This Is Why We Go- Encouragement from a Replanter's Wife
By: Christine Conrades
“God does not receive glory when churches close their doors but He is made famous when neighborhoods see dying churches come back to life! This is why we go!”
This was a social media post I made on April 2, 2016 just one month before we officially launched a “new” replanted church in Richmond, IN. I was full of hope and excitement as I watched a once empty building begin to see new life. I could not imagine what God had in store for us. This was the beginning of something miraculous and the expectation was palpable.
Over the next nine years, I watched God do many of the big things I had hoped for. We began with about 25 people, including six children, and eventually grew to more than 75 gathered for Sunday worship. Our building had been falling apart, with much of it unused for years, yet within a few short months the classrooms were active again, the sanctuary was freshly repainted, and a once–empty parking lot was filled with cars. The baptistry—dry for more than a decade—was used repeatedly as we witnessed God bringing hearts to life in salvation. Two of those baptized were my own sons.
Neighbors started attending church, our city reached out and asked for help with community events, and local schools invited us to pray with teachers and support families. As I look back on all that God allowed us to be part of, I am humbled.
But I wouldn’t be honest if I only talked about the good. The truth is, replanting has been both the most rewarding and the most challenging experience of my 25 years in ministry. I walked through seasons of deep depression, endured church hurt from close friends, and questioned my calling more than once. Yet through it all, I learned many lessons—lessons I would love to share in hopes of encouraging you and coming alongside you as you walk a similar path.
Remember replanting is slow and steady work.
Churches that reach the point of needing to be replanted usually carry a long and meaningful history. Their stories are full of faith, discipleship, and generations of men and women who devoted their lives to one body of believers. It’s important to listen to those stories and honor all that God has already done in that building and through those saints. In Richmond, we looked for small but intentional ways to honor those who had paved the way before us.
Change is often difficult, and resistance to it is frequently part of what led to the church’s decline. Redirecting hearts toward a new vision requires a gentle, gracious approach. Don’t expect instant excitement. Give ideas time to take root. Seek out opinions, allow original members to speak into the vision, and make it clear that while the pastor carries the final responsibility, their voices matter. Take the time needed to build trust and understanding.
One of our greatest blessings came when a long-time member looked at my husband and said, “We trust you because you have shown us how much you love us.” They were willing to follow his leadership because he was patient, steady, and consistent.
Don’t be discouraged by comparing your replant to brand-new church plants. Replanting is a very different journey. As you blend the richness of the past with a fresh vision for the future, growth may come more slowly—but if you remain steady and faithful, you will help rebuild a vibrant, thriving community.
Get Involved in your community and rewrite your church’s reputation.
Churches have histories, and much of that history is known within the community because a church is made up of community members. The church in Richmond had been a prominent part of the city since the 1950s. Its building sat on a main boulevard, just down the street from the county hospital and the elementary school. When we first moved to Richmond and told people about our church, all we had to do was describe the building and its location—everyone knew exactly where it was.
But those same community members had also seen the deteriorating parking lot, often overgrown with weeds, the blacked-out sign where the church’s name had been painted over a year earlier, and the general emptiness of the property. Many people told me they knew about the church splits and the disputes that had taken place there. The church’s reputation wasn’t always positive, and we were determined to help rewrite that story.
When you are replanting, it’s important to learn about the community you’re serving as well as the reputation of the church you’re stepping into. Discover what the community remembers, and then look for ways to change that perception. For us, one of the first doors God opened was our local schools. Each month we delivered coffee and donuts to three nearby campuses and set up in the library so teachers could grab a fresh cup and receive a smile and a word of encouragement. Over time, teachers began asking for prayer, and one school even reached out with new opportunities for us to serve inside the building. Slowly, our church’s story began to change.
We also volunteered with the city’s parks and recreation department. While many churches participated in city events by setting up tables and handing out information, we asked if we could simply come and serve. We picked up trash, helped set up and tear down before and after events, and provided volunteers to run the booths and games organized by the city. Eventually, the parks and rec staff began reaching out to us directly and inviting us to join them. They even asked if we would bring Bibles to hand out at events.
As a replanter, you have the privilege of helping rewrite your church’s reputation and showcasing the glory of God to your community. The story of redemption is the story of God bringing new life to what was once dead—and replanting is a visible, tangible picture of that truth. Find ways to reach your community and show them that God is still in the business of bringing dead things to life!
Take breaks, step back to reevaluate, and find support from others.
Church planting—whether replanting or starting fresh—is exhausting. We began our ministry full of energy; as I mentioned earlier, the energy was palpable. We threw ourselves wholeheartedly into the work and gave everything we had. But by the end of eight years, we were close to burnout. Coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic only added to that fatigue, and we knew we needed to rest. We asked our church for a sabbatical, and they graciously said yes. My husband took four weeks to rest, read, and be refreshed. Our elders stepped in to preach, and we stepped back to pray and regroup as a couple. It was a deeply meaningful season. During that time, we evaluated the health of the church, prayed through church leadership and structure, and spent much needed time together.
Finding support outside your church during a replant is also invaluable. When we began this journey, we partnered with a missions organization that required us to have prayer partners, a sending church, and financial support. Those partnerships became lifelines. We had friends who regularly checked in to ask how they could pray. In my darkest moments, I knew I could reach out to women from partner churches who would immediately intercede for us and offer wisdom and encouragement. More than once, when our family had a financial need, God used our partners to provide in ways we could have never managed on our own.
Church replanting is not something you can do alone—or in your own strength. If God has called you to this ministry, He will provide what you need. But you must take an active role in seeking rest when it’s needed and reaching out for support. Doing so is not a weakness; it is part of God’s provision for you, your family, and your church.
Replanting a church is a powerful testimony of God’s faithfulness to a community. It allows ministry leaders to find ways to honor the past while dreaming for the future. Neighborhoods are shown the glory of God as life returns to empty buildings. I am thankful that God allowed my family to be a part of His work of renewal in Richmond, IN and I pray that you are encouraged to continue serving in His strength as you replant new works in His name. The work you are doing is hard, but it is so worth it!
