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Mark Clifton joins us to discuss the most common fears pastors in revitalizations and replants have.
Today’s Listener Question:
FROM CLYDE
Our church once had a pastor who walked on eggshells all the time. He was afraid of upsetting people both in the community and in the church. He was paralyzed by fear. Is that something that’s common with those in church revitalization? What fears do pastors have when trying to revitalize or replant a church?
Episode Highlights:
- No pastor wants to be the last pastor of a church.
- If God has placed you as pastor at a church, He’s got a reason for you to be there at that specific time.
- Pastors shouldn’t play the blame game if the church they lead doesn’t have what they would consider adequate resources.
- Daniel slept in the lions’ den, so can you.
- If you’re pastoring in a revitalization, you need to preach, pray, love, and stay.
The five fears we discuss are:
- Fear of failure. What happens if the church fails?
- Fear of inadequate resources
- Fear of my family not adjusting
- Fear of burnout
- Fear of the long-term commitment required
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
- ChurchReplanters.com
- ChurchAnswers.com
- Replanter Assessment
- Find more resources at the Revitalize & Replant page at ThomRainer.com
Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend by decreasing the death rate of existing churches while simultaneously increasing the birth rate of new churches. To learn more about what it means to become a replanting pastor or to explore resources for replanting and revitalization in your own church, visit ChurchReplanters.com.
Submit Your Question:
Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you’ll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.
Your second bullet point about God having you there for a specific purpose and season is spot on.
I attended a church where the denominational leadership sent in a “final pastor” to shutter the church. Now eleven years later a church that had 22 in attendance is running over 400.
As I like to say: who but God?
Dr. Rainer, are you familiar or aware of what the Evangelical Covenant Church has been doing in revitalization for the past 15 years? It is called Veritas. I am sure they will share anything you could want from this effort.