Revitalize My Church

Episode 47: Show Notes Hosts: Bart Blair (Director of Church Revitalization, Assist Church Expansion) & Nathan Bryant (Executive Director, Assist) 4 Key Takeaways Your church facility is a ministry tool, not the main thing. Culture change drives revitalization, but your building can either support that work or quietly work against it. Decluttering costs nothing but time and a few hard conversa...

Most struggling churches assume they need the same kind of help. Terry Long says that assumption is one of the first things that has to go. Terry serves as the Church Health and Revitalization Strategist for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. He joined the state convention in April 2020, holds a doctorate of ministry in church revitalization from Southeastern Baptist Theological Semin...

Are you leading a church through revitalization and running into resistance at every turn? You are not alone. Resistance is one of the most common challenges pastors face when trying to move a church from where it is to where God wants it to be. The question is not whether you will face it. The question is whether you know how to handle it well. In Episode 45, Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant cover ke...

Can a dying church really come back to life? Pastor Larry Davis says yes, but not the way most revitalization books tell you. In this episode of the Revitalize My Church Podcast, Bart Blair sits down with Larry Davis, author of "Grieving the Loss of the Church You Love" and Associational Missionary for the Eastern Baptist Association. Larry has personally led three church revitalizations and has a...

Resistance is one of the most common and discouraging challenges a pastor faces when leading a church through revitalization. You cast the vision, you lay out the plan, and then someone pushes back. Or a group pushes back. And suddenly it feels like the people you are trying to help are the very ones standing in your way. In this episode of the Revitalize My Church Podcast, Bart Blair and Nathan B...

Episode 42: Show Notes TLDR: Key Takeaways The Oikos Principle works everywhere : 95% of people come to faith through relationships with the 8-15 people in their "front row" - their coworkers, neighbors, close friends, and family members who watch how they live. Church obesity kills mission focus : Most churches are programmatically obese, offering so many "good things" that the Great Commission g...

Episode 41: Show Notes Hosts: Bart Blair (Director of Church Revitalization, Assist Church Expansion) & Nathan Bryant (Executive Director, Assist) TLDR: Key Takeaways Check your own heart first - Before addressing conflict, examine your motivations, attitudes, and potential contributions to the problem (Matthew 7:3-5) Deal openly, not publicly - Address conflict transparently with appropriate...

Episode 40: Attributes of a Next Level Leader Revitalize My Church Podcast | Guest: Ed Short | Host: Bart Blair Keywords: next level leader, church leadership development, pastor leadership skills, small church revitalization, leadership attributes for pastors, how to become a better church leader, coaching pastors TL;DR — 4 Key Takeaways Next level leadership is not about jumping from good to gre...

Episode 39: Show Notes Hosts: Bart Blair (Director of Church Revitalization, Assist Church Expansion) & Nathan Bryant (Executive Director, Assist) TLDR: Key Takeaways Conflict is normal in churches - 75% of 14,000+ surveyed churches experienced conflict; it's not an exception, especially during revitalization Conflict differs from resistance - Resistance to change requires different handling t...

Episode 38: Show Notes Building a sustainable discipleship culture that transforms hearts, not just minds TLDR (The Quick Takeaway) Identify your four types of people: Categorize your congregation into sleepers (spiritually asleep), seekers (genuinely open), consumers (service-focused), and disciples (committed followers)—and focus your energy strategically on each group rather than trying to be e...

Episode 37: Show Notes Hosts: Bart Blair (Director of Church Revitalization, Assist Church Expansion) & Nathan Bryant (Executive Director, Assist) Episode Summary In this episode, Bart and Nathan discuss five common obstacles that derail church revitalization efforts. Based on years of experience coaching churches through renewal and replanting, they identify specific failure points and provid...

How Churches Can Find New Life Through a Strategic Merger Podcast Show Notes with Jim Tomberlin TLDR: 4 Key Takeaways Church mergers are no longer a last resort – They've evolved from a "survival tactic" to a legitimate growth strategy, with 40%+ of multi-site churches now acquiring campuses through mergers rather than church plants alone. Focus on mission, not just survival – The most successful...

Episode Summary Bart Blair shares five essential books to help church leaders grow in their ministry and guide their churches toward greater health and vitality in 2026. Whether you're in revitalization, replanting, or simply seeking to lead more effectively, these books offer practical wisdom and biblical foundations for lasting change. Subscribe & Listen to the Revitalize My Church Podcast •...

Creating Space for Every Child in Your Church. In this powerful episode, host Bart Blair, Director of Church Revitalization for Assist Church Expansion, sits down with seasoned occupational therapist Amanda Perches to unpack practical and affordable ways every church—no matter the size—can become a welcoming space for children with special needs and their families. Are you a church leader, pastor,...

Is ministry burnout and discouragement draining your passion for church revitalization? In this episode, Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant share five biblical and practical steps to help pastors overcome discouragement, regain momentum, and enter 2026 with renewed fire for ministry. Episode 33 of the Revitalize My Church Podcast explores: Step 1: Look to Jesus for Restoration — Understand that your ide...

The Five-Step Church Volunteer Recruitment Framework That Actually Works Why Traditional Church Volunteer Recruitment Methods Fail Most churches rely on ineffective methods like stage announcements, program inserts, and mass emails. These approaches typically result in low commitment rates, with many volunteers saying yes but never following through. Nick's framework addresses this by creating a s...

How to Leverage Christmas for Church Revitalization | Church Growth Strategies In this essential episode for church leaders, Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant share proven Christmas outreach strategies that can revitalize your church and attract new visitors during the most opportune season of the year. Did you know that 60-70% of Americans attend a Christmas church service annually? Learn how to maxim...

A Real Story of Church Revitalization - Show Notes How Pastor Tim Wilmetti Led Pataskala Grace Church From Crisis to Growth In this episode of the Revitalize My Church podcast, host Bart Blair interviews Pastor Tim Wilmetti about his six-year journey revitalizing Pataskala Grace Church in Ohio. This real-world case study offers practical insights for pastors and church leaders facing similar chall...

CHURCH REVITALIZATION BREAKTHROUGH: Master Vision Casting & Leadership Development Are you struggling to energize your declining church? In this powerful episode, church revitalization experts Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant reveal the final two essentials that can transform stagnant congregations: creating hopeful vision and developing strong leaders. WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER: The 4-Component Vision...

From Parking Lot to Pew: The Power of Church Hospitality Church Hospitality Can Transform Your Ministry In this episode of Revitalize My Church, host Bart Blair interviews MaryAnn Sibley, a church hospitality expert who helps declining churches build effective volunteer teams and create welcoming environments that turn first-time visitors into regular attendees. How First Impressions Ministry Chan...

Episode 27 - Joyful Hospitality & Meaningful Membership Episode Details Podcast:  Revitalized My Church Episode:  27 Hosts:  Bart Blair & Nathan Bryant (Executive Director, Assist Church Expansion) Release Date:  September 1, 2025 Topic:  Church Revitalization Essentials #7 & #8 Episode Summary After a brief hiatus in August, Bart and Nathan return to continue their series on church re...

Revitalizing Children's Ministry: Essential Strategies for Churches Ready to Welcome Families Is your church struggling to attract and retain families with children? In this comprehensive episode, host Bart Blair interviews Lisa Rowland, a seasoned children's ministry leader and consultant with Life Catalyst Consulting, who shares over 20 years of practical experience helping churches of all sizes...

Gospel-Centered Fellowship and Missional Engagement for Church Revitalization Episode Overview In this milestone episode marking one year of the Revitalize My Church podcast, hosts Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant continue their series on the 10 essentials for church revitalization, based on insights from Terry Long of the North Carolina Baptist Association. They explore two critical elements that str...

Pastor Brian Moss of Oak Ridge Church shares his proven DREAM framework that transformed a dying congregation of 30 into a thriving church with 101% small group participation over 25 years. Brian, a former computer engineer who didn't grow up in church, reveals how he developed a systematic approach to balance the five fundamental church purposes: worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and e...

Text Based Preaching and Intentional Discipleship in Church Revitalization   Join hosts Bart Blair and Nathan Bryant as they explore two essential elements for successful church revitalization: text-driven preaching and intentional discipleship. Drawing from insights by Terry Long of the North Carolina Baptist Association, this episode reveals why these biblical foundations are game-changers for s...