Turning around an old, established church is not an easy task. Waters have to be stirred, people have to be shaken out of their comfort zones, and often there are enormous costs to bear.

Change does not come easy in established churches. Many churches make the mistake of changing programs or worship styles without first changing the core values of the church. Change does not happen overnight. Anyone who would transition a church had better pack a lunch and make a commitment for the long haul.

Can a Church Live Again? tells the story of one church’s renewal and revisioning over the past decade. A long-tenured pastor and other church leaders had a vision for a spiritual restoration of their church through its disciple-making roots. The result has been that a century-old church in rural North Carolina has become a model for church renewal.

This story is told in Pastor Ronny Russell’s own words, sharing principles of how this all happened for his church...and how a similar renewal can be felt by any church. This is not a quick-fix for church stagnation or decline. Rather, it is the inspiring story of one church’s journey into hope and life.

Ronny Russell, D. Min., is the senior pastor of Mission Baptist Church in Locust, N.C., where he has served for twenty-eight years. He and his wife, Judy, have two children, Jennifer and David, and three grandchildren, Trey, Jillian, and Will.