Podcast Episode #171
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While church planting is garnering much attention (deservedly so), church revitalization is becoming more and more important throughout North America. In today’s episode, we discuss this topic and why pastors sometimes feel unqualified or even fearful to lead a revitalization effort. We also talk about barbecue…because…well…Jonathan likes food.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- Substantive changes in a church typically don’t take hold until a pastor has been at a church for 4-5 years.
- The most common way to face reality in a church is to look at a 10-year attendance pattern.
- Revitalization is not something that happens with a snap of a finger.
- You don’t revitalize a church in your power. You do it through God’s power.
- There are a lot of pastors and church leaders who just don’t want to ask for help.
- If there were no risk in church revitalization, every church would be revitalized.
- Don’t get into revitalization if you’re afraid to lead by faith.
The eight reasons pastors are afraid of revitalization are:
- Revitalization requires a long-term vision for a church
- It requires facing reality
- It demands patience
- It requires prayer
- It might require asking for help
- It requires “stick-to-it-ness”
- It might mean hurting people you love
- It requires taking a risk.
Episode Sponsors
Trinity Evangelical Divinity School is a dynamic community of learners who are serious about ministry preparation biblical studies theological reflection and cultural engagement. Their faculty are gifted men and women who minister as much through research and writing as through local church involvement but their primary ministry is teaching and caring for students. Find out more about TEDS at Divinity.TIU.edu.
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Feedback
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I have read much of your work and have come to respect your wisdom and insight over the years. I have been pastoring for nearly 20 years now, and have learned that revitalization takes time and patience. I was glad to see these added to the list. Although I know these things, living them is often difficult. I have recently stepped into my third church (God seems to call me to congregations that are fractured and about to die). I was much younger in the first two and seemed to have the energy. However, just this past Sunday I met with the church for a time of discernment and prayer. We were seeking the Lord’s guidance – at least that is what I hoped would happen. I soon learned that it wasn’t just structure and ministry that needed to be revitalized, but so too did priorities. Anyway, I went home after that meeting feeling exhausted. My eyes were opened to the size of the task, and I felt overwhelmed. Yesterday was a struggle. Today is a little better. Then I glanced at the overview of today’s episode. Thank you Thom. I was strengthened by this reminder. We don’t hear much about this side of Church Growth. So I appreciate the words you shared. It strengthened me for the task the Lord has placed before me.
I love your heart, Greg. I am taking time to pray for you and your church right now.
i would like to add:
It might put you at odds with the leadership and/or dilute the power structure which could get you fired.
Problems can be caused when new people who aren’t always liked because they are new and not known start showing up and may not have the same politics, ideas, etc. as the rest of the members as well as different needs.
It can change the pastoral care needs of the congregation which some pastors aren’t trained in.
Great adds, Mark. Thank you.
Thom,
In the past I have Led two churches through times of revitalization as a Bi-vocational pastor. But in both cases I was moved by my outside employment (military) after only a few years and was never able to see them through more than 3 years. However, through it all I discovered a passion for revitalizing existing churches. I have been told numerous times dating back to my seminary days that if a church struggles you should just kill it and plant another one. I heard denominational leaders and seminary professors say that to their students but could never grasp that in my heart. My thought is that if we kill every church that struggles, we will get into an endless cycle of closing and starting and never know how to deal with the problems that will absolutely arise as a church ages.
Over the past few months I have started looking for an existing church to pastor/revitalize. I am now retired from the military and have an outside income so that I can focus more clearly on the task at hand. However, I am now faced other challenges. One committee told me that they really liked me but they thought I was too old to reach the young families in their area (I’m 47 with children as young as 13). And another said that they wanted growth in young families but didn’t think that the church would go for any changes even over the long haul.????
I feel strongly called to the people of the Northwest and Alaska and am praying for God to place us where we can be used to bring new life to his Church.
Blessings,
Les
Les –
I am praying for open doors for you. We certainly need more leaders with your heart.
I deeply believe in the necessity for ongoing revitalization by leaders sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit. But in my long ministry, I have noticed that denominational revitalization initiatives have often become the instrument for going after pastors for not hitting the metrics. Many of us pastors do need to change and grow deeper in many ways, but care needs to be taken to not become the target of church bullies.
Don –
I’m sorry to hear that. I am not familiar with such actions taking place.
Jonathan –
You really put the BBQ links!
Well, yeah. People need the info.
It is tough. We started the process two years ago. We as leaders of the church decided that nothing was sacred. We would put everything in God’s hands, and decisions would be based only on purpose. While so many of our local ministries were doing very well, it did not translate to new faces on Sunday mornings. One of the big changes was making our Sanctuary a comfortable place to be and adding a 2nd service that catered to unchurched, disconnected people. There was uproar. We took a vote of affirmation and the vote went 56 percent against. But when you looked at vote numbers of engaged people and leaders, the vote was 75 percent in favor. When you looked at yearly tithing, 74 percent came from yes votes. Those opposed cited unity as a reason for not moving forward. But we felt that unity that is not rooted in purpose, is not true biblical unity. So we had the power to move forward as leaders, and we did. We anticipated it would take 1-2 years to raise the money to make the changes. But within a month after committing to our vision, the Lord provided what we needed in one unexpected gift from an outsider.
We lost several members, we saw giving drop by 25%. It has been tough, but our needs have all been met. Several people that were against it have since changed their minds. But it is alot of work. We lost very few ministry workers, but the Lord is blessing us with more ministry opportunity than we can handle. Where before if felt like we were terminal, there is now hope.
For those looking at attendance numbers, there is another thing you should look at. Look at your tithing average by age group. 20-50, 50-60, 60+
We found that our biggest tithers are those in the 50-60 age range, those 60+ heading into retirement give about half as much. Take your membership numbers, multiply it by average giving and advance it by 10 years in each group. The numbers may shock you. Alot of churches will die from financial related struggles before they die of attendance related struggles.
The 8 bullet points are above spot on for both pastors and leaders.
LS –
Wow. Your response is extremely helpful. Great ideas and insights. Thank you.
For a church to be genuinely revitalized the people must be revitalized. Support groups revitalize people by allowing them to help one another. The support group model for church revitalization presented in 1 Corinthians 14:26.