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Revitalize My Church

Revitalize My Church

By: Assist Church Expansion
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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.© 2024 Christianity Economics Management Management & Leadership Spirituality
Episodes
  • Ep. 031 | Maximize Christmas for Church Revitalization

    Ep. 031 | Maximize Christmas for Church Revitalization
    Nov 1 2025

    How to Leverage Christmas for Church Revitalization | Church Growth Strategies
     In this essential episode for church leaders, Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant share proven Christmas outreach strategies that can revitalize your church and attract new visitors during the most opportune season of the year.
    Did you know that 60-70% of Americans attend a Christmas church service annually? Learn how to maximize this incredible opportunity for church growth and community engagement with practical, budget-friendly ideas that work for churches of any size.
    WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
    • Why Christmas outperforms Easter for visitor attendance
    • The 3-step framework for successful Christmas outreach
    • How to train your congregation to invite effectively
    • Creative alternatives to traditional Christmas services
    • Critical follow-up strategies to keep visitors coming back
    • Real examples from church plants and revitalizing churches
    • How to plan impactful events with just $200 and 25 people

    THE THREE CRITICAL COMPONENTS FOR SUCCESS:
    1. Planning Your Event Start planning now - early November is not too early. Consider what your church can authentically do well rather than copying other churches. Use AI tools like ChatGPT to brainstorm creative ideas within your budget.
    2. Mobilizing Your Congregation Train your people on how to invite effectively. Personal invitations during Christmas have the highest acceptance rate of any time during the year. Create multiple touchpoints throughout December, not just Christmas Eve.
    3. Planning the Follow-Up Have a January event already planned before Christmas arrives. Announce your next opportunity during Christmas events. Create a clear pathway for visitors to return.

    FEATURED STRATEGIES: Community Service Ideas:
    • Decorating homes for elderly residents
    • Community meals for those without family
    • Angel tree partnerships with local schools
    • Mobilizing neighbors for service projects
    Alternative Event Ideas:
    • Fire pit parties with s'mores
    • Outdoor Christmas BBQs
    • Relationship-focused Christmas parties
    • Collaborative community projects

    KEY TAKEAWAY: "Christmas is the greatest time of the year. We have the most amazing story to share that God came into the world and gives us hope and light and life, and Jesus is the answer for everything." - Nathan Bryant

    REAL CHURCH EXAMPLE: Nathan's church plant is taking on 15 families for Christmas gifts through the local school district, intentionally accepting more than their core group can handle alone. This creates opportunities to invite neighbors and friends to participate, building relationships while serving the community.

    FIVE MISTAKES TO AVOID:
    1. Procrastination - Waiting too long to plan
    2. Lack of mobilization - Not training your congregation to invite
    3. No follow-up plan - Missing January reconnection opportunity
    4. Copying others - Not being authentic to your church's identity
    5. Doing nothing - The biggest mistake is not trying at all

    ACTION STEPS:
    • Start planning your Christmas strategy immediately
    • Work creatively with your current budget and resources
    • Think beyond traditional Sunday services
    • Train congregation members on invitation strategies
    • Schedule your January follow-up event now
    • Focus on what your church does authentically well
    FREE RESOURCES: Get personalized Christmas strategy consultation and planning templates at RevitalizeMyChurch.com

    TOPICS: Church revitalization, Christmas outreac...
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    30 mins
  • Ep. 030 | A Real Story of Church Revitalization

    Ep. 030 | A Real Story of Church Revitalization
    Oct 15 2025
    A Real Story of Church Revitalization - Show Notes
    How Pastor Tim Wilmetti Led Pataskala Grace Church From Crisis to Growth
    In this episode of the Revitalize My Church podcast, host Bart Blair interviews Pastor Tim Wilmetti about his six-year journey revitalizing Pataskala Grace Church in Ohio. This real-world case study offers practical insights for pastors and church leaders facing similar challenges.
    What Happens When a Church Loses Half Its Attendance Overnight
    Pastor Tim shares the dramatic story of how Pataskala Grace went from 162 to 76 attendees in a single week when the previous pastor resigned suddenly after facing resistance to change initiatives. The church was caught in worship wars, with split services between contemporary and traditional music, creating division that ultimately led to mass exodus.

    Key Warning Signs Your Church Needs Revitalization Help
    • Leadership conflicts over vision and direction
    • Congregation splitting into opposing camps over worship style
    • Attendance declining from peak of 250-300 to under 60 people
    • Members spiritualizing personal preferences instead of focusing on biblical matters
    • Lack of new believers and baptisms over multiple years

    How ASSIST Helped Prepare Church Leadership Before Hiring a New Pastor
    Before Tim arrived, the remaining elders attended an ASSIST bootcamp that helped them:

    • Unite around the need for change and new direction
    • Prepare mentally for the challenges of revitalization
    • Commit to supporting whatever changes would be necessary
    • Understand their role in the revitalization process

    Overcoming the Biggest Challenges in Small Church Revitalization
     Dealing with Members Who Resist Change in Church Revitalization
    Tim faced pushback from longtime members who wanted to return to "the way we've always done things" from the church's peak years in the 1990s. Some examples included:
    • A four-page letter criticizing a sermon on Jesus turning water to wine
    • Complaints about sanctuary lighting being "too dark" for theological reasons
    • Objections to contemporary language used during services

    Building a Worship Team When Good Worship Leaders Are Hard to Find
     The church cycled through multiple worship leaders over six years, highlighting the challenge many small churches face. Tim's advice includes:
    • Looking beyond just musical ability to leadership and character qualities
    • Considering older, more mature believers who bring theological depth
    • Recruiting from local colleges, universities, and even karaoke venues
    • Being willing to invest in temporary solutions while searching for long-term fits

    From Church Revitalization to Church Planting Success
    After growing from 50-60 to 180-200 regular attendees, Pataskala Grace is now preparing to plant a new church in Newark, Ohio. This demonstrates how successful revitalization can lead to multiplication rather than just survival.
    Essential Leadership Lessons for Pastors Leading Church Revitalization
     Why Church Revitalization Pastors Need Thick Skin and Tender Hearts
    Tim emphasizes the importance of:
    • Not taking personal attacks personally while remaining compassionate
    • Maintaining identity in Christ rather than ministry success
    • Having unified elder support when facing criticism
    • Learning from previous ministry mistakes

    How...
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    51 mins
  • Ep. 029 | Hopeful Vision and Leadership Development

    Ep. 029 | Hopeful Vision and Leadership Development
    Oct 1 2025
    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...
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    34 mins
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