It’s no secret that many churches—if not the majority—in North America need revitalization. Here are some summary findings of churches I have worked with and studied over the last several years:
- Churches got where they are honestly. That is to say, the church over the years slid in the wrong direction. I have never seen a church that intentionally decided to move toward death.
- Even dying churches can come to life again. I’ve seen it happen under the right leadership with the right vision. These churches are pictures of the resurrection power of the gospel.
- The longer the decline has been, the harder it is to turn the church around. The ship that’s sailed in the wrong direction for a long time takes a while to turn around.
- Revitalization occurs best when a leadership team is at the helm. Revitalization is hard work, and a united team of leaders is more likely to stay faithful through the work than a lone ranger leader is.
- The primary leader must be a person of faith. That person must have eyes of faith, seeing the church for what it could be rather than what it is. He must believe that God can, and will, change the church.
- Revitalization often starts with one area of the church rather than the whole church. Revitalization might begin with simple things like painting the walls, training a few small group leaders, or updating the church bulletin. The big changes are easier when built on successful small changes.
- COVID has made revitalization even more difficult. It’s tough to keep the momentum moving forward when we’re just trying to get back to where we were pre-COVID. The work is even more wearisome.
- Leaders must exhibit “patient persistence.” They can’t push too quickly, but nor can they necessarily wait long to propose change.
- Revitalization sometimes requires a re-start. That’s often painful to long-term members, but it’s necessary. It might mean a new church name, a new service time, and/or new leadership.
- Not every pastor is equipped to lead a revitalization effort. That’s not a slam against any pastor; it’s simply a recognition that revitalization requires a unique skill set and passion.
If you’ve worked in church revitalization, what have you learned?
