A special theme section on how to have an inviting and healthy biblical community. Winter 1999 Trendex Current Trends & Columns

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My last three churches were in decline when I arrived. In all three—one suburban, one large town, and one urban—keys to turning things around were similar:

1. Build hope. First, point to God; Jesus Christ said, "I will build my Church." Second, point to the church's strengths. Third, point to churches that have turned around.
2. Look forward publicly and backward privately. In two churches, the previous pastors had been forced out. Hurt feelings and tensions needed to be addressed, but not from the pulpit. Publicly, I pointed to the future we could share.
3. Fix the facility. Peeling paint and disrepair sends a message the church is dying. We tackled the most obvious disrepair immediately with a few gallons of paint and volunteers.
4. Preach dynamic sermons. I put more effort into sermon preparation than anything else.
5. Emphasize prayer. When my present church called, I said I would come only if they agreed to hold an all-church prayer meeting every Sunday evening and if the leadership would commit to attending regularly. They did.
6. Develop new leaders. I sought to move new people into leadership as soon as possible. They had bought into our new vision and were not part of previous factions.

Rev. Murphy was a recovering optimist

1. When you rush and arrive early for a meeting, it's the wrong evening or you're in the wrong place.
2. When you arrive late for a meeting, it started on time.
3. The broken equipment that is driving you crazy will work fine when the custodian tries it.
4. The week you wait till Sunday morning to print out your sermon, your computer will freeze.
5. The one Sunday you preach from a hastily prepared outline will be the Sunday a search committee shows up.
6. The obnoxious driver you honk at on Friday will visit your church on Sunday.

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