Making the Small Church Visitor-Friendly
Gary Harrison
The most expensive piece of furniture in the church is the empty pew.
St. John's Newsletter
A church that is not reaching out is passing out.
Duke Barron
If you pastor a small church, you may have read this far and thought, That's great for the big folks, but what about me with my 80 people and $45,000 budget? What can we do to appeal to visitors and draw them into our fellowship?
Gary Harrison, pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Delevan, Wisconsin, explains how in the small church as much as in any other, practical steps can be taken to create the right atmosphere. And they don't have to be giant steps, either. Small things can make a big difference. Drawing on over a decade as pastor in a small church, he outlines three principles that helped set and keep his congregation on a steady, upward path of growth.
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 more than ten years in a small church, I have learned three principles that helped keep us growing. The principles are not earth-shattering, but they set the stage for growth.
A Positive Perspective
In smaller churches, ...
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