What the Data Reveals: LCMS Districts, Growth, and the Future of the Church Artwork

Lead Time

Lead Time is a podcast of the Unite Leadership Collective, hosted by Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg. The ULC envisions a future in which all congregations fully equip the priesthood of all believers through world-class leadership development at the local level. Lead Time taps into biblical wisdom for practical solutions to today's burning issues. Each podcast confronts real-time struggles facing the local church in a post-Christian culture. Step into the action with the ULC. This is Lead Time

All Episodes

Lead Time

What the Data Reveals: LCMS Districts, Growth, and the Future of the Church

November 04, 2025 • Unite Leadership Collective • Episode 95

Join the LCMS Current!
(bi monthly newsletter covering relevant LCMS topics!):
https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent

What if we could see how the LCMS is really doing — district by district?
Today, Pastor Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Pastor Jonathan Buescher, who compiled a comparative data study on all 35 LCMS districts — revealing surprising insights about membership, budgets, schools, and new church starts.

They explore:
- Which districts are growing and which are declining
- How funding and schools correlate with church vitality
- The future of circuits and district collaboration
- Why contextualization (not compromise) is key to mission growth
- What the data means for pastors, lay leaders, and the future of the LCMS

Catch On Fire Podcasts

This channel does a deep dive into the scriptures so as to teach what it means to be...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

Join the Lead Time Newsletter! (Weekly Updates and Upcoming Episodes)
https://www.uniteleadership.org/lead-time-podcast#newsletter

Visit uniteleadership.org