Pro Wrestling, The Music Industry, And Dying Churches

In his literary masterpiece Tribes, Seth Godin notes “It took almost a decade for this thriving, hyperprofitable industry (the music business) to cave in on itself…Music industry executives didn’t have the heretic they needed.  No one stood up and made change happen…It demonstrates how exceedingly intelligent people in a fairly new industry ignored the world around them and hid.

The first rule the music business failed to understand is that, at least at first, the new thing is rarely as good as the old thing was…Soon enough, the new thing will be better than the old.”

I heard of a recent interview about a successful pro wrestling organization in the mid-90s called Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW).  In 1993, this organization had many big-name performers who were past their prime alongside a bunch of young performers no one had ever heard of.  Of the veteran performers, no one was a bigger name than the 56-year-old Terry Funk.

Paul Heyman, the company’s owner, said “There would not be an ECW without Terry Funk.  Most old-timers were clinging to ‘their spot’ and would not get over the young guys (let them win).  Terry knew without getting over the young guys, there would not be a business in the future for him to be a part of.”

The music industry refused to change and record companies no longer exist in that form.  Funk, among others, helped change the wrestling business and like it or not (and most of you probably don’t), experienced its most profitable era in the 90s.

My Associate Pastor told me this weekend that 65% of people in America over 60 regularly attend church.  37% of Baby Boomers.  15% of Busters.  And only 4% of Generation Y regularly attend church in America.   Notice the decline.  It’s alarming.

I sit in a lot of meetings where at 45 years old, I’m one of the youngest people in the room.  This concerns me.  Statistics tell us the American church is going the way of the record industry.  We need elders, Session members, Council members, board members, deacons, management team members, and people on church staffs who are willing to be heretics, or a “Terry Funk”, who will stand up and say, “I won’t like it at first.  It’s not my taste or style.  But in 20 years our church will either be dead or an Andy Stanley satellite!  We’ve got to do something now no matter how unpopular it is in the short term to secure our future!”

Fortunately, there are many churches who understand this concept.  Leadership Network released a study today stating that surveyed churches with over 2,000 in weekly attendance are collectively growing at a rate of 8% annually over the last five years.  They’re not dying.  They are actually thriving! 

Of the many factors for their growth, two statistics really jumped out at me.  95% of these churches have a clear mission.  And most importantly, a stunning 93% are willing to CHANGE to meet new challenges.

Look around your church. If the majority of the people are over 50 years old, you need to CHANGE TODAY to secure your future. 

You need someone to stand up, alone if needed, and courageously say,“Discomfort is a small price to pay for a place where our children and grandchildren will want to worship as they grow older.  In the words of former World Heavyweight Champion Terry Funk, I will give up my spot.”

Pastors and church leaders, please share your thoughts.

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