You’ve been called to lead a turnaround. Don’t let these 10 fatal mistakes bury your church.

“Revitalization is 10% strategy and 90% spiritual leadership.” — Tom Cheyney & Ron Edmondson

Tom Cheyney (Founder, The Renovate Group) and Ron Edmondson (RE Consulting) revealed the 10 most common — and deadly — errors pastors make in church revitalization.

This isn’t theory. This is battle-tested wisdom from the trenches.

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Error #1: Not Bathing Everything in Prayer

(Strategy without Spirit = stagnation.)

You plan. You strategize. You launch initiatives. But where is the prayer?

Red Flags:

• Prayer meetings are optional
• Decisions made in boardrooms, not on knees
• “We’ll pray about it” becomes a stall tactic

Fix It:

• Daily war room prayer (pastor + 3 leaders)
• Pre-service prayer 30 minutes before worship
• 40-day prayer guide for the church
• Text prayer chain: “PRAYNOW” → urgent needs

Scripture: “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” (Psalm 127:1)

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Error #2: Moving Too Fast

(Speed kills trust.)

You arrive with a 90-day plan and a wrecking ball. Result? Resistance. Rebellion. Resignations.

Red Flags:

• Major changes in first 6 months
• “We’ve always done it this way” becomes a battle cry
• Key families leave

Fix It:

• First 90 days = Listen, Learn, Love
• Honor the past before changing the future
• One change per quarter (max)
• Use “Pilot Programs”: Test small, celebrate wins

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Error #3: Moving Too Slow

(Momentum dies in the mud.)

You wait for “consensus.” You delay decisions. The church atrophies.

Red Flags:

• “We’ll vote on it next year”
• Same budget, same ministries, same decline
• Young families leave for growing churches

Fix It:

• Set 12-month “Non-Negotiables”
• Use 30-60-90 day sprints
• Communicate urgency:
  

  “We love this church too much to let it die.”

• Celebrate quick wins weekly

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Error #4: Ignoring the Past Success of the Church

(Rediscover. Don’t reinvent.)

You act like the church has never done anything right. You erase history. You lose hearts.

Red Flags:

• Old photos removed
• Former pastors never mentioned
• “That was then, this is now” attitude

Fix It:

• “Heritage Sunday” — celebrate founding, baptisms, missions
• Interview 3 legacy members: “What made this church great?”
• Build on DNA: If outreach was strong, revive it
• Slogan: “Honouring yesterday. Building tomorrow.”

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Error #5: Not Embracing Conflict

(Avoiding conflict = avoiding change.)

You dodge tough talks. You hope issues “resolve themselves.” They fester.

Red Flags:

• Gossip in parking lot
• Silent treatment in meetings
• Pastor becomes the bottleneck

Fix It:

• Matthew 18 in action: Address privately, quickly
• “Conflict Resolution Team” (trained, neutral)
• Teach: “Iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17)
• Model vulnerability: Share your own struggles

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Error #6: Dreaming Too Small

(God-sized vision requires God-sized faith.)

You aim to “survive.” You budget for decline. You cap God’s power.

Red Flags:

• Vision: “Keep the doors open”
• Goals: “Add 5 new members”
• Prayers: “Help us pay the light bill”

Fix It:

• Ask: “What could God do here in 5 years?”
• Cast vision monthly (sermons, videos, stories)
• Set BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals)
• Celebrate faith steps: “We baptized 12 — imagine 50!”*

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Error #7: Trying to Save a Church That Can’t Be Saved

(Some churches need to die to be reborn.)

You pour blood, sweat, and tears into a corpse. God may be calling you to hospice — or a restart.

Red Flags:

• <50 in worship for 5+ years
• No conversions in 3+ years
• Building worth more than ministry
• Leadership refuses all change

Fix It:

• Honest assessment with denominational leader
• Options:
  • Merge
  • Restart
  • Adopt
  • Close with dignity
• Pray: “Lord, is this sheep lost — or dead?”

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Error #8: Not Having a Long-Term Approach

(Revitalization is a marathon, not a sprint.)

You expect results in 12 months. You quit when momentum lags. You miss the harvest.

Red Flags:

• “If it doesn’t work in 6 months, I’m out”
• No 3-5 year plan
• Burnout by year 2

Fix It:

• 5-Year Vision Map
  • Year 1: Stabilize
  • Year 2: Strategize
  • Year 3: Mobilize
  • Year 4: Multiply
  • Year 5: Mature
• Annual “State of the Church” address
• Sabbatical every 7 years

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Error #9: Ignoring the Emotional Cost of Change

(People don’t resist change — they resist loss.)

You push vision. They grieve traditions. You lose them.

Red Flags:

• “We’ve always…” is the loudest voice
• Funerals for ministries
• Pastor labeled “the destroyer”

Fix It:

• Grieve well: Hold a “Farewell Service” for old ways
• Tell the ‘Why’ 7 times, 7 ways
• Create new traditions immediately
• Counselling fund for staff/volunteers

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Error #10: Not Protecting Your Family

(If your home falls, your ministry fails.)

You sacrifice spouse and kids on the altar of revival. They resent the church. You lose everything.

Red Flags:

• Kids dread Sundays
• Spouse feels like a ministry widow/er
• Family dinner = staff meeting

Fix It:

• Non-Negotiable Family Rules:
  • Date night weekly
  • Family dinner 4x/week
  • No church talk at home after 8 PM
• “Pastor’s Family Sabbath” — 1 weekend off/quarter
• Spouse on leadership team (optional, but informed)
• Counselling for all — preventative, not crisis

 

Your Revitalization Self-Assessment

Action: Pick ONE error to fix this month. Share with an accountability partner.