Revitalization
The purpose of the CHMCE revitalization program is to encourage the churches of the OPC as they pursue church health. A revitalized church is a healthy church, one that is “…grow(ing) up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Eph 4:15-16)
Our program encourages churches towards this goal by sending a team of mentors to meet with a session and congregation. The mentors are experienced Orthodox Presbyterian officers, usually a minister and an elder. The team will meet with a session quarterly over the course of 12-18 months. Their work is to observe what is currently happening in a congregation, ask questions, and offer counsel.
Churches interested in the program should begin by discussing “A Congregation Ripe for Revitalization”. Applications should come through the church’s presbytery, usually through their home missions committee. The applications should include a recommendation from their presbytery, a completed revitalization stewardship plan, and a commitment to the program’s cost structure.
If you would like more information about the committee’s program, or if you would like to ask any questions related to revitalization, please feel free to reach out to CHMCE’s Revitalization Director, Steve McDaniel, directly at steve.mcdaniel@opc.org. It is our hope that our Lord will use this program for the glory of the name of Christ, and the building up of his church.