As Regenesis footprint expands, churches celebrate renewed health, revival

In the fall of 2019, Merit Baptist Church—located in a rural community in North Texas—was experiencing some encouraging victories. A well-attended vacation Bible school had opened the door for the church to start an Awana program, and children were flowing in and out regularly.

But by the summer of 2023, when the church’s pastor, Tim Cline, looked around, something felt off. Though the children’s program was popular, it wasn’t building bridges for the church to reach their parents or other adults. 

To Cline, things felt like they were on autopilot.

“The proverb says, ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish,’” Cline said. “What we began to realize is, we had no vision. We were living the proverb.”

While attending a local Baptist association meeting, Cline saw a presentation about Regenesis, the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s church health and renewal process. Regenesis helps churches design a unique, intentional process to make disciples while overcoming common barriers to growth and vitality. 

Merit Baptist Church joined a Regenesis cohort in 2024 and completed the process in May 2025. Along the way, Cline said he and other church leaders gained insights that helped them chart a course forward. He began preaching and teaching through a series on the biblical characteristics of a maturing disciple. Leaders evaluated the budget to align it with the church’s priorities. Church members were challenged to mobilize outside the church’s walls, not just living as informed disciples of Jesus, but as sent ones. 

What’s happened since can only be attributed to a work of God, Cline said. The church baptized 15 people over the summer, while regular attendance has climbed from the 40s and 50s into the 80s. Church members are taking personal ownership in inviting their friends, neighbors, and co-workers—a great platform on which to build the culture of evangelism that Cline says will be the next step in the process.

These are the kinds of celebration stories Regenesis churches are reporting from around the state. Since its inception in 2022, 1,659 lay leaders have participated in Regenesis representing 555 churches. Last year, Regenesis was deployed to Nevada, where the SBTC has developed a strategic ministry partnership, and in 2025, its footprint expanded with the launch of Regenesis Español and the Regenesis Network, a group created to offer ongoing support and encouragement to pastors and church leaders.

“Regenesis churches are experiencing revival and spiritual renewal,” SBTC Pastoral Ministries Associate Anthony Svajda said. “The Regenesis cohorts are just the beginning and lead to much bigger God things.” 

Cline sees it that way, too.

“Regenesis is a clear and concise strategy on how a church is supposed to fulfill its unique mission and take advantage of the gospel footprint the Lord has provided for that church,” he said. “What we’re seeing is a movement of God.”

—Jayson Larson