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On A Call For Church Revitalization


WHEREAS, The Southern Baptist Convention has adopted a focus of planting churches to impact the darkness in our world (Matthew 5:16; 28:18–20); and

WHEREAS, The North American Mission Board has reported that 70 to 75 percent of cooperating churches in the SBC have plateaued or are in decline; and

WHEREAS, The Bible teaches in passages like Acts 14:21–23 that the Apostle Paul made returning to established churches a part of his cooperative mission work, so that he could strengthen disciples, encourage perseverance, and train leaders; and

WHEREAS, The Bible teaches in Hebrews 12:12–13 to “strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead”; and

WHEREAS, The Bible also records the words of Jesus in Revelation 2:1–7, which calls churches to an action plan for revitalization consisting of remembering Christ’s commission, repenting from having left their first love, and returning to their first works; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, June 10–11, 2014, recognize and affirm the mission of the North American Mission Board and all of our other SBC entities, working in cooperation with state conventions and local associations, to assist cooperating churches in church planting and church revitalization; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the messengers affirm the calling of pastors who revitalize churches as needful as the calling of pastors to plant churches; and be it finally

RESOLVED, That the messengers to this meeting encourage churches experiencing cycles of health to pray for and partner with both established and newly planted churches that are struggling so that together, experiencing His strength through our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:10), we can more effectively reach our neighbors and our nation with the Gospel.