THE MAKING OF A GOOD LITTLE CHURCH
Working well and working big are not necessarily the same thing.
Gary Harrison
July 1, 1986
There I was, settling into my first full-time pastorate, and wondering, What have I gotten myself into? With a consistent attendance of less than fifteen and a total church budget of under $14,000, you might say there was nowhere to go but up. But how do you begin the ascent?
The people looked to me for leadership, but I wasn't sure I knew where to start, let alone where to lead.
Although my situation was probably extreme, in principle it illustrates what all small-church pastors face at one time or another. With limited resources, a handful of people, and not infrequently a hint of discouragement or desperation, what can a pastor do to make a difference, especially when the budget restrains experimentation? From my ten years in a small church, I have learned three principles that helped set our ministry on a steady, upward course. The principles are not earth-shattering, but they set the stage for growth.
A Positive Perspective
In smaller churches, I have observed what I call the "attitudes vs. abilities" factor. Organizations that work with churches often offer resources to sharpen leaders' skill levels. Such resources, of course, are both good and needed. Rarely, however, do they address the self-image of the church. It is often that deficient attitude, not just the lack of skills, that hinders a church's development.
The small church knows full well what it can't do, how much money it doesn't have, and all the needs it isn't meeting. (Interestingly, it is a revelation to many small-church leaders that bigger churches often feel exactly the same way but on a larger scale.) Such attitudes often lead to an unhealthy introspection and an apologetic demeanor: "Well, I know it's not much, but we're giving it our best shot." The ...
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