The beginning of a new year allows individual churches and individual Church Revitalizers the opportunity to rethink the previous years work and begin on a new note with renewed vigor and ample time of reflection. New Year’s day has always served me as a day of reflection and anticipation. One of the things I do each new years day is look over my very first sermon I ever preached and sense the humbling and appreciation that I did not stay at that level. A moment of humbly thanking God for His blessings is a great way to begin the New Year. A day of anticipation for the upcoming year of ministry opportunity is also a good way to spend the day. Tomorrow, right after an early morning work out, I will begin my new year and I am so excited about the opportunities it brings for my ministry and my individual growth. I could go on, but the emphasis of this blog series is to share some specific things everyone working within the area of church revitalization and renewal should do early in the New Year.

New years are a time for newness and the passage in Revelation 21:5, which says: "Behold, I make all things new," is a strong reminder of whom we serve and follow. Yet, beginning early tomorrow I will start seeing lots of people wearing the new clothes they have received as Christmas gifts. Some will have a new coat; others will have ipads or laptops. Things are new in the New Year. Perhaps the greatest opportunity for you is that the New Year offers a chance for a new you as a Church Revitalizer. Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting some things every Church Revitalizer should do in the New Year:

You can connect with Dr. Tom Cheyney and the RENOVATE Church Revitalization Coaching Network additionally via Facebook at RENOVATE Conference. Tom is the co-author of Spin-Off Churches (B&H Publishers), a conference speaker and a frequent writer on church planting, new church health, and church revitalization. Be looking for The Biblical Foundations for Church Revitalization by Tom Cheyney and Terry Rials later this year. If you or your church would like more information about how to be considered for the next series of RENOVATE Church Revitalization Coaching Network Applicants you may contact him at [email protected], or [email protected].