Reviving the Heartland: Breathing New Life into Small Town Churches

INTRODUCTION

Good morning, everyone. Let's begin our time together with a word of prayer.

[Opening prayer]

Welcome to our workshop, "Reviving the Heartland: Breathing New Life into Small Town Churches."

OBJECTIVES (SLIDE 2)

Over the next 40 minutes, I want to walk through a few ideas of How we can lead in revitalizing our small town churches.

My goal or objectives for this time is

to wet your appetite to begin to Evaluate your churches true health

To start t developing a stategy for revitalization

to begin to engage your community effectivly

and to work diligently at fostering a culture of spiritual growth and discipleship.

I want you to understand that I dont consider myself worthy to be standing here. I am here humbly today , trying to share what God has been and is still teaching me.

with that preface- Much of this will come as a testimony of what God has done in and through our church in Clear lake.

But all of it will be bathed in God’s truths, Because He is the only one who can truly grow His Church.

SLIDE 3 SMALL TOWN VS city life

ASK:So whats the difference between small town revitalization and the same work in a city?

One big thing is that everybody seems to know everybody else.

There is no escaping the gossip ion a small town. This means that your church already has a reputation in your town.

So why do People chose to live in our towns instead of the city?

For Many its because their family is close by and they want that connection.

For others its because they like the slower pace of life. They like the simple life.

Maybe its because they grew up in a small town and want their kids to have that same kind of upbringing where they have opportunities at school and in the community to get involved.

One thing that I believe is true about small towns is that People who live in small towns vs Big cities want to be more engaged with other people and their community.

This means that Your church should be connected to your community if its going to reach them for Christ.

Let me put it clearly-

If your church wants to reach your town for Christ than your town needs to see your church as something that is necessary in their life.

meaning your church needs to be a relevant part of your community.

The importance of revitalizing small town churches cannot be overstated.

Do you realize that According to recent Pew research study, approximately 60% of American churches(thats more than half) are located in small towns or rural areas, yet many if not most of these churches are facing decline.

A 2019 Barna Group study found that 65% of small town pastors reported stagnant or declining attendance over the past three years.

And another Statistic I found said that the majority of evangelical churches under 85 people have not had a baptism in over 2 years.

However, these statistics don't have to define our future.

I believe that God is still in the business of growing His church. and if your little small town church is part of HIS Church than he has a plan for you!

I Believe that With God's guidance and our committed efforts, we can breathe new life into our churches and our communities.

Revitalization is hard work but it is worth it!

I believe that the very first thing we need to do is take a reality check on our church and its ministries.

This means that we need to look at our church through the eyes of other people.

SLIDE 4

Looking at Your Church Through Others' Eyes (10 minutes)

To effectively revitalize our churches, we must first gain a clear understanding of our current state as a church.

This involves looking at our churches through three different lenses:

The first lens is

SLIDE 5

Through the Church's Eyes:

In order to get where you want to go You need to truly understand where you are at as a church.

Start by conducting an honest self-assessment of your church’s strengths and weaknesses.

SLIDE 6-10

Consider the following questions:

CLICK:What are we doing well as a church?

Maybe your kids club on Wednewsady is awesome and you have 80 kids coming every week- that matters.

Maybe you are very talented at your music ministry - that matters.

CLICK:Where do we struggle?

Maybe its just the opposite in your church

Music is terrible, kids ministry doesn't even exist,

CLICK: What resources do we have at our disposal?

I love this question- every church body is so different.

Maybe you facility has a unique location next to the schools - Figure out a way to use it.

Maybe you have the joy of having some extremely gifted musicians in your body- find a way to use them.

CLICK: What are our biggest challenges?

Not enough workers,

No one to play the piano.

STORY: After our last pastor left, our church was broken, hurting and struggling. We had an average attendance of 30 -35 each week.

And I remember about 20 of us members sitting in a circle having the hard conversation of “do we continue on as church or do we simply close the doors and disperse.”

We had to have a self examination of where we truly were at as church.

We were not a healthy church- We were broken we were hurting and we needed to acknowledge that something had to change if we were going to become a healthy church.

Click 10

Through the Lord's Eyes:

As we evaluate our churches, we must ensure we're aligned with God's vision and biblical principles for His CHurch

In Revelation 2:2-5 Jesus commends the church in Ephesus for their perseverance but also calls them out for forsaking their first love.

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Revelation 2:2–5 (ESV)

2 “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

CLick 12-14

We need to Ask ourselves: as churches

Click: Are we a church that has lost our first love?

Click: Are we truly living out Christ's teachings as the church?

Is our mission aligned with God’s Mission of seeking and saving the Lost, Are we pursuing the great commission disciple making in our churches. (Matthew 28:19-20)?

Click 15: Are we loving one another in a way that points people to jesus,

Remember How Jesus said that the world will know that your are His church in John 13:35

John 13:35 (ESV)

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Really the question is Are we demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit in our interactions with one another in the church and through out our ministries as the church?

Friends to look at your church through the eyes of Christ means that you begin to see and acknowledge those things that are no longer pleasing to the head of the church.

TRANSITION:I read a book a number of years ago called the church of irresistible influence, and in that book the author asked a simple question.

He said if you were to go down town in your community and ask 100 people what they thought of your church what would their answers be?

Friends How does the community view your church.

Click 16

Through the Community's Eyes:

Understanding how our community perceives our church is crucial for effective outreach.

Think about it. if people dont like your church they are not going to come to your church and your church is not going to grow.

Skip

A 2019 Barna Group study revealed that 51% of U.S. adults are unfamiliar with the term "evangelical."

This statistic underscores the importance of clear communication and engagement with our communities.

STORY: As I began to go into the community of clear lake and talk with people the testimony of our church was rotten or in realty not even in existence. Most people Had no clue there was even a Baptist church in our town. and those who knew we existed they saw us as a group of people that didn't want anything to do with anyone else. Let me tell you if triple seperation was a thing Our church nailed it!:)

I share this not to put down my church because for 10 years before I was the pastor, I was this church. I was exactly who they were describing.

CLick 17:

Consider the following questions

Click 18: How does your community view your church?

CLick 19: What reputation do the church members have around town?

Click 20: What keeps the community from visiting your church?

Is your church seen as relevant and welcoming to all or just a group of christians who dont get along with the other christians in town?

Friends, Really looking at your church with critical eyes is a very humbling thing to do, Especially if you are the pastor of the church. But brothers who are pastors ,- You have the responsibility to lead your flock in this change.

As we look at our churches through these different lenses, let's remember the words of Proverbs 27:17: "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

By gaining these diverse perspectives, it helps us see our church in its true reality. And I encourage you to receive this with love and acceptance not hostility and pride.

CLICK21!

True Revitalization cannot happen until your church becomes the church that God intends for his church to be.

rememenbr we invite the lost to come into our church to see how different we are than the world. - and if they dont see a differnce from the way your church treats one another than the world they will see no need for the chruch.

After you have come to the harsh reality of where your church’s health is truly at.

We must cry out to the one who has all the power to Grow His Church

Click 22

Step 2: Committing to Prayer (5 minutes)

I cannot say this point enough.

Prayer is not just a supplement to our strategies; it's the foundation upon which all our efforts should be built upon.

CLICK 23: Friends, the first thing we need to pray is a prayer of confession if our church has lost its first love!

STORY ABOUT CL:

On June 9th 2021 Our church met for Wednesday night Prayer meeting. and as the 14 of us sat there in a circle I asked a couple of simple questions.

How many chairs do we have in our auditorium.

the answer was 124 chairs.

I then asked When is the last time you have ever seen this auditorium full?

I already knew the answer, but a sweet elderly lady said I’ve been coming here to church for over 30 years and I have never seen it close to full.

I continued the conversation and asked

What have we done as a church to reach more people?

A few answer came out like , VBS, Calling, Bus ministry. Special guest speakers. The usual baptist answers.

And I simply said and look what it has DONE - Sarcastically.

And I went on to say Can you imagine this auditorium full people ready to hear Gods word?

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Ephesians 3:20–21 (ESV)

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Heres the Point we couldn't grow the church- But guess what We can call on the one who has the power to do far more abundantly than we could ever ask or imaging.

In that moment I asked our church to commit to praying for God to use us in growing His church. Ans we began to pray as a church that God would fill our auditorium with people.

and guess what Happened.

in three months we grew by 20 percent- We went from 40 to 50 people each week, then in 6 months we were running 60- 65 people each week.

And one year to the date w began to pray and ask god to do what we could never do, we were having our second baptism Sunday of the year and people just kept coming in and we had to add more and more chairs . We had 148 people in church that Sunday many who didn't know Jesus yet and who where hearing the gospel message preached.

And what is so beautiful about this story is that the same elderly lady who said we have never seen this auditorium full cam up to me that Sunday and Said Look what God did. He did abundantly more than we asked for- We prayed for 125 and he sent 145 instead. God is working in this church.

The power of prayer in revitalization efforts cannot be overstated.

Click 25:

Pray for God to do more than you could ever ask or imagine.

revival begins with humbly, praying for God to do what only God can do.

I encourage each of you to commit to regular, fervent prayer for your church and community.

Click26 -31:

Consider implementing these prayer strategies:

Establish a prayer team dedicated to church revitalization.

Organize prayer walks through your community.

Implement a 24-hour prayer chain.

Incorporate specific prayers for revival into your worship services.

Teach your church to pray

I have seen God do so much in our church through Prayer,

We prayed for the Lost to be saved and we have seen 17 People saved and Baptized over the past 2 years. and 6 more planning to be baptized next month=- Praise God

With all of the new and broken christians coming into our church we needed Godly mature Christians who are gifted in Discipling, So I prayed and guess, God sent us 4 different couples who’s passion is to disciple and mentor your and hurting Christians,

Our children's ministry is growing quickly and So I began to pray for God to send somemone who has a heart and passion for kids ministry- Tomorrow God’s answer to this prayer is joining our church and she cant wait to get involved with this ministry.

CLICK: 32

Friends You cannot do revitalization without The head of the church being the one doing the work in His church.

Dont ever diminish the power of prayer when it comes to revitalizing a church

Pray often that God does what only God can do and that is save sinners and grow His church,

Prayer is us trusting God to do his work, It sus saying God we have tried on our own and failed and we need you to do what only you can do and that is use us to build your church!.

but this doesn’t mean we sit back and do nothing. God uses people especially when it comes to building up his church

Now we are going to get into more of the ideas to help your church revitalize.

Once a church has confessed their failures and are seeking God to grow their church. what next steps should they take?

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Creating a Welcoming Environment

One of the most crucial aspects of church revitalization is creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued.

I was joking the other day that our church is going to have to put an ashtray out side because of all the people that need to take a smoke break between services.

There was a time when our church would have said you can come but leave your sin at home. We dont want your sin to taint our reputation.

Jesus set the ultimate example of approachability and acceptance. Matthew 11:28-30 captures His inviting nature:

Click 34:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Jesus welcomed all people, regardless of their status, background, or past.

He dined with tax collectors,

touched lepers,

He talked to the prostitute, and engaged with those society had marginalized.

Friends the disciples in our church should look like the disciples in “ Christs Church”

As His followers, we're called to create spaces that reflect this same spirit of radical welcome.

CLICK 27:

A 2018 Barna Group study found that 33% of Americans who don't attend church say it's because they don't feel welcome.

This statistic highlights the critical need for intentional hospitality in our churches.

Friends we need to understand and believe that when a sinner walks into the door of our church their greatest need is not deliverance from that sin, its their need for the Savior who willing wants to pay their debt of sin in full.

In order for a church to revitalize It must be a place that the community feels welcomed in.

Your goal as a church should be to be THE NICEST CHURCH IN TOWN.

Click: 28:

Here are some practical steps for creating a welcoming atmosphere:

Click 29: Implement a robust greeting system:

The guy at the front door should be the most engaging person in the church because He is the first and last impression visitors will see.

I have a deacon whose main role is to be the deacon of greeters and I tell him often He has the most important role ….

Click 30: Ensure that every person who enters your church is personally welcomed by the pastor and the members.

Click 31: Watch your language

Be mindful of insider terminology or references that might alienate newcomers.

The church is not meant to be a politcial party its not meant to divide but to unite.

Dont let conversations push people away.

Create clear signage:

Help visitors navigate your building easily.

Offer a welcome packet:

Provide information about your church, its beliefs, and ministries.

Follow up with visitors: A phone call or note can make a lasting impression

Train your congregation in hospitality:

Encourage everyone to be welcoming, not just a designated team.

invite visitors to lunch. or even just sit by them in church

We want make sure our church is a welcoming place for the community to come and visit, , but just as important is the church purposefully engaging the community

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Engaging the Community

(7 minutes)

engaging with our communities is paramount in order to revitalize a small town church.

CLICK 37:

A saying that I believe is quite true is

“the community will not care how much you know until they Know How much you care”

Jesus set the perfect example of meeting people where they were, engaging with them in their daily lives and communities.

In Luke 19:1-10, we see Jesus engaging with Zacchaeus in his own environment.

Jesus didn't wait for Zacchaeus to come to Him; He went to Zacchaeus' house.

This approach led to a transformative encounter that impacted not just Zacchaeus, but likely his entire household and community.

To effectively engage our communities, we must first understand them.

You need to know who your community is and what they are about. Dont just make assumptions but do your homework.

A 2020 Barna Group study found that only 28% of practicing Christians feel they have a good understanding of the problems in their community.

This statistic reveals a significant opportunity for growth in our community engagement efforts.

Here are some practical strategies for building bridges through service and outreach:

Click38: Conduct a community needs assessment:

Survey local leaders, schools, and social services to identify pressing needs.

Click39: Develop targeted ministries:

Address specific community issues such as food insecurity, childcare needs, or senior support.

One thing our church has done is a shoe drive for kids in need where we have bought and given away 50-60 pairs of new school shoes

Click40: Participate in community events:

Be part of your chamber of Commerce and be involved in what the community is doing.

Have a presence at local fairs, parades, and festivals.

a few weeks ago there was a huge Christian concert event- With Bands I had no clue even existed, But our church had 15 people including me volunteer to be part of this community event. and people noticed.

for 3 hours I ran gaga ball in the park with a bunch of community kids - talking to their parents and inciting them to church.

Click41: Partner with local organizations:

Collaborate with schools, businesses, and non-profits on community initiatives.

Encourage your church family to get involved with community organizations,

In our church we have people we serve with the Local Youth for Christ, Kids and family services ministries, bash at the Lake, Some coach kids sports, and other

Click: Offer your facilities:

Open your church building for community meetings or events.

In our church we converted our overflow area into a community room.

its purpose is to be used throughout the week by people-

We want the community to know that our church facility is a place that can help meet their needs.

As we evaluated each ministry we made some cuts- And soem that qhere hard for people to understand. We had to cut outr ministries that we had always done because they were not helpful in our revitalization. They took too much time, where not done well and the only reason we were doing it is because iots what we do.

Organize regular community service days where church members serve together.

Volunteer to clean the city park,

Talk to the city and see if there is an elderly person who could use a day of labor.

Take food to a community event.

Leveraging community events and partnerships can significantly increase your church's visibility and impact.

A 2019 study by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research found that churches involved in three or more community service programs were more likely to experience growth compared to those involved in fewer programs.

As we engage our communities, let's remember Jesus' words in Matthew 5:14-16:

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Our engagement with the community should ultimately point people to God's love and grace. As we serve and build relationships, we create opportunities for people to encounter Christ through our actions and words.

Now that the churches reputation is changing to reflect more of Christ to the community lets discuss church ministries

If you want to revitalize your church than you need to

Click 43:

Developing Relevant Programs and Ministries (7 minutes)

I think too many times our church’s do things because that is what we have always done.

When our church began this process of revitalization we looked at all of the ministries our church was doing , and guess what we did.

As we evaluated each ministry we made some cuts- And some that where hard for people to understand. We had to cut outr ministries that we had always done because they were not helpful in our revitalization. They took too much time, where not done well and the only reason we were doing it is because iots what we do.

One ministry that we cut was VBS- Why Because we realized we had 5 kids in our church and the only other kids coming to our VBS was other homeschool kids from other like minded churches,

We needed to use our time, talents and energy for something that would be more productive for revitalization.

But guess what happend two years into our revitalization We brought back VBS and had more kids than ever before- and most of them weren't from other churches.

The point is this: Sometimes certain ministries and programs can such the peoples energy and time dry -and the work of revitalization doesnt get done.

it's crucial to develop programs and ministries that are relevant to your churches mission.

Our mission is Making and equipping discipels of Jesus- and every Ministry and program we do in our church must fit under that mission and help us fulfill that mission more.

A 2021 Barna Group study found that only 23% of churches regularly evaluate the effectiveness of their programs.

CLICK 44-

Consider these questions:

Which of our current programs are thriving?

Which ones are struggling or have become stagnant?

Are ther e needs in out church that we are not meeting?

Are there needs in our community that we're not addressing?

Are there ministries in place to help people take the next step in becoming a disciple maker?

CLICK 50-56:

When developing new programs or revitalizing existing ones, consider these principles:

Stay on Mission:

make sure that everything you do has a purpose in helping you accomplish your mission better!

Address real needs:

Base your programs on the actual needs of your people & community, not assumptions.

Be culturally relevant:

Ensure your programs resonate with the cultural context of your town.

“If it was 1950 would your church need to change anything to be relevant or are you still there?”

Focus on quality over quantity:

It's better to have a few excellent programs than many mediocre ones.

Encourage active participation:

Create opportunities for people to contribute their gifts and talents.

PET PEEVE OF MINE: take people out of ministries they are not gifted in and plug people in where they are gifted.

Regularly evaluate and adjust:

Be willing to modify or end programs that aren't effective.

Innovation is key in meeting contemporary needs. This might mean leveraging technology, partnering with local organizations, or thinking outside the traditional church program box.

By developing relevant programs and ministries, and encouraging active participation, we can create vibrant, growing churches that effectively serve our communities and draw people closer to Christ.

As we near the conclusion of our workshop, I want to focus on what I believe is the heart of church revitalization: fostering spiritual growth and discipleship.

CLICK 57:

Fostering Spiritual Growth and Discipleship (5 minutes)

revitalization is not about increasing numbers in the pews or improving programs OR BEING THE MOST CULTERALLY RELEVANT CHURCH – it's about nurturing AND Making disciple makers in your community..

Our purpose in revitalization it to reproduce disciple makers who reproduce more disciple makers. This is how your church will be revitalized.

Let me say it this way- Filling the church is never the end goal!

Jesus provided us with the perfect model of discipleship. He didn't just preach to large crowds; He invested deeply in a small group of individuals, teaching them, challenging them, and preparing them to carry on His mission.

We need to emulate this approach in our churches.

We don’t revitalize a church on our own, We bring others with us through the process

Let's reflect on Jesus' words in Matthew 28:19-20, often referred to as the Great Commission:

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"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Notice that Jesus doesn't just tell us to make converts, but to make disciples – followers who are baptized and taught to obey His commands.

This is a process, not a one-time event.

Unfortunately, many of our churches are falling short in this area.

A 2019 Lifeway Research study found that only 32% of Protestant churchgoers say they have a vibrant prayer life, study the Bible regularly, and share their faith with others.

This statistic should concern us deeply.

It suggests that while many people are attending our churches, far fewer are growing into mature, active disciples of Christ.

So how can we foster this kind of spiritual growth and discipleship in our small town churches?

CLICK 69-75:

Let me suggest a few strategies:

Saturate your church with Gods Word!

- Let your time together as a church be saturated with the word of God.

IN YOUR SERMONS

IN YOUR PRAYERS

IN YOUR SONGS

In your small groups

THEY SHOULD ALL BE SATURATED WITH GODS TRUTHS,

Sermon Based Small group ministries;

Friends I dont want to harp on Sunday night church - But culturally people are crying out for an intimate connection with other people.

Your church people are wanting an opportunity to go deeper into Gods word with other people.

When our church went from Sunday night service to small groups we went from 15 people weekly to 50 Adults weekly sitting under the teaching GodS word and now after 3 years have over 70 adults in a small group setting each week- PRAISE THE LORD!

Implement a mentorship program:

Pair mature believers with newer Christians for one-on-one discipleship.

This follows Jesus' model of investing in individuals. It allows for personalized guidance and accountability.

Encourage daily spiritual disciplines:

Provide resources and training on prayer, Bible study, fasting, and other spiritual practices.

Create accountability structures:

We need each other in the church. We have an adversary that wants to do everything he can to destroy revitalization in a church.

Encourage members to form accountability partnerships or groups.

TEACH YOUR CHURCH the Spiritual disciples,

How to pray

How to study Gods word

How to share the gospel.

How to praise God.

Plug People in to ministries where you feel they are gifted

To me this has been key: not just telling people they should serve but helping them find their spots to serve.

Your church should have the goal of producing godly men and women who when they leave your church are equipped to be leaders in their next church.

One final point that is crucial for church revitalization.

Click 76:

REJOICE AND CELEBRATE WHAT GOD IS DOING:

VERSE Eph 3:20-21

Ephesians 3:20–21 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

When God does what You could not do - Celebrate and rejoice!!!

Continually point your congregation to what God has done and what he is doing

when someone invites their neighbor - to church- rejoice

When a lost sinner accepts Jesus -Rejoice

When someone is Baptized it should be great rejoicing.

When a new family joins your church- rejoice because God is still using you to build His church

wrap up

It's not easy leading a church in revitalization. As Paul says, it requires strenuous effort. But it's the most important work we can do as church leaders.

So I challenge you: As you return to your churches, Lead by example!!!!

Make fervent prayer a central part of your daily schedule

make discipleship a priority in your life

Make community involvement part of your routine

Be the example of the disciple maker you want to produce!

Questions and Answers

CLOSING / Prayer