Revitalization Archives

Models for Church Revitalization/ReStarting From a Southern State Perspective

If I’ve learned anything in serving our South Carolina churches, it’s that every church consultation is different and God has a unique plan to strengthen His Church. Strengthening churches is definitely not a “one size fits all” process. So, what models are we seeing God do in this swelling movement called “church revitalization” that can

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Small Beginnings in Church Revitalization

Gardner, Anna

The visions of Zechariah in the Old Testament may not be the first-place pastors in hard places turn when looking for biblical revitalization strategies. There are two principles for biblical church revitalization found in this often-overlooked passage from the Old Testament prophet. Zechariah 4:10 asks a question. “For who despises the day of small things?”

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3 Questions Every Pastor Should Answer Before You Say “I Do” In Partnership With An At-Risk Church

Altman, Janet

As our sister churches continue to struggle and parking lots become more vacant, pastors are seeking ways to partner with churches at-risk of closure. This Kingdom mindset is vital to saturating our communities with the hope of the gospel, but let me encourage you to answer three questions before you say “I do” and form

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Where Three Or More Are Gathered

Gardner, Anna

In every church revitalization story, God answers the prayers of His people crying out in desperation for their church’s future. Across such stories, God moves in remarkable ways. He stirs in the hearts of church planters to merge with dwindling congregations. He moves pastors to lead their healthy churches to help at-risk churches. He reignites

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Finding A New Way To Bring People To Jesus

Gardner, Anna

In 1924, Calvary Baptist Church was organized in Lancaster, SC, to bring the families of textile mill’s employees to Jesus. With a booming textile industry, the church became the center of religious life for the mill community and quickly grew to capacity amidst a flurry of opportunities for children and families. People were coming to

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Pastor, Church Revitalization Begins With You

Altman, Janet

Church revitalization is a process of restoring vitality and mission to a local congregation. Many of us have been talking about the subject for some time. We don’t need the latest statistics to remind us of the declining worship attendees, finances, or baptisms in our churches. We don’t need more conferences downloading another method or

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God’s Eternal Perspective, Morning Sacrifice, Week Two/ Day 6

Altman, Janet

MORNING SACRIFICE, WEEK TWO/ Day 6 God’s Eternal Perspective Genesis 12:1-4 This is a similar devotion to the one three days ago. As our parents told us more than once, God can do the same. No one likes to go on a trip without knowing the destination. It is foolish to get in the car

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What Options Exist For Struggling Churches?

Altman, Janet

Downtown Baptist Church has been a landmark of hope sitting at the corner of Main Street in the middle of a quiet, country town as she has for over 100 years. Downtown has enjoyed a long history of being a church that attracted the locals for worship through many generations, but it may be facing

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Old-Age Thinking & Church Revitalization

Altman, Janet

I was recently in an older church, meaning it had passed its first centennial. I looked around and realized that there were a lot of old people present. Suddenly, I became aware that all these old people were my peers. I’m old too. I hear seniors (nice way of saying “old folks”) say that they

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Prayer Is The First Step In Revitalization

SCBaptist Creative Team

One thing on which almost everyone agrees is that prayer is the starting point for renewal or revitalization. That should not come as a surprise to us because prayer is foundational to all things. We believe that our God is able to do more than we ask or think as Paul says in Ephesians 3:20.

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