I like game shows. As a child of the ’80s, I suspect that may be a requirement. I especially enjoy question-and-answer shows: give the right answer, and you feel like a genius. Give the wrong one, and the opposite may be true. With that in mind, I want to spend the next seven weeks asking and answering questions—not for a game show, but for something far more important: rural church revitalization.

This seven-part series is designed to help rural churches pursue health. If we are honest, church health is always a pursuit. No matter where your church is on that journey, I believe these questions can help. I offer them to provoke honest reflection, not because I have all the answers. They arise from my study of church revitalization under Dr. Kenneth Priest and from my own observations. My prayer is that they will guide both personal reflection and thoughtful discussion among your church’s leaders.

Here is the first question: Why do I want this rural church to be revitalized? At its heart, this is a question of motive. Why do you truly care about this church and its future? Why not simply close the doors and move on? The way you answer reveals more than you may realize—and it matters deeply…. READ MORE…