Baby, It’s Cold Outside: Creative and Proven Models to Help Churches in Transition

Dr. Neal Hughes�Director of Missions�Montgomery Baptist Association�Montgomery, Alabama�nhughes@mgmbaptists.org / (678) 622-1056

When It Comes to Church Revitalization, Many Churches Are Singing the Song, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside…

• Significant Decline in Attendance
• Upkeep of Building Maintenance and Major Repairs
• Collapse of the Reserve Accounts
• Deaths and Departures of Key Leaders
• A Mood of Survival

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Three Options That Churches Take:

• Get a New Pastor – Pastor Revitalizer Essential Qualifications:�
• Have a creative vision
• Have a strong work ethic
• Have a contagious strategy/solution
• Have a kingdom focus, understanding both church and community culture
• Have Repeated Consultations with Church Revitalization Leaders
• Transition to a “Hospice” Phase and Get Your Affairs in Order

AMS Responsibility During Hospice Season

• Be a Friend, not an Analyst
• Build Trust Among All Parties
• Be Creative and Visionary
• Help Discover a Positive Transition for the Church
• Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

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Remember, This Church is the Bride of Christ. �Treat Her Accordingly.

Model One: Elder Team with Bi-vocational Leaders Who Do Not Take a Salary

• First Baptist Church Pike Road
• Jeff (Senior), Heath (Education), and Robbie (Administration)
• Given a Nice Church in a Growing Part of Town
• Antioch Approach of Sending Church
• Went from 10 to 70 in one year
• Mission Centered Church with Minimal Overhead

Model Two: Traditional, Strategic and Respectful

• Pinedale Baptist Church
• Central Baptist Church
• Joint Meetings and Joint Services
• Pinedale Gave Them the Building with One Condition: A Church Would Always Be Present on That Property.
• Title Deed / Reversion Clause
• Definitive Exit of Pinedale / Definitive Entrance of Central

Model Three: 5x5 Strategy

• Chisholm Baptist Church
• Flatline Church at Chisholm
• Early Days of Transition
• Shared Space vs. Total Occupation
• 5 x 5 strategy. Both Churches agreed to a slow process of transition. In the early days, the Chisholm Church paid 100 percent of utility and maintenance costs, followed by a quarter reduction every year, ending with Flatline now paying the full cost and owning the building at the 5^th year.
• Love relationship between churches. Partnership with Other Churches

Fourth Model: Sell the Building and Place Funds in Accordance to Church Plans

• McGehee Road Baptist Church / Engaged Christian Church
• Cooperative Program
• Montgomery Baptist Association
• Special Legacy Projects The Church Had
• Any 501c3 with papers and a sponsor could make an application with a written application with the purpose for one of their projects.
• MBA has a plan for any funds raised from the sale: the Pike Road Land Purchase Fund.

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In Alabama, The Baptist Foundation of Alabama Has Managed This Plan for the MBA. You May Have a Similar Foundation.

Happy to Help You!

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“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. �Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your �God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7