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Back in January 2000, I had an incredible opportunity to visit Israel with a group from my college. The trip was memorable for many reasons, but what really stuck with me was how the physical environment played such a crucial role in the biblical stories we know so well. The ancient people of Israel saw the physical and spiritual worlds as deeply interconnected, and this perspective shaped their understanding of God’s work in their lives.

One of the most striking examples of this is the symbolism of wind in the Bible. Winds from the East were often a sign of death and destruction, bringing with them hot, dry air that devastated crops and triggered famine. These winds symbolized judgment and the harsh consequences of turning away from God.

In contrast, winds from the West brought life. Blowing in from the Mediterranean Sea, they carried cool, refreshing air and rain that nourished the land, symbolizing God’s life-giving breath and spirit.

This idea of a renewing “Wind from the West” inspired the creation of this project. After 20 years in ministry, I’ve seen how many churches are struggling with declining attendance and engagement. It became clear to me that a revitalizing force, much like that life-giving wind, is needed to breathe new life into our congregations.

Wind From the West is a blog, podcast, and resource library dedicated to church renewal. The goal is simple: to provide pastors with the tools, support, and encouragement they need to lead their churches into a season of growth and vitality. Through regular blog posts, in-depth podcast episodes, and collaborative discussions with other church leaders, I hope to help churches experience their own “Wind from the West.”

If you know a pastor or church leader who is passionate about renewal, please share Wind From the West with them. This work is too important to do alone—we need each other to navigate the challenges ahead and invite God’s renewing spirit into our ministries.

Downloads

A Renewed Church Looks Like: As we kick off this project, here is a document to get your missional imagination going. Click the link to download some examples of what renewed churches might look like. Click Here

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Refer a Pastor

If you know (or are) a pastor who has experience leading through a season of church renewal and think they should be a guest on the podcast, enter their info below. I’d love to connect with them.

Also Available on YouTube (audio only)

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