Breaking the Insanity Cycle of Christian Decline: A Three-Pronged Revolution in Christian Ministry

Christianity’s decline reveals a crisis of empty metrics; true transformation comes through Scripture engagement, daily discipleship, and evangelism.

If we don’t change course now, we risk losing an entire generation. This isn’t a think piece; it’s a rescue mission. Our kids and grandkids are walking away from Jesus while much of ministry keeps doing the same things—and expecting different results.

I’ve been ringing this bell for years. From the start, Jim Engle and I argued that you cannot measure spiritual impact without measuring Bible engagement—how many days a week a person actually engages Scripture. Leave that out and what you’re left with are big claims, big applause, big donations but little transformation. 

For making this bold claim, we were sidelined from evaluating some of the very ministries many still support, and the term “Bible engagement” got watered down until it meant almost anything. We warned that if ministries left Scripture’s impact out of their metrics, donor dollars would fuel ineffective practices. We saw then what’s obvious now: when Scripture isn’t the core metric, ministries chase applause while people remain unchanged.

I told you last week the urgency could not be greater. Only 62% of Americans now identify as Christian, down from 78% in 2007. Fewer than one in five adults hold a biblical view of Jesus—which means only about 20% of all Americans are true Christ Followers. Among Gen Z, just 4% embrace a biblical worldview. That leaves 96% of the youngest generation—our children and grandchildren—adrift without basic biblical truth. 

Meanwhile, Christian ministries are celebrating 1.2 billion “decisions for Christ” worldwide, but for every one adult who comes to faith in the U.S., six others walk away. If those conversions were real, our churches would be bursting. Instead, pews are emptying.

This past week, the beat goes on—

“New research from Barna Group, as part of the ongoing State of the Church initiative with Gloo, reveals a surprising shift: Millennials and Gen Z Christians are attending church more frequently than before and much more often than older generations.”

“A landmark study conducted by the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) and the Barna Group shows that six in 10 Americans use Christian media, with half using at least one Christian media source weekly. Faith-driven content is anything but fringe—it is embedded in the daily lives of millions.”

Don’t people know that checked boxes on a salvation form, tracked church attendance, and total view counts on Christian media are not enough? Without factoring Bible engagement, these are not an indication of life transformation.

Thus, we can go on celebrating fluff, but here’s the reality: when Christian researchers ignore the Bible and how individuals engage with it, I guarantee you that, no matter the accolades, Pew’s next study will show Christianity in greater decline.

We have developed a three-pronged strategy that confronts the insanity cycle head-on. No more empty metrics. No more reaching the already reached as a funding strategy while the world walks away. Instead, we are creating a discipleship-first ecosystem that naturally produces evangelism.

That “new thing” is not a tweak or rebrand. It’s a complete strategic revolution: moving from outputs to outcomes, from hype to honest growth, from counting converts to measuring real life transformation. Here’s how we’re breaking the insanity cycle with a three-pronged plan.

Prong One: The Center for Scripture Absorption

We are launching the Center for Scripture Absorption (CSA) to become the go-to research hub documenting how lives are transformed when people truly absorb God’s Word. Our earlier research on the “Power of 4” showed that Bible engagement at least four times a week sparks real growth. Now we’re building on that foundation.

The CSA focuses on the 4 R’s of Scripture Absorption: Receive, Reflect, Respond, and Reveal. When people not only read Scripture but live it and share it daily, transformation happens—for them and for those around them.

Instead of celebrating inflated conversion tallies, the CSA will work in partnership with other ministries to track worldwide how many lives are genuinely being changed from the inside out—and how many of those changed lives are discipling others. This is a shift away from a transactional model that has failed us toward a transformational model that works.  More to come on this great initiative.

Prong Two: Spiritual Fitness Micro-Podcasts + AI-Driven Discipleship

For Christ Followers at every stage, we’re launching daily Spiritual Fitness Micro-Podcasts—short, high-intensity “spiritual workouts” that start with Scripture and lead directly to action. Instead of being housed in an app like GOtandem, our Micro-Podcasts will be hosted on a wide variety of social media and podcast platforms with the first step of each workout reaching a wider audience. Designed for both non-Christ Followers and Christ Followers of all levels, the daily podcasts follow the 4 R’s framework to build daily biblically engaged disciple makers.

Beginning in December, listeners can continue their workout with BackToTheBible.ai, our new AI-powered discipleship coach. Think of it as a personal librarian for your soul. After a podcast, the platform offers personalized follow-up videos, articles, or challenges, all tailored to your growth level and struggles. Each option also comes in varying lengths, so you can choose what fits the time you have available.

Thousands, even millions, can develop a daily habit of growing in Christ with a Scripture-centered spiritual fitness workout that ends each day with the motivational challenge to share what you learned with someone else. All trackable and verifiable with the goal of daily discipleship of ourselves and the people around us. This two-step combo creates scalable, one-on-one discipleship without losing the personal, Scripture-centered touch. 

Prong Three: Alive & Sober with Reno C—Evangelism Through Daily Discipleship

Our third initiative is something we’ve never tried before as a ministry: evangelism through daily discipleship aimed directly at non-Christ followers and dysfunctional Christ Followers. We’re launching a daily Micro-Podcast called “Alive & Sober,” featuring nationally known comedian Reno Collier. Reno testifies openly, “I never would’ve quit drinking if it wasn’t for Jesus.” His life is a testament to the power of Christ, and now he’s using his gift of humor to reach people who might never walk into a church.

Each Alive & Sober episode will be 5–10 minutes of Reno’s warm, hilarious, and hard-won insights. It’s an evangelistic “front door” into our discipleship ecosystem. Reno will wrap recovery themes and biblical principles into everyday stories, meeting listeners right where they are. We’re not changing the Gospel message at all—we’re just delivering it in a fresh way.

A Call to Action Against The Decline

This three-pronged strategy breaks the cycle of empty metrics and surface-level engagement. It creates a movement where discipleship produces evangelism, not the other way around.

Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” I’ve got my hand on the plow. I’m not looking back. God is doing a new thing, and I want you to be part of it.

Here’s how:

• Pray for these initiatives, especially Reno’s podcast, to reach hearts.

• Engage with the Micro-Podcasts yourself and let them become part of your daily spiritual rhythm.

• Share this vision with your family, your friends, and your church.

The revolution starts now. The question is simple: Will you join us?

Standing firm in this important mission,

-Arnie