Some time ago, a pastor called Chris Sonksen and confessed, “Our church is stuck, and I feel empty. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing this.”

A lot of pastors feel this way. One Lifeway Research study found that six in 10 Protestant churches are plateaued or declining. More than half of churches saw fewer than 10 converts in the previous year.

Another Lifeway Research study reported that more than 60% of pastors say that stress weighs heavily on them, with at least half reporting that their burdens have robbed them of joy in ministry.

These pastors and the churches they lead seem like trains stuck on the tracks. What can they do to gain traction and get moving again?

That’s the question I ask Chris Sonksen in this episode of the Influence Podcast. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host.

Chris Sonksen is founding pastor of South Hills Church, a multi-state, multi-campus church based in Southern California, CEO and founder of Church Boom, and an ordained Assemblies of God minister. Most recently, he is author of Traction: Five Proven Principles for Unstoppable Growth, published by Avail.

This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of Audacious Faith.

This six-week women’s Bible study will define biblical faith, address questions head-on, and unpack what it means to have audacious faith. Learn how to replace hopelessness and despair with vibrant faith that pleases the Lord and repels the enemy.