__Reconnect Your Church provides a practical, road-tested vision and process to equip church leaders to reinvigorate their church__How can churches stay healthy and dynamic over the long-term? What's needed to avoid or reverse church stagnation and decline?

While some churches are vibrant and growing, many more are struggling, especially after Covid. The congregation might be declining and ageing, there's little success in reaching out to with the gospel, and more time is spent on inward facing problems than loving God and loving others. But the potential that could be released is huge.

David Brown draws on his experience revitalising a church in central Paris to offer a vision and a process for church revitalisation, with a focus on UK and European contexts. Whether you are church planting, in a well-established and thriving church, or looking to turn around a church in decline, Brown provides biblically grounded wisdom along with change management principles for long-term health.

When we reapply God's priorities to the church, we unleash new life and energy in following Christ in community.

A practical, road-tested vision and process to equip church leaders to reinvigorate their church

'Reconnect Your Church is an encouraging roadmap and expert travel guidebook for church leaders who want to see God do a new thing. If you are asking the Lord to use you in this area, this is the book you need, and David is your conversation partner. David is leading a church revitalization movement across Europe, and this book distils his wisdom. Read the book and then contact David and join the movement!'

'If Europe is to be re-evangelised, it is essential that the opportunities of church planting are accompanied by the opportunities for church revitalisation. David Brown has drawn on a lifetime of experience as a church pastor, planter and revitaliser in urban Paris to write this very helpful guide. He combines a compelling vision for church revitalisation with biblical principles for healthy churches and outlines a practical revitalisation process. A great strength of this book is that he shows, by example, how these general principles can be contextualized in very different circumstances. I pray that this book will be widely read by those with a heart to see the gospel advance in Europe, and that many churches will gain new life and renewed effectiveness as a result.'

'Written in the light of widespread experience in France, and in a gracious, unthreatening spirit, David Brown judiciously combines biblical principles, case studies from across Europe, cross-cultural sensitivity, careful research and excellent practical suggestions. It will be studied with great profit by church leadership teams and will likely lead, under God, to the revitalisation of many churches - perhaps even yours!'

'Evangelicals in Europe have much to learn from each other. Models developed in other contexts often don't apply to our old, beautiful continent. In Reconnect Your Church, David Brown shares insights gathered over a lifetime of ministry in France and from the exciting revitalisation of a historic church in Paris. I noticed many points of contact with the ministry challenges I face in Rome. May European churches find new life by reading this balanced, hopeful and wise book!'

'David's extensive experience working with church leaders across Europe means that he is very aware of different cultural contexts for revitalisation: the process will look very different in a British city and in a Romanian village! Whatever your context, you will find gospel-focused wisdom and down-to-earth advice about the process of church revitalisation in this eminently practical handbook. As part of a church leadership team in the UK, David's description of a holistically healthy church frequently caused me to reflect on how and why we do things. Anyone who cares about the state of their church, both in terms of its community impact and its role in forming Jesus-centred disciples, will find much food for thought, prayer and action in this encouraging book - change is possible and decline is not inevitable!'

 Any book which gives the impression of proposing seven steps to Christian maturity or three keys to a successful marriage raises alarm bells in my thinking, but this book by my long-time friend, David Brown, is different! Why? Because I have observed David at work for almost half a century! He has both founded new churches and helped bring to life dormant existing churches. He knows what are the vital components of a healthy church and he has clearly and yet compassionately analysed the obstacles to change in second-generation churches. But, by far his greatest contribution in my opinion is his grasp of the formidable changes that have taken place in society and which need to be integrated into any strategy for revitalising the church. On a continent where Christianity is no longer perceived as being relevant, David is on the offensive and with both optimism and realism calls the church to fulfil her role as salt and light.

'In Reconnect Your Church, David Brown captures in a very realistic, relevant and biblical way the revitalisation of the church, making readers first aware of the need, but also providing a vision and a process for revitalisation. For me, this information, before it was written in a book, took the form of training lectures that David gave in different countries in Europe, including Romania, teaching many church leaders about this topic. I have personally learned a lot about what revitalization is and how it can become a reality in stagnated or declining churches. I guarantee that those who read the book and are ready to act based on it will be helped in a very practical way to experience positive changes in their church.'

'What a gift to the church! Reconnect Your Church, is a theologically rich and intensely practical contribution to the desperately needed, worldwide conversation on church revitalisation. The Euro-centric focus will be especially helpful to a European audience, but will not be a hindrance to other readers. David Brown weaves together a solid biblical foundation, significant cross-cultural insights, and practical suggestions, all based on his extensive background as a pastor and church planter in France and his broad involvement across the continent. Not surprisingly, the concepts in this book are helpfully applied through the tool of conversations taking place in different European countries. I plan to read this book again ... and probably again after that. Thank you, David! A job well done!'

'David Brown in Reconnect Your Church exhibits practical professionalism in the demanding task of church revitalising. The book is inspirational, visionary and educational. It provides a wealth of helpful guidelines to be implemented by any church revitalisation team across Europe. Much needed and timely publication!'

'Revitalization is one of the key themes for the renewal of the church in Europe. David Brown is personally involved in the revitalisation process and knows the European context very well. The book is practical, fresh and relevant. I am very grateful, that this book will be useful and inspiring for the renewal process of historic denominations.'

'Every church, no matter it's size, location, culture or context, would benefit from David's insightful understanding and teaching on church revitalisation. His wise counsel is welcome counsel. Revitalisation inevitably means change. David carefully points out barriers to change and offers relevant strategic solutions. His approach is both balanced and biblical, helping churches develop a long-term culture of revitalisation. No church will ever be perfect, but every church can make progress and David lights a fire of hope for my church, your church and every church.'

'Anyone who is leading a church in a post-Christian setting is, in effect, revitalising a church. David Brown's book is thoughtful, thorough and practical on how someone leading a declining or stagnating church could follow biblical principles to reach their neighborhood or city and bring vitality back to their church. Though he wrote it with Europe in mind, it would be a vital tool for any church leader in North America.'

Acknowledgments ixCase studies 1  
Introduction 5  
Chapter 1 My revitalisation story 7  
Chapter 2 The need for revitalisation 16  
Chapter 3 Is revitalisation biblical? 30  
Chapter 4 What should a healthy church look like? 42  
Chapter 5 Getting started with change 59  
Chapter 6 The process: developing a strategy for change 74

__THE SOCIAL DIMENSION OF REVITALISATION__

Chapter 7 The social dimension of revitalisation: community 90  
Chapter 8 The social dimension of revitalisation: outreach 100

__THE SOCIETAL DIMENSION OF REVITALISATION__

Chapter 9 The societal dimension of revitalisation: plausibility 112  
Chapter 10 The societal dimension of revitalisation: adaptability 123

__THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION OF REVITALISATION__

Chapter 11 The spiritual dimension of revitalisation 138  
Chapter 12 Discipleship in a healthy church 153

__IMPLEMENTING THE VISION__

Chapter 13 Starting the movement 171  
Chapter 14 Working towards lasting change: leadership 181  
Chapter 15 Working towards lasting change: practical issues 194  
Chapter 16 Working towards lasting change: strategic issues 200  
Further resources 205

David Brown

Acknowledgments

Case studies

Introduction

My revitalisation story

The need for revitalisation

Is revitalisation biblical?

What should a healthy church look like?

Getting started with change

The process: developing a strategy for change

The social dimension of revitalisation

The social dimension of revitalisation: community

The social dimension of revitalisation: outreach

The societal dimension of revitalisation

The societal dimension of revitalisation: plausibility

The societal dimension of revitalisation: adaptability

The spiritual dimension of revitalisation

Discipleship in a healthy church

IMPLEMENTING THE VISION

Starting the movement

Working towards lasting change: leadership

Working towards lasting change: practical issues

Working towards lasting change: strategic issues

Further resources

Notes

Reconnect Your Church provides a practical, road-tested vision and process to equip church leaders to reinvigorate their church

How can churches stay healthy and dynamic over the long-term? What’s needed to avoid or reverse church stagnation and decline?

While some churches are vibrant and growing, many more are struggling, especially after Covid. The congregation might be declining and ageing, there’s little success in reaching out to with the gospel, and more time is spent on inward facing problems than loving God and loving others. But the potential that could be released is huge.

David Brown draws on his experience revitalising a church in central Paris to offer a vision and a process for church revitalisation, with a focus on UK and European contexts. Whether you are church planting, in a well-established and thriving church, or looking to turn around a church in decline, Brown provides biblically grounded wisdom along with change management principles for long-term health.

When we reapply God’s priorities to the church, we unleash new life and energy in following Christ in community.

\["A stirring book for Church leaders","Reconnect Your Church helps you revitalise your congregation","David Brown gives you practical tips for long term health in your Church"\]

Reconnect Your Church is an encouraging roadmap and expert travel guidebook for church leaders who want to see God do a new thing. If you are asking the Lord to use you in this area, this is the book you need, and David is your conversation partner. David is leading a church revitalization movement across Europe, and this book distils his wisdom. Read the book and then contact David and join the movement!

__- Greg Pritchard PhD, Director of European Leadership Forum and President of the Forum of Christian Leaders__

If Europe is to be re-evangelised, it is essential that the opportunities of church planting are accompanied by the opportunities for church revitalisation. David Brown has drawn on a lifetime of experience as a church pastor, planter and revitaliser in urban Paris to write this very helpful guide. He combines a compelling vision for church revitalisation with biblical principles for healthy churches and outlines a practical revitalisation process. A great strength of this book is that he shows, by example, how these general principles can be contextualized in very different circumstances. I pray that this book will be widely read by those with a heart to see the gospel advance in Europe, and that many churches will gain new life and renewed effectiveness as a result.

__- John Stevens, National Director FIEC__

Written in the light of widespread experience in France, and in a gracious, unthreatening spirit, David Brown judiciously combines biblical principles, case studies from across Europe, cross-cultural sensitivity, careful research and excellent practical suggestions. It will be studied with great profit by church leadership teams and will likely lead, under God, to the revitalisation of many churches –perhaps even yours!

__- Lindsay Brown, former General Secretary, International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) and International Director of the Lausanne Movement__

Evangelicals in Europe have much to learn from each other. Models developed in other contexts often don’t apply to our old, beautiful continent. In Reconnect Your Church, David Brown shares insights gathered over a lifetime of ministry in France and from the exciting revitalisation of a historic church in Paris. I noticed many points of contact with the ministry challenges I face in Rome. May European churches find new life by reading this balanced, hopeful and wise book!

__- René Breuel, founding pastor of Hopera Church in Rome, Italy, author of The Paradox of Happiness__

David’s extensive experience working with church leaders across Europe means that he is very aware of different cultural contexts for revitalisation: the process will look very different in a British city and in a Romanian village! Whatever your context, you will find gospel-focused wisdom and down-to-earth advice about the process of church revitalisation in this eminently practical handbook. As part of a church leadership team in the UK, David’s description of a holistically healthy church frequently caused me to reflect on how and why we do things. Anyone who cares about the state of their church, both in terms of its community impact and its role in forming Jesus-centred disciples, will find much food for thought, prayer and action in this encouraging book – change is possible and decline is not inevitable!

__- Paul Cooke, UK Director of France Mission__

Any book which gives the impression of proposing seven steps to Christian maturity or three keys to a successful marriage raises alarm bells in my thinking, but this book by my long-time friend, David Brown, is different! Why? Because I have observed David at work for almost half a century! He has both founded new churches and helped bring to life dormant existing churches. He knows what are the vital components of a healthy church and he has clearly and yet compassionately analysed the obstacles to change in second-generation churches. But, by far his greatest contribution in my opinion is his grasp of the formidable changes that have taken place in society and which need to be integrated into any strategy for revitalising the church. On a continent where Christianity is no longer perceived as being relevant, David is on the offensive and with both optimism and realism calls the church to fulfil her role as salt and light.

__- Mike Evans PhD, former director of the Geneva Bible Institute, founder of Evangile 21 (European French-speaking branch of The Gospel Coalition)__

In Reconnect Your Church, David Brown captures in a very realistic, relevant and biblical way the revitalisation of the church, making readers first aware of the need, but also providing a vision and a process for revitalisation. For me, this information, before it was written in a book, took the form of training lectures that David gave in different countries in Europe, including Romania, teaching many church leaders about this topic. I have personally learned a lot about what revitalization is and how it can become a reality in stagnated or declining churches. I guarantee that those who read the book and are ready to act based on it will be helped in a very practical way to experience positive changes in their church.

__- Daniel Fodorean, pastor, Associate Professor and Academic Dean at the Baptist Theological Institute of Bucharest__

What a gift to the church! Reconnect Your Church, is a theologically rich and intensely practical contribution to the desperately needed, worldwide conversation on church revitalisation. The Euro-centric focus will be especially helpful to a European audience, but will not be a hindrance to other readers. David Brown weaves together a solid biblical foundation, significant cross-cultural insights, and practical suggestions, all based on his extensive background as a pastor and church planter in France and his broad involvement across the continent. Not surprisingly, the concepts in this book are helpfully applied through the tool of conversations taking place in different European countries. I plan to read this book again ... and probably again after that. Thank you, David! A job well done!

__- Revd Dr Jay Mosser, pastor of Sunset Bible Church, University Place, WA, USA and leader of the European Leadership Forum DiscipleMaking Leaders Network__

David Brown in Reconnect Your Church exhibits practical professionalism in the demanding task of church revitalising. The book is inspirational, visionary and educational. It provides a wealth of helpful guidelines to be implemented by any church revitalisation team across Europe. Much needed and timely publication!

__- Revd Daniel Trusiewicz, Mission Coordinator, European Baptist Federation__

Revitalization is one of the key themes for the renewal of the church in Europe. David Brown is personally involved in the revitalisation process and knows the European context very well. The book is practical, fresh and relevant. I am very grateful, that this book will be useful and inspiring for the renewal process of historic denominations.

__- Marián Kanuch, Lutheran pastor and regional leader, Slovakia__

Every church, no matter it’s size, location, culture or context, would benefit from David’s insightful understanding and teaching on church revitalisation. His wise counsel is welcome counsel. Revitalisation inevitably means change. David carefully points out barriers to change and offers relevant strategic solutions. His approach is both balanced and biblical, helping churches develop a long-term culture of revitalisation. No church will ever be perfect, but every church can make progress and David lights a fire of hope for my church, your church and every church.

__- Scott Poling, Senior Pastor of Harvest New Beginnings Church, USA__

Church revitalisation is a long journey that requires road-tested guidance and support. David Brown's new book helps Church leaders reinvigorate their congregations in a sustainable mode.

__David Brown__ has 40 years of experience as a pastor and church planter in France, with a dozen books published in French. He is leader of the Church Revitalisation Network run by the European Leadership Forum, teaching seminars and mentoring pastors across Europe.

Reconnect Your Church

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