What transformation are you actually aiming for

Why clarity about the gospel—and outcomes—still matters

Where I started

I grew up in a conservative context and attended a Baptist Bible college—back when it was quite literally named Baptist Bible College.

Bible colleges tend to differ from other theological institutions in one key way: they are shaped by a strong missionary perspective. The college I attended focused on training missionaries to share the gospel overseas, as well as pastors and ministry staff for local Baptist churches.

There are parts of that world I’ve left behind.

But one thing has stayed with me:

the clarity of purpose.

Clarity we don’t talk about anymore

In that context, there was very little confusion about what ministry was for.

If a group of students went out into surrounding neighborhoods to knock on doors—and that did happen—everyone knew exactly what it meant to “share the gospel.”

More importantly, everyone knew what counted as transformation.

We were trying to move someone from point A to point B:

From no profession of faith
to a clear, identifiable profession of faith

That clarity drove everything—alignment, collaboration, urgency, and shared effort.

What changed

In the nearly twenty years I’ve spent in mainline Protestant contexts, I’ve often found the opposite dynamic.

There is far less agreement on what the gospel is—or what it means to share it.

This isn’t primarily a theological critique. It’s a practical one.

When you can’t name the transformation, you can’t organize around it.

And without that clarity, it becomes much harder to align people, energy, and resources toward a shared outcome.

The problem with vague outcomes

Too often, especially in mainline settings, we default to language like:

• “finding community”

• “gaining a greater sense of purpose”

These are not bad outcomes.

But they are also not unique to the church.

People can find community at CrossFit.
They can find purpose volunteering at an animal shelter.

If our outcomes aren’t distinct, our work becomes indistinct.

What clarity looks like

The point here is not to settle the theology of evangelism.

The point is simpler—and harder:

What transformation are you actually aiming for?

After someone engages your ministry, what is different in their life?

One ministry I work with, Green Room Leaders, names this clearly. They exist to help worship leaders get off the treadmill of chasing Sunday after Sunday—and toward a vision rooted in Psalm 1:

A leader planted by streams of water,
bearing fruit in season,
not burning out,
prospering in what they do

That’s a defined transformation.

When I work with pastors, churches, and nonprofits, I’m trying to help leaders move from feeling like they’re banging their head against a wall to becoming leaders with clarity, energy, and forward momentum.

Start smaller than you think

Clarity doesn’t require grand ambition.

In fact, it often requires restraint.

Not:
“We’re going to solve world peace.”

Not even:
“We’re going to feed the entire community.”

Maybe it’s:

“We want to make sure kids come to school on Monday with a full stomach.”

Or:

“Every child in our county has food for the weekend.”

Clear. Concrete. Actionable.

Why this matters for Substack Seminary

This is the kind of clarity we’re working toward in Substack Seminary.

Not just naming problems—but defining transformation.

Because if you can’t name the change,
you can’t build toward it.

If you’re trying to get clearer about what your ministry actually does—and what difference it makes—this is the work.

Join us.