Formation for Maintenance vs. Formation for Mission: A Critical Shift for the Church

Dr. Darrell Guder’s statement—“Education for maintenance is not the same as education for mission”—is both a warning and a challenge for the modern church (this statement is from a lecture published in the Princeton Seminary Bulletin, vol. XXVIII, number 3, 2007, p.

254) . Many churches have unintentionally structured their discipleship, leadership, and ministry practices around maintenance, rather than mission. The result? Churches that are well-organized, highly structured, and busy, yet stagnant in growth, disconnected from their communities, and ineffective in advancing the Kingdom of God.

If we are to see renewal in the church today, we must rethink how we form disciples and leaders. Are we equipping people to preserve the institution, or are we forming them to advance the mission of Christ?

The Maintenance Model: When the Church Becomes Self-Focused

Churches formed for maintenance operate with a primary goal: preserving what already exists. Their energy is spent sustaining traditions, maintaining programs, and managing the internal affairs of the church. While these may not be bad things in themselves, they become problematic when they take priority over the mission Jesus entrusted to the Church.

Signs of a Maintenance-Oriented Church:

1. Ministries Exist to Serve Members, Not Reach Others – Most resources, programs, and teaching are designed to keep current members comfortable, rather than equipping them to engage the world.

2. Change is Feared and Resisted – Innovation is seen as a threat rather than an opportunity. Leadership decisions focus on avoiding disruption rather than pursuing transformation.

3. Leadership is Focused on Institutional Stability – Staff and leaders prioritize budgets, policies, and keeping people happy, rather than training and sending people out.

4. Evangelism is Rare – Outreach is reduced to occasional events rather than a way of life. Conversations about faith become internal rather than external.

5. Success is Measured by Attendance and Giving – A thriving church is defined as one with steady numbers, not one that is making a measurable impact in the surrounding community.

A maintenance-formed church may feel healthy on the surface, but in reality, it is spiritually stagnant. People may attend regularly, but they are not being discipled for mission. Leaders may be active, but they are not developing the next generation of Kingdom-minded servants.

The Mission Model: When the Church Lives Out Its Calling

By contrast, a church formed for mission is outward-focused, disciple-making, and Kingdom-driven. It aligns itself with Jesus’ commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). It recognizes that the church does not exist for itself but for the world that Jesus came to save.

Signs of a Mission-Oriented Church:

1. Discipleship is Designed for Sending, Not Just Learning – Teaching and training are not just about knowledge, but about equipping people to live as everyday missionaries.

2. Change is Embraced as a Means for Growth – Leaders and members understand that cultural shifts require new strategies while staying faithful to biblical truth.

3. Leadership Focuses on Empowering Others – The primary role of pastors and church leaders is not to do ministry but to equip others for ministry (Ephesians 4:12).

4. Evangelism is a Way of Life – Members see their workplaces, neighborhoods, and daily interactions as mission fields, not just places to exist.

5. Success is Measured by Transformation – The goal is not just attendance, but lives changed, disciples made, and communities impacted.

Churches that embrace formation for mission recognize that everyone in the congregation is called to be part of God’s redemptive work. They are not content with people just attending church—they seek to send people out as ambassadors of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).

How Churches Can Shift from Maintenance to Mission

1. Reframe Discipleship as Training for Everyday Mission

Churches must move beyond Sunday-centric discipleship and equip people for the reality of living out their faith in the world. This means teaching people how to share their faith naturally, serve their communities, and integrate biblical wisdom into their daily lives.

2. Reorient Leadership Toward Equipping, Not Just Managing

Pastors and leaders must resist the urge to do all the ministry themselves and instead focus on developing others. This means creating leadership pipelines, mentoring new leaders, and releasing people into ministry roles both inside and outside the church.

3. Prioritize Outreach as a Core Function of the Church

Outreach should not be relegated to a committee or special events—it must be embedded in the DNA of the church. This means fostering a culture where every member sees themselves as sent by God to their community.

4. Measure Success Differently

Churches should not only track attendance and giving but also stories of transformation, new believers, and community impact. Are people growing? Are they serving? Are they reaching others?

5. Create a Culture of Adaptability and Innovation

A mission-minded church recognizes that strategies must evolve. The Gospel remains the same, but the ways we engage the world must be adaptable. This means being willing to try new approaches, embrace technology, and rethink traditional structures when necessary.

Conclusion: A Call to Reformation

Dr. Guder’s statement is a wake-up call for churches today. If we continue forming people for maintenance, the church will decline in relevance, effectiveness, and spiritual vitality. But if we shift toward formation for mission, we will see a church that is alive, active, and impactful in the world.

The question for every church leader, every congregation, and every believer is this: Are we training ourselves to maintain what is, or are we equipping ourselves to step into the mission of God?

The church was never meant to be a fortress of preservation but a movement of transformation. Let’s embrace that mission with courage and faith.