If your church in San Diego is facing a time of transition or crisis, there is help out there! VitalChurch Ministry is a Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to helping churches that have found themselves in a difficult season. VitalChurch’s interim pastors travel all over the country to serve in churches, but with headquarters in Orange County, they are just a short distance from churches needing diagnostic assessments or interim pastors in San Diego.
A Three-Phase Approach for San Diego Churches in Transition or Crisis
A church can find itself in a season of transition or crisis for a variety of reasons. It could be that the lead pastor abruptly resigned, was asked to leave, or passed away, leaving the church with a leadership void—or the church may have experienced some sort of conflict and could use help with moving forward. Some of the churches VitalChurch works with have simply lost their way or have long-standing issues that have never been dealt with and need someone from outside the church body to provide them with some perspective and guidance.
VitalChurch brings San Diego churches through a biblically based, three-phase process, which starts with a diagnostic analysis. This assessment provides churches with a mirror and a map. Through a series of surveys and interviews, they identify what a church is doing well and what areas need improvements. Their diagnostic team then offers recommendations for moving forward.
The second phase is the intentional interim pastor period. One of VitalChurch’s experienced interim pastors will come to the San Diego church for an extended period of time to work alongside its existing leaders. He will provide gospel-centered preaching, and can also help with things like staff development, putting policies and procedures in place, and the development of outreach and discipleship ministries. If needed, he can help with a pastoral search process as well.
At the conclusion of the intentional interim pastor period, there will be a follow-up coaching phase, where the interim pastor will stay in communication with church leadership and continue to provide guidance as needed.
Working with Independent and Denominational Churches
VitalChurch doesn’t just work with independent churches, they also have experience working with churches that are a part of a denomination. They work closely with denominational leadership and within the framework of the denomination. In fact, it’s not uncommon for denominations to encourage member churches to contact VitalChurch for help.
Pastors, With Pastors’ Hearts
The interim pastors at VitalChurch truly love the church! They are called by God to the very specialized work of ministering to churches in transition or crisis. When interim pastors go into a San Diego church, it becomes their church. They build deep relationships and walk with the congregation through whatever difficult challenges they are facing. Their main goal is to leave the church with renewed understanding of their God-directed values, vision, and mission.
To learn more about VitalChurch Ministry, visit their website: https://vitalchurchministry.org/