Revitalize My Church

Assist Church Expansion

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. 029 | Hopeful Vision and Leadership Development

    6 GIỜ TRƯỚC

    Ep. 029 | Hopeful Vision and Leadership Development

    CHURCH REVITALIZATION BREAKTHROUGH: Master Vision Casting & Leadership Development Are you struggling to energize your declining church? In this powerful episode, church revitalization experts Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant reveal the final two essentials that can transform stagnant congregations: creating hopeful vision and developing strong leaders. WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER: The 4-Component Vision Framework Every Church Needs: Why Question: Defining your biblical purpose Who Question: Clarifying your cultural identity How Question: Building your strategic plan Where Question: Painting your preferred future Why Most Churches Fail at Leadership Development (and how to fix it) The Simple Apprentice Model that creates exponential growth How to Identify Hidden Leaders in your congregation Biblical Foundation for Hope using Proverbs 29:18 and Isaiah 40:31 KEY TIMESTAMPS:  0:00 - Introduction: Fall 2025 Church Revitalization Update 5:30 - What Makes Vision "Hopeful" for Declining Churches 12:45 - The 4-Component Strategic Vision Framework 18:20 - Purpose vs Mission vs Vision Statements Explained 23:10 - Leadership Development: The Missing Ingredient 28:40 - Why Pastors Struggle with Developing Leaders 32:15 - The Exponential Apprentice Model 38:50 - Identifying Your Church's Future Leaders 42:30 - Integrating Leadership Development into Discipleship 46:20 - How Vision and Leadership Work Together GAME-CHANGING QUOTES:  "A manager tells people what to do. A leader inspires people to want to do it." "Without leaders you can't grow anything. You can't start a small group without a leader." "Where there is no vision, the people will perish" - but hopeful vision unifies and mobilizes your church. RESOURCES MENTIONED: "The Vision Driven Leader" by Michael Hyatt "Exponential" by John & Dave Ferguson RevitalizeMyChurch.com (free resources & blog) ABOUT THIS SERIES: This episode concludes our deep dive into the 10 essentials for church revitalization, based on content from Terry Long and the North Carolina Baptists. Previous episodes covered dependent prayer, Christ-centered worship, gospel-centered fellowship, and joyful hospitality. MEET YOUR HOSTS:  Bart Blair - Director of Church Revitalization, Assist Church Expansion  Nathan Bryant - Executive Director, Assist Both hosts have extensive experience helping struggling churches navigate change and find new life. READY TO REVITALIZE YOUR CHURCH? This isn't just theory - these are battle-tested strategies from the trenches of church revitalization. Whether you're a pastor, church leader, or concerned member, this episode provides actionable steps you can implement immediately. YOUR CHURCH CAN HAVE HOPE AGAIN! Don't let another Sunday pass wondering "what if." Every declining church has the potential for renewal when biblical vision meets intentional leadership development. SUBSCRIBE for bi-monthly episodes (1st & 15th of every month)  LIKE if this helped your church leadership journey COMMENT your biggest vision or leade...

    34 phút
  2. Ep. 28 | The Power of Church Hospitality | Mary Ann Sibley

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    Ep. 28 | The Power of Church Hospitality | Mary Ann Sibley

    From Parking Lot to Pew: The Power of Church Hospitality Church Hospitality Can Transform Your Ministry In this episode of Revitalize My Church, host Bart Blair interviews MaryAnn Sibley, a church hospitality expert who helps declining churches build effective volunteer teams and create welcoming environments that turn first-time visitors into regular attendees. How First Impressions Ministry Changes Everything MaryAnn shares her powerful testimony of going from Buddhist background to church leadership, emphasizing how strategic hospitality volunteers in the parking lot and at church doors made all the difference in her first church experience. Learn why "the sermon starts in the parking lot" and how your church can implement this principle. Building Volunteer Teams That Actually Work Discover the key insight that revolutionizes volunteer ministry: "You don't need more volunteers, you need the right volunteers." MaryAnn explains how to: Identify and recruit the right people for hospitality roles Create volunteer teams that focus on discipleship, not just task completion Turn Sunday service into a "spiritual gymnasium" for volunteer growth Practical Church Growth Strategies for Small Churches Perfect for pastors leading churches of 50-200 people, this episode covers: Parking Lot Ministry Best Practices Why every church needs parking lot volunteers (even with empty spaces) How to train volunteers to create meaningful first impressions Making visitors feel expected and welcomed from the moment they arrive Creating a Welcoming Church Culture The difference between greeters and ushers Strategic volunteer placement throughout your church building How to help longtime members connect with newcomers Hospitality That Covers Ministry Weaknesses Learn how excellent church hospitality can compensate for: Less-than-perfect music ministries Developing preaching skills Limited children's programming Small church size Church Revitalization Through Volunteer Development MaryAnn demonstrates how volunteer ministry becomes discipleship opportunity, helping both volunteers and visitors grow spiritually while strengthening the entire church body. Guest Bio: MaryAnn Sibley - Church Hospitality Consultant MaryAnn Sibley helps churches across the country develop effective hospitality and volunteer teams. With experience helping a church grow from 100 to 6,000 attendees, she now coaches church leaders in creating welcoming environments that facilitate genuine church growth. Connect with MaryAnn: Website: maryannsibley.com Instagram: Follow for practical hospitality tips and volunteer leadership insights Key Takeaways for Church Leaders Start with a few committed volunteers rather than trying to recruit large teams Focus on discipleship through service opportunities Create consistent welcoming experiences from parking lot to sanctuary Expect God to bring new people and prepare accordingly Authenticity matters more than perfection in church hospitality Perfect for: Pastors, church volunteers, hospitality teams, small church leaders, anyone interested in church growth through improved first impressions. Subscribe...

    40 phút
  3. Ep. 027 | Joyful Hospitality and Meaningful Membership | Nathan and Bart

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    Ep. 027 | Joyful Hospitality and Meaningful Membership | Nathan and Bart

    Episode 27 - Joyful Hospitality & Meaningful Membership Episode Details Podcast: Revitalized My Church Episode: 27 Hosts: Bart Blair & Nathan Bryant (Executive Director, Assist Church Expansion) Release Date: September 1, 2025 Topic: Church Revitalization Essentials #7 & #8 Episode Summary After a brief hiatus in August, Bart and Nathan return to continue their series on church revitalization essentials based on a framework from Terry Long and the North Carolina Baptists. This episode focuses on two critical elements that can make or break a church's revitalization efforts: creating an atmosphere of joyful hospitality and establishing meaningful membership that goes beyond just having your name on a roll. Main Topics Covered 1. Joyful Hospitality: Three Levels of Welcome Why Hospitality Matters: First-time visitors are often scared and uncertain Many haven't been to church in 15-20 years or ever People are looking for connection and acceptance We represent Jesus and "the joy of the Lord is our strength" Three Levels of Hospitality: Front Door Experience Genuine, joyful greeters (not just going through motions) Warm welcome without being overwhelming Clear directions for newcomers Corporate/Building Hospitality Thinking like hosts in our own home Clean, welcoming physical environment Clear signage and navigation Thoughtful preparation for guests Personal Hospitality Leaders modeling hospitality in their homes Inviting people into your life beyond Sunday Building real relationships and community Cultural shift that starts individual, becomes corporate 2. Meaningful Membership: Beyond Names on a Roll The Problem with Current Membership: Many churches have 60-80 members but only 25-50 in attendance No clear expectations or obligations Membership becomes a finish line instead of starting point People commit more to little league than to church What Meaningful Membership Looks Like: Covenantal commitment both directions (pastor to members, members to church) Clear expectations and benefits Active participation requirements Integration into church family as team members/partners Key Components of Membership Expectations: Regular attendance Serving in ministry Participation in small groups Financial support Investing in relationships with non-believers Respecting church leadership and authority Commitment to church mission and values Key Quotes "When you actually are thinking about how we gonna grow this thing, how we're gonna move forward, well, the primary way you're gonna do that is through relationships and connecting with people." - Nathan Bryant "If you're not committed to one another, in my opinion, you're not a church." - Nathan Bryant "The moment that they say yes to being a disciple of Jesus, a follower of Jesus, that's not the end game. That's the beginning of the race." - Bart Blair Practical Tips & Action Items H...

    39 phút
  4. Ep. 26 | Revitalizing Children’s Ministry | Lisa Rowland

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    Ep. 26 | Revitalizing Children’s Ministry | Lisa Rowland

    Revitalizing Children's Ministry: Essential Strategies for Churches Ready to Welcome Families Is your church struggling to attract and retain families with children? In this comprehensive episode, host Bart Blair interviews Lisa Rowland, a seasoned children's ministry leader and consultant with Life Catalyst Consulting, who shares over 20 years of practical experience helping churches of all sizes build thriving children's programs. Lisa's unique journey from corporate business management to children's ministry leadership provides valuable insights for church leaders looking to create welcoming, safe, and effective programs that partner with families in discipleship. Whether your church hasn't had children in years or you're preparing for growth, this episode offers actionable strategies you can implement immediately. Key Topics Include: Essential safety protocols and background check requirements for children's ministry Creating inviting spaces for families on any budget Proven volunteer recruitment strategies that work in small churches Curriculum selection guidance for different church sizes and volunteer capacity Building sustainable ministry teams vs. relying on solo teachers Simple check-in systems that don't require expensive technology Effective partnership strategies between church and family discipleship Leadership skills needed to oversee vs. teach in children's ministry Perfect For: Church planters, pastors of aging congregations, volunteer children's ministry leaders, church revitalization teams, and anyone interested in effective family ministry strategies. About the Guest: Lisa Rowland serves at Bridgeway Church in North Texas and consults with churches nationwide through Life Catalyst Consulting. Her corporate background provides unique organizational and leadership insights that translate powerfully to ministry settings. Resources Mentioned: Life Catalyst Consulting (lifecatalyst.com), church management software options, design tools, and curriculum resources for churches with limited budgets. This 40-minute conversation provides practical, immediately applicable strategies for churches ready to welcome families and build children's ministry programs that make a lasting impact. Subscribe to Revitalize My Church Podcast for new episodes on the 1st and 15th of each month, featuring practical ministry insights and transformation stories from churches successfully reaching new families and growing younger.

    44 phút
  5. Ep. 25 | Gospel-Centered Fellowship and Missional Engagement | Nathan and Bart

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    Ep. 25 | Gospel-Centered Fellowship and Missional Engagement | Nathan and Bart

    Gospel-Centered Fellowship and Missional Engagement for Church Revitalization Episode Overview In this milestone episode marking one year of the Revitalize My Church podcast, hosts Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant continue their series on the 10 essentials for church revitalization, based on insights from Terry Long of the North Carolina Baptist Association. They explore two critical elements that struggling churches need: gospel-centered fellowship and missional engagement. This episode reveals why surface-level community isn't enough and how churches can become truly missionary-minded in their local context. What Is Gospel-Centered Fellowship and Why Surface Level Community Isn't Enough Gospel-centered fellowship goes far beyond potluck dinners and social gatherings. Nathan Bryant explains that many revitalizing churches function primarily around Sunday morning experiences and may have meaningful relationships, but lack the "deeper fellowship of interconnectedness that allows for true deep community where real discipleship takes place." Key Characteristics of Gospel-Centered Fellowship: Vulnerable community: Creating safe spaces for confession, accountability, and real spiritual conversations Life-on-life ministry: Moving beyond listening to teaching toward discussing application together Biblical accountability: Where people confess what God is telling them to do and follow up on obedience Transformative engagement: Relationships that actually change how people live out their faith The Problem with Traditional Church Community: Most churches focus on large group experiences (Sunday worship, Sunday school) where relationships remain surface-level. While these relationships may be meaningful and long-term, they don't provide the intimate context needed for true spiritual transformation. How to Move Your Church Beyond Surface Level Relationships to Deep Community Creating gospel-centered fellowship requires intentional steps and cultural change, especially in churches where people have known each other for decades but haven't experienced deeper spiritual community. Practical Steps for Pastors and Church Leaders: Visit and participate in churches that are successfully doing gospel-centered fellowship Create an incubator group with 4-5 solid families rather than trying to implement church-wide immediately Experience it yourself first - leaders need to understand the value before asking others to participate Teach the biblical foundation through preaching before launching programs Start slow but intentional - focus on quality relationships over quick expansion Essential Elements for Success: Smaller group contexts where vulnerability is possible Regular spiritual conversations about how God's Word applies to daily life Accountability structures that encourage obedience to Scripture Prayer and confession as normal parts of community life What Does Missional Engagement Mean for Churches Going Through Revitalization Missional engagement focuses on what churches do outside their building to connect with their community. Nathan defines it as "what we're doing with our lives in the corporate nature of the church, the group nature of the church, and the individual lives...

    27 phút
  6. Ep. 23 | Text Based Preaching and Intentional Discipleship in Church Revitalization | Nathan and Bart

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    Ep. 23 | Text Based Preaching and Intentional Discipleship in Church Revitalization | Nathan and Bart

    Text Based Preaching and Intentional Discipleship in Church Revitalization   Join hosts Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant as they explore two essential elements for successful church revitalization: text-driven preaching and intentional discipleship. Drawing from insights by Terry Long of the North Carolina Baptist Association, this episode reveals why these biblical foundations are game-changers for struggling churches. Key Topics: Text-Driven Preaching: Learn the crucial difference between teaching and preaching, how to strategically choose Scripture passages for your church's specific needs, and why application matters more than information transfer. Intentional Discipleship: Discover why discipleship doesn't happen by accident, how to create clear pathways for spiritual growth, and Jesus' proven model for developing mature followers. Nathan emphasizes that God's Word has transformative power when properly applied, while Bart shares his personal discipleship experience and the "laboratory vs. lecture" approach that accelerated his spiritual growth. Both hosts stress that church revitalization happens through heart transformation, not just methodology changes. Perfect for pastors, church leaders, and anyone passionate about seeing real life change in their congregation. This practical episode provides actionable strategies you can implement immediately to help your church move toward a healthy, fruitful future. Scripture Focus: Hebrews 4:12, 1 Corinthians 11:1, and the Great Commission's practical implications for modern discipleship. New episodes release on the 1st and 15th of each month. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and visit RevitalizeMyChurch.com for additional resources.

    31 phút
  7. Ep. 022 | Building Healthy Churches | AJ Mathieu

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    Ep. 022 | Building Healthy Churches | AJ Mathieu

    Building Healthy Churches: A Conversation with AJ Mathieu of The Malphurs Group In this episode, we sit down with AJ Mathieu from The Malphurs Group to discuss church revitalization, leadership development, and building healthy churches. Drawing from his decade of experience in ministry and the legacy of Dr. Aubrey Malphurs, AJ shares valuable insights on how churches can move from decline to vitality. Key Quote "We can't make anybody change. And we tell every single church we work with, we will lead you through this with the greatest capability and resources we have. But we cannot make you do the work. You have to want it." - AJ Mathieu About Our Guest AJ Mathieu serves with The Malphurs Group, continuing the legacy of Dr. Aubrey Malphurs who was a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary for 35 years and authored 26 books. The organization focuses on church health, revitalization, and leadership development. Key Insights from the Episode On Church Assessment "Ninety to ninety-five percent of churches are plateaued or declining in the U.S. and then even more broadly speaking in the West." The Malphurs Group evaluates churches in four key areas: Mission focus Current values assessment Discipleship pathway Vision assessment Common Revitalization Mistakes "There's an illusion that us meeting and talking about things and planning is actually doing the work and it's not." Key pitfalls to avoid: Over-relying on cosmetic changes Implementing changes too quickly Extended planning without action Insufficient relationship building On Building Leadership Teams "We want it to be a positive group of people that all feel positively about the potential for the future of the church working together." Recommended characteristics for strategic leadership team members: Ministry leaders (paid or volunteer) Future-focused individuals Active church participants People with godly character Those who respect church authority Resources Mentioned The Malphurs Group Tools   Healthy Churches Toolkit  Comprehensive resource launched September 2023 Features training videos, assessments, and AI tools Monthly workshops and new resources Digital versions of Dr. Malphurs' assessments Book Reference "Advanced Strategic Planning" by Dr. Aubrey Malphurs Essential resource for church leaders Includes practical assessments and worksheets Used in seminaries worldwide Connect with The Malphurs Group Website: malphursgroup.com Services available to churches across denominations Free initial consultation available Final Encouragement "No matter how alone you might feel in ministry, you're not. And there's people that want to see you thrive and they want to see you get back to that first vision you had... whenever God called you to ministry." - AJ Mathieu The episode emphasizes that while church revitalization is challenging, it's possible with the right approach, proper pacing, and adequate support. The key is being willing to do the work while maintaining hope and seeking help when needed.

    42 phút

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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.

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