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Imagine if every pastor went into a revitalization with a determination to make it their final career stop. That long term view would be paradigm shifting.
Today’s Listener Question:
FROM ELAINE
My husband is in the process of going to a new church as pastor. We listen to all your podcasts together and often talk about them afterward. We are planning on this being our last church as we’re in our 50s. What should he focus on (and maybe even me as well) to see this revitalization succeed in the long-term?
Episode Highlights:
- You need at least a five-year view when you begin a revitalization.
- Revitalization only starts when the church realizes and accepts the current reality.
- Revitalization means change, and some church members won’t like that.
- Leaders prefer winning all the time, but that’s not reality. Leaders need to be prepared to lose a “battle” and learn from it.
The five realities we discuss are:
- Accept the reality of the time it will take.
- Make certain your family is on board.
- Give the church members the same dose of reality
- Learn to be content with 3 steps forward and 2 steps backwards
- Be content and celebrate small victories.
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
- ChurchReplanters.com
- ChurchAnswers.com
- Replanter Assessment
- Find more resources at the Revitalize & Replant page at ThomRainer.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.
My name is Shane Mitchell. I’m 46 years old and have served in ministry for 26 of those years. The past few years, I served as one of the planting pastors for a new church plant. I’m now looking to help revitalize a church and be there long term. What are some potential pit falls I may experience or false pre-assuptions I may have after having planted a church?
Planters are more forward directed in their mindset while in a revitalization process you will have many who are complacent with the status quo. You must be able to recognize those who have become inward focused and lovingly serve them while you attempt to reawaken the ministry Kingdom fire in their heart. You may even need to lovingly point them to the difference of falling in love with church culture (nice, friendly, “good” people socializing together) contrasted to falling in love withe the church’s mission (seeking the lost and discipling the found.)
Shane –
Check this podcast; https://archive.thomrainer.com/2018/04/keys-success-revitalization-hearing-leaders-revitalize-replant-037/
Unfortunately it is not always up to the pastor as far as tenure. Even when God blesses and there is growth pastors get runoff all the time. How do you get others on board with the long road commitment to the pastor like the pastor commits to them?
I would say one key is how you handle conflict. Conflicts will arise, if you see them as possible doors to change or setbacks is important. When conflicts come up don’t get angry, it really is just showing where people’s hearts and priorities are. Lovingly and patiently explain why the conflict exists and winsomely describe what a Kingdom mindset looks like in the situation.
For example our church wanted to hold a concert. The congregation wanted Bluegrass Southern Gospel because that is what many of the older folks liked and they might get their friends from other churches to visit. The community listens to rock and hip hop. It needed to be explained what the difference was between doing a concert for those inside the church to be entertained looked like in contrast to doing a show which would attract the loss and be attractive to the next generation. Ultimately we went with Bluegrass and the congregation thought it was a win because we had 8 people visit from neighboring churches while no non-church goers came. Rather than get upset I explained what the goal of Kingdom ministry was and asked if perhaps we could figure out a better way to reach out could be done. What if we now did a second concert to reach the unchurched? They did decide to do another concert, unfortunately (in my opinion) they chose to go for a harpsichord group this time around.
I think churches have to be careful about holding events to attract people to their church. Especially music. Music in the church is for the believer and is a way to express God’s truth through song. Believers connecting with unbelievers in the world is where real evangelism takes place. Ultimately it is God’s word that leads a person to salvation.
1 Corinthians
18. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21. For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23. But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
What do you suggest for a congregant in a declining church where the revitalization process is rejected? We had a pastoral search where we had two applicants, one who had a five year revitalization process for outreach and spiritual renewal and one who said there was nothing wrong with the church it was the community’s fault for not responding. The renewal pastor was rejected and the “it’s not our fault” pastor was hired. Three years in the church continues to decline and isolate itself from the community, the numeric indicators (conversions, baptisms, attendance, giving, etc.) are all down.
Jim –
Your church may need a replant more than a revitaliztation.
In the Bible, Jesus reminded us that “we cannot put new wine into old wineskins”. Therefore, it is very important that all churches engage in a systematic long range planning process. Things do chamge and we as the Body of Christ must be prepared to respond to those changes.
Our church is wanting to reach the younger generations and it has totally changed the way I’ve done ministry all my life. Do you have any words of encouragement or even churches I could contact who have navigated through going from an orchestra/choir led church to a wordshipband led church?
Has your church ever done a generational neighborhood analysis? Within your church’s boundaries, there are several generations. Have we tap them all?
Planting >> quantity, and superstructure. Revitalization >> quality, and infrastructure.
In SBC life during the past 100 years, God blessed this approach: (1) Discover all of the potential for which the congregation has the potential today in its setting; (2) Develop a SMART plan to be used to capture all of the potential discovered in step 1; (3) Enlist and train all of the people who will work to accomplish the plan developed in step 2; (4) Provide the space and other resources required by the workers enlisted in step 3; and, (5) Go, capture all of the potential for which the congregation has the potential today in its setting (monitor and adjust as you go; then, repeat the steps). The steps are sequential; do each in its order and not before, in order to increase clarity and decrease confusion. Take the time it takes to get it right; the five steps can be a five year plan.
poignant, pithy puns. 3 p’s
My husband is a long term pastor of twenty-five years in our present church. I also serve on the church staff. In our time here, our church has gone through two major revitalizations. They were both needed and effective. Churches tend to get content and complacent and lose sight of the mission of the church, if there is not some kind of refocusing from time to time. They require much prayer and involvement from leadership to get the church refocused. We are now leading the church in a transitional time as we are preparing the church for our retirement. We are encouraging the church to look forward to a new pastor coming and trying to help them to understand what kind of pastor they should pray for, and hopefully, get. It also helps them to know that we are excited about the future of the church, and we are looking forward to what God has for us as we seek a new work. Change is good, but it must be tempered with prayer and the right preparations for it to be effective and successful.
My husband is a long term pastor of twenty-five years at our present church. I am also on his church staff. We have had two major revitalizations during this time. Both were needed and effective. The church tends to become complacent and content at times, and when that happens, a time of refocusing needs to happen. Prior to a revitalization, much prayer and a coming together of leadership needs to happen. The preparation is very important to lay the foundation for a successful refocus. My husband and I are now leading a time of transition for our church, as we are preparing to retire. We are trying to encourage them, and we are letting the church know it is a time to look forward to a new pastor and new leadership. We are excited about the future of our church, and they know we love them. We are also looking forward to and excited about what God has in store for us in this new chapter of our lives in service to Him. Change is hard for many in the church, but it can be a rewarding time if it is done with prayer, patience, and the hope of what God is going to do in the future.
Sorry for posting two comments. One disappeared, so I did it again. My apologies.
The need for the Spirit to be present both in the congregation and in the pastor to open hearts and minds to change is absolute. Prayer, meditation and hard examination of the changes that will need to happen are the first things to come out of the tool box.
I believe leaving it up to God is absolute. It is not my revitalization or the church’s. It is God’s revitalization.