One major sacrifice necessary to save our churches Part II
Author: Brandon Sutton
In part one of this short series, I shared the story of how one pastor made the existence of my church possible. Pastor Jim led his congregation to be replanted, knowing it would mean the termination of his job as pastor. I’m convinced we need to see a lot more of this happen if our churches are going to survive and thrive. Pastors must be willing to evaluate themselves and their churches and, if necessary, prepare to work their way out of the job so their church can live.
But how should this be done? That’s the focus of this article. I want to lay out a step-by-step guide for how pastors can make this incredible sacrifice.
1. Pray.
This may seem obvious, but before you make any decision, especially one this significant, you need to seek the Lord. If this is God’s will, He will make it clear and give you the courage to follow through.
2. Seek Counsel.
There is wisdom and safety in receiving counsel from multiple godly people. Share your plans with those who know you well. Let them speak into your life and trust that the Lord is using them to guide and confirm His will.
3. Partner with a Trusted Leader
Pastor Jim reached out to his church’s associational director, Lloyd Stilley. Lloyd had previously served the church and was trusted by the members and leaders. His involvement helped Jim navigate the decision and prayerfully introduce the idea to the leadership team.
4. Discuss with Leaders and Influencers
Before trying to lead the entire church toward replanting, start by meeting with your leaders and key influencers. Help them understand the problem and begin presenting possible solutions. You need their support before leading the church to be replanted.
5. Raise Awareness in the Congregation
Most dying churches know they are struggling, but few recognize how critical the situation really is. A pastor who leads his church toward replanting must begin laying the groundwork through preaching. The message must highlight the church’s current reality with facts. Share the church’s history and its long-term decline. Present clear data—attendance, membership, and baptism records over the past 20 years. People won’t act unless they see the problem. But when confronted with the evidence, most will be more willing to respond.
6. Find a Partner Church
You don’t need everyone’s approval to begin this step. With guidance from a trusted leader, look for a church willing to partner in the replant. Bring in someone from that church to speak with your leadership team. At this point, you’re simply listening to options. Over time, the right partnership will become clear as the Lord aligns your hearts and vision. You might meet with this person alone first before you present them to your leaders.
7. Put Together a Plan and Execute
This part will develop through a series of conversations and meetings. There’s no need to rush. But once your leadership and the partner church develop a plan, and agree to move forward, it's time to bring the church together. Present the proposal clearly, allow time for prayer and questions, and then call for a vote.
This is, in short, how Christ’s Fellowship was born. Pastor Jim followed this process, and by God’s grace, it worked. He sought the Lord and made a costly but life-giving decision. Because one pastor was willing to make the sacrifice, a new work of God was made possible.
