{"id":22771,"date":"2024-04-16T05:00:42","date_gmt":"2024-04-16T09:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.namb.net\/church-replanting\/?post_type=resource&p=22771"},"modified":"2024-04-15T12:29:59","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T16:29:59","slug":"preparing-your-church-for-long-term-revitalization","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/www.namb.net\/church-replanting\/resource\/preparing-your-church-for-long-term-revitalization\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing Your Church for Long-Term Revitalization"},"content":{"rendered":"

In two recent episodes of Revitalize and Replant with Mark Clifton<\/a>, Mark Clifton and Mark Hallock discussed five tips for preparing your church for the long-haul of church revitalization. While the work of revitalization will always be difficult, if you can clarify some of these expectations for your people, you can help cut down on misunderstandings during the process.<\/p>\n

1. Accept the reality of the time it will take<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are no silver bullets when it comes to church renewal and revitalization. If you try to speed up the process, you will be frustrated and you will frustrate the folks in your church. As Jonathan Smith, director for Church Health and Growth for Texas Baptists, likes to say, \u201cDon\u2019t microwave the brisket.\u201d In other words, some things are worth the long time it takes to prepare. Church revitalization is one of those things. (Brisket is, too!)<\/p>\n

2. Make certain your family is on board<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before you jump head-first into church revitalization, you need to prepare your family for what this process will look like. Of course, you can\u2019t anticipate every single criticism or situation that may arise, but you can prepare them for some basics:<\/p>\n

a)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s going to be a long process (see #1 above).<\/p>\n

b)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You will be criticized during the process, sometimes unfairly. This will no doubt be difficult, but it comes with the territory.<\/p>\n

c)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Some folks will leave. This will be painful. Your wife and kids may lose friends in this process. While grocery shopping in Walmart, they may run into folks who don\u2019t like you or your family very much.<\/p>\n

d)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The pain is worth it. It won\u2019t be easy, but you will see God do amazing things as His church experiences new life, health and growth. As pastor Sam Calhoun said in a video several years ago, when you see God at work in your church, \u201cIt\u2019s worth every pain, it\u2019s worth every prayer, it\u2019s worth every tear. It\u2019s worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. Give the church members the same dose of reality<\/strong><\/p>\n

You need to help your folks understand two big things: 1) the current reality of the church and 2) the process to move toward health. Even if your church is extremely unhealthy, it\u2019s likely that many (maybe even most) of the people in the pews don\u2019t understand just how<\/em> unhealthy they are. It\u2019s going to take some time and hard conversations for them to come to that realization.<\/p>\n

4. Learn to be content with three steps forward and two steps backward<\/strong><\/p>\n

Slow and steady will win this race. You will experience some great victories, and you\u2019ll experience some setbacks. As someone wisely said, \u201cDon\u2019t let success go to your head, and don\u2019t let failure go to your heart.\u201d Don\u2019t lose heart in the process. Trust that the Lord is working through the process. Keep your eyes focused on Him on the good days and<\/em> the bad days!<\/p>\n

5. Be content and celebrate small victories<\/strong><\/p>\n

Are you seeing baptisms for the first time in a long time? Celebrate that! Have you seen a ministry experience new life in the community? Rejoice! Make sure you\u2019re taking time to celebrate these things as a church body. One almost-universal truth I\u2019ve witnessed is that churches that don\u2019t celebrate together will fight and bicker. Point out reasons to celebrate what God is doing in and through your church. Praise Him for His faithfulness, and use these victories to call your folks to keep on trusting Jesus boldly in the process of renewal and revitalization.<\/p>\n

For more on preparing your church for long-term revitalization, check out these two episodes from the podcast: <\/em><\/p>\n

Part 1<\/em><\/a>, \u00a0<\/em>Part 2<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In two recent episodes of Revitalize and Replant with Mark Clifton, Mark Clifton and Mark Hallock …<\/p>\n

Preparing Your Church for Long-Term Revitalization<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":22772,"template":"","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"tags":[],"channels":[],"topics":[53],"languages":[],"class_list":["post-22771","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","resource_type-article","topics-replanting"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPreparing Your Church for Long-Term Revitalization - 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