When Fifth Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Cleveland, Ohio called Rev. E. Regis Bunch to serve as Transitional Pastor, its community of faith stood at a crossroads. 

“The congregation knew they were experiencing a deep decline, but they didn’t have consensus on what to do,” Rev. Regis recalled. 

Located in the largest Black, middle-class neighborhood in Ohio, the deaths of several church members due to COVID-19 left this place of worship struggling. 

Then God started moving. Disciples Church Extension Fund’s New Beginnings Director Rev. Gilberto Collazo was conducting visits in the Ohio Region, so he and Pastor Bunch had lunch. That meeting began the journey toward New Beginnings and uncovered new possibilities for Fifth Christian Church. 

Collazo advised Rev. Regis to prayerfully consider what God might be up to among them and to utilize New Beginnings to start again. 

“It was an in-depth, powerful assessment process,” Rev. Regis shared. “New Beginnings was exactly what we needed. I said, ‘Ok, God. I hear you!’” 

The assessment helped the faith community examine its current resources – people, property, and finances – and identify its neighborhood’s needs, from helping with extreme poverty to addiction recovery. 

It also named the harsh reality that Fifth Christian was not only mourning the loss of congregants who had passed, but also the glory days of its 60-year-old church. 

As Fifth Christian Church began to heal, it found that it could tap into other parts of its identity that had long been dormant, such as lay leadership. 

New Beginnings saw the congregation engage in some difficult conversations, but it also “helped us count our blessings,” Rev. Regis revealed. 

“Our building is not large, but it’s relatively new,” he explained, “and it’s paid for!”

With the influx of additional participants, which Rev. Regis gathered to help breathe life into the church, old programs were re-ignited, including Disciples Men and Women’s ministries. Rev. Regis was asked to step into the senior pastor role full-time and see the congregation through the process. Ultimately, the congregation voted to pursue redefining its mission. A small group gathered to write its future story, which would help the church imagine its future. New deacons and elders have been ordained to lead the relaunch guided by a new, clear mission: to be a sanctuary for those who have also suffered through pain and trauma. As the church embraces its journey of death, mourning, and ultimately, healing, Rev. Regis is hopeful. They are by no means out of the woods, but he knows the congregation is listening for the Spirit’s guidance to learn how they can use their journey to support others.

“OK, God. We hear you!” he laughed.

Is your church in need of a new beginning? We can help you find your way. Connect with Rev. Gilberto Collazo, gcollazo@disciplescef.org, 800.274.1883, today.