People will leave the church you pastor. It’s not a matter of if, but of when. So you need to be prepared for it when it happens. Today, we discuss four distinct times this happens.
Episode Highlights:
- When members leave the church it can be very personal, and that’s what makes it so painful.
- Any changes a pastor makes can be trigger people leaving the church. Just expect it.
- Make changes based on the people you want to reach, not just to appease those already in the church.
- Pastoral candidates need to share realistic ideas when interviewing with a church. Unrealistic ideas create unattainable expectations down the road.
The four waves we discuss are:
- Arrival of the new pastor
- Early changes in year one
- Unmet expectations in year two
- The weariness factor in years three to four
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
- ChurchAnswers.com
- ChurchReplanters.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.
