, and when you subscribe, you never miss a thing. Well, Tom Rayner's |
| 1:01.5 | my guest today. He is an author, researcher, speaker. Former president and CEO of Lifeway |
| 1:06.9 | Christian Resources prior to Lifeway. He served at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and was the founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism. |
| 1:16.6 | He is currently the CEO of Church Answers and helped so many churches around the world. We have a fascinating conversation about the difference between growth and decline, what reaches the anxious generation, |
| 1:28.6 | and a whole lot more. So without further ado, my conversation with Tom Rayner. Tom, it's good to |
| 1:34.0 | have you back. Welcome. It's good to be back, Kerry. I don't know how far back we go, but I am |
| 1:40.2 | grateful for the long relationship we've had and for the time we've had in speaking engagements |
| 1:44.7 | and podcasts, writing, whatever the case may be. You're one of my heroes out there. |
| 1:50.0 | Well, likewise. I remember meeting at Rocket Town Records back in the day, or the Rocket Town |
| 1:54.8 | venue in Nashville and those great events we used to do. And I'm just so grateful for you in your voice. |
... |
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