About Small Churches

“I propose that the following is true about the New Small Church

We are not sick

We are not failing

We are not stuck

We are not incompetent

We are not limited in our vision

We do not need to be fixed

We are not less than…

We are God’s idea.

We are small. Because we are small we have blessings to offer the body of Christ, our communities, our cities, our nations and our world that no one else can offer in quite the way we can.”

Vaters, Karl (2013-01-02). The Grasshopper Myth: Big Churches, Small Churches and the Small Thinking that Divides Us (Kindle Locations 216-224). NewSmallChurch.com. Kindle Edition.

People Are Changing Churches. Should I?

I recently reposted an article by David Fitch on church cannibalism, that is, how churches often grow at the expense of others. That article may be found here.

Before you think moving on is a good idea, have a look at this by Thom Rainer. One of the problems in transfer growth (church growth by the movement of Christians from one church to another) is that it is often for less-than-good reasons. Before leaving, ask yourself, “Am I seeking to serve or to be served? Do I need more recognition for my service? Am I leaving because the doctrine is sub-Biblical, or because the music is better, or because the experience is just so . . . uplifting?”

Preachers and church leaders, “Am I asking the right questions of those moving to my church?” Are people coming to your church simply because you offer more programs? Have you ever asked Christians to return to their congregation to be effective servants there? Have you ever actively recruited members (or even ministry leaders) from other congregations? Have you calculated the impact of that action upon the church that loses those workers? Have you sought to replace them?

Just some questions.