Fight the Temptation To Make Your Small Church Look Big
Body
“Sure we want to stretch toward a greater potential, but not with the result of an inept and fake experience.” - Phil Cooke
12 Reasons I Miss Pastoring a Small(er) Church
Body
“We couldn’t compete, so we didn’t try. We were just ourselves—faithful nobodies who wanted God to use them.” - Chuck Lawless
Discussion
Bart Barber wants the Southern Baptist Convention to regain its rural soul
Body
“Barber is the first SBC president in nearly two decades not to emerge from an urban or suburban megachurch.” - RNS
Discussion
5 Things I Love About Rural Ministry
Body
“After a few years of pastoral ministry, I realized I didn’t fit the mold of a typical church planter, much less an urban one. Rural ministry, on the other hand, suits me just fine. What do I love so much about ministry in a small place?” - TGC
Discussion
“Rural churches and the folks who attend them aren’t forgotten.” (They're neglected.)
Body
“To say rural pastors and rural congregations are forgotten is probably less true than to say rural churches and pastors (and really, small churches and their pastors everywhere) are often underrepresented and underutilized in denominational leadership and overlooked by Christian publishers and conference organizers.
Discussion
SBC launches initiative for churches of 75 or smaller
Body
“Being the only staff focuses conflict on just the pastor. Bivocational pastors have to deal with time and conflict management in ways that large church pastors often do not. Holding two or even three jobs has its own challenges.” - BPNews
Discussion
5 reasons rural and small town churches are making a comeback
Body
“What is taking place to give us such optimism and hope? Allow me to share five reasons. I must admit I was surprised at some of the research I found on this topic.” - Thom Rainer
Discussion
Redeeming Rural
Body
“When figure heads of evangelicalism call young leaders to give their lives in strategic areas like cities, and when large denominations have church planting initiatives that focus their resources and efforts on cities, it’s no wonder why there has been a vacuum of leadership, resources, and ministry-aid for rural areas.” - Christianity Today
Discussion
The Comparison Trap
By Daryl Neipp
In his book Satisfied, Jeff Manion describes a fictional interaction to which we can all relate. It’s a warm evening. A dad calls to his son, who is playing in the backyard, “Would you like some ice cream?” The son bounds into the house, where he finds a large scoop of ice cream in his bowl, and life is good (especially if it is mint chocolate chip).
Discussion
Why Smaller Churches Are Making a Comeback
Body
“Two-thirds of churches have an attendance under 125. The smaller church is the norm, not the exception. And though the news has not been that promising for smaller churches in recent years, I do see some very promising signs for the years ahead. Why do I make such an apparently contrarian statement? Here are five reasons.” - Thom Rainer
Discussion
Image
Discussion