Congregational Revitalization: Rebuilding
by Francine Taylor-Thirus

How do you challenge the members of a congregation to revitalize their church, their community, and their lives?

"Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this [God's] house lies in ruins?" (Haggai 1:4, NRSV)

Rebuilding Steps:

• Truth
• Challenge
• Action
• Renewal
• Restoration
• Reassurance

Change cannot take place until the truth can be admitted; and the truth cannot be admitted until it is known. The pastor must pray to God for discernment about what is the truth in his or her particular church and for strength to tell that truth lovingly and compassionately.

The challenge is to get priorities in order. If the people loved the church and its mission as much as they love their homes, the church would not be in the condition it is in. Knowing these things and responding to them are two separate issues.

People must be aroused to move from knowing to action. The prophet Haggai, in the Old Testament, delivered pointed messages to get the people back on track to rebuild God's temple. Similar messages can help move today's congregation to the last three steps of renewal, restoration, and reassurance. These messages are:

• Stop making excuses (Haggai 1:2-6).
• Get to work (Haggai 1:7-8).
• Put God first in your life (Haggai 2:17-19).
• Shape up your spiritual life (Haggai 2:4-5).

Revitalizing a congregation begins with admitting the truth and revitalizing the spiritual life of the congregation. Although there are many times when problems are overwhelming, God is available to lead, guide, strengthen, and protect our endeavors. But we must seek God continuously.

We've all heard the words, "no pain, no gain." Although I do not like to think that there is no gain without pain, there is an element of truth in those words. There will be obstacles in the life of the church, and we will have to face those obstacles. The rebuilding and revitalizing process is not easy; but if we are facing obstacles to God's plan — not our own plan or agenda — we have the power to be victorious.

When the church is growing, the road may be easy. We can become so accustomed to an easy road that we don't develop the necessary skills to dig our way out when we fall into a ditch or hard times. Hard times can be opportunities for God to help us grow and develop in many ways. We have to grow before the church and the community will grow.

The very idea of change scares some people. Others will feel threatened and a sense of loss, even though their current situation is not good. Even after recognizing a problem, some members will not take action. They can see destruction all around in the community. They realize that the church is needed to bring about a spiritual refocusing. They can also feel so discouraged that they become unable to function at a God-given, spiritual level.

Thus, a jump-start is needed to jar the people out of their discouragement, stupor of blindness, fear, immobility, and fog of suffering. God wants to help us be revitalized. With God's help, we can start over. We can begin where we are and move ahead. We can again have a vision, a plan, and hope.

Go out and serve.

Francine Taylor-Thirus is a former staff member of the General Board of Discipleship.

posted 1-31-03