Thom S. Rainer's Blog, page 102

Pray for New Covenant Church

Location: Knoxville, Iowa

Pastor: Adam Hinkle

Weekly Worship: 10:30 AM, Central

Fast Facts: In 1988, New Covenant Church came together as a merger of three separate churches. Over the years the church has seen growth and loss. In 2018, New Covenant made the decision to fight for health and growth and entered into a season of intentional revitalization. In September 2019, Pastor Adam Hinkle was brought in to lead the effort of renewal. The church is genuinely welcoming and excited about all that God is doing and will do in the coming years.

Please pray for Pastor Hinkle as he leads New Covenant in revitalization. Pray for him as he trains and equips leaders to help share the responsibilities of shepherding an aging congregation and the efforts of reaching younger generations.

Website: KnoxvilleNCC.com

“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.

If you would like to have your church featured in the “Pray for…” series, fill out this information form..

Understanding Resistance to Change in Churches

Podcast Episode #593

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In today’s episode, Thom and Sam discuss an incredibly common topic and major pain point for many churches: change and why resistance to change exists.

Highlights:

The hunger for stability in a rapidly changing culture.
Church members confusing desires with doctrine.
The issues surrounding slow pace of change in most churches.
The large gap between leadership pace and congregational pace.

Other highlights:

Sometimes church members confuse desire with doctrine.
There is nothing wrong with traditions, but traditions are not doctrine.
The more inward the church, the more resistant that church will be to change.
The more outward the church, the more receptive the church will be to change.
A pastor can change the pace of change with tenure.
How we bring people into the church will influence the pace of change.

Resources:

48hr Black Friday Sale
Obstacles in the Established Church: How Leaders Overcome Them
EST Podcast
Church Answers


Episode Sponsors

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.

Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.

Vanderbloemen has 12 Vanderbloemen Differences that allow them to serve their clients better than anyone else. One of those is Theology Matters. Vanderbloemen’s staff has more seminary and theological experience than any other search firm with 250+ collective years of church leadership experience.

To learn more about all 12 of Vanderbloemen’s Differences, visit VanderDifference.com.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Becoming a Welcoming Church.

Seven Important Scorecards in Revitalization

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Measurements are important. Numbers tell us where we have been and where we might be headed. Thom and Kevin take this episode to discuss 7 important metrics that should be included on a church revitalization scorecard. 

The 7 church revitalization scorecard metrics:

    New Christians


    Total giving more than weekly per capita giving


    First-time guests


    Second-time guests


    Community ministry involvement


    Worship attendance


    Prayer involvement

 

Other highlights:

– What is celebrated gets replicated.

– Sometimes we de-emphasize the measures which aren’t going well.

– Churches must face the brutal facts in order to know where they are going.

– We need to measure what really matters in the church.

– Numbers are our friends. Numbers can indicate our current status, where we have been, and where we might go.

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast:

Revitalize Bundle
Stand and Greet People









Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend by decreasing the death rate of existing churches while simultaneously increasing the birth rate of new churches. To learn more about what it means to become a replanting pastor or to explore resources for replanting and revitalization in your own church, visit ChurchReplanters.com.
Submit Your Question:

Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you’ll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.

How to Select a Mission Partner

By Sam Rainer

I average one about every other day. Someone wants our church to become a mission partner. The requests come through different means—email, in-person, lunch meetings, over coffee, phone calls, and social media. The asks all differ slightly, but the spirit of most of them is the same: Will you support my ministry? Sometimes they want people resources (we need access to your volunteer base). Sometimes they want funding (we need help financially). Sometimes they want the church to help raise awareness (we want to use your social media platform).

Most church leaders—especially senior pastors—field a lot of requests from ministries wanting to be mission partners. I can’t blame them. If you believe in your ministry, then you should want as many mission partners as possible. Churches are often the first place people seek help, and I understand the desire to raise a lot of support.

The Internet age makes it much easier for independent missions, movements, and ministries to raise funding, as well as gain access to the decision-makers in churches. Independent works are on the rise. Expect these types of requests to continue and to increase in number.

How do you begin to select a mission partner with so many out there? What do you say when you’re inundated with requests? I’ve created three filters that help on the front end. There is more to selecting a mission partner than these filters. However, with three simple requirements, you can eliminate most requests without sounding harsh with a quick “no.”

Filter 1: Doctrine. The first requirement (and in my view the most important), is a formal doctrinal statement from a potential mission partner. If a group cannot tell you what they believe, then you have no business partnering with them. Some churches may want narrow doctrinal parameters. Our church has broader doctrinal parameters (we partner with people outside of our denomination). However, I must know what you believe before I ask my church to send people, money, and time to support your work.

Filter 2: Vision. The second requirement is a vision statement or some written document that details the future work of the ministry. If a group cannot tell you where they are going, then you shouldn’t get on board.

Filter 3: Financial Viability. The third requirement is financial statements. Understandably, some organizations are small. But they should still show you something that reveals their financial viability. If a large organization is not willing to send you basic financial statements (at least an income statement), then they are hiding something. Don’t partner with them.

In my experience, the best mission partners are eager to share these three requirements. Why? What they believe drives their mission. Their vision is big and excites them. And they have nothing to hide financially. While these three filters are not the only factors in making a decision, they will help tremendously on the front end.

Why the Local Church Is the Key Instrument of the Great Commission

Podcast Episode #592

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Today Thom and Sam discuss the purpose of the local church as a key instrument of the Great Commission. Discipleship is the primary tool the church uses to fulfill the Great Commission. The conversation today covers the importance of making disciples and characteristics of discipleship.

The difference between decisions and disciples
The biblical path of the early Church
Accountability is difficult outside of the local church
Fighting perceptions about the local church

Other highlights:

In the Great Commission, the decision to follow Christ is the decision to be a disciple.
The instrument God uses to make disciples is the local church.
If you become a member of the local church, then you are expressing a willingness to be held accountable. 
The church doesn’t exist for itself, but as a representative of the gospel in the community.

Resources:

Effective Rural Church Coaching
Evangelism in the 21st Century: The Critical Issues
Evangelism in the Early Church
EST Podcast
Revitalize & Replant Podcast
Revitalization Hero Story


Episode Sponsors

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.

Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.

Vanderbloemen has 12 Vanderbloemen Differences that allow them to serve their clients better than anyone else. One of those is Theology Matters. Vanderbloemen’s staff has more seminary and theological experience than any other search firm with 250+ collective years of church leadership experience.

To learn more about all 12 of Vanderbloemen’s Differences, visit VanderDifference.com.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Becoming a Welcoming Church.

Five Reasons Rural and Small-Town Churches Are Making a Comeback

By Thom S. Rainer

The obituaries of rural and small-town churches are premature.

Indeed, we continue to see clear evidence of hope and promise for both the churches and the communities. While the need is still great in the cities and more urban populations, we cannot ignore God’s work and opportunities in less populous areas.

What is taking place to give us such optimism and hope? Allow me to share five reasons. I must admit I was surprised at some of the research I found on this topic.

The migration trend from these less populated areas has reversed. There seems to be conventional wisdom that people are fleeing rural areas. There is a good reason for this perception. It indeed has been a negative trend for decades. But did you know the trend has reversed? Did you know the rate of decline in rural populations began reversing in 2011? Did you know the population in rural areas actually began increasing in 2016? This development is huge and should not be ignored by church leaders, denominations, and networks!

There are a lot of people in rural and small-town areas. The population number depends on how you define rural and small town. If you include any areas under 2,500 in population, there are 60 million people living there. That is a huge mission field that cannot be ignored.

More church leaders are expressing a calling to rural churches and small-town churches. Though our data is anecdotal, we have confidence we are seeing a trend. We began to notice it more in our conversations with Gen Xers and Millennials, but we are seeing this trend even among older Boomer pastors today. Much like the move to replanting and revitalization, we are seeing a calling among these leaders to become a part of these churches and communities.

More church leaders are serious about rooting themselves and their families in these communities and churches. Part of the calling we are hearing is a desire to establish roots in these less populated areas. For many decades for many leaders, these churches were perceived more as stepping stones to the next opportunity. This attitude is shifting. The metaphor is changing from steppingstones to roots.

The simpler life of rural or small-town areas is becoming increasingly attractive to many people, including church leaders. Simply stated, many people are weary of the frenetic pace and cluttered life often emblematic of more densely populated areas. There is a desire to return to the basics of an uncluttered life. Church leaders are among those seeking this life balance.

The revitalization and replanting movement is growing. Among those churches in this growing movement are churches in rural churches and in small towns. It is an incredible thing to watch.

We at Church Answers are responding to this movement of God. One step we are taking is offering coaching to pastors and other church leaders in rural and small-town churches. And we are incredibly excited to announce Mark Clifton will be leading this coaching. If you want to get one of the few spots available, hurry and sign up now HERE.

Sign up for Effective Rural Church Coaching

God has not given up on rural and small-town churches. We shouldn’t either. Let me hear from you.

Pray for LifeSong Family Church

Location: Lewisburg, Tennessee

Pastor: Joe Boyd

Weekly Worship: Sunday at 10:30 AM, Central

Fast Facts: LifeSong is a non-denominational church with roots in the Lewisburg, Tennessee community dating back to the 1950s. The church has gone through many seasons of growth and change, but they have remained focused on outreach to the community and being intentional about creating deeper connections among their congregation. Pastor Joe Boyd joined their staff in 2013 as the worship pastor, and moved into his current role in February 2019.

Annually, LifeSong hosts several outreach events which draw 3,000 to 5,000 guests to their campus collectively. They are committed to supporting their local crisis pregnancy center both financially and through volunteer service. The church also houses the Seeds of Hope Community Food Bank, which serves 1,200 to 1,500 people in the community per month.

Please pray for the LifeSong’s upcoming My Day with Santa event on December 14th. This event provides a fun, interactive Christmas experience for children in the community with special needs. Also pray for the church as they experience of time of transition with new leadership.

Website: LifeSongFamily.org

“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at T homRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.

If you would like to have your church featured in the “Pray for…” series, fill out this information form..

Five Considerations When You Follow a Long-Term Pastor

Podcast Episode #591

SUBSCRIBE:

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Are you following a long-term pastor? Did a long-tenured pastor return to your church as a member? Thom and Sam discuss five considerations when following a long-tenured pastor. This is a great episode about leading well and honoring those who have come before you.

Honor your predecessor. No disparaging comments.
For a season, let your predecessor know about major changes.
Consider taking your predecessor up on any offer to stay away for a while.
If appropriate, ask your predecessor to preach on occasion.
Be respectful of any family members of your predecessor in the church.

Other highlights:

Starting with negativity is a self-fulfilling prophecy, especially in the church.

The longer the tenure of a pastor the more ingrained in the community they become. 
The best way to get support from a predecessor is to keep in regular communication. 
The good leaders will step away from a ministry if only for a season, to allow the new leader to establish themselves.

Resources:

SEBTS MA Church Revitalization
Effective Rural Church Coaching


Episode Sponsors

The mission at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. The school offers more than 40 different degree programs, including the new Master of Arts in Church Revitalization in partnership with Church Answers and the Revitalization Network. This 37-hour degree is designed to help students move established churches from flatlining to flourishing.

Learn about this program and more by visiting sebts.edu. Where are you going? Southeastern will help you get there.

Vanderbloemen has 12 Vanderbloemen Differences that allow them to serve their clients better than anyone else. One of those is Theology Matters. Vanderbloemen’s staff has more seminary and theological experience than any other search firm with 250+ collective years of church leadership experience.

To learn more about all 12 of Vanderbloemen’s Differences, visit VanderDifference.com.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Becoming a Welcoming Church.

Why a Revitalizing Church Should Consider a Partnership with a Healthier Church

SUBSCRIBE TODAY:

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Many churches know they have a problem and are serious about solving the issues through revitalization.Thom and Mark discuss the many positives behind a revitalizing church partnering with a healthier church.

Highlights:

Leaders can learn much from a healthier church.
Churches can share resources.
The pastor of the revitalizing church needs a listening ear.
Church members of the revitalizing church can see different models and approaches to ministry.
It can help the revitalizing church face reality.
Cooperation is biblical. Competition is not.

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast:

Church Answers









Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend by decreasing the death rate of existing churches while simultaneously increasing the birth rate of new churches. To learn more about what it means to become a replanting pastor or to explore resources for replanting and revitalization in your own church, visit ChurchReplanters.com.
Submit Your Question:

Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you’ll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.

11 Weak Reasons to Leave a Church

By Chuck Lawless

I know there are legitimate reasons for leaving a church (e.g., the message is unbiblical, you’ve moved to another city, etc.), but too many people leave a church for the wrong reasons. Realizing that there are always exceptions to any of the reasons listed below, here are 11 “weak” reasons to leave:

You’re angry at somebody. You’ll simply carry your anger elsewhere. Plus, unrepentant anger is ungodly.

Because you don’t like the worship style. Preferences are seldom a good reason to leave a church. Churches change, and so do our preferences over time.

Because your ministry passion is no longer supported. It may be that the program or ministry you’ve grown to love is no longer as relevant as it once was. At least be open to this possibility.

Because you don’t like the pastor. At a minimum, graciously address the issues with the pastor. Leaving without a conversation is unkind, and it could prove hasty.

Because they ask for money. Sure, some churches overemphasize dollars, but every church should be teaching financial stewardship. Be willing to hear them.

Because you don’t like the message. The message might, in fact, be the gospel – and the gospel is often offensive. A church preaching a message that doesn’t make you uncomfortable is likely not preaching the Word.

Because the congregation’s getting too big. Regardless of the size of the church, you’ll still develop genuine relationships with only a few people. Growth doesn’t automatically hinder fellowship.

Because there’s sin in your life. You need to be under the Word of God if you’re living in sin. A strong church should be calling you to repentance.

Because the church is changing. No church stays the same forever. What matters most is that God and His Word don’t change.

Because no one’s asked you to serve. That doesn’t always mean they don’t want you to serve; it might be that they need to improve their assimilation and recruitment process. Don’t wait –  ask somebody about opportunities.

Because you just “know the Lord told me so.” He might direct you to leave, but listen to Him through His Word, His Spirit, and His people. Living according to feelings — especially if you’re really not walking with God — is risky.

What reasons would you add to this list?