Barnaby Pain spills the beans on a church revitalisation in Kings Heath
I used to think that ‘church planting’ was like Coca-Cola: sweet, full of fizz, and available everywhere.
You could do what you like, take whom you like, start when you like, meet where you like. In contrast, ‘church revitalisation’ was more like own-brand cola: bland and only sold in certain stores.
Starting church ministry, revitalisation can seem like a call to a tiny congregation increasing in age, declining in numbers, and based in the poorest part of town – with a dated and decaying building. Some might say it not only lacks fizz, but is a flat waste of time. You might express it differently, but you drive past a couple of small congregations every Sunday – on the way to somewhere bigger and fizzier. Conversely, you might be part of a struggling congregation, where fizz is a distant memory and revitalisation seems an impossible dream. You feel isolated, irrelevant… flat.
In at the deep end
Over the past 18 months, I found myself discussing revitalisation with a small FIEC congregation in south Birmingham. And, on the last Sunday of August, I became their pastor! How did this happen? While reflective articles usually appear after a few years’ ministry, this is an attempt to consider what is sometimes overlooked – the shake-up before the revitalisation bottle is opened (the process that led to the last Sunday in August).
In 2007, God led me, with my soon-to-be fiancée, Ro, to City Church Birmingham. Five years later, they sent us to Oak Hill Theological College. The possibility of returning to be involved with 2020Birmingham (2020) was always at the back of my mind. I had seen congregations planted and revitalised through that Gospel Partnership; so, when I received a phone call in February 2016 about a potential revitalisation in Kings Heath, despite my hesitations, I wanted to find out more.
Opening doors
With only two years as a co-pastor in North London, I still felt unprepared for the thorny task of revitalisation. Yet I knew churches in Birmingham, the 2020 support network, and even a few Christians in Kings Heath. After thought and prayer, Ro and I decided to consider this possibility if our old homegroup leaders, who lived in Kings Heath, were also interested in joining the project. Their enthusiastic response encouraged us to proceed. From then on, it felt as if doors just kept opening for revitalisation.
Revitalisation reminds us that God delights to breathe new life. I love the prayer in Psalm 86: ‘Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?’ It is the kind of prayer that the members of Kings Heath Evangelical Church (KHEC) had prayed, back in 2014, and God had started to respond.
Takeover?
Practically, the church had already made contact with the pastor of Monyhull Church. In summer 2016, after meetings with the elders, three 2020 pastors helped the congregation think through revitalisation. The current members realised that this would not be a ‘takeover’ by a large Birmingham congregation. It would be about strengthening where strength is needed and changing where change is needed.
I first preached at the church in July 2016. At first glance, the building and congregation matched my expectations. The building was typically dated and tucked away down a side street. All the members were so kind and welcoming, but were quite old and didn’t reflect the shifting demographics of the local area. Within walking distance, there were several primary schools with a combined annual intake of 350+ children; a thriving mosque; and the high street, which was a mix of charity shops, coffee shops, nail parlours, gig venues, betting shops and a farmers’ market.
I went through the traditional FIEC process of ‘preaching with a view.’ In early September, I waited, with butterflies, until late in the evening to discover, with joy, that the members had voted in favour.
In prayer, we then sought to gather three or four other families or singles – who either lived in the Kings Heath area or were willing to move there. Thanks to 2020, a number of people were interested and so then it became a case of forming the right team. Some I approached; others were introduced to me; a few were seeking a new challenge. God graciously provided a wonderful group, from several different congregations.
In spring 2017, these ‘incoming families’, while still part of their existing congregations, met together for three months as a homegroup, book-ended by two Saturday training days. This, along with WhatsApp, was vital for forging relationships, establishing a culture and communicating a vision.
Parabolic manse
Alongside this, God provided us with a parable about the coming revitalisation through the church manse renovation. Here there was so much more to do than expected. It took longer than planned. There were unforeseen difficulties. At times, the work strained relationships. We were disappointed by outside ‘experts’. Yet, through much prayer, hard work, unusual partnerships, and huge financial sacrifice, we as a family had somewhere to live in Kings Heath.
I felt humbled by the extraordinary work and generosity of KHEC! Yes, the congregation being revitalised was the means of this revitalisation. But wasn’t that precisely the point? It was a wonderful picture of the price, possibilities, and surprises of revitalisation. As a result, this August our family moved in from London, and we all began meeting together as one church at the start of September. I think we might be ready to shake the bottle and open it.
Reflections
Why didn’t we ‘let the church die’? At times, a ‘death’ needs to occur for something new to arise. This, however, did not seem right for KHEC. Preconceived first appearances are often deceiving. Looking beyond the exterior revealed a great history, established links in the community, and sacrificial living. Furthermore, revitalisation shows that God cares faithfully for his people, and, in particular, cares about this very faithful group of his people. Also, acting while there is still life and time is usually the best use of all the available resources.
Why didn’t we ‘go alone’? For some people this may be right. However, seeking to gather a small team enabled like-minded congregations to partner in a deeply practical way to strengthen the church. Partnership and generosity between gospel-minded congregations is displayed vibrantly in revitalisation. If you hear of a church revitalisation going on in your local area, why not pray for it, support it practically and wisely consider (with your church leaders) whether you should join it?
Why did we partner with 2020Birmingham? 2020 is a helpful stimulus which has galvanised several congregations in planting and revitalisation across the city. It is a cross- denominational movement seeking to reach Birmingham with the gospel. It demonstrates the kind of partnership between congregations that you see in the New Testament. 2020 enables us to work together strategically, aiming for maximum effectiveness. For example, John James, minister at Crossway Church, Northfield, (see the interview with John on page 15, October en) along with an existing elder and his wife, kindly helped KHEC understand revitalisation from the inside; and one family, who were planning to return from Newcastle, enquired when the next project was starting and decided to move to Kings Heath to join with us.
Excited
In conclusion, I am excited to be a small part of God’s wider work, and I hope that, in the years to come as KHEC begins to be revitalised, we might be involved in planting or revitalising another congregation. Surely we need it in our DNA from the beginning. Certainly we need God to keep us fizzy, and for his glory not to allow ourselves to go flat.
