A GUIDE TO

CHURCH REVITALIZATION

R. ALBERT MOHLER JR, EDITOR

GUIDE BOOK NO. oo. . 5

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION A Guide to Church Revitalization: Guide Book No. 005 Copyright © 2015 by SBTS Press.

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ISBN 978-0-9903495-3-2 A GUIDE TO

CHURCH REVITALIZATION

R. ALBERT MOHLER JR, EDITOR

GUIDE BOOK NO. oo. . 5 A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION

Table of Contents

6 / CHAPTER 1 Christ Will Build and Rebuild His Church: The Need for ‘Generation Replant' R. ALBERT MOHLER JR.

12 / CHAPTER 2 Breathing New Life into Dying Churches KEVIN EZELL

18 / CHAPTER 3 The Revitalizer: Who You Must Be DAN DUMAS

26 / CHAPTER 4 Clear the Runway: Preparing Your Church for Revitalization BRIAN CROFT

32 / CHAPTER 5 Lead from the Front: The Priority of Expository Preaching DAVID E. PRINCE

38 / CHAPTER 6 Renew in the Pew: Kindling Congregational Passion for Christ DONALD S. WHITNEY 46 / CHAPTER 7 A Road Map to Revitalization: Pursuing Faithfulness and Survival BRIAN CROFT WITH TIM BEOUGHER

56 / CHAPTER 8 Are We There Yet? Indicators of Success ERIC BANCROFT

64 / CHAPTER 9 The Revitalization of Capitol Hill Baptist Church Washington, D.C. AN INTERVIEW WITH MARK DEVER

72 / CHAPTER 10 The Revitalization of Auburndale Baptist Church Louisville, Kentucky AN INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN CROFT

78 / CHAPTER 11 The Revitalization of First Baptist Church Durham, North Carolina AN INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW DAVIS CHAPTER 1

CHRIST WILL BUILD AND REBUILD HIS CHURCH: The Need for ‘Generation Replant’

R. ALBERT MOHLER JR.

6 CHRIST WILL BUILD AND REBUILD HIS CHURCH ne stunning building city now representing one of the in Manchester, Eng- most secularized metropolitan Oland, is now a climbing areas in North America. Neigh- center. In Bristol, one is now a bors did not even notice that circus school, with trapezes one Methodist building no lon- hanging from the rafters. Oth- ger housed a congregation. They ers are now grocery stores, car found out when the large stone dealerships, libraries, and pubs. All over England, many are now Do we have Islamic mosques. What do these venerable build- the courage ings have in common? Until and conviction recently, all formerly housed Church of England congrega- necessary tions. The secularization of Britain is not a new development, to replant with church attendance falling churches? for decades. But a new tipping point has been reached: the building collapsed and no one Church of England now has an seemed to care. offcial “Closed Churches Team” The same will soon happen in that makes decisions about the United States of America. In what to do with abandoned downtown Louisville, Kentucky, church buildings. former church buildings now Between 1969 and 2011, the house doctors’ offces and other Church of England knocked businesses — but the problem down 500 churches and “decon- is no longer limited to the inner secrated” another 1,000. That cities. Churches are closing in pace is set to increase dramati- the suburbs as well. cally, and England is not alone. According to a report from The Montreal Gazette recently the Assemblies of God, 4,000 reported that 340 church build- congregations close their ings are now seeking “new doors in the United States vocations,” with that Canadian every year, while only about

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 7 1,000 evangelical churches ing. Excitement and passion for are planted. We are falling church planting come right from further behind. the New Testament, which is a Add to this the fact that manifesto for planting rightly between 80 and 90 percent of ordered churches. A generation all evangelical churches in the of young evangelical pastors United States are not growing, have been righteously infected and a signifcant percentage are with the vision for church plant- in outright decline. We face a ing. Their heroes are church major turning point in the his- planters, their inspiration is tory of evangelical Christianity in church planting, and their mis- America, and the Southern Bap- siology is directed toward the tist Convention and its churches birth of new churches. That are at the center of a great and must continue. Church plant- unavoidable question: “Do we ing must remain at the forefront have the courage and conviction of our mission efforts. The necessary to replant churches?” only documentable evangelis- tic and congregational growth The idea experienced by evangelicals within America’s major urban of church areas directly traces back to replanting may newly planted churches — and replanted churches. be new, but this The idea of church replant- ing may be new, but this pattern is also as pattern is also as old as the old as the New New Testament. In Revelation 2:1-7, Christ Testament. warns the Ephesian church that they have “left [their] frst love” A New Direction and grown spiritually cold and For the past 30 years, evangeli- ineffective in ministry. Jesus cals have been learning anew told the church to “repent and the importance of church plant- do the deeds [they] did at frst.”

8 CHRIST WILL BUILD AND REBUILD HIS CHURCH In other words, that congrega- in these declining and decaying tion needed a reformation. At congregations. These Christians some point, declining churches represent a wealth of experience actually need to be replanted. and an army of workers. In many In one sense, this is just a mat- cases, what they most lack is ter of stewardship. All around us visionary, courageous, and con- are churches falling into patterns victional pastors and leaders. of decline and decay. Most of Then there is this obvious these churches started with a fact: if existing congregations do gospel vision and a “frst love” for not thrive, there will be no one to Christ that propelled them into plant, sustain, support, and lead existence. For some time, most of church planting. We cannot have these churches experienced years one without the other. of effective ministry, reaching their communities and reach- ing out to the world. Somehow, at some time, for some reason or combination of reasons, they lost that frst love and the ministry was endangered. Practical realities also play a role in understanding this stew- ardship. All over New York City, for example, young evangelical church plants are looking for places to meet. A hostile city government threatens to evict all churches from meeting in public school auditoriums and many will be homeless. At the same time, vacant or near-vacant church buildings dot the horizon. There is also the fact that millions of Christians remain

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 9 May This Be Our Story in itself, and both should be cel- Consider also that many of the ebrated together. most exciting church ministry But one of our central tasks stories of this generation have in the present generation is to come from replanted churches. be bold in our vision of replant- We can look around the coun- ing churches — helping existing try and quickly find church churches to fnd new vision, new buildings, once empty, now strategic focus, new passion for flled with young families and the gospel, new hunger for the students, senior adults and preaching of the Word, new love business executives. for their communities, and new We need to tell the stories excitement about seeing people of these churches, even as we come to faith in Jesus. continue to tell the stories of Replanting churches requires both courage and leadership A passion for skills. A passion for replanting a church must be matched by skills replanting a in ministry and a heart for help- church must ing a church to regain a vision. Church replanting and church be matched planting are both frontlines of ministry and mission. And I am by skills in excited to see what God will do ministry and a in this age with a generation of young pastors ready to plant and heart for helping replant gospel churches with unbridled passion. a church to Of course, this will also regain a vision. require that churches in decline recognize the need for radical newly planted churches. Both change and reorientation in contexts of ministry require ministry. No young pastor wor- courage. Both require vision and thy of his call will be excited to conviction. Neither is the answer assume the pastorate of a church

10 CHRIST WILL BUILD AND REBUILD HIS CHURCH that simply wants to stem the to be known as “Generation losses or slow the decline by Replant.” If it is not, it might not doing slightly better than the be long before the Southern Bap- congregation at present. Sadly, tist Convention needs a “Closed many of these churches will Churches Team.” May that day die by congregational suicide. never come. Instead, may all of Unwilling to be replanted, they our churches, new and old and simply want a slower decline. in between, follow the prom- This is disobedience to Christ. ise of 1 Corinthians 3:6 — Paul Given the scale of our need, “planted, Apollos watered, but this rising generation needs God gave the growth.”

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 11 CHAPTER 2

BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO DYING CHURCHES

KEVIN EZELL

12 BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO DYING CHURCHES t the North American we have not started enough Mission Board (NAMB), churches — especially in and Aour mission is to help around cities where 83 percent Southern Baptists push back of North Americans live; second, lostness in North America. Our each year an average of 1,000 primary strategy for doing that SBC churches disappear. is called Send North America, Viewed through the lens of and that strategy includes two any research you look at, South- primary goals. First, we want to ern Baptist churches are in the increase the church birth rate midst of a health crisis and have by helping Southern Baptists been for many years. start 15,000 new churches over We analyzed data from the a 10-year period. Second, we Annual Church Profle (ACP) and want to help decrease the church found that between 2007 and death rate. 2012, only 27 percent of report- The reason both of these ing SBC churches experienced endeavors are so important is growth. Forty-three percent because Southern Baptists have lost signifcant ground in the Viewed through church-to-population ratio dur- ing the last 100 years. In 1900, the lens of there was one Southern Baptist any research church for every 3,800 people in North America. Today, that num- you look at, ber is one for every 6,200. In the South, that ratio is much better Southern (one SBC church for every 2,722 Baptist churches people). But in other regions, we have much work to do: the are in the midst ratio is 1:15,885 in the West; it’s 1:36,998 in the Northeast, and in of a health crisis Canada it’s 1:117,925. and have been These widening gaps come from two problems: first, for many years.

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 13 were plateaued, and 30 percent gelism and Church Health at declined. But our analysis looked New Orleans Baptist Theological at membership numbers. A study Seminary looked at worship ser- by the Leavell Center for Evan- vice attendance and found that in 2010 only 6.8 percent of SBC churches were healthy according It’s not an easy to that rubric. thing to say, These trends should concern everyone. Even if we are suc- but some of the cessful in starting thousands of new churches over the next churches that few years, if less than 10 percent die each year of established SBC churches are healthy and growing, we cannot need to. They hope to keep pace with popula- have long since tion growth. outlived their Partnering to Help Churches at Risk purpose. It’s not an easy thing to say, but

14 BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO DYING CHURCHES some of the churches that die Some churches each year need to. They have long since outlived their purpose. They cannot be have been a hollow, ineffective redirected presence in their communities for years. But many more churches toward health have members with a heart for the gospel who want to reach without some their communities for Christ. dramatic They might have lost touch with their communities’ new demo- changes. graphics or been derailed by poor leadership. If these churches again. Our state convention part- want to be helped, they can be. ners make venue arrangements NAMB is trying to solve this and we take care of the rest. crisis in several ways, and many of our state convention partners Individualized Tools and are also doing very good work, Resources such as: After attending our one-day conference, many pastors and One-Day Conferences churches start to realize they In 2011, we began partner- need outside assistance if they ing with Johnny Hunt, former are to put their churches back on president of the SBC and pas- a path to growth. That is where tor of Woodstock First Baptist our state convention partners Church near Atlanta, to conduct step in. They are equipped to a one-day Church Growth and work closely with individual Revitalization Conference for churches, and we are making pastors. Johnny has a heart for funds available for assistance encouraging pastors, and his as they help their churches get church has helped churches in on the road to health. the Atlanta area regain their spir- itual footing and become vibrant Legacy Church Planting gospel proclamation centers Some churches cannot be redi-

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 15 If we don’t church the opportunity to live on through a new work that starts step in to help in their church building. these dying This is not an easy step for most churches to take. We churches, over require that there first be a viability study to determine the the next few likelihood of success a new work decades we will would have. A leadership change is also required, and we ask that see thousands the church property be turned over to either the partnering of properties church, local association, state worth millions convention, or NAMB until a new work is up and viable. of dollars Even though the legacy church plant is not an easy road, we are slip through seeing more and more successes the hands with this model. Wornall Road Baptist Church in Kansas City is of Southern healthy, growing, and has become a vital part of its community after Baptists. pastor John Mark Clifton arrived to restart a decades-old congre- rected toward health without gation that dwindled to only a some dramatic changes. When handful of weekly attenders. In a church comes to this point of New Orleans, a dozen church realization and is willing to ask members in their 70s partnered for help, NAMB can partner with with church planter James another church, local association Welch to birth Harbor Commu- or the state Baptist convention nity Church from the ashes of to help restart the church. We their dying church. First Bap- call this “Legacy Church Plant- tist Church in Odessa, Florida, ing” because it gives a dying had not seen a baptism in years.

16 BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO DYING CHURCHES They turned to Idlewild Baptist buildings gathering dust. My for help and now their baptismal hope is that more churches and waters are stirring on a regular more pastors will focus outward basis once again. once again and reach out for If we don’t step in to help help in returning their church these dying churches, over the to health. And I pray that those next few decades we will see who need to make the decision thousands of properties worth to become a legacy church plant millions of dollars slip through will see how they can pass the the hands of Southern Baptists. spiritual baton and see God They will become cafes and work powerfully through their offce space or just abandoned churches again.

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 17 CHAPTER 3

THE REVITALIZER: Who You Must Be

DAN DUMAS

18 THE REVITALIZER eing a leader always scatter the sheep of my pasture” sounds appealing. It (Jer 23:1). Leaders will give Bmeans you get to make account before God for their decisions, you get to cast vision, stewardship of those under people look to you for insight, their care (Heb 13:17). That’s the and they expect you to take them kind of verse that should keep somewhere. You get a serious say pastors up at night. in how things go. Sounds excit- The good of those under ing, right? authority depends on the faith- Well, the Bible presents the fulness of those in authority. leader’s responsibility in ways If leaders are unfaithful in that should temper your excite- their lives and ministry, their ment. For one thing, God is less people suffer. concerned with what you know as leader, or even with what A Noble Offce you do as a leader, because he’s So, as a pastor-elder-shepherd- primarily concerned with who revitalizer of God’s people, who you are as a leader. The char- must you be? Paul gives a list of acter of the one leading God’s qualifcations for church elder- people is most vital, and that’s ship in 1 Timothy 3, and almost true whether you’re planting all of the qualifcations have to a church, replanting, or in an do with a man’s character. established body. Why does God care so much The good of about the character of church leaders? God demands holi- those under ness from all of his people, and authority rarely do people rise above their leaders; as the leaders go, so go depends on the the people. Jeremiah records a rebuke of faithfulness Israel’s spiritual leaders, where of those in the Lord pronounces, “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and authority.

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 19 You can’t way of saying that the elder should have no loop-holes in his pretend you character. Being above reproach don’t have means you have unimpeach- able character, but it doesn’t weaknesses, mean you’re fawless. You can’t pretend you don’t have weak- but there’s nesses, but there’s a difference a difference between having a bad day and having a bad year; the elder between having should live in such a way as to be accusation-free and without a bad day and any sustained or legitimate pat- having a bad tern of sin. What does “above reproach” year. look like? According to 1 Timo- thy 3:2-7, it looks like this: New Testament scholar D.A. Carson observes, “Elders are Husband of One Wife (v.2) not a higher class of Christians. The frst qualifcation for elder- What is required of all believ- ship in the local church is not ers is peculiarly required of the charisma, not visionary leader- leaders of believers.” In other ship, not captivating oration. The words, there isn’t a higher stan- frst qualifcation is faithfulness, dard for the character of elders, and the frst place to look for but there is a higher account- this is a man’s marriage. He ability. The overarching truth won’t be a faithful elder if he is that the noble offce of elder isn’t frst a faithful husband. demands noble character. An elder must be enduringly faithful to his wife and have eyes Above Reproach for her alone. If you suffer from Paul sums up the quality of a “wandering eye syndrome,” you pastor’s life with two words: need to nip it in the bud. Those above reproach. This is Paul’s kinds of habits can turn into a

20 THE REVITALIZER one’s doctrine and life. In ministry, you need to take seriously not only your doctrine and life, but how it makes an impact on those under your leadership. The work of revitalization demands sober-minded resolve. You will be called to make diffcult decisions, and you need to think sensibly, and with the soldier- like resolve to stand frm on your decisions. Don’t make serious decisions rashly or impulsively, but soberly and frmly. This kind of ministry also takes sober-minded, unfinching endurance. You don’t need to go to Boston to run a marathon, just re-plant a church. You’ve got to commit to the long-term, and fght ministry-destroying monster if discouragement. Sober-minded- left unchecked. ness will prevent you from being Marital health is particularly a prisoner of the moment, and will important in a revitalization sit- make you a leader with vision. uation, where your home may be the only respite you have. You Self-Controlled (v.2) don’t want to have to revital- Self-control is a big deal for ize your marriage at the same Paul. It’s the fnal fruit of the time, so be in constant battle for Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22- a thriving marriage. 23. In a culture that celebrates the indulgence of any and all Sober-Minded (v.2) desires, it is imperative that Sober-mindedness is a disposi- your people see you practice tion that gives serious attention to and display self-mastery. This

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 21 includes the ability to control skeptics and sinners come and your emotions and reactions in witness the gospel in action. This the midst of diffcult ministry doesn’t mean your family life is situations. And it requires you to perfect, or your house is a show take dominion over distraction room, but you’re still called to and the things that pull you from use your home and resources to the ministry God has given you. bless Christians, unbelievers, and strangers (1 Pet 4:9; Heb 13:2). Respectable (v.2) Every man craves respect, Able to Teach (v.2) whether it’s from his wife, his The ability to articulate Chris- boss, his children, or his dog. tian doctrine should not be Men, spend less time making unique to elders. The ability sure everyone around you gives to teach, however, is a unique you the respect you think you requirement for elders. The abil- deserve and spend more time liv- ity to teach isn’t even required of ing a life that demands it. Put deacons. A man of stellar char- order and discipline into your acter can be disqualifed by an life. Live with such a force of inability to teach. He should not character that even your oppo- only be able to teach clearly the nents and enemies respect you. doctrines of the faith but also defend the church against false Hospitable (v.2) teaching (Titus 1:9). Do people view your home as A pastor and revitalizer a refuge? As an elder and pas- must be constantly looking for tor, your home should be a place opportunities to teach. They will where fellow Christians come and happen in the pulpit and out, receive refreshment and encour- formally and informally. These agement. Welcome your people are opportunities to strengthen into your home, including those the saints and to exemplify a who don’t support the change that commitment to Scripture. If you represent. you’re going to bring change to a Your home isn’t only for Chris- church, you’ve got to make your tians, it should be a place where love for the Bible contagious. Let

22 THE REVITALIZER your people see that your agenda 10:1), and who told Timothy arises from the Bible and not to correct his opponents “with your imagination. gentleness” (2 Tim 2:25). Gentleness also needs to be Not a Drunkard (v.3) visible when you receive criti- It seems obvious, but pastors cism. Do you become defensive can’t be drunkards. God com- when you receive criticism, or mands that all Christians “not do you respond with humility? get drunk with wine … but be flled with the Spirit” (Eph 5:18). Not Quarrelsome (v.3) You can’t be mastered by both Elders are called to refute false wine and the Spirit, it’s one teachers, but they are not called or the other. Remember, your to go around looking for a fght. people are looking to you for Do you love to argue? Do you love an example of how to walk in to be right? Do you love to argue a manner worthy of the gospel. until everyone thinks you’re right? If so, then marvel at the Not Violent but Gentle (v.3) Lord Jesus, who never engaged As an elder, if you’ve got a short in debate for the sake of debat- fuse and your frustration comes ing or belittling others. He only with physical manifestations, ever opened his mouth for the then you’re not qualifed to shep- purpose of teaching, leading, herd the fock. When your sheep and shepherding. bite — and in a revitalizing con- Seek to be strong in grace in text, they will bite — you can’t bite your speech and conduct as you back. Instead, you need to grow lead your church in revitaliza- in gentleness and learn what it tion. If you won't lead graciously means to be quick to forgive. through change, don’t expect Your gentleness needs to be people to follow graciously. visible in your instruction of others. Model yourself after Not a Lover of Money (v.3) Paul, who entreated the Cor- Some people think that being in inthians “by the meekness and ministry, with the simple lifestyle gentleness of Christ,” (2 Cor that often comes with it, will ren-

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 23 You better know ple in your home, you won’t be able to pastor the people in your where your church. If your wife is hesitant weaknesses about your ftness for ministry then you should be, too. If you lie because “succeed” at church but fail at home, then you fail. Period. Your the devil most kids don’t need to be perfect, certainly does. and your home doesn’t need to be spotless, but your spiritual der a love of money irrelevant. But leadership must be clear. that’s not so. You can simultane- ously be poor and greedy. Not a Novice (v.6) If you struggle with greed, you The elder is called to exposit need to give more. The best way and apply the Scriptures to to stop loving money is to attack the lives of his people, and the it with generosity. Your money ability to do that develops and is not your own. You can’t call deepens with time and practice. your people to lay up treasures The longer a man walks with in heaven while you’re anxious God and trusts him through tri- about building and protecting als, the more apt that man will yours on earth. be to speak truth into people’s lives. It takes time for trials to Managing His Own result in a genuine tested faith Household (v.4) (1 Pet 1:6-7). The qualifcation that an elder If someone is a new Christian manage his household well is or an immature Christian, he is crucial. There is no better way unft to be an elder. When a new to examine a man’s leadership believer is thrust into a place qualities and evaluate the long- of leadership, a train wreck term results of his leadership is sure to follow. With prema- than to enter his home. The home ture leadership comes conceit, is a microcosm of the church, and with conceited leadership and if you can’t pastor the peo- comes wounded people, and with

24 THE REVITALIZER wounded people comes a dam- your weaknesses lie because aged gospel witness. the devil most certainly does. Keep close watch on and attack Well Thought of by those weaknesses. If you don’t, Outsiders (v.7) those little inconsistencies will The list of qualifications become chains that bind you and began with the call to be above may eventually dis–qualify you. reproach, and like a bookend, it ends with a call to be above Conclusion reproach to those outside the If you’re laboring to revitalize church. An elder must have good a dying church, you are hunted. rapport with unbelievers in the You are a target for slander, community. If you don’t live that scandal, and Satan, and being way, you’re leading yourself into on the frontlines of diffcult a snare of the devil (1 Tim 3:7). ministry guarantees you will get If you plan to be well thought blood on your uniform. So walk of by outsiders, your life needs to carefully, and seek to live a life match your role as an elder. That above reproach, a life worth imi- doesn’t mean you don’t mess up, tating. Be immovable, and know but it means you keep short sin that your labor in the Lord is accounts and fght against temp- not in vain. tation. You better know where

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 25 CHAPTER 4

CLEAR THE RUNWAY: Preparing Your Church For Revitalization

BRIAN CROFT

26 CLEAR THE RUNWAY t was a cold Wednesday eve- are crucial to every congregation ning when I walked into this if it is to navigate the revitaliza- Istruggling church. A young, tion process well. eager pastor greeted me at the door of the meeting room and Authority introduced me to the committee. The frst question I asked in They were a friendly group, but that committee meeting was, timid. Most were older pillars of “Who’s in charge?” Let me be the church. All were white. The clear on what I am asking. I committee had formed because am not asking who the bylaws the church realized that some- say is in charge. I am not ask- thing was not right. They needed ing who moderates the business a change, but weren’t sure what meetings or leads the deacons that was. They knew the church meetings. I am asking, “Who was broken, but didn’t know how has the greatest infuence in to fx it. I had been invited to this the church?” To whom do church frst of what would be numerous members go when decisions meetings of a church revitaliza- need to be made? To whom do tion committee. My role was church members listen the most? to help prepare them to walk Just because a pastor gets paid through whatever revitalization a full-time salary and preaches would look like for them. every week doesn’t make him the The first thing this group man in charge. You must deter- needed to do was honestly mine where the authority in the assess where the church was church really lies. Only then can in its current state. Not what it you compare your answer to once was, not what they wished Scripture’s answer. it was, but a realistic and accu- The Bible is clear about who rate appraisal of where the is in charge: Jesus Christ. Scrip- church was right then and how ture calls him the chief shepherd it got there. I presented fve (1 Pet 5:4). His authority is medi- areas to help them think clearly ated to us through his Word. If a through the process of evalua- church willingly submits to the tion. Evaluating these fve areas authority of Christ, there is no

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 27 The biblical confusion about where the fnal word lies. Once during a dea- answer to the cons' meeting, I had to confront question, “To a deacon about non-attendance at church. When he pointedly whom am I asked me where in the Bible it says we have to be at church, accountable?” I replied: “Hebrews 10:25, ‘Not is Jesus Christ neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some.’” That ended through the the discussion. Only a church’s commitment to the authority of church under Christ has the power to do that. the authority of Leadership his Word. The question tied to this area asks, “Whom do I follow?” It is essential to identify the leaders in the church. Southern Baptist churches have experienced an epidemic of short pastorates. One consequence of this trag- edy is an environment in which church members have to assume roles of leadership spawned by the vacuum of pastoral leader- ship when there is no pastor. To be clear, the problem is not with flling roles of leadership during the absence of a pastor, but with what happens to those roles once there is a pastor. The revolving-door cycle of short-term pastorates creates

28 CLEAR THE RUNWAY a breeding ground in which around the question, “To whom churches, too frequently burned, am I accountable?” Honestly come to distrust the pastoral confronting what inflated offce and allow others to usurp membership numbers mean is leadership roles. Every church the frst step to a patient and must realistically consider who thoughtful solution. the church is truly following. The biblical answer to the Only then can a more biblical question, “To whom am I paradigm be taught and pursued. accountable?” is Jesus Christ That pattern consists of the two through the church under the biblical offces of the church: pas- authority of his Word. This is tors and deacons. Faithfulness to seen in passages such as Mat- the biblical paradigm involves thew 18:15-20, 1 Corinthians having not only the offces, but a 5, and 2 Corinthians 2:6. These proper understanding of them as passages in particular, and the well. This means teaching what New Testament in general, teach are the qualifcations of pas- that being a member of a local tors and deacons and what are church is essential in the life the proper roles of each (1 Tim of any Christian. Membership 3:1-13; 1 Pet 5:1-4; Titus 1:5-9; has to matter to the members Heb 13:17). of a local church. Meaningful membership reminds Christians Membership that walking with Jesus in our The common elephant in the daily life must not be done alone. Southern Baptist Church com- We need each other. We need to mittee room when assessing be responsible for one another. what’s not right in the church Membership provides the struc- is the infated membership roll ture for this community life that compared to the amount of is found all throughout the New members who actually attend Testament. A clear understand- on Sunday. How membership ing of how the members of a is viewed in a local church church are called to relate to one can speak volumes about its another is crucial to preparing health. This area revolves them to move forward.

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 29 Unity and ministry of the local church There remains a growing trend, is the other generation. Each is especially in Southern Baptist convinced they don’t need the churches, to perpetuate local other. Nothing could be fur- churches with only one genera- ther from the biblical church. tion present. On one hand, there A quick glance through Titus exist the old, historical, local 2 reveals the expectation that churches, but hard times and churches will display a unity steady decline have left these across not just generations, but once vibrant churches on the genders, races, and socio-ethnic edge of closing. These churches boundaries as well. True spiri- typically contain longtime faith- tual life will never happen in a ful members who are of the older generation. On the other hand, there is the rapidly growing church planting movement where young, zealous church planters are ready to set the world on fre for Jesus: name a city, study the type of young, unchurched professionals who live there, then set out to plant a church in that city. These churches are frequently multi-cultural, and they are almost always of the younger generation. In an amazing irony, the most zealous, faithful, and hard-working of those in both the older and younger genera- church that narrows its focus to tions in these churches agree on the exclusion of believers who something: that one of their big- don’t “ft the profle.” As a result, gest hindrances in the growth a very important question to

30 CLEAR THE RUNWAY ask in preparation for revital- church’s corporate worship (1 ization is, “Who is my brother?” Cor 14:24), corporate worship Regardless of how different he is not about the unbeliever. It or she is from me, “Will I love is about bringing glory to God this person like he is my brother through the proclamation of the in Christ?” gospel and its implications for all of life. The best formula to Worship prepare a church for the Lord’s The Bible is clear that Christians coming is a deep conviction that are supposed to gather regularly the power of the Spirit of God to worship together (Heb 10:25). operating through the Word But a question every church of God is what breathes life needs to ask, especially as they into any and every church. If a set their hands to pursue new church truly believes that God’s life as a church, is, “Why do we Word builds the church, then it gather?” Too often, the Lord’s must be refected frst and fore- Day gathering of the local church most when the church gathers becomes a meeting of prefer- for corporate worship. ences instead of a time to unite under the power of God’s Word Conclusion for the purpose of worshipping Evaluating these fve areas is Jesus Christ. Songs and music imperative to assessing the styles are chosen to meet all the health not only of a church in different musical preferences need of revitalization, but any instead of being content-driven local church. These fve areas and musically simple. Sermons speak to the core of the church’s become topics about what life and defne who a church is people want to hear instead and where the church is going. of straightforwardly reading These areas are a tool and noth- and preaching God’s Word as ing more. But they can be an the central focus of the local invaluable guide for a church to church when it gathers. While gain clarity on why something Scripture expects that unbeliev- needs to change and what that ers will be present during the might be.

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 31 CHAPTER 5

LEAD FROM THE FRONT: The Priority of Expository Preaching

DAVID E. PRINCE

32 LEAD FROM THE FRONT ohn Broadus began his Expository Preaching and classic homiletics text Revitalization Acts of JOn the Preparation and Spiritual Warfare Delivery of Sermons explaining While genuine church revitaliza- the unique and indispensible tion certainly involves more than role of expository preaching in preaching, it can never bypass the life of the church: or minimize the pulpit. Preach- ing is God’s chosen medium, When a man who is apt in and it will never go out of date. teaching, whose soul is on Humanity lives in the context of fire with the truth which he a battle of sermons. The Bible trusts has saved him and begins with the divine king of hopes will save others, speaks the universe proclaiming his to his fellow-men, face-to- Word, but another voice intruded face, eye-to-eye, and electric and clashed. The appearance of sympathies flash to and fro the serpent contradicting God’s between him and his hearers, Word with his own proclamation till they lift each other up, is the frst example of spiritual higher and higher, into the warfare in Scripture. From the intensest thought, and the creation of the cosmos, king- most impassioned emotion— dom warfare has been a confict higher and yet higher, till they over the Word of God. The entire are borne as on chariots of biblical storyline follows this fire above the world, there ongoing cosmic war. is a power to move men, to Thus, one uniquely called to influence character, life, destiny, preach the Word of God in a local such as no printed page can church stands in direct opposition ever possess. Pastoral work is to Satan’s parasitic kingdom and of immense importance, and at the apex of kingdom confict in all preachers should be diligent this age. Martin Luther explained in performing it. But it cannot the warfare of preaching: take the place of preaching, nor fully compensate for lack of How difficult an occupation power in the pulpit.1 preaching is. Indeed, to preach

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 33 the Word of God is nothing Revitalization Only less than to bring upon oneself Comes to Those Who Hear all the furies of hell and of From Christ Satan, and therefore also of … James P. Boyce declared, “Faith- every power of the world. It ful preaching constitutes the is the most dangerous kind of voice of God — of the living life to throw oneself in the way God. It is the invitation of Christ of Satan’s many teeth.2 — the ever-present Christ.”4 Lis- teners are not simply hearing I fear Luther’s words sound about Christ; they are hearing melodramatic to many contem- Christ through his feeble but porary evangelicals who have faithful preachers. Salvation lost a sense of what is at stake and sanctifcation come only in preaching the Word. It is a hol- when his voice is heard, and low victory in evangelicalism to the listener responds, not to the have won the battle for the Bible preacher but to Christ in faith. in the academy only to domesti- Paul commends the church in cate it in our pulpits. The only Thessalonica, saying, “when you hope of faithfulness in the bat- received the Word of God, which tle of church revitalization is to you heard from us, you accepted understand preaching as a non- it not as the word of men but negotiable act of spiritual war. as what it really is, the Word The greatest need in the church of God” (1 Thess 2:13). To the and the world is faithful, Christ- Corinthian church, Paul states centered, expository preaching. his proclamation among them The most powerful weapon in was “a powerful demonstration cosmic battle and the primary by the Spirit” (1 Cor 2:3-4). Every means of transforming grace is other medium used to convey the straightforward, unadulter- biblical truth is an impoverished ated proclamation of the Word substitute for the vivid, living of Christ. C.H. Spurgeon haunt- face-to-faceness of biblical ingly asserted, “The moment the preaching. As D. Martyn Lloyd- Church of God shall despise the Jones wrote, “True preaching, pulpit, God will despise her.”3 after all, is God acting. It is not

34 LEAD FROM THE FRONT Jesus visions from heaven or myster- ies from beyond the grave but himself was instead focuses on patient expo- fundamentally a sition of Israel’s Scripture.”6 It is possible that mini– preacher. mizing preaching in church revitalization may lead to just a man uttering words; it is greater short-term peace God using him.”5 and even result in you being Jesus himself was funda– declared a creative, innova- mentally a preacher. Luke tive leader. If so, you will have records the Galilean crowds received your reward in full. pleading with Jesus to stay and Weak-willed preaching func- continue his ministry of heal- tions as a rhetorical narcotic ing and exorcism, to which he on behalf of the wisdom of the responds, “I must preach the world. Only a man with a blood- good news of the kingdom of earnest commitment that the God to the other towns as well; word of the cross is the power for I was sent for this purpose” of God belongs in a pulpit (1 Cor (Luke 4:43). Later, Jesus tells a 1:18). But, if you have that com- parable and asserts that, for mitment, you may come in fear, those who shut their ears to the trembling, and modest speech, voice of God in the Scriptures, but you know that it is God’s “Neither will they be convinced pleasure “through the folly of if someone should rise from what we preach to save those the dead” (Luke 16:31). It is striking, as Walter Moberly points out, that to convince his disciples that he was alive and that the messianic promise of redemption and kingdom remained, “the risen Jesus offers no new

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 35 who believe” (1 Cor 1:21). Church phy.”7 To the degree the preacher revitalization demands Scrip- is faithful, the living God who ture-saturated gospel-agitators, authored Scripture again speaks not caretakers of the congrega- his dynamic and living Word in tional status quo. a particular historical situation. As Gregory Edward Reynolds Maintain Eschatology in explains in The Word is Worth the Work of Revitalization a Thousand Pictures, “The face- Every person lives out a func- to-face presence of the preacher tional eschatology. We all ft is a reminder of what is coming today’s decisions into a story that (Rev 22:4). It is a down payment is headed somewhere. Biblical on eschatological glory.”8 preaching for revitalization con- The entire Bible is rightly rec- fronts rival eschatologies with ognized as Christian Scripture the story of Jesus in Scripture. because every part is organically Simply passing on information connected to its telos (end, goal) about God abstracted from the in the eschatological kingdom biblical storyline that centers of Christ. The biblical narrative on Jesus is inadequate and dan- purposefully directs all divine gerous because listeners simply and human acts toward a cos- incorporate the information into mic climax in which all things their existing eschatology. All the are summed up in Christ. There- truths of the Bible ft together fore, expository preaching that in Jesus. treats eschatology simply as a Preachers do not simply doctrinal category or an adden- echo the story of any culture, dum to the biblical story fails but rather proclaim the word to adequately acknowledge the that comes from outside of us entire Bible as Christian Scrip- — the Word of God. Neverthe- ture. Jesus is the eschatological less, preachers bring that word king and his people, the church, to bear not abstractly but con- represent the eschatological cretely in a particular locality. kingdom community who heed As Eugene Peterson has noted, his voice and eagerly await con- “All theology is rooted in geogra- summation of his kingdom.

36 LEAD FROM THE FRONT Faithful expository preach- as a means rather than an end. ing does not excise a passage The entire biblical narrative from the biblical metaplot to is infused with Christ-centered, stage it for application. The gospel-focused eschatological hearer must be taken to the hope. Eschatology is not merely text in its natural habitat, so to a set of beliefs concerning future speak; the task is not to ft the events; it is also the attitude text to the world of the reader and atmosphere aroused by as much as it is to ft the reader these events in local churches to the world of the text. Faith- — those on whom the end of ful preaching drags hearers into the ages has come (1 Cor 10:11). the amazingly diverse but uni- Effective preaching for revital- fed biblical storyline so they ization conveys this atmosphere can fnd themselves in Jesus of eschatological hope that per- and the story of his kingdom vades every text, a hope sourced (Col 3:3). In a church that needs in the triumph of the gospel of revitalization, somewhere along the kingdom of Christ. the way, Christ began to be seen

1John A. Broadus, On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons (New York: A.C. Armstrong & Son, 1887), 17-18. 2Martin Luther, D. Martin Luthers Werke, Kritische Gesamtausgabe (Weimar: Verlag Hermann Böhlaus Nachfolger, 1902), 25:253.

3 C. H. Spurgeon, Autobiography, Volume 1: The Early Years, 1834-1859 (London: Banner of Truth, 1962), v. 4“Thus Saith the Lord,” in James Petigru Boyce: Selected Writings, ed. Timothy George (Nashville: Broad- man, 1989), 67.

5 D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Preaching and Preachers (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1972), 95. 6Walter Moberly, The Bible, Theology, and Faith: A Study of Abraham and Jesus (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000), 51.

7Eugene Peterson, Under the Predictable Plant (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994), 130. 8Gregory E. Reynolds, The Word Is Worth a Thousand Pictures: Preaching in the Electronic Age (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2001), 338.

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 37 CHAPTER 6

RENEW IN THE PEW: Kindling Congregational Passion for Christ

DONALD S. WHITNEY

38 RENEW IN THE PEW esus Christ is the glory of marketplace consumers to a mall, the church. He loves the religious consumers perceive Jchurch and died for the no responsibility to the church church (Acts 20:28; Eph 5:25). except (perhaps) to give money in Despite all of its spots and exchange for services rendered. wrinkles, he is at work in and The problem with this attitude — through the church. Regardless besides the main problem, that it of how you view the general is contrary to biblical Christian- condition of the church today ity — is that it is self-defeating. or the state of the individual A church that has decreas- churches in your area, the ulti- ing numbers of people willing mate future of the church is to serve in its ministries will glorious beyond imagination. have fewer ministries to offer Therefore, regardless of what to consumers. your own church’s health might This is not the case every- convey, the potential for joy is where, of course. The world is greater in the church than is well-salted with saints who promised to any other earthly love the church and are bur- entity. As the local church is dened for its renewal. Pastors still comprised of sinners in a everywhere are concerned about fallen world, there’s no denying the increasingly common lack the reality of failure and dis- of commitment to the church, cord in the church. But with its not only by nominal Christians faults, there is more to enjoy but among supposedly mature in the church than the world believers. Faithful church mem- dreams of because of Christ. bers are discouraged by the new Unfortunately, the church beliefs and practices of their of Jesus Christ is increasingly ministers, which are anesthe- being viewed as a religious shop- tizing the congregation. I want ping mall. Many who attend do them to take heart about the so as religious consumers who future of the church. feel no more sense of commit- ment to the church than does Your Role a consumer to a mall. As with So how can you be part of the

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 39 own soul by means of personal spiritual disciplines. But did you know that there are spiritual dis- ciplines that can only happen with God’s people? The Bible makes clear that the Christian life cannot be lived alone. There is much current interest in spirituality and the spiritual disciplines, but it too often manifests itself in a privatized Christianity. Spirituality is sel- dom considered in a context of the church body. But the personal spiritual disciplines are not intended to make us spiritually self-absorbed evan- gelical monks. The church is a community in which Christians are to live and experience much of their Christianity. Too many believers isolate themselves bright future in your church, from life with the family of God, and what role can you play? If deceived by the notion that “me Jesus Christ died for the church, and Jesus” are all they need in then it’s worth our time to fnd order to be all that God wants out what our responsibility is them to become and to savor all to the church. he has for them. Such individu- Whether you’re a pastor or alization of the faith hurts the a church member, there are a church. What too few see is that number of things you can do to anything that hurts the church contribute to the health of your eventually hurts them as indi- church. Part of that includes vidual Christians. tending to the health of your So, where do we go from here?

40 RENEW IN THE PEW The spiritual disciplines are nature practiced alone, such as those practices found in Scrip- journaling, solitude, and fasting ture that promote spiritual (though individuals sometimes growth among believers in the fast in conjunction with a gospel of Jesus Christ. They are congregational fast). Other the habits of devotion and expe- disciplines are by nature con- riential Christianity that have gregational, such as fellowship, been practiced by the people of hearing God’s Word preached, God since biblical times. The and participation in the Lord’s disciplines could be described Supper — all of which require in several ways. the presence of people. Both the personal and inter– (Inter)Personal Spiritual personal disciplines are means of Disciplines blessings for followers of Jesus First, the Bible prescribes both and a part of growth in godli- personal and interpersonal ness, for the Bible teaches both. spiritual disciplines. While some Moreover, Jesus practiced both, disciplines are practiced alone, some are to be practiced with They are others. The former are personal spiritual disciplines and the lat- the habits of ter are interpersonal spiritual devotion and disciplines. For example, Chris- tians should read and study experiential the Word of God on their own (personal spiritual disciplines), Christianity but they should also hear the that have been Bible read and study it with the church (interpersonal spiritual practiced by the disciplines). Christians should worship God privately, but people of God they should also worship him since biblical publicly with his people. Some spiritual disciplines are by times.

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 41 Church spiritual disciplines. Conversely, we’re told in Luke 4:16, “as was members who his custom, [Jesus] went to the want to see synagogue on the Sabbath Day,” thus engaging in interpersonal their churches spiritual disciplines. Each of us is perhaps inclined come alive a little more toward disciplines again through that are practiced individually or toward those that are practiced revitalization corporately. Some, for instance, might think they could be all must commit that God wants them to be, even themselves without the local church, just by practicing the personal spiritual to growing as disciplines faithfully. Others may be equally deceived into think- Christians with ing that they’ll make suffcient other Christians spiritual progress if they are deeply involved in the life of their through church, believing that somehow their participation in meaningful interpersonal church activities will compensate spiritual for the lack of a personal devo- tional life. To lean too far toward disciplines. our own personal inclination, however, will get us out of bal- and becoming like Jesus is the ance and deform our pursuit of purpose of practicing the disci- holiness. Christians are individu- plines. So, for instance, the Bible als, but we are also part of the tells us on at least four occasions body of Christ. We experience God that Jesus got alone to pray (Matt and we grow in his grace through 4:1, 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 4:42) both personal and interpersonal thereby practicing personal spiritual disciplines.

42 RENEW IN THE PEW Renew Together If a church is going to experience new vibrancy, it can’t only come from the leaders and pastors. If it’s not happening in the pews now, it probably won’t magically start happening later. Church members who want to see their churches come alive again through revitalization must com- worship already occurring. The mit themselves to growing as worship in heaven, both that Christians with other Christians which is currently in process and through interpersonal spiritual that which will continue through- disciplines like these: out eternity, is congregational worship. Thus our congregational worship is more like heaven than HEARING THE WORD You can individual worship. 1hear preaching outside the church, but we should hear preaching in the church because EVANGELISM It brings more the Lord does things through the 3glory to God when we bear declaration of his Word that he witness of him together than when does not ordinarily do through we do so individually. In a world other means. Some of the most where everyone has broken rela- powerful and miraculous of the tionships, supernatural unity in works of God in the world oc- a church family bears witness to cur through the preaching of his the power of the gospel in a mar- gospel message. velously God-glorifying manner.

CORPORATE WORSHIP When SERVING Serving Jesus 2we worship God, there is a 4Christ through serving in real sense in which we are par- his church is an unconcealed ticipating in the unseen heavenly way the Lord wants us to express

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 43 our love for him. Consider the frst church: “And they contin- implications of Galatians 6:10: ued steadfastly in the apostles’ “Therefore, as we have oppor- doctrine and fellowship, in tunity, let us do good to all, the breaking of bread, and in especially to those who are of prayers” (Acts 2:42). the household of faith.” If when we “do good to all” we are doing good to Christ, then if we love PRAYER If congregational Christ we should especially do 7or small group prayer isn’t good to the household of faith. part of your Christian life, there’s a problem. Praying with the church is what Christians GIVING The main reason eagerly do when they are full of 5you should give to the God. So if we feel no compulsion church is that you love Jesus for intercession with God’s peo- Christ and are grateful for what ple, perhaps that alone should he has done for you. Giving helps prompt us to pray for God to fulfll the Great Commission, come among us as he did upon it’s a form of worship, a form the early church. of fellowship, a testimony of a As you grow in godliness, changed life, and supports the your church will grow in godli- work of the ministry. ness. And revitalization happens when godliness abounds. May these interpersonal disciplines FELLOWSHIP Fellowship is spur you and your fellow church 6the community for which members on to love the church God customized us. Curiously, more, love one another more, and however, some Christians are love God more. May God use your tempted to think that they can commitment to him and to his remain spiritually healthy apart people to breathe life into your from breathing the fresh air of church anew. biblical fellowship. Note the frst description of life in the Some of this material was adapted from Spiritual Disciplines within the Church: Participating Fully in the Body of Christ ©Copyright 1996 by Donald S. Whitney. Published by Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 45 CHAPTER 7

A ROAD MAP TO REVITALIZATION: Pursuing Faithfulness and Survival

BRIAN CROFT WITH TIM BEOUGHER

46 A ROAD MAP TO REVITALIZATION hen you plan a vaca- essential that you believe in the tion, there is so work of revitalization. There is Wmuch to do. There a popular saying among church are clothes to pack, laundry to planters: “It is easier to give wash, money to save, lodging to birth than to raise the dead,” book, transportation to decide, meaning that starting a church snacks to buy, and on and on. is often easier than restarting It can be especially exhausting an existing one. Church revi- if you have children, but it all talization is always diffcult, works to the end goal of going but we must believe that revi- on vacation. talization is possible. We must There has been plenty said believe in a God of resurrection already about the key com- power! Further, we must also ponents to revitalization. believe revitalization is worth Leadership, preaching, member- it. Jesus loves his church. He ship, and preparing your church loves not just healthy, growing for change all need to be consid- churches, but he also loves sick, ered before moving forward in struggling churches. Jesus loves the work of revitalization. But churches that need revitaliza- at some point, the work must tion, and we should love what begin, and knowing the way to Jesus loves. We must believe proceed is essential. The most that helping a struggling church well–planned vacation will be a “recover her first love” is a waste if there is no road map to vital kingdom ministry, but it get you to your destination. Like- requires pursuing faithfulness wise, when it comes to church as well as survival. revitalization, a good plan in These two elements — faith- itself is not enough. You must fulness and survival — are have a road map to know what essential to traversing suc- to do, where to go, and how to cessfully. There are the things reach your destination. a pastor must do to be faithful This chapter seeks to cre- to this work, and there are the ate that road map. But before things a pastor must do to sur- we dive into the details, it is vive in this work. One without

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 47 the other in the work of revital- ization leads to disaster. This chapter seeks to help pastors embrace both facets and marry them together as he sets his eyes towards the goal of a healthy, faithful, local church that possesses true spiritual life.

Faithfulness This facet seeks to answer the important question, “What does breathed life into the valley of God instruct us to do?” In other dry bones (Ezek 37). It is the words, how does God’s Word same for the old, historic, estab- inform what this road map lished church about to close its should look like? There are fve doors. Pastors must preach and basic principles that every pas- teach the Word in such a way tor must follow to be faithful, that they believe it is the only regardless the kind of revitaliza- way God can revive a struggling tion work before them. congregation. If a pastor doesn’t trust God’s Word, he will trust in something else to bring life. TRUST THE WORD It is tempt- 1ing for many pastors to look to modern gimmicks and prag- SHEPHERD SOULS In many matism to bring life to their 2cases, the decline and struggling church. But the struggle of local churches can be answer is the same as it was traced to decades of unfaithful when Paul instructed Timothy shepherds who cared more about to “preach the Word” (2 Tim numbers, programs, politics, and 4:2). Only God by his Spirit can personal gain than the biblical breathe life into death. This call for pastors to shepherd the is captured in the way God’s souls of God’s people (1 Pet 5:1-4; Spirit by the power of his Word Heb 13:17). Many churches need-

48 A ROAD MAP TO REVITALIZATION ing revitalization have hurting, love and seeking to win those broken, discouraged sheep that who are cynical toward your need a shepherd to care for them ministry. Tell your people and and nurture them back to health. show your people — all of them This is where a pastor’s time — that you love them. needs to be spent as he seeks to be faithful. If God is going to breathe life into his church, it PRAY HARD The despair and must come through the revival 4 discouragement that often of his people who are there. accompany dying churches can create a panicked approach that could lead pastors to act hast- LOVE ALL PEOPLE As we see ily and think they have to solve 3the imperatives for pastors every problem now. Sometimes in Scripture to “shepherd the the best thing to do to be faith- fock” (1 Pet 5:2) and to do so “as ful in a struggling church is to those who will give an account” stop and pray and cry out to (Heb 13:17), it is important to God for your church and your recognize that pastors don’t get people. The despair of church to choose who they will answer revitalization can wire us to try for in the church. It is tempt- and solve the fnancial crisis, ing to conclude that a pastor rather than praying for God will only answer for those who to provide. It can cause us to like him and gladly submit to remove leaders quickly instead his authority and ministry, but of praying that God would inter- that is not the case. This is why vene and mature that leader. If a commitment to love all peo- we truly believe that God — and ple in the church is essential to not our clever schemes — is the faithfulness. Some in a church one who breathes life into a are more diffcult to love than dying church, we better make others, but the key to faithful sure we fnd ourselves on our revitalization is not just pouring knees crying to the Chief Shep- into the teachable and support- herd who loves our church more ive, but pursuing those hard to than we do.

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 49 Faithfulness members can appear to be more of a hindrance for renewed life requires a instead of a beneft. Faithful- pastor to love ness in revitalization is to take these long-term members, love the older in the and accept them where they are, and fnd ways to celebrate them. congregation It is all too common for a and realize he young pastor to walk into a church and conclude these older needs them in members are the problem and therefore the solution is to run a revitalization them out. But God reveals his work if that design for the local church to have both old and young in the church is to church (Titus 2:1-8). Faithful- ness requires a pastor to love refect God’s the older in the congregation and design. realize he needs them in a revi- talization work if that church is to refect God’s design. If a pas- CELEBRATE OLDER MEMBERS tor will fnd ways to celebrate 5If a church has been around these long-term faithful saints for many years, inevitably there that have kept that church going are long-term older members when everyone else bailed out, still in these churches who it will cause them to be most long for their church to return receptive to the younger who to its former glory. These are also need to come to the church typically the ones who have kept for the church survive into the the struggling church open for next generation. many years, but are also the ones who are commonly resis- Survival tant to needed change. Because There are many pastors who of this, these longtime faithful have been faithful to walk in

50 A ROAD MAP TO REVITALIZATION these biblical principles just bers. As the years have passed, listed. We wish we could say we have realized increasingly that faithfulness is enough. that it was the other way around; Unfortunately, the wounded these faithful saints wounded by sheep and lack of general health previous pastors were the patient that accompany many churches ones. They were patient with us in need of revitalization create as we grew as preachers, as we hostile environments for pas- learned to love them, and as we tors who seek this work, leaving made rookie mistakes. They were faithful pastors either fred or patient through all the changes fallen into deep despair. Because they did not understand or agree of this, there is required a divine with, yet somehow trusted us not wisdom and discernment for knowing how this would turn every pastor who steps into out. The longer a pastor endures, this work. Here are fve areas of is patient, and stays, the greater this required wisdom that are will become his realization that critical to a pastor’s survival for he was shown much grace. both his ministry as well as the Patience might be the most preservation of his own soul. important key to survival as it will cause a pastor to wait when he needs to wait. It will cause a BE PATIENT In the early years pastor to make decisions with a 1of revitalization, pastors are longer view in mind. Patience often convinced they — in con- will cause a pastor to forebear trast to their members who are with a diffcult person. Patience so resistant to change — are is not just a signifcant fruit of the patient ones. We have both the Spirit in every Christian’s thought this at one time or life but a key element to both another in our revitalization surviving and avoiding great efforts in the face of criticism, discouragement. And if that is conficts, and attacks on our min- not persuasive enough, let us istries. We as pastors thought we be reminded that patience is were being more patient and commanded of the pastor, “I faithful than the church mem- solemnly charge you in the pres-

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 51 ence of God and of Christ Jesus, Apostle Paul takes the oppo- who is to judge the living and the site approach — the presence dead, and by his appearing and of adversaries makes him con- his kingdom: preach the Word; clude he must stay longer: “But be ready in season and out of I will remain in Ephesus until season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, Pentecost; for a wide door for with great patience and instruc- effective service has opened to tion” (2 Tim 4:1-2). me, and there are many adver- saries” (1 Cor 16:8-9). Becoming a pastor means EXPECT SUFFERING If you placing our families on the 2are a pastor trying to revi- front lines of spiritual battle. talize a church holding on to the Why are pastors so surprised hope suffering will not come, when the enemy comes against you should fnd another line of our gospel ministry, especially in work now. It is amazing the num- places it has been suppressed for ber of pastors ready to resign decades? Charles Simeon said, after about two years of min- “Brothers we must not mind a istry in one place because they little suffering.” Expect suffering fnally met the adversaries the in this work of revitalization so enemy placed in an open door of when it does come, you will not ministry. As many pastors talk be shocked, and preparation for through discouragement and this suffering can lead to your struggles, we eventually ask survival through it. them, “Did you think becoming the pastor of that church would not bring with it adversaries to PICK BATTLES WISELY A key your gospel ministry?” 3to a soldier’s survival on the Ironically, in many cases battlefeld is to know there are it is their confrontation with land mines out there and to avoid adversaries against the gospel stepping on them. The work of and their ministries that make revitalization is similar in that them conclude it is time for you can survive a long time if you the next place of ministry. The can know where the battles are,

52 A ROAD MAP TO REVITALIZATION and know which ones to fght and when to fght them. Yet, even when you step on a mine, or choose a battle unwisely, God will use it to give you discernment to know what battles to fght tomorrow. God in his sovereign grace uses the worst moments in our ministries to bring perspective like noth- ing else once real revitalizing change occurs. Because of the trials we have endured in our churches, we both have a per- spective in decision-making that pastoral scars of battle. Nothing few in our churches now have. can serve a pastor as well as the This perspective allows a spe- wisdom wrought by scars. Those cial wisdom and discernment to scars will bring wisdom, and choose battles wisely. that wisdom is a key to survival. So when our newest seminary student is really uptight about those eight to 10 members on the LOVE DIFFICULT PEOPLE We fringe or those family members 4 all want everyone to receive of long-time church members us and our ministries instantly. still on the rolls, he does not But we have learned that it is remember the blood, sweat, sweeter and more rewarding tears, and bruises that came to to have church members love remove hundreds of members and trust you who once were a few years ago. He does not hostile to you. We have some know about the fnger pointing incredibly supportive people threat received in the deacons in our churches now, but the meeting fve years earlier. God relationships that mean the grows a unique discernment most are those with whom we and wisdom in you through the fought in the early years, strug-

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 53 gled to love in any way, and yet ting Christ love diffcult people grew and learned to love. To be through you. greeted every Sunday with a smile, hug, and warmth by the man who led the charge to get TRUST THE CHIEF SHEPHERD you fred just a few years ago is 5The Chief Shepherd never hard to describe. abandons his under shepherds. There is a special evidence of Christ promises never to leave God’s redemptive grace every nor forsake his sheep. This is time a pastor sees that man in arguably the most important the church who was once his truth we must hold for survival. foe, but now is his friend. With- Jesus is with you! He knows the out a commitment to love the struggle in your church. He is most diffcult of people through near and working, even when you the conficts and struggles, this do not see it. That is the smiling relationship redemption is not face behind the frowning provi- experienced. Loving those who dence. He is your shield in that are hostile to you and your deacons meeting. He is there ministry is essential to dis- when you are publically rebuked. cern whether they are a wolf He is compassionate when your in sheep’s clothing or a hurting mistake or failure in a decision sheep longing to trust a shep- harms the church. He is sad when herd who would prove worthy his sheep attack you because they of that trust. We must not for- do not understand and are afraid. get that all persons (including He is your defender when wolves us) can be diffcult to love at in the church try to harm the times, as the poem reminds sheep. The Chief Shepherd will us: “To dwell above with saints never abandon his shepherds. He we love, that will be grace and is with you and doing whatever glory. But to live below with he must to give you the grace to folks we know, now that’s a remain steadfast in this task to different story!” Sometimes that care for souls on his behalf until is a very different story, but a he returns. How could we think key part of revitalization is let- Jesus would not fght relentlessly

54 A ROAD MAP TO REVITALIZATION for those who faithfully labor, faithful in the work of revi- suffer, and endure to care for his talization without a means of sheep? If a pastor can hang on survival. This is the road map to this unshakable truth of being to guide you to accomplish both. in Christ and an under shepherd Does this road map scare you? of the Chief Shepherd, the most Are you ready to set out on the brutal church revitalization can journey of this noble work? Our be survived and even revived. hope is that this guide will not just give you the tools to move Conclusion forward in your journey, but pro- There is a call upon every pas- vide an unmistakable reminder tor to be faithful, but you will that the Chief Shepherd will not have the opportunity to be always be with you as you travel.

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 55 CHAPTER 8

ARE WE THERE YET? Indicators of Success

ERIC BANCROFT

56 ARE WE THERE YET? re we there yet?” asked Good news. You are not alone Anthony, the exasper- in this godly yearning for God’s Aated little boy who had glory in local churches. Other enough of being strapped down pastors over the centuries have to his NASA-inspired car seat. longed to see their churches This road trip was a lot longer grow in godliness and for every than he expected. He had been Christian under their care to be told that, when they arrived, it “mature in Christ” (Col 1:28). would prove worth the wait and While some church consul- just as exciting as he hoped, but tants wax eloquently today he was now in doubt. He was about the promises of brand only getting glimpses of the marketing, engaging websites, journey as he could just barely and updated fonts on church peek out the window, thanks to documents, I would like to a car door that was not designed encourage you to strive for with little boys’ insatiable curi- something more promising. This osity of the world in mind. His is an appetite for the Word, a patience was beginning to run culture of discipleship, passion thin as the duration of his wait- for evangelism, and unity within ing approached an eternity. a plurality of leaders. When such Anthony’s road trip experi- features are in place, you can be ence is often how many pastors assured you are arriving at the today feel about pastoring their destination the Lord intended churches. They started on the for your church. pastoral journey with the expec- tation that it would take some Appetite for the Word time to arrive at their destina- Rare is the church that calls a tion, but they believed it would man to come and pastor them be worth the wait. Eventually, without the expectation that he more time has passed than will teach them from the Bible. they frst expected, and they Candidating conversations can wonder if they are ever going include questions like, “What to get there. Perhaps you have would you want to teach us from felt this way. the Bible?” and “What transla-

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 57 tion do you normally preach your preaching should be done in from?” Such questions presup- an expositional manner. Doing so pose the man will be teaching helps guarantee that your people from the Bible. The problem, encounter the whole counsel of however, comes to many men God (Acts 20:27), and allows God after they have been installed to speak to his people without in their churches and begin to preach week after week. Confu- It should be sion and frustration begin to be voiced by many congregants your prayer who were under the impression that the pastor would reference and committed the Bible as a support but, for practice to the most part, would provide “a word from the Lord for today.” unfold to the It should be your prayer and committed practice to people of God unfold to the people of God the whole the whole counsel of God. This will demonstrate your constant counsel of God. commitment to the Great Com- mission, specifcally “teaching you continuing to “interrupt” them to observe all that I have with what you would like to say. commanded you” (Matt 28:20). As the years begin to pass The best way to commit to this by, your church’s appetite is through expositional preach- will be weaned off of cultural ing, the kind of preaching where commentaries, psychological the sermon is closely tethered to assessments, and other in–com- the text. While there might be plete offerings and will instead an understandable occasional hunger for the Word of God. They desire to deliver pastorally will begin to understand that informed topical sermons due this was what Jesus prayed for to something the entire congre- them when he said in John 17:17, gation is facing, the majority of “Sanctify them in the truth; your

58 ARE WE THERE YET? word is truth.” Their growth as a recent sermon when she felt Christians is directly connected particularly challenged by the to their exposure and obedience implications of the gospel in to the Word of God. her life, namely that she could Something exciting will begin confess her sin to her Chris- to take place in the rest of the tian friends so that they could church as a result of this grow- encourage her, pray for her, and ing appetite. They will want this hold her accountable. The prob- commitment to the Word of God lem was she thought they were to inform other areas of min- going to learn something about istry offerings. They will look her that they didn’t already freshly at the VBS curriculum to know. I assured her they already make sure it is accurate. They knew the truth about her — that will audit their youth pastor’s she was so sinful that it took the sermons to make sure they’re Son of God to die on the cross biblically sound. They will ask to make payment for her sins. for their Sunday school classes After that reminder, it was just to consistently complement a matter of the details. what they have been taught as When the Word of God is a church. Even the books they preached, people begin to under- pass around to each other will stand who they are and the hope start to be replaced with more they can have in Christ. This solid and trusted resources. This explains why the Apostle Paul appetite for God’s Word in every wanted to come to the church area of the church comes from in Rome that he might preach to years of preaching God’s Word them the gospel (Rom 1:15). The to God’s people. Christians in the church in Rome had already believed the gospel Culture of Discipleship for their conversion, but they “If they knew the truth about needed to continue to hear the me they would never want to gospel for their sanctifcation. talk to me.” One of our ladies in A local church that is being our church said this when we resuscitated by the Word of God were meeting. It had come after will become more genuinely

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 59 will mean an inten- tional pursuit of older and/or younger saints in order to help each other grow in Christlikeness.

Passion for Evangelism Do you get the same emails that I do? You know which ones I’m talking about, the emails about the new sermon series that other relational. While people might churches are using and that have been sharing recipes and has led to thousands of deci- talking sports scores for years, sions for Christ. If only it were it is likely that they have been that simple. If only these “magic only an inch deep in vulner- beans” produced such amaz- able conversation. Your goal in ing and promising results. pastoring is to see a culture of But often this is not the case. discipleship where people who Instead, pastoring your people have been washed by the Word to evangelize consistently and and had their minds renewed faithfully takes a lot of work and by Scripture are increasingly is done as much on your knees seeking each other to enjoy the in prayer as it is standing in the relationships God has given pulpit. While churches should be them, both old and new alike. faithful to proclaim the gospel For some this will mean start- to non-Christians who visit local ing to practice hospitality. For churches, it is the pastor’s job others it will mean transparent “to equip the saints for the work discussions in their small group of ministry, for building up the gatherings. And yet for others it body of Christ” (Eph 4:12).

60 ARE WE THERE YET? Getting Christians to acknowl- local, national, and global; and edge they should evangelize is testimonies of how God opened like getting children to admit their mouth and made it clear they should eat their vegetables. how they should speak the truth They might nod their head in to others (Col 4:3-4). agreement but they no more enjoy it or intend to do it than Unity of a Plurality before you talked to them about of Leaders it. There are many reasons this is I don’t know what kind of lead- the case. These range from fear, ership structure you have in to inexperience, to hypocritical your church. It is likely that you lives being practiced outside have either deacons or elders. the pastor’s sight. Your goal I am personally convinced that is for your people to respond the Bible teaches that each local to the gospel in their lives so church should be led by a plural- overwhelmingly and so convinc- ity of elders. Saving that lesson ingly that they can no longer be for another time, let me say that silent. This takes time. They will even if you have deacons, this need to see this and hear about goal of a plurality of leaders this in your life. They will need operating in unity should not your encouragement even when be lost on you. their efforts are sorely lacking As a pastor, you want to raise or misguided. up other men who are convinced In time, though, as God of the truth as seen in Scripture. chooses to bless his people, they This ensures that there is more will love proclaiming the excel- than your voice heralding the lencies of God found in Jesus hope that God’s Word gives for Christ (Phil 3:8). Signs of this in his people. This helps protect your church include a shift from against your people thinking individuals expecting the church your pastoral initiatives (mod- to evangelize for them to indi- eling expositional preaching, viduals doing the evangelizing instigating relational pursuits, themselves; a desire to increase equipping others for evangelism, funding for evangelism efforts etc.) are just your “thing.” Those

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 61 Unity in any of backgrounds and have different gifts, they should share a common local church theology and philosophy of min- starts with its istry. While the other goals in this chapter have a more public action leadership. associated with them, this goal is often happening behind the scenes who have been around the church and starts from the very begin- long enough have heard motiva- ning of your pastorate. It comes tional messages calling people through hours of shared conversa- to everything from giving more tions, books read and discussed, money to joining the church’s lessons taught and considered, softball team. It is likely that your ministries evaluated and thought appeals will be lost on some. But through, and people cared for and a shared belief among the leaders prayed over together. helps thwart this obstacle. Unity can seem like an illusory Almost There goal in any church, especially if By no means are these your only there’s a painful history of splits goals during your pastorate as or other similar divisions. But you seek to revitalize your local unity can and should be seen in church, but they certainly should every local church. In fact, Jesus be some of your main ones. While even prays for this in John 17:21, we are all tempted as pastors “that they may all be one, just as to keep up with other churches, you, Father, are in me, and I in comparing our attendance and you, that they also may be in us.” our budgets to one another, let Why does he pray this? “So that us take heart. God has already the world may believe that you given us all we need in his Word have sent me.” Nothing less than to pastor his people. Through the the reputation of Jesus Christ is power of the Holy Spirit, we have on the line. all the resources we need. Unity in any local church starts But remember this: you cannot with its leadership. While the do this by your strength. Don’t men might come from a variety trust in your formal theological

62 ARE WE THERE YET? Call out to God and ask him to bless your labors. Ask him to glorify himself in your ministry, that his people would bring glory to his Son, Jesus Christ. training, years of pastoral expe- people would bring glory to his rience, network of counselors, Son, Jesus Christ. When you do or persuasive personality. Start this, not only will you enjoy the pastoring on your knees. Call out view along the way but you will to God and ask him to bless your enjoy the destination when you labors. Ask him to glorify him- arrive. It will have been worth self in your ministry, that his the wait. CHAPTER 9

THE REVITALIZATION OF CAPITOL HILL BAPTIST CHURCH Washington D.C.

AN INTERVIEW WITH MARK DEVER

64 THE REVITALIZATION OF CAPITOL HILL BAPTIST CHURCH here, very few people lived within CAN YOU GIVE ME A “BEFORE” one mile; even most of the pastors 1AND AN “AFTER” PHOTOGRAPH before me lived out in a parson- OF CAPITOL HILL BAPTIST CHURCH age somewhere in Virginia. — A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF WHEN The congregation is also a YOU ARRIVED AND OF NOW? In lot younger. The average age is 1993, the church was largely now probably 30, and we have elderly. The building was in roughly 1,000 people on Sun- disrepair. But the people were day morning — so the building faithful. They loved the Lord, is full. though I wouldn't say they’d been well taught. They’d had a long series of short-lived pastors. EVANGELISM AND MIS- The congregation had ad– 4 SIONS? HAVE THOSE THINGS hered around cultural things CHANGED? With evangelism, it’s more than anything else: meals, much of the same. We no lon- certain kinds of music, pro- ger have an altar call, but in grams, activities. my sermons I call on people to repent and believe as much as any preacher they’ve had. AT THIS POINT, HOW MANY When I came here, the church 2PEOPLE ATTENDED REGU- had an “event” culture. They LARLY? About 130, most of them would invite people to church between 70-75 years old. through advertising — the radio, the newspaper — or they’d host a big event to get people to come WHAT DOES CHBC LOOK LIKE so that the paid professional 3NOW? Now, the congregation dude would tell them the gospel. lives not in the suburbs but here But what I've tried to do — on the Hill, where the church is through prayer, love, and some located. The last time we had guilt — is to encourage people to somebody count, 55 percent of realize that they have a respon- our members lived within one sibility to share the gospel. We mile of the building. When I came want them to handle it deftly in

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 65 conversation. So the gospel comes ball, now I think they would be out more easily, more naturally. about the sermons, discipling Regarding missions, we sup- relationships, evangelism oppor- port fewer couples but with more tunities, struggles with sin, etc. money. We don’t want missionar- ies to spend the majority of their time raising support. If we’re SO, YOU’VE BEEN HERE FOR confdent in them, instead of 621 YEARS. WOULD YOU CALL giving them $500 a year we will YOURSELF A “CHURCH REVITAL- give them $35,000 or $70,000 a IZER”? I’ve been called that. I guess year. This frees them up to be I wonder how the language of revi- missionaries, and it clarifes the talizing means anything different relationship: they are clearly from what we call pastoring. accountable to us, and we are Also, I wonder how much our clearly responsible for them. language of “revitalizer” is poten- tially unhelpful. How much does it presuppose a kind of evident ARE THERE OTHER WAYS YOU success in our ministry, with lit- 5 CAN DESCRIBE THE CHANGE tle thought of the guy who will OF CULTURE BETWEEN THEN AND be the next pastor of the church. NOW? I wasn’t a part of it before Certainly, we desire to be so it’s hard for me to say. The revitalizers; we desire for congregation I encountered here God to revitalize, to revive his was very kind, very hospitable church. But to be able to say in a rural-South kind of way. ahead of time, “I am going to But now, the kind of hospitality revitalize this church” — well, that characterizes our church that’s hubris, that’s pride. isn’t easily explained by cultural Some folks have asked me norms. It’s deliberate hospital- before, “Is the ministry at CHBC ity, often with people with whom replicable?” That’s a criticism you have little in common. I’ve heard from people some- Whereas conversations prev– times: “Mark’s a good guy, but he iously would have likely been just doesn’t realize he’s gifted in concerned with family and foot- ministry. He thinks it’s because

66 THE REVITALIZATION OF CAPITOL HILL BAPTIST CHURCH of these nine marks, so he gets tempted to think that because all these poor guys excited about I’m sure there are preachers out them and then nothing happens.” there better than me, and their Well, I think I understand churches aren’t packed. It’s a at least some of what they are blessing of God the Holy Spirit, saying. But I also want to make and our tendency is to want to three observations. say, “Look! Do you see this great First, if I’m giving myself to the revival? I’m going to reverse ministry of prayer and the Word engineer this thing to see how like the apostles were in Acts 6, it happened, and then I’m going then that is certainly replicable. to come up with extraordinary There’s no way that would be means so I can enjoy these unique to me or to this place. extraordinary blessings.” Second, the kind of things Instead, we should focus on that we do as a church — our the regular, daily, and weekly commitments in ministry, our means of grace: the preach- theology, our understanding ing of God’s Word, baptism of church polity and member- and the Lord’s Supper, being a ship — all of that is certainly member of a local church, the replicable. There’s nothing that fruit of the Spirit. It’s these says this is the only place those normal things that we are to things can work. do that God sometimes blesses But third, if by “replicable” in extraordinary measure. So, I someone means, “If you do these think the title “revitalization” things then this will necessarily can only be said after looking in happen” — if that’s what they the rearview mirror to describe mean, then I say, no, nothing is what God chooses to do to “replicable” in that sense. some churches when they get a That’s out of our hands and new pastor. up to the Holy Spirit. I’ve never once thought, “We have exposi- tional preaching; therefore, we LOOKING IN THE REARVIEW have a packed church and people 7MIRROR, HAS GOD REVITAL- are getting saved.” I’m not even IZED THIS CHURCH? Certainly in

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 67 some ways, but even then I do not want to say that this church was AS YOU ASSESSED THE entirely without vitality before I 8CHURCH UPON ARRIVAL, DID came. They were an evangelical YOU HAVE A STRATEGY FOR HOW church; they were preaching the YOU BEGAN YOUR WORK? gospel. But defnitely, by a lot of Preach, pray, work, and stay. external means, yes, this church I wanted to preach the Word, has been revitalized. to give myself seriously during But just like Paul writes to the week to working on the ser- the Corinthians, “I planted and mon. I wanted to pray regularly Apollos watered, but it’s God that every day, particularly through gives the growth.” So, if you really the membership. I wanted to want to press hard on identifying love people and build personal the revitalizer, that would be God, relationships. I wanted to try to he was the revitalizer. disciple guys. I’m very thankful for the And last, I wanted to be will- Center for Church Revitaliza- ing to stay there forever. It takes tion and for NAMB’s Legacy a long time for a church to Church Plant Division. I’m become a strong witness. I’ve got thankful for all of these new folks who’ve been here 20 years emphases, as they are a way to that express to me their pain boost the faithfulness of pastors over how many friends they’ve in challenging circumstances. said goodbye to. It’s sincere, and I’m simply raising some ques- I feel for them because I experi- tions about the nomenclature ence the same thing. But I kind of and some of the assumptions took that as the “sign-up price.” behind them. There’s a certain pride that comes with thinking, “I can do YOU SOUND MUCH MORE it!” — because it takes the Holy 9LIKE A FATHER THAN A Spirit, and you can’t schedule the BUSINESSMAN. AND SO MUCH Holy Spirit to save 17 people, let CONVERSATION ABOUT CHURCH alone 170. GROWTH USES METRICS LIKE A

68 THE REVITALIZATION OF CAPITOL HILL BAPTIST CHURCH BUSINESSMAN MIGHT. BUT YOU’RE was the only apparent author- TALKING ABOUT SHEPHERDING A ity, and I didn’t feel like that CHILD THROUGH MULTIPLE SEA- was a healthy situation for the SONS AND STAGES. church. I also didn’t think it was The more we reduce ministry to biblical. So I could name issues, business, the more pastors are but the issues weren’t the point; convinced to think like CEOs and it was the structure that had less like shepherds. They’ll think, left us open to unnecessarily “I want to play in a bigger league, diffcult challenges. so I need a bigger platform.” But if you’re not thinking like that, if instead you’re thinking SO, IF YOU’RE GOING TO about your members’ sanctifca- 11GIVE A LIST TO A PASTOR tion, then your entire approach OF A CHURCH THAT NEEDS REVI- will be different. You can’t turn TALIZATION, WHAT’S ON YOUR spiritual growth into metrics “MUST-DO” LIST? Preach good very easily. This will inevitably sermons, move toward a plurality frustrate some people in your of qualifed elders, and be careful church, but the elders need to with the church’s membership. be the ones to have the maturity to take the long view and realize that God will be the fnal asses- ARE YOU SAYING THAT sor of all these things. 12 FOR THE AMERICAN SITU- ATION, OR FOR EVERYWHERE? I don’t know a culture in which WHAT ARE SOME OF Scripture does not apply. So, yes, 10THE EARLY ISSUES YOU every place on the planet. FACED THAT BROUGHT CHAL– LENGES? Because we didn’t have a plurality of elders, lots WHAT WERE SOME MIS- of issues became signifcant. 13 TAKES YOU MADE? I’m Any number of challenges sure I didn’t always have great became threatening because I judgment on knowing how

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 69 much any particular challenge and my answer is something would cost. There were lots of like, “Yeah, I don't know” — and things that I thought had one I am deeply okay with that. Every price tag, but in reality had time I say that I don't know, I another, usually a much higher dispel any illusions that I’m God. one. With a plurality of elders, I likely would have realized that more. LAST QUESTION, HOW DOES I often say young guys have 15 THIS WORK OF REVITAL- great acuity and poor depth IZATION AFFECT YOUR WIFE AND perception — that was me. I had CHILDREN? If there are expecta- sharp vision; I could see what tions for your wife and kids, then was right and wrong, but I had you want them to be as visible as no idea how to get there. Young possible, so you can either own guys need older guys to help them or reject them. Your wife them with this. should not feel that she is in a fundamental competition for you with your job, especially if your DO YOU THINK IT TAKES job is the church. Your church 14 A CERTAIN KIND OF GUY can get another pastor, but your TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK? It wife can't get another husband depends on the character of the — and you need to know that church. If you have a proclivity more than she needs to know to be a bit of a fghter, if you that. You don’t want to have any have a lot of hard edges, if your excuse to alienate her affections wife would tell me that about for the church. you, then it might be better if Husbands need to take the long you plant a church or go to an view. After all, outward success in already healthy church. ministry can be more diffcult for Some people are just more your family than outward failure doctrinaire. They only have two because you will have a growing speeds: right or wrong. But I’m number of apparent good things asked questions every week, that could take up your time.

70 THE REVITALIZATION OF CAPITOL HILL BAPTIST CHURCH Families rarely work that way. Sure, they can fourish and After all, be successful, but generally, outward growth accompanies a lot of struggle. The victories aren’t as success in quick, so the temptation for any man is to say, “I’m going back to ministry can be where I see this kind of output, more diffcult as opposed to here where I just feel taken for granted and where for your family nothing really works like I want it to.” than outward Success in revitalization can failure because be an unusually powerful trap. you will have a growing number of apparent good things that could take up your time.

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 71 CHAPTER 10

THE REVITALIZATION OF AUBURNDALE BAPTIST CHURCH Louisville, Kentucky

AN INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN CROFT

72 THE REVITALIZATION OF AUBURNDALE BAPTIST CHURCH hen I frst shared average, four years being the the story of my frst longest stay since 1972. I arrived Wten years in church at the very bottom of a 35-year revitalization, I found it to be decline, with 30 tired, discour- unexpectedly diffcult. I relived aged, elderly members remaining. some very painful memories, reminders of bad decisions with many unpleasant consequences, AS YOU ASSESSED THE CHURCH not least of which is the still- 2UPON ARRIVAL, DID YOU HAVE palpable toll they took on my A STRATEGY FOR HOW TO BEGIN family. As painful as these recol- YOUR WORK? IF SO, WHAT WAS lections may be, I feel compelled IT? I had very wise mentors who to share them in the hope they taught me well, and I came to encourage struggling pastors to Auburndale with two commit- remain steadfast in the trenches, ments that I learned from them. and to trust that God is at work First, I must faithfully preach the in their ministries. Word, sacrifcially love the peo- ple, and do not change anything for awhile. Second, regardless EXPLAIN THE HISTORY OF THE of what happens, stay 10 years. 1CHURCH YOU PASTOR AND THE I had come to a deep conviction STATE OF THE CHURCH WHEN YOU that the Word of God was enough ARRIVED? I came to Auburndale to breathe life into a church and Baptist Church in September build it — even an existing church 2003, knowing this church had that appeared to have little to no a reputation of chewing up and life left in it. One precious gift the spitting out its pastors. The Lord gave us was another family, “glory days” were in the 1950s close friends of ours, who came to and 1960s when almost 1,000 the church with us. From day one people attended Sunday morning as senior pastor of this struggling services. Since then, this church church, my friend served as my had been in decline for over three associate pastor. He said he was decades with pastors staying coming to get ministry experience between one to three years on as he was considering vocational

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 73 pastoral ministry. He later admit- ing these three fring efforts and ted he and his wife came to care an exodus of 15 percent of the for us in what they expected to church in one year, I found myself be a rough place. tired, discouraged, and question- ing whether I should continue at this church after being there WHAT WERE SOME OF THE fve years. In the kind, mysteri- 3ISSUES THAT BROUGHT THE ous providence of God, when the EARLY CHALLENGES YOU FACED? smoke cleared from these implo- I experienced three different sions I looked up and saw the efforts to get me fred in the frst ship had started to turn. Almost fve years. The frst issue revolved like clockwork as we entered into around authority: a staff member the sixth year, signifcant issues had plans to run me off, just as he began to change. At the conclu- had with the previous pastor. The sion of the mass exodus, some of second issue was defning church the most signifcant families in membership. In a Southern our church today showed up in Baptist congregational church, the next year — three of the men there are multiple reasons con- now serve as pastors with me. fict existed. The third was the I made some needed adjust- ugliest confict and it had to do ments in my preaching where I with defning leadership: what became more open, vulnerable, it meant to be a pastor or dea- and broken before my people — con and the differences between that has been life-giving to them. them. Despite intentionally wait- We began to reach the community, ing on the right time to approach particularly international refu- these issues, they remained a gees living around the church. challenge to address. The horrible reputation that the church carried for the previous 25 years began to change as we WHEN DID YOU SENSE THE reached out to the surround- 4SHIP WAS TURNING? WHAT ing community. There are many WAS HAPPENING? After surviv- other things I could share indicat-

74 THE REVITALIZATION OF AUBURNDALE BAPTIST CHURCH ing that change was around the into pastoral ministry and the corner. However, there were two mission feld. There are the same signifcant events that took place challenges that remain in every in the next two years that stand church flled with sinners saved above the others: we defined by the blood of Christ, but after our leadership and accurately 12 years, this church looks and assessed our membership. functions very differently than it did a decade before.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN 5 PASTOR? WHAT DOES THE IF YOU HAD TO PICK ONE THING CHURCH LOOK LIKE NOW COM- 6THAT GOD USED THE MOST TO PARED TO WHEN YOU ARRIVED? REVITALIZE YOUR CHURCH, WHAT As of the date of this interview WAS IT? God used what he uses I have been the senior pastor of in every church he desires to Auburndale Baptist Church for breathe life back into: his Word almost 12 years. We have grown in the power of the Holy Spirit. spiritually and numerically, but The regular preaching of God’s remain a size that allows the joy Word through books of the Bible, of knowing most of the church week after week, year after year, on a personal level. The average through the turmoil and confict, age of the church is now around in the midst of struggling to pay 35, but an encouraging genera- our bills — God used that to tional and ethnic diversity is breathe life back into our church. present. There are many children Herein reveals that which God running around and beloved always uses to give life in a soul elderly widows in their 90s. as well as his church: the Spirit of There are white middle-class God at work in the Word of God. members as well as African refugees members wondering if they will eat next week. We WHAT WERE SOME KEY DECI- have trained, affrmed, and sent 7SIONS MADE THAT PROVED TO several families from our church MAKE A DIFFERENCE? In light of

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 75 the previous question, preach- Herein reveals ing expository sermons through books of the Bible was an essen- that which God tial decision to allow God’s Word always uses to to do its work in our church. Deciding early what it meant to give life in a soul be a member of the church and requiring that standard for new as well as his members proved to be a massive church: the Spirit decision. Moving to a plurality of pastors, taking my children of God at work in on home visits with church members hostile to me, and con- the Word of God. tinuing to pursue and love those wisely, but others not so much. who attacked me were all key I am convinced my wife spared decisions that proved to make a me a few more attempted fr- huge difference. ings by helping me see certain battles were not worth fghting. WHAT WERE SOME MISTAKES I allowed some diffcult people to 8 YOU MADE AND LESSONS get to me more than they should YOU LEARNED? The greatest have. It is hard not to take per- mistake I made was assuming sonal attacks personally, but if this church and the people in it we can fnd a way to love those were the broken ones. The longer people through those attacks, I stayed, the more I realized I there will be a clarity and dis- was just as broken and in need cernment that exists that is not of Jesus as they were. I thought present without it. I was the patient one in the early years, but the longer I stay the more I realized this church was HOW DID THIS WORK OF being patient with a young pas- 9 REVITALIZATION AFFECT tor trying to fgure out what he YOUR WIFE AND CHILDREN? was doing. I picked some battles My children were too young to

76 THE REVITALIZATION OF AUBURNDALE BAPTIST CHURCH remember the chaos, pain, and came off our life during those hurt of the early years, but my hard years we are convinced will wife remembers it all too well. never return. And it had a tremendous effect on her. By God’s grace, there is Conclusion no bitterness in either of our The pain of those early years hearts from those years, but will never leave my family, but in I believe some of the physical God’s kind providence it makes struggles and depression my the fruit of what we see now wife later experienced were in in our church that much more part a result of those hard years. sweet. Seeing a unity among the It’s one thing to be the pastor races and generations in our who is receiving attacks at his church, having a loving rela- church by his church, but it’s tionship with those who once another thing to be the wife of despised me, and experiencing that pastor. As a result, my wife members loving each other and suffered in signifcant ways that God’s Word as it is preached forever changed us both. It is means so much more because the grace of God that neither of of where we started. us battles bitterness, but years

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 77 CHAPTER 11

THE REVITALIZATION OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH Durham, North Carolina

AN INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW DAVIS

78 THE REVITALIZATION OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH aligning with the Cooperative EXPLAIN THE HISTORY OF THE Baptist Fellowship, the liberal 1CHURCH YOU PASTOR AND THE offshoot of the SBC. The fact STATE OF THE CHURCH WHEN YOU that so many members of FBC ARRIVED? First Baptist Church would have desired such align- in Durham, North Carolina, was ment with the CBF shows the established in 1845, and was the theological decay of the church. frst church of any kind in Dur- The church had an extended ham. For the frst seven decades search process of almost two or so, FBC was the most impor- years before calling me in tant church in town, but only August 1998. I would describe mildly evangelical. FBC as a deeply divided church From 1973-1977, the senior when I came, though those divi- pastor of FBC was Dick Hen- sions were painted over by a derson. He preached strong cultural commitment to civil- biblical sermons and had a ity. Some considered it far more flourishing ministry among important to maintain peace college students. But a fac- than to live for the truth. Others tion of lay leaders forced were sick of the politics by the Henderson out of his posi- powerful faction that continued tion as pastor. Many of those to run off godly pastors, and same infuential businessmen/ were ready to stand in defense deacons were still in power of the next faithful pastor the when I arrived to pastor. After Lord would bring. There were Henderson left, several other some excellent brothers and sis- men served as pastor, having ters in Christ who were doing similar experiences of behind- faithful ministry — evangelism the-scenes opposition from in the community, missions in this faction. The pastor that the Caribbean, prison ministry, preceded me, Allan Moseley, etc. But there were also many served from 1990-1996, and nominal people who, in the end, had an extremely diffcult time. proved to have greatly suspect But by the grace of God, he was professions of faith in Christ, able to keep the church from and who were atheological.

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 79 I trusted in the I trusted in the suffciency of God’s Word and in God raising up suffciency of other men who could help lead God’s Word and the church toward faithfulness. I had little sense of the painful in God raising journey ahead, which was a good thing because I probably would up other men have shrunk back if I had known who could more fully what the revitaliza- tion would demand. help lead the

church toward WHAT WERE SOME OF THE faithfulness. 3ISSUES THAT BROUGHT THE EARLY CHALLENGES YOU FACED? Right away, I was confronted AS YOU ASSESSED THE with the cultural differences of 2CHURCH UPON ARRIVAL, DID being a northerner pastoring a YOU HAVE A STRATEGY FOR HOW southern church. A woman spoke TO BEGIN YOUR WORK? IF SO, to me the frst month about my WHAT WAS IT? I had no strat- approach to preaching being egy for church revitalization, a very different from what they term that would have been alien were accustomed to “here in to me at that time, and I would the south.” have been surprised that FBC so Beyond that issue, there was sorely needed it. My strategy as just the strong sense of ownership I began was to preach the Word that certain powerful men had in verse-by-verse, book-by-book, the church, that FBC was “their to disciple key leaders, to pray church.” The deacons saw them- for God’s guidance, and to avoid selves as a “check and balance” making waves while I gained against the senior pastor’s power, the trust of the members. I felt and they generally sought to run myself very much over my head, out pastors after a short time — 18 and truly inexperienced. But months to three years or so.

80 THE REVITALIZATION OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH and made all the difference in WHEN DID YOU SENSE THE SHIP the long run. We had a series 4WAS TURNING? WHAT WAS of really large new member HAPPENING? The issues came to classes and that changed every- a head when we sought a change thing. We voted again a year in the bylaws to make clear male later and won decisively. leadership in our structure. I did For me personally, I had a a great deal of teaching on the sense of peace from Psalm issue of gender and authority, and 37 that all I had to do was be I sought to persuade by Scripture patient, not give up, and wait key men who were opposing this on the Lord while continuing doctrinal conviction. But the to preach the Word week after strongest of them were impla- week. He changed the church cable and a showdown was right before our eyes. inevitable. They called in many nominal members of the church and they were able to defeat the HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN bylaw change. But by the grace of 5PASTOR? WHAT DOES THE God, he had raised up some very CHURCH LOOK LIKE NOW COM- capable and motivated leaders PARED TO WHEN YOU ARRIVED? who yearned for a biblically faith- I am halfway through my 17th ful church. And though we were year at FBC. The church is radi- initially defeated, the godly rem- cally different now than the one nant had far more staying power I frst pastored in 1998. There than the nominal members who are a lot more young families, just came occasionally. a lot more passionate members Furthermore, God was bring- with commitment to missions ing more and more people to and to expository preaching. join the church because they The church is 50 percent larger loved the powerful ministry on a Sunday morning, and we of the Word of God by many have a steady stream of young good teachers in the church. men being mentored for pasto- They were ready to stand faith- ral ministry, church planting, fully behind godly leadership and missions. We have a lot

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 81 The church have been a combination of the steady ministry of the Word of is no longer God coupled with the training, deeply divided mobilization, and empowering of men to lead as elders alongside but remarkably the pastor. united around the Word. WHAT WERE SOME KEY DECI- 7SIONS MADE THAT PROVED more young children. Our wor- TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? The ship is contemporary now, with decision to reach out to other drums and guitars versus choir godly men and women and and pipe organ. We have a solid ask for help in prayer built a contingent of godly senior adults core group of highly motivated who love the Lord and care about saints who stood vigorously the ministry of the Word. by my side through the hard The church is no longer deeply times. So also, the commitment divided but remarkably united to keep preaching the Word around the Word. We have a line-by-line, chapter-by-chap- plurality of elders leading the ter, book-by-book, rather than church rather than committees. to use the pulpit to address the Now the church is very united around the godly leadership of the elders. There is far less bick- ering and no factions.

IF YOU HAD TO PICK ONE 6 THING THAT GOD USED THE MOST TO REVITALIZE YOUR CHURCH, WHAT WAS IT? The most signifcant factors in the revitalization of FBC Durham

82 THE REVITALIZATION OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH strife in the church. This was highly attractive to new mem- HOW DID THIS WORK OF REVI- bers, who then got read into the 9 TALIZATION AFFECT YOUR issues that were threatening my WIFE AND CHILDREN? It was ongoing ministry as pastor, and very stressful for my wife, but they were more motivated to God used it to draw us together protect a good thing. The deci- in prayer. I tried not to burden sion to stand frm on a doctrinal her with specific details of issue and not to resign when my unkind things that were said or efforts were initially defeated “insider information” on church was key as well. politics, so she could look people in the face, unaware of sinful things those people had done. WHAT WERE SOME MISTAKES But the big picture was plain 8YOU MADE AND LESSONS enough, and Christi was a won- LEARNED? My biggest struggle derful helper during that time, through it all was to maintain a providing me with wise counsel godly and loving attitude toward and steady prayer support. Our people who hated me. I was able children, for the most part, were by the grace of God to avoid unaware of the powerful nega- public moments of anger, but I tivity toward their dad, but now continue to struggle with unfor- they know most of the story. I giveness in some ways, and God think the amazing faithfulness continues to work humility in me of God in revitalizing FBC Dur- to shepherd people lovingly who ham has been a great beneft vigorously oppose me. I also feel to my family in our walk with a need to grow in prayer more God. We realize that nothing is and more for the health of the as powerful in the advancement church. We had some amazing of the gospel as a healthy New prayer times during the era of Testament church. hostility, but we relaxed after we got through that. I want to return to that type of fervent prayer.

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 83 A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION

RESOURCES

RECOMMENDED READING The Church: The Gospel Made Visible BY MARK DEVER

The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership That Matters BY R. ALBERT MOHLER JR.

The Pastor’s Ministry: Biblical Priorities for Faithful Shepherds BY BRIAN CROFT

Replant: How a Dying Church Can Grow Again BY MARK DEVINE AND DARRIN PATRICK

Autopsy of a Deceased Church: 12 Ways to Keep Yours Alive BY THOM S. RAINER

Biblical Eldership: An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership BY ALEXANDER STRAUCH

On the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons BY JOHN A. BROADUS

Preaching: A Biblical Theology BY JASON C. MEYER

Spiritual Disciplines within the Church: Participating Fully in the Body of Christ BY DONALD S. WHITNEY

Reverberation series BY JONATHAN LEEMAN

From Embers To A Flame BY HARRY L. REEDER III AND DAVID SWAVELY

Can These Bones Live: A Practical Guide to Church Revitalization BY BILL HENARD

Church Planting is for Wimps BY MIKE MCKINLEY

The Mathena Center for Church Revitalization aims to train current and future pastors on how best to serve and lead churches in revitalization.

84 RESOURCES FROM SOUTHERN SEMINARY

Also in the Guide Book Series from SBTS Press, available at press.sbts.edu

A GUIDE TO A GUIDE TO EVANGELISM BIBLICAL (SBTS Press 2013, MANHOOD $5.99), Dan DeWitt, (SBTS Press 2011, Editor $5.99), Randy Stinson and Dan Dumas

A GUIDE TO A GUIDE TO EXPOSITORY ADOPTION AND MINISTRY ORPHAN CARE (SBTS Press 2012, (SBTS Press 2012, $5.99), Dan Dumas $5.99), Russell D. Moore, Editor

PUBLICATIONS FROM SOUTHERN SEMINARY

Southern Seminary Magazine Towers: A News Publication of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology The Journal of Discipleship and Family Ministry The Southern Baptist Journal of Missions and Evangelism

CONNECT WITH News.sbts.edu SOUTHERN SEMINARY ONLINE Facebook.com/TheSBTS Twitter.com/SBTS

For more information about Southern Seminary, visit SBTS.EDU; for information about Boyce College, visit BOYCECOLLEGE.COM

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 85 CONTRIBUTORS

ERIC BANCROFT has been senior pastor of Castleview Baptist Church in Indianapolis since 2008. He previously served as an associate pastor at Grace Community Church in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Danelle, have three sons.

TIM BEOUGHER is the Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and senior pastor of West Broadway Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. He is the author of several books, including Richard Baxter And Conver- sion: A Study of Puritan Concept of Becoming Christian. He and his wife, Sharon, have fve children.

BRIAN CROFT has been senior pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, since 2003. He blogs at practicalsheperding. com and has written numerous books including The Pastor’s Minis- try: Biblical Priorities for Faithful Shepherds. He and his wife, Cara, have four children.

ANDREW DAVIS has been senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Durham, North Carolina, since 1998. Prior to coming to Durham, he was a church planter in Japan. He is the author of An Infnite Journey: Growing Toward Christlikeness. He and his wife, Christine, have fve children.

MARK DEVER has been senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., since 1994, and has served in vocational ministry since 1985. He is the president of 9Marks, a ministry that seeks to equip church leaders with a vision and resources to build healthy churches. He is author of numerous books, including The Church: The Gospel Made Visible. He and his wife, Connie, have two children.

86 CONTRIBUTORS DAN DUMAS is an elder at Crossing Church in Louisville, Kentucky, and the senior vice president of institutional administration at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the co-author of A Guide to Biblical Manhood. He and his wife, Jane, have two children.

KEVIN EZELL is the president of the North American Mission Board, providing leadership as NAMB works to reach North America through evangelism and church planting. He most recently served as senior pastor of Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. He and his wife, Lynette, have six children.

R. ALBERT MOHLER JR. is president of The Southern Baptist Theologi- cal Seminary. He is the author of several books, including Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership That Matters. Mohler hosts two podcasts, “The Briefng” and “Thinking in Public,” and also writes a popular blog with regular commentary on moral, cultural, and theological issues, all of which can be accessed at albertmohler.com. He and his wife, Mary, have two children.

DAVID E. PRINCE has been senior pastor of Ashland Avenue Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, since 2003. He is also assistant professor of Christian preaching at The Southern Baptist Theologi- cal Seminary. He blogs at davidprince.com. He and his wife, Judi, have eight children.

DONALD S. WHITNEY is professor of biblical spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the founder and president of The Center for Biblical Spirituality and is the author of Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Whitney has served local churches in pastoral ministry for 24 years. He and his wife, Caffy, have one daughter.

A GUIDE TO CHURCH REVITALIZATION 87 PRODUCTION

MANAGING EDITOR: MATT DAMICO is the pastor of worship at Ken- wood Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. He also writes and edits for Southern Seminary and the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Divinity from Southern Seminary. He is married to Anna, and they are the proud parents of Willa.

ILLUSTRATOR: BRIAN OTT is a freelance illustrator living and working in Louisville, Kentucky, with his wife, Elizabeth. He is also the pastor of worship arts at Hunsinger Lane Baptist Church. He is blessed to have the opportunity to use his love of music and fne arts for the glory of God.

DESIGNER: JOHN HOLCOMB is a freelance designer. He is also a full-time painter and printmaker. He works from his home studio in Topeka, Kansas, where he lives with his wife, Ali. He graduated with a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration from John Brown University.

88 PRODUCTION

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