Ever wonder if you’re ready to lead a church to revitalization? Today we cover eight reasons you may NOT be ready.
Today’s Listener Question:
FROM MARGARET
Our church is struggling to find a new pastor. I think it has to do with our current situation. The church has declined over the past few decade and has seen several pastors come and go. We just need a pastor who will stick it out here but can’t find one. Why is it so hard to find and keep pastors in a church that needs revitalizing?
Episode Highlights:
- Hiring a young pastor is not a magic bullet for church revitalization.
- A typical church revitalization takes more than five years.
- A pastor leading revitalization has to be a pastor with a long-term perspective.
- If you don’t ask for help, you often don’t get it.
- Pastors need to know how thick their skin is before entering into church revitalization.
- Taking risks means there will be significant change
- We need more wise, risk-taking pastors.
The eight reasons some pastors aren’t ready for revitalization are:
- It usually takes a long time
- It requires facing reality
- The pastor could lose his job
- It often requires asking for help
- It requires a thick skin
- It means you may hurt some people you love
- It requires perseverance and tenacity
- It means taking risks
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
- ChurchReplanters.com
- Church Answers
- 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.
