A church stuck in tradition and years of plateu may find itself needing to 'bottom out' before it is able to make deep painful change.

In a church which has plateued for a number of years you need to 'choose your pain'. The pain of slow death, or the pain of deep painful change.

However transitioning a church is the hardest task in church life. It required deep perseverance, vision born our of pain and prayer and commitment to the long process.
Most churches do not transition well...if at all.

It can be done, and the reward is there for those who try.

But be aware, many of those who begin the journey with you, wont be there at the end. Even good people. The pain of having to discipline church folk, say goodbye to many, change radically your programs, deal with misunderstanding and 'well intentioned dragons' will cause many casualties along the way.

Here is a story of how a football club dealt with it which has parallels for the church community.

"IN THE GAME: It was early 2008. Call it intuition, or perhaps a strategic analysis from an experienced football person with in innate and learned feel for the game and his club, it was nonetheless a sage observation.

The notion of bottoming-out as a mechanism for creating forward momentum is a most challenging concept, particularly for a first year coach and his players, competitive people who are training just as hard as their opposition.

It also a tough time for supporters who suffer the ignominy of loss and an accompanying sense of hopelessness."

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