The concept for Exchanged developed over several years, beginning with one simple sermon back in 2016.

A Seed Planted

In 2016, I was attending a church in upstate South Carolina. I don’t remember the sermon’s topic, but I’ll never forget how the pastor explained Psalm 37:4:

“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
– Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

He said this verse wasn’t promising material blessings. Instead, it meant that when we delight in God, He transforms our hearts—exchanging our old desires for His perfect will. That idea gripped me. I began seeking that exchange in my own life, longing to trade the old self for the life God intended from the beginning.

A Call to Write—and Listen

In 2020, I felt God prompting me to write a book about coming to faith later in life. I titled it Exchanged by Faith. Though the book is still unfinished, the process became a spiritual classroom. God kept teaching, and I kept listening.

In 2022, I worked briefly on staff at a traditional Sunday morning church. It was a valuable experience—but one that stirred a deep discontent. I didn’t find what I needed for personal spiritual growth in the Sunday services or small groups. I began to wonder: Is there another way?

WHAT I SAW

The Challenges of Sunday Church Models

Through research and firsthand experience, I saw recurring patterns in modern church life. While not every church faces issues, the patterns were significant enough to seek a way to avoid them.

• Overhead-focused: 50–70% of budgets go to buildings and staff, not to people in need.
• Entertainment-driven: Emphasis on production value over spiritual depth.
• Misplaced metrics: Success measured by attendance, giving, and number of baptisms.
• One-size-fits-all teaching: Sermons trying to reach seekers and mature believers at once.
• Lack of foundations: New believers expected to “catch up” without guided discipleship.
• Poor post-baptism care: No shepherding into a faithful, obedient life.
• Cultural drift: Relevance to culture is prioritized, often at the cost of biblical truth.
• Internal service focus: Most volunteer roles stay within church walls.
• Inconsistency: Churches condemn culture while relying on its tools.
• Disconnection: Large churches can lack intimacy and accountability.
• Aimless groups: Small groups can lack depth or direction.
• Division: Denominational boundaries often divide more than unite.
• Corruption: Financial and moral failings damage trust and witness.

The Struggles of Home Churches

Home-based churches, while more intimate, often face their own difficulties:

• Attendance declines over time
• Theological disagreement causes division
• Many feel unprepared to lead or host
• Dominant personalities may skew teaching
• Isolation from the wider Body of Christ is common

The Broader Crisis

• A rising number of “Dones”—believers leaving the institutional church
• Post-COVID drop-off in attendance
• Christianity shrinking as a share of the population
• A culture increasingly hostile to faith

All of this pointed to one clear truth: there had to be another way.

The Vision: Building on What Works

While searching for a better path, I looked beyond the church world to see what already works in other areas of life. These organizations are not affiliated with Exchanged, but they offered helpful models:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): Small, honest, supportive gatherings that foster vulnerability, trust, and accountability.

Toastmasters: A structure that helps people confidently share their stories in public.

Trade schools, homeschooling, and military boot camp: Practical, immersive, transformational learning environments.

These formed the foundation of a new model—one that’s biblical, communal, and focused on true spiritual maturity.

The Addiction We Must Break

In a conversation with a friend, we discussed the AA model and its relevance to this new concept. He asked: “What addiction would your church aim to break?” The answer came immediately: addiction to culture.

Culture constantly pulls us away from God—feeding our egos, numbing our convictions, and substituting distraction for devotion. To walk closely with Christ, we must exchange our old self, shaped by culture, for a new life formed by the Spirit.

Giving Credit Where It’s Due

Exchanged isn’t the product of a single mind. It’s the fruit of countless sermons, conversations, books, prayers, and experiences. I’ve simply tried to listen and respond. If there’s anything good in this vision, the credit belongs to God. And if anything is off, that’s on me.

Please pray that Exchanged will strengthen the Church, bless families, and awaken hearts across our communities.

With God’s abundant love,
Brian Adams – July 2023