♦S 12, 2019

Montgomery Bap st Priori es:

The Gospel Above All / The Plan ng and Replan ng of Churches for All People / The Sending of Missionaries to the Ends of the Earth

Guiding Values to Church Revitalization

The word “revitalization” speaks of bringing new life into
what is stagnant, declining or dead. The Lord desires to
give to any of us who call upon Him new life. He says, “I
have come to give life and life abundant” (John 10:10b).
Pastor, does your heart need revitalization? How about your
church?
Regardless of where you may find yourself as a pastor or
Neal Hughes church, God has a plan for you, plans to give you hope and
Director of Missions a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Like anything, one can look for
guiding values to direct us toward a better day. In Mark
Clifton’s book, Reclaiming Glory: Revitalizing Dying
Churches (Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2016), Clifton gives six
imperatives to revitalizing your church:
Value One: Pray Without Ceasing. The Bible calls for us to pray without
ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We will get nowhere unless we lead from our
knees. Organize your “war room” and plead with God to take down the
strongholds in your church and community.
Value Two: Love the Bride of Christ. You are not God’s gift to the Church.
God sent His Son as a gift to the Church. Therefore, you are to love the bride and
believe in what the groom can do with her and through her. Remember this
statement, “Only those who love the bride can serve the bride.”
Value Three: Understand Your Community Context. Often, we do not have a
genuine understanding of our “one-mile” area around the church. Take time to
exegete your community. Mark your one mile. Interview businesses and
residents. Partner with your schools. Love your community to faith in Christ.
Value Four: Simplify Your Strategy. Most of our mission statements are dull
and long. Try something easy, fresh, simple, and strategic. One of our church
planters serving in an impoverished area pulled together this simple strategy (it is
rehearsed at every service): “Save the Lost, Strengthen the Weak, Help the Poor.”
And that is what they do. How about you?
Value Five: Focus on Reaching Young Men. The American church has lost its
male leadership. Pastor, look for young men and put your life into them. I used
to have a group that called themselves, “Neal’s Mighty Men.” Build a team that
will die for you and the work God has called you to do. The church will thank
you.
Value Six: Make Disciples Who Make Disciples. We need to develop people in
such a way that they spread the love of Christ to others. Make your discipleship
process contagious. Perhaps you can disciple 2-3 people with the promise they
will do the same with 2-3 people, who will promise…. Get the picture? Let’s be
more about multiplication than addition.
Always remember, you can do it, we’re here to help. Mary and I deeply love you
and are blessed to be on mission with you.
Together We Can!
Neal

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Montgomery Baptist Association • 20 Interstate Park Dr. • Montgomery, Alabama 36109 • 334-271-6227 • www.mgmbaptists.org
This publication is made possible by your churches’ contributions to Associational Missions.
 ♦S 12, 2019
Montgomery Bap st Priori es:
The Gospel Above All / The Plan ng and Replan ng of Churches for All People / The Sending of Missionaries to the Ends of the Earth

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Montgomery Baptist Association • 20 Interstate Park Dr. • Montgomery, Alabama 36109 • 334-271-6227 • www.mgmbaptists.org
This publication is made possible by your churches’ contributions to Associational Missions.