Renewal Practitioner Lab (RPL)
The Renewal Practitioner Course seeks to 1) Develop a network of trained leaders to assist local associations to facilitate renewal in congregational mission and strength; 2) Equip AMS partners, associational teams, and interim pastors to serve at-risk churches in South Carolina.
This course is designed for our AMS partners, leaders serving on an associational team seeking to strengthen churches, and interim pastors desiring specialized training willing to serve alongside associational leaders and teams.
Required Resources
Supporting Resources
Objectives:
- Understand the scope and potential of the Renewal Practitioner Lab (RPL)
- Prayerfully consider how God could use you to serve churches
Prepare for your first online session:
- Complete the following prior to your first online session:
- Download the Renewal Practitioner Field Guide (pdf)
- Read pp 1-8 of the Field Guide
- Watch the Introduction video
Session One: Orientation
Objectives:
- Consider ways to engage at-risk churches
- Review the major options for at-risk churches
- Begin to apply content to a case study
Assignments:
- Read through Exploration and the article "Keys to Opening Doors & Engaging At-Risk Churches" in the Helpful Article Section in your Field Guide
- Watch the Exploration video
- Read Exploration on pp. 9-12 of the Field Guide
Session Two: Exploration
Objectives:
- Prepare to lead your first exploration meeting with a church
- Apply the content to your assigned case study
Assignments:
- Watch the Examination video
- Read Examination, pp. 13-18 of your Field Guide and review the "Examination Checklist"
Links to Additional Resources:
Session Three: Examination
Objectives:
- Prepare to lead a church team to consider their current realities during examination
- Apply the content to your assigned case study
- Identify ways to respond to disruptors and maintain momentum
Assignments:
- Watch the Recommendation video
- Watch the Presentation & Affirmation video
- Read Recommendation and Presentation, pp. 19-24 of your Field Guide and review the "Examination Checklist"
- Optional: Meet again with your case study cohort to continue collaboration
Links to Additional Resources:
Session Four: Recommendation & Presentation
Objectives:
- Work collaboratively to develop recommendations to strengthen the mission and vitality of the congregation
- Develop collaborative processes for guiding a team to finalize recommendations and present them to the congregation
Assignments:
- Watch the Implementation video
- Read Affirmation and Implementation, pp. 25-27 of your Field Guide.
- Optional: Meet again with your case study cohort to continue collaboration
Session Five: Affirmation & Implementation
Objectives:
- Learn how to guide a congregation through a process of affirmation
- Determine how to help leaders prepare for implementation
- Guide a congregation to take initial steps of faith and begin their implementation
- Develop collaborative processes for guiding a team to finalize recommendations and present
Assignments:Â
- Read Multiplication, pp. 28-29 of your Field Guide
- Prepare for your next steps as a practitioner (see below)
Links to Additional Resources:
- Read Five Partnership Options for At-Risk Churches
- Read Church Merger Process Template
- Read Aren’t Revitalization & reSTARTing the Same Things?
- Link to Practitioner’s Toolbox & Resource Page (password: Hopeforchurches)
Next Steps for Practitioners & Associational Teams
Form an Associational Revitalization Team
Leverage the strength of local pastors and leaders to serve at-risk churches in your association by forming an associational revitalization team. Here is a series of articles by Scott Catoe than can help you launch and implement a team in your association:
Train your Associational Team
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100% Online - With online videos, downloadable case studies, sample reports and more, you can train a team online according to a flexible training schedule.
- Regional Training w/Facilitator- If you prefer to train your team in person, our facilitators can assist with on-site training using the same resources created for the online lab portal. Using printed resources and online training videos we can help design a custom training experience that best meets your needs.
THISÂ SCBCÂ RESOURCEÂ ISÂ MADEÂ POSSIBLEÂ THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM GIVING OF SOUTH CAROLINA BAPTIST CHURCHES.