After leading churches for twenty-five years, I still find the landscape of evangelicalism in America disorienting and disconcerting. Our schizophrenic identity causes us all manner of agony as we attempt to come to grips with the reality that lies somewhere between what we want to be and what we really are. Voices pull us in a myriad of directions. “You should be doing this.” “This is what successful churches do.” “Growth is healthy. How is it that this church is not bigger?”
As a result, church leaders consume themselves with reading the next “cutting edge” ministry book, running to conferences sponsored by growing churches, and constantly searching for the missing ingredient their church lacks so that it can be like all the other apparently successful churches. I know. I’ve been there, done that, and have the books, conference notes and congregational studies to prove it.
It was not until my last few years of ministry that the “light” came on and I came to realize that God has wired his church for diversity. Not every church must become the next Lakewood, Saddleback, Willow Creek, LifeChurch.tv, North Point, North Coast, Fellowship Church, Mars Hill, Seacoast, Mosaic, Potter’s House, Granger Community, Hillsong, Phoenix First Assembly, Crystal Cathedral, Brooklyn Tabernacle, Perimeter, or National Community. The list could go on and on. Every possible church model and denomination flavor could be added to the list.
This is not to suggest that these churches and their leaders think that every other church should be like them or do what they are doing to be “successful”. It is perhaps their unwitting followers and seekers of easy answers who push that impossible weight upon them. Get close enough to them and one realizes that they, too, have their own problems and obstacles to continued health and growth. No. Looking to them is not the answer.
This is particular true for 80+ percent of the congregations in America. The vast majority of churches in America are still small. They are most likely in rural or small town and small city settings. The measure of church growth and congregational health must be much different than their counter parts in larger urban, suburban or metropolitan settings. What would that measurement be? What would successful ministry in that setting look like?
Unfortunately, there are no conferences to ask and answer such questions. At least, there are none that I am aware of at present. Most of the pastors of these small congregations are bi-vocational and have neither the time nor the finances to traipse off to a conference at an upscale motel somewhere far away. At least, when I was leading small Assembly of God congregations, I didn’t.
Nevertheless, small churches can have a huge impact upon the communities in which they are set. Even ones within large city and metropolitan areas can play a world-changing part in God’s mission to glorify his name. It will mean, however, abandoning many (but not necessarily all) of the unrealistic ideas learned in the above mentioned books and seminars. The good news is that it will mean a simpler and more missional approach to doing ministry.
First, instead of wrestling with what the small church does not have, it is good to begin with taking an inventory of what the church does have by way of spiritual gifts, talents and resources. Since we are taught that it is God himself who has put together the body of Christ in all its various forms and settings (1 Corinthians 12:7,11,18,24b,27), stewardship of ministry must begin with clearly seeing what God has given and put together in the local body. This goes far beyond only what the pastor does or can do. Each person is a minister with grace-gifts to share with others.
Second, instead of focusing upon what the small church cannot do, it is good to celebrate the things it can do. Employing the small church’s resources through its people to serve real needs is the greatest way to honor what God has given to his church by his grace. To do otherwise is to despise what God has given. It is useless for the clay pot to say to the potter, “Why did you make me this way?” (Isaiah 29:16; 45:9; Romans 9:20).
Third, instead of attempting to do everything, it is good to concentrate on the few things that can be done well. Someone wisely said, “You can’t boil the ocean, but you can boil a pot of water.” Attempting to do too much is often the problem many small churches face. They want to think that they can do all of the programs and ministries that larger churches are doing. Therefore, they go through great pains to maintain services on Sunday mornings, evenings and mid-week as well as all of the accompany children’s programs. This simply is not a reality nor a good stewardship of the talents, energies and resources the Lord has given to the congregation (Ephesian 4:7, 16). It is also all very exhausting. Instead of rejoicing in what is done well to glorify God’s name, a congregation becomes disillusioned and disheartened by poorly executed programs.
Finding its own identity and discovering its unique calling in the world is the task of every congregation and its leadership regardless of its size. However, I believe this is especially true of the small church. Size does not limit kingdom impact. Faithfulness and stewardship to God’s gifting and calling does. A small church is positioned in many communities to be much more adept at serving the individual, family and homogeneous community. It can do many things that a larger church is not able to do if it recognizes its gifting, calling and context. Thus, it serves in a unique place in God’s mission to the world and can leave a big spiritual impact in its community and upon the lives it touches.
©Weatherstone/Ron Almberg, Jr. (2010)
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[…] Comments « Small Church Big Impact […]
The church where we were on staff for 13 years was fast becoming a ‘North Point’ church – and they modeled many things after them. That in itself was not bad – but a church can lose people along the way if not careful to keep active and alive in the very community where they exist – and get back to the basics.
We are now in a ‘church plant’ of about 50 people on a good Sunday. We just began a LifeGroup in our home with some couple we will begin to do life with – sharing in each other’s struggles and joys – can’t wait! Our young pastor exhibits and demonstrates a heart of compassion for the lost in our community like I’ve never seen before. He focuses on the ‘health’ of us as a church body before seeking out growth. His messages the last 4 months have been to that end – and broken relationships and hearts in people are beginning to show some spark of life again. It’s refreshing to get back to the basics – reflection, salvation, the attitude of the heart and so on. Great stuff! As long as we can keep him and others from drinking from the ‘kool-aid’ that gets the priorities of the church all mixed up because of egos, power and pride – then all will be well.
I’m so glad you are plugged into a healthy church fellowship. When church “works” the way it is supposed to it is great, isn’t it? Sharing and doing life together can be so encouraging and enriching. Thanks for that reminder, Cindy.