“I believe the first few months really set us up for any possible success we would have,” DuBose said.
“We first had to admit we had issues and problems, and pray hard that the Lord would forgive us and set us on a clear path for the future. Anything lasting or fruitful that happened took place because we began praying.”
Despite some ongoing conflict, God slowly began to “breathe new life,” into the congregation. Since beginning the replanting process, the church has raised up its first-ever lay elder and other congregational leaders, successfully reconstituted and baptized six people.
“We are unidentifiable from where we were even one year ago,” DuBose said. “We are not the same church, and I attribute it all to God.” He added that he has become personally revitalized along with the church, which now has 45 members.
“God gave me and my wife hope again and gave me a light at the end of the tunnel that this was a worthwhile endeavor,” he said.
Although the replant mainly took place in-house, Main Street also received spiritual and practical help from other Southern Baptists.
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The church joined the Pillar Network which provided prayer and support. (According to its website, “The Pillar Network is a community of SBC and International Baptist churches that are doctrinally aligned, missionally driven and committed to equipping, planting and revitalizing churches, together.”) The local Baptist association, Green River Baptist Association, provided support and guidance. Other nearby Southern Baptist pastors even took time to lay floor, paint walls and help with other building renovations.
“One of the coolest things about being Southern Baptist is that there are churches who don’t look just like you, but they are willing to partner with you, and I saw that happen firsthand,” DuBose said.
“That is Kingdom work and the only way I would leave the SBC is kicking and screaming. I want to see it revitalized just like our church has been.”
When considering advice to other struggling pastors and revitalizing churches, DuBose said replanting is not easy, but worth the effort.
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“The difficulty of replanting is often undermined or unspoken,” DuBose said. “I had no idea how hard this was going to be or the spiritual warfare that would take place.”
“Replanting is not a way out of difficulty and not for the faint of heart. It’s extremely difficult, but I do believe it’s worth it to see a church come back to life. It’s beautiful and worth all the hardship and sacrifice.”
This article originally appeared at Baptist Press.
