1. We see a day when every life has been saturated and transformed buy the hope of the gospel.
James Nugent, Church Planting Team

2. Nehemiah 1
“Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire” (Nehemiah 1:2-3, ESV)

3. Nehemiah 1
People in trouble and ashamed
Wall is broken down
Gates are destroyed by fire
God had placed Nehemiah in the right location at the right time to show the nations the greatness of God.

4. Nehemiah 6
“15 So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.”

5. 310,000+ Residents New Housing Developments New Employers Increasing Ethnic Diversity
God has placed His people in the right location at the right time to show the nations the greatness of God.

6. How Did Nehemiah Respond?
Wept and mourned
Fasted and prayed
Prepared a plan
Went to the king with his plan
“If it pleases the king….”

7. What is our plan for reaching 310,000+ residents with the gospel of Jesus Christ?

8. Identify the greatest needs in your community
Evaluate options for meeting needs
Mobilizing members to meet needs
Evangelism is essential
Are our members trained?
Are our leaders sharing Jesus?
New discipleship group
New churches
New locations or new strategies
Making disciples as a way of life
Partnership locally and globally
Developing leaders, missionaries and pastors

9. Reoccurring story in many of our communities
Established congregation and facilities in strategic locations
Plateaued and declining in influence
FT -> PT Pastor or No Pastor
Limited laborers for ministry
Aging congregations

10. Two Common Paths for Congregations
Revitalization
ReSTARTing

11. Revitalization 3-5+ year gradual process Assessment Adopt a new vision
Align to the vision
Implement vision
Church Strategies Team of SCBC
Revitalization

12. Slater Baptist Church, Slater, SC
Revitalizing a whole Community
Slater Baptist Church, Slater, SC

13. ReSTARTing (Replanting) Start everything over
New vision, leadership, by-laws, ministries, decision process etc.
Name may change
Shepherd what remains
Results in a new church worshipping in an established location
1-3 years
Church Planting Team
ReSTARTing
(Replanting)

14. Sans Souci Church, Greenville, SC
ReSTARTing to Transform the Community
Sans Souci Church, Greenville, SC

15. Other Paths?
Merger
Share space with a church plant
ReInvest ?

16. What is our Next Step? Pray
Serve your neighbors & build new relationships
Share the gospel
Contact SCBC or local association

17. Questions? James Nugent, Church Planting Team