How to regain morale and momentum, if you’re so inclined.
Pastoring a declining church can feel like trying to ski uphill during an avalanche.
On Sunday morning you see more and more empty spaces in the pews. The remaining members see it and try not to mention it, but you can sense their heaviness. Board meetings are consumed by bad news and difficult belt-tightening decisions. The fat has already been cut; now you’re cutting into muscle.
Can anything be done to reverse the sense of futility, to bring new vigor to the demoralized?
I once became the pastor of a declining church. Nevertheless several years later, although the economy and circumstances of the area had not improved, our church had reversed its slide. Here are some of the factors God used to bring about the change.
Positively persevere
Our church had the blues. The previous pastor was asked to leave. The church had a reputation, and no one in the denomination had jumped at the chance to be their pastor.
When I came, I quickly realized we needed a strong dose of encouragement. In declining situations, gloom is a ghost that needs to be busted. Negative feelings, blaming, and ill will fills the air. These can only be overcome by joy. And that comes only from a constant supply of positive encouragement.
From the pulpit I told the people over and over how privileged I felt to be their pastor. Although we genuinely did love the church and community, the congregation found this hard to believe. Why would anyone want them? It took a few months of demonstrating my love for them before they started believing me-and believing in themselves.
I preached positive sermons. I don’t think negative Scriptures should be ignored, but given the “downer” attitude in our congregation, it was fitting to preach upbeat messages for several months. The people didn’t need reminders of their failings but of what was right about them and their church.
I wielded the power of the pen, writing hundreds of notes to members of my church. When I “caught” people doing something right, I affirmed them in a note. When someone was going through a difficult time, I sent a note of encouragement. Once a year I wrote a letter to every worker in our church thanking them for their ministry.
In our monthly church newsletter, I highlighted different ministries and the people who made them happen, including the behind-the-scenes workers.
Do not be overcome by the negative, but overcome negative with positive.
Acknowledge the decline
I once attended a church that didn’t want to publicly admit they were in decline (although everyone was whispering about it). Perhaps they figured that talking about the problem would further hurt morale. But the crippling result: the church never prayed together about it.
If our leaders simply would have acknowledged that we were in decline, we could have joined together in prayer, affirmed our love for each other and the church, and been revived by facing the situation together.
The problem needs be recognized before solutions can be forthcoming.
Make quick changes
A church in decline is ready for change, immediately if not sooner. When something’s broke, you can’t fix it soon enough. The saying about waiting two years before introducing change is poor advice for a church dissatisfied with the way things are now. They’re expecting the pastor to make a difference soon. They don’t want their decline to continue two more years.
A quick change signals to the church and community that “a new day has arrived!” Decline is being reversed.
I made significant changes as soon as I arrived in my declining church. We restructured the committees and changed the worship service. We revamped the Wednesday program, moving choir practice, youth meetings, and other activities from Sunday to Wednesday, and started a weekly Wednesday fellowship meal.
These changes didn’t all come at once. Sensing a positive response to the first change, I drew courage to try another. It snowballed from there.
Exercise strong leadership
I recently spoke at a pastors’ conference on the topic of reversing decline. Afterwards a pastor said, “I’m all for reversing decline, but I can’t get my board moving.”
“What have you tried to get your board to do?” I asked.
“That’s the problem. They won’t do anything. At board meetings I ask them what we should do, and no one has any ideas. They just sit there.”
That church needs a leader who will do the hard work of brainstorming and formulating vision in the privacy of his office. They need a leader who comes to board meetings with clear direction for the church and practical steps to get there.
Take risks
If we aren’t taking risks, we’re doing only what is manageable, and we’re not providing opportunities for God to do what only he can do.
Taking risks calls for the supernatural, stretches the faith of the congregation, breathes life and vibrancy into the church. A church gets enthusiastic when they see clear evidence of God at work.
Several years ago the missions committee of our church decided to encourage our youth to go on a summer missions trip, something the youth hadn’t done in years. The committee talked to our youth sponsors and the young people, and to our pleasant surprise, about a dozen wanted to go.
Our missions committee committed to raising a significant percentage of the funds, about $15,000. We had three months.
I remember sitting in a committee meeting when the realities of our venture set in. (Nothing jolts us into reality quicker than money!) We sat around the table, absolutely scared. We needed so much money that one of the committee members asked whether we should be bold enough even to tell the congregation how much we needed. The thought was paralyzing.
Finally, with a feeble voice I said to the committee, “God seems to be in this. We challenged the young people to go on summer missions-something not done in a long time in our church. We were hoping one or two would respond. Twelve have responded. God seems to be working in the hearts of our young people. Maybe he will also work in the hearts of others to give.”
The committee gave me permission to present the need to the congregation. I did so-nervously. To my amazement, the congregation responded generously, quickly, and without heavy pleading from me. All the money came in, and the young people had a spectacular summer.
They came back pumped with an enthusiasm contagious to the rest of the church. The following year another dozen young people went. Couples-young and old-started to go on short term missions trips. Three couples chose missions as a lifelong vocation.
Even in a “declining” church, we experienced one of the greatest workings of God that I have ever seen in ministry. After that, “decline” was no longer a part of our church’s vocabulary.
– Ron Klassen
Rural Home Missionary Association
Morton, Illinois
106 SUMMER/93
Copyright © 1993 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal. Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.
