Renewal Begins with Honesty

On Monday morning at the Harrell Center, Pastor Richie Halversen, Director of Church Growth and Revitalization for the Southern Union, launched the first session of an insightful five-part seminar titled RENEW. Designed to empower church leaders and members, the seminar focuses on bringing spiritual renewal and revitalization to local congregations.

Using the 12 Steps of Recovery as a framework, Pastor Halversen shared how these same principles can be applied to church revitalization. Monday’s focus was the “HOW” of recovery: Honesty, Open-mindedness, and Willingness. He guided the audience through the first step—honesty—quoting: “We admitted we were powerless over our condition, and that our decline had become unmanageable.”

Drawing from his own recovery journey from opioid addiction and grounding his message in Scripture, he reminded listeners that honesty is a biblical principle: “If My people... will humble themselves and pray…” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Prayer, he said, is a direct act of honesty—while a lack of prayer often signals pride and self-reliance.

Pastor Halversen also addressed a hard truth: many churches, though active in ministry, have lost their sense of mission. Nostalgia, fear, pride, and busyness can quietly erode a church’s purpose, just as Haggai 1 warns. When churches prioritize programs over people, they become inward-focused. But God calls His church to repentance, transformation, and renewal—and it begins with an honest look at our current condition.

He further emphasized the damage caused by a lack of honesty: in the past 25 years, more people have left the Church than the total converts from the First and Second Great Awakenings and all of Billy Graham’s crusades—combined.

Many left because they didn’t feel loved, didn’t fit in, or saw no reason to stay. These are warnings the Church must not ignore. As Pastor Halversen put it, “You can love a sinner without approving their lifestyle—Jesus did.”

Monday’s session closed with a message of hope: God can use anyone to spark revival. It starts with a humble, honest heart.

You’re invited to attend the remaining RENEW sessions, happening daily through Friday, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. in the lower level of the Harrell Center.

— Mauricio Schiavenin