The Church Answers Podcast

https://youtu.be/Dn7MpRbjo04

You have been contacted by a church. They want to consider you as a candidate for pastor. How do you evaluate your fit for the church? Kevin and Thom offer seven practical steps to take.

* Get data on the church.

* Contact a pastor in the community?

* Contact a denominational leader familiar with the church.

* Get demographics and psychographics on the community (See Know Your Community).

* Find out as much as possible about the staff at the church.

* Read the church bylaws.

* Contact the exiting pastor or other former pastors (be careful).

 

Resources:

* Know Your Community Report

* Listen to part 1 of this series - "What to Do When the Interim Pastor Wants to Become the Pastor - Part 1 of 3: When a Church Is Looking for a Pastor"

* Listen to part 2 of this series - "How to Be Considered to Be Pastor of Another Church - Part 2 of 3: When a Church Is Looking for a Pastor"

 

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/UjbKPWfHxu8

You are the pastor of a church where you sense it's time to leave. You are looking for another opportunity, and you hear of a church that seems like a great fit for you. How do get considered by that church? Kevin and Thom provide guidance to those pastors seeking to go to another church.

1. Make certain you are not succumbing to the green-grass syndrome.

2. Make certain your spouse is on board.

3. Do not submit a resume and/or application directly.

4. Ask someone you trust to recommend you. Make certain that person will shoot straight about your fit at the potential church.

5. Get someone to evaluate your resume.

6. Respond honestly and promptly if the church contacts you.

 

Resources:

* Listen to part 1 of this series - "What to Do When the Interim Pastor Wants to Become the Pastor - Part 1 of 3: When a Church Is Looking for a Pastor"

 

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/ZjEVe9RC9wQ

In this episode, Kevin and Thom talk about the possible paths to take when an interim pastor decides he wants to be the pastor. They assume the church did not take a stand that the interim could not apply for the position.

1. You might just need to say no.

2. You could ask him to step down as interim pastor to apply for the position of pastor.

3. You try to get the "why" behind this move.

4. You could let him be a backup if the first round of candidates does not engender fruit.

5. You could ask him to leave the church for making such an unwise request.

 

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/l5_J2VUPFA8

Revitalize and Replant looks at major pivots breakout churches are making today. In part three of this three-part series, Mark and Thom discuss what these church leaders are doing differently with personnel strategies.

They are breaking out of the mold of traditional positions.

They are hiring more part-time staff.

They are often focusing on staff for other sites.

They are asking questions about their communities.

 

Resources:

* Listen to "Making an Evangelism Pivot in Your Church - Part 1 of 3: Major Pivots Church Leaders Are Making Today"

Listen to "Making a Facility Pivot in Your Church - Part 2 of 3: Major Pivots Church Leaders Are Making Today"

Know Your Community

Church Replanting 

Church Answers 

 

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/O94c5ObLoDk

 

Revitalize and Replant looks at major pivots breakout churches are making today. In part two of this three-part series, Mark and Thom discuss what these church leaders are doing differently with their facilities.

They are building smaller worship centers.

They are asking questions about their community.

They are sharing their facilities.

They are repurposing facilities.

 

Resources:

Listen to "Making an Evangelism Pivot in Your Church - Part 1 of 3: Major Pivots Church Leaders Are Making Today"

Brown Church Development Group

Know Your Community

FREE Church Answers Church Facility Audit

Church Replanting with NAMB

Peace Baptist Church, Decatur, Georgia

 

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/BuMguGREWOQ

Revitalize and Replant looks at major pivots breakout churches are making today. In part one of this three-part series, Mark and Thom discuss what these church leaders are doing to reach more people with the gospel.

They are creating an outward culture.

They are increasing efforts and resources by 4X.

They have at least one major emphasis a year.

They have high evangelistic expectations of their members.

 

Resources:

Breakout Churches: Discover How to Make the Leap by Thom S. Rainer

Bob Newhart, “Just Stop It!”

I Am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference by Thom S. Rainer

 

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/kprVH0BT6xI

It is a sad commentary, but congregations in North America are less evangelistic today than at any point in recent history. Kevin and Thom share what churches are doing that have turned around evangelistic apathy to evangelistic energy. This podcast is the third of a three-part series called "Five Ways to Revitalize in a COVID World."

1. Begin or revive a prayer ministry for evangelism.

2. Have some type of visible emphasis on evangelism.

3. Celebrate God's evangelistic fruit in the church.

4. Lead groups to invite and evangelize.

5. Focus on issues of unity and reaching others.

 

Resources:

NEW at #YouTube - “Five Ways to Turn Around Evangelistic Apathy in Your Church"

Link to Episode #217 - Part 1 in a 3-part series

Link to Episode #218 - Part 2 in a 3-part series

Evangelism in the 21st Century: The Critical Issues by Thom S. Rainer

Prayer Ministry at Northeast Houston Baptist Church (Nathan Lino)

Who’s Your One?

3 Circles

Join us at Church Answers 

 

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/bFYQNKVDmu4

Church unity has always been a key issue for congregations. In the COVID world of today, divided churches are more common than ever. In this podcast, Kevin and Thom address how a church can deal head-on with church unity issues. This podcast is the second of a three-part series called "Five Ways to Revitalize in a COVID World."

Acknowledge the elephant in the room.

Stay off social media debates and encourage members to do so as well.

Focus on those things that move the church outwardly.

Ignite a prayer ministry in the church for the church.

Lead the church with messages of Christ's hope.

 

Resources:

Listen to Episode #217 - Part 1 in a 3-part series

Eating the Elephant: Leading the Established Church to Growth by Thom S. Rainer

Prayer Ministry at Northeast Houston Baptist Church (Nathan Lino)

PrayforPlanters.com

Pray for church planters Philip and Jummai Nache

Watch this episode on YouTube

 

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/FLZz-_aNGsE

By now, we thought we would be talking about church revitalization in a post-COVID world, but the Delta variant spike has brought new challenges. In this episode, Kevin and Thom unpack five key ways COVID is impacting the work of church revitalization today. This podcast is the first of a three-part series called "Five Ways to Revitalize in a COVID World."

1. Many churches are making major pivots to adjust to the longer-term effects of COVID.

2. Pastors and other church leaders are dealing with unity issues more than ever.

3. Facility decisions are on hold again.

4. The percentage of churches indicating a need for some level of revitalization is above 90% now.

5. The churches that are moving forward are more likely to have an increased focus on evangelism.

 

Resources:

SEND Relief

Rainer on Leadership - "Knowing and Enjoying God: An Interview with Tim Challies."

Excellence Wins: A No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming the Best in a World of Compromise by Horst Schulze

Brown Church Development Group

Watch this episode on YouTube

 

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.

All other things being equal, longer pastoral tenure tends to enhance the health of a church. Kevin and Thom look at trends in pastoral tenure after COVID.

1. Median pastoral tenure is up to five years.

2. COVID extended pastoral tenure because few pastors left their churches during the pandemic.

3. Boomers are retiring or stepping down in much greater numbers.

4. Millennials are not seeking larger churches.

5. Megachurch pastoral tenure is declining.

6. Church closures will obviously affect tenure adversely.

7. The move away from full-time paid pastors could affect tenure significantly.

 

 

Resources:

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

* Church Answers Nigeria

 

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.