Leading in a church revitalization can be difficult when one or a few people are working against you. Today, we discuss how to lead through this situation.
Today’s Listener Question:
FROM CALEB
I have a church bully problem. One church member, whose name rhymes with Dodger, keeps making ends runs around decisions I make and is generally undoing things as I try to do them in our revitalization. I guess he’s not a bully as much as he is a foe making power moves on me and the staff.
Episode Highlights:
- Church members often want change until it means they have to change, too.
- It’s hard to be negative toward someone when you are praying for them.
- Sometimes it’s easier to lead around people than over them.
- When you have a power player in the church, it will inevitably lead to a negative situation in the church.
The seven tips when dealing with a power player are:
- This situation is not uncommon, even if everyone said they were on board
- Begin with prayer
- Try to decide if the blockage is a workaround or clash of the titans
- Enlist others to help
- Focus on the positive where you can
- Be aware of the energy vampires
- Only as a last resort, ask the power player to go
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.
