Church Replanting and Revitalization
Each year, approximately 3,500 churches are planted across various denominations in the United States. However, nearly 4,000 churches close their doors annually. It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep the pace of church planting while simultaneously seeing churches in decline become healthy and whole again.
The Redeemer Network meets this challenge by serving to strengthen churches across various denominational and theological backgrounds through church replanting and revitalization. Our aim is to see God glorified as churches pursue renewal in health, vitality, and multiplication.
What is the difference between replanting and revitalization?
Replanting
Replanting is when an existing church is in decline due to a lack of health and vitality or is facing imminent closure and often requires urgent and immediate change in mission, philosophy, and leadership. Replanting is a mixture of celebration of what God has done through the church in the past and anticipation of what God can do with a new beginning.
Revitalization
Revitalization is a renewed effort that focuses on reversing the decline of an existing church. A revitalization is less invasive and requires patience and time as changes within the church are often gradual.
How does Redeemer train pastors who are leading a replant or revitalization?
REPLANTING RESIDENCY
The replanting residency is a one-year program designed to equip and support pastors who are replanting or revitalizing churches toward health, vitality, and multiplication.
FIRST QUARTER | FOCUS: THE SHEPHERD
The goal is to assess and pursue health, family, and calling of those shepherding God’s flock.
SECOND QUARTER | FOCUS: LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
The goal is to equip shepherd leaders with vision and the necessary leadership competencies in building healthy teams.
THIRD QUARTER | FOCUS: PREACHING
The goal is for preachers to learn the mechanics and methods of preaching God’s word effectively.
FOURTH QUARTER | FOCUS: MISSION & MULTIPLICATION
The goal is to train and catalyze replanters in missional living, multiplication, and the development of a clear and compelling vision for church planting.
How does Redeemer serve churches needing to be replanted or revitalized?
Our process is highly relational, collaborative, and customized to the church's current situation. We divide the process into two phases.
Phase One | Discernment
Faithful discernment has prayer at its core and aims to assess where God is leading and our willingness to follow. The phase begins with an informal call with the church’s point of contact. From there, we schedule an initial meeting with church leadership and get to know each other, understand the situation, and remind one another of the hope we have in Christ. Our goal is to come alongside the church to discern potential replanting or revitalization opportunities.
Phase Two | Strategy
In phase two, we begin to explore what moving forward looks like. Here, the question has shifted from “Should we pursue replanting or revitalization?” to, “How will we?” Our aim is to come alongside you and help answer that question. For some, our replanting residency is a good first step toward health, vitality, and multiplication. For others, we will begin the process of coaching and consulting through replanting or revitalization.
Are you interested in taking the next step with the Redeemer Network?
Are you a church seeking to be replanted or revitalized?
Are you a pastor leading a replant or revitalization and interested in our training?