Thom Rainer has a great post about the dangerous denials of dying churches. I mentioned his newest work Autopsy of a Deceased Church in a previous post. Rainer has produced a lot of helpful blog posts, polls, and written material on a critical need right now in churches.
Society has rapidly changed in the past 5-10 years in areas of technology and communications (which are obvious, and hard to keep up with). Those changes are easy to see, but changes within the home and within ways people and families operate on a day to day are also happening just as rapidly but they are not so easy to see.
One of the main take aways from all of the different resources on Church Revitalization I have recently reviewed is that a church must match its cultural identity. Be contextual if you will, which means if churches aren't changing with their culture then not only are they behind...they are probably unhealthy or worse...dying.
In the book Replant by Mark DeVine and Darrin Patrick, provide another great resource on Church Revitalization. The story is given in which a once prominent church in Kansas City is all but about to cease from existing. DeVine, who was teaching at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary at the time, agreed to become an Interim Pastor for this church. He took this opportunity seriously because of the perceived unhealthiness that became clearer as he continued to preach and serve. In short, the church was being run by a small group (who though faithful and willing) who were simply unqualified-both biblically and in giftedness-to lead.
DeVine then made it his priority to biblically persuade the members that things were not being done properly and that there was change needed. Of course this change did not happen overnight and DeVine tells the riveting story of how slowly, leaders change and so did the church. Ultimately the facility and members needed outside help. It was a large building in a more downtown area. Most of the members did not live in the community any longer and the church has lost its witness among the surrounding neighborhoods. DeVine was confident that on their own the members would not be able to hire the right guy, they need someone to do that for them. DeVine looked for local churches to essentially adopt and take over but no one in Kansas City was lead to take on this dying church.
Enter Darrin Patrick. Patrick's comments are brief throughout the book. Essentially his church in St Louis, MO was not in a great position to take on such a demanding task but took a leap of faith. DeVine records this process and how Patrick's church was able to take over all funding, buildings, property and etc and essentially plant a church planting team within the existing church to start over. The church had a tough decision. Change or die. By faith they changed, someone took over, and they now run over 1600 in worship. An incredible story.
The biggest takeaways I had are this. 1. DeVine stressed the history of the church (the people) and the brick and mortar as pictures of the grace of God and His work. He celebrated the history of the church and even more so wanted the church to not die and to continue. Sometimes it is easy to see problems and stress over reasons why the problems have to come to this point and forget to remember the grace of God that you are even here at this point whether healthy or unhealthy by grace. 2. This was a Baptist church that asked for help which seems like a rare thing. Autonomy can be a great thing but it can also be an idolized thing like anything else. Unhealthy churches should seek healthy churches to partner with in some way to begin the process or revitalizing. Churches should be autonomous but they should also cooperate and network with one another. DeVine and Patrick's story is not meant to be THE model of revitalization. Most churches will not take the same path. But their story in a must to read and wrestle with.
Replant was an easy but challenging read. I would recommend it to pastors and church members and particularly seminary students unsure of what the Lord has in store for you. Church planting is a great need but Church Revitalization is an equally great need as well.
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