By Joel R. Breidenbaugh, PhD

Start with a Blank Piece of Paper If you could start from scratch, what would look differently? Budget Leadership decisions Church by-laws Membership expectations Building allocation Staff

1. Revise Your Budget & Promote Stewardship Regularly in Light of Revitalization Budget  Your budget will reveal what is most important to you  Normal % of budget dedicated to staff: 40-60% (depending on debt)  The older the buildings, the more spent on upkeep  To reach young families, budget accordingly  Thinking missiologically & give

Stewardship  Promote stewardship weekly  Send giving statements 3-4x/yr with note of gratitude & challenge  Capitalize on end-of-year giving (don’t use a January-December budget)  Give to a worthy cause every worship service (VBS family night, Christmas eve, etc.)

See handout on “14 Questions Church Leaders Should Ask about Church Finances” (thomrainer.com)—October 29, 2014

2. Look to God’s Word for Leaders & Decision- Makers Leadership Decisions  Who makes your major decisions in the church?  While the NT teaches a form of congregationalism, clearly the pastors were the leaders of the church (team of pastors- elders)

3. Amend Church Documents for Simplicity & Utilization Church By-Laws & Covenant  How do your church’s by-laws restrict you?  Could revisions free you to do ministry?  Form a team to simplify the by-laws & don’t address every group so it doesn’t tie you down into doing things the same way

4. State Membership Expectations Clearly & Follow Through for Accountability Expectations of Church Members  What are your stated expectations for church members?  Are new members required to take a new member course?

Expectations of Sweetwater Members: 1. Attend worship regularly 2. Participate in a Sunday School class 3. Pray for your church leaders 4. Serve in at least one ongoing ministry & no more than four 5. Support the church through tithes & offerings 6. Participate in local, national, or international missions within 3 years of membership (praying, giving, going)

Church Discipline  Look to the NT passages on church discipline  Discipline members involved in habitual, ongoing sin

5. Relook at your space & change for strategic revitalization Space allocation  How is the space in your facilities utilized?  Do rooms need to be re-purposed to focus on growth?

4 Questions Everyone Asks of Children/Youth Ministries External: 1. Did you have fun? 2. What did you learn? Internal: 1. Is it clean? 2. Is it safe?

6. Sit down with your church staff & find out how they fit in your church’s revitalization Church Staff  Is the staff the right fit for the church?  If the staff agrees the church’s revitalization is of utmost importance, are they willing to change or step down?  Are you the one God called to pastor & lead the church through revitalization?

Conclusion If your church core hasn’t reached the desperation stage yet, they won’t want to change. You may need to pray & teach them to be desperate for the Lord & for reaching others