Dying Church

As congregations shrink and close, church leaders must decide whether to give their buildings a second life.

I’ve seen many churches reject the darkness of these seven sins and do something about them, says Thom Rainer.

It's alarming when we see churches closing. According to an often-quoted statistic, between 6,000 and 10,000 churches close each year. But some churches are finding innovative ways to stay alive.

Senior pastor Rev. Paul Marzahn has a second calling: rescuing struggling churches before developers can swoop in and buy the church buildings. He’s receiving national attention for his groundbreaking work as a “faith community developer,” or church flipper.

Few things fire me up more than someone saying, “The church in America is dying.” I’m completely convinced that is entirely wrong and completely asinine. It’s an insult to the Lord Jesus Christ about His church.

You might see your church closing soon if you notice these eight clear signs. And if a church has four or more of these signs present, it is likely in deep trouble.