A Conversation with Church Consultant George Bullard

Most pastors and church leaders long to see their church fully alive, grounded in purpose, and impacting their community in transformative ways. But instead often find themselves caught in survival mode—propping up programs, balancing budgets, or chasing a version of momentum that no longer fits their context.

In a recent conversation, longtime consultant and denominational strategist George Bullard shared the core insights behind his new book, Soaring with Faith. It offers a tangible structure for assessing the current reality of your church and determining the necessary steps to achieve greater impact for the Kingdom.

A Language for Current Reality

George introduces five “collectives” that describe where a church may be: Soaring, Strong, Stumbling, Struggling, or Spiritless. While every church desires to soar, George’s research reveals that less than 10% are in that category at any given time. Most are somewhere in the middle—strong but unsure of next steps, or stumbling without realizing they’ve lost their vision.

These categories aren’t labels. They’re lenses. They give pastors and network leaders a clear, honest way to name where their church is spiritually and structurally, and what kind of help is actually needed.

The Difference Between Strong and Soaring Churches

“Together, soaring and strong churches probably account for 80% of all Kingdom progress.” – George Bullard

Strong churches are doing good work. They often show consistent growth and make a real impact in their communities. But even strong churches can fall short of their potential or begin to get off track.

Over time, ministry can start to feel more transactional than transformational. Programs become the main way to measure progress, and discipleship, though well-intentioned, tends to look the same for everyone.

Soaring churches, on the other hand, aren’t just growing—they’re being pulled into the future by God’s vision. Their focus is on helping people walk closely with Jesus and their approach to discipleship is deeply personal.

Not Every Church Needs the Same Kind of Help

One of the most practical insights from George’s framework is the recognition that different churches need different kinds of support:

• Soaring churches can lead themselves but should connect with other soaring churches.
• Strong churches need coaching to sustain and sharpen their momentum.
• Stumbling churches need a strategic outsider—a consultant who can assess reality and catalyze change.
• Struggling churches often need counseling. They need space to grieve what was and rediscover what could be.

This is a hopeful invitation—not a discouraging one. It frees pastors from the myth of the instant turnaround, and empowers network leaders to offer the right kind of support at the right time.

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At Clarity House, we specialize in guiding church teams in articulating a shared vision coupled with disciple-making clarity. We’d love to help you and your team.