Comeback churches : how 300 churches turned around and yours can too

259 Pages·2007·2.05 MB·English

by  Ed Stetzer

“There is hope for your church! Any church can become healthy again, enjoy
renewed vitality, and make a difference if you're willing to take the steps
outlined in this practical and powerful book. As a successful pastor, church
planter, researcher, and advisor to thousands of churches, Ed Stetzer speaks from
a wealth of experience with all kinds of churches. Now, in one volume, your
church can benefit from his wisdom. This book is a winner!”

— Dr. Rick Warren

The Purpose-Driven Life, The Purpose-Driven Church

“I realized that I had given Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson the ultimate
compliment for their book when I asked my assistant to send the manuscript to
my oldest son Sam who is beginning a new pastorate. Comeback Churches has
the three greatest components that a book on the church could have. First and
foremost, it is biblical. Second, it is well researched. And third, it is immensely
practical and applicable. With the vast majority of the American churches in
decline, this book should be in the hands of hundreds of thousands of pastors,
staff, and church leaders. Simply stated, it is just that good.”

— Thom S. Rainer, President and CEO
LifeWay Christian Resources

“Finally, a book of practical advice that is based on research. I have seen it both
ways—endless research with little advice or much advice with little facts. This
book strikes the balance with perfection. I heartily recommend that every pastor
study it with the church leadership. If your church (no matter the size) is mired
in plateau or decline, or just needs a breath of fresh spiritual air, Comeback
Churches will help!”

— Elmer Towns, Dean
Liberty University

“This is the most helpful, practical book on church revitalization I've read this
century. The authors show us how a comeback church is really a GoForth and
GoForward church. I can't begin to do justice to this bountiful book. This is the
book every author dreams of doing: the book that no one in the field can get
around without going through.”

— Leonard Sweet, Drew Theological School,

George Fox University, www.wikiletics.com

“Here's hope—because there's real life here. Comeback Churches is more than a
pep talk. It's rooted in the ‘right stuff’ to bring a congregation out of the dismal
into the vital. I commend this book because it grounds everything in the
dynamics of actual discipleship—the only timeless keys to true resurgence and
revitalizing— light years beyond clever methods and stylized techniques. The
authors show the way to the enduringly fruitful; a quality needful among us
church leaders in a day when ‘quick fix’ approaches tempt, delude, and finally
discourage too many.”

— Jack W. Hayford

President, International Foursquare Churches
Chancellor, The King's College and Seminary

“Are your leaders courageous enough to engage in missional ministry? Does
your church have the will to chart a new course of action to revitalize its life?
Are you willing to invest the energy, time, and money to get off a long-term
plateau? If so … read Comeback Churches, listen to its advice, and put the
powerful insights into action this year! No one, to my knowledge, has done the
hard research, presented the facts, and offered such sound advice as Ed Stetzer
and Mike Dodson. Based on a study of more than three hundred churches that
have successfully revitalized their ministries, Comeback Churches is the
number-one book on turning around declining and plateauing church ministry.

— Gary L. McIntosh, D. Min., Ph.D.

Professor of Christian Ministry & Leadership,
Talbot School of Theology, Biola University
“A refreshing book by authors who know how to make research exciting and
instructional. Leaders and members of nongrowing evangelical churches should
read this book (it wouldn't hurt mainliners either)!”

— Bill Easum

Easum, Bandy & Associates

“Finally, a book that brings together the knowledge of the scholar, the
information of the researcher, the experience of the practitioner and the heart of
the pastor! Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson have provided a powerful tool for
leaders who want to help their churches become missional but just don't know
where to start. This book is wonderfully balanced between the spiritual, biblical,
strategic, and practical. One of the most powerful features of the book is the use
of comeback stories from leaders that most pastors have never heard of, yet most
pastors can relate to. Frustrated leaders will come away from this book with
renewed hope and a workable plan to lead their church toward robust life and
community transformation. I hope that every pastor leading a church that is
currently experiencing plateau or decline will read this book and apply its
principles!”

— Steven M. Pike

Assemblies of God Division of U.S. Missions

“Ed Stetzer has nailed the major need in America. Churches are always in
transition in this changing culture. Our greatest hope beyond launching new
works is seeing churches come back alive with growth and vigor. This work has
enormous potential to light the fire in thousands of churches. Read it … embrace
its principles … join Jesus in growing His church! We have no other option.”

— Dr. Ronnie W. Floyd, Senior Pastor

First Baptist Church of Springdale and the Church
at Pinnacle Hills, Arkansas

“Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson could be called participant-observers. When it
comes to leading churches from the brink of decline back to healthy Kingdom
advance, they have been there and done that. But I prefer to call them
practitioner-theologians, for they care deeply about biblical ecclesiology and
how it finds root in faithful congregations of God's people today. This book
should be read by every student preparing for pastoral ministry.”

— Timothy George

Dean, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University and
Executive Editor, Christianity Today

“As a denominational leader, I am always looking for tools to help equip pastors
to bring new life to established churches. Comeback Churches is a great resource
that can help bring renewal to congregations and, ultimately, denominations as a
whole.”

— Rev. Dr. Harry G. Gardner, Executive Minister

Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches, Canada

“Comeback Churches is written from a heart of passion for the renewing of the
church. It is based upon biblical principles, and while it has a wealth of practical
suggestions, it is not only a collection of ‘quick fixes.’ Written by experienced
comeback leaders, this is a must-read for the pastor and layleaders who are
sincerely concerned about revitalizing the church!”

— Wayne W. Boyer, Executive Director

Churches of God, General Conference

“Comeback Churches is not a good book. … It is a great book! The chapter on
Intentional and Strategic Church Evangelism is the most important word to the
local church that I have read in many years. If I could require that every pastor
and church leader in America read one book, it would be this one. With
Comeback Churches, Ed Stetzer further establishes himself as one of the most
strategically important kingdom leaders of our day.”

— John Avant, North American Mission Board

“Keeping one eye on the Bible and one eye on ‘best practices’ of more than
three hundred comeback churches in the U.S., Ed Stetzer illustrates that it's
possible to revitalize local congregations without losing sight of the important
things that make a church a church: e.g., scriptural authority, biblical leadership,
covenant community, and mission. Stetzer's sweep is broad. But his
prescriptions aren't complex. They focus on the basic things like strategic and
intentional prayer, outreach, and preaching. Church transformation, Stetzer
would agree, is neither mechanical nor easy. But it can be achieved. Whether
you're a coach or consultant who works with plateaued and declining churches or
a pastor or church leader who desires to lead your church to the next level, you
will benefit from a prayerful study of Comeback Churches.”

—Jim Fann, EFCA ChurchHealth Director

Table of Contents

Dedication

Preface

Chapter 0: Foundations

Chapter 1: Why Consider Becoming a Comeback
Church?

Chapter 2: Rising with Leadership

Chapter 3: Three Faith Factors

Chapter 4: Worship and Preaching Matters

Chapter 5: Intentional and Strategic Church Evangelism

Chapter 6: Connecting People to Spiritual Maturity

Chapter 7: Motivating and Mobilizing People Out of the
Pews

Chapter 8: Connecting People through Small Groups

Chapter 9: Other Comeback Factors

Chapter 10: Comeback Change Agents: New or Renewed
Leaders