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The Revitalization Playbook: Play #3 – Persuade Your Congregation To Pray For Revitalization

March 29, 2023 By Brian Thorstad

I know full well that I just used two, sometimes scary, words in that title. The word “persuade” means that I’m going to be talking about leadership, and leadership is challenging for many of us pastors. The word “pray” zeros in on one of the hardest aspects of the Christian life for many believers.  The…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization

The Revitalization Playbook: Play #2 – Help Your Church To Take Responsibility For Its Condition

March 23, 2023 By Brian Thorstad

Two weeks ago I began sharing a revitalization playbook.  It’s not a step-by-step manual for church renewal, for I don’t believe that creating a universally applicable revitalization plan is possible. But it is going to be a playbook, like that of a football team which has a couple dozen plays it has practiced extensively. And…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Disciple Making

The Revitalization Playbook: Play #1 – Help Your Church To Face The Facts

March 15, 2023 By Brian Thorstad

The human capacity for self-delusion is amazing, isn’t it? People who “can’t carry a tune in a bucket” enter singing competitions. Some of us try to squeeze into shirts or pants that are several sizes too small. Couples without carpentry skills take on remodeling projects that would make the best You Tube DIY-ers give up…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Seriously Troubled Churches

The Revitalization Playbook: The Possibility Of Revitalization

March 8, 2023 By Brian Thorstad

The need for church revitalization – we used to call it, “church turnaround” – is all-too evident. BC, that is, “before Covid,” we typically heard that sixty-five to ninety percent of American protestant churches were plateaued or in decline, at least as far as their Sunday morning attendance numbers. In our post-Covid era, those numbers…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Strategic Planning

Leadership In A Crisis: Ten Ways To Succeed, Part Two

February 28, 2023 By Brian Thorstad

Last week I shared that leadership in a crisis is so hard that it’s normal for us to use this opportunity to make a mess of things. In a crisis, mistakes are normal, wisdom is exceptional and brilliance is almost unheard of. But if you lead anything – from a family to a church to…

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Filed Under: Church Boards And Staffs, Leadership, Seriously Troubled Churches

Leadership In A Crisis: Ten Ways To Succeed

February 22, 2023 By Brian Thorstad

Leadership in a crisis is hard.  Very hard. In a crisis, the norm for us laughably flawed human beings who are trying to lead entire groups of laughably flawed human beings, is to make a mess of things. In a crisis, mistakes are normal, wisdom is exceptional and brilliance is almost unheard of. But if…

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Filed Under: Church Boards And Staffs, Leadership, Seriously Troubled Churches

Why Some Churches Choose To Die

January 31, 2023 By Brian Thorstad

I don’t remember where I was or what I was doing when I got the news, or even who it was who shared it with me.  But when I heard that the church that I’d helped to start in the 1970’s had closed its doors it saddened me greatly. At only twenty-two years old, I…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Seriously Troubled Churches

Solo Pastors: Here Are The Rest Of Those Ways To Keep Your Church From Killing You

January 25, 2023 By Brian Thorstad

I wasn’t trying to be sensational last week when I wrote about how churches with solo pastors often “kill” their pastors, in the sense of rendering them unable to continue effectively in local church ministry. I wasn’t trying to be confusing either, but it would have been better if I had clarified that I was…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Healthy Pastors, Seriously Troubled Churches

Solo Pastors: Here Are 7 Ways To Keep Your Church From Killing You

January 18, 2023 By Brian Thorstad

I’m not trying to be sensational: honest. Nor am I suggesting that churches deliberately, literally, kill their solo pastors. I am saying that churches with solo pastors often, inadvertently, “kill” their pastors, in the sense of rendering them unable to continue effectively in local church ministry. Here’s one line of evidence for this: health insurance. …

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Filed Under: Healthy Pastors, Seriously Troubled Churches

Thriving In The Midst Of Chaos, Part Two

January 11, 2023 By Brian Thorstad

Two weeks ago we took on the question of whether or not America is being judged by God. I gave my readers ten ways in which this might be happening here at the beginning of 2023 and asked them to reach their own conclusions. Last week I followed that up with some thoughts about thriving…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Theology

Thriving In The Midst Of Chaos

January 4, 2023 By Brian Thorstad

Last week I tackled the ominous question of whether or not America is being judged by God, right now. I gave you ten ways in which this might be happening here at the beginning of 2023. I know.  This is serious stuff.  So serious that, I’m sorry to say, many churches just won’t “go there.”…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Theology

Ten Ways God Might Be Judging America Right Now

December 29, 2022 By Brian Thorstad

Let me make this clear right away: I’m neither prophet nor the son of a prophet. I am a lover of history, an observer of current events and – above all else – a worshiper of God and a student of the Bible. I’m not making prophetic pronouncements on God’s behalf, but I think we…

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Filed Under: Theology

Churches And Politics: Part Five – Working with God (And Some Proposed Resolutions)

December 21, 2022 By Brian Thorstad

Here at the end of 2022, I’m hearing the pain in the voices of news-following American Christians as they plaintively ask, “Where is God in all this?  I want to see God working again!” It’s no coincidence that my friends are sounding a lot like the prophet Habakkuk.  The seventh century BC prophet was deeply…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Theology

Churches And Politics: Part Four: Realistic Expectations

December 14, 2022 By Brian Thorstad

This is my fourth in what will be a series of five posts, through which I’m seeking to offer congregations some hands-on help with the thorny issue of churches and political involvement. I’m hoping that church leaders will study my propositions, debate the details, and come up with their own, unity-enhancing resolutions for their congregations….

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Theology

Churches And Politics: Rethinking The Issue, Part Three

December 7, 2022 By Brian Thorstad

The following is my third post in a series, through which I’m seeking to offer church leaders and congregations, some hands-on help with the thorny issue of churches and political involvement. I’m hoping that church leaders will study my propositions, debate the details, and come up with their own, unity-enhancing position papers for their congregations….

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Theology

Churches And Politics: Rethinking The Issue, Part Two

November 30, 2022 By Brian Thorstad

Perhaps you’ve noticed that it’s becoming increasingly difficult for pastors and churches to simply “stay out of politics.”  As our nation strays farther and farther from a Judeo-Christian world view, an increasing number of Biblical-moral-ethical issues have become societal and even political issues. Our church members are grappling with these developments all week long, and…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Theology

Churches And Politics: Rethinking The Issue, Part One

November 22, 2022 By Brian Thorstad

For a number of years, I’ve urged pastors and churches to stay out of politics.  While writing for a mega-blog, I tried twice to write posts about this subject.  The editors were so concerned about staying away from politics that they wouldn’t print my posts about staying out of politics! (A bit extreme, I thought.)…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Theology

Three Ways To Engage Seniors In Your Ministry

November 16, 2022 By Brian Thorstad

With help from Pastors Mark Phillips, Scott Ehle and George King “Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly, and revere your God. I am the LORD.”     Leviticus 19:32 “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization

Pastors And Churches: Prepare Your Board For The Future

November 10, 2022 By Brian Thorstad

“…men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do-“ I Chronicles 12:32 “Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.  We will turn this responsibility over to them.” Acts 6:3 Nobody wants to prepare for a crisis.  It’s a lot of…

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Filed Under: Church Boards And Staffs, Church Health/Revitalization, Church Structure

Too Big For Your Britches: How To Kill Your Small Church By Acting Like A Big Church

November 2, 2022 By Brian Thorstad

“God must love poor people; He made so many of them”  Anonymous, but attributed to many sources Grownups had a saying when I was a child: “Don’t get too big for your britches!”  It meant, “Don’t get too high an opinion of yourself” or “Don’t be proud and arrogant” or “Don’t pretend to be something…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization

The Ill-Fitting Staff Member: The Best Solution For Many Situations

October 26, 2022 By Brian Thorstad

“A change will do you good” From the song by Sheryl Suzanne Crow, Sheryl Crow, Jeffrey Trott and Brian Mcleod  “…dig up your unplowed ground…” From Jeremiah 4:3 and Hosea 10:12 I’ve written two posts now on the subject of ill-fitting staff members: church employees who – however gifted and dedicated – never were or…

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Filed Under: Church Boards And Staffs, Church Health/Revitalization, Pastoral Transitions

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Testimonials

Elder Jim I wanted to let you know that we have really made some huge changes in the last few months.  We are seeing new people every week and we had a leadership meeting with 23 in attendance. Pastor ______ is doing well and God is doing amazing things.  Thanks for your support, prayers and love for the church!
Elder Jim
A New Church-Goer ...thank you for your messages at [our church] over the past weeks.  I just started going to _____________ while you were there and hadn't been to church in decades.  Your messages kept me coming back...  Thank you for helping me find my way back to God.
A New Church-Goer
Pastor Trey Turner "Brian is an experienced and insightful investigator of church systems.  He has real skill in looking at and diagnosing some areas needing attention.  I benefited greatly from his insight.  As a result, our church is benefiting greatly.  The process Brian took us through gave it the encouragement it needed to begin coming out of the 2020 difficulties.  We will work on the insights Brian provided as a roadmap back to better health."
Pastor Trey Turner
Pastor Greg Lund I've appreciated so much Brian's very practical coaching as he's guided me and the leadership of our church as we've sought to become more effective for God's kingdom. His extensive experience in assisting churches navigate a variety of issues makes him highly qualified to help lead churches through congregational change.
Pastor Greg Lund
Pastor Bruce Jahnke
"Our church is extremely grateful for the insight, adaptability and wisdom Brian so graciously contributed to our needs as we transitioned.  Our pastor transition was from Father to Son, which is by definition, difficult.  Yet Brian was able to foresee issues, feelings and responses with high accuracy.  Brian is personable, yet can direct when he needs to help us be reasonable and vision-oriented."

Pastor Bruce Jahnke
Andy Shanholtz I had the privilege of co leading a pastor’s training group with Brian. Brian’s wealth of knowledge and practical experience was an asset to all of us. The interaction with the group and the relationships built was a great value. I highly recommend having Brian facilitate a group to provide invaluable resources and practical knowledge.
Andy Shanholtz
Pastor Jed Manders
Leadership development within cohorts and peer groups has become increasingly popular, and rightfully so. Being involved in Brian’s leadership training group allowed me the opportunity to work through challenges, develop strengths and learn from both reading and peer development.


Pastor Jed Manders
Pastor Mark Pitroff "I have been so privileged and encouraged to be ministered to by Brian Thorstad as I have served as an Interim Pastor here in central Wisconsin.  He has been such a help and encouragement to me and especially, to this church I have served - Faith Community Church of Waupaca.  His leadership in helping us develop the “Journey Wall” enabled us to look back on the church’s history, the high points as well as the difficulties faced, especially in recent years.   Brian has helped FCC recover from a very difficult time…  Brian was such an encouragement to us, especially in the early months of recovery and preparation."
Pastor Mark Pitroff
Pastor Dan Norman “I enjoyed getting to know the guys in the group [and] I appreciated the thought, mind and spiritual challenges presented… I found many things that I was able to immediately apply, and I am still developing next steps that much of the discussion and training of this class helped to build a foundation for. [The handouts on strategic planning] will continue to be helpful in trying to guide our church to being more intentional. This [was] exactly what I was looking for at exactly the time I needed it.”
Pastor Dan Norman
Pastor Steven Boyd  "This course showed me that I, as a solo pastor, have to do things that don’t come naturally to me and has given me some tools to do the hard things.”
Pastor Steven Boyd 
Pastor Brian Schley “I found value in our meetings and am grateful you invited me to be part of it as a ‘future senior pastor.’ I enjoyed being able to be part of the conversations and glean from those beyond me. Thanks for your leadership with the group and your heart for pastors!”
Pastor Brian Schley
Pastor Todd Sauve "It was a privilege to have been a part of a pastors group led by Brian Thorstad. It's always great to learn from other pastors, and someone needs to provide leadership to make that happen. I'm thankful that Brian was willing to do that, and to share from both his successes and failures in ministry. He's honest, humble, and cares about people."
Pastor Todd Sauve

Brian A. Thorstad

Call: 651-319-1953

Email: churchwhisperer@gmail.com

1931 Cook Avenue
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494

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