Turnaround Pastor: Pathways to Save, Revive and Build Your Church

by Donald Ross

Is your church a shadow of its former self, once vibrant with life but now all but dead? Your Sunday morning attendance is a fraction of what it once was, finances are getting desperate, and your sense of mission seems non-existent. That's where Don Ross was. Most onlookers saw no future in his church. But Jesus saw a place for them, and He molded Don into a Turnaround Pastor, a leader to revive God's people to do His work. Turnaround Pastor is both a riveting story and a practical guide complete with actionable steps to save, revive, and build your community of faith. Learn from Dr. Ross's personal experience and coaching expertise how to communicate effectively with your congregation, make courageous decisions to move your church forward, lead through major changes, cast meaningful vision, advance Christ's kingdom in your community, and become a Turnaround Pastor.

Genres: Leadership

236 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2013

Reviews

[Paul King · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author’s main purpose of writing Turnaround Pastor was two-fold. One was to share the behind the scenes look at leading a turnaround church and two to share strategy and tactics for leading a turnaround church by looking at the lifecycle of the local church or organization.

“I began to adopt the mindset of a church planter” (Ross D. , 2013) was something that was brought to my attention by a new board member in the past year who said to me “Paul we are like a church plant and we need to think in that way too.” After reading this in turnaround pastor it confirms what that board member said to me on that Sunday. I have now changed the way I look at things and how decisions are made.

I found “Whatever problem you’re facing is more about you and Jesus than you and the problem” (Ross D. , 2013) to be true about two years ago. We were in a financial situation and was needing to make some drastic decisions. It was in this time that I had started meeting with one of my board members on Monday mornings for prayer. During this time, I began sharing with him that I felt that the Lord was leading me and the leadership to just rejoice and thank God for what we did have in our account. That was the day that changed everything for me that God was wanting me to change my heart regarding where we stood financially. It was his way of nudging me to see his perspective and take my eyes off the problem and focus my eyes back on Him. Ever since that day I have not stopped thanking Him for his provision and suppling for our needs.

“For a church to experience a turnaround externally, it must begin internally, in the heart of the pastor” (Ross D. , 2013). God has been working on my heart over the last six months to a year where God has been taking me on a deeper journey with him. Internally God has been really taking the knife to my heart and cutting things away from my life that have only caused heartache and pain to the point where he has showed me that the reason for this is because there are those who are part of the local church who have experienced this and never have received their freedom. I needed to walk out my own recovery so that through the power of the Holy Spirit I might be able to walk others through their freedom. I know that there is more to this but right now I am walking in obedience and listening to the Spirit as He leads me through this process.

On a scale of 1 to 5 I would give this book a 5. I loved this book. It is one that I will have close by me so that I can reflect back on the many strategies, stories and tools that the author brings to light. If you are a pastor or ministry leader in an established church noticing decline or plateau I would recommend Turnaround Pastor. The concepts and strategies will help you get refocused and on the right path as you begin the process of turning your church around. Know that you are not alone in this process and “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written for anyone who is leading or wanting or planning to take over leading a plateaued or declining or nearly dead church. That may not sound like an exciting read, but I actually almost couldn't put it down! But then, we are leading a revitalization so this book was extremely pertinent to us. The first half of the book is mainly stories, so it's easy to read. Don shares the experiences of the failures from which he learned much of what he knows, as well as the church where things finally started to go right for him - and some of the pitfalls or minefields as he calls them, which he still had to maneuver around....or step in. The second half of the book is much more practical application - helping the reader to ask questions about themselves as a leader, and even including a few personal application questions after many of the sections for those who really want to delve deeper. The book was amazing, seriously, so many good points and wisdom in it. I gave it a 4 for one reason: the experiences are pretty much all based just on Don's experiences and his perspectives. I feel it would be much more rounded out and helpful to even more turnaround pastors if there were more perspectives shared. We may be in the same geographic region as Don, and even the same network of churches, but we have quite a different approach to life and ministry so there were some angles from which he was addressing certain topics, and would then arrive at specific conclusions, where we would have looked at the topic from a whole different angle and thus arrive at a different conclusion.

Overall though, for anyone to whom this book might pertain, I HIGHLY recommend it. It was amazing and we feel so inspired, encouraged, and wisdomized after reading it!

[Christopher Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The task is not impossible

I recently heard the author of this book, Don Ross, at a conference. What intrigued me initially about him was, by his own admission he had failed. I've been to many conferences where speakers are brought in due to some incredible success and you're left with the impression that if you copy what they did you'll also have success. The fact that he said he had failed, to me, made him a better speaker.

Many of the failures he spoke about in the conference are in this book, and they reveal a God who is faithful regardless of the specific circumstances. He writes how God used those failures to reveal more about Him, His character, and what a pastoral calling means, especially for those men and women called to dying churches.

I found much of the content extremely relatable given my own calling so far, and even the things I couldn't quite relate to I was still able to glean some principles from. This is a book I would very highly recommend.

[Mike Panton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid book. I am a young minister (25 yrs old) doing college ministry in Asia. Even though I work in a field far different than the subject matter of this book, it was helpful.

I found myself referencing certain parts of the book in conversation as I read it. It also opened my eyes more to what pastors go through on a daily basis.

When I began ministry, I was told to die to my expectations. Don Ross’ story is great for any young pastor to read to better understand what the future may hold.

Solid book. Nothing super spectacular though.

[Derek Noorman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tons of practical wisdom all in an easy to read format... I think the best part for me was the tables that actually define and identify the stages of decline and turn-around in a church.

[Rev James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of good practical material

I am studying church renewal, I want to do it better. This book is a very good resource and one I'm sure I will rely on for a long time

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed the book. I liked reading Don's story and he has a lot of practical advice laced with experience and wisdom. If and when I take the mantle of a Sr. Pastor, I will have to read this again.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doesn't have a bibliography. In other words, when he cites a book, you have to either remember where he referenced it or search until you find. Luckily, the book is not that long: 220 pages. There are few pastors who feel equipped to turn a dead church back into a thriving church. Some would say "just plant a new church", but this is unrealistic in many towns. The church is people, and if a declining and dying church is left to its fate, all those people would have been overlooked. As pastors, we can't pick and choose who are mission is - the world is our mission. Some are called to plant churches, others are called to strengthen what remains. Turnaround pastors are AS NECESSARY as church planters. Thank God for Donald Ross, who has worked diligently and produced a book which will help others to work well. As Jesus said, it is not the well who need a doctor. Overall his book is very well done. There are a few things that could have been more in depth or worded differently, but considering he gives suggestions to next steps, and experience in a pastorate will explain what he is talking about, these are not that great of issues. I do wish it had a bibliography though.

[Joe Valenti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent little book for a niche market. Some of the strategies endorsed by Donald Ross are global in nature - good mission statement, handing off ministry to others, not being afraid to push into new territory. However, there is much that is unique to the "turnaround pastor" role. Ross defines a turnaround church as a, "church that, due to consistent decline...will soon be out of business." My initial response is - let it die and start new. Nonetheless, God may call pastors to this work and Ross offers some good ideas on how to develop a mission, build internal support, and see that mission through to completion. He gives a step by step proces on how to revive a dying congregation.

I think that Ross carelessly assumes that all pastors are good leaders. Some men are great preachers but do not have the guts nor the skills to lead an effort like this - even after reading this book. Nonetheless, if you're going to take on a dying church, this might be a good read to help you start thinking in the right direction.

[Justin Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

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