Your point about the differences between Development and Re-Development is a good one; there are major challenges to each, and “fighting” an extant culture is one peculiar challenge of the latter. On the other hand, I’d say its true that we still don’t support either like we should, either through adequate financial commitment, collaboration, or other ministerial support.

Thanks for your comment!

The redevelopment situation and the new development situation are so very, very different from one another. I often envy new church development pastors because they seem to get to do whatever they feel led to do, and with little-to-no resistance. That’s a rosy, grass-is-greener kind of picture that misses important facts, I’m sure. But trying to birth some kind of transformation in an “established” church means that you have to find ways to cultivate new life while also nourishing what life is already there.

Some days it seems to be working (we’re receiving four new members–into a 75 member congregation–in January). Other days it seems futile and pointless (see above regarding budget deficit). The one thing I’m sure is not happening enough, though, is prayer. Intentional, sustained, private, public, expectant, frustrated prayer.