Church Revitalization

Church Revitalization

Revitalization requires more than strategies and programs

By Rob Paul
Special to The Alabama Baptist

The statistics are in. Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) churches continue to baptize fewer people each year. More than 80 percent of SBC churches are plateaued, declining or growing at a rate less than the growth of their communities. Nearly a thousand of those churches will close their doors this year. Thousands more are only a few years from the same result unless something changes.

Jesus brings life. He brings life to dead people. He also brings life to dead and dying churches.

Revitalization requires more than strategies and programs. It is a supernatural work of God. But revitalization also requires change and hard work. The degree of change and the intensity of the work depends on whether the church is stuck, struggling or suffering.

Evangelistic fruit

Stuck churches feel like they are spinning their wheels. Attendance may be down. Growth may have slowed or even stopped. Members who were once passionate about serving seem to be going through the motions. Often a pastor or church member will recognize that something just does not feel right. Stuck churches may only need a boost to become unstuck.

Struggling churches have been spinning their wheels for a while. The church is either plateaued or declining in attendance. Little evangelistic fruit exists beyond the children of church members. Church members remember and long for a return to days gone by. They wish they could be like the “First Baptist Church of What’s Happening Now.” And almost everyone has an opinion about how to solve the problem. Struggling churches need to embrace change before it’s too late.

Suffering churches have spun their wheels for so long they will need intervention in order to survive. They have dwindling resources and little energy. The church membership no longer reflects the community. Entire generations are missing from leadership. In many cases entire generations are missing from the membership as well. Often these churches are well acquainted with conflict. Powerful individuals or groups have their way. Without dramatic change suffering churches are heading for imminent death.

Hope exists for churches that are stuck, struggling or suffering. The church is the body of Christ and Jesus wants His body to reflect His glory and accomplish His purposes. He wants to revive and revitalize His church. There is hope. Jesus will do His part. We must do ours.

Our part begins with accepting reality. I recently asked this question on social media: “Does the church you attend or lead need to experience revitalization?” Eighty-three percent of the respondents replied, “Yes.” They recognize the need. They accept reality. But some churches do not accept reality. They are in denial. They think if they just keep doing what they are doing, things will get better. If they get the right pastor, things will get better. They are in denial.

Reach out

Many resources are available for churches that are ready to accept reality and engage in the hard work of revitalization. I encourage you to reach out to a trained revitalization strategist. 

In my role as a certified consultant and revitalization strategist I have the privilege of helping a church see its present reality with fresh eyes. As an outsider I often see things they have overlooked and help the congregation consider options they may not have known were possible. 

If your church is stuck, struggling or suffering help is available. There is hope.

EDITOR’S NOTE — Rob Paul is a church revitalization strategist, certified church consultant and transitional pastor. For more information about Rob Paul Ministries visit www.robpaul.net.

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Church health strategist helps guide churches toward turnaround

The majority of churches are plateauing or declining. That’s a fact backed up by a significant amount of data, George Yates said.

And with that sobering reality in mind, Yates has been asking dozens of churches from Baldwin County to Athens this question — what can we do to turn that around?

It’s a simple question, and the answer varies by church. But finding that answer is what Yates, a church health strategist with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), is all about.

Five phases of decline

“The quicker churches realize the need for a turnaround and ask for help, the easier it is and the stronger it is for that church to make the turn,” he said.

Yates wrote a book called “Reaching the Summit: Avoiding and Reversing Decline in the Church.” In it he outlines five phases of decline — loss of vision, lack of purpose, denial, grasping for survival and, finally, relinquishment of ministry.

“Many don’t reach out for help until they’re in phase four — grasping for survival,” Yates said. 

What often happens then is that the church makes rash decisions out of desperation. They might have knee-jerk reactions, waste valuable time or even get rid of things that they actually need to stop the decline, he said.

Yates’ goal is to come alongside them and help them know how to move toward revival.

“Together we evaluate every ministry in your church and how it’s fulfilling the Great Commission,” he said.

And together with Mike Jackson, director of the SBOM office of LeaderCare and church health, and Daniel Wilson, church health strategist, Yates is working to build processes, resources and strategies the SBOM can use to help churches move toward revitalization.

Walking alongside

“We’ve got some things on the website already that can be of help, and we can come and walk alongside a church as a coach to help you work toward a turnaround,” Yates said.

For assessment tools and resources visit alsbom.org/revitalization or email Yates at gyates@alsbom.org. (Grace Thornton)

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These 3 priorities are a good place to start revitalizing a church

Leading a church to experience revitalization is often a journey into the unknown. There are no easy solutions. I wish I could give you a list of things to do — something like “10 Steps to Revitalize Your Church.” 

Moving forward

But that’s not realistic. Every church is different. Every community is different. Consequently, every revitalization strategy is different.

While there is no set formula there are three priorities that will get a church moving toward revitalization:

  • The priority of corporate prayer. Call your people to the altar and call out to God for revival. Pray for repentance. Pray for your community. Pray for lost people by name. Talk to Jesus. The work of revitalization is a spiritual process. Make prayer a priority.
  • The priority of Bible reading. Get your people reading the Bible. Enact a churchwide daily reading plan. In a 2007 study, researchers discovered what should have been obvious. Reading the Bible is the number one characteristic of mature followers of Christ. Make Bible reading a priority.
  • The priority of evangelism. Our churches have become inwardly focused. The Great Commission is often the Great Omission. Train your people to share the gospel (“Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversations” by Jimmy Scroggins and Steve Wright is an excellent tool). As a leader, set the pace. Share your faith. Make evangelism a priority.

The work of revitalization is a long-term process. Our churches did not become unhealthy overnight and we will not fix them overnight. To borrow the cliché, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” But you have to start somewhere. Establishing the priorities of corporate prayer, Bible reading and evangelism is a good place to begin. (Rob Paul)

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Helpful resources

Books:

  • “Autopsy of a Deceased Church” by Thom Rainer
  • “Reclaimg Glory” by Mark Clifton
  • “Flickering Lamps” by Henry and Richard Blackaby

Podcasts:

  • Revitalize and Replant with Thom Rainer and Mark Clifton
  • EST.Church often addresses issues related to church revitalization.

Blogs/Websites:

  • The Exchange (hosted by Christianity Today) features various topics including church revitalization.
  • ChurchRevitalizationResources.com is written by Rob Paul. 
  • alsbom.org/revitalization by State Board of Missions for assessments and resources.

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Dawson Memorial to host church revitalization conference

The Church Revitalization/Replant Conference is an opportunity for church leaders and members of churches of any size who want to learn how to better engage their communities with the gospel. 

The free conference will be held Feb. 25 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham. The conference is organized by the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.

Mark Clifton, senior director of replanting at the North American Mission Board and author of “Reclaiming Glory: Creating a Gospel Legacy throughout North America,” is the featured speaker. The first 300 people to register for the Feb. 25 conference will receive a copy of Clifton’s newest book.

To register for the conference, go to http://bit.ly/CRRCRegister. (TAB)