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Small churches

nodak

Active Member
Site Supporter
I know of at least one small church in our town that is not dead and is striving mightily to reach the lost. It will never be a large church as that decision has been made. When it reaches a certain size it will become two churches.

One of the downsides of the church growth movement has been the killing off of small churches as one in town becomes the local mega, and another downside is that we forgot as we grow to also multiply.
 
Once a church grows to a certain extent, I think it better to send the "overflow" to plant a new church. Big churches have to divide their congregations into small groups for proper ministry anyway. Erecting larger buildings to house ever-growing congregations seems to be counter-productive to true ministry.
I agree. We've recently taken steps to do just that in our church. How big do you think is "too big"?
 

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
Aaron has already given a good answer. I believe we should know most of the people in the congregation, at least be able to recognize them. A lot of people get lost in a large congregation, some deliberately so!

As I previously said, we attend a large church although I prefer small churches. Several times I’ve ran into someone who asked “are you a guest?” Turns out we both have been going there for over 5 years and have never met. I’ve come to realize the emphasis on small groups in these types of churches. This is where the fellowship, accountability, and community exists in large churches.
 

Tom Butler

New Member
I know of at least one small church in our town that is not dead and is striving mightily to reach the lost. It will never be a large church as that decision has been made. When it reaches a certain size it will become two churches.

One of the downsides of the church growth movement has been the killing off of small churches as one in town becomes the local mega, and another downside is that we forgot as we grow to also multiply.

So, what is that magic number? And, will that number be the same for all of us?

I understand the rationale for forming a new congregation when that number is reached. But it may not work in every locality.

Here's why. I live in the Western part of Kentucky. There is a Baptist church of one stripe or another almost on every corner, it seems. In a five-mile stretch on our road there are two Independent Baptist churches and three Southern Baptist churches. I'm guessing that anyone in my county can reach a Baptist church within 20 minutes.

So, is there a need to plant new churches in an area like this?

If there is, please explain why?

There are plenty of unchurched people around us. Would they possibly attracted to a new church plant when they weren't attracted to any of the existing churches.

This is an important subject to discuss. I am eager to hear more.
 

Thousand Hills

Active Member
So, what is that magic number? And, will that number be the same for all of us?

I understand the rationale for forming a new congregation when that number is reached. But it may not work in every locality.

Here's why. I live in the Western part of Kentucky. There is a Baptist church of one stripe or another almost on every corner, it seems. In a five-mile stretch on our road there are two Independent Baptist churches and three Southern Baptist churches. I'm guessing that anyone in my county can reach a Baptist church within 20 minutes.

So, is there a need to plant new churches in an area like this?

If there is, please explain why?

There are plenty of unchurched people around us. Would they possibly attracted to a new church plant when they weren't attracted to any of the existing churches.

This is an important subject to discuss. I am eager to hear more
.

Tom, I live in a similar type area, a number of Baptist churches everywhere, these thoughts below have helped me understand better the need to plant even in the "Bible Belt"

Why Church Planting?

The vigorous, continual planting of new congregations is the single most crucial strategy for 1) the numerical growth of the Body of Christ in any city, and 2) the continual corporate renewal and revival of the existing churches in a city. Nothing else--not crusades, outreach programs, para-church ministries, growing mega-churches, congregational consulting, nor church renewal processes--will have the consistent impact of dynamic, extensive church planting. This is an eyebrow raising statement. But to those who have done any study at all, it is not even controversial.

So, why is church planting so crucially important? Because...

We want to be true to THE BIBLICAL MANDATE

Jesus' essential call was to plant churches. Virtually all the great evangelistic challenges of the New Testament are basically calls to plant churches, not simply to share the faith. The 'Great Commission' (Matt.28: 18-20) is not just a call to 'make disciples' but to 'baptize'. In Acts and elsewhere, it is clear that baptism means incorporation into a worshipping community with accountability and boundaries (cf. Acts 2:41-47). The only way to be truly sure you are increasing the number of Christians in a town is to increase the number of churches. Why? Much traditional evangelism aims to get a 'decision' for Christ. Experience, however, shows us that many of these 'decisions' disappear and never result in changed lives. Why? Many, many decisions are not really conversions, but often only the beginning of a journey of seeking God. (Other decisions are very definitely the moment of a 'new birth', but this differs from person to person.) Only a person who is being 'evangelized' in the context of an on-going worshipping and shepherding community can be sure of finally coming home into vital, saving faith. This is why a leading missiologist like C.Peter Wagner can say, "Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology known under heaven."

Paul's whole strategy was to plant urban churches. The greatest missionary in history, St.Paul, had a rather simple, two-fold strategy. First, he went into the largest city of the region (cf. Acts 16:9,12), and second, he planted churches in each city (cf. Titus 1:5).

We want to be true to THE GREAT COMMISSION.

New churches best reach a) new generations, b) new residents, and c) new people groups. First, younger adults have always been disproportionately found in newer congregations, and second, new residents are almost always reached better by new congregations. Last, new socio-cultural groups in a community are always reached better by new congregations.

New churches best reach the unchurched--period.
Dozens of denominational studies have confirmed that the average new church gains most of its new members (60-80%) from the ranks of people who are not attending any worshipping body, while churches over 10-15 years of age gain 80-90% of new members by transfer from other congregations.

We want to continually RENEW THE WHOLE BODY OF CHRIST.

It is a great mistake to think that we have to choose between church planting and church renewal. Strange as it may seem, the planting of new churches in a city is one of the very best ways to revitalize many older churches in the vicinity and renew the whole Body of Christ. Why?

First, the new churches bring new ideas to the whole Body. There is no better way to teach older congregations about new skills and methods for reaching new people groups than by planting new churches. It is the new churches that will have freedom to be innovative and they become the 'Research and Development' department for the whole Body in the city.

Second, new churches are one of the best ways to surface creative, strong leaders for the whole Body. New congregations attract a higher percentage of venturesome people who value creativity, risk, innovation and future orientation. Many of these men and women would never be attracted or compelled into significant ministry apart from the appearance of these new bodies.

Third, the new churches challenge other churches to self-examination. The "success" of new churches often challenges older congregations in general to evaluate themselves in substantial ways. Sometimes it is only in contrast with a new church that older churches can finally define their own vision, specialties, and identity.

Fourth, the new church may be an 'evangelistic feeder' for a whole community. The new church often produces many converts who end up in older churches for a variety of reasons. Ordinarily, the new churches of a city produce new people not only for themselves, but for the older bodies as well.

As an exercise in KINGDOM-MINDEDNESS

All in all, church planting helps an existing church the best when the new congregation is voluntarily 'birthed' by an older 'mother' congregation. Often the excitement and new leaders and new ministries and additional members and income 'washes back' into the mother church in various ways and strengthens and renews it. Our attitude to new church development is a test of whether our mindset is geared to our own institutional turf, or to the overall health and prosperity of the kingdom of God in the city.

SUMMARY

New church planting is the only way that we can be sure we are going to increase the number of believers in a city and one of the best ways to renew the whole Body of Christ. The evidence for this statement is strong--Biblically, sociologically, and historically. In the end, a lack of kingdom-mindedness may simply blind us to all this evidence. We must beware of that.
http://www.acts29network.org/acts-29-blog/why-church-planting/
 

nodak

Active Member
Site Supporter
200 is that church's maximum goal, although if feasible they will split at 100.

This is a poverty area--not many sound evangelical churches--and also mountainous terrain.

Many people probably would attend with a church in walking distance (poverty means many have no cars.)

Our town is small in population but spread out up several canyons and on a couple of benches. Often a simple 7-10 minute drive across town is treacherous. Multiplying means churches more easily in reach.

Splits would also allow for cultural diversity. We are not all English speakers here. We have some very distinct ethnicities that potentially could be better served if the language/culture/music were their own.

And part of the goal is to grow more capable leaders.
 

drfuss

New Member
Over the years, I have spoken to pastors of small churches. Some seem content that their church remains small.

Is this Godly thinking?

If we are truly seeking and serving the Lord, will we not see increase?

Some small church pastors have it right in that they are satisfied where God has placed them in ministering to the Christians in the church. It depends on the pastor's real motives. Too many pastors are really trying to increase the size of their church to enhance their careers. Perhaps these pastors have even convinced themselves that their main motive is to reach souls. You seldom hear of a pastor who does not have to leave, being called to a smaller church with less opportunities for advancement.
 

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
Some small church pastors have it right in that they are satisfied where God has placed them in ministering to the Christians in the church. It depends on the pastor's real motives. Too many pastors are really trying to increase the size of their church to enhance their careers. Perhaps these pastors have even convinced themselves that their main motive is to reach souls. You seldom hear of a pastor who does not have to leave, being called to a smaller church with less opportunities for advancement.

This thread- has gotten way off OP Drfuss has brought back somewhat. I do agree that some pastors may see only themselves as the force of the chruch.

However, I am talking about pastors who will make excuses as to why their church is not growing. I do understand there may be reasons in some situation - but a church needs to grow spiritually - and this is NOT happening in some churches.
 

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
THIS THREAD IS NOT ABOUT CHURCHES GETTING TOO BIG!!!

IT IS ABOUT SMALL CHURCHES THAT ARE NOT GROWING SPIRITUALLY AND OR NUMERICALLY.

Why are some pastors content with what they have, and no desire to see any growth?


For those of you who want to discuss when big is too big - click here for new thread.
 
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righteousdude2

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Over the years, I have spoken to pastors of small churches. Some seem content that their church remains small.

If we are truly seeking and serving the Lord, will we not see increase?

This answer is more from the view of the person attending the church and not the pastor or their ambitons! Sorry!

You can look at this two ways .... you can be a big fish in a little pond, or a little fish in a big pond! Not every pastor with a large church will end up like Warren, or Osteen, or DuPlantis!

There are good large churches, and good small churches. I think some people like a large, mega church because it is where the action is, because they can get lost, and they can count it as going to church each week, without the need to volunteer and help out. Also, a mega church can carry a name and that looks good on a personal resume and in name dropping sessions with peers!

I have come across people, new to the community who asked me, where is a large church witha good name and a solid pastor. Most of these folks want to be associated with a thriving church, because it may help them and their business such as a person in sales, and getting ots of good contacts!

Me, I prefer a more intimate church. If it has a few hundred folks, that is my niche in life.

The problem with small is, it is not as valueable to be associated with, if you are a social climber.

Then there is the small, but large church, in a small town! In a small community, maybe a church of 250 is like a mega church! It all depends on the person and their slant on what is important and more importantly why it is important!

As for a pastor .... maybe they want to tend to the flock they have in a more intimate manner, and a large group would hinder their ability to nurture the folks and really get to know them. Other pastors may be dead on the vine and their fruits may be bearing them out!

I look forward to more answers. Thanks for the OP!
 
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Aaron

Member
Site Supporter
So you believe it could vary from church to church, depending on commitment to community and fellowship? Just asking ... believe it or not, a legitimate question! :laugh:
It wouldn't vary significantly, and not on the basis of commitment, but on feasibility. No matter how committed one is, there are only so many relationships that can be maintained, and I'm not talking about close relationships.
 
It wouldn't vary significantly, and not on the basis of commitment, but on feasibility. No matter how committed one is, there are only so many relationships that can be maintained, and I'm not talking about close relationships.
I agree 100%. How do you feel about large churches adopting a small-groups program?
 
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