reTURN
Our people are hurting. Some have left. We are in conflict. Giving is down. And our pastor has gone! We don't know what the future holds. We wonder how, in this condition, we can possibly have an impact on our community? We don't know what to do?"
If this echos some of your concerns and questions, find out if reTURN could be the help you and your church are looking for.
WHAT KIND OF MINISTRY IS reTURN?
reTURN is a ministry for churches in transition or crisis. reTURN is a team of church revitalization experts, within Church Resource Ministries (CRM), who help bring restoration to churches in transition by returning churches and leaders to a place of intimacy with God, community with each other, and missional ministry. Leading both workshops and long-term partnerships with an individual church, we work with leaders and congregations who are aware of their need for change and are committed to healing and growth.
We consider healthy churches to be communities where people can meet God, grow in authentic relationship with each other, and bring the transforming Gospel to the larger community.
WHAT KIND OF CHURCHES DOES reTURN SERVE?
Churches that have;
- Sustained a long-drawn-out decline
- Recently lost a long-tenured pastor and are in transition
- Experienced some form of trauma (e.g. pastoral infidelity)
- Experienced a quick succession of pastorates
- A long-standing conflict yet to be resolved
- Lost confidence in the existing leadership
- Plateaued and lost direction
reTURN is not for every congregation that finds itself in times of difficulty. A congregation must be willing to surrender to God’s purposes and make some tough decisions. As the process of rehabilitation and renewal lasts anywhere from three to eighteen months, reTURN staff work with leaders and congregations who are aware of their need for change and are committed to long-term healing.
WHAT DO WE ACTUALLY DO?
reTURN facilitates the restoration process by…
Diagnostic Analysis--The diagnostic process is designed to drill down to the real issues and discover God’s solutions. (2-3 months)
Intervention--Diagnosis can to reTURN staff serving as intentional interim pastors while the church returns to health. (6-18 months)
Coaching--In addition to personally serving as interim pastors, reTURN also coaches interim pastors and interventionists in both individual churches and denominations.
Training--reTURN provides training events for interventionists, intentional interim pastors, and coaches to further develop skills for restoring churches. reTURN also provides ongoing training to leaders in skill sets such as conflict resolution, the dynamics of change, evaluating ministry infrastructure and systems, building effective teams, spiritual formation, visionary planning, and discerning the unique missional focus of a body of believers.
HOW IS reTURN DIFFERENT?
Our partnership with churches is process dependent rather than event driven. This process begins with diagnosis, moves to surgery and concludes with recovery.
We are founded on a strong theological understanding of revitalization and attempt to change the fundamental DNA of a church so that it might prosper and flourish in greater and more sustainable ways than even before the point of immediate conflict.
In addition to the strong theology and willingness to engage the deepest issues, we are pastors who resonate with care for the church rather than simply being paid as temporary consultants.