When a church is stagnant or declining in size, diagnosis is that refocusing and re-energizing is needed. How do we refocus & re-energize? Three steps to revitalization: Assessment, Alignment, Advancement. 

Step #1: ASSESSMENT.

• Discover needs of community and potential new ministries.
• Assess Leadership capability and needs.
• Identify Church Systems in need of restoration. Nelson Searcy of Church Leader Insights identifies Eight Systems of a Healthy Church:

1. The Weekend Service System,
2. The Outreach/Evangelism System,
3. The Assimilation System,
4. The Small Groups System,
5. The Ministry Mobilization System,
6. The Stewardship System,
7. The Leadership Development System,
8. The Strategy Planning System

• Research legal documents and history. History and legal documents need to be researched in order to identify potential threats to growth.

Step #2: ALIGNMENT.

• Recover Faith Factors. In Chapter Three of the book Comeback Churches, Ed Stetzer identifies three faith factors that are essential to church revitalization: 1) A renewed belief in Jesus Christ and the Mission of the Church, 2) A renewed attitude for servanthood, 3) Strategic Prayer Efforts.
• Discover/Recover the unique, God given Mission, Vision, Values. The revi team should participate in Church Planter Basic Training & take advantage of coaching networks & suggested reading lists to help discover a vision for the community.
• Make necessary identity changes. Name? Signs? Location? What identity changes may be necessary to birth new vision & energy in the church?
• Restore needed Church Systems for life and health. See above comment about Church Systems. What systems will need new energy & attention going forward?

Step #3: ADVANCEMENT.

• Vision Renewal Launch Service. Plan for a Vision Renewal Celebration as the church moves into a period of advancement and growth.
• Plant, water, and bring in the harvest. The church should experience some growth as systems are slowly restored and outreach, assimilation, small groups move people to Christ and spiritual maturity.
• Multiply disciples, leaders, and ministries. A new generation of leaders will begin to emerge that will carry the Church into the future.
• Partner in Acts 1:8 Missions. The Church will be capable of taking on missions endeavors beyond its Jerusalem and potentially assist other churches with revitalization/renewal.

Download the paper, Steps to Revitalization.