Church Revitalization: Nimble, Quick, Candlestick
Jack be nimble, Jack be quick. You are probably familiar with the nursery rhyme which ends with Jack jumping over a candlestick. The rhyme, which dates to the 18th century, defies analysis due to its very short length, but several sources suggest that the Jack in question was “Calico” Jack Rackam, an 18th-century pirate renowned for his ability to elude authorities. Apparently, Rackam and his band of privateers narrowly escaped being captured along with their ship by hiding in the woods on the Island of Princes. When the danger passed, Rackam and six others took a small boat hundreds of miles to Providence Island, where they were pardoned for their crimes. Rackam’s reform, however, was short lived, and along with his mistress, he resolved to steal a ship and return to pirating. When Rackam and his crew arrived on the ship, though, problems ensued. One of the mooring cables could not be raised, so the men had to cut it. Then, as they were nearing the mouth of the harbor, they were hailed by both the fort on shore and the guardship, each of which demanded where they were going. Rackam responded that their cables had snapped, and they had no other way to hold themselves in place, and they were allowed to escape once again with their prize.
In church revitalization, there will come a time when all seems lost. Some problem arises to which there is no apparent solution. Some roadblock emerges around which there seems to be no way, and in that moment, you will be tempted to give up. Before you do that, though, take a lesson from Calico Jack: be nimble.
The word nimble is defined as “quick and light in movement or action; agile.” In other words, it is the ability to change directions quickly. In a larger sense, it is the ability to see a challenge and respond quickly with a creative solution.
To be nimble demands an awareness of the situation. Revitalizing leaders must not shy away from information, even when it is discouraging. Instead, we must proactively seek it. This is why it is so important that revitalizing leaders listen to parishioners and community members, read books and articles about all sorts of things, and study Scripture. Constantly.
No, our objective here is not to make information an idol. We must not become so obsessed with learning that we neglect the other parts of ministry. Neither should we allow incomplete knowledge to paralyze us. We will never get anywhere if we are always waiting to know everything about a situation. Instead, our goal should be to be as the men of Issachar who, we are told in 1 Chronicles 12:32, “understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” The men of Issachar were not prophets, but they had an awareness of the situation and, as a result, knew what needed to be done.
To be nimble necessitates creativity. It has been said that necessity is the mother of invention, and that could not be more true in the revitalizing church! So many times during a revitalization, a lack of resources makes the obvious solution utterly unworkable. There are no funds for the sparkling new outreach mailer. The facility is inadequate for the growing congregation or too big for the declining one. There are not enough volunteers to execute that wonderful new ministry.
Being nimble means seeking creative means to meet the need. Perhaps instead of sending a mailer to each home in the community, systematically covering the community with prayer walks will allow opportunities to meet new people and actually get to know them. Perhaps sharing facilities with a like-minded church or organization will mitigate a burdensome facility. Perhaps partnering with another church or organization to offer that wonderful new ministry is a viable option. Then again, maybe Jesus has not opened that door to your congregation at this time. Or maybe the immediate need is not the root need.
In Acts 3, Peter and John encountered a beggar in the temple courts, but they had no money to give him. Instead of walking away discouraged, though, Peter looked at the man and pronounced, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” That is, Peter was creative enough to look beyond this man’s obvious, immediate need for money and discovered the root need that he could meet: how many times had they seen someone healed! Indeed, as Captain Jean-Luc Picard said, “To say you have no choice is a failure of imagination.”
To be nimble, finally, requires decisiveness. Revitalizing leaders determine their course and commit without reservation. They do not waste time waffling or second-guessing. They do not hold back, but when they make a decision, they commit, locking their eyes on the horizon ahead and setting every sail they have.
No, this does not mean that they are immune to mistakes. And when they make mistakes, I am wholly convinced that revitalizing leaders must assume responsibility. Yet, they do not dwell on those mistakes. Rather, they simply plot a new course from where their church is right now to where it needs to be.
In Acts 8, the nascent Church faced a crisis when persecution broke out and everyone but the apostles scattered. Business as usual was no longer an option. The road was blocked. Instead of giving up, however, Christians began preaching even as they fled for their lives. For example, Philip proclaimed the gospel in Samaria, a place where no one had dared evangelize before. Some other believers began ministering in Antioch, and their success makes one wonder how many other churches were started as a result of this persecution. As a result of its nimbleness, the early Church not only survived, but it actually thrived. There was great joy as the Samaritans received the gopel message, and the church at Antioch would by Acts 13 become the springboard which launched the gospel into Europe and beyond.
Do not underestimate the importance or impact of nimbleness. Be aware. Be creative. Be decisive.