There is an urgent need for good materials on church revitalization. There have been a few people who attempted to put something together, or become the leading voice in the area. Church revitalization is an area that is growing rapidly.

Brian Croft's book "Biblical Church Revitalization" is the new bar that every book that follows will have to meet. Croft pastors Auburndale Baptist Church in Kentucky, and runs the ministry Practical Shepherding. He has been a great voice over the past few years in the area of pastoring. He writes about revitalization not from an academic aspect, but with the heart of pastor for a local church. His own church had been through some painful experiences, and he shares those with you as he writes. More than anything, Croft gives us just what he said he would in the title. A solid basis for "biblical church revitalization." This is not just a how to book, although it is full of practical advice. Croft writes to pastors and church leaders with honesty about the difficulties in revitalization, and the reason why we should risk it anyways: for the glory of God.

He strikes a good balance between what he calls the "two extremes of church revitalization, the Pragmatist and the Purist." Croft, as you might expect, puts a large emphasis on the role of pastoring and shepherding in revitalization. Not just preaching, but in the trench pastoring as well. Any church leader would benefit from reading this book. Below are a few quotes I pulled out.

A church is revitalized by the power of God, through the spirit of God, at work through the word of God, by means of a faithful shepherd of God.

A pastor must trust the power of the Word in preaching the Gospel to breathe life into a church.

Be careful about quickly dismissing opposition as unbelief.

The hurt and pain a previous pastor caused a congregation does not vanish when the new pastor arrives.

Churches that need revitalization need courageous pastors.

The key to survival in pastoral ministry is a pastor's diligent care for his own soul.

Statistical growth is not the objective of church revitalization, but it is an expected outcome. ( )