Introduction
Church revitalization is a Spirit-led, Spirit-dependent return to the ordinary means of grace with renewed zeal, clarity, and love. Ruling Elders (RE) are not spectators to this work—they are shepherds (1 Pet. 5:1–4), overseers and watchmen (Acts 20:28–31), and co-laborers with the Teaching Elder(s) for the joy, equipping, and maturity of the flock. Because REs live among the people, know their stories, and carry the congregation on their hearts, they are uniquely positioned to cultivate healthy change. Below is a practical guide for REs who long to see their churches revitalized.
1) Begin Where Revitalization Begins—With God.
Revitalization is more an answer to prayer than an outcome of planning. Ruling Elders can lead the congregation to seek the Lord earnestly.
- Lead with repentance and faith-filled hope. Model repentance for sins of omission (prayerlessness, neglect of shepherding, complacency) and of commission (harshness, factionalism, unbelief). Public humility from leaders softens the congregation.
- Establish a prayer cadence. Make use of your regular Session meetings to pray for spiritual revitalization. Invite the congregation to seasonal days of prayer and fasting. Build a simple rhythm of prayer—weekly prayer meetings, special seasons of prayer, elder-led prayer in their shepherding groups, etc.
A church that prays together learns to expect great things from God together. Elders set that expectation.
2) Take an Honest Diagnostic.
Ruling Elders can lead the congregation in a wise assessment.
- Listen widely. Hold elder-led “listening nights.” Ask: “Where do you see God at work?” “What feels stuck?” “What would you hope God changes in the life of our congregation over the next 18 months?”
- Walk the campus and consider the calendar. Evaluate first-impressions of the church, signage, nursery check-in, parking, website, and hospitality. Review your calendar for congregation-building and community-facing events.
- Shepherding map. Update membership rolls, identify any “lost sheep” (inactive, hurting, absent), and assign elders for contact.
Keep the tone pastoral, not statistical. Numbers help, but people matter more.
3) Establish a Clear Vision and Mission.
Revitalization needs a starting point, a goal, and a pathway to get there.
- Vision. A vision helps clarify your goal as a church. If you desire your church to be a worshiping covenant community of equipped, mature, and joy-filled disciples of Jesus Christ—taking His gospel to the ends of the earth—then establishing a vision points your congregation in the right direction.
- Mission. If a vision clarifies your goal, a church’s mission tells you how to get there. Making disciples of Jesus Christ by faithfully planting and watering the gospel through God’s means of grace provides the biblical methodology that gives structure to the “how” and “what” of ministry.
Vision and mission statements should be clear, biblical, inspiring, and succinct enough to memorize. Work hard on these and remind the congregation of them regularly. Clarity on your church’s vision and mission prevents chasing trends and keeps the Session aligned. As Harry Reeder often said, “On mission, on message, and in ministry.”
4) Recover the Priority of the Lord’s Day.
The Fourth Commandment is truly a gift from God’s hand. We get a whole day to worship and rest from our worldly employments and recreations. Revitalization begins when God’s people joyfully gather to sing God’s praises, hear God’s Word preached, commune with Him in prayer, and feast at the Lord’s Table.
- Establish reverent, joyful morning and evening worship. Having both morning and evening worship sets apart the Lord’s day and not just the Lord’s hour. It magnifies God’s steadfast love in the morning, and His faithfulness by night (Ps. 92:2).
- Lead by example. Ruling Elders can shepherd not only by instruction and prayer, but also by showing how to honor the Christian Sabbath. Encourage due preparation for worship, faithfully attend morning and evening worship, and refrain from those worldly employments and recreations that detract from keeping the day holy.
When a church prioritizes the Lord’s Day, Jesus is magnified as Lord of the Sabbath and the church grows in vitality, joy, and spiritual maturity.
5) Re-center the Ordinary Means of Grace.
Revitalization is fueled by the Word, sacraments, and prayer—not programming.
- Word. Encourage the TE(s) with time and support for robust, Christ-centered preaching. As REs, guard the pulpit’s gospel focus and pray over their sermon series to address real needs (assurance, suffering, unity, mission, etc.).
- Sacraments. Avail yourself to frequency, preparation, and pastoral framing of the Lord’s Supper. Encourage baptisms to be congregationally engaged moments of catechesis and joy.
- Prayer. Advocate for richer congregational prayer—adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and intercession that names the church’s real burdens and hopes.
When the gathered worship becomes palpably God-centered, hope rises.
6) Strengthen Shepherding.
The PCA’s shepherding DNA gives REs their lane. Build biblical infrastructures that match our confessional theology.
- Shepherding groups. Assign every member/family to an elder, preferably with a corresponding deacon. Make verbal contact monthly. Ask about Scripture intake, prayer, family life, family worship and needs. Keep notes and pray by name.
- Care pathways. Formalize how the church responds to grief, crisis, conflict, and chronic needs (in tandem with deacons and women’s ministry). Publish the pathways so members know how to ask for help. Small groups (or fellowship groups) can help with this.
- Pursue the straying. Persistent, warm pursuit communicates the gospel’s heart and recovers many who quietly drift.
Healthy shepherding is revitalization’s backbone.
7) Rekindle a Culture of Hospitality.
Visitor experiences often determine whether people return long enough to be discipled.
- Greeter ministry owned by elders. REs should regularly serve as visible greeters and pew shepherds. Learn names, make introductions, seat newcomers near friendly members, and follow up within 48 hours.
- Membership pathways. Offer regular “Discover [Church Name]” classes led jointly by TE and REs. Cover doctrine, worship, membership vows, how to connect, and how to serve. Provide easy next steps (community groups, service teams, etc.).
A “we’re glad you’re here” culture is contagious when leaders embody it.
8) Partner with Deacons in Mercy Ministry.
Revitalization often stalls when mercy needs outpace relational capacity.
- Deacon/elder teamwork. Share information—with consent—so spiritual and material care are coordinated. Encourage diaconal visitation with an elder when appropriate.
- Mercy fund and projects. Tell stories (respecting privacy) of mercy ministry. Invite congregational participation in tangible projects (meals, home repairs, benevolence, etc.). Mercy opens doors for evangelism and binds hearts together.
When the church carries burdens together, cynicism gives way to gratitude.
9) Catechize for Depth.
Shallow roots wither in heat; revitalization seeks deep discipleship.
- Short, steady catechesis. Launch a six-month catechism track for families and new believers using the Westminster Standards. REs can teach, model family worship, and mentor dads and moms.
- Small groups with substance. Ensure groups discuss Scripture, pray, and practice mutual care—not just socialize. Equip leaders. Lead and visit groups as elders.
- Youth and children. Advocate for gospel-rich teaching, parent partnership, and intergenerational ties. A revitalized church tells its young people, “You belong.”
The Westminster Shorter and Larger catechisms are wonderful tools to strengthen spiritual maturity and depth of faith, key ingredients for a healthy and revitalized church.
10) Recommit to the Great Commission.
Revitalization is not just reclaiming the lapsed. It’s welcoming the lost and making disciples of all nations.
- Personal witness. REs should model simple, regular evangelism—sharing Christ with neighbors, inviting coworkers to church, and offering to pray for people. Share testimonies with people in your congregation.
- Community presence. Choose two or three recurring touchpoints (local school support, foster care partnerships, neighborhood events, conferences, etc.) and show up consistently. Invite the congregation into rhythms of service and witness.
- Entry points. Offer low-barrier spaces—Christianity Explored, Q&A nights, grief support—that introduce people to Christ and your church family.
- Reinvigorate a missional culture. Re-evaluate the missionaries your church supports as to their fidelity to the Scriptures. Pray that God would raise up workers for the harvest. Plan short-term trips. Schedule regular touch points of missionary updates with the congregation. Host a missions conference.
The Great Commission becomes a source of joy and hope when elders radiate confidence that the gospel is “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16).
11) Guard Unity and Address Conflict Redemptively.
Many churches stagnate under unaddressed tensions. REs must be peacemakers.
- Early, quiet conversations. When you hear murmurs, meet promptly and listen. Name the issue, seek understanding, and shepherd toward reconciliation before factions calcify.
- Speak well of the absent. Model the discipline of refusing gossip and honoring one another. Publicly celebrate staff and volunteers. Correct misinformation graciously and quickly.
- Use discipline restoratively. Where sin persists, follow Matthew 18 and our BCO procedures with tears, clarity, and hope for restoration.
Unity amplifies every other revitalization effort.
12) Develop People, Not Just Programs.
A revitalized church is a discipling church that uses its gifts for the building up of the body of Christ.
- Leadership pipeline. Identify faithful, available, qualified men as prospective REs and Deacons. Offer a reading cohort, shadowing, and service opportunities. In time, have the congregation nominate those men who possess the 5 “Cs”: calling, character, conviction, competency, and chemistry, and then oversee their training.
- Broaden service. Create short-term, low-risk tasks (setup team, meal trains, nursery, hospitality) to help newer members take ownership. Recruit personally. Generic announcements rarely work.
- Invest in staff. If you have staff, ensure job clarity, feedback, and prayerful support. Small churches can be healthy places to serve when elders shepherd staff well.
Multiplying servants multiplies ministry capacity and resiliency.
13) Steward Facilities and Finances in Service of Your Mission.
Buildings and budgets can either drain or fuel revitalization.
- Make facilities welcoming. Prioritize cleanliness, safety, child-protection, clear signage, and lighting. Small improvements (paint, declutter, seating flow, etc.) change the feel of a space.
- Create a budget that tells the truth. Re-align spending to reflect priorities: Word, shepherding, hospitality, evangelism, worship, community, and mercy. Retire unsustainable habits. Communicate the “why” behind changes.
- Tell stories of sacrifice. Share testimonies of how giving fuels ministry. Teach cheerful, sacrificial generosity and model it as elders.
Practical stewardship clears the runway for spiritual fruit.
14) Use Denominational Helps.
You are not alone.
- Presbytery relationships. Invite seasoned pastors and elders from your presbytery to coach your Session, preach a renewal series, or consult on shepherding systems.
- MNA resources. Many presbyteries and Mission to North America committees maintain church-health teams, coaching networks, and revitalization cohorts. Join one and learn best practices.
- Pulpit supply and sabbath. If your TE is weary, arrange periodic pulpit supply to give rest without losing direction. Consider incorporating a sabbath policy. A rested shepherd serves a revitalizing flock better.
Humility to receive help is itself revitalizing.
15) Keep the Pace—Patient, Prayerful, Persistent.
Revitalization is usually measured in seasons, not weeks.
- Set a sustainable tempo. Choose fewer initiatives and do them well. Protect family and personal holiness.
- 18-month plan. Identify 3–5 priorities (e.g., revitalized prayer, shepherding plan, hospitality overhaul, membership pathway, small-group reboot, a more biblical worship, etc.). Assign elders to each, with timelines and simple metrics.
- Transparent communication. Share the plan with the congregation. Give periodic updates in worship or newsletters. Celebrate tiny wins.
- Quarterly Session reviews. Ask: “What have we tried?” “What fruit have we seen?” “What barriers or obstacles are present?” Adjust as needed. Thank God for progress, however modest.
- Expect setbacks. People will leave. Projects will stall. Conflict will flare. None of that means the Lord has departed. Return to prayer, keep shepherding, and have hope that the Lord is building His church.
- Tell stories of grace. Regularly recount answered prayers, reconciled relationships, professions of faith, restored prodigals, and small victories of the Lord’s grace in your people’s lives. Testimony nourishes hope.
Measurable progress builds trust and momentum.
Encouragement for the Work
A Ruling Elder’s ministry is wonderfully ordinary. You shepherd the sheep, “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3) and, alongside the TE(s) to point people to Christ. That is also the path of revitalization. As you pray, shepherd, welcome, catechize, evangelize, pursue unity, and plan, the Lord delights to breathe life into dry bones. Not every church will become large, but every church can become more faithful and more healthy—more prayerful, more loving, more gospel focused, more outward-facing. And that is revitalization. Take heart, brothers. The Chief Shepherd is with you—and He loves to revitalize His church.
