I have just completed the second part of my doctoral portfolio, which was a case study on a well-known and successful pastor, and I wanted to share one of the key takeaways.

This pastor reflected on his ministry and now realizes that the first three years were a test from God. As difficult as they were, he now sees how God used that time to strengthen his dedication and prepare him for more difficult trials that would come.

Through the study, I came to this conclusion. The quicker you can realize that there is something to learn from the trial you are in, the quicker you can start to heal and recover. While the trial may be ongoing, attempting to learn from a situation can bring calmness and peace of mind that will allow you to face it with a steady hand.

The Coast Guard thrives in environments that typically destroy others. Their unofficial motto, "You have to go out, you don't have to come back." But do they send their sailors into the storm unprepared? No! They train and prepare for those moments. Think of the Coast Guard ships that go out in the storms and purposely try to roll their boats in the surf. To an unsuspecting sailor, a tipping ship is a disaster, but to a captain in training, it is an opportunity to learn to steer the ship when others would sink. The unsuspecting sailor and the captain in training are in the same storm. One is trying to survive, the other is trying to thrive.

Both sailors are attempting to make it out of the storm alive, but one is focused on saving himself, the other is training to save others.

Just like the Coast Guard trains their sailors to navigate rough waters, God will train you to navigate the storms that you must lead others through. You have got to go through it to know that you can survive it.

Imagine if we purposed ourselves to glory in our tribulations as Paul stated to the Romans (Rom. 5:3-5). There must be a way to get from suffering to hope. What if we embraced the pain, the suffering, and seized time in the storm as an opportunity to learn? What if we opened our eyes to the possibilities?

Our family just went over a waterfall on a whitewater rafting trip. When we looked at pictures of others who made the same drop, some had their eyes closed, and some kept them open. While the pictures are comical, If you close your eyes in fear and withdraw to the center of the boat, who is steering the ship? Not only that, but you will feel alone and will not be able to work with others who are paddling alongside you. So if you find yourself in this situation, keep your eyes open, and you will see others working alongside you, allowing you to prepare for obstacles in advance.

Remember, as lonely as you may feel, you are not, and as hard as it may be, open your eyes so that you can boldly steer the ship. You are a captain in training, there is a purpose to being in the storm, and there are lives to be saved.

How Can You Give Peace When You Don't Have Any?
In Matthew 10, we read the account of Jesus sending out His disciples for the first time, alone, without Him physically present. In this passage, Jesus gives them an instruction that has always intrigued me:

“If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.”
(Matthew 10:13, NKJV)

Have you ever really stopped to think about that?
Can your presence really change the atmosphere in a household?
We’ve all heard the cliché saying about someone’s personality changing the room when they walk in—but is there truth to that? I believe there is. And why?
Because Jesus said it was possible.
But here's the real question I wrestle with:
What happens when you don't have any peace to give?

When You Feel Like Just Another Face in the Crowd
I would love to think that whenever I walk into a room, people immediately feel at ease. That somehow, a gentle peace settles over the place simply because I’m there. Wouldn’t that be a great gift?
But the truth?
Many times, I don’t feel that way at all. I feel like I’m just another face in the crowd—another person trying to figure life out.
How can I give something that I don't feel like I have?

The Context Makes It Even More Challenging
Let’s put this verse back in its context.
Jesus had just told His disciples to head into unfamiliar territories—with no money, no food, no extra clothes, and no place to stay. He basically said, “Figure it out when you get there. Live off whatever people give you. And if they don’t support you, shake the dust off your feet and move on.”
Sounds adventurous...until you realize:
If they don’t support you—you’re still hungry, still homeless, and still wondering where your next meal will come from.
And yet, Jesus tells them to walk into those uncertain situations and bring peace to the house they enter.
How?
How do you have peace when you don’t know where your next meal is coming from?
Peace Isn't Found in Comfort—It's Found in Calling
Here’s the key:
Your peace cannot be tied to the money in your wallet, the food in your pantry, or the roof over your head.
While those things are important, your lasting peace must come from knowing you’re doing what God has asked you to do.
These disciples could have peace—not because of their circumstances—but because they were walking in God’s plan for their lives.
Their peace wasn’t in their possessions—it was in their purpose.

Stop Chasing the Dream. Start Living the One God Gave You.
This one verse forces us to completely reassess and reorder our priorities.
Are we so busy chasing peace that we never find it?
We think more money will bring it, so we work ourselves to exhaustion.
We think a vacation will give it, so we go into debt for lavish trips.
We chase bigger homes, newer cars, better jobs—hoping they’ll bring peace.
But what if the peace we’re chasing is already available...in the calling God has placed right in front of us?
If you cannot be at peace with what you have, you will never be at peace with more.
That is the real gift of peace you can give to others—the ability to say:
"I have peace because God meets my needs when I do what He asks."

Ask God today where you might be chasing peace, instead of living His calling.
God will instruct you, just like He instructed His disciples. You might not hear an audible voice from heaven telling you what to do, but He will reveal His plan to you. Living in that plan, and knowing you are in the will of God, that's real peace.

Final Reflection
Stop chasing someone else’s dream.
Stop exhausting yourself trying to manufacture peace.
Start living the life God already called you to—and let the peace that comes from obedience overflow into every room you enter.

Theology of Change
Change by God’s Design
            A view of God’s creation will show that change is not only necessary, it is part of God’s plan. In just the first day, when God created light and darkness, there was a change every day. Then, later, He designated times of the year and weather patterns that would create seasons. These changes not only give beauty and diversity to God’s creation, but they also allow the other parts of His creation to grow, produce fruit, and rest. Changing seasons allows certain items to flourish at different times of the year than others. If it were not for the cold of winter, the spring tulip would not bloom. Change is part of God’s great design. While many enjoy the warmth of the sun on a warm summer day if it were not for nightfall, the spots of the earth receiving that light would overheat, and life would not be sustainable.
            This same necessity of change is seen in the lifecycle of a living organism. In the human body, the necessity for change is called homeostasis. Christopher Bergland wrote, “Homeostasis is a physiological process that keeps the internal environment of a living organism stable and balanced. The constant equilibrium created by homeostasis is vital to the survival of every species. Even when the external environment is rapidly changing, homeostasis keeps the body’s internal environment constant and steady.”[1] While it may seem that the organism is trying to prevent change, it is the change that allows it to survive. When the temperature outside rises, the temperature inside must compensate. This homeostasis, or “inner change,” is the toll by which the organism can survive or thrive when uncontrollable circumstances threaten its existence.
             Organizations, especially churches, are no different than other organisms in terms of their necessity for change to survive. While every change does not need to be radical, it is necessary to make adjustments to survive. This is where homeostasis relates to the church. Since Jesus told Peter that He would be the beginning of the church, the conditions around the church have constantly evolved, yet the church's mission has remained the same. What must be maintained in the church is not the attendance, finances, or tradition; the innermost part of the church that must survive is the mission. The call to evangelize the lost and share the Gospel so that the Kingdom of God grows is the heart of the church. Without changes to create homeostasis, the church would die. Changes in tradition, worship style, translations, and location must all be flexible for the mission of the church to survive.
 Flexibility is Key
            When discussing the necessity of flexibility, Jenssen wrote, “This capacity to change is important because it affects how quickly changes will and can be implemented and, for instance, how able the church is to integrate new ministries in areas where gifts are discovered.”[2] This flexibility was evident in the beginning of the church. Acts 2:46-47 states, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (New King James Version). This young church was meeting in the temple and in people’s homes. By meeting in homes, the church was able to face the persecution that would later come. The church also faced an early change in leadership.
 Change in Leadership
            The first change in leadership was the addition of Matthias in place of Judas (Acts 1:15-26). Matthias was accepted to be in authority as one of the original 12. The next change in leadership structure came when the leaders were not able to meet the demands of the growing church. The Hellenist Jews confronted the twelve disciples because they felt the widows they were being neglected. The twelve responded and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.” (Acts 6:2). Because of this, the leadership came together and elected seven men to manage this aspect of the ministry. The leadership structure of the early church was constantly evolving so that the church's mission could survive. The disciples' response shows that the mission of the church is the priority, and the structure must be flexible.
Timing is Key
            It is important to note that the changes in the early church were out of necessity. Change without reason is dangerous. Change must be made at the right time, under the right circumstances, and for the right reason. Jeff Iorg writes, “Major change must be made for one reason – advancing your ministry’s mission as it aligns with God’s mission.”[3] With change, purpose and timing are everything. As Ecclesiastes 3:1 states, “To everything there is a season, A time and purpose under heaven.” Churches must be carefully examined to determine the necessity of the desired change. A simple downturn or slow period does not necessitate change. What may seem like a needed change may be a seasonal period for the church that will course correct at the proper time. Leaders must pray for wisdom (Jms. 1:5) to know when change is necessary.
 Conclusion
            Think of Lewis and Clark. They would never have reached the Pacific Ocean if they had not changed their methods. Their vision was to find a navigable waterway across the country, but their mission was to make it complete the journey. When they reached the Rockies, they had to decide, make drastic changes or turn and go back.[4] That is the decision that every leader must face when the necessity of change faces them. What is the overall mission that they are trying to achieve, and can they carry on with the status quo? Are they willing and prepared to face the challenges that come with change? This is one of the reasons that Jesus promised the disciples that He would be present as the Great Commission was being followed through with. He knew there would be resistance and that the people who share the Gospel would need that boldness and provisions that only He could give.
             The call of Jesus is to change. Whether the change is a repentant heart (Matt. 4:17, Matt. 23:25-26, Mk. 10:17-27), a shift in perspective (Matt. 18:3), or a change in location (Acts 1:4). Jesus calls people to make a change. It is the willingness to follow His direction and submit to His authority that is a sacrifice to the one making the change. Change is not always easy, or wanted, but change is necessary, and life is not sustainable without it.
 
   [1]Christopher Bergland, “What Is Homeostasis?,” Verywell Health, accessed March 1, 2025, https://www.verywellhealth.com/homeostasis-6755366.
   [2] Jan Inge Jenssen, “Leadership and Church Identity: A Discussion of How Leadership in the Local Church Can Help to Realize the True Nature of the Church,” Scandinavian Journal for Leadership and Theology 5 (January 12, 2018), https://doi.org/10.53311/sjlt.v5.33.
   [3] Jeff Iorg, Leading Major Change in Your Ministry (Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Publishing Group, 2018). Bolsinger tells the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition. His general idea is that they must change their methods to reach their goal.
   [4] Tod Bolsinger, Canoeing the Mountains Expanded Edition: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2018).

The role of Christ and the revitalizer in church revitalization.

The greatest tool that the leader of a church revitalization can have, especially in the revitalization process, is humility. Humility reminds the leader that they cannot and should not attempt to revitalize the church under their own power and authority. In Revitalize Andrew Davis wrote about how a leader should feel about submitting to Christ’s authority. He wrote, “A passion for the exaltation of Christ as head over the church must enflame the heart of all church revitalizers. You must burn with passion for the supremacy of Christ in your local church. Churches need revitalization precisely because they have become increasingly cold toward the glory of Christ and increasingly dominated by man’s glory, wisdom, efforts, agenda, and power. If a church is to be revitalized, then the absolute ownership of the church by Christ must be central to everything you yearn for and do.”[1]
 
Davis is describing the way that a leader should seek Christ’s involvement as more than a necessity, but something the leader craves in every sense of their being. Matthew 16 shares a conversation between Peter and Jesus about how Jesus will build the church and Peter will manage it. On this occasion, Peter confesses Jesus as Christ, and Jesus responds by saying, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matt. 16:17-19). This relationship shows that Christ is the builder and Peter is the laborer. To use the general construction analogy as Christ did, the roles of builder and laborer have different responsibilities, but both need to be skilled at their tasks. The builder must be able to provide the location, materials, designs, conflict resolution, and so on. The laborer must know how to place those materials, manipulate them into place, make the right cuts, and manage the property.
 
While Christ is the master builder and the one who ultimately provides growth, this does not relieve the leader of any responsibility. The leader must stay ready and preach the Word (2 Tim. 4:2), shepherd the flock (1 Pet. 5:2-4, Jn. 21:17), be able to implement change (Neh. 2:17-18), and oversee and protect the flock (Acts 20:28-31).

This relationship between Christ and the revitalization leader must be symbiotic. It is a replica of the relationship that Jesus expressed with God (Jn. 5:19). Jesus could not do anything outside of the will and direction of the Father, and neither can the revitalization do anything outside of the will and direction of Jesus. While Jesus was empowered by the Spirit (Lk. 4:16-18), revitalization leaders were promised the same power of the Holy Spirit (Lk. 24:29, Acts 1:8,9). Through the proper relationship, the revitalization will lead to a Christ-centered, holistic image of what a healthy church should be and be a mirror image of the relationship between Jesus and God the Father.
    
 
   [1] Andrew M. Davis, Revitalize: Biblical Keys to Helping Your Church Come Alive Again (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2017). 48.

Yesterday afternoon, Bryce Young, the up-and-coming franchise quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, had his best game ever. He lived up to his nickname, "Carolina Reaper" with a win against the Falcons, who were fighting for a place in the playoffs. Bryce has struggled at times since being drafted in 2023, but in the past two months, his confidence and leadership have skyrocketed. During the game yesterday, Bryce's renewed confidence was seen through a touchdown pass that, moments after its release, would become an iconic moment in his young career. He threw a look-away pass to his tight end, Tommy Tremble.
A look-away pass is when you pass the ball and turn around before you see it get caught. Steph Curry is known for his look-away three-point shot. The difference here with Bryce is that while Steph has confidence in his shot to fall, Bryce has to have confidence in his teammate to do his part. Once he released the ball, someone else had to do their part. Bryce had the ultimate confidence in Tremble to seal the deal.
This play is emblematic of how leaders should be with their teams. Too often, we make a pass and ask someone to complete a task, but we stay laser-focused on every minute detail of what is being done. When we do this, we don't trust the people we are working with.
Jesus gave His disciples moments to act on their own. He sent them out to minister in groups of two with instructions on what to do and how to operate, then he let them go to work. He didn't stand around the corner watching their every move. They were trained, prepared, and excited to go. He had done His part.
It's time to give your team some room and look away. Have that iconic moment with them. They know when you were watching. This pass was cool for Bryce, but can you imagine how it felt for Tremble? For a team that is going into the off-season from a hard year, to know that his quarterback trusts him like that? This could be the beginning of a Mahomes/Kelce or Brady/Gronk relationship. As a Panthers fan, I hope so, but either way, these moments are great for everyone. Give your team some room to work and show that you trust them.
You chose them for a reason, show them. 

The gifts of Bezalel and Oholiab

Have you ever looked at a task that you needed to accomplish and thought, “There is no way that I can do that.” This thought is especially prominent in the minds of pastors. Typically, when a pastor begins the process of revitalizing a church, the team around them is at a minimum. Oftentimes, it is just the pastor and their family. There is so much that we need to learn beyond preaching in order to breathe life into a church. If thinking of all the things that you want to do but do not know how to do makes you lose sleep at night, you are in good company.

I want to tell you about a prayer that has helped me. I call it the prayer of Bezalel and Oholiab. To be clear, this is not a prayer that these two men prayed for but an example of what God can do. The next time you have a free twenty to thirty minutes, read Exodus 25-30. God was telling Moses to accomplish some tasks that sounded daunting, if not impossible, with the people and resources that he had. He was to build altars, and lampstands, the temple and the ark the covenant. These were not mere vessels but items that would challenge any works of art that have ever been created. They were made from precious metals and decorated with fine jewels. I can just see Moses’ face as he is receiving this list. It's kind of like how I felt when God called me into the ministry, later had to lead a church through COVID–19, and now through revitalization.

When God called me to be a pastor, I was a thirty-five-year-old businessman. I spent time with my family, did my work, and enjoyed the rest of my time as most men do. I did not read much, and anything extra I learned came from the Discovery or History Channel. It was not that I didn’t read; I hated reading. I could not focus long enough to get through a book. I always chuckled inside when someone gave me a book for my birthday or Christmas. I thought, “You sure don’t know me well.” The day that God called me, that all changed. I knew that I needed to be prepared, but where to start? I wanted to read, I wanted to learn, but I did not think I could. I remember finding Exodus 31. It is after God commands Moses to build all of these items that God says something special. He said, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft. And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you” (Ex. 31:2-6).

I knew that God had the ability to empower me to accomplish what He called me to do, so first, I prayed for Him to give me the ability to read. He did! Now, I began to consume information. I was like Johnny Five (80s movie reference). I couldn’t put books down. Later, I entered college, and the kid who hated English papers in high school is halfway through a doctorate and getting recruited every semester to be a writing tutor. Later, during COVID-19, when we all had to turn into tech gurus, I prayed the same prayer. I did not instantly learn how to do everything I needed, but God placed people around me to teach me.
What I am trying to get to is that I believe that the God who promises we will speak in other languages (Mk.16:17) can also help us understand new areas of expertise. What if that new language is computer code? What if it is how to use Instagram or Facebook marketing? What if it is how to speak to teenagers, or seniors?

What is God calling you to do that is beyond your current abilities? Don’t look at your inabilities as a hindrance, but look at them as a chance for God to do something amazing. When you feel overwhelmed or unprepared, take some time and say a prayer for Bezalel and Oholiab. Ask God to give you the talents that you need and to surround you with others that He has blessed with those giftings.

Walk in faith, and carry on. You can do this, and I promise that God will bless you!

Here are a few resources that I have read lately and will continue to update.

Books

Malphurs, Aubrey. Advanced Strategic Planning: A 21st-Century Model for Church and Ministry Leaders. 3rd edition. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 2013.
Advanced Strategic Planning: A 21st-Century Model for Church and Ministry Leaders by Aubrey Malphurs aids the church's leadership in planning mission, vision, and values. Before a church can be revitalized, it is important that the problem that caused the decline be studied and stopped or prevented from happening again in the future. As Malphurs quoted, “A problem well defined is a problem half solved,”[1] Through this book, Malphurs helps the leader create a strategic plan before launching into the revitalization process. Through the section, “Set the Course,” the reader will learn to develop a biblical mission and compelling vision, discover their core values, introduce the new strategy to the congregation, reach out to the community, develop a discipleship plan, build a team, assess the ministry setting and raise the necessary finances to carry out the mission.

Rainer, Thom S. Autopsy of a Deceased Church: 12 Ways to Keep Yours Alive. Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Publishing Group, 2014.
 As Malphurs emphasized the importance of discovering and remedying the problem, through Autopsy of a Deceased Church, Thom Rainer takes the leader through a series of tough conversations that address the reasons that many churches are in decline or at the point of closing. These are questions that many do not want to approach or deny that they are an issue, but are important to keep in mind as the church moves forward. This is a great resource that the leader can use to work through with the leadership team and have discussions about the health of the church.

Bolsinger, Tod. Canoeing the Mountains Expanded Edition: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2018.
 Change is hard for many organizations. Once a plan is formed and started, it can be hard to get people to accept a change of course. Bolsinger uses the example of Lewis and Clark and their journey to reach the Pacific Coast through navigable waters to show that sometimes plans must make necessary changes. These examples are valuable to a leader who is trying to make a change within their church. There are times when churches must make drastic changes to survive. These changes may seem to create a whole new identity, but that new identity is what is needed, just as Lewis and Clark transitioned from paddlers to climbers.

Vaters, Karl. Desizing the Church: How Bigness Became an Obsession, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It. Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2024.
 One of the greatest traps that a church leader can fall into is the belief that the size of their church indicates the health of their church. While it is true that all healthy things grow, not all things grow at the same pace. Through De-Sizing the Church, Vaters reminds the reader to focus on the health of their church and not the size of their church. A focus is made on discipleship, community engagement, and overall spiritual health. As a leader develops a strategic plan, following the guidance of Vaters will help to develop a plan that is strategic to their church and not one that tries to create or mimic the ministry of another. It is important that a church becomes the church that God created them to be and to be willing to be that church, regardless of size.

Garrison, Alton. A Spirit-Empowered Church: An Acts 2 Ministry Model. Springfield, Missouri: Influence Resources, 2015.
 In A Spirit-Empowered Church, Garrison uses the church model that is seen in Acts chapter 2. This church model is focused on growing the church through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit and not the abilities of the leader. He emphasizes that our giftings are important, but as leaders we must focus on what the Spirit will do for us and through us. He emphasizes that the church must connect, grow, serve, go and worship to meet the model of the Acts 2 church. As a church that is working towards revitalization, this model will help the leader focus on Spirit engagement, and also relieve the leader from the stress of carrying the load on their own. It is a reminder that the church is God’s, and we must include Him in every decision that we make and seek His guidance for the future.
 
Reeder, Harry L., and David Swavely. From Embers to a Flame: How God Can Revitalize Your Church. Revised and Expanded. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: P&R Publishing, 2008.
 In From Embers to a Flame, Reeder gives guidance on many of the same mission, vision and values that the other resources cover, but what makes this resource especially valuable is the guidance on how to handle the past when trying to move forward. While many books focus on what to do in the future, Reeder offers a strategy that many do not. His chapter, “A Call to Repentance: Cover up or Fess Up” Reeder states, “You must also emphasize personal responsibility by discouraging excuse-making.”[2] As a leader makes a plan, addresses the past, if acceptance and repentance for the past is not addressed, the repeating of those items becomes so much easier.

Greear, J. D. Gaining by Losing: Why the Future Belongs to Churches That Send. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2015.
Greear’s church is an example of a church that is discipleship-focused. His example shows that as leaders strategically plan for the future of the church, they must do so with the mindset of releasing leaders into the kingdom of God. By incorporating this mindset into the plan, discipleship programs will be designed and operated with the purpose of creating new leaders who are prepared to replace the leadership that is in the current role. By doing this, the church will create a sustainable cycle of leadership creation. If there is a surplus of leaders for the available roles, these new leaders will be able to form new ministries.

Chand, Sam. How Leaders Create Chaos and Why They Should! United States: Avail, 2022.
Often times, leaders will not make the necessary changes to make full and lasting impacts on their ministries. In How Leaders Create Chaos and Why They Should, Sam Chand challenges the leader to make these changes in bold ways. Two chapters are specifically important to a strategic plan, “Stability Isn’t Your Friend” and “Planned Chaos or Surprising Disruption.” These two chapters remind the leader that just because things seem stable does not mean they are. In the instance of the model church for this paper, over the twelve-year decline, the church seemed stable because the decline was so slow. This chapter would encourage the leader to keep an eye on the church and not be afraid to shake things up, even when they look calm.  The chapter that addresses planned chaos reminds the leader that just because the changes are chaotic does not mean that they cannot be planned.
 
Wegner, Rob, and Jack Magruder. Missional Moves: 15 Tectonic Shifts That Transform Churches, Communities, and the World. Exponential Series. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan, 2012.
 Many churches factor missions into their strategic plan. Wegner and Magruder write about missions and how a church should implement them into the culture of the church. The authors offer the advice that the church should be focused in their giving instead of using the broad approach. This relates to revitalization because the church becomes more connected to the ministries that they support and these ministries can then become part of the church. If this method is accepted and included in the strategic plan, the leader can be intentional in the missions that the church connects with and find opportunities that match the church in the best ways possible.

Morey, Tim. Planting a Church without Losing Your Soul: Nine Questions for the Spiritually Formed Pastor. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2020.
Any strategic plan for revitalizing a church should include a section on maintaining the mental, physical, and spiritual health of the pastor and his family. Morey reminds the leader of the causes and effects of poor health of the leader. Making the necessary changes that are required to keep a church alive can come with harsh conditions for the pastor and family to endure. If this is included in the strategic plan, the leader will be prepared for the repercussions of their decisions. Morey covers the importance of planning for spiritual formation throughout the process, handling difficulty, resiliency through defeat, and having the proper pace as the leader moves forward.

Reed, James, and Lori C. Reed. Reimagining the Great Commission: 21st-Century Digital Discipleship. United States: publisher not identified, 2019.
In Reimagining the Great Commission, the authors encourage the leader to think outside of the methods that they have always used. This is imperative to a strategic plan for church revitalization. The leader is not trying to recreate the church of the past, but be the church of the future. Many of the communities that churches are in have changed drastically since the church was founded, but the church is doing things the same way that they have always been doing. These new and fresh methods must be a part of the plan from the beginning.
 
Clifton, Mark. Reclaiming Glory: Revitalizing Dying Churches. Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Publishing Group, 2016.
 In Reclaiming Glory, Clifton gives the option of a replant verses a revitalization. As a leader considers a strategy of revitalizing a church, there needs to be a consideration of whether it is best for the church to close its doors while it reinvents or rebrands itself. This gives the leader the opportunity to re-open the church under a new leadership, new culture, and new vision. Old members may come to the church, but it is with the understanding that things are not the same. Not all strategies will incorporate this method, but considerations should be made to address the issues that Clifton addresses. The whole church may not be closed down, but specific ministries could be closed and restarted.

 Fay, William, and Linda E. Shepherd. Share Jesus without Fear. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999.
 Strategic plans for church revitalization must include a way to evangelize to their communities. Fay, William, and Shepherd write about the importance of evangelism and include “how to” sections that help the leader teach these methods. Evangelism must be part of the culture that the leader creates in the church. The author’s of this book create a “can’t fail” mentality of the readers, and a leader would do well to include this mentality in their strategic plan.
 
Bolsinger, Tod E. Tempered Resilience: How Leaders Are Formed in the Crucible of Change. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2020.
 Tempered resilience is an additional reference for the section of the strategic plan that is focused on the health of the pastor and his leadership team and also a resource for the development of new leaders. New disciples need opportunities to lead and a leader who is able to teach them when times get tough. The chapter “Leaders are Formed in Leading” is a good resource for discipleship and future leader development. There must be a strategy and plan in place for when and how new leaders will be given opportunities to lead for the first time and how they will be supervised.
 
Rainer, Thom S. The Post-Quarantine Church: Six Urgent Challenges + Opportunities That Will Determine the Future of Your Congregation. Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, 2020.
 Revitalization plans must be different in 2024 than they were just five years ago. Many churches are trying to recreate the success of the past when the church, and the world around it have changed drastically since the times when Covid 19 ravaged the world. People have become less apt to be in large crowds and many have adopted a digital preference for the ministry they want to be a part of. Thom Rainer gives advice for strategic planning in a post Covid 19 world that will welcome people back into the church and reach those in a digital format. The digital format of church needs to be a part of the strategic plan.
 
Cloud, Henry. Trust: Knowing When to Give It, When to Withhold It, How to Earn It, and How to Fix It When It Gets Broken. New York, NY: Worthy Publishers, 2023.
 Trust needs to be considered in the strategic planning of church revitalization. In Trust: Knowing When to Give It, When to Withhold It, How to Earn It, and How to Fix It When It Gets Broken, Dr. Henry Cloud gives leaders valuable advice on factoring trust into their decisions. Many churches that are in decline have lost trust in their leadership, and before a leader can make a change of any magnitude, they must build trust with the people that they hope to lead. This may mean that the leader starts small with projects that build trust with the people. The chapters about breaking through the trust barriers should be given specific attention.

 Articles

Brew, Conner. “Missional Leadership: An Instructional Program to Cultivate Leaders of a Missional Church.” Doctoral Dissertations and Projects, July 15, 2024. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5791.
This article identifies a problem of a lack of intentional discipleship and spiritual growth opportunities at MVMNT Church then offers a solution, implementation and the expected outcomes that came from the decisions that were made. By seeing he real world applications of these decisions, the leader can factor that into the strategic plan and give examples of the results. Church Revitalization is not a mentioned goal of the MVMNT Church, but the way that they are trying to reinvigorate the missional focus and empower the members to live out their faith is a great example for the revitalization of a church.

Samra, James G. “A Biblical View of Discipleship.” Bibliotheca Sacra 160, no. April-June 2003 (n.d.): 219–34.
This article focuses on what a biblical view of discipleship is. For a leader to have a strategic plan to develop disciples, they must have a correct biblical view of what a disciple is and how it is created. This article covers the spiritual growth of individuals, leadership development, evangelism and outreach, and how to create a culture of discipleship within the church. The discussion about a culture of discipleship will help create a wholistic approach to development that includes recruiting, training, mentorship and releasing the new disciples into the ministry.

Sendjaya, Sen. “Building A Gospel Culture in the Contemporary Church: Ten Imperatives for Church Leaders.” Veritas: Jurnal Teologi Dan Pelayanan 21, no. 1 (May 13, 2022): 1–14. https://doi.org/10.36421/veritas.v21i1.551.
This article provides ten practical imperatives for church leaders to cultivate a gospel culture in their churches, which can help foster revitalization. The impertives are: preach the gospel to yourself everyday, befriend ambiguities and uncertainties in ministry, embrace new mindsets and new tools, encourage people to speak the truth, encourage participation, recognize and appreciate contrarians, encourage healthy debate, be a role model of the desired culture, harness the collective intelligence, and make the gospel the central organizing principle for church life. These imperatives are important steps that the leader needs to keep in mind during the planning process and will bolster points of their plan.

Appah, George Obeng, and Babu P. George. “Understanding Church Growth through Church Marketing: An Analysis on the Roman Catholic Church’s Marketing Efforts in Ghana.” Journal of Economics & Business Research 23, no. 1 (January 2017): 103–22.
It is important that spreading the news about what is going on inside the church to the world outside of the church is part of the strategic plan. The leader must consider how people will know what the church is doing. This will not only enable them to grow through possible visitors, but it will also allow the community to know about the services that the church is offering. This article aids in understanding the needs of the community, how to target the outreach programs, strategically target those communities with the advertisements, and how to create a welcoming environment that matches the advertisement.

Sidenvall, Erik. “Transforming Church Strategies in a Changing Social Landscape: Sunday School Statistics from a Swedish Diocese, 1920–1990.” The Journal of Ecclesiastical History 75, no. 1 (January 2024): 116–34. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022046923000532.
This article is about how the Swedish Diocese adapted its strategies to adapt and adjust to the declining religious participation of the communities around it. It addresses the need for change, the way to develop alternative approaches, the need to empower the laity to aid in these changes, and how to navigate the financial and social shifts that many churches are undergoing. Revitalization strategies must consider the change in landscape that has caused the decline. This article gives statistics and examples of real world instances.
 

Now, If you are ready! A Daniel 3:15 moment
Those words came at a moment in time when three men had to make a decision that would determine whether or not they would live or die. This was not a moment for indecision; it was not a moment to waiver; it was not a moment to quiver in their faith. This moment happens in Daniel 3:15, and it is a time when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego would either stand in faith or fall in fear. The king forced the country to bow down to his beliefs. The choice was simple: bow or die. Bow down and worship a false god made of human hands, or be thrown into a pit of fire. Bow down and submit to a king who places himself above God, or stand for their faith and accept the consequences.
To the people who did not know the power of God, the choices were simple: submit or die. To non-believers, there was no other option, they all fell in fear. To Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, the choice was clear. They would stand for their faith, regardless of the consequences, because they knew their fate did not rest in man's hands but God's. Their response was bold, strong, and full of faith as they proclaimed that they did not worship the king's gods. They knew that their God was able to deliver them.
I believe many of us are at a "Now if you are ready" moment. More than that, I believe the church is at a "Now if you are ready" moment. We live in a culture where people who do not submit to the status quo are destroyed, so people have tucked away their beliefs and kneeled before the powers that be, leaving the world without bold leaders who can show a better way and deny their God, who wants to pour revival out on barren land.
What decisions or actions are you holding back on because you are worried about the reaction or repercussions that may come from it? You know that God wants you to do it, you know that He will provide, and you know that He will bless you, but you are also afraid that you might lose something because of it. Is there a sin that you have not called out because you worry about offending someone? Is there a stand that you have not taken because you might have to make it alone? It is time to do something bold. Are you ready? 
It is time to act. It is time to allow God to show His power.
Because the three men acted, another was seen in the fire. What will the people around you see from your leadership? Will they see your waiver, your submission, or your inaction in a time that calls for a bold leader who walks in his anointing, or will they see a leader who stands boldly on the Word of God?
The time is now. The moment is here. You are standing at a crossroads moment. What will you do with it?

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me, "How do you do it all?" I would be a very wealthy man. I admit I have a lot going on in my life: full-time pastor, full-time business owner, full-time doctoral student, founding president of a nonprofit focused on revitalizing churches, writer, and hobby farmer, all on top of my main priorities of being a good husband and father.  I guess when people ask how I do it all, they are really asking, "Why do you do it all?"

Maybe this post will help explain, and it all started about twenty-five years ago.
I remember it like it just happened. I was in the fall baseball tryout season for a college baseball team. I was in position behind home plate when a left-handed batter hit a very short foul ball that landed right in front of one of the assistant coaches who, from about thirty feet away, looked into my eyes and said, "Earp, you didn't even try." To this day, I can hear his voice, see his facial expression, and remember the gut-wrenching feeling of knowing that, even though I would finish the fall season, my baseball career ended at that moment. I had a lot going on at that moment that he did not know about. I had a shoulder injury that I did not want to tell anyone about; having come from a small school of less than 200 students (k-12), I was overwhelmed by the whole experience, and I was very frustrated that I was not able to do what I had been doing just a few months earlier. I lost the job in my mind before I ever lost it on the field. That coach did not know any of that, all he knew was I had an opportunity to make a play, and I sat there and watched.

What would have happened if I popped up and dove for the ball? I have replayed what that moment would have looked like if I tried thousands of times in my mind. Sometimes, I leap out and make a diving catch, but I come up short, and every time, the coach looks at me and says, "Great effort, Earp!" None of those times can ever happen. That moment in history has passed, but when I walked off the field that day, I made up my mind that it would never happen again.  If I can help it, I will never miss another opportunity!

Now, those foul balls look different. They look like early mornings, late nights, endless writing and reading books to catch a college degree, a master's, and a doctorate. They look like the prayer, study, complex decisions, hard conversations, hurt, and sacrifice that come with revitalizing a church. They look like building a company that God uses to bless your family and many others. They look like chances, they look like risks, they look like opportunities to fail, but no matter how they look, when I finish this life, I want God to look at me and say, "Good effort, Earp!" He doesn't even have to say I was a success. I am not looking for an achievement award. All I can do is give my best, do everything I can, and fulfill every calling that God has placed on my life.

What do your foul balls look like? Are you sitting there watching it float through the air, wondering if you should make a diving catch or just let it fall?  You may be tired, hurt, frustrated, and have buckets full of reasons why you don't have to, but when the ball falls, will you be able to live with the words, "You didn't even try?"

Go get that education, start that new ministry, serve on that team, fulfill a life dream. Whatever it is, you will never get these moments back.  Don't wake up in a sweat next year because you did not do what you could have today.

'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. '

2 Timothy 4:7-8

A couple of weeks ago, one of our horses got out of her pen and found a bag of ground corn. This would not have been a problem for most animals, but it is deadly for a horse. It's not deadly because of poison from the corn, it is deadly because the corn is extremely dry, and when it hits the moisture inside of the horse, it begins to soak all of that up, and it can form a clog that blocks the horse's digestive system. The term we use for it is colic. Colic is a pain for farmers all over the world. Grass, grain, hay, horse feed, or anything else that a horse eats can cause colic if the animal does not drink enough water to help it keep moving through their body. Colic is especially bad during the winter when the animals naturally aren't as thirsty and don't drink enough. Most farmers will add salt to a horse's food to make them thirsty and therefore drink an adequate amount of water during the winter. But, no matter how much you do to prevent Colic, if you raise horses long enough, you will have it happen to one. Have you everr heard the phrase, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink?"
The spot that you see in the picture, well that is Camille's final resting place. Two days after she got into that food, she colicked, and we were not able to save her. If she had only gone to the water trough and drank water after she ate the ground corn, she would probably not have died.
This was a sad day. There was little that I could do to prevent it. She was in a good fence; the corn was in sealed bags in a separate barn, but somehow, she got out and found her way in, chewed through the bags, and ate all she wanted. There was not a lot that I could do. When she died, all kinds of guilt came through my mind. Did I do right by her, or was this something that came about because she was a 1200-pound animal that had a mind of her own, and she did what she wanted to, even though I tried to protect her from it?
I am sure I could have done things differently, but ultimately she made a decision. If you have ever ridden one, you know that horses have a mind of their own. Just because she died does not make me a bad farmer.
How does this apply to many of you that are pastoring dying churches? We have all kinds of resources that are designed to keep your church alive. Podcasts, books, and blogs like this one are all there to help you bring your church back to life, but what happens when the congregation doesn't buy in? You, as the pastor, cannot revitalize your church on your own. You cannot grow it on your own, and you cannot lead it on your own. Revitalization is a team sport. You can teach your church every revitalization point there is and preach it till you are blue in the face, but if they don't want to do it, it won't happen, which is why: sometimes revitalization fails. 
I want you to know that just because your revitalization failed or is failing does not mean that you, as a pastor, are a failure. I am sure there are things you could have done differently, different methods you could have tried, or situations you could have done differently. This situation does not have to define you. Hold your head high, and remember that it is God who defines you. Learn what you can from the process and give it your all, but if the people have made their minds up that they do not want to change, you will not change them.
Remember, you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink, even when it's life depends on it.
Hang in there, saddle back up, and keep going!

           

 
 Essential Characteristics of a Church Revitalization Leader


Sam Rainer defines church revitalization as “the process of leading an established church to a place of better health, typically with an existing pastor and without changing the identity of the church.”[1] With the Complexity of the challenge, the need to navigate resistance, and the requirement to articulate a clear and bold vision, it is paramount that the leader of a church revitalization must have the character traits that best suit the task at hand.  Croft wrote, “Churches that need revitalization don’t simply need pastors. This unique work requires courageous pastors. Men who are so secure in their identity in Christ that they are able to embrace their humanity, frailty, weakness, brokenness, and failures and remember that they are just as loved and accepted by Jesus because of the gospel.”[2]
             The identity that Croft references is one that is forged in the relationship between the leader and Christ. These are not necessarily the traits a person is born with but a new identity that can be sought out and developed over time. 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (New King James Version)[3] This passage assures that leaders can develop the required traits and confirms that if they are willing to allow Him, Christ Himself will mold and shape them into the leaders they need to become. As they grow in Christ, the leader must seek to be biblically grounded, prayerful, visionary, and committed. With the added blessing of the Lord and the development of these traits, pastors and church leaders can lead their church to a place of greater spiritual health, the development and equipping of future leaders, engagement with their community, and embracing the call to share the gospel with all of those they encounter. (Matthew 29:19)

 Biblically Grounded
            A church revitalization leader’s first call to biblical principles is for themselves. Before a leader can show someone else the way, they must first know where they are going. Sen Sendjaya wrote, “Preach the gospel to yourself every day. Many leaders merely assume they understand the gospel, but they really do not. They find it hard to relate the gospel to their leadership roles (e.g., the way they use power, how they deal with criticism or handle conflicts, etc.) What many leaders need is a thorough recalibration of their hearts to the gospel of Christ.” [4]
             The church leaders must realize that they are shepherding the flock of another. The church that they are leading belongs to God. In his letter to the Church of Ephesus, Paul wrote, “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, and the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22,23) If this is God’s church, the leader should follow God’s plan. By staying biblically grounded, the leader will follow the blueprint of church health that is written out and modeled throughout scripture and be steadfast in the face of a changing culture that is pressing its way into the church with the purpose of disrupting the intended design and reason for the church’s existence.
 Sendjaya wrote, “It has been widely observed that the church is in a state of liminality in the contemporary missional world. That is, the relevance of the church has been radically challenged by the societies that are now increasingly post-Christian, multicultural, and multifaith.”[5] This grounding in scripture removes the burden of declaring the doctrine, purpose, discipline, prioritization, and structure of the church from the leader and places it solely on the Bible. The biblically grounded leader will be able to point to scripture as the reason for everything that he does.
 Prayerful
            Being biblically grounded and prayerful are traits that are closely related but separate. The church revitalization leader must have both. While the biblically grounded leader looks to the Bible for direction, the prayerful leader looks to the heavens. Upon learning of the destruction of Jerusalem, Nehemiah’s first action was to pray. In Nehemiah Chapter 1, Nehemiah asked God to let His ears be attentive to his requests, to let His eyes be open to the current conditions in Jerusalem and to Nehemiah’s actions. He asked forgiveness for his house and his father's. He reminded God that these were His people and asked Him for his favor and mercy in the sight of the king, who would allow Nehemiah to return and rebuild the city. It is essential to note the closing line of this passage, “For I was the king’s cupbearer.” (Nehemiah 1:11) Nehemiah prayed this prayer before he set into action, while he was in a different position and did not yet have the approval to proceed with the project.
            Mark Clifton wrote, “It is imperative that the replanter be a man of prayer. Many times he will be driven to his knees crying out to God for His intervention in what seems to be a hopeless situation. Prayer is our primary weapon in defeating the enemy and breaking his stronghold.”[6] The apostle Paul reminded the church at Ephesus to always be in prayer during spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:18). The decline or death of a church is a spiritual victory for the devil. Leaders must realize that there is a purpose and design to the attacks that churches receive, and through a fervent prayer life, the leader will have a lifeline open to God for direction in defeating the enemy. Paul modeled the importance of prayers for the church through the openings of the letters that he sent. (Rom. 1:9,10; 1 Cor. 1:4-9; Eph. 1:16; Phil. 1:1-5; Col. 1:3; 1 Thess. 1:2; 2 Thess. 1:11; 1 Tim. 2:1-2; 2 Tim. 1:3; Phm. 1:4) He encouraged Timothy to pray for all men, for kings and for everyone that was over authority over them and then connected those prayers to the ability to live a peaceful life. (1 Tim. 2:1,2)
             Andrew Davis wrote, “Prayer conforms us to God’s heart and plans and makes us long for them to be consummated.”[7] We may not always know the exact path for the journey that God wants us to travel. The mandate of the Great Commission does not give instructions for how it is to be completed. For instance, when God told Abraham to leave his home, He did not tell him which direction to go, how far to go, or how he would know where to stop. Abraham was told, “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.” (Gen. 12:1). This direction by God shows the direct need for a constant connection for leaders to follow His instructions. Through the connection to God through prayer, leaders will have a greater understanding of the task at hand and retain the desire to accomplish it.
 Visionary
            A revitalization leader not only needs to know the goal that he wants to attain, but he must be able to clearly articulate the goal to the people he is leading towards it. This is necessary for recruiting support, finances and other necessary resources. Nehemiah’s first audience for the vision of the restoration of Jerusalem was King Artaxerxes. When asked, Nehemiah was able to articulate a clear goal and give a list of the resources that were needed to accomplish the mission. (Neh. 2: 4-8) Leaders must be able to give a clear and concise description of the vision that God has given them for leading the church.
            In A Spirit-Empowered Church: An Acts 2 Ministry Model, Alton Garrison wrote, “A vision takes the mission and biblical systems of the church and articulates them towards a preferred future, communicating where the church is going.”[8] Leaders cannot live in the past. There must be a continued drive into the future and what God has in store for the church. Reeder and Swavely Wrote,
 The kind of leadership that we need in the church can be briefly defined by three maxims. First, good leaders learn from the past, but they don’t live in it, as we discussed in Chapter 3. Second, good leaders live in the present, but they don’t accommodate to it. In this way, they are “thermostats” rather than “thermometers.” Thermometers merely reflect the environment around them, whereas thermostats change the environment. And third, good leaders look to the future, but they don’t wait for it.[9]
 A good leader will be able to connect the past to the future. By connecting to the past, the leader ties into the beginning goals of the first established church. A common problem church revitalization leaders face is resistance to change. By connecting the future goals to the past, the leader may, as Reeder and Swavely alluded, rekindle the fire that was once within them. Resistance typically comes from a place of fear, and a good visionary can transform that fear into excitement that will propel the church into the future.
 Committed
            In Tempered Resilience: How Leaders are Formed in the Crucible of Change, Tod Bolsinger wrote, “Resilience for faith leaders is the ability to wisely persevere toward the mission God has put before them amid both the external challenges and the internal resistance of the leader’s followers.[10] Commitment is the glue that holds the other essential traits together. A leader must be committed to the Bible, prayer, and the vision God gives him, but he also must be committed to the people that God has called him to lead. Church leadership and, specifically, church revitalization can be a very stressful task. Many pastors start this journey only to fall into depression or burnout. In his second letter to Timothy, Paul reminds Timothy of his calling and encourages him to “Stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1: 6,7)  By remembering the call and remembering the gifts that God has given him, the leader can stay encouraged and committed to the task.
             Revitalization leaders need to be committed to a length of time. Church revitalization is not a quick process. In The Church Revitalization Checklist: A Hopeful and Practical Guide for Leading Your Congregation to a Brighter Tomorrow (Church Answers Resource) Sam Rainer wrote, “It’s not about how tough or brave you are. It’s about endurance. You take your licks and keep going.”[11] Rainer uses the example of a pastor who did not see noticeable results until five years after starting. This pastor stated, “I was so discouraged; I wasn’t sure I would make it.”[12] If this pastor was not committed to seeing the process through, he could have easily given up before he saw the results of his hard work.
             Leaders must be committed to living a Christlike life that embodies the requirements of a leader, as stated in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus chapter 1. This list sums up the leader as “blameless” before the people and to the purpose of being able to “exhort and convict those who contradict.” (Titus 1:9). Leaders face extreme scrutiny. When faced with the necessity of leading people through their life struggles, the leader of a church revitalization must be able to live a life that resists temptations. With the extra stresses of revitalization, the leader will be more vulnerable to falling into the trap of sin. There will be people who resist and look for ways to have the leader removed. Beyond the typical requirements of a leader, the leader of a revitalization must be above reproach.
             Leaders must be committed to receiving help. In the description of the requirements of the elders in Titus, Collins wrote, “Titus cannot assure the well-being of the church all by himself. He is charged by Paul with the task of appointing elders to oversee the church in the several cities in which the church has been established.”[13] Paul is expressing the need to share the ministerial load with qualified leaders. Sharing the responsibility of leading is also seen in the leadership of Moses (Exod. 18:21). Moses’ father-in-law sees the load that Moses is carrying and instructs him to bring on qualified leaders to help. As leaders, we must commit to this. By sharing the roles, we are adding to what we can accomplish and also creating new disciples that can further complete the mission of God.
             Leaders must be committed to their health and their family's health. Many leaders focus on the commitment to the church and forget that this is not a sprint but a marathon. In referring to the stresses and responsibilities that a pastor carries, Tim Morrey wrote this about a report that Chris Adams wrote, “Adams reports that all this contributes to the danger of chronically elevated stress among pastors, which creates substantial wear and tear on a pastor’s mind and body over time. Pastors have higher rates of anxiety and depression than the general population…Research would indicate that at any given time, one-third of pastors are experiencing burnout and/or depression. Only one-fourth of pastors, Adams’ research finds, finish well with vitality.”[14]
 Conclusion
            As leaders, it is important to study the task at hand and prepare for it accordingly. Just as a soldier who prepares for war must be proficient in the style of warfare that they will be fighting, the pastor of a church that is embarking on the journey of revitalization must adequately prepare as well. They must commit to a biblical foundation, a life of prayer, seeking God’s vision, and living a life of holiness and self-preservation. Through the pursuit of these traits, the leader will find the courage, passion, and ability to lead the people whom God has called to shepherd.
           
  Sources
                                                                                                                     
  [1] Sam S. Rainer, Church Revitalization Checklist: A Hopeful and Practical Guide for Leading Your Congregation to a Brighter Tomorrow (Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale Momentum, 2022). 49.
   [2] Brian Croft, Biblical Church Revitalization: Solutions for Dying & Divided Churches (Fearn, Ross-shire, Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications Ltd., 2016). 125.
   [3] All scripture references from this point forward will be from the New King James Version.
   [4] Sen Sendjaya, “Building A Gospel Culture in the Contemporary Church: Ten Imperatives for Church Leaders,” Veritas: Jurnal Teologi Dan Pelayanan 21, no. 1 (May 13, 2022): 1–14, https://doi.org/10.36421/veritas.v21i1.551. 6,7.
   [5] Sen Sendjaya, “Building A Gospel Culture in the Contemporary Church”, 2.
   [6] Mark Clifton, Reclaiming Glory: Revitalizing Dying Churches (Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Publishing Group, 2016). 117.
   [7] Andrew M. Davis, Revitalize: Biblical Keys to Helping Your Church Come Alive Again (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2017). 99.
   [8] Alton Garrison, A Spirit-Empowered Church: An Acts 2 Ministry Model (Springfield, Missouri: Influrence Resources, 2015). 123.
   [9] Harry L. Reeder and David Swavely, From Embers to a Flame: How God Can Revitalize Your Church, Revised and expanded (Phillipsburg, New Jersey: P&R Publishing, 2008).
   [10] Tod E. Bolsinger, Tempered Resilience: How Leaders Are Formed in the Crucible of Change (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2020). 35.
   [11] Sam Rainer, The Church Revitalization Checklist: A Hopeful and Practical Guide for Leading Your Congregation to a Brighter Tomorrow (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2021), 3.
   [12] Sam Rainer, The Church Revitalization Checklist, 2.
   [13] Raymond F. Collins, I and II Timothy and Titus (2002): A Commentary (La Vergne, UNITED STATES: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013), http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=3416800. 319.
   [14] Tim Morey, Planting a Church without Losing Your Soul: Nine Questions for the Spiritually Formed Pastor (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2020). 11.

Bibliography
    
Bolsinger, Tod E. Tempered Resilience: How Leaders Are Formed in the Crucible of Change. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2020.
Clifton, Mark. Reclaiming Glory: Revitalizing Dying Churches. Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Publishing Group, 2016.
Collins, Raymond F. I and II Timothy and Titus (2002): A Commentary. La Vergne, UNITED STATES: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013. http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=3416800.
Croft, Brian. Biblical Church Revitalization: Solutions for Dying & Divided Churches. Fearn, Ross-shire, Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications Ltd., 2016.
Davis, Andrew M. Revitalize: Biblical Keys to Helping Your Church Come Alive Again. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2017.
Garrison, Alton. A Spirit-Empowered Church: An Acts 2 Ministry Model. Springfield, Missouri: Influrence Resources, 2015.
Morey, Tim. Planting a Church without Losing Your Soul: Nine Questions for the Spiritually Formed Pastor. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2020.
Rainer, Sam S. Church Reviltalization Checklist: A Hopeful and Practical Guide for Leading Your Congregation to a Brighter Tomorrow. Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale Momentum, 2022.
Reeder, Harry L., and David Swavely. From Embers to a Flame: How God Can Revitalize Your Church. Revised and Expanded. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: P&R Publishing, 2008.
Sendjaya, Sen. “Building A Gospel Culture in the Contemporary Church: Ten Imperatives for Church Leaders.” Veritas: Jurnal Teologi Dan Pelayanan 21, no. 1 (May 13, 2022): 1–14. https://doi.org/10.36421/veritas.v21i1.551.