As you consider planning the route to health, there are two statements we believe would be beneficial for you to keep in mind, perhaps even post on your desk to remind you of their importance. First, remember, the focus of your ministry determines the future fruit of your ministry. In other words, what you invest in and cultivate now will reap a harvest in due time. Second, disciple-making must drive your decision-making. To put it another way, everything you lead your church to do should result in making and maturing disciples, and equipping those disciples to make disciples. These two statements are tied to the “triage” questions above. In other words, intentionally prioritize based on markers of health—disciple-pathway, evangelistic outreach, godly leadership, meaningful membership, gospel partnerships.

Now, as you plan the route to health, keep in mind that moving down the path you plan is as much an art as it is a science. When we say it’s a science, we mean that there are particular convictions that are biblical and right and must be pursued. At the same time, pursuing those convictions requires both social and self-awareness. This is the art of leading a church down the road of revitalization, having the wisdom to know how and when to take each step. Here are a few thoughts to help you map the way.

First, begin by addressing what is critical. As you reflect on the list of questions above, what is most obviously missing from the life of your church? What are the primary hindrances to the pursuit of health? This is where you, as a leader, need to be prayerful and honest. A church with a vibrant culture begins and is built by naming “reality with courage and does so in a way that is hopeful and encouraging.” Within my (Matt) first few years of ministry at my current church, it became clear to me that clarity on biblical leadership was a critical issue to address. The church had (and still does have) great leaders. But, the congregation did not have clarity on how to qualify leaders biblically or as to how decisions should be made. Does every decision involve the whole congregation? Who has the authority and trust to lead in decision making? So, we began using biblical qualifications for all our volunteer leadership positions. In time, we also developed a decision-making process, along with a checklist to communicate how decisions would be made.

Second, look for low hanging fruit. Oftentimes, even in a declining church, there are healthy ministries already in existence that do not receive the focus they deserve because so many other ministries are fighting for attention. Or, there are potentially fruitful ministries that could be healthy if they receive a slight directional tweak, refocus, or increased intentionality. To put it simply, celebrate the great things and make the good things great.

Third, prioritize based on the mission, the membership, and the church’s ministry opportunities. Keep the church’s mission at the forefront. What has God called us to do? Consider the gifts, talents, and interests of the members. Who has God sent to our church? And with those two in mind, consider the ministry opportunities that will allow you to bring the mission to bear with the members. How can we employ our members to pursue the mission through the ministry opportunities before us? Give them encouragement or hope to act, and specific steps to do so.

 

Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from Shepherding Renewal: A Guide to Lasting Church Revitalization by Matt Capps and Steven Wade, released by B&H Publishing (May 2026).