Rating: 
(Nashville: B and H Publishing Group, 2016)
153 pgs
Mark Clifton has a passion for revitalizing churches. He has done it himself and he encourages many others to do so across North America. In his book, he cites alarming statistics. Between 70-80% of evangelical churches in North America are plateaued or in decline (xv). Southern Baptists are currently closing approximately 900 churches every year (3). Many of the churches that are closing are located in areas of cities where more churches need to be planted.
Mark shares the wisdom he has gained first hand from helping turn dying churches around. His focus, as the title suggests, is on God’s glory. He asks: “What about a dying church brings glory to God?” (11). He argues that dying churches rob God of His glory (12). Clifton acknowledges that it is far easier to plant a new church than to revitalize an existing one (9). Yet, if America is to be reached for the Gospel, evangelicals cannot keep closing churches almost as quickly as they are starting them.
Clifton offers a number of observations about churches that find themselves in need of being replanted. Some of these include: Dying churches value the process of deciding more than the outcome of their decision. We all know such churches. They will spend more time arguing about the proper interpretation of Robert’s Rules of Order than they will focus on what God is leading them to do. Dying churches value their own preferences over the needs of the unreached. Worship styles, building use, and numerous other issues are driven by what pleases the handful of members rather than on what would make unchurched people comfortable to attend. Dying churches are unable to pass on leadership to the next generation. Often there are few young people or children left in attendance. Dying churches gradually cease to be a part of the fabric of their community. They become irrelevant to their neighborhood. Dying churches tend to blame their community for their lack of response. People in dying churches cannot understand why non-Christians do not like their music or feel comfortable in their worship services.
Clifton suggests four different approaches to revitalizing a dying church. One way is to give the building to a church plant. He suggests this is generally effective and the simplest approach. The second approach is to share the building with a church plant. The third is to merge with a church plant. The fourth is to replant the existing church from within. Each of these has its challenges, but each can also be a practical solution to a dying church’s situation.
Clifton concludes the book by offering practical counsel for those attempting to replant a church. He stresses that such an undertaking requires the pastor to not only have a church planter’s focus on the unchurched, but also a pastor’s heart to love the existing people in the congregation. Clifton urges pastors to be patient with their people, for “They are the kind of people they are because of the men who have led them” (57). He also advises pastors to focus on reaching young men. He suggests that developing leaders in the church, especially men, will bring their entire families with them and will raise up a core group of leaders to bring health to the church (68).
This is a straightforward, practical book that is based on successful experience by someone who lives and breathes this subject material. It is an easy read. Hopefully it will inspire people to undertake the enormous challenge of taking a church that has lost its way and redirecting it back to God so it can bring glory to God once more.
by Richard Blackaby