Plant or Revitalize?

Should you plant a church, or help revitalize one? Mike McKinley has some good advice, listing the advantages and disadvantages of both.

For instance, here are some disadvantages of revitalization. “Most significantly, there’s a reason why the church needs to be revitalized.” Things need to be torn down before revitalization takes place. It can be a slow, long process requiring lots of courage. And it’s hard to find a church that’s truly interested in being revitalized. The reputation of the church may not help.

On the other hand, here are some advantages. Revitalization establishes a new gospel presence at the same time as it removes a bad witness. It encourages faithful saints who have hung in through lean times. They are shepherded in a new way. Revitalization also enables us to leverage existing resources for the gospel.

This book is looking like a great resource. I’m enjoying it.