by Mike Durbin
PLYMOUTH, MI – Michigan Baptists are making church revitalization a priority in 2023. The entire Frances Brown State Mission Offering for 2022 is being given by Michigan Baptists to help churches seeking revitalization and will continue to be received through the end of the year. Churches helping churches is just one of the many benefits our network provides.
Why revitalization? Every year approximately 900 Southern Baptist Churches close their doors forever. It’s an alarming number!
Rob Peters, founder of a revitalization focused ministry called Corpus Vitae, points out that the need for revitalized churches is becoming more urgent. If 80% of American churches are in some stage of decline or plateau, that means around 38,000 Southern Baptist churches fall into that category.
“We need a new wave of church revitalization to sweep across America,” says Peters. “We need to see something in God’s churches that we haven’t seen in our lifetimes. And that is a renewal and revival that only God’s Spirit can do.”
Multiple state conventions and churches in several countries are using the six-step biblically based process Peters developed to come alongside churches seeking revitalization. It is a resource that the BSCM is making available to Cooperating Michigan Baptist Churches that see the need to revitalize ministry for the days ahead. The Corpus refocus process equips pastors and church leaders to lead their church to experience renewed mission and ministry. The goal is to help restore purpose, vibrancy, and health to the ministry.
With the tools the ReFocus process provides, pastors and church leaders evaluate the current state of the ministry, consider how to reposition it for maximum impact, develop all the directional aspects of ministry, create a custom plan for disciple making, tailor a leadership development strategy, and build a custom plan for implementation (www.CorpusVitae.org).
This plan incorporates six Biblical steps of church revitalization:
Discovery
A multi-step process designed to synthesize data and discoveries, helping you to accurately evaluate the current state of the church.
Convergence
We look together at your church’s purposes, your leadership’s passion, and your community’s potential. As we look at these three areas and where they meet, it helps us to identify where to position your church’s ministries for maximum impact.
Pyramid
An in-depth series of exercises designed to develop all the directional elements for the church, including mission, strategy, vision, values, annual plans, and goals.
Path
A process that helps develop a customized plan for evangelism and discipleship through your church.
Ladder
Creation of a customized plan for leadership development and deployment through your church, using a four-fold framework (character, competency, chemistry, and concern for the mission).
Toolkit
Practical resources and ideas (provided throughout the year as you implement your plan) to help pastors and church leaders launch the new vision and build momentum toward its fulfillment.
For more information or to sign up for a Zoom call with Rob Peters, contact Mike@bscm.org.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mike Durbin is the State Evangelism Director for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Before joining the state convention staff, Mike served as Church Planting Catalyst and Director of Missions in Metro Detroit since 2007. He also has served as a pastor and bi-vocational pastor in Michigan, as well as International Missionary to Brazil.