Five Foundational Steps for Replanting

Episode #030
March 1, 2018
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Even when a church is dying, new life can come to it, but it takes work. These five foundational steps can help.

Today’s Listener Question:

FROM KENT

I’m in contact with a church in a mountain town in North Carolina considering taking me on as their replant pastor, but I’m not convinced they actually know what that means. They are a small group of about 30 people (half of them are family members), in the desperation stage before their death. How do I explain to them what a replant is, make it clear what changes need to take place before I commit, and evaluate if they truly are open to replanting or if they only think they are? The church is a stereotypical 1950’s mid-century building, small entry, pews to the back of the sanctuary and memorial plaques on almost every pew and door. Help!

Episode Highlights:

  • Dying churches need to look to the past before they’ll be ready to look to the future.
  • Churches who won’t repent corporately are often led by pastors who won’t repent personally.
  • Just because a church’s doors are open doesn’t mean the church isn’t already dead.
  • Repentance is not something to avoid, it’s a refreshing fountain we should run to daily.
  • God would not be calling so many people to replant churches if He wasn’t intending to replant those churches.
  • You will not see a church revitalize without prayer.

The five foundational steps we discuss are:

  1. Remember
  2. Repent
  3. Discover
  4. Pray
  5. Understand

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

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.

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