Church Revitalization Initiative (CRI)

About the CRI

The Church Revitalization Initiative is designed to come beside committed pastors and church leaders who are willing to do what it takes to revitalize their church. We know that we are living in difficult times; that is why we want to be of assistance to you. The regional staff and the CRI Coordinator have put together a process that we think will help you and we have also put together a team of qualified people to assist you in your area(s) of need. We don’t have all the answers, but we do have people who are willing to assist you.

There are presently 16 churches in the CRI ranging in size from 20 to over 100. Pastors and church leaders are working very hard to help their churches go through the process of revitalization.

If you are interested in getting involved in the CRI, contact the CRI Coordinator, Wally Holt, at 309-259-0065Opens in a new window or by e-mail at wallyholt63@gmail.com.Opens in a new window

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CRI Report – June 2024

2024 is half over!  As I continue to work with pastors and church leaders, I have noticed more than ever that Satan is attempting to destroy them on many levels. In this article I want to encourage all pastors and church leaders with this thought:

We must stand out like a steeple among God’s people!

1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT) ¹² Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. Being young has never been easy. Just ask young Timothy. Even though he was a pastor of a church, people in his church said he was to young and too boyish. So, his mentor and close friend, the Apostle Paul, stepped in and gave him some advice on how to handle the bullies who were trying to push him around. His advice was not to be afraid, but instead to stand out like a steeple among God’s people. Steeples, you see, stand tall and strong. They tower above the building that holds them up. And they always point to heaven. As the leader of God’s people, Timothy’s job was to be like a steeple in the way he lived out his life. Timothy was showing them that his love, faith, and trust was in God. Timothy was a steeple among his people, always pointing them to God. That is exactly what God wants us to do. He wants all of us to put our love, faith, and trust in him. When we do that, we will stand out like steeples among all of God’s people.

Please continue to pray for our CRI pastors and their church leaders as they move their churches through Revitalization.

Wally Holt

CRI Coordinator

SAVE THE DATE for the 2024 Great Rivers Region Gathering!

First Baptist Church, Peoria, IL

Many more details to come!