Why It Can Take at Least 5 Years to See Revitalization Fruit

Leading a church in revitalization requires not only tactical patience but strategic patience as well. Thom and Mark describe strategic patience and why it the fruit of revitalization may not be evident for five years.

1. The Berry Bucket often takes that long.

2. The denial factor is often entrenched.

3. Trust in the pastor often begins after 5 years

4. There are many fires to put out.

5. Evangelism as a priority often takes 5 years.

6. Prayer must move from perfunctory to desperate.

7. But low-hanging fruit is possible in the short term.

Resources:

• The Berry Bucket Principle – “Leading and Managing Your Church” by Carl George

• Reclaiming Glory: Revitalizing Dying Churches by Mark Clifton

• Autopsy of a Deceased Church: 12 Ways to Keep Yours Alive by Thom S. Rainer

• Anatomy of a Revived Church: Seven Findings about How Congregations Avoided Death by Thom S. Rainer

• Church Answer Central

• North American Mission Board Church Replanters

Episode Sponsor:

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.