Plot Synopsis

CHURCH RESCUE is a one-hour reality series that follows the Church Hoppers, three business-savvy ministers and best friends, who travel across America helping faith-based organizations reestablish themselves so they can continue spreading the good word to their followers and helping those who are struggling in their faith. The United States is home to more than 300,000 religious congregations, and nearly four out of five Americans identify themselves with some type of religious belief. In order to practice these beliefs, people from all walks of life descend upon urban, rural and city houses of worship that come in a wide array of shapes and sizes. But running a church takes more than faith, and even the holiest of institutions can fall victim to harsh realities. The Church Hoppers have just seven days to assist the struggling faith-based institutions, and must identify strengths and weaknesses quickly so they can work hand-in-hand with the church leaders to improve their prospects for survival. Every job they take starts with a reconnaissance mission. They visit the churches and blend in as best they can at first, to get the real experience from the churchgoer's unique perspective. When it comes time to prescribe solutions, the Church Hoppers start with a healthy dose of tough love for the pastors and reverends, most of whom are resistant to change even though their ministries are on the verge of collapse. Once the church leaders let them do what they do best, the Church Hoppers make quick but effective changes to draw in more worshipers to help turn the churches around. In each 60-minute episode, the Church Hoppers help a leader of a different congregation, such as: Pastor Larry Roseboro, the leader of New Hope Baptist Church (Vale, NC), who wants help in reviving his decaying sanctuary but has refused to invest any money in repairs; Pastor Greg Spurling, the leader of Freedom Biker Church (Hickory, NC), who would like to increase the size of his congregation; and Pastor Don Martin, the leader of the Happy Trails Cowboy Church (Hiddenite, NC), who is spread too thin and isn't interested in letting any church members step in and help him. Based in North Carolina, the Church Hoppers trio includes: Kevin 'Rev Kev' Annas, the resident business guru with years of experience as an entrepreneur, who helps pastors understand that the more success they have, the more lives they can touch through their ministry; Anthony 'Gladamere' Lockhart, a sales and marketing specialist with 15 years of experience, who is more interested in how the church conveys a sense of belonging to the congregation; and Jerry 'Doc' Bentley, a pastoral counselor, who focuses on the human relations aspect of each organization.