Published December 7, 2016
Many American churches struggle with declining attendance. As a church planter, for years I advocated conventional church-growth wisdom: “It’s easier to have babies than raise the dead.” In recent years, I’ve become convinced that we often quit too soon in our attempts to revive churches in decline.
Pastors, planters and church leaders need wisdom. Some churches are so far gone they should close. These churches need to acknowledge that spiritually they are already dead—no one has been saved or baptized for years, sin is rampant and worship lifeless. Yet I strongly believe that God’s heart is for the revival of many of His churches. Thus church revitalization—bringing life to dying churches by dealing with the causes of decline and building toward renewed fruitfulness and faithfulness – is a worthwhile pursuit.
I believe church revitalization is a biblical burden. Both Jesus and Paul made this a priority. In the letters to the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3, Jesus seeks to give new life to what is dying. To the church at Sardis, Jesus says “You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of God” (Rev. 3:2–3, ESV).
Church revitalization enables us to reclaim valuable resources for gospel purposes. Millions of dollars have been invested as faithful believers have given over many decades. Rescuing aging churches on life support may, in some cases, be good stewardship. Revitalizing unhealthy existing churches not only reclaims a vibrant testimony in that community, but also removes the poor witness that was there previously.
To accomplish a genuine turnaround, I recommend restarting or replanting. A restart is birthing a brand new church out of a practically dead or dying one. A replant is revitalizing an existing declining church that still has potential.
In a restart, the congregation usually agrees to stop public services in their building for at least three to six months, meeting only for home Bible studies and prayer, before a church-planting team relaunches public ministries.
In a replant, the emphasis is on turning the ship around. This type of total church transformation happens only if God is at work. Ultimately churches will be reformed only through solid biblical preaching, fervent prayer and subsequent corporate repentance.
With both approaches, partnership is essential. Seek the aid of an outside pastoral coach, church consultant or church planting ministry to assess corporate spiritual vitality and develop a strategic recovery plan with a strong ministry vision for the future.
Dr. Ken Davis
Director of Church Planting Project Jerusalem
Should I Rescue or Plant? Helpful questions from Ken Davis
Am I a Revitalizer? Nine characteristics commonly found in church rescue leaders
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