Revitalizing the Declining Church with Dr. Desmond Barrett

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Welcome to Revitalizing the Declining Church with Dr. Desmond Barrett. Brought to you by The Bresee Institute for Church Revitalization, Missional Engagement, and Leadership Development. An Institute that envisions to partner with churches and her leaders to strategize, strengthen, and discern God’s will for the local church.

Dr. Desmond Barrett


    • May 27, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 11m AVG DURATION
    • 154 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Revitalizing the Declining Church with Dr. Desmond Barrett

    153. Crossover Episode with Karl Vaters: The Church Lobby Podcasts

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 63:34


    Karl Vaters writes: How good is your church doing at greeting and keeping guests? If you're like a lot of churches, you know you could do better.I talked with Desmond Barrett about how small churches can do a better job at reaching, welcoming, and keeping guests. Desmond is the author of Helping Small Churches Win Guests: Preparing to Increase Attendance, which is a short, but very practical book that pastors will find great benefit in.Desmond and I talked about:How to reimagine the church facility from the parking lot to the pewWhy sharing updates about facility improvements is attractive to guestsWhy so many pastors and church leaders resist doing what needs to be doneWhy “we just need to attract young families” is never the answerThe good news that new Christians are not looking for programs, they're wanting to live on missionKarl's Books mentioned in the podcasts:De-sizing the Church Small Church Essentials

    152. Embracing Disruption within the Church

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 11:33


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Disruption clarifies the vision.2. Disruption clarifies the mission.3. Disruption clarifies and creates opportunity.4. Disruption clarifies and establishes principles to serve the community.

    151. Canceling Church Announcements

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 10:52


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode:1. Limit the scope.2. Limit the time.3. Limit the ask.

    150. Combating Number Fatigue

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 10:19


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode:1. Celebrate the win.2. Counter negative feelings.3. Create a pattern of connection.

    149. 4 Patterns of Restoration in a Dying Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2025 13:26


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode:Pattern 1: Praying to God about the need.Pattern 2: Petition God about the need.Pattern 3: Power of self-given over to God.Pattern 4: Praise given to God.

    148. Stagnation to Life through small steps

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2025 11:28


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode:1. Small revisions2. Small improvements3. Small details matter

    147. The Church – Community Connection

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 14:59


    Revitalizing Connections found in this episode: 1. Curate to fit the neighborhood the church is in.2. Narrow the focus of partnerships and programs to fit the era the church has entered. 3. Embrace the uncertainty that the church is in to find the certain plan that God has.

    146. Rebrand to Reconnect

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2025 14:07


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode:1. Create a culture of care.2. Cultivate relationships overtime.3. Caring through community connection. 4. Comprising the next chapter of ministry.

    145. 5 Ways to Lead in Revitalization

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 9:33


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Learn to Listen 2. Last to Speak 3. Length of Time 4. Lean Into Conversations 5. Loss is Win/Win

    144. Mobile Ministry

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025 9:45


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: Developing a bus or tuck ministry. 1. School bus to Compassionate Ministry Center 2. Food Truck for Jesus. 3. Thrift Store on Wheels.

    143. Quitting Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025 13:31


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Quit being negative at where you find yourself. 2. Quit focusing on only Sunday morning and focus on all days of the week. 3. Quit blocking change, and encourage it. 4. Quit saying, 'we can't' and change your language to 'we can!'

    142. 5 Ways to Move Forward in 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2025 14:31


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1.  Adapt or fall behind. 2. Envision, then do it. 3. Read the Word. 4. Movement shifts through mircosteps. 5. Position yourself through a commitment to your health.

    141. Looking Forward to 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2024 11:56


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1.  Whatever you do, move forward. 2. Whatever you do, move fast. 3. Whatever you do, move further.

    140. Average is the New Normal

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2024 9:28


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Average is an extraordinary opportunity to serve the community. 2. Average is moving the church above where it finds itself today to serve God. 3. Average is obeying a God call through your ministry and life.

    139. Closing Out 2024 Strong

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 10:52


    Revitalization rewards found in this episode: 1. What you accomplished this year is enough. 2. What you've dreamed is still achievable, keep pressing forward. 3. What moves you becomes what you move forward.

    138. Enjoying the Christmas Season While Leading A Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2024 10:47


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Slow down and enjoy the experience. 2. See people and not numbers in the pew. 3. Stay messaged focused in every way. [1]https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/beyond-the-womb/202412/a-guide-to-manage-the-holidays-with-self-care-and-balance [1] Smith, Harold . The Quotable Bresee. Kansas City, Missouri , Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1 Jan. 1983.

    137. 20 Community Outreach Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2024 12:27


    136. 3 Ways To Learn From Failure

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 9:06


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Inaction is action 2. Leadership matters 3. Vision without proper oversight leads to disorientation

    135. 3 Warning Signs of Church Decline

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2024 10:25


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Deviated from the mission. 2. Reinvented but did not reinvest. 3. Lacking a cohesive plan.

    134. 5 Ways to See Potential in Church Decline

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 11:39


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Be Persistence. 2. Be Patient. 3. Be a Problem Solver. 4. Be a Pattern Thinker. 5. Process the past, current, and dream of the future.

    133. When A Ministry Closes

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024 10:33


    Revitalizations Reward found in this episode: 1. Share compassion with all who are affected. 2. Spirit-led decisions will not free you from the demands or the disgruntled. 3. Serve with excellence until the end.

    132. 3 Ways to Disagree and Commit inside the Local Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2024 9:06


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1.  Disagree with respect. 2. Commit to the outcome and follow the process. 3. Limit the ‘I told you so' attitude.

    131. Rising From the Ashes of Death

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 9:13


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Understand the problem. 2. Capture the vision. 3. Be willing to implement the next steps.

    130. Recreating A Healthy Church Culture

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 10:46


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Compassionate Directness 2. Community Partnership 3. Compromise Success Article referenced in the podcast's Huffington, A. (2020, December 4). Compassionate directness: the cultural value That's the ultimate competitive advantage. Thrive Global. https://community.thriveglobal.com/compassionate-directness-cultural-value-ultimate-advantage-arianna-huffington/

    129. When Projects Take Precedent In Ministry

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2024 9:11


    128. Does a church have to die?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 9:56


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Prepare a new way forward. 2. Prepare now not later. 3. Prepare to follow God.

    127. Tapping Into God's Power

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 9:21


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode. 1. The reality of change. 2. Do not stop innovating.

    126. The Momentous Maintenance Challenge

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 8:12


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Evaluate all needs 2. Plan now and for the future 3. Parlay success in one area to sustain the momentum

    125. 4 Ways to Overcome Isolation in Church Revitalization

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2024 9:46


    1. Develop a friend group outside of the church. 2. Develop worth in your passion not your commitment. 3. Develop a team that will carry forth the vision. 4. Develop a sense of accomplishment outside of your main calling.

    Ep. 124 Overcoming Summer Stagnation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2024 8:37


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Review 2. Reevaluate 3. Recognize 4. Reenergize 5. Reconnect

    Ep.123 Surrendering the Ego for God

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 7:54


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Not my call but yours 2. Not my church but yours 3. Not my community but yours

    122. (Part 2) Do the Work Today for Success Tomorrow

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024 9:41


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Develop a strategic plan 2. Keep your focus on God's vision for the local church 3. You are not a lone ranger Christian New Book: By Dr. Desmond Barrett Helping the Small Church Win Guests: Preparing To Increase Attendance https://a.co/d/7hCh4s0

    121. (Part 1) Do the Work Today for Success Tomorrow

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2024 11:22


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: Five key suggestions for long-term planning that have helped other churches: 1. Pray and Ask 2. Go and Find 3. Obey and Do 4. Be and Act 5. Bless and Maintain

    120. 3 Steps to Reach the Community

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 11:19


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Pause from the busyness of ministry to see where God's ministry is needed. 2. Pray for opportunities to serve people, places, and for future partnerships. 3. Participate where God leads the local church to reach the neighborhood around the church.

    119. 5 Steps to Leading the Kaizen Way

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2024 12:05


    Revitalization rewards found in this episode: Step 1: Identify the problem for improvement. Step 2: Analyze the current situation for quality. Step 3: Create opportunities or systems through new solutions. Step 4: Evaluate the effectiveness of the improvement. Step 5: Celebrate the improvement but continue to review.

    118. Renewing the Small Church with the Kintsugi Model

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2024 10:27


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Repairing the cracks with Christ 2. Restoring visionary leadership 3. Reminding others of the value of the neighborhood

    117. 5 Leadership Traits Found in the Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2024 8:54


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Ivory Tower Leader 2. White Board Leader 3. Consensus Leader 4. Compassionate Leader 5. Community Leader Check out the Poll if you are Spotify user

    116. Everyday Evangelism

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 11:21


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Soft Evangelism 2. Intentional Evangelism 3. Inspired Evangelism

    115. Renovate by Innovating

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2024 7:10


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Innovate to lead the church forward. 2. Innovate to reach new people. 3. Innovate to capture God's direction.

    114. 5 Ways To Use Technology

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2024 10:30


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: One Call System, QR Codes, Email Newsletter, Social Media Groups, and Instant Directory

    113. Honoring God in Church Hurt

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 7:33


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Flee from the turmoil to find peace in a new place. 2. Fight for position and power in the face of pushback. 3. Reconfigure your leadership to meet current and future needs in the church.

    112. Dying To Live

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2024 8:27


    Revitalization rewards found in this episode: 1. Commit to a greater vision. 2. Commit to each other. 3. Commit to foundational view of serving other as Christ.

    111. A Five Year Cycle to Church Revitalization

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2024 14:41


    Cycle of Revitalization : Stabilization, Strategize, Strategic, Sustain, Success

    110. 3 Lessons from Sharing Jesus in Unstructured Ways

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2024 10:41


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: Lesson 1: Create a space for open conversation Lesson 2: Create a space for discussion Lesson 3: Create a space for all

    109. Future-Forward Budgeting

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2024 9:10


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Reinvest in the church's infrastructure to prepare for future activities and guests.  2. Repair community relationships through connections. 3. Restore the focus from self to the Savior.

    108. Embrace the Paradigm as a Change Agent

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2024 6:41


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Embrace the change that comes with growth. 2.Embrace the challenge to become a better you. 3. Embrace the character-building that will help you become the best you.

    107. 4 Ways to Tackle Deferred Maintenance in the Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2024 10:02


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Review the facility from an inspector's perspective. 2. Develop a plan to begin to solve the problems. 3. Stay focused and do not chase the fire. 4. Review where you can cut to invest.

    106. Chasing the Past

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2023 7:36


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. The past is the hero. 2. The past dictates the future.

    105. 3 Ways to Focus Your Ministry in the New Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2023 7:17


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Focus on what works locally. 2. Focus on who you are trying to reach. 3. Focus on the core values of the church

    104. Exploring Loss in the Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2023 7:25


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Target frustrations to attain fruit, not fault. 2. Seek a way forward from loss.

    103. Dreaming through the difficulty

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 8:26


    Revitalization Rewards found in this episode: 1. Dream what could be. 2. Dream what is. 3. Dream what will be.

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