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Revitalize My Church

Revitalize My Church

Auteur(s): 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 Christianisme Développement commercial et entrepreneuriat Entrepreneurship Gestion et leadership Pastorale et évangélisme Spiritualité Économie
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  • Ep. 027 | Joyful Hospitality and Meaningful Membership | Nathan and Bart

    Ep. 027 | Joyful Hospitality and Meaningful Membership | Nathan and Bart
    Sep 1 2025
    Episode 27 - Joyful Hospitality & Meaningful Membership
    Episode Details
    Podcast:     Revitalized My Church
    Episode: 27
    Hosts: Bart Blair & Nathan Bryant (Executive Director, Assist Church Expansion)
    Release Date: September 1, 2025
    Topic: Church Revitalization Essentials #7 & #8
    Episode Summary
     After a brief hiatus in August, Bart and Nathan return to continue their series on church revitalization essentials based on a framework from Terry Long and the North Carolina Baptists. This episode focuses on two critical elements that can make or break a church's revitalization efforts: creating an atmosphere of joyful hospitality and establishing meaningful membership that goes beyond just having your name on a roll.
    Main Topics Covered
    1. Joyful Hospitality: Three Levels of Welcome
     Why Hospitality Matters:
    • First-time visitors are often scared and uncertain
    • Many haven't been to church in 15-20 years or ever
    • People are looking for connection and acceptance
    • We represent Jesus and "the joy of the Lord is our strength"

    Three Levels of Hospitality:
    1. Front Door Experience
      • Genuine, joyful greeters (not just going through motions)
      • Warm welcome without being overwhelming
      • Clear directions for newcomers
    2. Corporate/Building Hospitality
      • Thinking like hosts in our own home
      • Clean, welcoming physical environment
      • Clear signage and navigation
      • Thoughtful preparation for guests
    3. Personal Hospitality
      • Leaders modeling hospitality in their homes
      • Inviting people into your life beyond Sunday
      • Building real relationships and community
      • Cultural shift that starts individual, becomes corporate

    2. Meaningful Membership: Beyond Names on a Roll
     The Problem with Current Membership:
    • Many churches have 60-80 members but only 25-50 in attendance
    • No clear expectations or obligations
    • Membership becomes a finish line instead of starting point
    • People commit more to little league than to church

    What Meaningful Membership Looks Like:
    • Covenantal commitment both directions (pastor to members, members to church)
    • Clear expectations and benefits
    • Active participation requirements
    • Integration into church family as team members/partners

    Key Components of Membership Expectations:
    • Regular attendance
    • Serving in ministry
    • Participation in small groups
    • Financial support
    • Investing in relationships with non-believers
    • Respecting church leadership and authority
    • Commitment to church mission and values

    Key Quotes
     "When you actually are thinking about how we gonna grow this thing, how we're gonna move forward, well, the primary way you're gonna do that is through relationships and connecting with people." - Nathan Bryant


    "If you're not committed to one another, in my opinion, you're not a church." - Nathan Bryant


    "The moment that they say yes to being a disciple of Jesus, a follower of Jesus, that's not the end game. That's the beginning of the race." - Bart Blair


    Practical Tips & Action Items
     H...
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    39 min
  • Ep. 26 | Revitalizing Children’s Ministry | Lisa Rowland

    Ep. 26 | Revitalizing Children’s Ministry | Lisa Rowland
    Jul 15 2025
    Revitalizing Children's Ministry: Essential Strategies for Churches Ready to Welcome Families
    Is your church struggling to attract and retain families with children? In this comprehensive episode, host Bart Blair interviews Lisa Rowland, a seasoned children's ministry leader and consultant with Life Catalyst Consulting, who shares over 20 years of practical experience helping churches of all sizes build thriving children's programs.
    Lisa's unique journey from corporate business management to children's ministry leadership provides valuable insights for church leaders looking to create welcoming, safe, and effective programs that partner with families in discipleship. Whether your church hasn't had children in years or you're preparing for growth, this episode offers actionable strategies you can implement immediately.
    Key Topics Include:
    • Essential safety protocols and background check requirements for children's ministry
    • Creating inviting spaces for families on any budget
    • Proven volunteer recruitment strategies that work in small churches
    • Curriculum selection guidance for different church sizes and volunteer capacity
    • Building sustainable ministry teams vs. relying on solo teachers
    • Simple check-in systems that don't require expensive technology
    • Effective partnership strategies between church and family discipleship
    • Leadership skills needed to oversee vs. teach in children's ministry

    Perfect For:     Church planters, pastors of aging congregations, volunteer children's ministry leaders, church revitalization teams, and anyone interested in effective family ministry strategies.


    About the Guest:     Lisa Rowland serves at Bridgeway Church in North Texas and consults with churches nationwide through Life Catalyst Consulting. Her corporate background provides unique organizational and leadership insights that translate powerfully to ministry settings.
    Resources Mentioned:     Life Catalyst Consulting (lifecatalyst.com), church management software options, design tools, and curriculum resources for churches with limited budgets.

    This 40-minute conversation provides practical, immediately applicable strategies for churches ready to welcome families and build children's ministry programs that make a lasting impact.
    Subscribe to Revitalize My Church Podcast     for new episodes on the 1st and 15th of each month, featuring practical ministry insights and transformation stories from churches successfully reaching new families and growing younger.
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    44 min
  • Ep. 25 | Gospel-Centered Fellowship and Missional Engagement | Nathan and Bart

    Ep. 25 | Gospel-Centered Fellowship and Missional Engagement | Nathan and Bart
    Jul 1 2025
    Gospel-Centered Fellowship and Missional Engagement for Church Revitalization Episode Overview
    In this milestone episode marking one year of the Revitalize My Church podcast, hosts Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant continue their series on the 10 essentials for church revitalization, based on insights from Terry Long of the North Carolina Baptist Association. They explore two critical elements that struggling churches need: gospel-centered fellowship and missional engagement. This episode reveals why surface-level community isn't enough and how churches can become truly missionary-minded in their local context.

    What Is Gospel-Centered Fellowship and Why Surface Level Community Isn't Enough
     Gospel-centered fellowship goes far beyond potluck dinners and social gatherings. Nathan Bryant explains that many revitalizing churches function primarily around Sunday morning experiences and may have meaningful relationships, but lack the "deeper fellowship of interconnectedness that allows for true deep community where real discipleship takes place."
    Key Characteristics of Gospel-Centered Fellowship:
    • Vulnerable community: Creating safe spaces for confession, accountability, and real spiritual conversations
    • Life-on-life ministry: Moving beyond listening to teaching toward discussing application together
    • Biblical accountability: Where people confess what God is telling them to do and follow up on obedience
    • Transformative engagement: Relationships that actually change how people live out their faith

    The Problem with Traditional Church Community:
     Most churches focus on large group experiences (Sunday worship, Sunday school) where relationships remain surface-level. While these relationships may be meaningful and long-term, they don't provide the intimate context needed for true spiritual transformation.

    How to Move Your Church Beyond Surface Level Relationships to Deep Community
     Creating gospel-centered fellowship requires intentional steps and cultural change, especially in churches where people have known each other for decades but haven't experienced deeper spiritual community.

    Practical Steps for Pastors and Church Leaders:
    1. Visit and participate in churches that are successfully doing gospel-centered fellowship
    2. Create an incubator group with 4-5 solid families rather than trying to implement church-wide immediately
    3. Experience it yourself first - leaders need to understand the value before asking others to participate
    4. Teach the biblical foundation through preaching before launching programs
    5. Start slow but intentional - focus on quality relationships over quick expansion
    Essential Elements for Success:
    • Smaller group contexts where vulnerability is possible
    • Regular spiritual conversations about how God's Word applies to daily life
    • Accountability structures that encourage obedience to Scripture
    • Prayer and confession as normal parts of community life
    What Does Missional Engagement Mean for Churches Going Through Revitalization
     Missional engagement focuses on what churches do outside their building to connect with their community. Nathan defines it as "what we're doing with our lives in the corporate nature of the church, the group nature of the church, and the individual lives...
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    27 min
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