Revitalization

Excerpt from Ed Stetzer post:  Kick-Starting the Plateaued and Declining Church, Part 7: Celebrate Small Victories (& Big Ones)

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However, as you intentionally focus on leading the revitalization effort, remember to identify opportunities to celebrate victories along the way. This will help people embrace needed changes and fuel the kick start. After completing the process of rebuilding the wall, that's what happened in chapter eight of Nehemiah:

Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, "This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, "Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, and send some to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, because your strength [comes from] rejoicing in the LORD." And the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, since today is holy. Do not grieve." Then all the people began to eat and drink, send portions, and have a great, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them (Neh. 8:9-12, HCSB).

As Pastor Josh Laxton led the revitalization effort at Life Point Church, celebrating changed lives helped people embrace the change and keep moving forward with the restart. The previous church had been plateaued and declining since the 1980's. Realizing that doing things the same way wasn't going to achieve better results, the congregation of 35 people approached First Baptist Church of Woodstock, GA about doing a church restart. In 2007, the struggling church voted to disband and relinquish everything to new leadership.

In the process of restarting, many alterations were made--the music style was changed; the governmental structure was modified; the pews were removed; and the look of the property and building were altered. They even reworked the name of the church. After making all of these changes, only about 15 people from the previous, older congregation remained, primarily senior adults. As Pastor Laxton reflected on all of this, he affirmed, "Church as they knew it was, in some sense, over. . . The change was hard for them."

However, the pastor went on to say that one of the God stories in all of this involved the senior adults who stayed. One of the older members who stayed through the process asserted, "I've been completely blown away as to what has happened. I'm so excited about what God is doing and is going to do." As they experienced new life through baptisms and younger generations becoming part of the new church, it was worth the pain of change. Celebrating the victory of restarting was the fuel that kept things going. Now, Life Point Church is averaging 185 in attendance and has seen 45 people baptized in the last two years. (Note: this figure was originally reported in spring 2010.)
 
As I wrap up this series, here are some concluding thoughts. In most cases, getting things done as a revitalization leader will take time. Just hopping on board and trying to fire things up immediately isn't going to work--the engine of renewal has to be primed. In order for that to happen, key issues need to be addressed.

Make sure your heart is set to love, serve, and lead people, who are often hurting and demoralized. Think through where the church is at in its current state, and why it got there, so that you can help people face the reality of the situation, join the team to head in a new direction, and begin to build an outward focus. As you catalyze change, expect opposition and keep clarifying a simple, clear vision. Finally, remember to celebrate victories, that will help fuel the revitalization efforts. Be patient. In time, things can be kick-started, and the ride of revitalization can begin.