Had coffee with my friend Steve Swisher yesterday, who took the reins of a struggling church plant here in Virginia Beach several years ago.
The church was hobbling along, functioning in survival mode, when his bookkeeper told him, "This church has just four months to live. Then we run out of cash, and it's all over."
Rather than cut his losses, Steve asked himself, "What would I do if I had nothing to lose? What decisions would I make if I had only four months to live?"
He immediately shut-down the church's old way of doing things... said goodbye to some divisive and uncommitted people... and then relaunched the church.
He crafted a new image, changed the church's name, rented a new location, and hired a new worship leader. The most committed people enthusiastically poured themselves into the restart.
The church is turning around with 150 people and climbing...
Amazing story in the making.
That is exactly what I wanted to do at my last church... before they said I wasn't a "good fit" for them and fired me.
Good for him.
Posted by: Art | June 17, 2009 at 08:23 AM
It's amazing what can be accomplished when we feel that we have nothing left to lose!
Posted by: Jon | June 17, 2009 at 08:40 AM
I bet half the churches in our nation could do well to hear that story.
Posted by: Stephen Bateman | June 17, 2009 at 01:59 PM