10 | February 2026
Back to the Basics in Revitalization In 1961, after a tough loss, Coach Vince Lombardi gath - ered his players and started training camp by holding up a football, saying, “Gentlemen, this is a football!” They then went through the playbook, starting with page one. The Green Bay Packers won five championships in the coming years, and the Lombardi trophy is now the goal of every NFL team. By Mark Jones, revitalization consultant
Over the past three years, I have had over one hundred conversations with pastors and church leaders. Of those conversations, only 25% have taken advantage of an as - sessment to customize a path forward. Of the 25%, less than half have taken steps. Some congregations have chosen to replant, but many more are seeking ways to strengthen through revitaliza- tion. Pastor Austin Mathis shared in a recent devotion to our staff that everyone makes decisions, but few move to the implementation of those decisions. Decide today to get back to the basics and then list at least three steps to take. Make one step connecting with me, so that I may pray with you and provide assistance where needed. I would love to have a conversation with you about a path forward. My desire is to see 100% of SCBO con - gregations living on the mission of multiplication. Check out www.scbo.org/revitalize. Connect with me via email at mjones@scbo.org. We have coaches in four of six re - gions to help. Additionally, Dr. Ryan Strother and I are working with as- sociational leaders to host pastor and spouse dinners in associations over the next year to briefly share the resources available to SCBO congregations. Pastoral health and church health are a priority for the SCBO. You matter, and we want you to know that you are not alone.
“What does this have to do with revitalization? Besides the fact that Coach Vince Lombardi took a team and revitalized its strategy, the return to the basics is what strengthened the team. I want to remind Ohio Baptists of the basics and then share the customizable pathway you can take to become a healthier and stronger con- gregation. The basics: According to statistics, more than 70% of our SCBO congregations are plateaued or in decline. However, revitalization is a process of strengthening, and every SCBO congregation can be strengthened. The first basic for every congregation is a culture of prayer for God’s kingdom and his will on earth as in heaven. The second basic is obedience to the Great Command- ments and the Great Commission. Our basic call as dis- ciples is to make disciples. The third basic is to cast and communicate a kingdom vision. The fourth basic is to strategize and implement that vi- sion.
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