Church Renewal

Churches who maintain an accurate understanding and awareness of their present condition and their gospel potential are often able to adjust to changing realities within their congregation and in their contexts.

Yet, according to Rob Peters, a leading expert on church renewal; “Approximately 360,000 of the 400,000 churches in the United States have plateaued or are declining, and more than 70 close their doors each week.” 

Here in Nashville, as is true throughout North America, close to 80% of our area churches are in need of some sort of renewal.

• Many churches are concerned about their future, but are not sure what to do.
• Where some churches have insight and clarity, they may lack the courage or unity to pursue vitality.
• Others have tried quick fixes or programmatic solutions which have failed, leaving them discouraged. 

God is not done with your church, there is hope. The work of renewal begins with humility, continues with commitment and flourishes when congregational leaders and members surrender their plans and agendas and seek God’s future for their church.

The Church renewal process is unique for every church, we’re here to help your church gain insight, awareness and take practical steps toward God’s future.  

1. Church Health Survey

   Every congregation has blind spots. The Church Health Survey gives your leadership a structured way to name the spiritual realities you’re living in — identifying where your church is thriving and where honest growth is needed. Work through the assessment together and come away with greater clarity about next steps for renewal.

2. Renewal Cohort

   Renewal is hard work, and it’s best done in community. We gather the third Thursday of each month with a group of pastors actively leading their churches through renewal. If you’d like to join us, reach out at [email protected].

3. Church Consultation

   We’ve had the privilege of walking alongside nearly one in five NBA churches as they’ve faced the hard questions of renewal. If your church has experienced year-over-year decline and you’re ready to have an honest conversation about a path forward, we’d love to meet with you.

4. Renewal Pathways

   Decline doesn’t have to be the end of the story. The chart below maps a range of pathways available to churches at different stages of decline — from internal revitalization led by existing leadership, to partnership models that share resources and governance, to legacy decisions that reinvest a congregation’s assets for future gospel ministry in the community.

   Two axes shape the chart: the further right a pathway sits, the more autonomy your congregation retains; the further down, the deeper the level of outside partnership required. Every pathway listed is a legitimate, hopeful option — the goal is simply to help your leadership find the one that fits your church’s actual situation. If you’d like help discerning where you are on the chart, we’d be glad to have that conversation.