Embers to a Flame - About Revitalization

Biblical Paradigm
For the past three decades "church growth" has been the focus of many American churches. All this emphasis
on size, numbers and programs has been to no avail, for every year thousands of churches in our land close
their doors. In fact, in any given year the American church closes more churches than it starts! We are learning the hard way that church health must precede church growth. Only healthy churches manifest
well-balanced, long-term and scriptural growth. Church health is based upon God's precepts, principles
and patterns in the New Testament.

Paradigm
The Scripture presents a paradigm of moving from spiritual decline and functional malaise to
Spirit-engendered vitality: the Church at Ephesus. God's instructions to that church serve as a
curriculum outline for Church Revitalization: "Remember therefore from where you have fallen,
and repent and do the deeds you did at first..." (Rev. 2:5) That is the three-fold paradigm:
Remember...Repent... Recover the first things.

Revitalization...
Church revitalization or renewal is nothing more than following God's prescription for church health. It
is a process by which we work at reformation, lead for revitalization and pray for revival. Church
revitalization is the sovereign work of God's Spirit whereby He restores His people to spiritual and
functional vitality that inevitably leads to statistical growth in conversions and scriptural discipleship
for His own glory and our own good.

First Steps:
The biblical paradigm of revitalization is that local churches must return to "first things" and regain
their "first love" by again taking the "first steps."

Every church needs strengthening. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:41 God’s instructions to the church at Ephesus serve as a curriculum outline for church vitality and revitalization: “Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first.” (Rev. 2:5) There is a three-fold paradigm for renewing our churches: Remember... Repent... Recover.... Church vitality or revitalization is nothing more than following God’s prescription for church health. Church health naturally leads to conversions and improved personal discipleship, for our good and God’s glory. Where do your church and your church leaders turn for biblically-based help and encouragement? Embers to a Flame is a three-day, affordable conference that sets forth timeless biblical principles of church health. Registration fees include 3 meals, snacks, a manual for the conference and other resources, as well as discounts on many other useful books. “If a body is healthy, it will grow appropriately. So our focus is on the spiritual vitality of the church knowing that a healthy church will grow.” ~Harry Reeder
Biblical Paradigm For the past three decades "church growth" has been the focus of many American churches. All this emphasis on size, numbers and programs has been to no avail, for every year thousands of churches in our land close their doors. In fact, in any given year the American church closes more churches than it starts! We are learning the hard way that church health must precede church growth. Only healthy churches manifest well-balanced, long-term and scriptural growth. Church health is based upon God's precepts, principles and patterns in the New Testament. Paradigm The Scripture presents a paradigm of moving from spiritual decline and functional malaise to Spirit-engendered vitality: the Church at Ephesus. God's instructions to that church serve as a curriculum outline for Church Revitalization: "Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first..." (Rev. 2:5) That is the three-fold paradigm: Remember...Repent... Recover the first things. Revitalization... Church revitalization or renewal is nothing more than following God's prescription for church health. It is a process by which we work at reformation, lead for revitalization and pray for revival. Church revitalization is the sovereign work of God's Spirit whereby He restores His people to spiritual and functional vitality that inevitably leads to statistical growth in conversions and scriptural discipleship for His own glory and our own good. First Steps: The biblical paradigm of revitalization is that local churches must return to "first things" and regain their "first love" by again taking the "first steps."