ReTool Kit

for Mobilizing Healthy, Reproducing Churches

Those who study churches and how they function agree that, just as humans go through life cycles, churches go through life cycles. The best fruitbearing (both in conversions and life transformation) occurs in the growth and maturity stages. As time passes, many churches move into the maintenance mode without even realizing it. We get set in our ways, established in our traditions, and fuzzy about the vision that originally motivated us. Our direction gets vague. Momentum slows. We devote more resources to keeping things going, and to being faithful to what we did in the past, and how we did it. And fruit-bearing gets less priority when results are measured more in terms of maintaining the organization.

But sliding into maintenance, decline and eventual death is avoidable.  Renewing or “retooling” for new growth and fruitbearing can happen when a church and its leadership humbly and prayerfully commit themselves to it.  The ReTool Kit is a solid, biblical process designed to help a church through the steps of renewal.  It is not a one-size-fits-all church growth program.  Instead, it is a two-year, guided pathway to becoming a healthier church as leaders discover how Christ wants their church to uniquely follow Him more closely.

The ReTool Kit was developed by CWW president Jerry Sheveland, executive vice president Ray Swatkowski, several district executive ministers and key pastors, utilizing biblical principles and patterns of church health and growth (see the “foundational convictions” of the ReTool Kit).  It offers a comprehensive process to consider three major aspects of church life:

1. How your church leaders and members relate to God and each other (as a COMMUNITY),
2. how your leaders and congregation envision the unique task (CAUSE) which God has given to them, and
3. how your church organizes itself as a body (CORPORATION) to carry out God’s vision as effectively as possible.

The ReTool Kit process includes:

• Biblically-based learning experiences to keep you anchored in God’s Word,
• The support of an experienced coach,
• Multiple leadership retreats,
• A Natural Church Development profile,
• The use of insightful books and proven diagnostic tools.
  (click here for an overview of the two year process)

Converge Southwest will partner with churches to guide them through the use of the ReTool Kit.  The expenses involved are modest.  Currently, we are seeking five pilot churches, for which CSW will cover all direct costs.  In addition, designated scholarship funds are available to help fund the participation of other churches.  Please contact Peter Horne (peter@convergesw.org) for more information.

Download the ReTool Kit Overview