Practical Church Revitalization Podcast

Don and Natalie discuss the need for pastors and their wives to be transparent in their mental health as the discuss their own struggles after the recent suicide of Paige Hilken.Link on article of Paige HilkenNatalie's BlogNew England Pastors Encouragement Dinner

Today we interview another of the SBC President nominees, Ed Litton, pastor of Redemption Church in Mobile, AL.

The final live episode of 2021 and Dona nd Natalie talk about three things they've learned while pursuing people for their church.1. Pastors need to go after the people who "like the church, but................."2. Pastors need to cast the vision for them3. Pastors need to pray for God's will

In the second to last new episode of the year, Don goes over his big three after Praying and the Bible for a replanter.1. Know your community that you are in.2. Meet regularly with the people in that community3. Create a battle plan to evangelize and minister to that community. 

PCRP S4 E6 Special Needs Ministry in the Church Don interviews Natalie McKinnon on the need for special needs ministry within the Church and the missed opportunity to families that need it. 13% of Kids in public have special needs1 in 83 are on the autism spectrum7% of children 3-17 years of age have ADHD8% of children 3-17 years of age have a learning disability17% will experience communication disorder90% of these families will not attend a church regularly out of embarrassment Reach Natalie at natalie@legacysutton.com http://mintools.com/special-needs-ministry-resources.htm http://www.willowcreek.org/disabilities. Ideas for ministry at your church from Willow Creek Church,Chicago, Illinois http://www.hopeingod.org/disability http://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/buildings-and-sites/about-the-adastandards/ada-standards/chapter-2-scoping-requirements#221%20Assembly%20Areas http://storage.cloversites.com/christianchurchesdisabilityministry/documents/A%20Place%20For%20Me%20In%20Gods%20Family

Barna’s article discussed the number of pastors ready to quit, with 46% of pastors under 45 prepared to quit. 1,000’s of these pastors are working in dying churches out there. Many do not see the looming crisis and need for pastors to encourage in the post-COVID world. 1.      Pastors are doing their all in dying churches, and the results are burning them out. No one is set to replace them, and so churches are going to close.2.      Pastors are not seeking out other pastors for encouragement. Either within their denominations or outside. Pastors are lonely and fighting the battle alone.3.      Pastors feel like they are following the Lord’s will, and the results prove they should quit. Barna's Article

Don and Natalie interview Dr. David Jackson of the NAMB Replant team where he oversees the East region. Dr. Jackson has four decades of experience in Church planting and revitalization and shares his wisdom with the hosts. Dr. Jackson also served as Don's filed supervisor for his practicums in seminary this past year. 

In this episode Don talks about the importance of prayer in a revitalization and why we must do so fervently, but also as an example for those who may not be praying in their own relationship with Jesus. 

From Replant Summit 2021, Andy Addis talks about revitalization through Multi-Site churches. 

Nothing lasts forever, and T$G is ending next year. We give some thoughts on this and how this can be huge for local networks. 

Three things we see shiftingThe return of midweek services   Wednesday and Thursdays nights are showing promise for families who are working hours that keep them away from Sunday servicesYouth groups and Bible Studies  Both are being combined and youth group on Friday nights from 8-10 is becoming a choice to get teens discipled, and parents to attend Bible studySmaller Church over larger church  People are choosing to go to smaller venues  for a variety of reasons. Email Don at don@legacysutton.com or Erik at erik@fcccharlestown.com with your thoughts. 

At the 2021 Pastors Encouragement Dinner, Pastor Lierte Soares Jr. brought an encouraging message to the 30+ pastors gathered. Lierte’s ministry is unique in that he pastors two churches, Framingham Baptist Church in Framingham, MA (pop. 72,308) and Precision Valley Baptist Church in the small town of North Springfield, VT (pop. 644).Lierte Soares is a NAMB church planter missionary originally from Brazil and has been in New England since 2014. Pastor Lierte (or you can call him Pastor Junior) has been pastoring a church in Vermont and planting a multicultural church in MetroWest Boston for the past few years. Each week he makes the 240 miles round trip drive between the two churches several times as he evangelizes and disciples the people in those communities and those churches.

Warren has served several churches in the elders role, providing pastoral support. He gave his testimony to the 2021 Pastors Encouragement dinner held 9/25/2021 at Legacy Church in Sutton, MA

After this brief episode, we will bring you the messages from the Pastors Encouragement Dinner that was held 9/25/21

Updating you all on the goings on here at PCRP

Why continuing to learn on any level is a must for the replanter.

In this episode we catch up with Don and Natalie and get a small update on Erik Maloy, then dive into the topic of the episode.Churches have a reputation in their communities and many in the churches do not know what they are based on. Don and Natalie shed light from a book they read together by Mark MacDonald, Be Known for Something: Revitalizing Your Church's Reputation.A. What are you known for?B. What does your church do well?C. Embracing a theme for your church.Books discussedBe Known for Something by Mark MacDonaldSmall Church Essentials by Karl Vater

Chad McDonald came to Lenexa Baptist Church from Valley, Alabama where he served as Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church. He originally came to Lenexa to be the Campus Pastor at The Fellowship at Greenwood where he served for two years. He became the Senior Pastor Elect at the main campus in June of 2014.Here he shares why it is important for churches to work together and why some churches that are stuck or struggling to swallow their pride and reach out for help.

Don and Natalie discuss the need for pastors and their wives to be transparent in their mental health as the discuss their own struggles after the recent suicide of Paige Hilken.Link on article of Paige HilkenNatalie's BlogNew England Pastors Encouragement Dinner

Some updates on what is going on in the New England Region with church revitalization.