Challenges of Revitalizing Maintenance Mode Churches

Mark Clifton, Mark Hallock, and Dan Hurst discuss some reasons that pastors must be patient when it comes to making change.

1. The best change takes place on the wings of persistent study and prayer.
2. Many churches simply don’t recognize the need for change.
3. Some changes require structural change – even a change in the church’s by-laws at times – and that process usually takes a while.
4. Too much change in too little time can backfire.
5. Sometimes those members who’ve been the most faithful over the years are the ones who most need convincing of the change.
6. We’re often trying to change churches that have been in maintenance mode for a long time.
7. Some members aren’t unwilling to change; they’re just tired of change in general.

Resources related to this episode:

7 Reasons We Must Be Patient with Church Change by Chuck Lawless