Blog
Writing on mission, leadership, and the church.
Essays, research and daily devotionals by André Rocha.
Featured essays
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Fewer Partners, Greater Depth: Four Moves for a Missions Strategy
Most missions committees don’t decide by strategy. They decide by whoever asks the loudest or asks last. Four moves change that: focus, balance, a…
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Church Revitalization Will Be Won by Formed Leaders, Not Better Methods
Sam Rainer’s new research on the “new wave of pastors” finds the future of church revitalization depends less on better methods and more on…
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He Goes Ahead: Honoring the Shepherds Who Lead Us
“When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”…
Daily Devotional
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Daily Devotional: Mark 3
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Daily Devotional: Mark 2
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Daily Devotional: Mark 1
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Daily Devotional: Matthew 28
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Daily Devotional: Matthew 27
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Daily Devotional: Matthew 26
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Daily Devotional: Matthew 25
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Daily Devotional: Matthew 24
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Daily Devotional: Matthew 23
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Daily Devotional: Matthew 22
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Daily Devotional: Matthew 21
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Daily Devotional: Matthew 20
All writing
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Being Before Sending: The Formation Crisis Behind Missionary Attrition
Before He sent them anywhere, Jesus first called the Twelve to be with Him (Mark 3:14). With 71% of missionary attrition preventable, the church’s…
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Strengthen What Remains
The church in Sardis had a name, a history, and an address. Jesus said it was dead. In the New Testament, revitalization begins with…
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Mission Is Identity, Not Department
Departments have budgets and annual reports; identity shapes every decision. If the missions department closed tomorrow, would your church still be sent?
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The Third Stop: Which Samaria Is Your Church Walking Around?
Acts 1:8 gives four stops: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. Most churches skip the third. Which Samaria is yours walking…
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The New Generation Is Missional — With Different Questions
52% of engaged young Christians see themselves as potential missionaries — but 42% say mission is tainted by colonialism. The new generation is not…
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Double Honor: What the Numbers Say About Honoring Our Pastors
Average pay for Southern Baptist pastors just fell for the first time since 2008, and only 37% of churches provide health insurance. Paul called…
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The Most Fruitful Innovation in World Missions Today Is Two Thousand Years Old
The most fruitful mission strategies today share one ancient pattern: moving Scripture, ministry, and leadership closer to ordinary believers. Paul put the model in…
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The Center of Christianity Keeps Moving
From Jerusalem to the Mediterranean, Europe, and across the Atlantic, Christianity’s center has never stayed where we found it. What mission history teaches the…
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The Similarities between the Missionary Movement and Reality TV
Reality TV manufactures drama to keep its audience; the missionary movement can do the same with its newsletters. On testimony versus theater, and the…