Revitalize My Church

Assist Church Expansion
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Christianity

Hosted by Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant, two respected coaches in the field of church renewal, the Revitalize My Church podcast provides real-world advice and encouragement in each episode. In addition to insights provided by Bart and Nathan, you’ll also hear interviews with pastors and church leaders who have personally been involved in a successful church turnaround. They discuss the revitalization journey, keys to renewal, and lessons learned.

  1. Ep. 046 | Two Kinds of Struggling Churches

    1d ago

    Ep. 046 | Two Kinds of Struggling Churches

    Most struggling churches assume they need the same kind of help. Terry Long says that assumption is one of the first things that has to go. Terry serves as the Church Health and Revitalization Strategist for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. He joined the state convention in April 2020, holds a doctorate of ministry in church revitalization from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and has spent two decades in vocational ministry. In this conversation with host Bart Blair, Terry walks through the framework NC Baptists uses to assess struggling churches, why revitalization and reconstruction require two completely different responses, and what pastors consistently get wrong when they come asking for help. WHAT YOU WILL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE • Why NC Baptists developed a ten-question church assessment, and what it is actually designed to do • The two categories struggling churches fall into: revitalization candidates and reconstruction candidates, and why treating them the same is a mistake • What NC Baptists looks for when assessing a church: missional engagement, discipleship health, leadership development, and baptism trends • Two real stories of NC Baptist churches that turned around, including a church of 30 senior adults that went from no pastor and no direction to 10 baptisms in a single Sunday • Why revitalization has to start with the pastor before it can start with the church • The statistic that stopped Terry cold early in his ministry: 92 percent of pastors have never been personally discipled • Why the come-and-see model of church no longer works, and what has to replace it • Why Terry believes the decline of cultural Christianity is not bad news for the church A KEY QUOTE FROM THIS EPISODE "I actually think this is a great thing. I know a Lord that said we're supposed to go and make disciples of all nations. I actually think this is the Lord refining his church to get back to do what we were supposed to do in the first place." -- Terry Long FOR THE PASTOR WHO IS LISTENING If your church has been plateaued or declining for years and you are not sure whether you need a coach, a partner church, or something else entirely, this episode will help you figure out which kind of help actually fits your situation. Terry breaks down the difference in plain terms and gives you a framework for thinking clearly about where your church is and what it needs next. And if you have been carrying the weight of a church that feels like it might be past the point of no return, the story of a 30-person church of senior adults who saw 10 baptisms six months into a turnaround process is worth hearing. RESOURCES MENTIONED • NC Baptists Church Revitalization: https://ncbaptist.org/ministries/church-revitalization • North American Mission Board Replant: https://www.namb.net/church-replanting/ • Reclaiming Glory by Mark Clifton • Embers to a Flame by Harry Reeder • Church revitalization resources by Tom Chaney, Orlando Baptists ABOUT REVITALIZE MY CHURCH Revitalize My Church is hosted by Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant. We create practical, biblically grounded content for pastors and church leaders who are navigating decline, plateau, and the hard work of leading a church toward health. New episodes release on the first and fifteenth of each month. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and if this conversation was helpful, share it with a pastor who needs it. That is the best thing you can do to help more church leaders find this content. Visit us at revitalizemy.church

    42 min
  2. Ep. 045 | 6 Keys to Handling Resistance in a Church Revitalization - Part Two

    Jun 1

    Ep. 045 | 6 Keys to Handling Resistance in a Church Revitalization - Part Two

    Are you leading a church through revitalization and running into resistance at every turn? You are not alone. Resistance is one of the most common challenges pastors face when trying to move a church from where it is to where God wants it to be. The question is not whether you will face it. The question is whether you know how to handle it well. In Episode 45, Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant cover keys 3 through 6 of their six-key framework for handling resistance in church revitalization. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE Key 3: Communicate the Vision Often and Clearly Vision is your most powerful tool for overcoming resistance. People do not want to be managed. They want to be inspired. Cast a compelling, biblically grounded vision that answers four questions: Why are we doing this? Who are we? What are we going to do? And where are we going? Bart and Nathan talk about why vision leaks, why repetition is leadership and not redundancy, and how to use testimonies and stories of life change to reinforce the vision you are casting. Key 4: Honor the Past While Moving Forward Most resistance in a church revitalization is tied to something with real historical significance. People are being asked to let go of something they have valued for years, sometimes decades. Bart and Nathan share practical ways to celebrate what God has done in the church's history, allow people to grieve what is changing, and become the kind of pastor who knows the church's story well enough to carry it forward with honor. The goal is to be married to the mission without being married to the methodology. Key 5: Know When to Push and When to Pause Pace and timing matter as much as direction. Going too fast causes people to fall off. Going too slow kills momentum and loses your window. Bart and Nathan talk about how to identify low-hanging fruit for early wins, how to build a team that can read the room, why a well-timed pause can actually accelerate change, and why squandering momentum is just as dangerous as moving too quickly. Key 6: Know When Resistance Has Become Conflict Not all resistance is the same, and the way you respond to pushback needs to change when resistance turns into conflict. Bart and Nathan walk through the red flags that signal the shift, including when people stop questioning a decision and start questioning your right to make it, and when individuals begin organizing others around their opposition rather than bringing concerns directly to leadership. When that happens, you need a different set of tools. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Episode 43: Keys 1 and 2 for Handling Resistance in Church Revitalization Episode 44: Grieving the Loss of the Church You Love, featuring author and pastor Larry Davis Episodes 39 and 41: Six Keys to Managing Conflict in a Church Revitalization The Revitalize My Church Podcast helps pastors of smaller, struggling churches navigate change and reorient to a new and healthy future. Hosted by Bart Blair, Director of Church Revitalization for Assist Church Expansion, and Nathan Bryant, Executive Director of Assist Church Expansion. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. If this episode has been helpful, leave a rating and a review, and share it with a pastor who needs it. Visit us at RevitalizeMyChurch.com for show notes, resources, and more.

    29 min
  3. Ep. 044 | When the Church Must Die in Order to Live

    May 15

    Ep. 044 | When the Church Must Die in Order to Live

    Can a dying church really come back to life? Pastor Larry Davis says yes, but not the way most revitalization books tell you. In this episode of the Revitalize My Church Podcast, Bart Blair sits down with Larry Davis, author of "Grieving the Loss of the Church You Love" and Associational Missionary for the Eastern Baptist Association. Larry has personally led three church revitalizations and has assisted or consulted with more than 110 churches. His perspective on revitalization is unlike anything most pastors have read or heard. Most books on church revitalization assume every church should live. Larry challenges that assumption directly. Drawing from Scripture, the Kubler-Ross stages of grief, and more than two decades of hands-on revitalization work, Larry makes the case that a congregation cannot embrace something new until it has genuinely grieved what was. That single principle changes everything about how a pastor should approach a struggling church. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE Why the local church has a natural life cycle, and what Scripture says about it How the five stages of grief (denial, bargaining, anger, depression, and acceptance) show up in a declining congregation Why trying to lead change before a church is ready almost always backfires How Larry navigated fierce resistance at Grace Seaford Church, including angry members at Wednesday night suppers What the "meeting before the meeting" is and why it is never optional How cascading communication works and why skipping the middle ring is one of the costliest mistakes in revitalization What resurrection actually looks like for a dying church, and why it is different for every congregation How to use a simple EKG framework to honestly assess the health of your church Why reaching out for help early dramatically increases a church's chances of genuine renewal THE FIVE STAGES OF GRIEF IN A LOCAL CHURCH Denial: The church refuses to admit there is a problem. Bargaining: The church tries to fix itself without actually changing. New sign letters. A younger pastor. A new program. Anger: Blame gets directed at the pastor, the leadership, or the community around the church. Depression: The congregation begins to realize the decline is real. Larry explains the important difference between secondary depression and preparatory depression. Acceptance: The congregation finally becomes open to whatever God wants to do next. This is the threshold of resurrection. ABOUT LARRY DAVIS Larry Davis spent nine years as an aerospace engineer before answering the call to full-time ministry in 2003. Over 26 years of vocational ministry, he has personally led three church revitalizations, co-planted Grace Mardela Church, and has assisted or consulted with more than 110 churches. He currently serves as Senior Pastor of Grace Seaford Church in Seaford, Delaware, and as Associational Missionary for the Eastern Baptist Association. His book "Grieving the Loss of the Church You Love" is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Website: https://www.pastorlarrydavis.com Speaking and consulting inquiries: pastor@graceseaford.org BOOKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED Grieving the Loss of the Church You Love by Larry Davis: https://www.amazon.com/Grieving-Loss-Church-You-Love/dp/1597557811 Autopsy of a Deceased Church by Thom Rainer Transforming the Rural Church in America by Shannon O'Dell Our Iceberg Is Melting by John Kotter On Death and Dying by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross ABOUT REVITALIZE MY CHURCH The Revitalize My Church Podcast is hosted by Bart Blair, Director of Church Revitalization at Assist Church Expansion. New episodes release on the 1st and 15th of every month. The podcast exists to help pastors of smaller and struggling churches navigate revitalization with practical, biblically grounded guidance. Subscribe...

    41 min
  4. Ep. 043 | 6 Keys to Handling Resistance in a Church Revitalization - Part One

    May 6

    Ep. 043 | 6 Keys to Handling Resistance in a Church Revitalization - Part One

    Resistance is one of the most common and discouraging challenges a pastor faces when leading a church through revitalization. You cast the vision, you lay out the plan, and then someone pushes back. Or a group pushes back. And suddenly it feels like the people you are trying to help are the very ones standing in your way. In this episode of the Revitalize My Church Podcast, Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant dig into what resistance actually is, why it is completely normal, and how to respond to it in a way that keeps the temperature in your church manageable. This is Part 1 of a two-part series on handling resistance in church revitalization, covering the first two of six practical keys. If you missed the previous two episodes on managing conflict in a church revitalization, go back and listen to Episodes 39 and 41 first. Resistance and conflict are related, but they are not the same thing, and understanding the difference will change how you respond to both. RESISTANCE IS NOT A SIGN YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG If you are leading your church through meaningful change and not experiencing any resistance, you are probably not changing anything that really matters. Resistance is the natural result of inertia. People who have worshiped, served, and sacrificed in a church for 20, 30, or 40 years have deep roots. Even people who say they want change often do not fully realize what they are agreeing to until the process is underway. Resistance in a revitalizing church often comes from a few different places. Some people fear loss. They are not necessarily against the change itself, they are grieving what they might have to give up. Others are carrying the wounds of past attempts that did not work out. They tried things before, it did not go the way they hoped, and now their guard is up because they do not want to feel that sense of failure again. Others simply do not trust the leader enough yet to take a big step in a new direction. And some feel, even unintentionally, that the push for change is a criticism of everything they have built and sacrificed for over the years. All of that is worth understanding before you decide how to respond. WHAT MOSES CAN TEACH PASTORS ABOUT LEADING THROUGH RESISTANCE Moses led a people who had cried out to God for deliverance for generations, received it through miraculous signs and wonders, crossed the Red Sea, and then spent most of the journey through the wilderness complaining. They wanted the promised land immediately. What they got was a long, hard desert walk. Sound familiar? A few things stand out from Moses as a model for pastors navigating resistance. The people said yes to the journey without fully understanding what they were signing up for. Moses did not always keep his cool, but he remained committed to the mission. He interceded for the people even when they deserved judgment, because they were not his adversaries, they were his people. And Moses did not have the full plan from day one. God revealed it over time, and Moses had to adjust along the way. Revitalization is not that different. KEY 1 - DO NOT PERSONALIZE IT, CONTEXTUALIZE IT The first key to navigating resistance is refusing to take it personally. When a pastor becomes anxious or defensive in response to pushback, that anxiety spreads through the congregation and raises the temperature. Your defensiveness will escalate the situation faster than almost anything else. Proverbs 19:11 says that wisdom yields patience and that it is to one's glory to overlook an offense. That is not weakness. That is strategic leadership. Most resistance is not really about you. It is about the concept of change, the fear of loss, or the memories tied to something you are asking people to let go of. At the same time, pastors need to guard against making it feel personal to the people resisting. When change...

    35 min
  5. Ep. 042 | Stop Chasing Programs. Start Reaching People

    Apr 15

    Ep. 042 | Stop Chasing Programs. Start Reaching People

    Episode 42: Show Notes TLDR: Key Takeaways The Oikos Principle works everywhere: 95% of people come to faith through relationships with the 8-15 people in their "front row" - their coworkers, neighbors, close friends, and family members who watch how they live. Church obesity kills mission focus: Most churches are programmatically obese, offering so many "good things" that the Great Commission gets crowded out. The average church attender has only 5 hours per week to give. Outreach never happens naturally: Without intentionality, nurture always wins over evangelism. Churches must deliberately elevate the Great Commission first and often, or it will never take root. Start with a simple strategy: Make a list of your 8-15 people, pray daily, invest in relationships intentionally, then invite them into environments where faith conversations happen naturally. Episode Summary Are you struggling to keep your church focused on reaching lost people? Do you feel like your congregation is more interested in adding new ministries than making new disciples? You're not alone. In this episode of Revitalize My Church, Bart sits down with Tom Mercer, author of 8 to 15: The World Is Smaller Than You Think and pastor of High Desert Church for 38 years, to discuss why most churches have lost focus on the only thing Jesus commanded us to do between His advents - make disciples. Why Small Churches Struggle with Mission Focus Tom shares candidly about the challenge every pastor faces: "It's not that local churches don't do good things, but we do so many good things that the only great thing Jesus asked of us doesn't have any room to flourish." This insight is particularly crucial for small church pastors who are constantly pressured to add more programs, more ministries, and more activities to compete with larger churches in their community. What Is the Oikos Principle and How Does It Work in Church Revitalization? The word "oikos" is a Greek term meaning "house" or "household" that appears throughout the New Testament. But Tom explains it means more than just a physical dwelling - it describes your relational world. The Oikos principle teaches that every person has 8-15 people in the "front row seats" of their life - people who: Watch how you live Listen to what you say Include coworkers, neighbors, close friends, classmates, and family members Are supernaturally and strategically placed in your life by God The data is undeniable: Tom has asked hundreds of thousands of Christians across five continents, multiple denominations, and diverse cultures one question: "Was the primary reason you gave your heart to Christ because of someone in your oikos?" The answer? Virtually every hand in the room goes up, every time. How to Implement the 8 to 15 Strategy in Your Church Tom shares the practical five-step strategy High Desert Church used to keep thousands of people focused on the Great Commission: Step 1: Make a List Help your congregation identify by name the 8-15 people in their front row. "It's only a dream until you write it down, then it becomes a goal," Tom explains, quoting NFL Hall of Famer Emmett Smith. Step 2: Pray Daily Encourage consistent prayer for these specific people by name. Most believers never take this step. Step 3: Invest in Relationships Be intentional about spending time with and serving these people. This is where most invitation strategies fail - people won't invite those they h...

    45 min
  6. Ep. 041 | Part 2 - 6 Keys to Managing Conflict in a Church Revitalization

    Apr 1

    Ep. 041 | Part 2 - 6 Keys to Managing Conflict in a Church Revitalization

    Episode 41: Show Notes Hosts: Bart Blair (Director of Church Revitalization, Assist Church Expansion) & Nathan Bryant (Executive Director, Assist) TLDR: Key Takeaways Check your own heart first - Before addressing conflict, examine your motivations, attitudes, and potential contributions to the problem (Matthew 7:3-5) Deal openly, not publicly - Address conflict transparently with appropriate parties in proper settings, never air dirty laundry from the pulpit (Proverbs 27:5-6) Seek win-win solutions - Aim for outcomes that strengthen relationships and unity, not just "winning" the argument (Philippians 2:3-4) Bring in outside help early - Don't wait until conflict becomes unredeemable; involve trusted third-party mediators from your network Not every conflict ends in win-win - Sometimes the healthiest resolution is helping someone find a better-fit church where they can thrive 94% of pastors report positive outcomes - When handled properly, conflict leads to better relationships, clarity, and stronger unity Managing Conflict in Church Revitalization: 6 Essential Keys (Part 2) TLDR: Key Takeaways Check your own heart first - Before addressing conflict, examine your motivations, attitudes, and potential contributions to the problem (Matthew 7:3-5) Deal openly, not publicly - Address conflict transparently with appropriate parties in proper settings, never air dirty laundry from the pulpit (Proverbs 27:5-6) Seek win-win solutions - Aim for outcomes that strengthen relationships and unity, not just "winning" the argument (Philippians 2:3-4) Bring in outside help early - Don't wait until conflict becomes unredeemable; involve trusted third-party mediators from your network Not every conflict ends in win-win - Sometimes the healthiest resolution is helping someone find a better-fit church where they can thrive 94% of pastors report positive outcomes - When handled properly, conflict leads to better relationships, clarity, and stronger unity How Do You Check Your Heart Before Addressing Church Conflict? In part two of this essential series on managing conflict during church revitalization, Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant tackle the final three keys that every pastor needs to successfully navigate congregational disputes and maintain unity. Why Do Leaders Need to Examine Themselves First? Scripture Foundation: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" - Matthew 7:3-5 Before entering any conflict situation, church leaders must: Stop making assumptions - We often walk into conflict having already decided what the other person thinks, why they're upset, and what their motivations are - usually all negative assumptions Check your attitude - Are you viewing this as a headache to manage or an opportunity to build better unity? Believe the best - 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us that love "believes all things" - enter the room assuming the best about the other person Examine your role - Have you communicated clearly? Made promises you didn't keep? Created unrealistic expectations? You may have contributed to the conflict without realizing it What Does It Mean That Conflict Is Relational? Even when conflict appears to be about decisions, programs, or practical matters, it almost always becomes relational. People...

    25 min
  7. Ep. 040 | Attributes of a Next Level Church Leader

    Mar 15

    Ep. 040 | Attributes of a Next Level Church Leader

    Episode 40: Attributes of a Next Level Leader Revitalize My Church Podcast | Guest: Ed Short | Host: Bart Blair Keywords: next level leader, church leadership development, pastor leadership skills, small church revitalization, leadership attributes for pastors, how to become a better church leader, coaching pastors TL;DR — 4 Key Takeaways Next level leadership is not about jumping from good to great overnight — it's about intentional, incremental growth from wherever you are right now. Effective church leaders develop a set of core attributes including God-dependence, self-awareness, relational competence, and a bias toward implementation. Self-awareness may be the single most critical leadership skill: knowing your strengths to capitalize on, and your weaknesses to neutralize or delegate around. Pastors don't have to do it all alone — identifying implementers and key people on your team who complement your gaps is a legitimate and powerful leadership strategy. Episode Overview What separates a good pastor from a truly effective church leader? In episode 40 of the Revitalize My Church Podcast, host Bart Blair sits down with church leadership coach Ed Short to unpack the key attributes of what Ed calls a "next level leader." Whether you're pastoring a congregation of 40 or 140, this conversation is packed with honest, practical insight designed to help you take your leadership from where it is to where it needs to be. Ed draws on decades of ministry experience — from student pastor to executive pastor to lead pastor of three churches including a church plant — to offer a grounded, real-world framework for leadership development that doesn't require a massive budget or a seminary refresher. Just honest self-assessment and a commitment to growth. About the Guest: Ed Short Ed Short is a church leadership coach and consultant who serves on the Assist Church Expansion team alongside host Bart Blair. His ministry journey spans student ministry, executive pastoral leadership, and lead pastor roles at multiple churches. Ed is passionate about two things above all: evangelism — reaching people far from God — and discipleship, helping new believers begin to look like Jesus. Ed's wife Carol is, in his words, "the best ministry worker I have ever been around" and serves as his most trusted ministry advisor. Ed's coaching work focuses on helping pastors identify their leadership ceiling and take measurable steps to break through it. Note: Ed previously appeared on Episode 15 of the Revitalize My Church Podcast, covering how churches can navigate a pastoral search process. That episode remains the most downloaded in the show's history. What Is a Next Level Leader? Ed uses the analogy of a five-tool baseball player — think Willie Mays or Mike Trout — to frame what it means to be a next level leader. Just as the elite players in baseball excel at hitting for average, hitting for power, speed, fielding, and throwing, great leaders develop across multiple dimensions simultaneously. But the goal isn't perfection — it's progress. As Ed explains: "If you're a four, how do we help you become a five? If you're a six, how do we help you become a seven? Nobody goes from being a four to a nine." The framework Ed has developed identifies a range of attributes, qualities, abilities, and mindsets that characterize next level leaders. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by the full list, Ed encourages leaders to identify three things they can capitalize on and two or three areas they need to neutralize or delegate around. Key Attributes of a Next Level Leader 1. God-Dependence Ed opens with what he calls his own weakest point — and it may be yours too. God-dependence means prioritizing prayer and reliance on God above strategic planning. Ed admits freely: "I would rather plan than pray." This honest vulnerabilit...

    43 min
  8. Ep. 039 | Part 1 - 6 Keys to Managing Conflict in a Church Revitalization

    Mar 1

    Ep. 039 | Part 1 - 6 Keys to Managing Conflict in a Church Revitalization

    Episode 39: Show Notes Hosts: Bart Blair (Director of Church Revitalization, Assist Church Expansion) & Nathan Bryant (Executive Director, Assist) TLDR: Key Takeaways Conflict is normal in churches - 75% of 14,000+ surveyed churches experienced conflict; it's not an exception, especially during revitalization Conflict differs from resistance - Resistance to change requires different handling than general congregational conflict between members Face reality: conflict will come - Change creates conflict; prepare your leadership team to expect and plan for it rather than being blindsided Move toward conflict quickly but wisely - Address issues within 48-72 hours to prevent escalation, but take time to pray and process first Always go face-to-face - Never resolve conflict through text or email; digital communication strips away tone and escalates tension Bring a witness - Leaders should include an elder or team member when mediating conflict to ensure accountability and accurate reporting How Do You Handle Conflict During Church Revitalization? Conflict is one of the most challenging aspects of leading a church through revitalization. In this episode, Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant tackle the reality that 75% of churches experience some level of conflict - and provide practical keys for navigating it successfully. Why Is Conflict So Common in Churches Going Through Revitalization? Church revitalization creates a perfect storm for conflict: Change itself generates tension between longtime members and new vision Power dynamics shift as leadership structures evolve Resource scarcity creates disagreements about priorities Unspoken expectations lead to assumptions and misunderstandings Communication gaps allow gossip to fill the vacuum According to the Faith Communities Today (FACT) study of over 14,000 congregations, the top sources of church conflict are: Member behavior (44%) Money and finances (42%) Worship style (41%) Leadership style (40%) Decision-making processes (39%) Program priorities (30%) Theology and doctrine (26%) What's the Difference Between Conflict and Resistance in Church Revitalization? Before diving into conflict management strategies, it's important to understand that resistance to change is different from general congregational conflict. Resistance specifically relates to pushback against new initiatives, while conflict can arise from interpersonal issues, behavior problems, or disagreements unrelated to revitalization efforts. This episode focuses on managing conflict that occurs between members and maintaining unity - a primary responsibility of church leadership. Key #1: Face Reality - Conflict Will Come Scripture Foundation: "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." - James 1:2-4 How Should Pastors Prepare for Inevitable Church Conflict? Rather than being surprised or defensive when conflict emerges, church leaders must: Normalize conflict without treating it as catastrophic

    33 min
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out of 5
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About

Hosted by Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant, two respected coaches in the field of church renewal, the Revitalize My Church podcast provides real-world advice and encouragement in each episode. In addition to insights provided by Bart and Nathan, you’ll also hear interviews with pastors and church leaders who have personally been involved in a successful church turnaround. They discuss the revitalization journey, keys to renewal, and lessons learned.

Information

  • Creator
    Assist Church Expansion
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    Revitalize My Church

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