While some church revitalizers see church revitalization models as mere fable, others see the validity of having examples and samples to study in the effort to get a glimpse of what God might be saying about how to bring church renewal to their present work Regardless of the debate regarding myths for models or strategies for the revitalization churches, there appears to be at least six areas and thirty eight strategies that a church seeking renewal could consider.

The time for revitalization and renewal is now. Sick and declining churches are all across America and within every denomination. With the turn of the twenty-first century sustained growth within our churches is an intermittent exception while decline seems to be more of the pronouncement. The rank and file of our churches appears powerless to assemble the strength that is needed to get the church growing again. The need for training today's minister with the tools and skill sets necessary to combat this rampant plateau and decline is crucial. It is time for a new challenge toward...

Making the necessary changes for the good of the local church often feels like you are taking three steps forward and two steps back. The uncertainty you will face as the change agent can be overwhelming. The church revitalizer operating as the change agent for the local church will feel the uncertainty that comes from moving a polarized church off of stuck and creating a new way of doing things for the betterment of the church one serves.

The need for Church Revitalization has never been greater in North America. An estimated 340,000 Protestant churches in America have an average weekly attendance of less than one hundred. Research data tells us that in the United States more than 80% of the churches have plateaued or are declining. Each and every week we are currently seeing somewhere between fifty and seventy-five local churches close their doors, not to be opened again. Pastors leading churches today admit that there are daily frustrations that distract them from doing the real work of ministry.

Do you believe in dragons? There are some dragons running all over today's declining churches. This past summer a popular movie about a friendly dragon made quite a splash. But when you think about it most dragons are not the loveable ones we see in the movies. When I was in seminary, a book came out speaking of well-intentioned dragons as problem people within our local churches. Now some thirty plus years later, I write this book, Slaying the Dragons of Church Revitalization: Dealing with the Critical Issues that are Hurting Your Church I use the term not to target difficult individuals...