Books Every Church Revitalizer Ought to Have

THE

CHURCH

Revitalizer A Revitalization Retreat in Every Issue

Books

Every

Church

Revitalizer Ought to Have

Nov/Dec 2019 Vol 6, Issue 6

“The only magazine dedicated to Church Revitalization.�

ChurchRevitalizer.Guru

From The Editor Welcome to the Church Revitalizer Magazine!

Here we are at the end of 2019 and we are considering the importance of the church revitalization books our magazine authors have read and deemed most important to them in revitalization. I wanted to do this issue mostly because I love learning what others trained in revitalization think relating to turning around a declining church. It is in the learning through revitalization resources that we have the most direct contact with the language and materials of church revitalization and renewal. Reading and the learning is the guide book that helps us to organize our thinking as we begin to lead our churches towards renewal. Much of what we all have learned over our years in the ministry has been adapted, altered, or attached to our own ideas and utilized in the local church. To the average individual the reading of books is part of their everyday life. Sadly, when pastors are asked if they have read any books lately they often declare where could they find the time for such relaxation. As a church revitalizer a book on revitalization could be like a dear friend who is faithful and always there for you.

Revitalization books are crammed full of knowledge from those who have been doing or are presently doing the work of revitalization. I often cringe when I see and read someone who is not a church revitalization pastor or leader, offer up advice that wont work in revitalization but does work in other fields of ministry. We are living in a danger zone right now where other disciplines are throwing their ideas into the arena of revitalization and we are left with hungry church revitalizers swallowing them up only to discover they will not work.

Here is what we asked of our Church Revitalizer Magazine contributors. Simply to tell us the most significant book that they have read on church revitalization and why it important to them. Once you read these submissions I would love to hear back from you regarding the selections these authors have made. Simply let me know at: Tom@RenovateConference.org Stay connected, more is coming!

Dr. Tom Cheyney is the Founder and Directional Leader of Renovate National Church Revitalization Conference and Executive Editor of the Church Revitalizer.

Contents Tom Cheyney

10 Ken Priddy

15 Bob Whitesel

18 Bill Tenny-Brittian

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Joel Breidenbaugh

26 George Thomasson

30 Steve Smith

34 Fred Boone

36 Bud Brown

Ron Smith

24 4

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Nov/Dec | Vol 6, No 6

Mark Weible

42

Michael Atherton

61

Jim Grant

Steve Sells

46 Tracy Jaggers

50 Pete Tackett

54

66 Harry Fowler

70 Rob Hurtgen

74

Terry Rials

Rob Myers

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76 5

THE

CHURCH

Revitalizer Volume 6, No. 6

The Church Revitalizer Is published bi-monthly by Renovate Publishing Group 1906 West Lee Road Orlando, FL 32810 Email: ChurchRevitalizer.guru

PUBLISHER Executive Editor Dr. Tom Cheyney Associate Publisher Mark Weible Associate Publisher Circulation & Marketing Ashleigh Cheyney

The Church Revitalizer Q&A: What is The Church Revitalizers purpose?

To help churches that need to be reinvigorated and renewed effectively receive help in issues that revitalizers face everyday. Articles, resources, and information are gathered from authors all over the country who have been through, or may currently be in, the revitalization process and we want to share their knowledge.

How can I write for The Church Revitalizer?

Contact us at Goba@goba.org How do I get help with subscription issues?

Go to churchrevitalizer.guru to renew, order a gift, or resolve any issues.

May I reprint articles?

Yes, if it’s for church education, for small group purposes, is less than 1,000 copies and is not offered for resale. Please contact us for more information.

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Brand Manager Tom Cheyney Magazine Designer & Format Editor Ashleigh Cheyney Director of Advertising Renovate Staff Web Ad Traffic Director Mark Weible For subscription information contact this office at: www.churchrevitalizer.guru/subscriptions.

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RENOVATE Publishing Group

Checkout our lineup of resources that will help you revitalize your church.

www.RenovateConference.org/bookstore

A Book Review of:

Twelve Dynamic Shifts for Transforming Your Church

By E. Stanley Ott

By Tom Cheyney Pastor and church member, would you read one hundred eighteen pages if you knew it would become the stimulus for the revitalization of your local church? Most churches that need revitalization would be well advised to read this book.

E. Stanley Ott is the former senior pastor of Pleasant Hill Community Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and president of the Vital Churches Institute. He is the President of Leading Moments in the Washington, DC metroplex area as well as the leader of the Acts 16:5 Initiative. As President of the Vital Churches Institute (VCI), Ott’s passion is the transformation of the mainline church. He teaches the principles of congregational vitality, transformation, missional endeavor, and leadership. His impact reaches thousands of folks throughout US and abroad through the Acts 16:5 Initiative, his published writing, and his teaching engagements.

If you are beginning your journey into the realm of church revitalization, do not over look this tiny gem of a book on transforming your church. As an Adjunct Professor in Church Revitalization and Renewal, I always have my students ready this wonderful work. As the leader of Renovate, I have recommended this book to thousands of pastors wanting to get a handle on the things they ought to do to begin to revitalize the church they pastor. Arguing that the crisis in the church today is caused by the loss of personal spirituality and congregational vitality. Dr. Ott confronts pastors and church leaders to modify the style of their ministries in order to draw new people while continuing to encourage current members.

What does a revitalized Church look like? Are we aware of what it takes to move from a declining church that is stuck in the rut, to a vibrant witnessing community of faith for the Lord? In twelve clear and convicting ways, E. Stanley Ott shows us the way. He believes that the challenge is to shake up old outdated routines in order to breathe in new life. These twelve

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shifts happen to be a merging of all the big ideas learned from seminars, conferences, training sessions, and lectures that the author has benefited from. If one will learn from those who are just a little ahead of them, it will save them hours of heart ache.

This book has been developed for church leaders. Dr. Ott puts great learnings in this handy short volume that enables any interested leader to jump in, learn, and quickly apply.

Dr. Ott provided twelve important shifts the church should consider if they desire to transform their church. They are bunched into four areas. Here are the areas as well as the shifts:

Shifts Concerning Vision and Expectation Shift One: from your present aspiration for your congregation’s future to the high expectation that the Lord has a vital future for your church.

Shift Two: from merely running programs to implementing a vision for ministry.

Shift Three: from a maintenance mentality to a sustaining and advancing vision.

Shifts Concerning Ministry to People Shift Four: from an emphasis on friendliness to a ministry of friendliness and hospitality.

Shift Five: from assuming discipleship to developing discipleship.

Shift Six: from a primary emphasis on the communal life of the church to a balanced emphasis on the communal and missional life of the church.

Shifts Concerning Congregational Program Shift Seven: from an unchanging worship format to a ministry of worship and music responsive to the variety of needs present in the congregation and the community you are trying to reach.

Shift Eight: from primarily audience-oriented programming to a balance of audience-oriented ministry and face to face ministry.

Shift Nine: from adding new people to established already existing groups to adding new formerly non-existing groups.

Shifts Concerning the Practice of Leadership Shift Ten: from a leadership deploying ministry to a leadership developing ministry, from committees to ministry teams.

Shift Eleven: from a controlling leadership to a permission giving leadership.

Shift Twelve: from a pastor centered and office centered ministry to shared ministry among pastor, lay leaders, and congregation members.

Each shift comes with a brief explanation followed by questions for reflection and discussion. They are also supported by Scripture and occasionally, he will throw in an illustration or story. On implementation, Ott uses real life examples in chapter 8 to prove that these shifts are practical and doable. As an added bonus, there is a bibliography of books and literature for the interested reader to learn more about each shift.

It is no surprise to most church members of every denomination that the church today is in a crisis. Many a pastor is over their head in trying to revitalize the local church and the local church member is often unwilling to make changes in order to save the church they have been part of for a long time. Dr. Ott offers methodologies for making need-responsive, disciple-growing, and vigorous congregations. The initial portion of the book examines the characteristics of the long time traditional or classic church. Then he discusses the differences of the church which is becoming transformational. During each step E. Stanley Ott gives suggestions a church could make in taking the steps towards transformation.

The author categorizes the Church in terms of the traditional, the transitional, and the transformational, and shows us their differences in at least six ways: 1. Leadership: In Traditional churches, the pastor or leaders are the primary doers of ministry while the transformational church has a much larger base of servants.

fellowship is like an outreach, and vice versa.

4. Participation: Traditional churches have many members with low commitments, especially in serving, while transformational churches tend to have a broad base of serving people right across generations and church groups.

5. Ministry: Traditional churches see ministry as formal duties while transformational ones tend to embrace ministry both inside and outside the church.

6. Governance: Traditional churches emphasize control, while transformational churches adopt empowerment.

Churches in transition have a bit of both traditional and transformational. The key advantage in reading this book is to use it to ask honest questions about your own church. I figure that most of us will identify more with the transitions of the “transitional” church model, with different parts of the church more traditional, and others more transformational.

It is hard to see any church being of any one type. This is a well-written and even better formatted strategy design. This book is a good resource for any church leadership that is seeking to transform the way that they do church. Tom Bandy, states that E. Stanley Ott is just the mentor so many established congregations seek, a pastor who has truly coached the church to cross the boundary from harmonious complacency to vital mission. He helps leaders not only see what must be done but also

Tom Cheyney is the Founder & Directional Leader of the Renovate National Church Revitalization Conference (RenovateConference.org). Some of Tom’s books include: The Church Revitalizer as Change Agent, Slaying the Dragons of Church Revitalization: Dealing with the Critical Issues that are Hurting Your Church; and Church Revitalization in Rural America: Restoring Churches in America’s Heartland. Tom lives in Orlando, Florida with his wife Cheryl and travels all over North America assisting declining churches by bringing revitalization and renewal to the congregations.

2. Worship: Traditional churches adopt mostly one kind of music, liturgy, or church tradition while transformational types adopt a variety and blend them accordingly.

3. Fellowship/Mission: Traditional churches separate the two while transformational churches enable both fellowship and mission to co-exist and to intermingle in such a way that every

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16

Centrifugal Buzz

Bookmarks

By Ken Priddy Ministry is a passion and a calling and, for many, a profession. Whether passion or profession or both, lifelong learning is a must. The complexities and pace of change in 21st century USA demand constant expansion and upgrading of knowledge and skill. One of the most valuable resources in this ongoing quest for knowledge and competence is The Book, whether hard copy, digital, audio or eBook. The good news is that publishing is cheaper and easier than ever before, with technology perhaps making the greatest leap since the invention of the Guttenberg printing press.

The bad news is that publishing is cheaper and easier than ever before, creating an avalanche of publications hitting the physical and online shelves every day, largely without filters. So, how do we sort and sift, finding what’s truly of value? What are the marks of a valuable book, the bookmarks, if you will? Consider four descriptive bookmarks: Relevant, Trustworthy, Sound and Recommended.

Bookmark 1: Is the book relevant? Relevance is tied to two considerations, content and date of publication. Does the content, the subject matter of the book, address an issue, challenge, problem or some other element that is currently on the table? There is far too much material available to make uninformed or random selections, so, it’s important to investigate the contents to make sure, as much as possible without reading it, that the content is on target regarding the matter at hand.

Investigation of a potential book worth reading begins with the cover. Sure, the adage says that you can’t judge a book by its cover, but you can make reasonable judgments about a book by its cover. The typical cover offers a title and sub-title. The title lets you know what general topic the author is endeavoring to address and the sub-title often reveals the perspective, slant or bias that the author is taking in regard to that general topic. The cover also presents the author’s name. If he or she is an author with whom you are familiar, your sense of the book’s relevance becomes clearer. If not, you know that the author needs further investigation. The cover usually quotes comments of endorsement, giving the potential reader a sense of who is saying what about this book.

Date of publication is important to know as it might affect the relevance of the book. If the book is centered on Bible, theology or history, for example, an older date will not take away from the book’s relevance as Bible, theology, and history are timeless and not trendy. However, if the content is more topical in nature, speaking to areas that might

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change over time, a current date wins over an older date in terms of relevance. For example, a book on effective evangelism written in 1955 is more than likely less relevant today than a book on effective evangelism written in 2018.

A scan of the table of contents is helpful in judging content beyond titles and sub-titles, and provides an outline of how the author is approaching the material. Also, taking a look at chapter endings, final chapters, and appendices often reveals summary sections that further define a book’s content and predict its relevance.

Bookmark 2: Is the author trustworthy? The easiest books for me to access are those written by authors whom I have already vetted by reading previous works, but that’s not always the case. When approaching an unfamiliar author, it’s helpful to search for sources that reveal who this author is and that constitute his or her track record. Ample information is available online so a little time invested with discretion fills in the blanks. In particular, I want to know the author’s background, any denominational or affinity tribe the author identifies with, and what evidence is available that sheds light as to what degree this author is a S.M.E., a Subject Matter Expert.

Bookmark 3: Is the book biblically and theologically sound? All things ministry should be able to trace their roots to Bible and theology. That’s what separates evangelical points of view from any other perspective that’s out there. Of course, many books that I read are outside of evangelicalism, such as business books, books on the arts, or books about the creative process. I don’t expect them to pass muster in terms of Bible and theology. It’s up to me to run that content through my evangelical grid and make judgments as appropriate. I’m speaking about books that specifically intend to inform the reader regarding spiritual, biblical or theological matters. When such a book veers off the path of accurately handling God’s Word, it loses all credibility with those of us who are committed to the authority of Scripture. I’m not saying that every Christian author needs to promote my interpretation of every fine point of theology, but that there must be a clear commitment on the part of the author to hold a high view of the authority of Scripture, the only true guide to what we are to believe and how we are to live. The writer who fails to do so is, indeed, a false prophet and we know what Scripture says about that.

Bookmark 4: Who is endorsing or recommending this book? Finally, it’s helpful to consider who is promoting or recommending this book. Obviously, authors and publishers want their book to be read and, in most cases, to be sold. Standard practice is to line up credi-

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ble people to offer support for the book through their endorsements or recommendations. Typically, the more formal of these can be found on back covers or inside on introductory pages. Of course, no author or publisher would include a quote from someone that rips the book apart, so, we have to take these favorable nods with a grain of salt. However, I find these comments helpful and I always consider the source of such quotes. On a more informal level, there is nothing stronger to me that when a trusted friend or colleague says to me, “Ken, you’ve got to read this book.”

When a new book crosses my path, these bookmarks are my grid for evaluation. Is the book relevant? Is the author trustworthy? Is the book biblically and theologically sound? Who is endorsing or recommending this book?

Here’s a short list of favorite ministry books that I highly recommend:

Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity by Nancy R. Pearcey

Kingdom Calling: Vocational Stewardship for the Common Good by Amy Sherman

Total Church: A Radical Reshaping around Gospel and Community by Tim Chester and Steve Timmis

Simple Church: Returning to God’s Process for Making Disciples by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger

With: Reimagining the Way You Relate to God by Skye Jethani

The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions by Arthur Bennet, Editor

Ken Priddy (D.Min., Ph.D.) is Founder and Executive Director of the GO Center, a training and consulting ministry committed to church vitalization and revitalization. Ken also directs LEADERTOWN: A Laboratory for Organization & Leadership Development. His thirty-plus year journey in church planting and revitalization has grown into a national presence among evangelical leaders. He’s an effective trainer and consultant, but perhaps his most significant contribution is his extensive development of training curricula.

Books that Students In My Fuller Seminary DMin Course “Leading Turnaround Churches” Believe Every Church Revitalizer Should Have in Their Library

By Bob Whitesel For over 10 years I’ve taught Fuller Seminary’s DMin course on “Leading Turnaround Churches.” And each year I’ve updated it with newer practices, the latest books and practical examples of church revitalization.

The students are expected to read 3,000 pages before the course begins. Thus, I’ve found them to be a good resources for selecting books (both old and new) that every church revitalizer should have in their library..

First is a review by a guest lecturer in my course, Dr. Nick Harvey, who after twenty years in the pastorate is now a coach, consultant, insightful speaker, and thought leader on turnaround churches. His consultancy is NH Consulting in Atlanta, GA. “Written almost twenty years ago, Small Strong Congregations by Kennon Callahan (Jossey-Bass) provides a fresh wind of the Spirit for congregations who wish to embrace their strengths and reject the ‘bigger is better’ mentality. Callahan rejects the idea that weak or declining are correlated with size alone. For him vitality or demise is a result of ways of ‘thinking, planning, and acting.’ The author encourages congregations to play to win rather than playing not to lose

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by engaging their strengths as expressed in several qualities consistent across small, strong congregations globally: ‘mission and service, compassion and shepherding, community and belonging, self-reliance and self-sufficiency, worship and hope, leaders and team, just enough space and facilities, giving and generosity.’ Seeing that most church congregations in the United States are small, Callahan’s work is an essential resource for those churches who wish to change the declining trajectory of their lives.”

Next my student Rev. Gary P. Lissy, pastor of Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Tempe Arizona shares his book selection for pastors leading revitalization.

“As I have gone about God’s work of revitalizing our church, the book that has had the greatest impact on me, that needs to be in every pastor’s library, is Biblical Church Growth: How You Can Work with God to Build a Faithful Church by Gary L. McIntosh (Baker Books). There are three take away points that are ministry changing when revitalizing a congregation.

The first takeaway is that the big question to be asked is not how but why? Often too much time is spent in

discovering the methods, that is to say the how do we change, when first the question that must be grappled with is why. As McIntosh points out, the right premise to begin with is always the Word of God. The second take away from McIntosh’s book is the that the priority of the Church is not growth in numbers but rather the glory of God. If the glory of God is the focus in the life and ethos of the church and worship growth will be the natural outcome. Finally, McIntosh points out that true church growth takes place in discipleship. Discipleship is in fact rooted in the Great Commission. McIntosh reminds us that within the heart of the Great Commission, lies discipleship which leads the believer to life transformation.”

Rev. James Taylor is a US military chaplain stationed in Japan, who has worked at turning around dwindling worship services at military bases. For him, a book on how to deal with finances is a required addition to the turnaround pastor’s library. He writes, “Many churches struggle to offer parishioners a compelling vision of the Kingdom good that comes from the tithe. J. Clif Christopher’s Whose Offering Plate Is It: New Strategies for Financial Stewardship gives ministry leaders strategic advice on how to encourage generosity. Christopher suggests that leaders should encourage giving through telling compelling stories of life change and stop resorting to guilting members with budget deficiency talks. Pastors should know how much attendees give and personally thank donors. Lastly, pastors should remember that stewardship is a spiritual issue and not financial. This last exhortation isn’t too earth-shattering; after all, we follow the one who taught ‘where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’”

To round out this article, I will share an important book for turning around a church that should be in every church revitalizer’s library. It is Leadership is an Art by Max De Pree (Crown Business). De Pree is the entrepreneurial founder of the office furniture giant, Herman Miller Inc. and a leader who advocated authentic, servant leadership before the terms were popular. A Christian businessman, he sought to inject Christ-like leadership in the business model. His insights are critical for leading any organization, especially one that must turnaround in a unifying, grace filled manner.

Quotes that illustrate De Pree’s revolutionary lessons include: - The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality.

The last is to say thank you. In between the two, the leader must become a servant and a debtor. That sums

up the progress of an artful leader. (p. 11) - The measure of leadership is not the quality of the head, but the tone of the body. The signs of outstanding leadership appear primarily among the followers. Are the followers reaching their potential? Are they learning? Serving? Do they achieve the required results? Do they change with grace? Manage conflict? (p. 12) - Leaders are obligated to provide and maintain momentum. (p. 17) - Leaders must take a role in developing, expressing, and defending civility and values. (p. 21) - I believe that the most effective contemporary management process is participative management. (24) Participative management guarantees that decisions will not be arbitrary, secret, or closed to questioning. Participative management is not democratic. Having a say differs from having a vote. (25) - Leaders need to foster environments and work processes within which people can develop high-quality relationships… (p. 25) 1. Respect people.

2. Understand that what we believe precedes policy and practice. As practice is to policy, so style is to belief.

3. Agree on the rights of work.

4. Understand the respective role and relationship of contractual agreements and covenants. Volunteers do not need contracts, they need covenants.

5. Understand that relationships count more than structure.

Bob Whitesel DMIN PhD teaches “Church Revitalization” for Fuller Theo. Seminary’s DMin along with a new course on “Foundations of Interim Ministry” this spring (see the ad in this issue). Bob is an award-winning author and consultant on church health and growth. He been called “the key spokesperson on change theory in the church today” by a national magazine, co-founded an accredited seminary and for 30 years has led one of the nation’s most respected church health consulting/coaching firms: www.Leadership.church

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A Book Review of:

The Purpose Driven Church

By Rick Warren

By Bill Tenny-Brittian I got the memo. Choose one of the books that has been most influential in your church revitalizing ministry and write a review. I glanced over at my wall of church leadership, church growth, and church turnaround books and noticed that I have literally hundreds of books. “Choose one”?

On the other hand, I’ve written a couple of those books (okay, I’ve written eleven so far) including Effective Staffing for Vital Churches with my co-author Bill Easum – and that’s an excellent book on how to grow a church from 12 to 3000+.

But most influential? Most helpful?

Most foundational? Outside of the Bible, one book stood out head and shoulders from the rest. I was sure someone else would have snapped it up, but I think I must have been quicker on the reply-all email.

Back in 1995, Rick Warren released his first Purpose Driven book. I’m sure it was nowhere near of a best seller as The Purpose Driven Life, but I know it did quite well because for years it was probably the most quoted, implemented, and emulated book in the church plant, church growth, and church revitalization market. There wasn’t, and in my opinion still isn’t, any more important or any more foundational of a book that all church leaders should not only read but put into practice.

I hear your objections: It’s dated. Outmoded. And it hasn’t been updated since 2010. Just how relevant can it be?

I suppose I’ll be considered a heretic by some, but my guess is you’re still using the Bible as your primary source of spiritual inspiration … and that’s an old book. And no, Purpose Driven isn’t on the same level as Holy Scripture, but when it comes to understanding what it takes to grow a church yesterday, today,

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and tomorrow – and if you’re a church leader – then The Purpose Driven Church ought to be the book that sits just to the right on the shelf with your favorite Bible. And no, I’m not be facetious.

If you have read Purpose Driven, then I don’t need to sell you.

Go ahead and reread the second paragraph above that subtly pitches Effective Staffing, or else turn the page to read the next review. BUT if you haven’t read it, then let me invite you to read on to see why I believe you need to buy and read Purpose Driven before you read any other church book – perhaps you’ll be convinced.

What’s In the Book Rick Warren, the founding pastor of Saddleback Community Church in Orange County, California, wrote Purpose Driven at about the time he’d grown the church to about 14,000 people. Sure, it was easier “back then” to grow a mega church, but let’s be honest, it’s never really been easy. However, the principles of what it takes to grow a church are the same today as they were in Acts 2. Know your purpose. Focus on that purpose. Leverage that purpose. Get some attention.

Make connections. Build relationships. Disciple. Repeat. Simple. But you knew all that, right?

Where Warren’s book stands out is in taking that simple process and teasing it out with some How To’s and Where Fore’s so we can adopt and adapt that process to our particular contexts.

The book is divided into five sections.

Part One is an introduction to the Saddleback story and some of the prevailing myths about large, growing churches. Myths like all big churches care about is attendance and all big churches grow at the expense of smaller churches. The fact is, if you believe

these myths, you’ve probably never sat down one-on-one with the leader of a mega church to hear their heart. No, they don’t walk on water, but all of the one’s I’ve spoken with – and that’s a lot of them – have a heart sold-out to the mission of reaching the lost for Jesus Christ. (And frankly, they don’t really want members from smaller churches because those members come with a lot of small church baggage!)

Part Two is arguably the most important section. These five chapters lay the foundation for growing a church that has either directly or indirectly influenced every other church growth book written since them. Warren walks you through a process to determine the church’s bottom line, its purposes. This is more than just coming up with a mission statement, which is undoubtedly important, but goes beyond that to help you identify the core for everything you do, should do, and/or should stop doing. Once that’s established, the rest of the section is devoted to implementing those purposes.

Part Three deals with choosing a target audience. I hope I don’t have to convince you for the need to have a specific target that your church is trying to reach. If you’re still trying to reach everyone, revitalization is going to be impossible. Even Jesus didn’t try to reach everyone: “I came only for the lost sheep of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). He welcomed everyone, but he was very specific about who he was trying to reach.

Part Four is all about how to get a crowd. Here you’ll read a lot of principles, and yes, you’ll read some dated material. But you’ll read a lot of principles that you can build on. Warren was unapologetic when he chose to reach out to the unchurched.

When he wrote the first edition back in 1995, most of the unchurched are what we call Dones today – people with some, albeit limited, church experience. Today we’re facing a different kind of unchurched crowd – people who have limited, if any, church experience. Not just Nones, but Nevers. But, Nevertheless (sorry, just had to!), many of the principles for reaching the Nones, Dones, and Nevers are similar throughout history and Warren’s words are adaptable even in today’s post-Christian climate.

Part Five is about turning attendees into disciples and disciples into members. Again, the principles Warren provides are both timeless and foundational. I’d say there’s nothing really new here, except that the truth is, none of the above is really “new.”

Warren has simply managed to look at how Jesus and the early church did ministry and extrapolated the foundational principles and practices for our culture today.

Why You Need to Read This Book There are a couple reasons why you need to read this book … and if it’s on your shelf and hasn’t been touched since 1998, why you need to take it down, dust it off, and refresh yourself.

In the 1960s, the Green Bay Packers football team was led by coach Vince Lombardi. Every year he kicked off annual training

by taking a ball in his hand, lifting it up before the team, and reminding them, “Gentlemen, THIS is a football.” As if they’d forgotten!

They may not have forgotten, but at the core of the game are the foundational principles and practices that turn a disparate group of people into a well-functioning team. How to run, how to pass, how to block, how to hold on to the ball. As I wrote earlier, every church growth book written post 1995 has been informed and influenced by Warren’s Purpose Driven Church book. Those foundational principles and practices have perhaps been best organized and communicated in his book.

Just as you wouldn’t even consider replacing the Bible with a commentary, why depend on material that’s secondary to the source!

A second reason you need to purchase and read this book is because the principles and practices that Warren outlines are critical to your church’s turnaround. Too many churches are doing too many things and getting too little results … because they haven’t figured out their real God-given purpose, so they get to majoring in the minors. Warren’s book will help you check and recheck your mission and ministries to see if they’re lining up with your intended purpose. And if you haven’t actually done the work of finding that purpose, then Warren’s book will help you there too.

And finally, you need this book because once you know your purpose, you have to effectively implement it. You’ll find no better book with practical practices for how to take those words on paper and turn them into a ministry that will grow your church. I read the book when it first came out, and I still use Warren’s preaching plan for communicating our church’s mission, vision, values, and plans. I still organize around his concentric circles of Community, Crowd, Congregation, Committed, and Core. And though I don’t use his baseball diamond for discipleship, his process influenced the discipleship funnel we still use today.

Listen, there are a lot of great books in this issue of The Revitalizer Magazine, but every one of them is latently built on Warren’s core teachings. Before you read any of the others, get yourself to the source. All the rest of the books will make better sense if you do.

Bill Tenny-Brittian is the managing partner of The Effective Church Group. For over thirty years, The Effective Church Group has been equipping churches and church leaders so they can be successful in reaching their mission. He is the co-author of The Role of the Senior Pastor and also teaches Pastoral Leadership for Phillips Seminary with an emphasis on leadership.

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A Book Review of:

Called to Be God’s Leader – Lessons from the Life of Joshua: How God Prepares His Servants for Spiritual Leadership

By Henry Blackaby and Richard Blackaby

By Ron Smith The most valuable and resourceful book in my library has been a book by the Blackaby’s on the life of Joshua, see the title of this article for the book title. I have underlined, quoted, taught, and re-read this book more than any other leadership book. Let me give you the reasons why you should own this copy.

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In the book on page 22 here is a great quote; “A new title does not ensure a new character – obedience does.”

Here is another on page 23, “For the rest of his life, Joshua pursued God’s call to a relationship rather than merely becoming a religious leader.”

The Blackaby’s outline this calling in chapter two: - Joshua: Faithful from the Beginning - Joshua: Faithful to His Name - Joshua; A Faithful Believer - Joshua: Faithful in The Minority - Joshua: Faithful in Worship - Joshua: Faithful to God’s Warnings

For me, Joshua is my favorite character study. I admire the strength and training required to lead a people across a river after years of doing laps in the desert.

Every Pastor will serve as a Joshua in their respective ministries. Every Pastor will follow someone in leadership that processed his people into a desert situation. Every Pastor will need to know how to turn a fledgling following into a river crossing army. I devour anything on the life of Joshua.

This book has multiple uses for varied audiences.

Just reading those sub-points stirs a reminder in me to be faithful to the God who put a call on my life. The reminder stirs a movement to evaluate my heart.

First, this book is a Reminder. The overwhelming reminder is that God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called. This expression is woven throughout the book. It always comes back to the calling and how the calling is difficult and there must be a calling in your life to serve.

In chapter two and chapter three the Blackaby’s brilliantly and powerfully remind us that the presence of God makes the difference.

On page 52 we read, “Those who hold a position of spiritual leadership without experiencing the active working of the Holy Spirit are courting failure.”

Wow! But, if you have read anything by the Blackaby’s, especially Henry, did you expect to hear anything less powerful and yet so simple – depend on God!

Yes! What Pastor doesn’t need to hear that and be reminded of that truth?

From this book I have developed numerous resources.

The study of the Moses leading the Children of Israel out of Egypt is a natural resource and “case study” of leading the church out of slavery and towards life. The story of Joshua is a ready-to-use resource. As pastors most of us will follow a leader. Like Joshua, we assume the role of leadership – leading people out of a desert experience. Ours is the task of leading people out of the desert, across the river and into the next phase (a new phase of life).

As Pastors we often feel the weight of carrying the load. They address this on page 70; “Sometimes the biggest obstacle for a spiritual leader is not the problem itself, but the temptation to solve it alone.”

If you listen, I bet you can hear in your minds ear the comments and conversations the Moses followers had when Joshua prepared to lead them to cross the Jordan.

What a powerful reminder!

- “Moses didn’t do it this way.”

Translation: We’ve never done it this way before.

- “Who does this young man think he is?”

Translation: We’ve been around longer than him and we will be here long after he is gone.

- “Why do we have to cross, I like the desert.”

Translation: My church is fine, why do we need to change?

Or this quote on page 54, “The lesson Joshua learned while serving under Moses was not that God provided manna, but that God provided.”

Second, I love this book because it is a Refresher on the Basics. There is no shortage of books on leadership. This book is so concise and to the point on leadership. It does not try to re-invent leadership. The Blackaby’s highlight the basics of, Calling, Faithfulness, Obedience, Perseverance, Character, Humility, Faith, Trust and Courage.

Time and words do not allow me to cover all of these topics. The inspiring thing is that with each of the “basics” they are covered with simple yet detailed biblical application. The overwhelming amount of scripture is so refreshing. This leads me to the third reason why I recommend this book.

Third, it is a Resource for various areas of leadership.

In my church I train guys that feel called into ministry. I also train Deacons, Dads, and Church Leaders.

This book is a multi-use player. I have used this book to train pastors and business leaders. This book is required reading in my Pastoral Training course. This is not a book that is limited to an audience of ministers.

You can very easily digest this book and make it useful for quarterly teaching, weekly lessons, and sermons series. It is an invaluable non-dated leadership resource.

Fourth and lastly, this book is a Renovating book. I do not say this because I am writing for Renovate Magazine. Before renovate was a term, I purchased this book. I purchased the book because of my desire to study Joshua. As I read this book, I was blown away at how much it spoke to my current situation as a Pastor.

Sound familiar?

Called to Be God’s Leader by the Blackaby’s is a great resource for the renovating pastor. You can get sermons, leadership lessons, and biblical stories of why we must be trained to be worshippers and not wanderers. There are so many nuggets in this book. I have owned this book for 15 years, and I am using it like it came out yesterday.

You will not regret owing a copy of this book. You will be challenged and changed. Your church and your leadership will be challenged and changed.

Ron Smith is the Lead Pastor of WaterStone Church in Longwood and serves as Co-Leader of Renovate One Day Training as well as serving on staff of the Renovate Coaching Network.

Follow Ron at RonBSmithJr.com for leadership material and sporadic blogs.

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A Book Review of:

Why Churches Die

By Joel Breidenbaugh

When I was asked to recommend a book on church revitalization, I immediately thought of Why Churches Die: Diagnosing Lethal Poisons in the Body of Christ by Mac Brunson and Ergun Caner. At the time of writing, Brunson and Caner combined their service to nine churches to produce six decades of pastoring experience. They served small, medium, large, and mega-churches in various states. They drew from thousands of experiences to offer a few dozen examples of personal encounters with problem-people in the church. This article will provide a brief overview of the book and an analysis stating why you should include it in your library.

Overview Brunson and Caner provide thirteen chapters on Why Churches Die. Each chapter is like a sermon as they look at a particular biblical text and relate the biblical issue with a common trait in today’s dying churches.

They begin by writing about how easy the church would be if not for people! Yet the Bible reminds us as Christians

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that we are to go through life “one with another” (pp.

1-4). This reminder sets up the rest of the book and its various exhortations.

Each chapter highlights a common disease or divisive factor which is detrimental to churches.

These diseases include the following: toxins and terminal diseases, which lead to a lethal fellowship (pp. 7-28); an atrophy of faith focusing on the past, which must be met with a forward-looking faith (pp.

29-45); gossip and malice and the need for confrontation (pp. 47-62); spiritual myopia—short-sightedness—needs to see the big picture in the light of God’s greater work (pp. 63-78); a stubborn, rebellious heart which must repent and be obedient (pp. 79-92); bitterness, jealousy and vengeance which desperately needs to learn forgiveness (pp. 93-105); pride and hypocrisy and the need for humility and integrity (pp. 107-126); spiritual instability dealing with experiences rather than living by faith (pp. 127-145); OCD Christianity where a person continually serves without asking for help, thinking no one else can do it well when they really must learn to share the load of ministry

(pp. 147-158); phobias as fears which keep the church from moving forward, afraid things won’t go right (pp.

159-169); failure to hunger for God’s Word or even reject God’s Word (pp. 171-183); and discouragers who seek to downplay the Lord’s work (pp. 185-201). The main remedy for these maladies is humility and repentance as soon as possible (pp. 203-210).

As noted above, Brunson and Caner look at examples from the Old and New Testaments of people exhibiting the various diseases. They point at Samson and his short-sighted (even blinded) approach to life. Joab let his bitterness end Abner’s life. Nabal was stubborn. The Pharisees were both prideful and hypocritical. Martha was overly-involved in ministry and not focused enough on resting and growing. Miriam let gossip get the best of her in a confrontation with Moses.

The authors occasionally provide biblical examples who confront the various diseases head on. Caleb and Elisha were men who refused to allow the past to define their best days. They pushed forward with great faith in the Lord. Of course, Jesus is the supreme example of dealing with Pharisees. Paul served faithfully and learned to be content in whatever circumstances.

Analysis Now that an overview has been provided, it is worth noting why this book deserves to be in your library. Allow me to note some strengths and weaknesses.

Why Churches Die does a tremendous job doing exactly what the authors set out to do—diagnosing lethal poisons in the body of Christ. Like skilled doctors, Brunson and Caner point out the problems many churches face.

While surgeons usually deal with physical abnormalities, these authors identify spiritual problems leading to unhealthiness. When you read through the book, you will find yourself saying, “That’s right!” They diagnose spiritual sins extremely well.

A second strength of the book is its application. The issues in the book are common enough so virtually every pastor will relate with what they say. I found myself identifying certain individuals in churches I’ve served with the problem-people Brunson and Caner discuss.

A final strength to note is the educational model for pastors. Each chapter is a sermon from the Bible. While I never encourage copying another pastor’s sermon, there is enough material to use portions for illustra-

tions or explanations. It will come off as less offensive if you quote what they say about a problem area in the church because the diseased in your church won’t think you came up with the criticism on your own.

As helpful as Why Churches Die is, there are a couple of weaknesses. First, the handling of Scripture in understanding certain characters is a bit of a stretch at times.

It seems the authors are overly critical of Noah, Isaac, Samson, Timothy, Titus, and Peter. Of course, none of these saints are perfect, but the Bible often presents their faith, or faithfulness, as something to emulate.

Preachers must be careful not to read too much into the biblical text. Though the handling of Scripture may include a few moments of eisegesis, the main point underscored in each chapter is spot on.

Another weakness is the under-developed remedy to the numerous diseases. The authors are perceptive in pointing out problems. Other than a brief, general solution, much more should be offered. The Scripture presents multiple steps to church discipline, but these are not offered. The pastor will have to come up with his own solutions to these problems.

Conclusion The book by Brunson and Caner, Why Churches Die, belongs on the bookshelf of every church revitalizer. Even if the solutions are not as developed as they should be, the diagnosis is right on target. You will be able to connect biblical examples with real-life situations. Furthermore, you will be better equipped to understand the problems you face in your church and give them a name. Noting the disease is half the battle of defeating it. May the Lord encourage you to move forward in faith while dealing with the diseases in your church.

Joel Breidenbaugh PhD, is the Lead Pastor of Gospel Centered Church in Apopka, Florida and is an Assistant Professor of Homiletics for Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity.

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A Book Review of:

Dying to Restart:

Churches Choosing a Strategic Death for a Multiplying Life

By Greg Wiens & Dan Turner

By George A. Thomasson Through the many years of ministry, God has given me the opportunity to pastor churches in rapid decline.

Each of them has experienced amazing revitalization.

One of them relocated to a new site and grew from 300 to 900.

The last church I had the privilege of leading was past the point of revitalization with only twelve older adults remaining. They still had a significant debt and a long list of unpaid bills, but their location was in a high-growth community. The Lord led us to replant this church and it grew in only five years to almost 1,000 in attendance, while sending out a group to plant another congregation.

My interest was piqued when I came across Greg Wiens’ and Dan Turner’ new book, Dying to Start: Churches Choosing a Strategic Death for a Multiplying Life. Quoting reliable sources, they state: “It’s no secret that established churches area struggling.

In 2015, Lifeway Research reported that 3,500 churches closed their doors in the United States. The good news is that during this same period, 4,000 new churches were planted. Many in North America have all but given up on those 3,500 established churches. But the fact is that even with thousands of new churches being planted each year, we are still losing ground…Church plants cannot reverse the tide alone. Our older, established churches desperately need to find new life and a restoration of their mission.

These churches are part of the team that we can’t afford to lose.”

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Life Cycle of a Church

The authors share graphically about a “Life Cycle of a Church.” They list the following segments of the life cycle: 1. Birth 2. Childhood 3. Adolescence 4. Maturity 5. Empty Nest 6. Old Age 7.

Death. The process moves from relationships to structures that make ministry more effective.

The life cycle can be traced along a bell curve. When the growth and health of the church reaches its height along the front side of the curve, ideally a new life cycle should be intentionally launched before the church gets too far down the backside of the life cycle curve.

The authors point to the early church in the Book of Acts to see evidence of two to three life cycles (see Acts 1:8; 2:42-47; Ch. 4-8).

Unfortunately, “most churches on the backside of the life cycle have extreme difficulty in seeing their true reality and confronting the facts.

They tend to focus on the past.” The authors go into great detail to help us see how the life cycle moves through “old age” and finally into “death.” As a long-time practitioner, I was able to identify with their description of what almost always happens in churches that are on a rapid downward spiral toward inevitable death.

A Church Restart Defined

The authors conducted over 20 interviews with leaders of restarts trying to glean all they could about the different approaches to restarts. After the interviews and

much research, they offered the following definition of a church restart: An effort by a long-declining church in which the church chooses a strategic death so that a new church can be launched in its place, using its existing members and assets. A restart is characterized by a rapid shift in vision, culture, and ministry approach with the purpose of reaching a new target group in its community. A restart combines the approach of church planting with the pastoral work of leading change.”

Three Types of Restarts: 1. Legacy Restart Simply stated, the Legacy Restart is a church in which the resources are nearly depleted. They may have a building and some other assets, but the leadership base is all but non-existent. The remaining members (remnant) give up their preferences and may or may not elect to be a part of the new restart. In either case, they give up their rights to help shape the new congregation. The legacy restart is the most drastic type to undertake. New DNA, mission, values, strategy, measures and vision must be put in place. New funding sources and leadership must also be identified and developed.

2. Resurrection Restart This type of restart requires a core of members strong enough to be able to serve the new church with leadership and finances until a substantive group of new members is assimilated. One of the challenges is helping the remnant members to embrace the vision and culture of the new congregation. The leaders must help the remnant let go of their past and die so that a new life can begin.

3. Merger Restart In this type of restart, two congregations come together to form a new church. They usually begin with a relationship between pastors or key leaders in like-minded congregations. These leaders will be committed to becoming a new church with a passion to make disciples who multiply churches and transform their communities. The Merger Restart, however, still involves a death.

An entirely new vision, mission and culture must be developed and owned.

Selecting a Restart Option

Wien and Turner outline a process for selecting the best restart option. It includes making an assessment of the following: effective leadership, financial resources, congregational health, community engagement, denominational controls and willingness to “let go.”

Key Takeaways

For the purpose of this review and for the sake of brevity, I will simply list some key takeaways.

• Real stories and church profiles from leaders who have led church restarts • Scriptural examination of the theology behind restarts and the distorted theology many churches are living out (“We can’t let the church die.” “We can be faithful without being fruitful.”)

• Essential characteristics of restart leaders • The most critical decision a restart church will make • How to secure congregation buy-in • The importance of confronting hard challenges upfront • The landmine potential of not paying attention to the details • Understanding the various phases of a restart • The specific changes each church needs to be prepared for • The role of the “remnant” • A realistic look at life after the restart • What it takes to restart with missional DNA that leads to multiplication of disciples and churches

Recommendation and How to Get the Book

This book is a must-read for any pastor, staff or key leader who is even considering the possibility of a restart. I would recommend reading it before taking any definitive steps in that direction.

The book can be downloaded FREE OF CHARGE by going to exponential.org and selecting “free e books.” You will need to provide your name and email address and simply select whether you want a printed format or one that is for you Kindle.

George Thomasson is a native of Arkansas but spent most of his ministry in Florida and Texas. He holds degrees from Palm Beach Atlantic University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Sandra. They have two grown children, Angie Gould and Greg Thomasson, who blessed them with two grandchildren each. He presently serves as Mobilization Pastor for Christ Place Church in Flowery Branch, Georgia.

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Available in Paperback and Kindle on Amazon.com

Does God really set people free?

Or are we just talking?

Transformational Discipleship was developed to train leaders how to guide both brand-new and longtime believers towards deep spiritual change.

This training is foundational for every believer. It guides people who are stuck on their faith journey due to unresolved, often hidden issues in their lives towards true spiritual, emotional and mental freedom through intimacy with God.

“It’s not like anything I have been through before.”

Pastor John Wright, Titusville, FL “This is life transforming. I’m going to teach the socks off this thing.”

Dr. Phil Phillips, Ft. Myers, FL

Healing the Heart of Your Church

By Steve Smith One of the best loved Christmas stories tells of three spirits who visited Ebenezer Scrooge—the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. The first two confronted his impaired soul with the damaging aspect of his life actions, leaving it to the last spirit to show him the outcome of his choices—a gravestone announcing his premature death.

He was shocked! He had been willfully blind to his own nature, but by these Christmas Eve visitations was made ready to repent and change. This story, in its book and multiple movie versions, resonates with many people who see the point that even the most damaged person can be redeemed.

No, I am not advocating that you have The Christmas Carol in your revitalization library. But its message illustrates the challenge of guiding a church to renewal. Many stuck churches are willfully blind to their own nature. Their histories are replete with damaging choices and events which have never been addressed. Furthermore, the current attenders do not intend to address them, preferring to let the past be the past.

But in the spiritual realm, a church’s past lives on, including the actions of the church not surrendered to Jesus for healing and restoration. Over the years of coaching pastors, I have heard distressing stories of the dark past of this or that church. Church splits that resulted in a ‘new’ church starting up the street. Pastoral staff members that sexually abused children. Deep racial prejudice that overrode Christian love.

Pastors who committed adultery or were chewed up and tossed out by the political machinery of a few leaders.

As a pastor, you have been given the spiritual authority to lead your congregation toward a different outcome. It takes courage and humility to do this. And knowledge of how to do it well.

Dr. Kenneth Quick’s book, Healing the Heart of Your Church is the best resource to help you face this challenge. This book will show you how to address the spirit of the past, even the present, so that someday you will not be confronted by a gravestone with your church’s name on it.

Quick points out that every church has a “corporate heart,” meaning that whatever affects one part of the body affects the whole body. He argues that it is impossible to separate the corporate body from past events; that past traumas do affect the current congregation in tangible ways. A church’s spiritual sickness does not go away on its own with the passing of time. Therefore, in order to heal, the pastor must help the church get to the root of the problem, even if he

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is part of the problem. The problem is not the symptoms such as infighting, unrest, unforgiveness, or immaturity. The problem is the unconfessed and unhealed wounds from spiritual trauma that was covered over instead of spiritually confronted.

This healing process will make serious demands of you. But in his book, Quick outlines easy-to-follow steps you will need to take to accomplish it.

As pastor, your role is to stand before God on behalf of the congregation in “mediatorial” authority to help it address past spiritual traumas. Quick references places in Scripture where leaders of Israel or the church stood in the role of a mediator between the people and God in matters of judgment and repentance. They spoke on behalf of the people to God and relayed God’s message to the people.

Although each individual is responsible for his or her own actions, you as the pastor have been granted the position to “do something about” the problems plaguing the whole congregation as a result of spiritual traumas undealt with from the past.

However, you have to be spiritually prepared to do this.

Quick explains that if you personally harbor resentment or unrepented sin, your first step is to get alone with God and deal with your inward spiritual issues. It will not be possible to lead the congregation in spiritual reconciliation and

blessings of God and the traumas, when they happened and the result on the congregation of each blessing and trauma.

The goal is to get to the root causes of the spiritual traumas and to identify what the congregation did at the time to comfort themselves instead of going to God in confession, repentance, reconciliation, and restoration.

You will also need to identify of what the church needs to repent. Clarify what repentance would look like if the church was to approach repentance healthily. Who are the people within, or outside the church, to whom is owed a true apology?

To whom is owed honor? To whom is owed repayment for financial loss?

Not all spiritual traumas are the same. Some have been caused by people in the congregation and some have been done to the congregation. This is an important distinction.

It is necessary to approach the trauma correctly, so that the congregation will confess and repent of the sin it should, instead of confessing and repenting of the sin someone else should.

This is the real strength of this book. Quick describes five potential trauma areas of which your church may need to be healed. He also explains how to thoughtfully and spiritually address each area. These five areas are:

restoration if you do not take seriously your individual need for confession and repentance to God. This readies you to be positive in the face of resistance. And you should expect resistance. People in the church need to confront their own anger, resentment and sin, but that does not mean they are ready and willing to do so. Some will resent your reminding them of the past. Others have personal unfinished spiritual business. They are anxious that the process will expose rather than heal them. You must use your spiritual authority to guide them towards a time of corporate healing.

Speed is not the goal, but wholeness. Dr. Quick cautions against the assumption that a hurried ceremony of healing will deal with everything under the surface of people’s lives.

Your first focus is on the leaders of your congregation. They must be guided by you to engage in personal confession and repentance so they can join you in the mediatorial work.

This is especially necessary if the leaders helped cause the spiritual trauma to the church. They will need to start with their own public confession and repentance before the congregation. This cannot be rushed or faked, so they will need you to lead them in this process.

When they are readied, together draw a timeline of the church’s spiritual journey from its beginning to grasp the impact of past spiritual traumas. Chart out both the

1. Splits: When the congregation has been pulled apart by pride.

2. Abusive Pastors: When a pastor has controlled the congregation through manipulation and unhealthy claims of non-biblical authority.

3. Abused Pastors: When the church has been insensitive and neglectful to the pastor and his family’s needs.

4. Sinful Reactivity: When the church has allowed sin and broken relationships to thrive in the congregation.

5. Past Shame: When the church has excluded and shamed people for whom Jesus died because they do not “belong.”

Revitalization at its core is about spiritual warfare. Satan hunts your church like a roaring lion to destroy it if he can. Failing to address past spiritual trauma can put revitalization out of the reach of your congregation altogether. If you do not know how to go about addressing it, this book will open your eyes.

Dr. Steve Smith is the Founder of Church Equippers Ministries, equipping churches to make and retain more disciples. He trains pastors how to disciple transformationally through the course, The Key to Deep Change. His book, Build Deep, shows churches how to develop a true transformational culture. For more information, go to: www.churchequippers.com. For more information, go to: www.ChurchEquippers.com

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DYNAMIC Small Groups

Books Small Groups and Sunday School Leaders Should Read

By Fred Boone I have talked in past articles about the need to be a student of Small Groups if we are going to excel as leaders in the field. In this issue I want to share with you several books that should be in your library as a Christian Educator and the leader of Small Groups in your church. I believe there are four categories of books. Books that deal with the philosophy of the ministry, books that deal with strategic methods, books that deal with specific methods (i.e. teaching), and combo books that deal with all aspects of the ministry.

There are all kinds of Small Groups but I believe the most beneficial to the growth of the church is the group that teaches the Bible. In fact, the most common response to surveys was that the purpose of small groups was to “teach” the Bible. With that in mind the first book I would recommend is Howard Hendricks book “Teaching to Change Lives: Seven Ways to Make Your Teaching Come Alive”. I believe Howard Hendricks was the greatest Christian Educator of the 20th Century. In this book you will see Dr. Hendricks passion for communication and he will show you how to effectively do this by applying seven proven concepts. What I love most about this book is

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how he shows you how to engage your members in the teaching process that results in students learning and applying what they have learned. Another classic book on teaching is “Creative Bible Teaching” by Lawrence O. Richards. Also, I would recommend Andy Stanley’s book “Communicating for a Change.”

For those that are doing Small Groups off campus you need to read Steve Gladens book “Small Groups with Purpose: How to Create Healthy Communities”. In this book Steve outlines the principles he uses to develop his Small Group ministry. He ends each chapter with questions for you to answer that will help you develop your ministry.

He has several books in this series on the theme of “Small Groups with Purpose.”

One of the early pioneers of the current Small Group movement was Dale Galloway. In 1987, when he was pastor of New Hope Community Church, he wrote “20/20 Vision, How to Create a Successful Church with Lay Pastors and Cell Groups”. Every serious student of small groups (groups that meet off campus) should read Dale’s book.

He also, wrote “The Small Group Book: The Practical Guide

for Nurturing Christians and Building Churches”. Long before anyone was really talking about small groups Dale was having great success in his church. I still use his material and refer to his strategies often.

More churches are doing Sunday School than any other strategy. Over the last 200 years there probably have been over 1000 books written about Sunday School.

However today there are probably less than 50 books on the market about Sunday School (my guess). I would like to share with you several books that are available today and anyone that has a Sunday School ministry should have these books. The first is a very practical book written

by Allan Taylor former Minister of Education of First Baptist Church Woodstock, “The Six Core Values of Sunday School”. I would call this a combo book because he covers a basic philosophy and a practical approach to Sunday School. This book is a handbook for doing Sunday School right. He covers six key foundations to building an effective Sunday School. The book is full of practical guidance with many specific details. Then he wrote a follow-up book “Sunday School in HD”. In this book Allan expands on some of the key elements from his first book. He says this book will help you in “Sharpening the focus on what makes your church healthy.” He deals a lot with leadership principles and how to lead your Sunday School to be more evangelistic. He has a great chapter for teachers called “Teaching Content with Intent.” You could take this chapter and develop a great training session for your teachers. Both of these books are highly recommended for any church that has a Sunday School.

Steve Parr former vice president for Sunday School and Evangelism with the Georgia Baptist Convention compiled a series of three books on Sunday School: “Sunday School That Really Works”, “Sunday School That Really Responds”, and “Sunday School That Really Excels”. These books don’t only draw on Steve’s many years of real life experience but the experience of many other experts in the field of Sunday School. In the first book of the series Steve addresses the question: “Does Sunday School Still Work?” He builds a compelling defense for the use of Sunday School in the 21st Century. He shares about the research that has been done on the churches that are effectively using Sunday School as an evangelistic growth strategy. I highly recommend this set of books. If you are looking for great resources about Sunday School and material to train your leadership then you need these books.

“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”

– Harry S. Truman

This is the counsel I received when I started my ministry and I have tried to make reading a standard part of my weekly routine. I understand that reading doesn’t make me a leader, but if I have been effective as a leader it is because of the principles and concepts that I read about and applied. Reading has expanded my understanding of Small Groups of all types from Sunday School, to Cell Groups, to the current Small Group movement here in the United States. Reading has allowed me to hear from the greatest experts in all fields from the living to the dead.

Dave Olson in his article in Startus Magazine “5 Reasons Why All Leaders Are Readers” gave some good insights as to why we should read. 1) Reading Elevates Us Above Our Current Situation - It’s easy to get bogged down in our day-to-day lives, and reading elevates us above the daily grind. 2) Reading Multiplies Our Experiences - We don’t generally experience life very quickly. Building anything of value as a leader takes time, and the process is typically challenging and messy. 3) Reading Allows Us To Spend Time With Smart People - You may not be able to have lunch with Michael Hyatt, Andy Andrews, Dave Ramsey, Jim Collins, or Peter Drucker (especially because he’s passed on). 4) Reading Can Quickly Build Our Expertise - Without reading, our expertise will be limited to our direct experiences. We don’t experience life quickly, so our direct experience is limited. 5) Reading Gives Us An Escape - When thinking about reading for leaders, we normally think about non-fiction, such as leadership principles, self-improvement, biographies, etc. While I primarily read non-fiction, I believe it’s important to also read fiction.

I hope these suggestions are helpful and will expand your knowledge about Small Groups and Sunday School.

I am certain that there is no greater strategy for the church than Small Groups. The concept of small groups is found from the Old Testament to the New Testament. The church that refuses to embrace small groups will never be a church that makes on mission disciples. Remember: “Leaders are Readers”!

Fred Boone is the Executive Pastor and LIFE Groups Pastor of First Baptist Church of Mount Dora, Florida.

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WHY SMALL GROUPS?

From the Old Testament to the New Testament small groups are used in very significant ways.

Small Groups have always been part of God’s plan to develop and grow believers. In modern times from Sunday School to the contemporary Small Group movement the churches that embraced small groups in a significant way experienced the most growth in evangelism and discipleship. Small Groups should be a fundamental strategy for every church that seeks to be a Biblically complete church.

OUR VISION – Why We Exist

To see every church develop significant small groups that are healthy and growing.

OUR MISSION – What We Do We come to the church and partner with the pastor and staff to evaluate the current condition of their Small Group Ministry and then develop a custom plan to renovate and reinvigorate their groups. Our plan includes developing comprehensive goals and strategies.

We also provide training and custom resources for the churches we serve.

www.DynamicSmallGroups.org

407-965-9515

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A Book Review of:

Re:VISION: The Key To Transforming Your Church

By Bud Brown Aubrey Malphurs and Gordon E. Penfold, Re:Vision: The Key To Transforming Your Church. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 2014, 289 pp.

Re:Vision: The Key to Transforming Your Church marks an important shift in understanding the factors necessary to introduce new life to dying churches.

This isn’t a case study of how pastors revitalized their churches. It isn’t a how-to formula. The book is not an academic treatment of missional ecclesiology or spiritual formation. It is a careful analysis of original research that answers a vital question. Why do some pastors consistently bring new life to stagnant and declining churches while others don’t?

It shows direct correlation between the pastor’s temperament and success in renewing plateaued and declining churches.

Re:Vision is organized into three main sections; Preparation for Discovery, Process of Discovery, and Practice of Discovery.

Part 1 (chapters 1-5) establishes the framework for their research. This section visits recent demographics about the state of the Church in America and of pastoral leadership (chapter 1).

Chapters 2 and 3 advance the thesis that “[t]he solution to the church problem is a renewed vision for both church planting and church revitalization among our pastoral and denominational leaders (p. 33).” They lay out their case for re-envisioning ministry by identifying seven biblical re-envisioning leaders.

Chapter 4, “Design, Direction and Development,” is a hinge-chapter. It prepares readers for the data about effective re-envisioning pastors. The authors assert that temperament influences a pastor’s ministry. This affirms that knowing how

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God designed them helps pastors develop greater leadership potential. Their Leadership Development Plan addresses character and leadership improvement.

Chapter 5, “The Leader’s Behavior,” introduces the personality temperament.

The authors offer a concise overview and working definition of the DiSC Personality Profile and the Meyers-Brings Type Indicator (MBTI). These, with appendices, help readers understand how God designed them. The discussion wanders into trouble by asserting that temperament is more important than “God’s inner call.” This does not detract from the book’s contribution.

Part 2 (chapters 6 – 8) is the heart of the book. Here one finds details about their research methods, findings, and the bridge from “what?” to “so what?”

Chapter 6 introduces Penfold’s original research. He discovered significant, measurable differences between Turnaround pastors (TAP) and non-turnaround pastors (NTAP).

• TAPs have higher D and I scores; NTAPs have higher S and C scores on the DiSC. • TAPs communicate vision with greater clarity and passion.

• TAPs have mentors or coaches much more often than NTAPs. • TAPs and NTAPs exhibit different leadership styles, especially in innovation and team partnership.

Penfold also documents several surprises, matters of conventional wisdom about pastoral leadership that are not supported by the data.

• No distinguishing differences in Spiritual giftedness between TAPs and NTAPs. • Age does not distinguish TAP from NTAP.

• TAPs are no clearer or more effective in communicating the mission than are NTAPs, but they do a better job of communicating vision.

• Long tenures do not predict growth; short tenures do not predict plateaus.

• Pastors can lead multiple turnarounds.

Chapter 7 expands Penfold’s work, confirming the original findings. This chapter switches from the term turnaround pastor to “re-envisioning pastor” (and “non-re-envisioning” pastor) to stress vision’s crucial role in the turnaround process.

Chapter 8 moves from “what?” to “so what?” The authors invite readers to answer four questions (prompted by the data) for themselves.

1. What if I’m a re-envisioning pastor?

2. What if I’m a non-re-envisioning pastor?

3. Can a non-re-envisioning pastor become a re-envisioning pastor?

4. Should a non-re-envisioning pastor seek to become a re-envisioning pastor?

Part 3, “The Practice of Discovery” (chapters 9-14) offers five steps to greater effectiveness as re-envisioning leaders. A few suggestions for personal and professional development are sprinkled throughout the chapter. The guidance is sparse, but there’s enough to whet the appetite.

Chapter 10 examines vision and suggests guidelines to developing one. Vision clarifies direction, enhances leadership, motivates followers, prompts giving, generates passion, fosters faith, and sustains ministry. They give excellent guidance in the vision development and vision casting processes. Many will find that this chapter alone justifies the time and money spent on this book!

Chapter 11 cites critical components needed to return churches to vigor and growth – a skilled pastor and a willing congregation. They sketch out how a pastor might change a church. They illustrate culture’s role in promoting or prohibiting change. This is followed by a brief description of a four-step change process.

The brief treatment of how to manage change leaves the reader wanting more.

They map out four steps in the change process; “Read the Current Culture”, “Thaw Out the Current Culture”, “Transition the Culture to a New Level”, and “Reform the New Culture at the New Level.” A mission-critical fifth step, responding to resistance, is omitted. Failure to mention resistance management is a conspicuous omission because this is where most ventures into change fail.

Their discovery that re-envisioning pastors have coaches may be the second most important research finding, the first being the re-envisioning pastor’s personality profile. This is the subject of chapter 12. In his original research Penfold discovered

that 62% of REPs had a coach when they began their ministry.

They continued to work with a coach even after years in ministry. In contrast, 57% of NREP’s started with a coach but after several years the rate had dropped to 14%!

This issue is worthy of further exploration. Why do a majority of NREPs stop working with a coach while a majority of REPs continue with them? My experience suggests that as pastors struggle to bring renewal to plateaued or declining churches, they isolate. In addition, many small church pastors are comfortable with the status quo and don’t want their churches revitalized.

The effectiveness of coaching in the revitalization process begs for additional study.

Malphurs and Penfold contend that church revitalization requires vision and leadership, but most pastors are not designed this way by personality or spiritual giftedness. Working with a coach would help most of them. Coaching based on accurate personality assessment could give sharper focus to the coach’s work, increasing the likelihood of the protégé becoming an effective renewal agent.

Chapter 13 addresses the “how” by outlining “preparation, process, and practice.” This places the elements of vision, change, and coaching into a larger framework.

A helpful distinction is made between church models versus a church process. Churches and pastors often seek to model themselves after other (often larger) churches. Working out a prayerful process that develops a vision and ministry plan that fits them and their circumstances is the wiser, more effective strategy. Re:Vision stands apart from most books on revitalization because it does not push pastors and churches to be like someone else. Rather, it counsels them to become - with God’s help – a better version of themselves.

This process is an acute need. The book’s strength is that it offers pastors a development road map. Since most pastors don’t fit a “turnaround profile,” having a road map for the process is extremely valuable.

Re:Vision is a watershed volume, a paradigm shift on church revitalization. It ends with the story of an NREP who led his church in revitalization. This hopeful ending is the promise of a fresh start for pastors and churches.

Bud Brown has ministered in a wide variety of settings, from small rural to mid-sized suburban to rapidly growing megachurches. He has trained and mentored international students, intentional interim pastors, doctoral students, and now serves as president of Turnaround Pastors (www.turnaroundpastor.com).

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Bringing Back the Generous Giver

By Mark Weible A Review of Cultivating A Generous Church: How To Inspire Congregational Generosity and Increase Weekly Offerings

By Mike Williams and Jack Eason Mike Williams and Jack Eason are both Christian comedians who help churches and non-profit organizations to raise funds for special projects and regular support of their annual budgets. Both men are highly sought-after motivational speakers and writers. In Cultivating A Generous Church, Williams and Eason share a collection of articles that they have written over the years that encourage pastors and church leaders to become more purposeful while engaging their church’s financial partners. You may be asking, “What does comedy and sacrificial giving have to do with each other?”

“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:6-8 ESV) As it turns out, comedians know a lot about cheering people up and Williams and Eason know a lot about con-

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necting laughter with generosity. However, as the authors point out, for many churches the time set aside for giving during the typical worship service more closely resembles a funeral than a cheerful moment: Does your offering time invoke joy or boredom in the audience? Does the Deacon of the Week give a prayer of “Especially bless those who can’t give...” or prayers of gratitude for our God-given ability to be shareholders in the successful work of the church? Does the generationally dated music we play during the offering times declare to the younger generation this time is not for them? Do we find ourselves needing to host a mini-tithe sermon before every plate passing?

(Williams and Eason, page 4) At funerals, people say goodbye to their loved ones and during the offertory, people say goodbye to their money, which is why no one likes either. However, Williams and Eason give some sound advice on how to reverently transform the act of giving into a joyous occasion. The authors begin by providing seven keys for churches to make a case for tithing without sounding legalistic. They clearly point out that they are not advocating a magic formula or a form of manipulation in order to increase giving in the local church. Williams and Eason write about being more intentional in this very important act of worship. Prepara-

tion is not manipulation as the authors state, “If you wanted to have a good dinner you would prepare by setting the table. If you wanted to go on a long journey you would prepare by packing the suitcase with the supplies you need.” (Williams and Eason, page 7). Part of that preparation involves making a personal connection with each regular giver and each potential giver. A personal connection does not require a one-on-one private conversation with a giver, but it means helping that person to feel connected to the cause.

In past decades, the authors point out, tithing became almost automatic to many Believers. That is why they claim that the offering time became the most boring time during the worship service. Now, they say that tithing is dead to the new generations, but the good news is that we serve the God who raises the dead. In this day and age, we have the opportunity to bring meaning back to giving.

With just a little preparation, the average church can see greater participation in giving, greater generosity on the part of their members, and greater joy in doing so: Inside the church walls, successful offering scenarios will reject the somber, almost depressing mode of the traditional offering moments (circa-1960), featuring a pianist playing unfamiliar melodies that isolate the younger audience. These successful leaders are returning to a biblical stance of giving with a cheerful, hilarious heart in a time of celebration and happiness. Giving is becoming joyfully celebrated during a strategic part of every service, often with clapping of hands to the most exceptional, most uplifting music of the day.

(Williams and Eason, page 15) The first step to connecting givers to the cause is building trust. The authors point out that pastors cannot always assume that trust exists between church attenders and church leaders. The people sitting in our pews are victims of trust abuse in many areas of society, especially when it comes to their money. Therefore, it is the responsibility of church leaders to develop and build trust that shows that the church handles and spends money responsibly.

An important aspect of building trust is responsiveness.

Williams and Eason explain that too many pastors are not approachable and often fail to respond to their church members in a timely manner: Our responsiveness is important. It gives a good impression—sometimes the first impression—to those who are trying to reach out and connect with us. Even social media platforms are rating profiles based on the responsiveness of the profile owner. The speed at which we answer gives us a better rating in that platform…. We must be willing to connect with people. Ministry is people. (Williams and Eason, page 38)

Ownership and accountability are two other important trust factors. The authors state that our church members want to have a sense of ownership of the ministry if they are to invest their dollars. Likewise, accountability makes them feel like they are partners in the ministry. According to the authors, when our people feel more like co-owners, shareholders, and partners in the church’s ministry, they are more likely to be joyful givers.

In this work, Williams and Eason create a case for developing a new narrative when it comes to giving and tithing.

It begins with updating our language so that what we are teaching is better understood by our people. The authors suggest following the example of Jesus, who often used parables to get his point across. Each parable had a surface meaning as well as a “second narrative”. As the authors state, you can’t go wrong when you teach like Jesus.

We need to do more than just tell people that they need to give to support the needs of the church. The authors suggest that we share stories of how God’s work is being accomplished through the church and to focus more on what is getting done vs. the bills that have to get paid. Telling stories that illustrate God’s mighty work that is happening here and now is what Jesus did: If you want to teach like Jesus, you are going to have to learn how to tell stories, tell them quickly, and hide within them connections to the heart. You may have to trust the Spirit to reveal some of the truth without your voice attached.

(Williams and Eason, page 59) You will find this book both practical and inspirational.

The authors’ humor makes this difficult subject easier to digest. Their passion for the local church and their desire to see people’s lives impacted by the love of Christ will grip your heart as well. You will definitely want to share this book with your key leaders, especially those who will be involved in developing your church’s fundraising strategies. But, ultimately, it is the Senior Pastor who has the greatest opportunity to set the tone and direction for how giving will be encouraged in the local church.

Mark Weible serves as the Church Planting Director of the Greater Orlando Baptist Association and the strategic Director of the Renovate National Church Revitalization Conference. Mark has a wealth of experience as a church planter and local church coach. Mark is passionate about church multiplication, renewal, planting, and coaching.

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Ahead of His Time

By Jim Grant My review is of the book To Dream Again by Robert Dale. The book was written in 1981 and published by Broadman Press. Since that time and more so in the last 15 years, this book has become the standard for Revitalization of Evangelical churches. I received my copy of this book from a great friend in the ministry in 1997 after having retired from the Air Force and before I was in full time pastoring. Regretfully, I didn’t even bother opening it up and at least scanning its contents. It would be years before I picked up this book and read it. It now is highlighted and has all kinds of notes showing plenty of wear and tear.

I used this book in my own doctoral work and have bought and given several copies away to other pastors. Dale uses a bell curve to depict the growth and decline of organizations. His work on organizational dynamics have been used extensively by strategists and organizational revitalists.

He specifically uses the curve to show the rise/ success to organizations on the left side with the markers of Dream, Beliefs, Goals, and Structure which culminate in the top Ministry. On the reverse side Robert Dale illustrates the downward slide of organizational failure. These phases are identified as Nostalgia, Questioning, Polarization, and finally in death – Dropout.

The difference is time. The struggle with starting something new is the work needed to make the organization get past the “Survival mode.”

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Robert Dale has authored a great book which can be used for planting churches and revitalization of churches. Depending on your task, you would use either the right or left side of his curve. While Dale writes for church organizations; the principles and application are widespread even in the commercial business world. I have been amazed at the intuitive wisdom with which Dale wrote in 1981. He writes almost from a prophetic viewpoint, as if he knew the Church would be faltering and declining. Dale has written another 20 plus books on organizational and church leadership.

This book has captivated the revitalization community much like the Bible book Nehemiah.

Both are filled with instruction and inspiration for those with a passion to restore and revitalize God’s Church [People].

The popularity is like an artist who painted all his life without notoriety until his death, well Robert Dale is dead, but long after this masterpiece was written did its true worth become revealed.

Dale wrote about church health in a time when most churches and pastors were being inundated by Church Growth principles and processes. Today, we have an estimated 10,000 churches dying and closing their doors annually. This statistic is about churches across denominational lines. Many of us have watched the decline

and death of the major mainline denominations, well we didn’t learn from them and are experiencing rapid decline, plateauing and death in our own Southern Baptist Convention.

Dale’s book, To Dream Again attempts to expose the problems of forgetting and unwillingness to change.

The peak of the bell curve was thought by many as having reached the apex of ministry success; however, leaders failed to take into consideration what happens when “we have arrived, or comfort” levels persist. Dream Again, is the prescribed solution.

Churches and leaders have to remember what drove them to climbing the difficult mountain to establish a kingdom ministry and dream of the next hill to climb. This requires leaders to be committed to an on-going journey for Christ and not settling for a stable church organization, that sits back on it laurels. Robert Dale details the various steps for an organization/church from conception – original dream to success and then from mountaintop to decline and death. In each of the phases on his bell curve, Dale addresses the personalities and attitudes that contribute to success and “stuck or comfortable” places.

The relevancy of this material is timeless! This book is a MUST read for anyone in ministry. Especially, when we consider the epidemic level of churches closures in America. Much has been made about Church Planting – absolutely necessary. But our own denomination is now focusing on Re-Planting. Instead of waiting for churches to close their doors and try to plant another congregation in the same “Pot” – there should be a concerted effort to not just help those churches already in decline and dying stages, but to implement a “preventative” strategy for healthy churches. Robert Dale outlines the climb to the top of the mountain; this has been the focus of many organizations and church-

es – get established. But when the established church quits moving forward, it drifts backwards. Instead of focusing on getting to the top [which has never been the goal] think about what the next bell curve should look like. In other words, develop a sigmoid curve off the original bell curve. Another way of explaining the sigmoid curve is to establish a Long-Range Plan that includes 3, 5, and 7 years goals and markers.

If churches adopt the bell curve as the standard growth/health cycle, then really, we are only creating one-generation churches.

Just as the goal of Christianity is not missing Hell and going to Heaven, but to have an intimate on-going spiritual life with Jesus Christ our Savior; so, should this be the approach with Churches.

To Dream Again is a great starter book for anyone passionate about church health and recovering the Dream that began the work of their local church.

An added validity to the popularity and needs for such a book as this has been affirmed by it being reprinted in 2004 and again in 2018. Read the book and be enlightened and challenged to dream God-sized dreams!

Jim Grant is the Executive Director of the Galveston Baptist Association. He is an Air Force veteran, retiring with twenty-five years of service. His extensive travels allowed him the unique opportunity to serve in a full spectrum of churches with various styles and ranges of spiritual health. He has a master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Ministry degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological seminary with a concentration on Church Revitalization.

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The local church is the only organization that can facilitate eternal hope, lasting change, and total transformation in the lives of people and communities everywhere.

Even so, today’s local churches are often in desperate need of renewal and revitalization themselves. In The Revitalized Church, Pastor Michael Atherton uses his firsthand experiences to show how a local church community can once again become vibrant. The Revitalized Church shares Atherton’s eighteen-month journey merging two church communities with a common vision and discusses the challenges and the victories he encountered. In addition, he examines the key biblical leadership principles that were used to help sustain the church community.

Ask the Right Questions at the Right Time and in the Right Way

By Tracy Jaggers A book review of J. Val Hastings’, Change Your Questions, Change Your Church: How to Lead with Powerful Questions.

In one of the older Superman movies, Superman was asked the question, “Can you save the world?” to which he replied simply, “Yes.” Upon pondering the answer and wishing for more, I wondered how he would accomplish this mighty feat. “How do you plan to do that?” was my first response. “What strategy do you have to avoid Lex Luthor with his chunk of kryptonite attached to a chain to hang around your neck?” With that in my repertoire of movie quotes, I realized how many times I have asked pastors the wrong question when introducing the revitalization process to them or their congregation. I had historically asked the closed question, “Are you the man to lead this revitalization process?” Big mistake! After reading J. Val Hastings’ book, Change Your Questions, Change Your Church, I restructured my questions to be stronger and more definitive. I now lead off with, “Tell me why you believe you can lead this revitalization process?” Additional probing questions are: What skills and education do you possess? How much buy-in do you have with the majority of your congregation? Why is it important to you to take the risk that may be required to see this church turnaround?

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The book by Hastings is not a large treatise with laborious terminology but is filled with convicting questions and ideas of how better to pose questions. It does bring both the pastor and congregation face to face with their views on the present church health status. It has helped me personally to place the health of the congregation and its future into the hands of the congregation. When their light gets turned on it becomes personal and passionate! It places “the monkey on their back,” not mine or the pastors alone. It was hard at first because I wanted to be seen as the man with all the answers. That’s why I went through all the revitalization education, right? Val’s work and the Holy Spirit reminded me that it is “not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord.” Only He can change a pastor and his congregants forever.

The first section of the book is a personal testimony of how tough, poignant questions, properly offered, made the difference in a congregation. Their perceived situation was not based upon the reality of a healthy church, and their part in solving the decline requires all hands on deck. The second section is Val Hasting’s definition of strong, effective questions. He unpacks the barriers to asking strong questions the right way. No one enjoys hard, prickly, prying questions, but being challenged to press beyond the problem outweighs the loss of avoid-

ing the unpleasant. We must do what is necessary for true evaluation and renovation. The best part of section two is the illustrations of challenging questions from scripture. It is the biblical rationalization for using powerful questions.

Peter was questioned strongly by Jesus when He told the disciples He would be betrayed. Peter responded with “Me Lord, NEVER!” Peter probably never heard the crowing of a rooster the same way from that moment on. He probed Peter’s commitment and calling with the “Do you love me?” questions at the Sea of Galilee after the resurrection. Hard questions demand deep-seated evaluation.

Section three presents the opportunity to see what our past questions would look like if we were to reframe them. Open questions demanding thought and evaluation are far more effective and transforming. In the past, I have been notorious with asking the “yes and no” questions. That is all the information you glean from closed-type questions. The open questions make people think. They require us to go beyond the yes or no and give substantive information as to why we believe or think the way we do. In the book, there are seven types of questions that do not get the results we need when trying to build healthy churches and relationships. Here is the list: 1) Questions that are out of date.

The past is past! 2) Questions that keep us in catatonic state. Wake Up! This is serious. 3) Questions that let us off the hook. Good, I don’t have to do anything uncomfortable. WRONG! 4) Questions that limit our possibilities or the power of God. 5) Questions already answered (common sense questions). 6) Questions that blind us to the truth and impair our vision. 7) Questions that keep us busy doing stuff but never ask the reason why we’re doing what we’re doing. I have been so guilty of most of these. Woe is me!

Section four offers seven separate scenarios of churches that learned to ask strong questions in the right way. It is exciting to hear how reframing their questions benefited the church in their search for health, growth, harmony and revival. The varied situations and responses made it clear to me that questions are as variegated as the vast number of churches in our world. Strong questions will not be bound to some rubber-stamped pro-

gram but are the archaeological tools that allow us to dig into each individual church, examining their history and their culture. It is not a one size fits all tool; rather it is the one size fits one.

Section five, the final chapter in this nugget of gold, is “How to Reframe your Questions and Change Your Church.” He gives five steps to lasting change through asking great questions. Ask questions that will discover where you are headed. When I pastored in Colorado, I would enjoy driving in the mountains, but one time my joy turned to horror. While navigating “Oh My God Road” between Blackhawk/ Central City and Idaho Springs I came to a spot in the road where it appeared, I was going to drive off a cliff. To my relief it was just a very steep decline after a very steep incline that made it look like I was headed to the stars. After arriving at the top, I could see the road was hidden by the summit. Second, I am learning to listen more than I speak in these probing moments.

Their answers are often cloaked in the pain or loss of their past. If I am talking and not listening, I may miss the layers that need to be peeled away to hear the muted cries of fear and decline.

This book has made a great impact on me, my ministry and my introduction to revitalization. It may be simple and short, but its value is monumental for me.

I recommend J. Val Hastings’, Change Your Questions, Change Your Church: How to Lead with Powerful Questions, with every ounce of my being. This book has humbled me, made me look much smarter than I am and giving me great confidence to dig deeper for the good of the Bride of Christ and the glory of the Lord. If it cost a hundred dollars, it would be well worth every penny.

Read it and let me know how God blessed you.

Tracy Jaggers is the Associational Director of Missions of Gateway Baptist Association, Edwardsville, Illinois. He has held the Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor, Minister of Music, Youth Pastor and Minister of Education roles. He is a contributing author for the book entitled, Practical Tools for Reinventing the Dying Church. His website is: www.churchoverhauler.com

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A Book Review of:

Simple Church

By Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger

By Pete Tackett In early 2007 a staff member walked into my study and threw a book on my desk and said, “Thom Rainer wrote your book.� I am not saying I know as much about anything as Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger, but I had been telling our staff for months that the only way we were going to break the logjam and begin to grow again was to simplify and declutter our programs and our calendar.

That day, my Children’s Pastor and good friend gave me a book that gave researched credence and put words to my long-held belief that our church programming had become too complicated.

That book was Simple Church.

Fast forward a few years and I find myself returning to Simple Church year after year when we do our annual planning. More importantly, I have become somewhat of an evangelist for the Simple Church process. When a revitalizer asks me what books I recommend, my first response, especially to revitalizers who have been at their church for a while, is Simple Church. When a pastor and a church has hit a wall and/ or is in decline, and still are exhausted from being incredibly busy, it is clear to me that they are trying to do too much and not focusing on the core business of winning people to Christ.

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In their usual researched and documented way, Rainer and Geiger make a case for process. Too often churches and pastors get really excited about a purpose statement, a vision statement, or a mission statement. Honestly, I have never been able to get my mind around how those three differ and most of them, bereft of a road map, become slogans that have no practical purpose. The authors make the case that every church has the same purpose and it is found in Matthew 28:19-20.

The real success or failure of the church is found in the process or how you get there. Knowing where you want to go is important, but having an executable and understandable process is a requirement if you are going to succeed.

Most of the book is given to talking about how that process should be simple, straight-forward, easy to communicate, and easy to evaluate. They acknowledge that as in all processes, those in the church can quickly move from simple to complex without some clear boundaries and a staff committed to keeping the process simple. They offered a mental picture of the staff working as traffic cops to keep good things from getting in the way of the process of making disciples. All

of us have encountered traffic jams that were made better when a policeman took charge of the intersection.

Revitalizers have to recognize that over years of decline or stagnation, there gets to be a lot of clutter in the church, both physically and programmatically. For many churches that are working really hard and getting no results, that hard work is the problem, not the solution. They are still propping up programs that are not producing results and trying to do everything as a church of 80 that they were doing as a church of 250.

As a result, they are wearing out the workers they have remaining and not having the energy to focus on programs that get results. In that situation, the revitalizer has to be the traffic cop and have the courage to kill some sacred cows that are draining the life from the congregation.

Most of the book gives both empirical evidence and anecdotal illustrations of how a simple process can be a road map to revitalization, although when it was written, revitalization was not the buzz word it is today.

They develop the idea of a simple process around four key words and do it so effectively that all these years later, I do not have to pull out the book to remember them. Those words are clarity, movement, alignment, and focus.

Clarity is the first step toward a simple church process.

It is all about having a clear statement of how your discipling process works that is memorable and understandable. Remember, we are all pursuing the same purpose of making disciples. Too many try to cram so much into these kinds of statements that they become muddy and too long to remember. This book argues that the process should be clear such as one we have used for many years, “Worship, Connect, Serve, Pray.” (I am not here to defend it, but if you have been around our church for long, you know we expect you to connect with God in worship once each week, with others in small groups once a week, find a place to use your gifts, and learn how to pray.) You may not think it is the right process but it is clear. Rainer and Geiger stress the importance of the church formally adopting that clear process.

Movement means that your programming should be arranged along a continuum so that people can move clearly from one stage into the next. For us, most people first come to the worship event. We regularly

encourage them to move from there into a place of connection with a small group before we ask them to serve somewhere. At the small group level, they are constantly being pushed to discover their spiritual gifts so they can serve somewhere. People can and do enter at different points, but the process is designed to make it difficult for them to just do one thing and stay in that part of the process.

Alignment is where the process gets difficult for the revitalizer. It is where the process has to be de-cluttered.

Every program that takes up your calendar, budget, and time, but does not contribute to your process, has to be eliminated. In doing that, you will discover some of your most endearing ministries have moved from being effective many years ago to being a drain on your resources today. You have to align your calendar and hire staff that are committed to that process. The authors compare old school thinking of hiring thoroughbred staff members and letting them run with this process of making sure your staff is committed to your process and keeping everything in line with it.

Any new ministry has to fit into your process.

Focus is a rock-ribbed commitment to constantly revisiting the process and limiting additional programs.

They say each step in the process should have just one program to pursue that step. There may be options such as our Sunday morning small groups and off campus home group and morning men’s groups, but they are just different options for the second step of our process, connecting. Focus means that you may hear about a good program that is working well for others but it does not contribute to your particular process so you have to say no. In Simple Church, they tell us you have to say no to almost everything!

It is by today’s standard an old book, but I am convinced that every church revitalizer, especially those with long tenure in their church, needs to read it.

Pete Tackett is Lead Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Johnson City, Tennessee, and a Pastor Connector for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. He regularly partners with churches and pastors engaging in revitalization. He is the author of re.Vital.ize: Lessons Learned in a Recovering Church.

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A Book Review of:

Fresh Encounter:

God’s Plan for Your Spiritual Awakening

By Henry and Richard Blackaby, and Claude King

By Terry Rials The truth is – God is not pleased with His church. At the core of the revitalization problem is the regrettable fact that we have a spiritual problem in the church. There is a hole in the ship below the water line and we are worried about getting an espresso machine for the lobby and the words up on the video screen! Too often we are led to believe that the reason the church is struggling is that we are doing church wrong, not doing enough, or not doing it in a way that people value. Perhaps there is something so messed up with the culture that church participation is passé and no longer valued. I believe that the actual reason that people do not wish to identify themselves with the church is that the church is largely unidentifiable. Henry Blackaby and Claude King shared a very simple truth in their book Fresh Encounter: God’s Plan for Your Spiritual Awakening (2009) that changed my life and the course of my ministry. I want to share their work with you.

The Prophet Amos preached that God grew weary of Israel’s sinful attitude and repeated rebellion. In a beautiful allusion to the coming Messiah, Amos declared that God was placing a plumb line (Jesus) in the midst of His people Israel.

As you know a plumb line is a line with a weight at the end that is used to determine what is vertical, thanks to gravity. God declared that Israel would be evaluated against the standard of that plumb line. Certainly, Israel was more moral than the other nations, but that did not measure up to the standard of God. From now on, Amos declared, the people would be measured against the standard of perfection. Surely, the people complained that this standard would never be attainable, which is exactly what God wanted

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to communicate to the people. They would never measure up and therefore, they would need a Savior. Their refusal to admit their need for God would result in their destruction; God said, “I will spare them no longer” (Amos 7:8).

This is the part that so many are missing, the part that Blackaby and King reminded us of so strongly – God is displeased with us and is disciplining us in order to get us to repent and return to Him! The reason we are making so little progress is that we are working against the hand of the Lord! Western mindset leads us to believe linearly, that “A” causes “B,” which produces “C.” Eastern minds think more circularly in cycles. In Fresh Encounter, you are reintroduced to this thought-process in the following diagram.

1. God Calls His People God calls His people out of the world and to Himself. That was true for Israel and it is true for the church. In fact, the very word for church in the New Testament means “called out ones.” We are called from something and to something. God calls us from the world and to Himself, which by extension, puts us on mission with Him. The belief that the patterns of God and the patterns of the world can be synchronized led to disaster for Israel (and later for Judah) and leads to disaster for the church. The call of the gospel is to lay down our lives and follow Jesus with our whole heart. We are called to be separate, to come out from among the nations. It means more than being circumcised in the flesh, it requires circumcision of the heart. Sanctification and consecration are words that are alien to many believers today.

2. God’s People Depart Sadly, many people depart from God’s intended pattern for them. Please do not be misled to believe that it does not happen. It happens all too often. God has a plan that is wonderful and costly. The temptation to abandon the things of God is very real, but no less so than they were in the days of Jesus.

Did you know it was possible to go into the Jerusalem Temple in the days of Jesus and watch the horse races below in the hippodrome or watch as people exercised sans apparel in the outdoor gymnasium from the porticos? People gambled, got drunk, and acted immorally then as they do today. Sin is nothing new. People depart from God and His plan for their lives, and it can happen to you.

3. God Disciples Us As God’s beloved children, we experience the hand of God’s discipline. That discipline is proof of God’s love and concern, but it also expresses His displeasure with our rebellion. Could it be that the very reason we are making so little progress is that God is working against us? That sounds counter-intuitive, but I believe that Blackaby and King got this exactly right.

4. The People Cry Out The authors state emphatically that there will be no revival where there is no repentance. They go on to say that when the Spirit of God moves among His people to revive them, they view their sin with the same holy repugnance God does (p. 61), which leads them to confess their sins, turn away from evil and return to God. It is possible to cry out without a real desire to change.

6. Revival Comes Revival is the movement of God, bringing about transformation in individuals, churches, and the whole world. It emphasizes the power of the Holy Spirit to bring about a “fresh encounter” with God resulting in repentance and change.

7. God’s People Join God on Mission This is where God wants us to be from the beginning and the cycle is complete. We partner with God on His mission of world redemption and spiritual awakening! Sounds amazing!

If you only read one book this year, let it be Fresh Encounter: God’s Plan for Your Spiritual Awakening. It is not intended to be a scholarly work of in-depth research. It is a pastoral plea for the church return to God and pursue revival in the church and in the land. This book stirred my heart and I believe it will stir yours!

Dr. Terry Rials is the founder of ChurchRevitalizer.com, a resource, training, and consultation ministry, and now serves as the Director of Missions for Concord-Kiowa Baptist Association in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He earned his doctorate in Church Revitalization at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is a frequent conference speaker. He is co-author of The Nuts & Bolts of Church Revitalization!

5. God’s Judgment Comes At this point, God’s people have a decision to make. If our cry for deliverance is not coupled with a genuine repentance, then judgment comes. This is the place of the plumb line.

Here is the point where God does not bend. He will not spare them any longer.

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The Leadership Link:

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Evaluating Revitalization

By Michael Atherton Covey, Stephen R. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2004.

What brings about success in one’s life? What makes one effective? What leadership qualities make the difference between one being a good leader and one being a great leader? These are questions that represent the hearts of many people. It is a human tendency to want to be successful and effective. Who sets out to fail? In Stephen Covey’s book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey attempts to shift the paradigm to help his readers understand the foundational principles necessary for someone to experience success and effectiveness in life. He argues that “the character ethic is based on the fundamental idea that there are principles that govern human effectiveness” (p. 40). Therefore, one’s character becomes a window into their effectiveness as a leader.

vs. the reactivity of an individual. He will argue that highly effective people are going to live under the rule of proactivity. They will take ownership of their decisions and not blame circumstances, conditions, or behaviors of others for their lot in life. Likewise, they will not be blown around by the winds of the social culture around them. Rather, they are going to take the initiative and not allow the circumstances around them to control them. Visionary people will be proactive people. Proactive people are going to be effective people.

Habit #2: Personal Leadership Peter Drucker and Warren Bennis once suggested that “management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” In this chapter on leadership, Covey advances this narrative and examines what he refers to as a “twice created” paradigm. By this, he means everything is “created twice.” First, it is dreamed in the mind, then it is produced physically.

For example, a home is first dreamed up, then it is built. A vacation is first dreamed, then it is experienced. As such, leadership is a first creation, management is a second creation.

The reason why many pastors end up settling for mediocrity is because they are content being managers and not leaders; they are unable, or in most cases unwilling, to create twice.

Therefore, as a result, they end up spending all of their time managing issues and spend very little time seeking God’s vision for the church and doing those things that only they can do.

“...highly effective people are going to live under the rule of proactivity. They will take ownership of their decisions and not blame circumstances, conditions, or behaviors of others for their lot in life.”

One’s character is the makeup of their habits. So, how might we define the term habit? For the purpose of Covey’s work, he argues, “a habit is the intersection of knowledge, skill, and desire. Knowledge is the theoretical paradigm, the what to do, and the why. Skill is the how to do. Desire is the motivation, the want to do.

In order to make something a habit in our lives, we have to have all three” (p. 55). From here, Covey looks at seven habits that make one highly effective.

Habit #1: Vision A reader would be hard-pressed to find a work on leadership today that does not address the topic of vision in some form or fashion. In Covey’s case, he addresses the topic of vision from more of a personal perspective rather than from a corporate perspective. The gem of this chapter resides in Covey’s discussion regarding the proactivity

Habit #3: Personal Management Management is fundamentally a different type of role and responsibility than leadership. Leadership is a first creation discipline. Leadership is a right-brain activity. Leadership is an art based on a philosophical underpinning.

Management, on the other hand, is about analysis, se-

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quencing, resourcing, time management, and application.

So, as one looks at this chapter through the lens of pastoral/revitalization leadership, when personal management is subpar, the risk one runs is neutralizing their overall leadership effectiveness. Instead of having the necessary time to create vision and inspire others to come along on a journey that pushes against the status quo, a leader who is a poor manager ends up running from crisis to crisis and never gets around to leading; they simply manage.

Habit #4: Interpersonal Leadership As a leader at your church, among the folks that you work with (be it vocational staff or lay leadership), do you find that you are working to create a culture of cooperation, yet you exist in a culture of competition? The moment that one moves from independence to interdependence, one moves into a leadership opportunity. The habit of effective interdependent relationships is to think in terms of win/win situations. To be sure, not every situation is a win/ win for everyone involved. In fact, Covey acknowledges six paradigms of interdependent relationships: 1. Win/Win, 2. Win/Lose, 3. Lose/Win, 4. Lose/Lose, 5. Win, and 6. Win/Win or No Deal. Leading a church through major changes is an unbelievable challenge. As a leader, to get everyone to the finish line demands your diligence in finding as many Win/Win situations as possible while honoring the vision God has placed on your heart.

Habit #5: Communication Effective leaders are effective communicators. We are helping people, whether corporately or individually, make the necessary changes that lead them from the status quo to reaching their full potential in Christ. The problem? As you lead individuals or an entire church through change, the greatest weapon in your arsenal will be communication. Be willing to communicate, communicate, communicate! Be aware that as your church is made up of various age groups, their desired form of communication might be different. Some want newsletters. Some want e-mails.

Others might want Facebook posts, and still others might desire a simple phone call. Do not become an ineffective leader by mandating that people must conform to your desired form of communication. I have been heard telling our staff, “If someone in the church family would rather hear from us in Morse code, we had better learn it!”

One last element of communication that must not be overlooked is your responsibility to listen. Hear people and the things they have to say to you. Accept their praise and criticism. Listen to their ideas, understand their perspectives, and genuinely consider their feelings. You do

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not always have to agree, but if they know that they have been heard, they will likely hear you better when it is your time to speak.

Habit #6: Cooperation The strength of the local church (or any organization for that matter) is not always best seen or experienced in what unites people together, but rather in what differentiates them. In the case of the church, there is no question that we must have unity in the call of Christ and the essential doctrines we hold through Scripture. However, there is strength that comes from the fact that we each hold unique spiritual gifts, passions, talents, abilities, and experiences. The principle of deference is best exhibited in one’s willingness to yield to another, be it in one’s will, wishes, desires, or actions. Cooperation among leaders and the church as a whole becomes key in helping to lead and experience revitalization.

Habit #7: Self-Renewal Finally, Covey finishes his work by looking at what we might call in the church world, “self-care.” Every leader must take time to invest in himself or herself. It is hard to lead someone where you have not been yourself. Further, if you are burned-out and sitting on the sideline of life, you will certainly not be the leader God has created you to be.

So, how are you caring for yourself; physically (exercise, nutrition, stress management), socially/emotionally (service, empathy, synergy, intrinsic security), spiritually (value clarification and commitment, study and meditation) and mentally (reading, visualizing, planning and writing)?

A Concluding Thought: Covey’s book is certainly not written from a church revitalization perspective. Even a clear application for church leadership is hard to find. However, as a strong leadership mind, Covey offers many thoughts that, if one is willing to read and make the appropriate applications, make great sense and offer the wonderful prospect for one to move from leadership mediocrity to leadership effectiveness.

Michael Atherton has served as the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of O’Fallon, O’Fallon, MO for 15 years. Leading a church in a church merger, he has learned firsthand the challenges of a revitalizer. Mike is the author of The Revitalized Church. Mike leads a Mentored Master of Divinity program at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and is past President of the Colorado Baptist Convention.

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A Book Review of:

The Healthy Small Church: Diagnosis and Treatment for the Big Issues

By Dr. Dennis Bickers

By Steve Sells Dr. Dennis Bickers spent twenty years as a bi-vocational pastor of small churches. He has written several books on bi-vocational ministry, received training in coaching techniques, and wrote his doctoral thesis on the benefits of coaching bi-vocational ministers. He also has spent his life helping small churches become and remain spiritually healthy.

He says it well in the introduction to his book The Healthy Small Church, Church health is never permanent. Just as people need regular checkups to ensure a healthier life, churches should regularly check themselves for symptoms that would indicate that something might be wrong. This book can be used as a diagnostic tool for a small church that wants to get healthy and remain that way.” As a church revitalizer I have found this book to be one of the most informative and instructive guidelines for working with the small unhealthy church to help in revitalization.

Dr. Bickers begins by discussing the problems that the small church faces. He discusses such issues as low self-esteem, lack of a common vision, the problem of family control where leadership is in the hands of a few people and limited resources. Often the pastor of a small church has many more expectations placed on him be-

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cause of limited man power and a lack of committed workers.

As he describes the importance of the small church he makes a clear statement about “healthy” small churches. He says, “Healthy small churches provide people with the opportunity to enjoy community and be involved in ministry in a family-type atmosphere.” He emphasizes that in the small church people have an opportunity to serve and use their spiritual gifts. As a result, the community benefits because the church gives hope and a gospel message.

He discusses the reality that small problems can become very large problems in a small church if they are not handled properly. He relates that most of the problems stem from conflict, a self-preserving attitude, indifference to the culture of their community and poor leadership. These are just a few of the problems that create an unhealthy environment and as a result the church cannot have a healthy ministry to the community.

Bickers delves into a very important issue that few writers are willing to discuss concerning church health…the importance of proper theology and doctrine. It is clear that the theology and doctrine of the church will have a much

greater impact on the community than programs and activity. Weak theology will mean a weak congregation and weak methods to bring about much needed transformation. Some churches are on the verge of destruction and death because they abandoned biblical theology and they have no roots from which transformation can spring. Furthermore, biblical preaching is a must in order to bring health to an unhealthy church. “Life application” preaching has been dismissed in many churches. It is not enough to exegete the scriptures. The exegesis must be applicable to the lives of those present in the church. Unhealthy churches, in many instances, need to rebuild the foundation of Biblical truth through Biblical preaching and Bible study.

The chapter on the value of a vision is the heart of the book. He gives a clear definition of “vision” and what it means to be a “visionary leader.” He describes the importance of vision by discussing the importance of focus in ministry and how it unites the church into one purpose that helps them move beyond their own self-interests and look to the needs of the community. He rightly identifies the source of the vision as God and the avenue that he chooses to convey that vision as being the pastor. He makes it clear that the communicating of that vision is the responsibility of the pastor. He closes the chapter by talking about congregational reactions to the vision and how to lead through those reactions.

The next chapter deals with transformational worship and is of great importance to the unhealthy church. He refers to the worship time in a church as “the one time when the church family comes together to share their lives and to celebrate God.” This takes great preparation and cannot be haphazardly done. He makes it clear that joy should be created in worship. Worship should be an exciting time because it helps people connect with God. The chapter on change is concise and to the point. He discusses the need for change and why people resist it in almost every instance. Bickers makes it clear that before you make changes you must decide what “really” needs to change. In other words you don’t change things just for the sake of changing something. You only change those things that are necessary for future growth and spiritual healthiness.

Church conflict is nothing new but how the leader deals with conflict is of utmost importance. Dr. Bickers discusses the importance of the ability of every pastor to handle conflict in the proper way. He discusses the number one cause of church conflict today that being pride. We know that the Bible is clear about the pitfalls of pride in the personal life and it is true as well in the local church. He also

talks about fear being a cause of conflict in the church.

This is especially true in the congregation that has adopted a survival mentality. They fear that change will bring disruption and they fear the results of that change.

This book makes it clear that churches do not die overnight. In most cases they’ve been on decline for many years. When this decline becomes evident then the church must start a new life-cycle. The pastor and its leaders have a responsibility to its members and the people in the community to get the church back on course.

The church must look for new ways to impact its community with the Gospel.

Bickers states that one way to ensure the future of the church is for pastor’s to “stay put.” In other words the pastor should plant himself and immerse himself in the church as a transformational leader and work toward revitalization.

In conclusion this book is written to be an encouragement to the pastor and church leaders to have regular checkups to insure that it becomes and remains spiritually healthy. The pastor should enlist his leaders to study this book and use it as a diagnostic tool. The questions in the diagnostic focus on theology and doctrine, vision, worship and worship style, change, conflict cause and remedy, transformational leadership, missions, pastoral tenure, outreach, and lay ministry. These diagnostic question can be used by the pastor and congregation to underscore and understand the weaknesses and strengths of the church. This will enable the pastor and leaders to turn the church around as it strengthens the weak areas as well as the strong areas in the life of the church. The key to bringing health to an unhealthy small church is the concerted effort of the pastor, lay leaders and entire congregation working together with the common goal of having a thriving church not just a surviving church.

The Healthy Small Church: Diagnosis and Treatment for the Big Issues by Dennis Bickers was published by Beacon Hill Press, Kansas City, 1982

Steve Sells is the president and CEO of Operation Transformation church revitalization ministry in Salisbury, North Carolina.

Steve has served in ministry for 43 years in North Carolina and Georgia. Dr. Sells is the co-author of the book With Greater Power. He seeks to help churches of all sizes experience new health and growth.

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A Book Review of:

The Greatest Church in the World: A Lamp on a Hill

By Skip Carney

By Harry Fowler The cover of this book caught my eye. The title engaged my curiosity. But nothing prepared me for the journey I was about to take as I turned the page. From the first moments on page one, I was taken back to a time when I was a young pastor struggling to find my way. Through the eyes, thoughts, and interactions of Pastor Kevin, I was transported to a place where many pastors find themselves and I witnessed the kind of church engagement we all long for.

As the story begins, Kevin is three hundred and forty-seven miles from home on a quest to decide if he’s really cut out for the ministry. He finds his way into a small town and a small church where he meets a Pastor and a community that demonstrate the principles and core values that keep a church involved, engaged, and on the right track.

The author uses a powerful story filled with images and conversations we can all relate to.

He has woven into the frictional story the 10 universal principles of a “great” church. The fictional church is called The Lighthouse Church and the 10 principles are called beacons. “They help guide us in stormy weather and keep us on track,” says Pastor Tom, one of the key characters in the book.

Kevin is doubtful that this church is anything more than a nice little church in a nice little town until he attends a service the next day. His doubt turns to amazement when he sees a thriving church that defies his perception of what is possible, especially when he learns that The Lighthouse was about to shutter its doors only a few years before. “What changed?” he asked.

“We did.” Answered Tom. “Is this real? Can any church do this?”

He asks. “Can I learn these beacons?”

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In the days and pages that follow, Kevin meets a variety of people in the community that share with him the Beacons that changed The Lighthouse from a church in trouble to a church with a purpose.

Although this book has fictitious characters in a fictitious town, it could be anywhere USA. Large or small. Rich or poor. Any church can relate to the story in this book. Carney has a good command of revitalization and church growth principles and presents them in a way that is both digestible and easy to share.

It is so real I found myself hanging on every word as if I were young Kevin. The principles revealed in this story are universal truths that can guide a church and keep it focused on what matters most – reaching people and ministering in the community.

ing for a place to belong.

Each Beacon is fully explained in laymen’s terms. This may be the greatest strength of this book.

It’s not just for pastors or church leaders. It is for the members, the real church, and it is a reminder of why we are here, as Carney reminds us: “To love God, love one another, and spread the word.”

It is also for the unchurched. It serves as a guide for people look-

“How did you find these beacons?” asks Kevin. “We prayed,” Tom replied. “We stopped telling God what we needed and asked Him what He wanted.” The first beacon demonstrates that premise and each beacon builds from there.

The beacon bookends …beacons #1 and #10 … serve to anchor the conversation and guide the church in its mission. Bea-

con #1 is “We will trust God”. According to pastor Tom, this is where The Lighthouse went astray. “We thought it was our job to run the church; that every decision was ours to make. We thought we could keep God in the back seat while we drove. We were wrong.” The Lighthouse spent months in corporate prayer “until the path was clear,” according to Tom. Beacon #10 is the goal for every church. It is also the subtitle of the book. We will be a Lamp on a Hill. Mathew 5:14 says, You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. This is the key premise of the book. A great church is a church that shines in its community. It doesn’t try to eclipse the sun or the moon or even to be the brightest light. It seeks to be a refuge, a place of hope, peace and the fruits of the spirit. It works to become a place where disciples live and disciples are born. A place where people seek to learn more about Jesus of Nazareth. Beacons 2 through 9 illuminate the path to success for any church.

Key principles that keep a church focused on what matters most.

Conclusion The Greatest Church in the World could be your church. It’s not the biggest, the richest, or the most perfect church, but it is great. This church is great because the beacons are brightly shining and provide guidance to everyone. Being

the greatest church is not a matter of size, income, ethnicity, or economy.

The Greatest Church in the World attracts people with love and hope and turns those people into Christ followers.

Then it turns those followers into disciples. Those disciples live their faith every day and, by example, they attract other people who want to learn about what it is that gives such peace and hope.

Great churches inspire faith and teach the lessons that Jesus taught. Great churches reach out and connect with people.

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

Revelation 21:23 Dr. Harry Fowler has been a Southern Baptist minister for 55 years. He earned his BS from East Carolina University, an MDIV from Southeastern Baptist Seminary, and a DMIN from Fuller Seminary. He founded Youth on Missions, was a church planter, pastor, and interim pastor, and has authored four books.

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Books that Framed my Understanding of Church Revitalization

By Rob Hurtgen One of the books that have helped me to frame my understanding of church revitalization is From Embers to a Flame: How God Can Revitalize Your Church by Harry L. Reeder III with David Swavely (Phillipsburg: P & R Publishing, 2008).

Reeder’s work is one of the first books I read on the subject of church revitalization thus I have a sentimental attachment to the work. Beyond my connection to the book, I have found the content is consistently applicable. My copy has pages flagged for easy reference, sentences highlighted, and copious notes in the margin. I want to share four reasons why I value From Embers to a Flame: How God Can Revitalize Your Church.

First, Reeder’s audience is the pastoral leadership of the church. The book’s content addresses pastoral leadership, prayer, preaching, developing, and communicating a mission and vision as well as a strategy for renewal. His advice is beneficial for the pastor who serves a church that needs revitalization and does not know what to do.

Second, Reeder emphasizes church health versus church growth. He writes, “We should focus on the health of the church and let God take care of the growth. If you do it the other way around, you may end up with an unhealthy church that has a lot of people – one that looks successful statistically, but is not really pleasing to God or delivering transformed disciples serving Christ” (p. 29). Many who enter into church revitalization adopt the set the parameter of success set from the church growth movement. A church is revitalized when it is no longer small but has a big attendance, with big budgets, and big buildings. The revitalizer then in return has big platform. Reeder presses against the notion that platforms and program and all the signs of success equal health. Reeder writes, “You do not need a ‘marketing plan’ to grow the church; you need a ‘biblical fitness plan’ to promote its health” (p. 30). The book then draws out what a biblical fitness plan should include.

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Third, Reeder does not ignore the spiritual matters necessary for revitalization. In his chapter entitled “A Call to Repentance,” he details the priority of repentance for renewal to happen. He writes, “Let’s face the fact that sometimes churches are stagnant or declining because there is ‘sin in the camp.’…There is a need for corporate confession because the body as a whole has not faithfully followed God’s word” (p.

53). The call for repentance is one example of the wedding of both spiritual principles and strategies for renewal.

Finally, Reeder offers strategic matters for revitalization. Mission, vision, preaching, small groups, and the W.E.L.L. strategy are components in the Embers to a Flame revitalization approach. The W.E.L.L. acronym identifies Worship, Evangelism, Loving, and Learning, though not original with Reeder, serve as four structures to build a revitalized church. Of all the chapters, the one which focuses on the W.E.L.L. approach is the weakest.

Yet the overall strategies detailed in the book are of great value.

From Embers to a Flame: How God Can Revitalize Your Church has been a beneficial book in my revitalization journey. The book not only made an incredible impression on me, but it was one of a few resources that helped to launch my inquiries as to how churches can be revitalized.

Rob Hurtgen is the Pastor of First Baptist Church Chillicothe, Missouri.

He holds an M.Div from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree in Church Revitalization from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

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Get Sticky

with It

By Rob Myers A book review of Sticky Church by Larry Osborne One of the questions that I am asked most frequently by churches who are trying to jump the hurdles of a church revitalization is: Where can I find solutions that are not mega-church driven? How can a Rick Warren at Saddleback or an Andy Stanley at Northpoint give me advice that is scaled to where my church is now? In all fairness they have not been in personal touch with being a small and plateaued or an old and plateaued church. Yes, they have overcome plateaus, but they did so while still huge and with fairly unlimited financial resources. Rick is very transparent about his shortcomings and teaches in principles that can be scaled down to small and financially strapped, but it is still difficult for the small struggling revitalizer to interpret and fit the model to where his small church is. I am a true believer in the Purpose Driven model as a foundation for a healthy church system, yet I believe that the walk through of changes that Larry Osborne made at North Coast in San Diego will resonate with pastors and leadership teams from struggling churches.

Osborn teaches that every church has a front door and a back door. I know for a fact that every pastor that I get to know is aware of that equation. In Miami, we know that with people being in such a transient area that our front door has to be larger than our back door in order for us to even maintain our size.

When I first arrived here 17 years ago it was common to hear from fellow pastors that they could not

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grow because people were not moving into Miami, but that people were just passing through Miami.

No sooner did they gain a new family through the front door than they would lose two families out the back. As I interpreted that data, I figured that I needed a giant front door in order to overcome the huge sucking sound out the back door. Osborne points out something that I can verify with my own intentions, which I had to learn by hard knocks, about my approach to my own people. When I pushed to grow a large church, I was so laser focused on the front door effectiveness of our church that I found myself primarily focused on reaching the next person, and the next person, and then the next leader who could help me reach the next person. Osborne points out that people then become mere tools for our mega growth dreams. At some point this will crash as the un-loved make a predictable path out the gate of the unloved (another name for your back door).

Osborne ask the question, “Do you see the people coming in as tools for church growth or sheep?�

When we are young, we desire to grow a church fast.

When we grow up, we finally figure out what our real role as pastor is. Our role is to grow the individuals that make the organization into mature followers of Christ. We must design the church to grow the individual instead of designing the church to just be big. This is not that we no longer focus on the front door, as some sick self-centered organizations do, but rather we change our discipleship model and remove competing programs that hinder the mission

of the church. Osborne says that understanding this changes the way we see our lay leadership and their development; that we can focus on being a healthy and happy team who have fun in the process rather than a driven group of sheep ranchers pushing for more. His desire is to get motivated happy people to use word of mouth recommendations to get people to visit. Word of mouth marketing arises from people naturally who are having a good discipleship experience and it has a velcro or sticky effect greater than spurt marketing techniques.

The book presents an E.K.G. for the church in terms of the vital signs of a healthy church.

Osborne looks at three main areas to monitor in the discipleship development process. The front door is about the institutions ability to bring new followers into the Kingdom of God through the path of least resistance. Next he measures the effectiveness of training to live the Christian life. The third wave is to equip them and deploy them into service. The actual vitals are: Word, Worship, Witness, Warmth, and Work. He warns against trying to accomplish all of the vitals in every meeting. Sometimes, he says it is best to only focus on a few and do them well. For example, on service weekend, they cancel all the worship services to go out into the community. These weekends are designed for witnessing and working and are highly focused on just that.

Osborne spends a great deal of effort in his book to walk a church through how to set up and run a church that centered on sermon driven small groups. This practical advice is the closest I have seen as a guide since Ralph Neighbour’s materials on small groups.

Both men believe that you have to do an all-in strategy as far as eliminating things that compete with

the groups. His section on working with people’s time pie is factual and excellent and will save you tremendous time in determining how to streamline your organization for effective growth. This is a great book for pastors who use an exegetical style of sermon, whether topical or verse by verse. There is a large appendix in the back of the book which will give you some great and practical forms. Everything you need to set up your sermon based small groups is there.

This book is a great read and I had my whole staff go through it. It answered a lot of basic questions that we needed to address. I would recommend that the pastor reads and studies it first, marking up the book for discussion and then assigning it to their church leadership. Larry has been a guest speaker at the Renovate Conference. Don’t miss out on other great speakers like him!

Rob Myers is the Pastor of Miami Baptist Church a turn around church located in the multi-lingual community in South Florida.

Rob has been in ministry for more than 39 years. He has been in church planting and pastoral leadership for 36 of those years, which includes 15 years as the Senior Pastor of Miami Baptist Church. His is Adjunct Professor of Indiana Wesleyan University and President of Baptist World Charities. Rob has an earned Doctorate in Ministry Leadership from John Wesley University, a M.Div. from Southwestern Seminary and a B.A. From Palm Beach Atlantic University.

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