Feb. 25, 2026 Editor, The News-Gazette: If you are reading this, your church likely needs revival. Our country, our families, and our marriages are at a breaking point. We often ask why the modern church is struggling to remain relevant. While the problems have remained the same for 2,000 years, the solution —found in God’s “instruction manual” — is simple to find but difficult to carry out.
As many believe we are approaching the return of Christ, the spiritual battle for the church has intensified. Through my experience ministering across five denominations, I have identified three primary reasons for this decline:
• A Lack of Prayer: Jesus declared His church a “house of prayer,” yet many congregations have no specific time dedicated to it. We have the “magnanimous” opportunity to speak directly to the Father through the Holy Spirit because of Jesus’ sacrifice, yet we often neglect this power.
• Broken Relationships: Scripture commands us to love God and one another. While loving God may feel easy, truly loving our neighbors requires a maturity that sees Jesus in every person.
• Leadership and Submission: There is a heavy burden on both pastors and congregants. Too often, we prioritize numbers and budgets over spiritual health. If a church is healthy, the resources will follow. Leaders must humble themselves, and the body must submit to Biblical direction.
We must stop blaming a lack of youth or resources for the “death” of a church. These are symptoms, not the disease. When leadership bows before Jesus and invites the Holy Spirit back into the center of the sanctuary, dead churches will live again.
As a counselor, I see churches the same way I see marriages: sometimes we are blind to our own habits. It is time for all denominations and pastors to stop fighting and start fighting together. I am at Jesus’ service to be of assistance to you in any way. WES YOUNG Rockbridge County ([email protected] – (540) 603-8111)
