6 keys to resuscitation
My last three churches were in decline when I arrived. In all three—one suburban, one large town, and one urban—keys to turning things around were similar:
- Build hope. First, point to God; Jesus Christ said, "I will build my Church." Second, point to the church's strengths. Third, point to churches that have turned around.
- Look forward publicly and backward privately. In two churches, the previous pastors had been forced out. Hurt feelings and tensions needed to be addressed, but not from the pulpit. Publicly, I pointed to the future we could share.
- Fix the facility. Peeling paint and disrepair sends a message the church is dying. We tackled the most obvious disrepair immediately with a few gallons of paint and volunteers.
- Preach dynamic sermons. I put more effort into sermon preparation than anything else.
- Emphasize prayer. When my present church called, I said I would come only if they agreed to hold an all-church prayer meeting every Sunday evening and if the leadership would commit to attending regularly. They did.
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