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Category: Church Health/Revitalization

“In Defense Of Playing Defense”

Okay, I might as well admit it.  I’m the guy (or one of the guys) who’s always talking about playing offense, not defense, in the ministry of the church. “I love playing offense,” some of you have heard me say, “I don’t like playing defense, and I hate punting.”  I’m not really talking about football,…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Interim Pastoring

Heaven Help Our Church!

My guess is that some of you reading these words today feel just like the title; you have been crying out to God to come down and rescue a church which you dearly love. I would like to be the instrument of God today to give you some hope for the healing of your church. …

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Seriously Troubled Churches

Heaven Help Our Church! Study Guide

For a free copy of the Heaven Help Our Church! Study Guide, created to be used with my book, Heaven Help Our Church!, send me an email and I will email you the document. Find me at www.churchwhisperer@gmail.com

Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Seriously Troubled Churches

Interim Pastor-Proof Your Church

Leaving your church is probably okay; leaving a mess behind for an interim pastor or somebody else to try to clean up is not okay. While I love what I do, I don’t want to have to come to your church.

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Leadership

When Good People Do Bad Things

Over the past few years, several television networks have broadcast reality shows with names like, “When good pets go bad,” “When animals attack,” or “When nice dogs bite.”  The common denominator in these shows is the perplexing problem of seeing normally docile, loveable animals turn mean and ugly.    In my work as a redevelopment…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Seriously Troubled Churches

“When Good People Do Bad Things, Part Two”

   Note: Elsewhere on this website is an article called, “When Good People Do Bad Things.”  The following is part two (to be followed by a part three).   I was in the sixth grade and it was my eleventh birthday, November 22, 1963.  As we were ending our physical education class, the next roomful…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Seriously Troubled Churches

When Good People Do Bad Things, Part Three

(Note: This is the third of three articles on the subject of “When Good People Do Bad Things.”)  A wise individual once said that “Renewing your church is like remodeling your house…”  If you’ve ever remodeled or attempted to remodel a house you can guess what’s coming…  “Renewing your church is like remodeling your house: it will…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Seriously Troubled Churches

Traditions or Trends: Which Should We Follow?

 Most of the readers of this blog know about the dangers of traditionalism.  Yale University professor Jaraslov Jan Pelikan has been credited with saying that “Tradition is the living faith of those now departed.  Traditionalism is the dead faith of those now living” [emphasis mine].  A “dead faith,” I’m sure Pelikan meant, because the traditionalist…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Strategic Planning

When Church Members Leave

For many of us, the very mention of the subject of church members leaving knots up our stomachs faster than a phone call from the IRS. Painful memories flood my mind as I sit down to write – and I thought I’d gotten “good at” letting people go. Not that we really want to get…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Leadership, Seriously Troubled Churches

Letter To a Hurting Church

The following is a letter (with names removed) I sent to a church which was on the brink of splitting in two. I’m sorry to say that I think the letter probably has application to many other situations. I wrote it – and am placing it here – in hopes that God will use it…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Seriously Troubled Churches

Slaying The Big Fat Anxiety Elephant

Some of you know that I’m big on slaying elephants.  Elephants in the room, that is.  You can read my “old” post on the subject here.  “Elephants in the room” are subjects that many people are thinking about, distracted by or troubled by, but nobody’s talking about.  They disturb and derail our thoughts, making it…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Leadership, Seriously Troubled Churches

Elders And Congregationalism: Seven Ways To Make It Work

As a seminary student I was taught that there were three types of local church governance (“ways in which decisions are made,” is a good way to explain it): Episcopalian – From the Greek word, episcopos (An overseer or manager as in Acts 20:28). This is church government from the top down, as in the…

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

Welcoming Our Post-Apocalyptic Guests

I concede that my title might be a bit wonky, but there’s method in my madness. Everybody knows that most churches lost people by way of the COVID shut down. Some folks decided that if it’s okay to just “watch church” on a screen at home during the shutdown, it should be okay to continue…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Disciple Making

Nickels And Noses: Better Ways To Measure Church Effectiveness

Are we really getting anywhere?  Are we actually making disciples, or just going through the motions, doing what we’ve always done while getting what we’ve always gotten? These are hard but important questions for church leaders to ask. I’m assuming that you agree with me that the church’s #1 “job,” its mission, is to make…

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Filed Under: Church Boards And Staffs, Church Health/Revitalization, Disciple Making

The Three Keys To An Effective Church Revitalization

Most evangelical congregations in America need some degree of revitalization in that they are on the downside of the church lifecycle. This means that there was a time in the past (near or distant) during which the congregation was more effective than it is currently, at making devoted, growing, followers of Jesus out of the…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Leadership

Wanted: The Pastoral Flight Simulator

An old friend and I were having one of those conversations that old friends (or married couples)  repeat regularly: Brian: “It’s so hard to be a young pastor!  There are so many landmines, so many ways to get in trouble!” Old Friend: “The young guys have all the energy; the old guys have the wisdom…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Healthy Pastors

Pipelines, Pathways And The Church’s Supply Chain Crisis

Everybody knows that we have a supply chain problem in America in 2022.  It’s irritating.  It’s frustrating.  And it’s hard to put a finger on exactly what the problem is.  All I know for sure is that there are a lot of items “missing” when I go to the store. After twenty-two months of the…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Church Structure, Disciple Making

Reversing The Church’s Supply Chain Crisis

Last week I wrote about Pipelines, Pathways And The Church’s Supply Chain Crisis. It wasn’t about computer chips, potato chips, toilet tissue or gasoline, it was about the lack of new attendees, and much more importantly, new converts to Christ, coming in our church doors.  This paragraph was the heart of the post: Even in…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Disciple Making

Grace Doesn’t Indulge Sin

I’ve heard stories like these again and again: The obnoxious deacon literally poked his finger in the chest of the new pastor in the church foyer and told him – in no uncertain terms – what he could and could not do. The overbearing old accountant spoke harshly to the young financial secretary, telling her…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Seriously Troubled Churches

Seven Helpful Hacks For Beleaguered Pastors

After sending you Seven Ways To Get On Offense last week, I sensed a need to get more specific and down to earth with my suggestions. Our big, challenging subject is the need for pastors to be able to transition from a reactive, back-on-your heels type of ministry, to doing the kind of proactive, intentional…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization, Healthy Pastors, Leadership

Jesus’ Bride Is Not A Building

It’s time to just stop it. It’s time to stop referring to buildings as churches.  As evangelicals, we know that they’re not, of course.  Every pastor explains this once in a while in a sermon: “We talk about our church building, but of course we all know that in the Bible, churches aren’t buildings, they’re…

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Filed Under: Church Health/Revitalization

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Testimonials

Pastor Darin Kirkman
I am so grateful to God for Brian, his ministry, and his friendship. As a result of his assessment and coaching, my church has experienced unmistakable, God-given renewal. We are increasingly living out our church's mission which is to love and glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ. This is clearly showing in terms of spiritual depth (i.e. more people are maturing as Christian disciples) and spiritual width (i.e. more people are becoming Christian disciples). Our communication is clearer, our structure is stronger, our leadership development process is better, our facility stewardship is more proactive, and our cultural mindset is now set on eagerly advancing the kingdom of God. I strongly recommend the Church Whisperer to you.

Pastor Darin Kirkman
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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