When a Church Chooses Death Over Life: Recognizing Your Moment for Renewal
As pastors, church leaders, and dedicated church members in our Family of Churches, you deeply care about the spiritual health and missional impact of your congregations. But, as we know well, every church has a lifecycle—seasons of growth, stability, decline, and renewal. Reflecting on Luke 19:41–44, I’m reminded of Jesus’ heartfelt lament as He approached Jerusalem: "If you knew this day what would bring peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes." (Luke 19:42, CSB)
In my role as Associational Mission Strategist, I’ve encountered congregations on the backside of their lifecycle—churches that once flourished but now struggle, perhaps unknowingly missing their moment for renewal and revitalization. Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem offers profound insight into this critical turning point for our churches today.
Like Jerusalem, congregations sometimes miss their kairos moment—a divinely appointed opportunity for fresh vitality, renewed purpose, and transformative peace from God. Tragically, many churches overlook or intentionally reject these opportunities, choosing familiar comforts over necessary and courageous change. The result is not merely stagnation but a gradual, often unnoticed drift toward irrelevance or eventual closure. Ultimately, communities lose the vital presence and witness of the gospel through that congregation.
For Jerusalem, ignoring their kairos moment brought tangible devastation—siege, destruction, and loss. The consequences for churches may seem less visibly dramatic, yet they are equally real and painful. Attendance shrinks, ministries fade, and vibrant memories are replaced by quiet nostalgia. More significantly, the broader community suffers from diminished spiritual impact and fewer opportunities to hear and respond to the gospel.
But this does not need to be the final chapter for any church. Jesus’ sorrowful words are also a gracious call to action—a compassionate urging to recognize the church’s critical moment of visitation. Now is the moment to prayerfully and courageously consider renewal, revitalization, or replanting efforts. Now is the time to humbly discern and embrace God's direction, believing He often moves powerfully through challenging transitions.
Yet, a hard reality exists: some congregations willingly choose to "go down with the ship," content with preserving the status quo rather than pursuing renewal. As an Associational Mission Strategists and leaders, what do we do when this happens?
In these challenging scenarios, it's vital we remain proactive and faithful:
Pray for the Pastor: Often, pastors bear tremendous emotional and spiritual burdens when congregations resist change. Pray intentionally for their wisdom, strength, and encouragement. Remind your pastor that the end of the congregation’s story does not signify the end of their own ministry.
Pray for Gospel Renewal: Regularly ask God to rekindle a genuine passion for the gospel in the hearts of the remaining members, leading to renewed vision, repentance, and revival.
Protect Kingdom Resources: Actively assist/encourage your congregation to update bylaws and clarify membership processes to prevent "Steeple Jacking" by external individuals or groups who may attempt to use church assets contrary to gospel purposes.
Clarify Property and Asset Stewardship: Encourage your church to adopt a reversionary clause on its deed, ensuring church property returns to a trusted ministry partner or association upon dissolution. Also, help establish clear dissolution clauses detailing the stewardship of church resources to benefit ongoing Kingdom work if closure occurs.
As your associational partner, we stand committed to helping you recognize and seize these kairos opportunities, even when facing the hardest realities. Through prayerful discernment, strategic collaboration, intentional revitalization efforts, and faithful stewardship, our churches can secure a gospel-centered legacy, ensuring future Kingdom impact.
Let's not miss our moment. Together, let's courageously embrace the renewal that brings lasting peace and vibrant ministry to our congregations.