The culture is being shaped by those bold enough to experiment—and the church can't afford to be left behind.
In a modest North Dakota town of 7,800 people, WCCO Belting created the "gold standard" for agricultural equipment used in 20+ countries. In rural funeral homes, directors are using AI-powered communication systems and VR training programs. Insurance companies are deploying robotic dogs for claims assessment. Even laundromats have become innovation hubs, transforming mundane chores into community experiences with specialty coffee and co-working spaces.
The pattern is unmistakable: organizations willing to experiment are the ones shaping tomorrow's culture. Meanwhile, many local churches—institutions that should be leading human transformation—are still on the sidelines of innovation happening all around them.
God has inventors, too. They are called apostles, prophets, and evangelists and are distributed throughout his body. Not only do the Ephesians 4 gifts speak to innovation, but the global history of innovation runs through the body of Christ. Wheelbarrows, eyeglasses, and printing flow from God’s people. Not to mention the hygiene practices practiced by the nation of Isreal under God’s instruction.
And the driver for these Ephesians 4 inventors is to innovate how the Gospel impacts the culture. They are hard-wired to move the church forward and bring people into his Kingdom in whatever method fits the current need. But these innovators have do their innovation somewhere else-- usually as entrepreneurs or in nonprofits external to the church, because the church is too often organized to maintain not innovate.
The Denominational Lead
Progressive denominations have already recognized this reality. The ELCA Innovation Lab operates with a clear mandate: "The way people hear and receive the gospel is changing at an increasingly rapid rate... The Innovation Lab gives us the space to experiment and innovate in real-time so more people can know more about Jesus." Their Congregations Lead Initiative has equipped churches to "unleash and harness their collective genius and discover new and useful ministry innovations."
Missional Labs goes even further, functioning as "an innovation lab for the Church" that equips leaders to "harness emerging technologies—AI, digital media, and new platforms—to advance evangelism, discipleship, and mission." They're not just talking about innovation; they're actively incubating ventures that tackle Great Commission challenges.
The Presbyterian Church's Office of Innovation has created partnerships between denominational agencies and local congregations, bringing together "the best of that mid-council's self-knowledge and understanding of their context with resources and ideas from around the country and world."
But here's the reality: innovation can't be franchised. The most transformative experiments happen at the intersection of local context and creative courage. While denominational labs provide valuable frameworks and resources, the real laboratory needs to be in the sanctuary, fellowship hall, and community where your church actually lives and serves.
Consider what's already working:
The window is closing. Culture moves at digital speed now, and the organizations that shape tomorrow are those experimenting today. While churches debate whether new technologies are appropriate, entire generations are already living, learning, and building relationships in virtual spaces.
The entrepreneurs in rural North Dakota didn't wait for permission to revolutionize agricultural equipment. The funeral directors didn't wait for an industry mandate to embrace digital innovation. They saw an opportunity to serve people better and moved.
Since this group of gifted innovators hasn’t found a place to express their gifts inside the church, there needs to be a paradigm shift, both inside the church and in the hearts of those who have been forced outside to express their gifts. These innovators, often entrepreneurs, believe that they have gifts that were given to them to glorify God, but they are stuck on “how and with who.”
The Founder’s Table Network offers an experience and discipleship program designed to foster this kind of change. Learn more.
What drives the Ephesians 4 catalysts is not invitations to pre-packaged programs that they are asked to support. They are driven by needs and gaps. Their wheels start to turn when they see opportunities.
Innovation that is disconnected from the Body of Christ can’t ever yield what Ephesians 4 tells us is required for maturity- working in unity. It’s far too common for people with an innovative idea to get a hard “no,” from overworked, and under-visioned church staff. The net result is that the catalytic sending side of the church is missing while the covenant gathering side is maintained. That makes for a static church in a rapidly changing culture - and that’s both tragic and dangerous.
Every local church can become an innovation hub. Here's how:
Reserve the Corners of Your Field
This isn't about keeping up with trends or appearing relevant. This is about stewarding the most important message in human history in a rapidly changing world.
When WCCO Belting revolutionized conveyor belt technology in rural North Dakota, they didn't just improve their business—they changed how agricultural equipment works globally. When churches embrace innovation labs, they're not just improving their programs—they're participating in how the Gospel shapes the digital age.
The question isn't whether culture will continue to evolve at digital speed. The question is whether local churches will be passive observers or active participants in that transformation.
The most effective churches of the next decade won't be the ones with the biggest budgets or the most traditional programs. They'll be the ones willing to experiment, fail, learn, and try again—all in service of the unchanging Gospel in an ever-changing world.