Mark Clifton chooses not to use the adjective “small” in describing most Baptist churches, but rather “normal-sized.”

“Forty-six percent of our churches have fewer than 50 on Sunday morning, and 70% have less than 100,” he said. “I often talk about the number of Southern Baptist pastors who preached to more than 1,500 last Sunday. They would fit in an Air France jumbo jet, but the rest of us would fill the Royals’ stadium in Kansas City.”

Clifton is senior director of replanting and rural strategy at the North American Mission Board. He spoke Aug. 13 at “Empowering Church Revitalization,” an event of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions in Prattville.

Dying churches and new life

Clifton remains especially concerned about churches that are struggling.

“Earlier in my ministry I didn’t know what to do with declining churches other than plant new ones, but now I believe dying churches can find new life,” he said. “What about a dying church brings honor to God?”

Church leaders should stop making excuses and fixing blame, avoid the traps of traditionalism, love the remaining members and “warm their hearts back to the gospel,” he noted.

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This article was originally published at TheAlabamaBaptist.org.