Does it seem like your church is “stuck?” Do you find that your church continues to struggle with the same issues year after year? Or that any changes you try to make are not well received by others in leadership or the congregation at large? In circumstances like these, an outside perspective can be highly valuable. An outsider who is familiar with church operations and church leadership can often point out what you or others in your church are unable to see.
Calling in a professional church consultant may seem like the logical first step in turning your church around. Church consultants are often those who have worked in churches themselves in the past, but now feel called to the ministry of helping other churches. Many church consultants have the gift of discernment, and are able to see beyond the surface-level issues to the deeper things that may be affecting the church’s health and vitality. They may also have giftings in areas like administration, wisdom, and encouragement—all of which can be used to edify a church that is struggling.
But does your church need a church consultant, or something more? Church consultants will typically only spend a limited amount of time with your church, and then provide you with their suggestions for moving forward. If your church doesn’t have the pieces in place to make their recommended changes, you might not be any better off after working with them.
Another option is to bring in an interim pastor who can work closely with your church to effect change.
VitalChurch Ministry, which is known for providing interim pastors to Christian churches throughout the United States, also provides churches with church consultants in select circumstances. According to the VitalChurch Ministry website: “Our team approaches church consulting from a pastoral perspective. It is our desire to walk with congregations through a complete revitalization process, rather than just identifying issues and offering advice.”
Their interim pastors typically spend 18-24 months in a church. They diagnose issues through their church assessment process, and then join the church’s existing leadership to help make changes, as well as preach. According to their website, “Our pastors are not looking to maintain the status quo, but to act as Christ-centered agents of change for churches facing difficult circumstances. This is done with an emphasis on grace. Ultimately, the intentional interim pastors at VitalChurch are seeking to discover where God is leading the church, and then to work with the church to graciously guide the congregation and leadership there.”
If your church is in need of more than just godly advice, you might want to consider bringing in an interim pastor who focuses on church revitalization, like those at VitalChurch Ministry. This investment could serve your church well for many years to come.
