https://youtu.be/5hlsD5ypMmk

Thom and Mark remain obnoxious optimists about the revitalization of churches. Numerous indicators are pointing to this hope. In this first of three episodes, they share why the awareness issue has become so positive for revitalization.

Bad news is good news.

Denominations and networks have become aware as well.

Awareness leads to solutions.

Awareness helps with the loneliness factor.

 

Resources:

* Five Major Developments for Churches with an Attendance Under 250

* The New Very Large Church

* “Reclaiming Glory, Updated Edition: Creating a Gospel Legacy throughout North America” by Mark Clifton

* Check out the NEW Revitalize and Replant podcast with Mark Clifton

* North American Mission Board Church Replanters

* Coming soon! The NEW Church Answers Podcast

Collaborate with ministry leaders around the world! Join us at Church Answers Gold!

Coming Soon!: Why We Have Hope for Revitalizing Churches - Part 2: The Evangelism Issue

 

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.

https://youtu.be/40-J_8p6uOQ

We are seeing many smaller churches become healthier and make great strides for the gospel. In this second of two parts, Thom and Mark look at the action shifts that took place with members and leaders of these smaller churches on the rise.

1. Understanding the micro-business revolution.

2. The power of one or a few.

3. Moving obediently into evangelism.

4. Finding and meeting the need(s) of the community.

5. The power of consistency.

 

Resources:

* Five Major Developments for Churches with an Attendance Under 250

* “Reclaiming Glory, Updated Edition: Creating a Gospel Legacy throughout North America” by Mark Clifton

* Check out the NEW Revitalize and Replant podcast with Mark Clifton

* North American Mission Board Church Replanters

* The New Very Large Church

* Coming soon! The NEW Church Answers Podcast

The Hope Initiative

Invite Your One

* Know Your Community

Collaborate with ministry leaders around the world! Join us at Church Answers Gold!

Listen to part 1 of this series: "The Rise of the Small Church - Part 1: Attitudinal Shifts"

 

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.

https://youtu.be/CSHcMMphqr8

We are seeing many smaller churches become healthier and make great strides for the gospel. In this two-part series, Thom and Mark first look at the attitudinal shifts that took place with leaders of these smaller churches on the rise.

1. Understanding the micro-business revolution.

2. Resisting the attitude of "smaller is inferior."

3. Resisting the attitude of basing your worth (and the worth of your church) on the size of the church.

4. Resisting the attitude that smaller churches have insufficient resources.

5. Resisting the attitude of comparison.

 

Resources:

* Five Major Developments for Churches with an Attendance Under 250

* “Reclaiming Glory, Updated Edition: Creating a Gospel Legacy throughout North America” by Mark Clifton

* Check out the NEW Revitalize and Replant podcast with Mark Clifton

* North American Mission Board Church Replanters

* The New Very Large Church

* Coming soon! The NEW Church Answers Podcast

Collaborate with ministry leaders around the world! Join us at Church Answers Gold!

COMING SOON! Episode #289: "The Rise of the Small Church - Part 2: Action Shifts"

 

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.

https://youtu.be/NS62CqZTtlQ

Mark Clifton's book, Reclaiming Glory, has been a foundational book for church revitalization. In this podcast, Thom interviews Mark about the release of the updated edition of the book. You will not want to miss some of the nuggets Mark drops. Those nuggets will be powerful tools for your church.

1. Why did you update Reclaiming Glory?

2. What does "reclaiming glory" mean for church revitalization?

3. Why should we even care about dying churches?

4. What are some keys to successful church revitalization?

5. Why is a revitalized church a "gospel legacy?"

 

Resources:

* “Reclaiming Glory, Updated Edition: Creating a Gospel Legacy throughout North America” by Mark Clifton

* Check out the NEW Revitalize and Replant podcast with Mark Clifton

* North American Mission Board Church Replanters

* Books by Lyle Schaller

* “Let the Nations Be Glad!: The Supremacy of God in Missions” by John Piper

* Coming soon! The NEW Church Answers Podcast

Collaborate with ministry leaders around the world! Join us at Church Answers Gold!

 

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.

https://youtu.be/i6gs-a75Bbo

It is almost cliche to say revitalization is tough. But it is a challenge. Thom and Mark speak with countless pastors and staff who don't think they are up to the task. This three-part series may prove to be a blessing to those who are discouraged and wonder if they can lead the revitalization. In this third episode, Thom and Mark offer answers from revitalizers who have done well.

They were Acts 6:4 leaders.

They learned to deal with criticism in a healthy manner.

They were mentored or in a peer group or both.

They took care of their families.

They led with short-term wins.

 

Resources:

* Check out the NEW Revitalize and Replant podcast with Mark Clifton

* North American Mission Board Church Replanters

* “Reclaiming Glory, Updated Edition: Creating a Gospel Legacy throughout North America” by Mark Clifton

* Coming soon! The NEW Church Answers Podcast

* “Five Ways I Am Eliminating Perfunctory Prayer in My Life” by Thom S. Rainer

Collaborate with ministry leaders around the world! Join us at Church Answers Gold!

Episode #284: “Leading a Church Revitalization Even When You Don't Feel Like You Are a Leader - Part 1: Why Some Revitalization Leaders Don't Think They Are Leaders”

Episode #285: “Leading a Church Revitalization Even When You Don't Feel Like You Are a Leader - Part 2: Four Common Leadership Obstacles in a Church Revitalization”

 

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.

https://youtu.be/ygwSCcQ4js8

It is almost cliche to say revitalization is tough. But it is a challenge. Thom and Mark speak with countless pastors and staff who don't think they are up to the task. This three-part series may prove to be a blessing to those who are discouraged and wonder if they can lead the revitalization. In this second episode, Thom and Mark look at four of the more common leadership obstacles in revitalization.

1. No training and education can fully prepare you for revitalization.

2. Change leadership is one of the most complex topics to understand.

3. Most leaders don't grasp the complexity of knowing what to do with facilities.

4. Discouragement is pervasive in church revitalization.

 

Resources:

* Check out the NEW Revitalize and Replant podcast with Mark Clifton

* North American Mission Board Church Replanters

* “Reclaiming Glory, Updated Edition: Creating a Gospel Legacy throughout North America” by Mark Clifton

* Coming soon! The NEW Church Answers Podcast

* Church Answers Central, Silver Membership

* Episode #284: “Leading a Church Revitalization Even When You Don't Feel Like You Are a Leader - Part 1: Why Some Revitalization Leaders Don't Think They Are Leaders”

* COMING SOON! Episode #286: “Leading a Church Revitalization Even When You Don't Feel Like You Are a Leader - Part 3: Five Key Leadership Traits of Effective Church Revitalizers”

 

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.

https://youtu.be/_eZ4KiZTCOY

It is almost cliche to say revitalization is tough. But it is a challenge. Thom and Mark speak with countless pastors and staff who don't think they are up to the task. This three-part series may prove to be a blessing to those who are discouraged and wonder if they can lead the revitalization. In this first episode, Thom and Mark examine why some of these leaders have doubts.

Leadership is an ambiguous term.

Church members can create doubt and uncertainty in the heart of revitalization leaders.

Most revitalizations look like insurmountable obstacles.

 Remember, Moses didn't think he was a leader either.

 

Resources:

North American Mission Board Church Replanters

“Reclaiming Glory, Updated Edition: Creating a Gospel Legacy throughout North America” by Mark Clifton

“Lectures to My Students” by Charles H. Spurgeon

“Power Failure: The Rise and Fall of an American Icon” by William D. Cohan

Collaborate with ministry leaders around the world! Join us at Church Answers Gold!

COMING SOON! Episode #285: “Leading a Church Revitalization Even When You Don't Feel Like You Are a Leader - Part 2: Four Common Leadership Obstacles in a Church Revitalization”

 

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.

https://youtu.be/jQsfvwVoj_0

In the past, a severely struggling church typically only had one option: the church had to close. Now we know that many churches are being successfully adopted or acquired by another church. In this three-part series, Thom and Mark examine and discuss the process and accompanying issues of a church adoption. In this third episode, they look at the first steps a church should take if it is seriously considering being adopted.

Always have a season of prayer.

Make certain everyone clearly knows the likely outcome.

Find the right "parent" church.

Move into a mode of complete servanthood to make the adoption successful and fruitful.

Resources:

* Listen to Part 1: “How To Know If Your Church Should Be Adopted by Another Church - The Often Tough and Unspoken Issues in a Church Adoption”

* Listen to Part 2: “How To Know If Your Church Should Be Adopted by Another Church - Why Potential Church Closures Are Becoming More Common”

* North American Mission Board Church Replanters

* “Anatomy of a Revived Church” by Thom S. Rainer

* “Autopsy of a Deceased Church” by Thom S. Rainer

* Church Adoption for Southern Baptist Churches

* “Experiencing God (Updated Edition)” by Henry T. Blackaby

* North American Mission Board Evangelism Resources

* “An Interview with Keith Getty: The Queen of England, a New Album, the Resurgence of Hymnody in the Church, and a Few Funny Thoughts (Part 1)”

* “An Interview with Keith Getty: The Queen of England, a New Album, the Resurgence of Hymnody in the Church, and a Few Funny Thoughts (Part 2)”

* Collaborate with ministry leaders around the world! Join us at Church Answers Gold

 

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,

https://youtu.be/yDx5JaPDJhw

In the past, a severely struggling church typically only had one option: the church had to close. Now we know that many churches are being successfully adopted or acquired by another church. In this three-part series, Thom and Mark examine and discuss the process and accompanying issues of a church adoption. In this second episode, they look at the reasons church closures are becoming more common.

The COVID factor is real.

The remaining resistant church members have more power.

Many churches have failed to wake up to the changing culture.

Evangelism is missing in most churches.

Resources:

* Listen to Part 1: “How To Know If Your Church Should Be Adopted by Another Church - The Often Tough and Unspoken Issues in a Church Adoption”

* North American Mission Board Church Replanters

* “Anatomy of a Revived Church” by Thom S. Rainer

* “Autopsy of a Deceased Church” by Thom S. Rainer

* Church Adoption for Southern Baptist Churches

* “Experiencing God (Updated Edition)” by Henry T. Blackaby

* North American Mission Board Evangelism Resources

* “An Interview with Keith Getty: The Queen of England, a New Album, the Resurgence of Hymnody in the Church, and a Few Funny Thoughts (Part 1)”

* “An Interview with Keith Getty: The Queen of England, a New Album, the Resurgence of Hymnody in the Church, and a Few Funny Thoughts (Part 2)”

* Collaborate with ministry leaders around the world! Join us at Church Answers Gold

 

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.

https://youtu.be/-IrK1qC517Q

In the past, a severely struggling church typically only had one option: the church had to close. Now we know that many churches are being successfully adopted or acquired by another church. In this three-part series, Thom and Mark examine and discuss the process and accompanying issues of a church adoption. In this first episode, they look at the tough issues in a church adoption.

Most churches come to this decision when it's too late.

A few church members can stop the entire process of adoption.

Most of the remaining church members do not understand that they will give up all control of their church.

Deferred maintenance has become a common stumbling block.

Emotional issues often take precedence over doing what needs to be done.

Resources:

* North American Mission Board Church Replanters

* “Anatomy of a Revived Church” by Thom S. Rainer

* “Autopsy of a Deceased Church” by Thom S. Rainer

* Church Adoption for Southern Baptist Churches

* “Experiencing God (Updated Edition)” by Henry T. Blackaby

* North American Mission Board Evangelism Resources

* “An Interview with Keith Getty: The Queen of England, a New Album, the Resurgence of Hymnody in the Church, and a Few Funny Thoughts (Part 1)”

* “An Interview with Keith Getty: The Queen of England, a New Album, the Resurgence of Hymnody in the Church, and a Few Funny Thoughts (Part 2)”

* Collaborate with ministry leaders around the world! Join us at Church Answers Gold

 

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.