Why Every Church Needs a Better Story
Every church tells a story. The question is: Is it the right one?
In a recently-released episode of the Future Christian Podcast, Loren Richmond Jr. spoke with Joel Thiessen, professor of Sociology and director of the Flourishing Congregations Institute at Ambrose University, about The Stories Congregations Tell, a research project exploring why some churches flourish through seasons of transition while others struggle.
Drawing on case studies from congregations across Canada, Thiessen argues that the stories churches tell about their past, present, and future profoundly shape their identity, leadership, and mission.
The conversation explores how congregations develop a healthy sense of identity without becoming trapped by nostalgia, why flourishing is about far more than numerical growth, and how local churches are constantly shaped by the wider cultural stories surrounding them. Thiessen also explains why sociology can help churches understand themselves more honestly—not to replace theology, but to deepen it.
This episode of the Future Christian podcast can be accessed on the Future Christian Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeart Radio accounts, or by clicking the promotional image below:
Loren Richmond Jr.
Pastor, chaplain, and host of the Future Christian podcast writing at the intersection of faith, culture, and church renewal. A lowercase-e evangelical exploring theology, discipleship, and how historic faith speaks today—especially why the church still matters.
Joel Thiessen
Professor of Sociology, Chair of the Social Sciences department, and Director of the Flourishing Congregations Institute at Ambrose University
