has no place in leadership — not even if you try to rebrand it as realism — and it will not move people to a healthier place . Pessimists are not leaders . Pessimists always see the worst case . Pessimists assume that evil will prevail over good . Pessimists — by God ’ s design — cannot be effective pastors or church leaders , because the gospel by its very nature is optimistic . 15
A better day is just on the other side of tomorrow . Optimism and hope will lead your church there .
All together now : Let ’ s do this !
Adapted from The Church Revitalization Checklist : A Hopeful and Practical Guide for Leading Your Congregation to a Brighter Tomorrow by Sam Rainer , released in January 2022 from Tyndale House Publishers .
Just because national trends point to a decline in the North American church does not mean your church must decline . Leaders cannot resign themselves to negative influences and outcomes . Your role as a leader is to translate the message of hope in your own context .
The Kingdom of God knows nothing of pessimism . Pessimism in leadership leads ultimately to tyranny . Leaders move people to the other side of tomorrow . And that requires optimism .
Optimism at its most basic simply means seeing that something better is possible . Optimism assures us that we don ’ t have to stay stuck where we are . We can move , we can hope , we can take action .
Sam Rainer serves as president of Church Answers and is a cofounder of Rainer Publishing . He is also lead pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church in Bradenton , Florida . He writes , teaches , speaks , and consults on a variety of church health issues . Sam cohosts the popular podcasts Rainer on Leadership and EST . church . Sam holds a BS in finance and marketing from the University of South Carolina , an MA in missiology from Southern Seminary , and a PhD in leadership studies from Dallas Baptist University .
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