Revitalizing Your Church Source: Kennon Callahan conference, [email protected]

Areas for Revitalization

• 1. Worship • 2. Facilities/land • 3. Programming

1. Worship

• A). Renewing existing worship • B). Adding new worship

Existing Worship Imbalance

• Simple • Stirring • Inspiring • Emotional Music Preaching Complex Profound Thoughtful Intellectual

Existing Worship Imbalance

Music Preaching • Simple • Stirring • Inspiring • Emotional Complex Profound Thoughtful Intellectual

Worship Balance

Preaching Music • Simple • Stirring • Inspiring • Emotional Complex Profound Thoughtful Intellectual

Adding a Worship Service

• Goal: start strong and grow stronger – Start Sept. or March • Start like a new congregation – to reach a new group of people we are not currently reaching • Set the date for the wedding and work backwards Next add on Existing service Eventual add-on

The point:

• You have more options than you think!

• It’s not all black-white, yes-no • Find 2-3 ways to: – balance existing worship – and/or grow new worship, – and go with it

2. Facilities/Land

• “What if we’re stunted by inadequate …. – Accessibility – Visibility – Parking – Location – Space – Facilities

Options : Accessibility, Visibility, Parking, Location, Space, Facilities • 1. Stay and go.

– multi-site • 2. Stay and go -> move.

– Target date to transfer • 3. Move.

• 4. Secure land at a new location for later.

• 5. Stay, buy land, dev’p adequate parking.

• 6. Stay, maximize present facilities.

• 7. Stay, build new facilities.

• 8. Sponsor a new worship service.

• 9. Sponsor a new congregation.

• 10. Stay and study.

The point:

• You have more options than you think!

• It’s not all black-white, yes-no • Find 2-3 of the 10 that the group would find fun to explore

The 12 Keys

(Listed in order of importance) • Mission • Visitation • Worship • Groupings • Leadership • Decisions • Program • Access • Visibility • Parking • Facilities • Giving

Finding New Helpers • Best : people helped in the church’s mission • Better : community at large • Good : existing members of congregation

Strong, Healthy Pattern

One time events Seasonal Short term Long term Annual

Weak, Declining Pattern

One time events Seasonal Short term Long term Annual

Examples – “Children”

• One-time: work day one day Bible School during a teachers’ • Seasonal : doing that for the six work days during a school year • Short term : 5 week parenting class • Long term : ongoing class for parents, pre-school • Annual : VBS

Revitalizing Your Church Dr. John P. Chandler The Ray and Ann Spence Network for Congregational Leadership www.rasnet.org

Copy right John P. Chandler, 2001