Takes and Elijah to resurrect a church

Here is an out of the box idea that goes against every church planting network out there. Many denominations are letting church revitalization fall to the side. There are many reasons for this. Little fruit. Not as exciting. Excuses like: “can’t put new wine in old wine skins.” Then there are the statistics that show how difficult it is to turn around a church. So what can we do?

I have an idea. Whether it is revitalization or resurrection It may take “Elijahs” to do it. Not fresh seminary students, not the experienced pastor who has hummed along in their ministry career. Maybe, just maybe those pastors who have been burned and burned out, tossed out, not met denominational expectations are the Elijahs who need to go to these widow churches to see a resurrection in the house of God (2 Kings 18).

2 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: 3 “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. Kerith means “cut off,” or it means “cut down.” 2kings17

A few verses later after being alone and cut off he goes to a widows home and raises a boy back to life. First time in the Bible we see such a supernatural act. All of these pastors/planters who have been cut off, run away, been depressed, everything Elijah went through, are the keys to resurrecting and reviving such churches and not the cookie cutter, model planters in PQ Magazine. Maybe the Elijahs need called back and revitalized first so the Elishas in Seminary can come behind and get a double blessing.

Maybe something needs to be done to encourage such planters and pastors. Maybe they need free tickets to conferences. Maybe, these Elijahs need to sit in on some successful staff meetings. Maybe these Elijahs need a card sent to them and their families.

The challenge is how to find the great Elijahs who can get a fire going again from those who have been burned beyond recognition and are too bitter to serve again? Finally, you have to ask how to teach an old dog new tricks? How can you get these planters and pastors to recognize that they can learn some new things and dove tail them to their experience that will bring about resurrection?