If the challenge before us is the revitalization of the local church, then the first place renewal must take root is in the leader. Churches do not move toward health by strategy alone. They move …
The Pace of Change: A Critical Skill for Church Revitalizers
Mike Puddicombe
There is nothing more permanent than change—and nothing more unsettling for people.
Change creates anxiety, especially in churches where the normal pace of change is intentionally slow. This is rarely because everything is healthy. More often, …
Keeping Church Revitalization Going
Church revitalization is never finished.
There is no point at which a church can declare, “We’ve arrived.”Communities change. Culture shifts. Generations think differently. Technology accelerates. Expectations evolve. If the church stops adapting, it …
From Survival to Sustainability: Developing Revitalizers in the Local Church
Mike Puddicombe
One of the most urgent challenges facing the church today is not simply declining attendance or aging congregations—it is the shortage of leaders equipped to guide churches through renewal and revitalization.
Biblically and historically, the primary …
When It Feels Like You’ve Run Out of Options
Every church revitalizer hits that moment when it feels like there’s no way forward. The budget is tight. The volunteers are tired. The community doesn’t respond the …
Why I’ve Never Preached the Same Way for Very Long
Mike Puddicombe
One of the defining commitments of my leadership life has been a willingness—sometimes a stubborn willingness—to change.
Not change for novelty’s sake.Not change because something is broken.But change because growth, learning, and faithfulness demand it.
When I …
I sat with a group of church leaders burdened by a sobering reality. Their congregation had dwindled to fifteen active adults, and they were convinced the end was inevitable. “There’s no hope for survival,” they …
The apostle Paul provides one of the clearest biblical models for faithful cultural engagement. Following his example is not easy. In fact, it does not come naturally—it comes supernaturally.
Paul made an absolute commitment to the …
Providing Leadership When the Church Needs Direction
Mike Puddicombe
Leadership in the local church is not primarily about maintaining systems or managing decline. At its core, leadership is about movement—helping people move toward God’s preferred future for their congregation.
Effective pastoral leadership rests on three …
Every church revitalization journey needs a clear beginning point.
One of the most common traps churches fall into is confusing talking about renewal with actually beginning renewal. It is far easier to attend meetings, form task …
When You Doubt Your Own Calling
Every pastor who has ever led a struggling church knows the feeling—the late nights, the low attendance, the nagging thought: Maybe I’m not the right person for this.
You see the …
Before You Merge: The Hard Questions Canadian Churches Must Ask
Mike Puddicombe
Across Canada, many congregations are facing hard realities. Attendance has declined. Financial margins are thin. Communities have changed faster than churches have adapted. In this environment, a church merger can feel like a responsible, even …
