Hope for Churches asked Rev. John Meyer, retired pastor of Belvedere First Baptist,to record this story of what God is doing one year after the churchaffirmed motion to be adopted by Warren Church. A popular song presently heard on Christian radio is entitled “God is in this story.” That song could very well be the…
In early 2020 a chance encounter at a local restaurant set into motion the unification of Calvary Baptist Church with Second Baptist Church, Lancaster. When the leadership of Calvary Baptist Church approached Dr. Brian Saxon one fateful evening in Panera Bread, neither of them realized that they were setting in motion a series of events…
Foster Partnership – Dunean Baptist Church, Greenville, SC Foster Partnership: Strong church commits to come alongside an at-risk church providing prayer, specified resources, wisdom, etc. for a defined length of time. Dunean Baptist Church was formed as a mill village church in the textile region of South Carolina’s Upstate. Nestled in a neighborhood of homes…
Adoption Partnership – River District Church, West Columbia, SC Adoption Partnership: At-risk church yields control to stronger parent church providing leadership and resources as guided by a partnership agreement. Over a 20-year period, the church experienced a steady decline in worship attendance resulting in a smaller congregation with limited means to maintain facilities much less,…
Campus Adoption – Calvary First Baptist, Lancaster, SC Campus Adoption: Merger/dissolution of an at-risk church yielding all assets to a start a new ministry venue with a strong church. Calvary is located in a mill village town with about 900 neighbors within a ten-minute walk of the worship center. Pastor Jimmy was preparing for retirement…
At-risk churches across South Carolina need strong churches to help them fulfill the Great Commission. They are willing to take steps of faith toward a new future and a renewed mission of gospel ministry in their community, but they need meaningful partners to come alongside them for a season. How could God utilize the resources…
Having just completed another replanter assessment retreat, I wanted to capture the “why” behind the hours of preparation and toil it takes to assess potential candidates called to lead an at-risk church as a replanter. Over the past several years we have found great value in our intentional process to build a network of assessed…
As the church revitalization movement continues to grow in South Carolina, we are blessed to hear from practitioners offering words of wisdom to others just starting their journey as a planter or replanter. Many of our planters are discovering opportunities to merge with at-risk churches with buildings and members to reSTART churches in strategic locations.…
As our sister churches continue to struggle and parking lots become more vacant, pastors are seeking ways to partner with churches at-risk of closure. This Kingdom mindset is vital to saturating our communities with the hope of the gospel, but let me encourage you to answer three questions before you say “I do” and form…
In every church revitalization/reSTART success story, I have witnessed God answer the prayers of His people crying out in desperation for their future. I have seen God move in the hearts of church planters to merge with dwindling congregations. He is stirring the hearts of pastors to lead their healthy churches to help at-risk churches.…
