May 2026 | 13
Stow Bunny Hop Outreach, Freedom Hill Community Church, Stow We were able to “egg” over 300 people with gospel cards and distribute over 500 chil- dren’s toys during the City of Stow’s “Bunny Hop” event. We have had an increase on our gospel webpage. It was a great day partnering with other gospel-centric churches to make a difference in Stow.
– Pastor Mark Jones, Freedom Hill Community Church
Easter Egg Hunt, College Heights Baptist Church, Elyria Our annual Egg Hunt was held on March 28. We had thirty-eight children registered. We served a light breakfast to the kids and their families. The kids made crafts, played games, and enjoyed an egg hunt. They exchanged their eggs for a gift bag containing goodies and church/gospel material. They also heard the Easter story through an “old school” flannel graph presentation. Several families indicated a desire to return on Eas - ter Sunday. We have begun follow-up with those families. – Pastor Darrell Deer, College Heights Baptist Church
Getting Clear on Church Renewal - Replanting - Revitalization There’s a lot of conversation right now—and a lot being written—about helping churches move from plateau and decline toward health. In those conversations, three words surface repeatedly: Renewal, Revitalization, and Replanting . Each communicates something important. Each rep- resents something different. By Bob Bickford, Nashville Baptist Association executive director, Tennessee
Renewal is not a model or a method. It is the outcome every church is seeking. The challenge is discerning the right pathway to pursue. Revitalization: Renewal From Within Revitalization is one pathway toward renewal. It is the supernatural work of God that restores health and vitality in a plateaued or declining church. Operationally, it involves: existing church + existing lead- ers + existing structure + history + renewed/new effort. Revitalization works within the existing framework of the church. It seeks to restore health without replacing core leadership structures or identity. It is often the most appropriate pathway when there is sufficient unity within the congregation; leadership re - mains functional and trusted; and there is openness to change, even if gradual. Forms of Revitalization Revitalization generally takes shape in three ways: Self-Guided Revitalization: The church leads its own process internally. Pastors and leaders take responsi- bility for assessment, direction, and implementation. It maintains full autonomy; requires strong internal lead - ership clarity; and can be limited by blind spots or en - trenched patterns. Assisted / Coached Revitalization: Outside leaders or organizations come alongside to provide guidance,
When these terms are clearly understood, confusion be- gins to fade, strategy becomes more precise, and lead- ers are better positioned to guide churches forward—so that, by God’s grace, congregations experience the kind of change they hope and pray for. Clarity here is not academic. It is practical. Church Renewal is the destination toward which every effort is aimed. It is the collective efforts—both spiritual and strategic— of pastors, leaders, and people to see their congrega- tion renewed in spiritual passion, faithful obedience, and missional action to the glory of God and the good of the community in which He has placed them. Renewal is evidenced when God’s word is the author- ity, relationships reflect biblical unity, and the church is actively engaged in the Great Commission. This aligns with the description of restored health marked by submission to God’s Word, right relationships, and re- newed mission.
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