When the Church Feels Like Corporate America

It happened again. Another church hurt story. Another faithful servant dismissed.

Churches are modeling after corporate America—choosing product over people, efficiency over empathy. It’s hard to believe this is how God intended ministries to operate. The mission is so focused on attracting those outside the doors, but what about those already inside? And even less, what about those laboring behind the scenes—the staff, the ones doing the work of ministry day in and day out?

Somewhere along the way, profit replaced prophet. Strategy replaced shepherding. And those called to lead have lost sight of the ones they were entrusted to care for.

Jesus never operated this way. He didn’t discard people when they became inconvenient. He didn’t measure success by numbers or optics. He built relationships. He loved deeply. He took time to pour into His disciples, ensuring they were filled so they could go out and fulfill the mission.

And yet, we see pastors today—called to shepherd their flock—treating people like a means to an end. Staff members, volunteers, faithful laborers in the church are often discarded when they no longer fit the vision of success. Sure, they can be great communicators, dynamic speakers, and visionary leaders. But if obedience to the "mission" comes at the expense of people’s well-being, is it truly obedience to Christ? Or is it allegiance to a corporate church model that prioritizes growth over care?

I know this pain personally. I’ve been on the sharp end of that spear.

And now, I see it happening again. A church, planted in difficult soil, entrusted to a pastor who was more concerned with growing deep than growing fast. For years, he tilled the ground, invested in relationships, and remained faithful. But when the numbers didn’t meet expectations, he was let go—twelve years of service, gone in an instant.

Jesus didn’t give up on people. Why do we?

When Moses felt inadequate, God sent Aaron to support him (Exodus 4:14-16). When the disciples went out, they didn’t go alone—Jesus sent them in pairs (Mark 6:7). Even when He told them to shake the dust off their feet and move on (Matthew 10:14), it was never an abandonment of people, but an acknowledgment of where hearts were open to receive.

But today, instead of strengthening and equipping those who struggle, we see churches casting them aside. Rather than walking alongside a struggling leader, offering support, or adjusting expectations, they remove them—blaming them for failures that leadership itself refuses to own.

An elder board exists to provide accountability, to ensure the church is led with wisdom and integrity. But what happens when the elders disagree, and yet, the senior pastor moves forward anyway? Where is the accountability then? Are we simply keeping an elder board for appearances while decisions are made unilaterally behind closed doors?

This isn’t leadership. This isn’t shepherding. This isn’t the church Christ intended.

The Church is called to be different. To lead with love. To reflect the character of Christ. To be a place where people aren’t discarded, but discipled—where leaders are held accountable, and where faithfulness matters more than flashy success.

We cannot change what has already been done, but we can ask the hard questions. We can demand integrity. We can seek healing. And above all, we can cling to the truth that God sees, God knows, and God will not abandon those who have been wounded by His Church.

If you’ve been hurt by the church, I see you. More importantly, God sees you. And while institutions may fail, He never will.