Revitalization is Built Upon the Ask

Church revitalization doesn’t begin with a strategy. It starts with a question.

At the heart of every turnaround story is a humble yet bold request—for help, for vision, for God’s power to move. The "ask" isn’t just a tool; it’s a mindset. If your church is stuck, declining, or drifting, you won’t program your way out of it. You must ask your way forward.

We ask in many directions: we seek God for His guidance and grace, we invite others to join us, we encourage our congregation to commit, we urge our families to make sacrifices, and we challenge ourselves to lead with conviction. How we ask—and how boldly we ask—may shape the future of our church.

Ask Big

Many churches make small asks because they’ve settled for small expectations. However, revitalization doesn’t come from playing it safe. We serve a God who parts seas, moves mountains, and raises the dead. Don’t request a better budget year—ask for a transformed community. Don’t seek a few more volunteers—ask for a new culture of servant-hearted engagement. Don’t ask for the clouds when you should be asking for the moon.

Bold revitalization begins with a bold vision. Not hype, not fantasy—but a prayerful sense of “God, if You don’t do this, it won’t happen.” Ask big, not because of your church’s capacity, but because of God’s.

Ask Bold

If you’re going to ask big, you’ll need to ask boldly. That means leading with prayer. When Nehemiah heard Jerusalem’s walls were broken down, his first response wasn’t a fundraising campaign — it was fasting and weeping before God. Revitalization is a spiritual endeavor, and spiritual work is often birthed in prayer.

But boldness also means acting in faith. Don’t just pray as if it depends on God—lead as if you believe He’s already at work. Present a plan. Demonstrate that your church is worthy of the investment. If you’re asking a potential partner to give or serve, demonstrate that you’re not just dreaming—you’re building. Work hard, and you will see God bless both your efforts and fulfill the bold asks. 

Ask Direct

Vague visions rarely move hearts. Don’t hint. Don’t use guilt. Additionally, playing the victim or making excuses won’t get you far when asking others to invest. If you want people to respond, you need to be clear. Ask directly. Study and plan your requests to be as specific as possible. If you don’t have a clear idea of where you’re trying to go, you won’t convince others to join you on that journey. “Would you consider giving $100/month for the next 12 months so we can launch a new kids ministry this fall?” is much more powerful than “We’d love for you to consider helping in some way.”

Paint a picture of what the request will accomplish. Will it change lives? Reach new families? Restore a historic congregation? Make that clear. Clarity inspires confidence. 

Ask Dynamic

Revitalization isn’t a one-ask journey. It’s a mosaic of many asks in many forms.

Some people respond well to one-on-one conversations; others are stirred by a compelling vision shared from the pulpit. Some connect with stories, while others react to statistics. So, ask creatively — utilize video, social media, newsletters, testimonies, vision nights, thank-you events, and more. Don’t just send one letter and hope for the best. Dynamic leaders recognize that different individuals open up in different ways. Keep asking—keep showing up.

Say Thank You

Nothing fuels future generosity like past gratitude. 

God blesses those who are thankful, and people remain invested where they feel valued. So when someone gives, serves, prays, or shows up, express your gratitude. Not with a generic “thanks for  everything,” but with a heartfelt, specific message: “Because of your generosity, we were able to purchase Bibles for every kid in our VBS this summer.” 

Revitalization doesn’t just occur because of big asks — it continues because of profound gratitude. Don’t forget to celebrate every win and every answer to prayer. 

Revitalization is possible, but it starts with the courage to ask. 

Ask big. Ask boldly. Ask directly. Ask dynamically. 

And then say thank you — because every church rebirth is a miracle in the making.