The Church Answers Podcast

In today’s bonus episode of Revitalize and Replant we want to give you a small taste of the type of content you will receive at Revitalize 2020. Many churches in need of revitalization have many older members with great passion for the gospel who are living in neighborhoods which have drastically changed. How does a church successfully revitalize with this demographic make-up?

Highlights:

* Celebrate those who are there.

* Learn the hopes, dreams. and gifts of the current ministries.

* Unlock the potential of cross-generational congregations.

* Become very familiar with the demographics of your community.

* Keep the focus outward.

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* Revitalize 2020

* Know Your Community Report

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.

Submit Your Question:

Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you'll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.

Within the course of a month, we get a lot of questions about church revitalization and replanting. There are a few which we hear more often than others. You may not agree with all of the answers provided, but the following are the top five most common questions and our thoughts.

Five Common Questions:

* What is the difference between revitalization and replanting?

* How do you find a partner church willing to replant my church?

* How do we find a church that our church can replant?

* How do you get approved to be a church replanter?

* Where can I get money for revitalization?

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* NAMB - Church Replanting

* The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick) by Seth Godin

* The Disruption Mindset: Why Some Organizations Transform While Others Fail Hardcover by Charlene Li

* Revitalize 2020

* Anatomy of a Revived Church by Thom S. Rainer

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.

Submit Your Question:

Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you'll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.

There are many churches in need of adoption. For the adopting church there is much to think about and consider when looking at this new opportunity. Once the decision is made to adopt, how can the church best serve this new opportunity? In this week’s episode of Revitalize and Replant, Thom and Mark discuss four major attitudes which are necessary when adopting another church.

Four Major Attitudes You Need:

Compassion for those hurting

Hope in the possibilities

Determination for the effort

Patience for the merger of two churches

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* Revitalize 2020

* Revitalize and Replant Bonus Episode #2 - January, 22

* Idea Network

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.

Submit Your Question:

Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you'll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.

Today’s question and surrounding discussion is one we hear and take part in often. Maybe your warning signs come from family. Maybe it is due to your health. But possibly it is internal conflict outside of your control. Thom and Kevin discuss how to recognize when you have reached a line in the sand and walk away from a revitalization effort.

Reasons it may be time to walk away:

* When your family can't take it anymore.

* When your health is at risk.

* When the power players are entrenched.

* When the church needs a bivo pastor, but you do not have bivo call.

* When it's been too long trying.

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* Revitalize 2020

* Church Answers

* Revitalize Network Church of the Year Nomination

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.

Submit Your Question:

Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you'll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.

Our goal is to see churches live and thrive. To know how to help churches we must understand and identify the drift which pulls churches towards the grave. In today’s episode of Revitalize and Replant Thom and Mark Clifton will discuss the characteristics of four churches which will soon die.

Four Churches:

* The ex-Bible church

* The self-serving church

* The bad words church

* The ex-community church

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* Revitalize 2020

* I Am a Church Member - Thom S. Rainer

* Church Answers Micro Consultations

* Know Your Community Tool

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.

Submit Your Question:

Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you'll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.

There are many qualities church leaders need to lead well, but there are distinct traits revitalize leaders possess which make the difference in this particular Kingdom work. In this week’s episode, Thom and Kevin talk through five of these unique characteristics. 

Five Unique traits of revitalize leaders:

* Tenacity

* Hope

* Learned Leadership Skills

* A Supportive Family

* A Broader Perspective

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* Revitalize Bundle

* Church Answers

* The Disruption Mindset: Why Some Organizations Transform While Others Fail - Charlene Li

* NAMB Resources

* Revitalize 2020

* Revitalize Network Church of the Year Nomination

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.

Submit Your Question:

Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you'll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.

It’s time for another great episode of listener questions. These are some of our favorite episodes because we are able to respond to feedback from those who are making the work at Revitalize and Replant possible. If you have a listener question please submit those in the podcast comments.

From Scott:

What about doing a revitalization in the shadow of a megachurch...literally? I am the new pastor of a small church and there are several larger churches in our area. They would not classify as megachurches, but they have significant attendance nonetheless. We get a striking number of first-time visitors for a church of our size, but we are having trouble retaining them. One of the reasons is that they end up at one of these larger churches which has more resources and, therefore, feels more relevant. How does one go about revitalizing a church in the shadow of other congregations that simply have more intrinsic attractional pull?

From Jim:

I recently came to a church in need of revitalization. What I didn’t know is that there are some theological aberrations held by several members of the church. I feel called to stay, but how do I best deal with some of these theological issues without splitting the church or being told to split? I’m dealing with everything from a firm stance on post-millennialism being taught in Sunday school classes to a soft/affirming stance on LBGT issues being advocated for by some of the leadership.

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* Revitalize 2020

* Revitalize Network Church of the Year Nomination

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.

Submit Your Question:

Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you'll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.

The following four statements have the power to stop the important work of revitalization cold in its tracks. Thom and Kevin share stories, and discuss the importance of recognizing these problematic statements and how to address them before it’s too late.

Highlights:

* “If only we had more __________."

* "It's __________ 's fault."

* "This situation is hopeless."

* "This is not a good neighborhood for revitalization.

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* Revitalize 2020

* Revitalize Network Church of the Year Nomination

* The Disruption Mindset: Why Some Organizations Transform While Others Fail Hardcover by Charlene Li

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.

Submit Your Question:

Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you'll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.

In today’s Revitalize and Replant bonus episode, we uncover five questions to ask not if, but when your work in church revitalization is experiencing a financial shortfall. 

Highlights:

Have we listened to wise counsel outside the church?

Are there indications the shortfall is seasonal or systemic?

Do we need to do everything we are doing?

Are our personnel and commensurate costs aligned with our mission and needs?

Do we need to be adopted?

Other Highlights:

Don’t be afraid to have an entity from the outside evaluate your systems and provide wisdom.

Financial shortfalls are often a systemic problem in church revitalization.

Many churches are still paying for staff positions they needed 20 years ago but no longer need today.

Don’t only ask if we need to do what we are currently doing. Also ask if there are things we should be doing that we aren’t currently. 

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* Revitalize 2020

* Church of the Year Nomination

* Revitalize Network

* Envelope 3

* Church Replanters

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.

Submit Your Question:

Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you'll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.

Have you ever wondered if God may be calling you to church revitalization. In this bonus episode of Revitalize and Replant, Thom and Kevin discuss five signs God wants to use you for this important work.

Highlights:

* You want your life to be used by God. 

* The need is great. 

* You have the willingness to invest yourself in a congregation. 

* You have a willingness to invest yourself in a community. 

* Your family has a supportive vision for this mission field.

Resources mentioned in today's podcast:

* Revitalize 2020

* Church of the Year Nomination

* Revitalize Network

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.

Submit Your Question:

Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you'll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.