Religion & Spirituality
CFTROU 0133: Church Reimagined: Church Revitalizations with Mark Clifton from NAMB In previous years, churches that were less attended were ultimately destined to close their doors for good. However, these days there is a new trend towards revitalizing and replanting these churches. Today we are joined by Mark Clifton, Senior Director of Church Replanting at the North American Mission Board and author of Reclaiming Glory: Revitalizing Dying Churches. Mark feels that when a church closes down, God’s glory is at stake in that community. Together we discuss the burgeoning interest in replanting churches and how COVID-19 has influenced this. We talk about the differences between a church that needs to be revitalized and a church that needs to be replanted. Mark gives some helpful tips on what causes churches to die in the first place and provides great resources for churches that need help. Tune in to hear more. Key Points: How the pandemic has impacted City Church and how they have adapted. The need for a church to examine itself and be realistic about its condition and trajectory. A look at the type of wins churches are gaining from replanting. The process of the adoption of a church by another church. The problem of lack of leadership in dying churches. The difference between a church that can be revitalized and a church that needs to be replanted. The correlation between the death of a church and disobedience. Questions around whether a church needs a new pastor to replant. Advice for a pastor of a small or medium-sized church that needs to be revitalized. Replanting a church is a bit like rescuing a drowning swimmer: you kind of got to wait until the fight kicks out of them before you pull them to shore.Click To Tweet Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Mark on Twitter North American Mission Board Reclaiming Glory: Revitalizing Dying Churches Replant Roadmap Biblical Church Revitalization Church Replanters The Replant Collective Jimmy on Twitter Leslee on Twitter Dean on Twitter Family Church on Facebook Family Church on Instagram Get podcast updates delivered to your inbox. This podcast releases every Monday morning. Subscribe for free and never miss out on an episode of Church for the Rest of Us. Subscribe via Email iTunes Google Play Stitcher RSS If you like us, rate us or leave a comment below. Hopefully, this episode has given you principles, strategies, and ideas that you can implement right now with the resources you have. If so, can you let others know? The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher and leave us a brief positive review! This will help us place the podcast in front of more pastors and ministry leaders. It also lets us learn from you. Thank you for taking the time to get the word out about Church for the Rest of Us.