From stuck to new spirit

“We had urgency, but we didn’t have agency.”

That’s how Pastor Kyle Hockham of Wheaton Christian Reformed Church described the challenge his church faced two years ago.

Coming out of COVID, everything felt different. The faces in the pews had changed. Longtime rhythms of ministry didn’t seem to fit anymore. The church knew something had to shift—but how? They felt the weight of urgency but lacked a clear path forward.

That’s when they joined The Church Renewal Lab.

Listening First, Then Leading

Rather than jumping straight into new programs or making quick-fix changes, Renewal Lab invited Kyle and his church to pause—and listen.

• ✅ Listening to their congregation – They didn’t assume what people needed; they asked. Over 90% of their members were interviewed, revealing deep hopes and concerns.
• ✅ Listening to their community – They stepped outside their walls, engaging with neighbors, local leaders, and those who had no connection to church.
• ✅ Listening to God – Through prayer, scripture, and discernment, they sought where the Spirit was leading.

For eight months, they listened. Then, something powerful happened.
They gathered for a listening retreat, and suddenly, the puzzle pieces came together.

A Clearer Vision Emerged

What did they discover?

Relationships.
✔ Their church valued deep, meaningful connections—not just Sunday attendance, but real community.
✔ Their surrounding community longed for connection—people were battling post-pandemic isolation, searching for belonging.

That realization changed everything.

“We started seeing ministry through the lens of relationships,” Kyle shared. “Instead of just counting attendance, we started tracking meaningful points of connection—how well we were truly engaging with people.”

They stopped focusing on getting people back in the building and started finding ways to build relationships where people already were.

A Renewed Church
The shift was undeniable.

People who had been distant—disengaged, uncertain if church was still for them—began returning. And when they did, they noticed something different.

“There’s a new spirit here. It feels different.”

Wheaton CRC had moved from stuck to Spirit-led. Instead of just feeling the urgency to change, they now had agency, direction, and a renewed sense of calling.