*Editor’s Note: In this series on church revitalization, Adam Jones, senior minister of Connect Christian Church in Carl Junction, MO, walks through important steps a declining church can take. Revitalization requires renewed leaders, a rediscovery of family, and listening. In this article, Jones explores the need to prepare your people for what matters.
Some people are runners. They enjoy the rush of adrenaline, the thrill of the race, and the burn of exercise. My wife, Grace, is one of these people.
Other people are normal, like me. We all own cars so we don’t have to run.
As much as I hate running, in 2013 I found myself registered for a 5k race in Cincinnati, OH. On the morning of the race, a friend picked my wife and me up to drive the hour or so into the city. We stopped for gas, which I saw as my opportunity to slip into the gas station for breakfast. I emerged with a sack of donuts in one hand and a 20-ounce Mountain Dew in the other. Grace took one look at me and demanded to know what in the world I was doing with donuts and Mountain Dew as we were headed for a race. I smiled, replied, “Carb loading,” and began munching on some donuts.
An hour later, I had eaten my breakfast of champions and found myself standing in a mob of runners about to begin my one and only 5k race. This race was a big deal, certainly larger than I had imagined. There were hundreds and hundreds of racers, enough that they were lining racers up by their respective paces. As we neared the chaos of the race, my wife asked me what pace I thought I would run. Having never ran a 5k before and having no context for this question, I answered her question with a question of my own. “What’s the fastest pace you can have?”
A quick Google search told me the fastest mile ever ran was 3 minutes, 43 seconds by a Moroccan man named Hicham El Guerrouj. I figured Hicham might have a bit on me so I told her I would probably stay back with the 5-or-6 minute runners. After some good-natured and overly dramatic eye rolling from my wife, I found myself back with the 12-minute slowpokes.
“I emerged with a sack of donuts in one hand and a 20-ounce Mountain Dew in the other.”
Race time arrived, the national anthem was sung, a prayer was prayed, the starting gun went off, and the race was on. I looked at my wife, said, “See ya!” and took off as fast as I could go. (I’m a little competitive.)
I was weaving in and out of people, confident all the 12 minute runners were impressed with my obvious God-given speed. I quickly observed that we were making consistent left turns and decided to download everything I had ever learned from watching Nascar races on TV. It’s simple, right? If you’re always turning left, the fastest lane is on the left, so I slid over to the left side of the road and hugged the curb as tightly as I could.
After I had run for what felt like an eternity, my left leg was starting to burn from my poor decision to run on the sloping edge of the road. But my biggest problem was that I seemingly had 20 ounces of Mountain Dew lodged in the right side of my gut while also having several donuts lodged on the left. And . . . I was about to die.
Just at that moment, though, I made yet another left turn and saw a beautiful oasis laid out before me: an eight-foot folding table with hundreds of Dixie cups full of water. I quickly gulped one down and gasped, “May I have another?” The water boy (who I assume was sent directly from heaven) kindly said I could have as many as I wanted. And I wanted a lot. After chugging all the water my aching body could hold, I asked, “How much further to the finish line?” I’m still not sure what the joke was, but he laughed heartily and told me I was almost halfway.
“I’m still not sure what the joke was, but he laughed heartily and told me I was almost halfway.”
I’m no quitter, so I took off running again, as fast as I could go. It didn’t take too many more left turns for my situation to turn dire. My leg still ached, I could still feel the Mountain Dew and the donuts, and now I had a half gallon of water sloshing around the whole mess. My run slowed to a jog, which became a power walk, then a slow walk, and eventually a pitiful shuffle.
About this time, I saw my wife jog right on by with a big smile on her face, just living her best life. She didn’t see me, so I resolved to pass her and once again kicked it up a notch, sprinting the next four steps before succumbing to my fate and resuming my shuffle.
I eventually finished the race, with a grand time of nearly 43 minutes. (That’s right, all the 12-minute slowpokes beat me.)
Here’s what I learned that day: Preparation matters.
- If you prepare for a 5k race with Mountain Dew and donuts, you will not do well.
- If you prepare for a 5k race by sitting on the couch and never running, you will not do well.
- If you prepare for a 5k race by studying Nascar, you will not do well.
I’ve discovered a similar truth in church ministry, especially in helping be part of revitalizing stagnant churches. Preparation influences outcome. If we want to finish well—and not just start impressively—our churches need serious-minded preparation.
“If we want to finish well—and not just start impressively—our churches need serious-minded preparation.”
In what ways do we need to prepare churches that need revitalization?
1. Prepare people.
If your church is producing engaging programming, with great music, captivating lights, and incredible graphics, congratulations! We were made in the image of a creative God and should be using all our talents and tools accordingly. But that wasn’t the mission Jesus gave us.
We were never commissioned to produce programs, productions, or policies. We were commissioned to produce people who look like Jesus.
As you dream of a revitalized church, ask yourself: Am I producing a product that can be found outside the Kingdom of Heaven? If so, it’s time to begin producing the product that actually matters.
2. Prepare for obedience.
I can’t tell you how many times I have heard someone say they are considering changing churches because they “just want to go deeper.” Almost every time I hear that, it translates to, “I’m bored and want to hear something new.”
This is probably not 100% true but it’s close: I’ve become convinced that most church participants aren’t really needing to learn something new about Jesus. What they actually need is to practice what they already know. (Of course, once you’ve put Jesus’ words into practice, He’ll probably teach you something new.)
As you dream of a revitalized church, ask yourself: Am I hiding behind an academic excuse of wanting to learn something new? If so, it’s time to begin practicing what you already know.
“Ask yourself: Am I hiding behind an academic excuse of wanting to learn something new? If so, it’s time to begin practicing what you already know.”
3. Prepare for mission.
Every church knows well the temptation to huddle together and avoid the messy, broken world outside her walls. Sadly, some have given in to this temptation, putting their proverbial heads in the sand.
This is exactly why I have chosen to end every gathering at our church with the same three words: “You are sent.” Sunday mornings, Wednesday evenings, small groups, and online videos all end with that reminder. And we sprinkle the challenge throughout our sermons, lessons, and conversations.
It is impossible to be at our church without being aware that you have gathered to sing God’s praises, hear the Word of God, take communion and give an offering—all of which prepares you to be sent on the mission of the Kingdom of God.
As you dream of a revitalized church, ask yourself: Am I allowing myself and my people to hide from the brokenness of the world? If so, it’s time to recognize the multiplying heart of God and repeat the words of Isaiah: “Here am I. Send me!”
“Am I allowing myself and my people to hide from the brokenness of the world? If so, it’s time to recognize the multiplying heart of God.”
It’s not hard to start impressively. But when we don’t prepare our people for obedience to Jesus’ mission, we leave them to struggle, shuffle along, and eventually drop out. If you love your church and want to see it experience revitalization, it’s time to prepare.
