Many people look around at the American church landscape and find much to be discouraged about. When 3,500 – 4,000 churches close their doors every year, finding glimmers of hope can be difficult.

If that’s true, why would I even begin to devote myself to helping dying churches recover? Why am I so passionate, so hopeful for churches throughout this country and beyond?

One truth: We are the church of the LIVING God (1 Timothy 3:15).

As Dr. Harry Reeder points out, this truth comes in the midst of what is practically Paul’s manual on church revitalization. Considering the difficulties of this ministry, Paul gives Timothy this great truth in order to ground his hope for the task at hand. While the church is undergoing trials and attacks from Satan in the form of false teachers, Timothy can rest in the fact that God is alive and well.

Praise God, we have this hope as well!

Jesus Christ is the sure foundation for the Church, and he rose from the dead to rule eternally over this world and specifically his Church. His faithfulness remains true, His power remains infinite, and His grace remains abundant.

We have hope as we seek to revitalize dying churches not because of good strategies (although, these are needed), but because God is living and active. May we find hope in our LIVING God and trust that as we lead our churches to abide in Him, our churches shall live as well.