Pleasant Grove Baptist Church of Neese, Georgia

By Jonathan Tolbert

Factor Number 2: Renewed Attitude for Servanthood

Comeback churches care more about their communities than their personal preferences. Many churches will split over preferences—without either side caring about the lost.

Comeback churches have decided that the “sin of preferences” leads to the “sin of a dying church.” This is particularly true when a community’s culture changes quickly. Our mission is to make more and better followers of Jesus Christ simultaneously. A disciple who is growing spiritually will evidence a growing desire to reach out to those who don’t know Christ.

Comeback leaders model and promote acts of service. Southside Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas, was down to nine members in 1998 when Al Byrom came to be the bivocational pastor. “The church had no mission, vision or excitement for ministry. I came in, under the Lord’s leading, and empowered the people to do ministry. My leaders now are proactive and excited about ministry because it’s more enjoyable.” In just six years the church
grew to more than 700 in worship.

A significant number of Comeback leaders identified a renewed attitude of servanthood as a major factor in their comeback congregations. They led their churches to overcome the hurdle of traditional preferences and to reach beyond themselves to the community around them. From feeding the hungry to rebuilding homes and neighborhood block parties, Comeback churches used acts of service to revitalize their churches and their communities.