Desmond Barrett

Every church that has declined has had a mission, but they failed to follow it.

It takes time to rebound from decline. Unless a major scandal sunk the church overnight, a slow, steady decline happens to most churches.

Ministry is not about keeping a ministry for ministry's sake but serving the current and future needs of the community, and sometimes that means letting go of something loved to see the value in the next season of ministry in the church's life.

Teams are built on trust and are central to honest discussions with those in the room when the decision is made.

To rise from the ashes through revitalization, each team member (pastor, board member, and lay member) must be committed to understanding the problem, capturing the vision and willing to implement the steps to turn the church around.

If God is to regain control of the local church, it will cost everyone something—from the pulpit to the pew.

God has not forsaken your local church and ministry. He has given you the tools to 'get it done' in a season of distraction from real ministry.

If the local church is going to prepare the way forward, established church leaders must draw their people back to prayer. I am not talking about just two to three minutes per service. I mean a dedicated prayer time, at least bi-weekly, if not weekly.