By Dr. Franklin Dumond

The first really warm day of late winter/early spring in the lower Midwest sent many of us outdoors.  While the ground was too muddy for much activity the street at our house was passable for a nice walk.  The fields still maintained their somber winter colors of drab brown and dull grey.  Except for the 70 degree air temperature there was little that indicated the arrival of spring anytime soon.

Then I noticed a flurry of activity in the trees, and off in the distance I could hear the distinctive song of a robin.

Returning from that afternoon walk I soon noticed a dozen or so of these harbingers of spring patrolling the lawn, heads cocked with every careful step, searching for the first earthworm of spring to emerge from the still frozen soil.

Snow and cold came back into the forecast but with the arrival of robins and a few other birds of color and song it appeared that once again spring’s warmth would eventually arrive to replace winter’s chill.

These days I focus a great deal of my time and energy to work with churches on turnaround strategies.  Often, like winter’s chill, the signs of decline seem all too obvious while the indications of turnaround remain elusive.

Actual turnaround strategies must be customized for each congregation.  Specific timelines will be shorter or longer depending on local variables.

I have noticed, however, a few features of turnaround that indicate, like the arrival of robins, turnaround on the horizon.  Here’s part of what I have seen as preliminary indicators of turnaround.

1. A new or renewed pastor who has a vision of and strategy for winning people.

2. Folks hang around longer after worship.  One sure sign of decline is an empty building about 30 seconds after the closing prayer!

3. Greater attention is given to the details of worship planning.  When worship is viewed as important enough to prepare for, it will generally be received as important enough to invite someone to attend.

5. Occasional first-time guests begin to trickle into the services and ministries of the church.

4. A few new projects are undertaken with intentionality and confidence.  One factor in decline is doing so much that nothing is done well and everything is done with the motive of “We’ve always done it this way before.”

Have you identified any advance signs of turnaround?