Fluctuating attendance is just one issue that church leaders face today, especially those of us who are a part of a small church or a church plant like we are. My wife and I launched our church with about five couple in September of 2009. And let me just say that the majority, if not all of the church planting statistics have rung true! The past 2.5 years have been some of our toughest, most rewarding, frustrating, incredible, God-shaping years of our nearly 17 years of ministry together.
Both small churches and large churches have their good and bad days, and the grass isn't necessarily greener in one or the other. Having served in both large and small churches, I can tell you that both similarities and differences exist between the two.
Both small churches and large churches have their good and bad days, and the grass isn't necessarily greener in one or the other. Having served in both large and small churches, I can tell you that both similarities and differences exist between the two.
Some similarities include…
· The reality that in both small and large churches, 10% of the people do 90% of the work. And often times about 5% of the 10% are wearing two or more leadership hats in the church.
· Even though a large church might have more money (because they have more income), they also tend to have greater expenses. Both large and small churches can be "financially tight". Both the large and the small church depend on God’s people to give financially to support their ministries, and both typically live up to, if not above their financial means.
· Both the large and the small church have a certain number of people who do not attend on any given Sunday for a variety of reasons. However, it is more noticeable when a person or especially a large family is absent from the small church.
· Both the large church and the small church struggle to get people to serve. However, the small church is typically at a much greater disadvantage. For one, having less people, the small church only has a certain amount of people resources to go to before the well runs dry. One advantage of the large church is that if volunteer recruitment fails, or becomes too frustrating, the large church oftentimes has the ability to pay someone to full fill the need where the small church might not have this option financially.
· In both the large and the small church many people only give financially to the church when they attend church. In my opinion, giving should be a regular part of our worship that should be done consistently whether a person attended church or not. BTW… This needs to be taught to our congregations (See 1 Corinthians 16:2)
Then there are the things that separate the little church from the big church that tend to make us different.
Some differences include…
· Everything is magnified in the small church. A person or a family decides to leave the church and everyone notices. This can be extremely stressful to the Pastor who now feels he has to explain why this person or family is no longer here without coming across as if he is bashing them. People leave large churches all the time. However, in the large church, and somewhat unfortunately, most of the time no one notices. The bottom line… Sometimes people decide to leave a church for another church and that’s OK!
· Both the large and the small church might be financially tight… However, the small church’s “financial tightness” has a lot to do with the fact that they do not have nearly as much coming in as the large church does. The small church can’t even fathom spending money on Easter mailers, a staff member that does just one job, or the latest Mac Computers. Often times the large church is financially tighter because they spend money on “bigger and better things”. Things that I would oftentimes like to ask, “Did you REALLY need that?”
· Again, EVERYTHING is magnified in the small church. And almost everyone wants to know every little thing that goes on, even if the church is not a congregational led church. Oh, and everyone has an opinion about how things should be done, but at the same time no one wants to take ownership. One of the more frustrating aspects of leading a small church is trying to establish volunteer leaders in some of the more critical ministry areas such as Elder Leadership, Children’s Ministry, Youth Ministry, Men’s Ministry, and so on. Again, everyone wants to tell you what’s wrong or what needs done, but only a scarce few are willing to step up and take the responsibility to do it
The reality is that there will always be similarities and differences between the large church and the small church; certainly many more than are listed above. However, I believe that there are several needed characteristics that both churches should establish no matter their size.
Some needed characteristics include…
· The church is the Bride of Christ, the Body of Christ
· The church is not a building, place, or thing… The church is people
· The church is made up of imperfect people established by the grace of a perfect God
· When the church gathers there should be Biblical teaching, prayer, worship, and fellowship
·
· The church should have no walls
· We are called to love God and love people. There should be evidence of church that is doing both of these and doing them well and consistently.
· The church shouldn't be a place of judgment, fear, persecution, or scorn
· Not one person, including the Pastor deserves to be a part of the church. Only by God’s grace can any of us be included as a part of the church that is the Bride of Christ
The bottom line… whether our church is little or big church shouldn’t be what defines us. What should define us as a church is WHO'S WE ARE and WHAT WE DO! Whether or not your church sees the attendance this weekend that it saw last weekend really doesn’t matter. What matters is what you and I do as a part of God’s church. Are we pointing people to Jesus? Are we allowing His light to shine in and through us? Are we being faithful to His Word? Are we loving God, and loving others? These are the questions we need to answer because these are the questions that BIG or SMALL really matter. Be the church!!
Pastor Christian Watts
Living Bridge Community Church
I love my small church, and I am excited to watch it grow. I want to be a part of my church. I want to be in the game. I do not want to sit on the sidelines and just watch. Put me in the game coach!
ReplyDeleteVery good points, Pastor. One other main difference that I would point out is that, although the large churches get the attention, the vast majority of people who attend church on any given weekend attend what would be called a small church.
ReplyDelete