Small Church Strong

What If? [6]

2011-05-09T12:00:00.003-04:00

What if Ron, a leader at Smack Lick Baptist Church,
thinks it is time for Pastor Tim to leave?
What if Pastor Tim believes God has called him there
and he is to stay until the Lord calls him away?

What if Ron claims Pastor Tim
has not met the written expectations
of the congregation?
What if Pastor Tim admits to not
meeting the congregations unspoken expectation?

What if Ron tells other members
that Pastor Tim only works two days
a week?
What if Pastor Tim increasingly handles
more of the congregation's responsibilities?

What if Ron claims Pastor Tim is a dictator
because he is taking over more of the congregation's
responsibilities?
What if Pastor Tim dreams of a real
vacation?

What if Ron says Pastor Tim takes
too much time off?
What if Tim is looking for bivocational work
to cover his expenses?

What if Ron withholds his tithe to force
Pastor Tim to leave?
What if Tim watches as God miraculously
provides for his needs?

The Curious Case of Rev. Thorton McGillicutty: Part One

2011-04-29T11:36:00.002-04:00

Standing in the Well after the bailiff had announced, “The Honorable Thomas D. Poe,” it seemed as if time stood still. Pastor Mac, as his friends at church used to call him, reflected on the strange course of events that led him to this place. Why would a church do this? What heinous crime had he committed to justify this?

He had known other men whose relationship with their church had deteriorated over time. He stood with them and tried his best to encourage them and their families. It never turned out well for the pastor or his household when the church dismissed them for trivial causes. He'd always joked that it seemed the church was trying to hire-up, like a basketball team recruiting the next great coach.

This, however, was different.Pastor Mac had never seen a congregation take such drastic steps and it was all directed at him.

“Before the court today is the case of Shady Lick Baptist Church vs. The Reverend Thorton J. McGillicutty, the Honorable Thomas D. Poe presiding,” the bailiff said.
Everyone sat down.

“Before the counselors make their opening statements let me remind the jury to listen well and take copious notes. It will help you later when deliberating over your decision. It's not often we hear a civil case between a church and its pastor. No matter what your history with churches or pastors remember that you are to listen to both sides in an impartial manner. Thank you for your service to this court and these litigants.

“Counsel for the plaintiff, are you ready to make your opening statements?”

“We are, your Honor.”

“Counsel for the defendant, are you ready?”

“We are, your Honor.”

“Very well, let's begin,” Judge Poe said.

Shady Lick had spared no expense in their choice of a lawyer. Forest D. Campbell was the finest civil law attorney in Harrow County. His record of wins made him the man to see for a suit such as this. Younger and well dressed he was on his way up the ladder of legal success. He rose slowly from his seat and methodically made his way over to the jury box.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my client, the good people of Shady Lick Baptist Church have been wronged. We will prove that this man, Rev. Thorton J. McGillicutty, was negligent in his duties as senior pastor which resulted in emotional and financial injury to my client. We will present overwhelming proof provided by credible witnesses and documentation which will clearly describe the abuse suffered by Shady Lick.

“At the conclusion of the trial we seek only the financial loss restored and the emotional damage compensated. This will help Shady Lick return to the position of influence they had in the community before Rev. McGillicutty arrived. Thank you, for your service to our community,” Mr. Campbell said.

As Mr. Campbell sat down Mr. Fuller, counsel for the defendant, rose to his feet. Mr. Fuller was an older man who had been practicing law in Harrow County for many years. His dress gave him the appearance of an absent-minded professor. He was known for taking the hard-luck cases and his peers had often accused him of having a heart that was too big for the legal profession.

He remained behind his desk and reclined in his chair as he addressed the jury.
“Good people of the jury the counsel for the plaintiff has outlined for you their approach which, in their mind, is enough to ask you to rule in favor of their client. We will listen to their 'so-called' evidence and with patience we will show you how in each instance there is reason to doubt both the evidence and the motivation behind it.

“In the end I think you will find my client innocent of the charges leveled at him by the Shady Lick Baptist Church. I'm sure that Judge Poe will remind you that the testimony and evidence you hear must stand on its own beyond a reasonable doubt. Thank you for hearing this case,” Mr. Fuller said.

“Very well. Mr. Campbell, are you prepared to call your first witness?” Judge Poe asked.

“Yes, your Honor. We call Mrs. Darlene Buckner to the stand.”

To be continued. Stay Strong!

New Strategic Role for Jointly Funded DOMs

2011-04-20T11:07:00.001-04:00

The new strategy, like any good job description, has a list of expectations called “Key Measurements”. These goals are used to decide if the “Catalyst” is catalyzing according to plan. Here they are:

1. The number of churches in associations that engage in church planting partnerships – solo sponsor, cluster sponsor, prayer support, financial support – anywhere in North America.
2. The number of salvations and baptisms in association.
3. The number of pastors and leaders engaged in leadership development.
4. Evaluations will be conducted every six months with input from the association moderator or designee and the NAMB state missionary as assigned by the state executive director.

If our DOMs (Director of Missions) were selling ball bearings I could see a job requirement that set a certain amount of sales as a condition for their continued employment. However, they don't sell ball bearing they are ministers to the churches. These “Measurements” completely redefine the role of the associational missionary (at least those that are jointly funded).

So, if a DOM doesn't convince their churches to engage in this strategy they will find themselves on the wrong end of a six month evaluation. What if those churches have a problem with the direction of the current church planting movement? What if those churches are already engaged in mission efforts that don't look like this new strategy? What if those churches depend on their DOM for support in that current effort but he is now taken away to focus on this new and improved role?

Finally, at least for today, when did my DOM have a hand in salvations and baptisms at my church? I thought it was the LORD who added to the church daily such as should be saved. The North American Mission Board has crossed the line with this one. This makes my head want to explode! We've gone from implying that God blesses the churches that have a high baptism number to actually requiring it in a job description. God help us!

Stay Strong!

Church Planting Catalyst

2011-04-12T12:51:00.003-04:00

Recently, while attending my Associational Spring Meeting the messengers were given an overview of our Associational Missionary's new job description. The “New Strategic Role for Jointly Funded DOMs” is to go into effect in 2013. Plenty of time for the churches to refuse it – I hope.

As the name implies and as the document clearly states the strategy is to focus the efforts of DOMs on church planting in their associations. Well, how's that been working out for us? In my experience (I admit my own prejudice and limited point of view here) church plants look nothing like the churches that plant them. They refuse to be called Baptist adopting monikers like Bridge, Tower, and Gate. They resemble community churches with barely visible doctrinal positions. They don't participate in associational life, don't give to associational mission endeavors/budget or to the Cooperative Program.

These deficiencies have not kept them for asking for CP money or help from the associations where they are located. They've not kept associations and the mission boards from fully funding them. They've not inspired associations to ask for more discipline from the sponsored churches. They've not generated a strong enough response from the pastors who support them.

So NAMB's new Send North America Strategy will eventually multiply the local association out of existence. The land will be covered with church plants that look nothing like Southern Baptist churches. And we will have helped them do it!

The overview says, “We desire to assist struggling churches, but we will be putting a more missional focus on church planting.” I wonder what they consider a struggling church? It wouldn't be small and traditional, would it? Maybe a struggling church is a church, no matter what the size, that disagrees with the GCR Report. Whatever the case, existing churches are on their own because NAMB sees more value in a church plant.

Thank God we are autonomous. I'll have more on this document tomorrow. Right now I have to go take my blood pressure medicine.

Stay Strong!

What If? [5]

2011-04-08T11:55:00.000-04:00

What If? [4]

2011-04-04T13:35:00.000-04:00

What If? [3]

2011-04-01T09:25:00.000-04:00

What If? [2]

2011-03-30T09:42:00.001-04:00

What If?

2011-03-28T15:02:00.003-04:00

What if Ron, a leader at Smack Lick Baptist Church, thinks its time for Pastor Tim to leave?

What if Pastor Tim believes God called him there and he's to stay until the Lord tells him other wise?

Small Does Not Mean Struggling by David B. Smith - Reviews, Description & more - ISBN#9781414118093 - BetterWorldBooks.com

2011-03-11T14:35:00.000-05:00

I just found out that Better World Books is stocking Small Does Not Mean Struggling. Check it out at the link below.
Small Does Not Mean Struggling by David B. Smith - Reviews, Description & more - ISBN#9781414118093 - BetterWorldBooks.com

Chapter Nine of Small Does Not Mean Struggling: And Then There Were None

2011-03-01T12:42:00.002-05:00

“Pastor, I've decided to move closer to my family,” he said.

I paused. Shocked by this announcement and what I knew it meant for the church. A dump truck full of emotions unloaded on me. This man was my most enthusiastic supporter. He joyfully handled several key ministries of the church. He was a hard worker and gave of his time without complaint when I knew he could. And, he was the last one.

Our church, like every other church, has experienced decline. The truth is we've been bleeding members. Death, relocation, church discipline and the growing tide of apathy and worldliness has drained us. We started out as a small congregation and now we're smaller. Key workers left making the blood loss even more life threatening.

“Jim, if there's anything I can do to help make the transition easier for you just let me know,” I lied.

I desperately wanted him to stay. I secretly hoped his house wouldn't sell. Perhaps, he would see all that he's leaving behind and recant. I knew none of this would happen.

Leadership gurus would be quick to tell me how I need to recruit new leadership to replace Jim. The small church pastor understands this, maybe he or she is the only one that does, there is no one else to train. My congregation is small and the potential pool of candidates is empty. The people who populate the pews do their best to help but they are constrained by many other requirements in their lives and some just don't care.

Over the years, the responsibilities of different ministries has fallen on me. The small church pastor is a generalist. He or she is a Jack-of-All-Trades. That fact is both the beauty and the burden of the calling to a small membership congregation. However, with Jim gone, I feel like I'm about to break.

Please don't tell me what I need to do, the latest book I need to read, which consultant I need to call on, or how I need to pray. Grieve with me in silence. If you are in a small setting then you know. If you're not, you will know because it will happen to you too.

Is there hope? I asked myself that question as I sat across the table from Jim. I couldn't answer it in that moment. I was just too overcharged with emotion. I could feel the weight of his absence pressing down.

The burden of small church ministry is why fresh faces flung from seminary don't want to land in a small membership congregation. It's hard work.

The pastor of Hard Lick Baptist Church does not find hope on the shelves of his local Christian bookstores. Neither can it be found on-line in that favorite chat room or blog. The One who called you is the only one who can give you hope and strength. My hope is not in Jim. Maybe that's why he is leaving, so I can learn a valuable lesson.

“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and, maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5 KJV

Stay Strong!

It's What We Crave

2011-02-21T12:02:00.001-05:00

I love White Castle.

I love the food. I speak the name “slider” with respect. It's not politically correct food. It's not environmentally friendly or featured on the “hottest bistros” list. It's just simply good.

I love the nick-names. Whitie Castellos, and W. C. Lounge are two of my favorites. They tell all you need to know.

I love the décor which really hasn't changed much in my lifetime.

I love the smell. I'm not sure what the smell is but it always makes me hungry.

Most of all I love the people who frequent White Castle. They're my kind of folks. Nobody's there to be seen. No one rolls up in a luxury car. They wear work clothes and boots, dirty caps and overalls. When I walk into my local establishment I feel a connection with the others. We're brethren linked by something as simple as a hamburger. I get a lump in my throat knowing that they would stand up for me simply because of a common passion.

I think the small membership congregation is a lot like White Castle.

What's served up is not politically correct or environmentally friendly. It's not listed on the ten hottest churches list (yes, there is such a thing). The food the small church serves is just simply good. It's doctrinal and sound. It doesn't itch ears or play around the edges with the truth.

The small churches of our country cling to the old names like Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian. When I say, “Let's go to Whities,” you know exactly what you're going to get. It's the same for the small church – brand is still important.

Décor in most small churches hasn't changed much over time. Why should it? Will new high tech sound equipment, modular seating, cup holders, and track lighting make the gospel any more true? Sometimes we just spend money to make ourselves feel better not because it will improve ministry.

Do you smell that? It's coming from the fellowship hall. That's Aunt June's fried apple pies. Let the fellowship fill your senses. It's not about the food but what happens before, during and after the meals – a sense of community.

The members of the small church are there not to be seen but to worship. No one comes in with expectations of a major social event. These folks aren't looking for the new and flashy, market-driven, poll tested program. They are there because they belong. They are members. They've made a commitment to their church. That commitment doesn't come and go like the seasons. It's a commitment that is born of conviction and calling.

I love the small church.

Stay strong!

Birth Announcement

2011-02-14T14:21:00.004-05:00

On February 9, 2011 my first book, Small Does Not Mean Struggling: and other stories of small church propaganda was published by WinePress Publishing.

You can see a photo of the cover on the left nav bar of this blog. If you click on the photo you will go to the WinePress website where you can get more information about the book such as ISBN, price, and length.

Now I need your help! For the book to sell I need my friends to help me create some buzz.

Eventually it will be listed on Amazon. Search for the title in books and (If you've read it) write an honest review. If you haven't read it just click the "Like" link.

Please tell your small church colleagues about Small Does Not Mean Struggling. It was written from the perspective of a small church pastor to encourage small church pastors.

Ask for it where you shop for books. They wont have stocked it . . . yet. You don't have to buy it there but asking about it creates interest.

If you know if anyone in the media, a producer, a writer, an affiliate with any paper, radio show, TV show or Internet site please let me know. They can go to my web site http://www.allthesewords.com/ for info about me and to see my publishing credits.

Ask your local library to order it so that your community will have access to some positive small church literature.

Did I mention I need help. Thank you very much for your continued readership and for supporting my latest publication, Small Does Not Mean Struggling: and other stories of small church propaganda.

Stay Strong!

In Honor of Black History Month

2011-02-04T11:05:00.002-05:00

Young male faces, soul patches, spiked hair, and all of them are white.

I got this in the mail last week. It's a brochure for a prayer conference. Admittedly, I had certain expectations as I opened it up. I expected to find experienced, seasoned men and women of prayer listed as leaders. Opening the tri-fold mailer I discovered that it looked like the last flier I got requesting my presence at a worship/church growth/upwardly mobile/market-driven conference.

Out of the nine listed personalities only 2 said anything about prayer. However, they did mention their huge church membership, grammy-nominated, Dove award winning, artist-in-residence, full time evangelistic, visionary perspective.

As a small church pastor I see no incentive to attend. The free private dinner to the first 100 pastors who sign up is interesting. I guess I'll miss out on that too. What if I was a truly "senior" pastor? (I'm getting there.) What if I was a church mom with years of prayer time experience under my belt? And, more to the point of my title, what if I were an African American pastor?

We talk so much about equality and parity but stay within our own communities. Is there no effort to invite black pastors to speak at these things because they have nothing to say? Is it because this event is happening in the South and it would be awkward to have a black speaker at the event? Of course not.

The problem is audience. Black speakers aren't on the program because this conference is advertised primarily to white churches. If it were a true convocation for prayer everybody would be invited and the leaders would reflect that. Small church pastors aren't in the line-up because small churches aren't the target audience. It's really not about prayer but yet another expensive gathering to sell the church growth propaganda to a young upwardly mobile, white audience.

To all my African American readers. Please forgive the Southern church's penchant for insulting you. Happy Black History month.

Stay strong!

Book Review: The Beauty of the Small Church by Les Puryear

2010-09-24T12:09:00.001-04:00

The Beauty of the Small Church authored by Les Puryear, 89 pages, published by Lulu.com.

Rev. Puryear has done the small church pastor a favor by publishing articles from his blog. He has added his voice to Glenn Damon and others who are advocating for the small church. Each chapter is encouraging and challenging. The author's experience and passion lend credibility to his arguments.

My only problem with the book are its aesthetics. The chapters are not numbered, the font is difficult to read and it appears as if the material was simply pasted from his web site without editing. However, the content more than makes up for these deficiencies which are simply due to the publisher's format.

His chapter entitled, "The Numbers Don't Tell The Whole Story," has stayed with me and continues to encourage me. Rev. Puryear from the very beginning ties down his arguments to statistics that support his claim that the small church pastor is in the majority across denominations and yet is ignored by the big church establishment.

This explains why the author felt it necessary to self-publish rather than pitch this idea to his denomination's publishing house. Those houses that are tied to the big church establishment will never see the beauty of the small church and will ignore the market of small church pastors until the money demands that they do.

Therefore, I recommend that every small church pastor buy Rev. Puryear's book. It is a treasure that should be shared and not buried. It can be found on Ebay and Amazon. It is also available electronically.

Stay strong!

Rabbit

2010-06-15T13:58:00.002-04:00

The rabbit was sitting on the edge of the woods very close to fox's hole. The hummingbird flew by, saw rabbit just sitting there and stopped to ask him why.

"What are you doing here?" hummingbird said.

"I'm sitting here enjoying this lovely evening." rabbit said.

"You should leave. The fox is near," hummingbird said.

"I love the feel and taste of the grass here. Isn't it beautiful?" rabbit said.

"Didn't you hear me? The fox's hole is right there. You're in danger," hummingbird said.

The rabbit hopped one baby hop closer to the fox's den.

"I know where the fox's hole is, but I'm not afraid," rabbit said.

The hummingbird was shocked.

"You should be afraid. The fox will eat you. Hurry back to your hole," hummingbird said.

"The fox is just misunderstood. I think he and I can be good friends," rabbit said.

"The fox has three hungry babies in his den. He is not interested in being your friend," hummingbird said.

Rabbit inched closer to the hole. From his position over rabbit hummingbird could see a pair of glowing yellow eyes peering out from the dark circle. Rabbit kept slowly moving toward the entrance.

"Rabbit, I know you have babies back in your clutch. I see them ever day I fly by. They're hungry too. Go home to them," hummingbird said.

"Not until I speak with my friend, fox. We will begin a new era of peace. The example of the fox and the rabbit will be seen and heard by all who live in wood and meadow. Others will follow our example and old enemies will become quick friends," rabbit said.

Just then fox emerged from his hole.

"Well, if it isn't my old friend rabbit. How are you today, sir?" fox asked.

Rabbit sat up and looked the fox in the eye.

"I am very well, thank you." Turning to hummingbird he said, "Do you see how polite and mannered he is? This is starting out splendidly," rabbit said.

"Run away rabbit before it's too late," hummingbird said.

"Don't listen to hummingbird. He's so stuck in the past," fox said.

"I know he is, but maybe he can change just as we have. Let's invite him to be a part of our new era of peace," rabbit said.

"Splendid. Let's all go inside where we can properly inaugurate this new era. We will celebrate with a feastival, festival of joy. Come, hummingbird, join us," fox said.

"Not I," said hummingbird.

"Very well then. Rabbit and I will take our leave of you now. Come, rabbit, something new awaits," fox said.

"Yes, indeed," said rabbit.

Hummingbird watched in horror as rabbit and fox vanished into the fox's den paw in paw.

The next day fox seemed fatter and rabbit's clutch was empty. Rabbit was never seen again and the new era of peace ended as quickly as it began.

Why do we continue to try to be friendly with the world? We too should heed the words of the hummingbird. Friendship with the world is enmity with God.

Stay Strong!

SBC Majority

2010-04-21T12:36:00.000-04:00

Check out this new site!
Please show your support for the SBC Majority Initiative today by going to http://www.sbcmajority.com/ and signing up as a supporter of this movement.

Manifesto Common #9

2010-02-05T15:55:00.002-05:00

(For those who may be new to this blog please read the "Small Church Manifesto" in the archive section of Small Church Strong.)

The Small Church rejects calls for merger, closure, or re-tooling just to meet modern trends.

These ideas are always placed on the table by big church proponents within denominational leadership when they consider the problem of the Small Church. They are thought to be the next best step for the Small congregation. From the outside looking in it is easy to decide what needs to be done.

The catalyst for these considerations is simply because the small church is small numerically and physically. It isn't because the congregations in question are dysfunctional or dangerous to pastors. (I will be the first to admit there are small congregations that are both.) However, let's be honest, if it's small isn't it assumed that it's dysfunctional, dead or dangerous. Small = wrong, right?

But what if the Small Church is healthy and missional. Wait, can that be right? Can a congregation be small, healthy, and missional? If it is healthy and missional wouldn't it be huge, large, busting-at-the-seams? Anyway, let's go back to our “what if.” Should it still be re-tooled, merged or closed just because it's small? The only reason anyone would answer yes to that question is because they believe in the right-ness of the current Christian fad. Bigger = better, right?

Denominational leaders need to understand that small church members view such ideas as an attack on their very existence. To force merger, or closure on a small congregation would destroy a shared history and common purpose. To appoint a young, inexperienced pastor on a small congregation with a traditional history of worship and witness to re-tool that church into a more modern, contemporary worshiping community is equally as egregious.

What is being lost is greater than what is being gained. Since the Small Church is more in number than all of the precious mega congregations denominational leaders will quickly get the picture as they (the Small Churches) unite against them. I'll say more about that when I comment on the tenth point of the manifesto.

Stay Strong!

Manifesto Common #8

2010-01-18T19:58:00.001-05:00

The Small Church is authentic rather than artificial. It demonstrates the Christian life rather than a Christian model.

My oldest son returned to college over the weekend. He left a day early to visit with his Aunt and Uncle and meet up with some friends at their church. This particular church boasts 19,000 members and even though it has a massive auditorium it holds several services on Sunday morning.

Sunday afternoon he called home and told me that a popular Christian recording artist performed the special music for the service he attended. Really? This illustrates the difference between authentic and artificial.

Authentic – Real; not false or an imitation. Conforming to an original so as to reproduce essential features.

Artificial – Humanly contrived often on a natural model; caused or produced by human and especially social or political agency.

When highly polished production is the standard that worship must reach it becomes artificial rather than authentic. I told one of my members about my son's experience and he said, “Her parents (referring to the recording artist) would have to attend here before she would sing at our church.” Is that true? Could I call up her agent and request an appearance at our service? Would she come and use our equipment? Could all this happen without an outrageous honorarium? Unfortunately I know the answer to those questions.

Let me make it clear that there is nothing wrong with a church hiring a Christian recording artist to come and sing special music. They have the money and have the right to do whatever they want with it. It's what it does to the nature of worship that bothers me. Do the people expect that level of professionalism at every service? If Aunt Gilbert felt led to bring special music would she be allowed or would a regular member tarnish the image of a professional service.

This is one reason why I believe the Small Church embodies the authentic model of Christianity.

Stay strong!

Manifesto Common #7

2009-12-14T08:44:00.003-05:00

7. The Small Church regards "health" and "growth" as functions of God's grace and not a function of numbers or programs.

Who is in charge of church growth? This question should be answered especially by those who preach the church growth doctrine.

The last sentence of Acts 2 gives us the answer, "And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

The spirit of humanism has crept into the church disguised as Success Theory and Leadership Methodology. We (pastors, and church leaders) think we can do something which will lead to more numbers. We have bought into the cycle of church growth programs, conferences and books that will teach us how to do more, to be more, to have success, and to grow the flock larger. And larger means healthier - right?

Instead of the Lord adding to the number we are convinced that is our responsibility. Or, at least, we have a major role in that effort. If we say the right words and do the right things at the right time we will induce the Lord into action. Sounds like witchcraft to me.

Patience and endurance are no longer words to be tolerated. Waiting on the Lord is not taught as a virtue but as a liability. Could it be that the Lord knows best when to grow your congregation? He planted your church with the purpose of glorifying God and enjoying Him forever. Allow Him to do perform His perfect will for your flock. Whether that means 10 or 10,000 glorify Him and wait patiently for Him.

Stay Strong!

Manifesto Common #6

2009-11-12T09:27:00.001-05:00

6. The Small Church calls all denominational leaders to break with the money culture propagated by the current Christian marketing system.

I can remember the day when Zondervan, Standard, Harrison House and Bethany House were owned by church or para-church organizations. That was before they were money makers. When Christian publishing became chic it attracted the attention of large conglomerate houses who quickly bought them up. Looking at the bottom line of the smaller Christian publishers they realized the potential profit in the church market.

Then the change came. The marketing became slick and expensive. The retail outlets and products quickly followed. Content declined and was replaced by appearance and feel. Go to your local Christian chain store now and there's lots of glass, chrome and manicured wood. They are attractive and very pleasant to be in.

I remember when bookstores weren't gift shops. The Baptist Bookstore in my city was not attractive. It was downtown on a side street in an old storefront across from the Presbyterian church. Once inside you had the feeling you just walked into your uncle's garage. Stuff was everywhere. If you knew what you were after a clerk would direct you to the very spot, where, after digging through a pile of books and papers she would produce your item. If you didn't know what you wanted the same clerk would produce five samples just to give you an idea of what was available. However, what you found was substantive.

Not today. Now the bookstore is filled with more figurines, pencils with WWJD, bracelets, and Veggie Tales DVDs than books. The majority of the books are by charismatic authors or Christian romance novels. (Not that there is anything wrong with Christian romance novels. My wife loves them.) What happened to the material on doctrine and church life. All I see anymore is church growth and leadership. Why? Because those are the topics de jour which the “Christian” market has decided will make them the most money.

Let's not beat around the bush anymore. It's come down to money. The dollar is what greases the publishing industry and the Christian market has fallen into that trap. Whether by design or by take-over the pastor/minister is asked to buy based on the latest marketing research information. It is time for us to say, “Enough!” If we don't stand up to this movement in Christian publishing the church will be further weakened and future leaders will be robbed of the material they need to conduct a healthy ministry.

Stay Strong!

Manifesto Common #5

2009-11-03T11:04:00.000-05:00

5. The Small Church, regardless of denomination, is the foundation for mission support and denominational strength.

I have heard denominational leaders quietly complaining about how their big giving, big churches are starting to redirect those funds into mission efforts that leave the denomination out of the picture. This shouldn't be a surprise. As large membership congregations have taken the affiliation out of their names they have forgotten their roots.

The church world would be shocked to find out how many big church pastors who sit on boards, committees, councils, and directorates don't give to the mission causes of their denomination. Our administrative monsters have grown fat on the finances of the mega and multi-church contributions but now are starving as the Frankensteins they helped to create are leaving them.

However, there still is a bastion of hope – the Small Church. Across the board, no matter what brand of protestant Christianity, the Small membership congregation is still giving. They are still challenging their people to give sacrificially to the annual mission effort. They are still involved in the local expression of their denomination. They are the back bone of every major protestant group in America and yet they are over looked.

While the disciples watched as the rich gave to the temple coffers Jesus pointed out the widow who quietly gave her mites. He said that she gave more than they. The rich gave from a surplus but she gave out of poverty. (Mark 12:41 – 44) The Small Church gives to denominational efforts out of their poverty. They stand on conviction and even if something else has to go unpaid they make sure their contributions to missions causes is met.

Jesus sees even if our denominational fat cats don't.

Stay Strong!

Manifesto Common #4

2009-10-26T10:04:00.001-04:00

4. The Small Church is the guardian and instructor if sound doctrine which has been discarded by the big-church movement.

A large non-denominational congregation near me is having trouble with sexual immorality amongst its small group leaders. The church leadership is worried but isn't able to handle the situation because it is so wide spread. If they remove the volunteer leaders they risk damaging the entire small group superstructure.

A large Southern Baptist congregation near me has leaders who refuse to follow Christ in believer's baptism. This revelation came after they were installed in their positions. The church realizes that if they correct these errant leaders they risk a church wide split over the issue.
How did we, as Christians, arrive at this place? How have we managed to allow immorality and rebellion into the teaching and leading positions of the church?

Simple. We have bought into the fast and slick programs and promises of larger church attendance and left the teaching of sound doctrine. The math screams at us. Multiplication at all costs! Addition is too slow. It's so 1940's. The teaching of sound doctrine comes with the promise of turning away those who are not in compliance with biblical standards. We can't have that, can we?

The teaching of sound doctrine produces strong, healthy believers who are not tossed around by the latest fad. However, it takes time. It takes longer than a thirteen week program. Teaching sound doctrine doesn't come in a packet produced by our favorite Christian publisher. It comes from a serious, expositional, systematic approach to the bible.

In the small membership congregation this work (it is work because it's not easy and it takes time) is done by the pastor. Feeding the sheep is a slow process but it produces benefits that protect the congregation from situations like those mentioned above. This process is found in Small Churches all across America. Maybe that's why they are small. This process is not found in many large churches. Maybe that's why they're large. There's no one there to tell them the truth. Corruption loves a dark corner not illuminated by the light of biblical doctrine.

“But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.”
Titus 2:1 New America Standard Bible

Stay Strong!

Manifesto Common #3

2009-10-16T10:27:00.002-04:00

3. the Small Church naturally rejects faddish and market-driven church formula programs.

“Pastor, this Chris with Mega Mania Church Explosion Strategies. How are you today?”

“Fine,” I say.

“Pastor, I'm so excited to be talking with you today. We here at MMCES are privileged to have partnered with Dr. Joe Markovitz. Now, I'm sure you're familiar with Dr. Markovitz's ground breaking work on Church growth strategies, aren't you pastor?”

“No.”

“You're not?” Silence.

“Well, Dr. Markovitz's research is responsible for growing small, struggling churches into congregations running millions every week in worship. I'm sure you've heard of The Synapse. They used this program and went from 20 to 200,000 in over a year.”

“Never heard of The Synapse or Dr. Markovitz. Isn't that a body part?”

“What?”

“A synapse, isn't that a body part?”

“No. It's a church,” he said. Silence

“Dr. Markovitz's formula is guaranteed to take your church from 0 to 600 in a very short time. Now, Pastor, we would like to send you a trial version to show to your leadership team at no cost to you. If you decide to keep this explosive strategy we'll only charge you $600 in four easy payments. If for some reason you don't think it fits your situation right now you can ship it back to us.”

“What if I don't have a leadership team?”

“You don't?”

“What if I use this material and I don't grow any new members, what's the guarantee?”

“What do you, mean, guarantee?” he asked.

You said this formula was guaranteed to grow my church from 0 to 600. If it doesn't do I get my money back, does Dr. Markovitz come out and preach three Sundays for me, or do I get taken off your call list?”

“Thank you for your time today, Pastor,” he said. Click.

The Small Church naturally rejects faddish and market-driven church formula programs because they are faddish and market-driven. Most Small membership congregations have been there and done that. They've been set up by the hype and then let down when the promise of a pot-of-gold at the rainbow's end didn't materialize. The small community congregation has a single strategy that has worked and continues to work for its situation.

The one-size-fits-all never fits the Small Church. Most of these programs are written with a large context in mind by big church leaders who have no clue about small church culture. Yet these programs continue to be pushed on the small church because the church market is composed mostly of small membership congregations. We are the market!

It is time for us to reject with our buying decisions these Mega Mania programs. Only when the publishers feel the pinch in their pocket books will they sit up and pay attention.

Stay Strong!

New Blog

2009-10-14T11:52:00.003-04:00

Check out a new blog called "Heart of the SBC." It focuses on the Small Church (specifically the small church within the Southern Baptist Convention). Les Puryear, Scott Hart and yours truly are the authors. I think you'll find some good reading there.
Don't worry, Small Church Strong will continue, I'm just adding a little more to my plate.
Stay Strong!

Manifesto Common #2

2009-10-08T12:31:00.002-04:00

2. The Small Church is God's design as revealed in scripture and throughout Christian history.
The church has always had a local expression that was, in terms of numbers, small. However, in terms of impact, those small congregations were powerful. Consider the revival in Acts 2, those believers gathered in the temple and in homes. They didn't have a central edifice in which to worship. Their numbers were in the thousands but the expression of corporate life was found in small groups.

Small Churches are mentioned by Paul in Romans 16:5, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Colossians 4:15, and Philemon 2. No doubt the churches of Macedonia were smaller congregations as Paul describes them in 2 Corinthians 8 as well as the account in Acts 20.

The history of the church, especially the Protestant church in North America, points to the fact that it is not possible to sustain a large worshiping congregation over many years. Lyle Schaller makes this point in his book The Small Church is Different.

“In a similar manner, the large congregation runs against the laws of nature – even in southern California and Texas. The continued existence of that large congregation requires the sustained efforts of many people too keep that water running uphill. When the sustained effort begins to diminish, these large churches tend to decline in size.”

Stay Strong!

Manifesto Common #1

2009-10-01T10:16:00.001-04:00

1. The Small Church is the natural and normal expression of the body of Christ.

The small church is the normal expression of the body of Christ. This is evidence by the overwhelming number of small membership congregations across all protestant denominations.
Lyle Schaller makes the same point in his book, The Small Church is Different.

“The small church is the normative institutional expression of the worshiping congregation among the Protestant denominations on the North American continent. One fourth of all Protestant congregations on this continent have fewer than thirty-five people in attendance at the principal weekly worship service, and one half average less than seventy-five.
“This book is written from a perspective that assumes the small-membership church is consistent with the natural order of creation. Thus it differs substantially from the large-membership church, in which a great deal of effort must be expended to maintain a big operation. The large church is not an enlarged version of the small congregation, and the small-membership church is not a miniature replica of the big church.”
Take a hike – or a drive. Driving would be quicker. Travel away from the city where you live and into the rural communities surrounding you. Look for churches and you will find small congregations. There may be a few large congregations but it will become evident that they are the exception.

Travel back to your city and drive through the older suburbs and urban areas. Still looking for churches you will find smaller congregations. Now complete your journey by driving into the booming areas of urban sprawl. In the new suburban areas you will see the large, mega and multi congregations along with a few smaller congregations.

With just a simple window survey we have confirmed our suspicions. The small church is found in rural, older suburbia, and urban areas. The large church, for the most part, is found in the growth areas of our cities. The numbers are obvious. The small churches out number the large membership congregations.

Why would God do that? There's more money, personnel, space, staff and programs in a large church. Shouldn't every church enjoy these things. I think Schaller summed it up when he said, “. . . the small membership church is consistent with the natural order of creation.”

Stay Strong.

The Manifesto

2009-09-24T20:36:00.002-04:00

Eleven years in the same pulpit and I get lazy with my web log.

. . . .

This is a re-posting of a blog entry that I wrote back on December 2, 2008. I entitled that post "The Small Church Manifesto." I felt at the time (and still do) that it was time for one of us to issue a unifying statement declaring the ideals of the Small Membership congregation. Now, I know that for anyone of us to say that something is a "unifying statement" for the Small Church borders on arrogance. So please feel free to comment on any part or all of what follows.

After this week's post my intention is to take each point of the article and comment on them over the next ten weeks. I may take a few liberties with the time. There may be a few that I spend more than one week on.

The Small Church Manifesto

The Time Has Come
for Small Membership congregations to be recognized by their denominational leadership as important, strategic, and valuable members of the mission to reach the world for Christ. The time is past for devaluing these churches and their role in that mission. As large membership churches decline and begin their natural process toward smallness, Small Congregations make these affirmations which we believe to be facts of contemporary church life.

There Is A Great Danger
inherent in the market-driven, contemporary Christian culture. The crime we are about to commit is the loss of our identity. The only value being taught is sameness and universal purpose. We are sacrificing the treasures of our founders on the altar of cultural expedience. This is establishing a no-name religion that stands for nothing and ignores the prophetic value of scripture.

Today,
there is a movement growing among small membership churches. This trend is a God inspired safe guard to keep us from total loss. Denominations have turned their backs on the Small Church. Therefore, we must establish common ground for this Small Church movement to continue to grow.

Therefore,
We affirm the following:

1. The Small Church is the natural and normal expression of the body of Christ.

2. The Small Church is God's design as revealed in scripture and throughout Christian history.

3. The Small Church naturally rejects faddish and market-driven church formula programs.

4. The Small Church is the guardian and instructor of sound doctrine.

5. The Small Church, regardless of denomination, is the foundation for mission support and denominational strength.

6. The Small Church calls all denominational leaders to break with the money culture propagated by the current Christian marketing system.

7. The Small Church regards "health" and "growth" as functions of God's grace and not a function of numbers or programs.

8. The Small Church is authentic rather than artifical. It demonstrates the Christian life rather than a Christian model.

9. The Small Church rejects calls for merger, closure, or re-tooling just to meet modern trends.

10. The Small Church calls on all denominational leaders, presses, institutions, and agencies to encourage the appreciate the sacrifice and work of the Small Membership congregation and her pastor.

Stay Strong!

11 years

2009-08-24T11:11:00.002-04:00

I celebrated 11 years of ministry at Creek Road Baptist Church yesterday. Actually, it was 11 years to the day. The congregation didn't remember my anniversary. That's something only an African-American congregation would do. I recently received an invitation to my friend Jim Vickers, Jr., 12th pastoral anniversary. I won't have something like that until I retire or resign.

Ever since being called to the ministry I have looked up to men who have had long tenured pastorates. I wanted that for myself. A friend of mine recently told me that I am an anomaly. Pastors don't typically stay this long in one place. I very much hope that changes. It is healthier for churches to have a long tenured pastor.

In the worst cases pulpits are being used as devices for the upwardly mobile minded minister. This has happens more frequently in small settings because the minister wants a bigger congregation. After all, to be satisfied in a small church is suicide for one's career.
Pulpits are also being abused by church members who want to control the pastor. This has created a climate in some congregations where the pastor is forced to leave if he doesn't conform.

Fortunately for me I have never been a part of a congregation that treated their pastor that way. I have been blessed by God to oversee congregations that respected my position. I am thankful to have been here for 11 years.

Stay strong!

Church Discipline?

2009-08-11T11:03:00.005-04:00

Is church discipline dead?

The pastor of a sister church recently sat down with one of his families. There was a behavior problem that he had to address. The family refused to acknowledge the problem. They will likely leave the church.

This isn't one of those families that every pastor wishes would leave. This family is filled with leaders, workers and givers. However, they are unwilling to submit to the pastor's authority. They are right - I guess they've always been right even when their behavior was wrong. Their right to be right should never be questioned - right?

I've had this scenario played out at my church as well. It's a horrible feeling to loose a family because they won't submit to pastoral authority. As a pastor, I'm allowed to preach, teach, lead(?), visit and be the local ceremonial professional. But if a pastor ever takes up the mantle of church disciplinarian then watch out.

I think abusive pastors and selfish church members have over the years caused this situation to grow into the problem it is today. My prayer today is for the pastors who are facing the ire of families who need to change.

Stay strong!

Small Churches in Leadership?

2009-07-29T15:21:00.002-04:00

It's true. The mega congregations have dominated denominational life in the SBC and most all other major protestant groups. This has happened even though the majority of churches are Small (100 or less).

Is it possible for the Small congregations to take their rightful place in leadership? I've often wondered if a Small Church pastor was elected to preside over the SBC if that pastor would have the finances for all the travel and expense of the position.

If most Small Church pastors are like me they are struggling financially. There is no money for the fancy suits, travel costs and luxury hotel rooms. Maybe that's reason enough for Small Church pastors and their congregations to resume leadership of their denominations. They will bring sanity and humility back to the board rooms.

Stay strong!

More from the Mail Bag

2009-07-08T11:52:00.005-04:00

I received another flier for a leadership summit/convocation/convention/thingee. It came from one of Americ'a mega congregations.

Here is the pull quote that got me.

"I have seen that investing in leadership development has the highest exponential return in terms of changing communities for good. I believe through the Summit, we can change the world."

All this time I've been wrong. I thought the preaching of the cross was the power of God unto salvation (i.e. change). This illustrates what is wrong with the mega church movement. They have an empty message.

Stay strong!

A Real Invitation

2009-06-30T21:16:00.005-04:00

We're hosting VBS this week.
My little church does the best Vacation Bible School!

On Sunday night I told the boys and girls during the closing assembly to call a friend and invite them. The next night I said the same thing. Afterward, when every one was milling around finding their parents and saying their goodbyes for the night I felt a tug on my shirt.

"Pastor Dave, I invited my friend but he didn't want to come." I could tell from the look on his face that he was disappointed. I'm sure he thought he'd let me down.

I have to remember how literal children are. This young man went home and did exactly what I said but the outcome wasn't what was desired. How did we adults lose the desire?

I looked him straight in the eye and told him how proud I was of him. I told him that he'd done his best and that was what mattered.

Crisis averted he said, "OK," and bounced off.

Stay Strong!

I'm all a Twitter!

2009-06-26T13:16:00.001-04:00

I just joined Twitter. Check out my page @RevDavidBSmith.
Stay Strong!

Southern Baptist Convention Reflections

2009-06-25T09:27:00.002-04:00

I've just returned from attending the Southern Baptist Convention. It was held in my home town of Louisville Kentucky. The Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center did a marvelous job and the space was beautiful and functional.

While I was there a friend of mine (who works with young progressive leaders in the denomination) said that the young guys were going to walk away encouraged by what they heard. He was referring to all the talk about young leadership within the convention and how we need to embrace them. How the old guys need to step aside and let them take the reigns.

My friend went on to say, "You hear what you are listening for."

I guess that's true. I was listening for words of encouragement about Small Church ministry. I can't remember any words about that. Granted I didn't attend the Pastor's Conference on Sunday and Monday so there could have been a speaker who addressed the issue.

I did hear the same worn out chestnut about how we aren't doing enough. The numbers came out again. Percentages were used to shame us into more action such as the percent with 0 baptisms, 0-5 baptisms, and 0-10 baptisms. Great tears were shed over the 4.8 billion lost souls and how I need to win them all. GCR forever!

The encouraging part of the convention for me was seeing friends I hadn't seen in years. Anyway, that's this Small Church pastor's take.

I'll have more in further posts.

Stay strong!

Great Commission Resurgence

2009-06-01T17:57:00.002-04:00

I am distressed by yet another program of the convention manipulating pastors with the same doubtful cry, "Are we doing the best we can?"

I am disappointed by yet another plea from the top down managers of the convention acting as if it is a bottom up movement.

I am tired of the big church template being placed over all churches and the wizards of smart acting like it is a fit. In his video on the GCR web site Dr. Hunt said that whether I pastor a church of 30 or 1,000 I should engage in church planting at whatever level I can embrace.

I am wondering why we need another confessional/commandments/statement of faith? Too many of these will leave us not using any.

I am tickled by the way the GCR web site side steps questions in their FAQ section. We should know better than to ask questions.

I will not sign the GCR document and neither my congregation nor the Southern Baptist Convention will emplode. The BIBLE will remain our standard for faith and practice.

Stay Strong!

Affirmation for Today

2009-05-22T12:42:00.001-04:00

Today I will,

Breathe deeply,
Walk confidently,
Plan prayerfully,
Study purposefully,
Listen attentively,
Speak gently,
Smile radiantly,
Work joyously,
Give unhesitatingly,
Receive gratefully,
Serve cheerfully,
Play enthusiastically,
Eat sensibly,
Love unreservedly, and
Live victoriously.

- William Arthur Ward

Stay Strong!

Dr. Charles Stanley encourages Small Church pastors.

2009-05-18T14:55:00.002-04:00

Last Tuesday, May 12, 2009 I had the pleasure of listening to In Touch. Dr. Stanley was teaching about the value of disciplined meditation. At the end of his program he took a few minutes to address the problem of peer pressure among pastors.
He said that there exists peer pressure between the large church and small church pastors. He decried the pressure on pastors of small churches to try to keep up with the Jones. To my delight he mentioned the FACT that scripture says nothing about mega churches. He said the hype over large numbers was hurtful leading 1,500 pastors a year to leave the ministry.
Go to the In Touch web site and check out the audio archive for May 12th. Listen to the last segment of the broadcast. You'll be blessed.
I'm glad a leader within the Southern Baptist Convention such as Dr. Stanley has spoken out on this topic. There needs to be more!
Stay Strong!

Natural Wisdom and its Weakness

2009-05-13T16:33:00.002-04:00

I was at lunch with two others when I witnessed a conversation take place between a patron and a waitress. The waitress was chatty, working for tips when the talk became religious. Her words describe the natural wisdom of men and its short coming.

"I don't hold to any one religion." Once she discovered that those seated at the table were all pastors she immediately began explaining her position on religion. She is right. God is bigger than any one man made system or expression of the Christian faith. Men know instinctively that God is greater than human institutions.

"I do the Christian thing." This is a underhand confession of her belief in God or Christ but from a reserved point of view. She is keeping her options open. Natural man knows that there is something wonderful about Christ and God's love for man expressed in His birth and death. She was also paying tribute to the devotion and profession of her patrons.

"I want my son to get started off right." Men know naturally that walking a path of righteous living is good for them. This is imprinted on the heart of mankind. This goes hand in hand with her next statement.

"I'd like to have him baptized to remove that little black spot." Even though her son was just an infant this young lady has a knowledge of sin. She sees the problem that it creates between her son and God but doesn't know just how to express that problem.

One of the pastors at the table began to witness to how Christ had changed his life. The waitress misunderstood the "change" comment and said, "My son has done that for me." The pastor meant heart change but she heard lifestyle change. Children will change things and even have a way of pointing us to God or our faith heritage.

The pastor then said, "Can your son get you to heaven?" The waitress quickly left. She seemed scared to consider heaven. Here is where the natural man's wisdom ends. It takes faith to believe. She was afraid to discuss anything out of her control. Any speculation about the cross or God's mercy leaves the natural man searching for his or her role. It can't be found. Our effort has been nailed to the cross along with our sin, thank God.

Pray for Nicole.

Stay Strong!

Syndrome

2009-04-28T09:02:00.003-04:00

"Syndrome: A group of signs and symptoms that collectively characterize or indicate a particular disease or abnormal condition; the sum of signs associated with any pathological process." Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary

It happened again last night. I attended a local gathering of churches. Everything was respectful and worshipful until the speaker started.

Now, I know this man. He is a local pastor and someone I respect. He pastors a medium sized congregation which is very influential in our association of churches. I guess I never thought the sickness had filtered down into the hearts of small and medium sized churches. I've decided to call it the Size Syndrome.

I saw two of the signs of this condition last night.
1. A focus on numbers. In last night's sermon it was 10 baptisms. My friend said, "If your church didn't baptize ten last year . . ." you can fill in the rest. When do we leave the results in God's hands?

2. Numbers indicate the inadequacy of the pastor. We were berated to repent and confess and relent and resolve to produce more baptisms next year. As if we can produce results.

I know the men who were sitting there with me last night. Not a single one of them is hoping for few baptisms next year. All of them are doing their best to reach their communities for Christ. Each one is desperate to add more souls. Why did we need another beat down?

The Size Syndrome is a disease spread by contact with those so infected. What's the antidote? How can it be stopped? It will take all of us to stand up to the sick and tell them the truth.

Stay Strong!

Small Church Charity

2009-04-27T10:53:00.003-04:00

“Pastor, there are two men here to see you.” It was five minutes before the Easter Sunday morning service.

They were waiting in my office.

“Pastor, we've come all the way from Indiana. We need to get home and need money for gas,” he said. I asked him if we could take this up after the service but the trip had to be made right away.

Then, pointing to the other gentleman with him, said, “He has two sick children who need to get home so they can take their medicine.”

I stopped him before he continued down the list of tragedies that were meant to sway me into giving them money. He had forgotten that he'd been in my office before with the same story but different victims.

Our church operates a food pantry so I offered to give them food for the poor, starving, sick children. I plainly told him there was no money. He agreed to take the food and I directed him to the pantry. I pulled two of my men out of service and asked them to package the food for the men.

After service was over one of my men told me once they got to the pantry the two refused the food and asked for money, again. My big hearted guys gave them what money they had not knowing what had transpired in my office.

There will always be people who refuse to work and presume upon the charity of the church. So what's a Small Church like mine supposed to do? With the economy stagnating every church needs a plan.

Small Church finances are small. Duh! We can't do everything but we can do what we plan for. For us it's our food pantry. We partner with a very large non-profit distributor. The money we budget for benevolence goes to assist families in need of food. We have a monthly distribution and emergency distribution. We are able to feed hundreds of people every year. While we can't take care of rent, utilities or gas money we can help stave off hunger.

Stay strong!

William Newell on our "new economy."

2009-04-19T21:36:00.002-04:00

I admit to being a bit too retro recently but I keep finding these jewels. I just think there are others out there who might benefit from them. Small Church pastors will especially enjoy a little truth.
This comes from William Newell's commentary on Romans.

"Christians need to read and heed Matthew 20.1 to 15. The "householder" there "agrees" with the "laborers": these had the right to sell their labor at an "agreed" price; while he had the right to decide what he could profitably pay them, and "agree" to pay it. And he recognizes what they had earned as theirs: "Take up that which thine, and go they way" (verse 14). But as concerning that which was his, and which they had not earned, he says, "Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?" He paid them what they had earned, and sent them off his property! Now Christ gave this lesson! And He calls the eye "evil" (verse 15) that would covet what it had not earned!
No wonder Marx and Lenin and the Communists hate the Bible! It convicts them of covetousness and thievery! Read Matthew 20.1 to 15 again; and see what you think our Lord would have said of of those laborers, if they had "sat down" in that vineyard, claiming, "It really belongs to us, 'the workers'; and we will not move until this householder raises our wages to what we ask!" You see, the only way for Communism to exist, is to destroy all hold of the Bible on men! Communism is the devil's opium for a people willing to let go the Word of God!

Stay Strong!

An Excerpt from, The Reformed Pastor

2009-04-11T11:49:00.001-04:00

I love Richard Baxter's book, The Reformed Pastor. As I was reading through it again last week I came across this passage which talks about the difficulties that pastors experience in doing the work of minisitry. I think it rings true still today and so I offer it for your review.

“Let me notice the difficulties in ourselves.

1. In ourselves there is much dulness and laziness, so that it will not be easy to get us to be faithful in so hard a work. Life a sluggard in bed, that knows he should rise, and yet delayeth and would lie as long as he can, so do we by duties to which our corrupt natures are averse. This will put us to the use of all our powers. Mere sloth will tie the hands of many.

2. We have a base man-pleasing disposition, which will make us let men perish lest we lose their love, and let them go quietly to hell, lest we should make them angry with us for seeking their salvation: and we are ready to venture on the displeasure of God, and risk the everlasting misery of our people, rather than draw on ourselves their ill-will. This distemper must be diligently resisted.

3. Many of us have also a foolish bashfulness, which makes us backward to begin with them, and to speak plainly to them. We are so modest, forsooth, that we blush to speak for Christ, or to contradict the devil, or to save a soul, while, at the same time, we are less ashamed of shameful works.

4. We are so carnal that we are drawn by our fleshly interests to be unfaithful in the work of Christ, lest we should lessen our income, or bring trouble upon ourselves, or set people against us, or such like. All these things require diligence in order to resist them.

5. We are so weak in the faith, that this is the greatest impediment of all. Hence it is, that when we should set upon a man for his conversion with all our might, if there be not the stirrings of unbelief within us, whether there be a heaven and a hell, yet at least the belief of them is so feeble, that it will hardly excite in us a kindly, resolute, constant zeal, so that our whole motion will be but weak, because the spring of faith is so weak. O what need, therefore, have ministers for themselves and their work, to look well to their faith, especially that their assent to the truth of Scripture, about the joys and torments of the life to come, be sound and lively.

6. Lastly, we have commonly a great deal of unskillfulness and unfitness for this work. Alas! How few know how to deal with an ignorant, worldly man, for his conversion! To get with in him and win upon him; to suit our speech to his condition and temper; to choose the meetest subjects, and follow them with a holy mixture of seriousness, and terror, and love, and meekness, and evangelical allurements – oh who is fit for such a thing? I profess seriously, it seems to me, by experience, as hard a matter to confer aright with such a carnal person, in order to his change, as to preach such sermons as ordinarily we do, if not much more.

All these difficulties in ourselves should awaken us to holy resolution, preparation, and diligence, that we may not be overcome by them, and hindered from or in the work.”

Stay strong!

Pagans in the Pews

2009-03-31T13:53:00.001-04:00

My son said over dinner one night, “Dad, did you know that Jamie got a tattoo on her shoulder? She was showing it to the kids at church last week. It's a butterfly. Looks pretty cool too.”

I felt like a failure as a pastor. The daughter of a very active family had gotten a tattoo. I knew that this would break her father's heart. At least I was holding out for that response. Someone besides me needed to be upset over this.

Over the past twenty years tattoos and piercings have increased in our culture. This trend has crept into the pews and has kept pace with the growth of paganism and humanism in America.
Tattooing has always been used by animists and polytheists as a form of superstitious religious expression. The Tattoo provided protection against sickness and misfortune. In such cultures it also served to identify the wearer's rank or status.

Tattoos have been used to mark prisoners or deserters, they have also been used as a symbol of public shame or alienation. Today's current revival of body art centers around self expression. It is seen as a way to demonstrate individuality. What once was reserved for sailors in foreign ports is now chick and found in boutiques at your local mall.

As our culture darkens and moves toward cultural paganism fueled by humanism the church stands by and says nothing. Just take a look at the contemporary Christian music scene. The groups creating “Christian” music can not be distinguished from secular bands. It's no wonder our young people have embraced tattooing when that's what is offered up as normal and desirable.

In the pews it is a symptom of the lostness of the church population. With fewer and fewer churches enforcing membership policies it's harder for the local body to distinguish the lost from the saved.

We used to be proud of a church letter. Membership came with privilege and responsibility. It protected the congregation from members and leaders who were not in Christ. It allowed the church to direct ministry to the lost and to protect the congregation from unredeemed influence.

Today, with the growth in popularity of large non-denominational congregations the church letter has disappeared. You can't have huge crowds on one hand and resistive membership policy on the other. Many have no requirements at all.

Church discipline has fallen by the wayside. The creeping paganism of our culture is just one example of how this is affecting our churches. If the trend continues there will be no way to distinguish between the church and the world because there won't be a difference. Tattooing is just a symptom of a larger spiritual problem.

Here what we need to do:

1. We must re-institute membership requirements. We had them to help the lost see the difference and their need. They kept the church pure so that no unredeemed person could influence a congregation.

2. We should go back to using the Church Covenant. The Church Covenant has been used by Protestant churches to connect membership to doctrine. It helps point out responsibilities as well as privileges.

3. Church discipline must return. It is time for congregations large and small to stand up to members who are embracing the world. We must not forget our sensibilities and Christian modesty.

If we don't take action now we will see the Modern Primitives and New Tribalists increase and further erode the foundation of Christianity in America.

Stay Strong!

The Future of Our Own Country

2009-03-20T15:04:00.003-04:00

I found a beautiful homily in the Pulpit Commentary by Rev. W. Clarkson. He is speaking on the comparison between Judea and England concerning the passage in Luke 19 when Jesus weeps over Jerusalem.

"There is no little parallelism between Judea and England.

"1. God has enriched our land with peculiar privileges. We have (1) a large share of religious liberty; (2) a good measure of spiritual enlightenment, not indeed without some dark shadows of ignorance and superstition; (3) numerous and strong organizations covering the land, whose function is to teach, to guide, to guard, to rescue, and redeem. May we not say, 'He hath not dealt so with any nation; as for his statutes and commandments, they have not known them' as we have known them?

"2. God has given us a high and a great mission to perform. Responsibility goes with privilege; it is, indeed, the obverse side of the same thing. We have not only to present the height of Christian knowledge, of social purity, of national well-being in all its forms; but also to diffuse the light of Divine truth far and wide, and to make our influence tell for peace, righteousness, and truth in every quarter of the globe.

"3. We have to consider whether we are declining that mission or are fulfilling it. That is a question which cannot be determined by public professions; nor by the number or character of our sanctuaries; nor by the number or constitution of our churches. It can only be determined by the actual spiritual and moral condition of our people, of the multitudes and millions of our citizens; and by the earnestness and devotedness of Christian men and women in the field of sacred work. By these criteria we stand or fall."

I don't live in 19th century England but according to his criteria I think Jesus would weep over America.

Stay Strong!

The Achilles Factor

2009-03-11T11:34:00.002-04:00

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted,
which did eat of my bread,
hath lifted up his heel against me.
Psalm 41:9

The room was quiet except for the beeping of pumps and gauges. The nurses stayed away since I had company. My visitor was visibly upset and his silence made the room tense. He needed this visit more than I did. Suffering over what had happened to me this young man was struggling with his own future and the carefully crafted myths he believed.

We've all been there. We make heroes and demigods, lift up institutions of the highest ethics and morality, and believe in the infallibility of our causes. Eventually, the heroes fall, the institutions are exposed, and the causes are stained by the carelessness of human hands.

Perhaps these are holdovers from our childhood. Our parents and the people and groups they supported were magical to us but growing up has a way of rendering our myths empty. It braces our mind against creating more unsustainable world views. Our believing becomes conviction, an assurance forged in the fire of life experiences and rooted in biblical truth.

Some, however, retreat into deeper myth. Instead of embracing a stable ethic they multiply heroes. They add causes that are more unbelievable than the one that just failed. Those people never arrive at conviction. They never grasp the frailness of humanity.

My friend, Thomas Masterson, was facing that fork in the road. I was watching him grow up right before my eyes and I knew I needed to help him make the right decision. His future as a minister would depend on which path he took.

“You know, Charles wasn't a member of Blossom Bottoms Baptist Church when I took the pastorate,” I said.

He looked up and smiled slightly, relieved that one of us was talking.

“I didn't know that. When did he join the church?” Thomas asked.

“About six years ago. He came one morning and after the sermon, walked right up to me. He was very curious, and even asked to see a copy of the church budget. He told me he had moved into our neighborhood and was looking for a new church home.”

Thomas just stared at the linoleum nodding his head, half listening.

“Two weeks later he moved his membership and joined our congregation. I never questioned the new addition. I was glad for it. If I'd known then what I know now maybe all this trouble could have been avoided,” I said.

“Would you have refused him membership? Does anyone do that anymore?” Thomas asked.

“I should have. Charles told me prior to joining that he had left two other congregations over conflict with the pastor. I saw the red flags but thought it would be different with me. I was thinking about one more addition to the annual report. I should have thought about the health of the church. Now I know, if I had questioned his request he would have been offended. Charles never would have joined.”

“Better that pain than this,” Thomas said.

Thomas Masterson was the Minister of Students at Blossom Bottoms. He'd been there for two years and now was ready to move on to seminary. Of all the young men I'd worked with, he was the most competent, capable, and faithful. His wounds pained me more than mine. It hurt to see him feeling so robbed of his innocence.

“Early on, my relationship with Charles was warm. We went to breakfast together several times. We talked about fishing and the books we were reading. He was starting a business and wanted spiritual counsel as he got it off the ground. I was glad to help,” I said.

“I remember him talking to you about that car parts business. Did he ever get that going?”

“Yes, but he wouldn't listen to my advice. Consequently, the business never showed a profit, he took on too much debt and he had to take a second job.”

“I remember that he stopped coming to church for awhile,” Thomas said.

“He was busy with two jobs and he didn't care for my straightforward approach to his business practices but he still claimed to be committed to the church and to me. Then he had several illnesses visit him right in a row. All of it resulted in surgery which left him unable to work for several months."

“How did he survive?” Thomas asked.

“He had money saved back from a previous business. The church rallied around him and supported him through it all,” I said.

“Pastor, this isn't supposed to happen. If this can happen to you after all you did for him, who's safe?” Thomas asked.

Here it was. The myth revealed. Achilles was wounded. If the old man could be hurt who was next?

“Who told you ministry was safe? Don't listen to the voices of success, abundance and prosperity that claim victory on every hand. Don't allow your ear to be tickled by the gaggle of voices declaring church growth on every corner. We are called to die. The pastorate is the fast track to suffering not fame. You need to reconcile with that fact right now before you go any further,” I said.

Thomas was looking at the linoleum again. I needed to keep him in the room with me so I continued the story.

“Earlier this year Charles started dropping hints. He didn't say it in so many words, but I knew he wasn't satisfied with my preaching. He liked my advice even less and eventually stopped asking for it all together.

“Then two months ago I got the letter. Charles suggested I stop preaching expository messages and start preaching in a more contemporary fashion. He said it was unhealthy for the congregation. They needed more current event evaluation and commentary from me,” I said.

“What did you do?” Thomas asked.

“Nothing. His letter was labeled as a suggestion but the underlying demand was obvious. I simply put it in the file with the rest of his correspondence. About a month later I received his last letter telling me he was leaving. I was the bad guy who was ruining the church. Charles needed something more. The cycle was complete and conflict with the pastor had once again driven him from the church.”

“Then this happened,” Thomas said with resignation.

“No. After I received his last letter I replied. I told him leaving the church was the worst thing he could do. I was very straightforward. I told him we could work this out according to the Matthew 16 instruction. I pleaded with him to allow church discipline to take place but he never returned or replied.”

“I think you got your reply,” Thomas said.

“I'm just glad you weren't there. One of the bullets pierced the back of the seat where you normally sit on Sundays,” I said.

“Did he just walk in and start shooting?”

“No. Charles came in a little late just like always. He sat down in his normal place like nothing was wrong, like he hadn't missed a thing. During the fellowship time I watched as the people greeted him and shook his hand. My heart was lightened by his presence. I knew he'd come back to make things right.

“He participated in the entire service. Then during the sermon he stood, pulled the revolver from a shoulder holster, shouted something about silencing me and then started squeezing off rounds. The first one shattered the front of the pulpit and went through my groin. As I was going down he fired again. That's the one which tore through my back.

“Before I passed out I saw two more bullets. One hit your chair and one hit the wall in the baptistry. Bleeding to death is a funny feeling. Life was running out of the two holes in my body. I knew death was near but I was more worried about who else he might hurt. Next thing I know I'm waking up in ICU,” I said.

“No one else was shot. Tyler, Bobby and Travis jumped him and took the gun. I heard they beat him pretty good before the police arrived. Sonya told me half of the congregation was holding him, the other half was helping you but most were praying. A few of the older ladies passed out from the excitement,” Thomas said.

Silence.

I was drained. Conscientiousness was hard to hold on to. I could see my nurse checking her watch and looking at us. She probably wasn't going to let this go on much longer.
“Was it worth it?” I asked.

Thomas never looked up. “I was going to ask you that question.”

“I've already answered it. Years ago I made my choice. It's your turn now. You've seen the hazard of ministry. It's in this bed. Can Christ be glorified through the sacrifice of my body, my life?”

“Yes,” Thomas whispered.

“Then it was worth it. When I get out of this bed I'll go right back to it so He can be glorified again. What about Thomas Masterson?”

“I don't know, pastor. I didn't want to come to Blossom Bottoms to start with. I wanted to minister at a big church, to upper class and upper-middle class families. I wanted to be surrounded by new and shiny. I wanted to live in an attractive home and drive a new automobile. But as I watched you I realized that happiness doesn't come from money or things but from serving the Lord where He places you. I found peace.

“Now, after this, am I supposed to be at ease? I can't be, because I know what it means for me. You've helped me grow past my illusions, you've helped me cut down my idols but to embrace this as part of the journey is more than I can bear,” Thomas said.

“Do you remember the story of Achilles?” I asked.

Thomas looked confused, but I didn't wait for him to answer. I could see resolve in the nurse's eyes.

“His mother dipped him in the river Styx to make him immortal. However, he was vulnerable on his heal where she held him.”

“I remember the story but what has that got to do with this?” Thomas asked.

“What if Achilles had known about his vulnerability and decided not to go to war against the Trojans? He would never had fulfilled his potential as a great warrior. He died, pierced by Paris' arrow, but isn't that what happens in war?

“You won't die before the walls of Troy in an epic battle. However, you will go on to pastor a church, maybe a small church, and to those people you will be as great as Achilles. Are you willing to give your life for them and for your King? If your answer is yes then take a good look at me. This might never happen to you but if you are willing to serve Him it won't matter if it does or not.

“The truth is, Thomas, there are things much worse than bullets that will come your way. That's why you must base your ministry on the conviction that Jesus himself has called you to it and not on some myth of victory and success,” I said.

Thomas smiled. The first smile he'd been able to manage since walking in.

“I will die now, then, so it won't matter later. Thank you, pastor.”

THE END

Stay Strong!

The Freedom of Choice Act?

2009-03-02T09:59:00.003-05:00

The Freedom of Choice Act is the most extreme anti-life bill ever proposed. It is a monster that will make the Roe v. Wade decision look compassionate. If enacted by the congress this bill will eliminate current abortion regulations enacted by state governments, and impose a Federal regime on the abortion industry. The following are just a few of the low points of FOCA.

It eliminates regulations protecting women from unsafe abortion clinics. Under the new FOCA guidelines licensed M.D.s won't be required to perform abortions thus subjecting women to abortions by non-physicians. (Your local herbalist will include abortion in her services.)

It forces taxpayer funded abortions.

It requires all states to allow "partial birth" and other late term abortions thus rendering state regulations impotent.

It will force health care professionals to perform abortions if requested. Currently, they have the right to refuse for the sake of conscience. All medical schools (including Christian universities and colleges) will be required to teach abortion proceedure.

It strips parents of their right to be informed and involved in a minor daughter's abortion decision.

This bill will create a health care crisis the likes of which we have never seen. I've heard from a close source that the Catholic church will close all Catholic run hospitals rather than be forced to perform abortions. I would imagine Baptist, Methodist and other faith-based health care organizations will do the same.

Thousands of hospitals across the country will close and nurses, doctors, and staff members will lose their jobs. It will depend the economic crisis as the catastrophe cascades across all health care related industries.

All this leaves the Federal government holding the bag. Our president's dream of universal health care will rapidly become a reality.

There is no freedom in this bill, especially for the unborn! Please call, write or email your Senators and Representatives and voice your opposition to this legislation. You can also go to www.FightFOCA.com to download the online petition.

God help us.
Stay Strong!

None

2009-02-25T10:02:00.002-05:00

Friendship

2009-02-18T09:51:00.003-05:00

A friend of mine, who is the Minister of Music for a Small Church somewhere in the South, is currently experiencing trouble with the native church. Her experiences inspired this story. I hope you will take time to read it and then pray for all those pastors and ministers who are facing dragons in the sheep pen.

“Good evening, Dr. Walker. Welcome to Friendship Baptist Church. People say we're the friendliest bunch in town.”

“Good evening, Frank.”

“We're so glad to have our Associational Missionary in attendance tonight.”

“Why are you and the deacons doing this again, Frank?”

“Let me show you to your seat.”

Frank Petty ushered him to his seat without answering the question. Others came in, members of Friendship whom Dr. Walker was acquainted with. Some of them sat on one side and some on the other. This was the largest attendance Friendship Baptist had seen since their Easter play two years ago. Dr. Walker could feel division and hurt in the air. He knew this would end bad, again.

“OK, folks let's get started.” It was Frank Petty. “As the Deacon Chairman it's my responsibility to conduct this special called meeting. The deacon board has called this session to consider removing our pastor, Brother Kenworth.”

Frank Petty stepped back and another gentleman came to the podium. Jim Pollard, the deacon board secretary stepped up.

“On March 25th the deacons met with Brother Kenworth. We informed him that we felt it was time for him to move on. We set a deadline and asked him to submit his resignation by April 25th. The deadline came but Brother Kenworth refused to submit the requested documentation. He said it wasn't time for him to leave yet. You'll be able to hear from him this evening. Therefore, the deacons move that Brother Steven Kenworth be removed as pastor of Friendship Baptist Church.”

Frank Petty stepped up. “Coming from a committee that motion does not require a second. Are there any questions?”

“I have a question Brother Petty,” Dr. Walker said, standing.

“I've been your Associational Missionary for the last seven years. This will be the second time in seven years that Friendship Baptist has voted to remove a pastor. That made me curious, so I looked through the records. It appears you have released a pastor every three years, on average, for the last 19 years. Don't you think that may indicate a problem?”

“Not at all, Dr. Walker. We've always had student preachers. Once they come to the end of their training we release them to move on to another position. The deacon board runs the ministry of this church. We give young men an opportunity to preach and learn ministry and then it's time to go. Today it's Brother Kenworth's time to leave.”

Dr. Walker looked over at Steven Kenworth. His head was down, hands folded in his lap, he had the appearance of a man sorely beaten. His wife and children had stayed home. Lucy, his wife, had wanted to come to cast her vote and look Friendship in the eye as she did it. Steven begged her to keep the children away. He didn't want them to remember what might be said.

“I know for a fact that isn't the reason you are forcing his resignation,” Dr. Walker said looking back at the smug faces behind the pulpit. “Steven has told me how uncooperative and dictatorial you are. He's shown me the hateful emails and letters he received every time he presented a new idea.”

Dr. Walker turned to address the crowd.

“You asked me to help you secure a pastor after you let go of Rev. Langford. You practically begged Brother Kenworth to be your pastor after a three-month interim. After a honeymoon of three months the phone calls started. You complained to me about him being a dictator, about how he was gonna run the church into the ground with his expository preaching, and how he was trying to change your church.”

Dr. Walker stared down at the folded arms who couldn't lift their eyes to meet his.

“If you ask me this church needs drastic change. You need to recognize pastoral authority.”

“Thank you, Dr. Walker, that will be enough. You can take your seat now,” Frank Petty said. “Brother Kenworth, would you like to address the meeting?”

Steven Kenworth made his way deliberately to the pulpit. Jim Pollard stopped him before he started up the steps to the platform.

“Brother, you should speak from the floor just like the rest of the membership.”

Stepping down, Steven Kenworth turned and addressed the crowd.

“From my very first Sunday here it was made clear to me that I was an outsider. I was to be your preacher and not your pastor. I came here to shepherd this church and over the years I have had the privilege to minister to several families. However, there were those who undermined my efforts. For them, I was only a preacher, an entertainer to amuse them on Sunday.

“When I refused to fall into line the attacks against my family and I increased. The deacons say it's time for me to go so they can bring in the next student preacher. The truth is we are at an impasse over church leadership. The Bible is clear on this issue. The pastor is the leader of the congregation and the deacons serve as his aide not his boss.

“Now, it has come down to this, a vote of confidence. If you vote to have me removed, I will leave wishing you the best. If however, I am retained then I will expect the entire deacon board to step down so that true servants can be recruited.”

A groan swept over the crowd as Brother Kenworth found his seat and waited.

Dr. Walker watched as the seating of the congregation revealed who they supported. A brave soul on the organ side stood and spoke for the pastor. That was followed by a scathing report from the piano side. Like a wedding, the gathered company was seated according to bride or groom. A quick head count made it clear to him that Steven Kenworth's pastorate at Friendship was nearing an end. The deacons had done a good job of recruiting people for this vote.

Finally, the question was called for. Frank Petty stood to his feet.

“Alright then, the question has been called. We'll take this vote by secret ballot. I'll ask Jim, Dr. Walker, and Bob Grey to be the tellers.”

The ballots were handed out and then collected. The tellers carefully counted each one. After putting together a report Jim Pollard delivered the results to the chairman. The sound of the paper unfolding echoed through the sanctuary. Frank Petty froze, the color seemed to run from his face.

“On the question of removing Steven Kenworth as pastor of Friendship Baptist Church. The yeas are 35, the nays 42. The membership was polled before the vote resulting in an attendance of 82. Therefore, the motion to remove Brother Kenworth fails.”

Many on the organ side erupted into applause. Frank Petty quickly quieted the crowd.

“Let me be the first one to tender my resignation as deacon. If this church can't see how damaging this man's leadership is then I don't want to be here any longer.”

A few other deacons followed suit and marched out leaving Brother Kenworth to dismiss the meeting.

“I thought for sure you were done for,” Dr. Walker said.

“I knew the Lord wasn't done with me here. Thanks, Dr. Walker for standing up for me.”

Friendship Baptist Church survived the vote. A few deacons remained but dedicated themselves to the ministry of Brother Kenworth. The offended families left which weakened the congregation's people resources, but overall Friendship was happier and at peace.

Steven Kenworth stayed on to have a successful career pastoring the church for 15 years. When he left the congregation wasn't looking for their next student preacher but for their next pastor.

May they all end this way.
Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Stay Strong

New Wineskins article

2009-02-12T10:55:00.003-05:00

Check out "An Unrepentant Dedication" on the New Wineskins website. Thanks to Mr. Greg Tayor for using it for their publication.
Stay Strong!

Harriett's Story

2009-02-03T15:23:00.000-05:00

Harriett passed away. She was my friend. I went by a few days before she left. Her room was quiet and peach colored. The furniture was comfortable and the bed she slept on look as if it could have come from the local furniture gallery. Her breathing was a steady mechanical waltz which filled the room with music.
No one else was there. The family came and went at odd times. Even the nursing staff stayed away during my visit. We were alone, just the two of us. Harriett never knew I was there. The disease had taken her conscious mind days before. I sat by her for nearly an hour knowing she would have done the same for me. I listened to the music of her breathing and prayed.
Memories flooded my mind while I sat there. I thought about the time she brought me some of her poetry. She was a talented poet and I always enjoyed reading her work. She told me once that she wanted her work to honor the Lord. Harriett would bring me her latest creation and say, “Please check this and make sure it glorifies the Lord and not me.”
Then there was the time she fixed a meal for my family. It wasn't just a meal it was a production. She fussed over it wanting every bite to be wonderful. She had asked us over several weeks in advance. Every week she would run up and remind us of the remaining days before our visit. Harriett had a way of creating such an expectation that it wouldn't have mattered what was served.
I recalled the time she cried when she realized she couldn't play the organ for church any more. The disease had made it unsafe for her to climb into and out of the organ. She was a gifted lady who deserved a better ending than this.
We didn't speak as she lay in the neatly dressed bed. They say the unconscious mind can hear, but she wouldn't have been listening to me. She was focused on another voice – listening to a heavenly tone. Before leaving I prayed and wrote a note to the family telling them I had stopped by. As I left I cast a smile at the brave attendants who were waiting.
The next day the phone rang. It was a family member – one of Harriett's clan.
“Why did you go see mother?” was the angry question on the other end. “We don't want any one to see her like this – stay away.”
I never anticipated my visit to a dying friend to cause so much anger. Expectations come in all shapes and sizes, but the ones that cause the most trouble are always unspoken. The family expected something of me I could not live up to and never would. They thought I would know how they felt and what they expected.
Harriett had no expectations of me. She knew I would love and respect her in death as I did in life. The family's demands on everyone's performance was manifold. They were positioning themselves for Harriett's death, keeping score of favors and insults. I found myself at the top of their insult list.
I went back to visit Harriett one last time the day before she died. It was much like our previous visit except the music was slower. The family was no where to be seen yet somehow they knew I had been there. Because of my visitation sins I was forbidden to participate in her funeral.
That would have been my chance to tell everyone about this extraordinary woman. As her pastor I had a right to eulogize her life and her faith, but I never got that chance. Another man was brought in who knew Harriett. He delivered a fine memorial service. At the end I stepped up to the casket and said my goodbyes.
The hardest thing was to look into the eyes of her family and express my condolences. I had resolved not to. Thank God I have good wife. In a way only a wife can do she prodded me forward. I'm glad now I was able to say a final goodbye to both Harriet and her loved ones.
Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common in ministry. Pastors are often the target for cruelties. It has a sobering effect. This can either lead to bitterness or maturity. I'm rooting for the later. These wounds often find their way into the psyche of the victim. I didn't want my future performance to be affected. I've had the occasion to work with others who could not take their eyes off past abuse. I didn't want that to happen to me.
When Paul wrote Romans 8:35 – 38 I think he had the pastor in mind. If we are to be first in all things, then we must understand that we have to be first in suffering for the Lord. It just hurts when it comes from people you are called to serve. Especially from a family that had such a godly mother.
Medical science hasn't come up with the magic pill that will soothe this ache. So far, I've found that trusting others with the pain is the most helpful. That godly wife, my deacons, and trusted friends I've known for years are praying for me and encouraging me. If I tried to bear this burden by myself I think I would be damaged for a long time.
There's another key to surviving this kind of hurt. The memory of my friend. Harriett was a saint. The memory of her vibrant faith makes me smile. She would want me to ignore the small stuff and remember our common goal. She passed on to glory to experience the joys of her faith and even though I remain behind to endure attack I am encourage to reach for prize just like Harriett did.
Stay Strong!

Church Solutions Magazine Article

2009-01-30T10:55:00.002-05:00

Hey,

Check out "Joe's VS Lowe's" on Church Solutions website. Go to their home page and look under the articles section. Thanks to Karen Butler and John Carlisle (editors of Church Solutions) for keeping the Small Church in view.
Stay Strong!
Best,
Dave

A Small Church Conference sponsored by LifeWay

2009-01-27T14:52:00.004-05:00

After my last mailbag posting I was told that LifeWay does sponsor a conference for the Small Church pastor. Please see the poster below. Thanks to Les Puryear for sending this to me but I'm still waiting to receive one of these in the mail.
Stay Strong!

PS. I have a link to this in my "Strong Destinations" section.

More from the Mailbag

2009-01-22T15:48:00.000-05:00

Pretend you heard someone say this, "Learn how to connect your church and your community into a healthy, small group structure." How would you respond?
Allow me to vent (it's been awhile).

1. Someone finally figured this out? Look at the statement. Hasn't the church been doing that for, Oh, I don't know, say, two thousand years or so? Why do we keep trying to reinvent the wheel?

2. Small Church pastors are the MASTERS of this kind of "structure." One group, one team, small, community focused, and activity ministering from one location - sounds like a Small Church to me.

3. Who am I learning this from? I'm glad you asked. The speakers include four Saddleback pastors, three more from huge California churches, a willowcreek-er thrown in for good measure, and an assortment of large church leaders from around the country. One of the speakers holds the title of Cultural Architect and another Executive Director of Ministry Environments. "?"

4. How much will it cost me to learn these "dynamic insights and foundational elements" from such a proven team? If you sign up today it will only be $289.00! But wait, don't order yet, because you also get a practical game plan to implement when you get home. Now what's it worth to you?

Why are pastors, especially Small Church pastors, marketing targets for this kind of dribble?

Why are LifeWay and Serendipity sold out to such market driven merchandise?

When do I get the conference flier, sponsored by LifeWay, for Small Church pastors?

I hope the NEXT piece of mail I get is more encouraging.
Stay Strong!

Post on Les Puryear's Blog

2009-01-19T12:31:00.001-05:00

Take a look at The Role of Small Churches on Joining God in His Work.

Joe's VS Lowe's

2009-01-13T13:54:00.001-05:00

Business models have been adapted as templates for church growth models in the past. The Starbucks design has influenced a generation of new church starts. For the Small Church a comparison needs to be done between a “Walmart” kind of experience and the Mom & Pop store. The big chain stores of the world haven't completely driven the small shops out of business. Why do people still do business with them? As we make the comparison we'll find a few points of encouragement for the small congregation.

Joe's Hardware is a small, family owned business in the area of Cincinnati where I live. It finds itself in the “downtown” area of my community. The building that Joe's does business out of is probably 50 or 60 years old and looks it. When you walk in there are two main rooms – the paint room and the everythingelse room.
In the middle of the everythingelse room is a counter that serves as the check out and a work bench. On most days you will find Joe helping customers. If he's not there, his daughter and son-in-law are, along with two other employees who've worked there since the store opened years ago. Then there are the “locals”. If this were in my native Kentucky these men would be the guys on the courthouse bench. They're job at Joe's is to spin tales and crack jokes with everyone who comes in. These fellas are as good as employees. They know where everything is located.

Location is a challenge at Joe's. Dusty boxes and old wooden drawers act as bins. Every aisle is filled with treasure and its like a treasure hunt to find what you're after. However, the hardware is made in America and always the finest quality. That's the other thing about Joe's they don't carry everything. They can't, they're not big enough to do it all so they specialize.

Their paint department – the other room – is the best stop for material and expert advise about any painting job. If Joe's doesn't carry it in their paint room you don't need it. I've also found that if I have a plumbing job to do I don't waste my time going anywhere else. They will save me time and a great deal of aggravation with their plumbing know-how. They're also close which makes it even more attractive. However, Joe's is generally expensive. You wont have to go back but you'll pay a higher price for what you purchase.

Lowe's is a national chain hardware store and about 5 miles from my house. It's big, clean, shinny and neatly organized. Usually, I can find what I'm looking for if I take my time and read the aisle descriptions. That's a good thing since finding someone to help me is often impossible. One should exercise caution when approaching a Lowe's employee. They have that “Go away! I'm busy!” look. No one at Lowe's is just standing around chewing the fat except for the employees. They all seem to know each other but aren't interested in knowing the customer. I doubt whether I would ever see Mr. Lowe stocking an aisle or cutting a screen for someone.

However, I continue to shop at Lowe's because they have everything from lumber to flowers and at a reasonable price. They generalize in everything home improvement and have little to offer in the way of specialized knowledge apart from their programed classes.

Big churches provide a similar experience to Lowe's. They're big, shiny, neat, and offer a wide variety of programs and experiences. But the Small membership congregation should never believe that they must do as much to be a value to their community.

The take away for the Small Church should be obvious. Joe's exists in a Lowe's world because they offer a niche experience.

Expert advice

Community value

Specialization

Intimate contact with the staff

These things continue to draw customers to Joe's despite the high prices, old building and clutter. The Small Church can provide the same experience for its members and the members of its community and find a niche in a big church world by taking a page from the play book of Joe's Hardware. It's OK to be Small.

Stay Strong!

Gatlinburg Pix

2009-01-03T22:46:00.003-05:00

Extreme: Day #2B and Day #3

2009-01-02T16:14:00.003-05:00

Sorry I wasn't able to blog the conclusion of the conference. I have yet to have a pleasant experience with hotel wireless services. Anyway, we're home and here are my thoughts on the final two services.

Tuesday evening:
After an afternoon of food and fast go-carts we made it back for the featured performance. Unhindered opened the session. I continue to be impressed with them. Rush of Fools followed. I have to admit I did not know their music and so everything was new to me.

Ergun Caner spoke on Tuesday evening. He took quite a bit of time to warn about his offensiveness and then read from 1 Peter 2:9 - 10. His message was titled, "Racial Profiling". I found his choice of scriptures interesting since he is an avowed non-Calvinist. However, he didn't exegete the passage. He just read it and then moved right to the insults.

His invitation was directed at the backslidden and those who were considering full time Christian vocations. Many came forward to make their commitments to full time vocations. It was a beautiful sight.
Third Day rounded out the evening. As an old time Third Day fan I very much enjoyed their music and ministry and artistry.

Day #3

Unhindered played and then Dr. Johnny Hunt spoke. His text was Psalm 119:9 - 16. An expository message was just in time. I am thankful for his intentional approach.
His advertisement time came before the message when he mentioned the books and materials he had for sale. He asked the crowd to get information on his Gapyear International program. It is a one year program for students 18 - 24 years of age. The student is sent to a country to learn the language and do ministry. The thing that puzzles me is why this is not coordinated through the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. The brochure they were giving out at the meeting even asked for churches to support the ministry so students could go overseas.

This makes me wonder.
Is Dr. Hunt's church/ministry so big that they feel they need to create new venues for students to do mission work?
Or
Is the IMB bureaucracy so big that Dr. Hunt was forced to go elsewhere with his vision?

As a pastor who is currently looking for a US/C-2 missionary from NAMB I wish he had invited participation in that ministry or in semester missions.
Overall, Extreme was good and I'm glad to be home.
Stay Strong!

Extreme - Day #2, Part A

2008-12-30T16:27:00.001-05:00

After an energizing breakfast of donuts and juice we headed down to the conference center. Unhindered, the worship band, opened things up. The lead singer said, "Let's worship God with a little chaos." I have no idea what that means but I think he was describing the music that followed. Again the music and artistry was exceptional, Mohawks and tats aside.

Hey, I didn't even use my ear plugs this morning!

Josh McDowell spoke following a lot of *God* worship.
Definition: *God* = when the word God is used exclusively and Jesus Christ is never mentioned. I suppose this is a good fit for non-descriptive church go-ers.

He promised to give us information that our pastors would never give us. Of course, Josh McDowell is the smartest person in any room he walks into so I wasn't surprised by that. His message was from 1 Kings 3:6 - 9 and titled "Right Choices in a Whatever Culture."

Josh started things off by asking 7 youth:
1. If they were a Christian.
2. If they believed lying was wrong.
3. Why they believed it was wrong.
Not one answered well. Not one mentioned the scripture. They said things like it hurts others or its just wrong or my parents said it's wrong. From there he proceeded into a systematic argument on Christian ethics and morality. The new information came when he said that a morality based on the bible was legalism. He then pointed past the commandments to the strength behind them which is the person, nature and character of God.

He weakness in all of this is that the person, character and nature of God is revealed through the scriptures. I think many youth left there confused about whether to trust the scripture on matters of morality. I guess I too need the latest Josh McDowell book to help my poor pastor brain correctly divide the Word of Truth. Books which are on sale today - come by and get an author signed copy.
The morning session ended with New Song.

I still didn't use my ear plugs!

Stay strong.

Extreme: What your Youth Did In Gatlinburg - Day #1

2008-12-30T01:46:00.001-05:00

My wife and I are substitute chaperoning our youth group as they travel to Winter Extreme in Gatlinburg, TN. I thought I might take the opportunity to blog the experience.

First let me say, I love Gatlinburg! My wife and I honeymooned here 25 years ago and it has always been a special destination for us. Maybe I'm seeing things through Rose colored glasses but I haven't had a bad experience yet.

The food service has been fast (and I mean fast for fast food.) This is under the extreme conditions of hundreds of church youth crowding the store. After paying at one place the manager who was waiting on my asked if I was the "senior" or "lead" pastor. I laughed and told him I was the only pastor. I explained that my church was a small congregation. He smiled and said, "That's the best kind."

The conference messed up our accommodations but were very polite and fixed the problem right a way. Even the desk clerk at the hotel that didn't know who we were was nice about it.

I made a pilgrimage to a local grocery tonight that closed at 12 midnight. I got there at 11:55 PM. They were incredibly polite.

When we arrived at the convention center the gathered churches were told to leave their denominational titles at the door. That always seems to mean every one except the pentecostal/charismatics/Word of Faith-ers.

Anyway, the first group to sing was Barlow Girl. They demonstrated amazing showmanship, unbelievable musical talent and artistry. So can someone explain to me why they have to look like Joan Jett and the Heatbreakers in Christian Tees. Their clothing was modest but nothing about it spoke of a witness. The music was so loud - I'm ashamed to say - I had to buy ear plugs.

Tony Noland spoke afterwards and gave a great message from Hebrews 9:27 called A Brush With Death. The sermon was great but the altar call was very high pressure. I saw a lot of confused faces going up to be counseled.

Reliant K played as the featured band for the night. I felt sorry for them. The crowd quickly fell apart into individual cliques and groups of teenagers talking and playing. All in all a good night. Especially if you had ear plugs.

Stay Strong!

Happy Merry!

2008-12-24T11:08:00.004-05:00

Since August 2008 this site has had 368 visits and 571 page views. That might not be much to you but for me its the best seller list! Thank you to everyone for stopping by over the last four months.

Today is Christmas Eve and as I finish preparing for service tonight I want to wish everyone a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year. So from me, my family, all the family at Creek Road Baptist Church and all the Whos runnin' around the office of All These Words, merry Christmas.
Happy New Year!

I will blog again in 2009, Lord willing.

Stay strong!

An Unrepentant Dedication

2008-12-18T10:05:00.003-05:00

Fonda came to see me after service one Sunday morning. She had painted on a smile but it seemed more of a nervous smirk. Her body language was tense.
“Pastor, I want to have Kaila dedicated to the Lord,” she grinned.
“Please sit down,” I said as I moved to close the door. Just as I did someone knocked. I cracked it open ready to reject the intrusion. James was standing there, her boyfriend and the father of Kaila. No smile.
“Is Fonda here?”
“Yes, please come in,” I said.
James sauntered over and plopped down beside Fonda, arms flung over the back of the couch like he was watching a football game.
“Sorry I didn't make it in time for church, preacher. I just couldn't pull myself out of bed.”
“Well, I'm glad you're here James. Fonda was just asking about having Kaila dedicated.”
“Yeah, I know. We kinda talked about that last night. Thought it might be a good idea,” he said.
They sat there looking at me like a calf staring at a fence post. I'd seen this look before from this couple on the very same couch. I bit my lip trying to hold back the wrong words.
Fonda was a long time member. She was practically raised in the church by faithful Christian parents. But Fonda had not acted faithfully. Even though she professed a relationship with the Lord she had run after all the world's pleasures.
Her Sunday School teacher took an interest in her. She tried to guide her and show her that her current choices would lead to ruin. The more mercy was demonstrated toward Fonda the faster she ran in the opposite direction. Her experimentation with drugs and the party crowd had produced constant trouble for her and her parents. Her car, apartment, and even her locker at work had been vandalized. Godly friends, church members, and even I had confronted her about her choices. At times it helped and other times it was like trying to mix oil and water.
After a few hard knocks she seemed to be making right decisions. Then she met James. Soon after they started dating she brought him to church. He had no faith background and no commitment to Christ. The members loved him and tried to model Christ before him.
Regardless of the efforts, poor decisions were being made again. One Sunday evening after church they came to my office hand in hand. I thought they were going to ask me to marry them.
“Preacher, we have a question,” Fonda said. “Do you think God would be upset if we moved in together?”
They just looked at me. Their blank expression told me they were serious. I was shocked. I've had some hard questions come my way but never one as honest and plain as this.
“Fonda, you know the scripture teaches sanctity of marriage. Why would you want to live together instead?”
James spoke up. “We just don't feel like we're ready for marriage.”
“But you're ready to move in together?”
“Yeah, we just really want to be together and don't want to wait. We'll still get married but we need time to work out the kinks,” James said.
They extolled the depth of their love and how confident they were that this was God's will. All they needed me to do was affirm their choice. I didn't.
“This is not God's will for you. The Lord would have you wait until after you're married to have this kind of relationship. Please don't make a mistake that will embarrass your parents, your church and create problems for your future together,” I said.
They walked out, hand in hand, ignoring my plea. Fonda and James didn't want to know the truth. They wanted me to join them in an elaborate rationalization that created a new truth just for them.
Eighteen months had passed since that time. Here they were again, looking at me, waiting for me to validate them. As I sat there I remembered how devastated her parents were. I recalled their tears, sitting there on my couch, praying for their straying daughter and her boyfriend/live-in companion. Other members of the congregation came to me as well to share their hurts and prayers. We all made a commitment to do what we could to be redemptive and loving.
But now they were asking the church to place their blessing on Kaila. At Kaila's birth the church actively demonstrated love toward the parents. Kaila's arrival was celebrated. She was the sweetest baby ever to grace a bassinet.
Kaila needed to be dedicated to the Lord and raised in a Christian environment. The church wanted to publicly make a commitment to assist her parents in her spiritual formation. But at what price? Were we supposed to look past the continual rebellion? What commitment would these parents make? They had demonstrated a lack of faithfulness thus far. How could I be sure they would uphold their end of the bargain?
All this played through my mind as I considered my next words. I excused myself, got up and walked over to my filing cabinet. I needed a moment. Slowly searching through the files I prayed as my fingers rummaged. I knew I was in the wrong drawer but they didn't. I moved with deliberate purpose, finally opening the right drawer and finding my objective - “Child Dedication Services.”
I pulled the file, walked back to my seat and opened it on my lap.
“During a Child Dedication service I will call for the parents and children to come forward. At that time I will ask the parents a series of questions. I'm going to read those question to you now. Tell me how you would respond.
“Yeah whatever,” James said. Fonda was silent.
“First question. Parents, will you raise this child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?”
Silence.
“Let me read the rest of the questions and then you can respond. Will you strive to provide a loving Christian home life? Will you promise to exemplify the disciplined Christian life? Will you take leadership in teaching this child about the Savior and the Word of God? Will you bring this child to church with you when the body of Christ meets for worship?”
If looks could kill I'd be dead.
“We just thought it would be a good idea to have her dedicated. Can we do that or not?” Fonda said.
“How would you answer those questions Fonda? I'm not going to invite you to lie to the church. You will be standing before this congregation and the Lord. When you answer those questions you will be making a promise to Him. This church will expect you to keep your promises.”
“I'm a Christian! Do you doubt me? Answer that question, preacher.”
“Fonda, if I were to answer those questions about you I'd have a hard time finding reasons to answer in the affirmative.”
“What do you mean?”
“Right now you don't demonstrate a disciplined Christian life. You have ignored your faith and done just exactly what you wanted. Is that going to change suddenly after the dedication service?”
“We've talked about marriage . . . some,” Fonda said.
“A loving Christian home is one where the parents are married and both are believers. You don't have that and I've seen no desire on your part to have it.”
“We come to service here don't we?” Fonda said.
“Once or twice a month, on Sunday morning, and always without James. The body of Christ meets for worship every week. Is that what we can expect for Kaila's future? If it is then I don't think you should have her dedicated.”
“Why don't you love my little girl?” Fonda started tearing up.
This had James' attention.
“I do love Kaila. She's stolen every heart here. But this isn't about Kaila. A Child Dedication Service doesn't guarantee Kaila heaven. This service is more for the parents than for the children. Both of you will be making a vow before the Lord. I don't see any evidence to suggest you will keep it.”
“Fine then!” James shot up. “We'll just take our little girl somewhere else. You have the nerve to question our Christianity? Preacher, you should look in the mirror sometime. Anyone who would deny my daughter isn't much of one. You can believe everybody will hear about this!”
They left me sitting in my chair.
This is a scene that is repeated monthly in churches all over America. In the case of James, Fonda and Kaila it's my fault. Somehow, somewhere in the past, we became too smart or too compassionate to exercise church discipline. As Fonda's pastor, if I had taken a firmer hand with her early on much of this heartache could have been avoided.
I preach responsibility and commitment but there are no consequences when holiness is discarded. The church simply grieves the loss and then we go about our business. We've become timid. The culture has told us that everyone has a right to their rights. Who are we to say what's right and wrong?
I know who we are. We are the bride of Christ. We live according to a higher standard starting with the commandments. We must examine ourselves and be willing to judge when gross sin is demonstrated by one of our own. The apostle dealt with just this issue in 1 Corinthians. “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.” (1 Corinthians 5:11 KJV)
We must stand against backsliding and rebellion among our members. Pastors, like me, have to set a higher standard and demand that those who confess Christ represent Him well.
Two years after they walked out of my office James and Fonda split up. Fonda and Kaila are not in church. James lives in Canada and is not interested in being daddy any longer. And the icing on the cake – it's all my fault.

Stay Strong!

What Would Judson Say?

2008-12-11T11:39:00.006-05:00

Sorry about being tardy with my post this week. A cold bug has run through my household and disrupted our routine. Today we seem to be better which is good because I have to attend the annual minister's banquet tonight.
I hope you enjoy "What Would Judson Say?"
PS. I have removed "The Country Shepherd" from my blog list because it has been inactive for over a year.

I recently attended a meeting with other pastors. We listened to reports and testimonies of agencies and boards serving our denomination. Speakers treated us to messages of evangelistic exhortation filled with vapid anecdotes and precise alliteration.

As I scanned the auditorium I noticed that many of my seniors in ministry were present. These were battle tested, long lived pastors who had much to teach the rest of us. Yet, there they were silently enduring another fad. I'm sure they didn't need to be reminded of the need for evangelism.

As I sat there listening to the stories and the great conquests of those speakers I wondered if someone like Adoniram Judson would be pleased. I'm not suggesting that Judson was not evangelistic. On the contrary, his life was the definition of evangelism but I think he would have trouble with the hype. After laboring for 10 years in the city of Rangoon, Burma, learning the Burmese language, and translating the Gospel of Matthew he only had a congregation of 18 people. That's just 1.8 baptisms a year. I wonder if he would be invited back to speak at a church growth conference? We all know the answer to that question.

After 10 years of labor with such small results modern day mission agencies would be looking to place their dollars into a more robust plant. Judson would have to fend for himself, be reassigned or sent stateside. Would he have an airline conversion tale to share about his ride home? No, Judson wouldn't be asked to speak, and yes, he would be reassigned.

His success as a missionary didn't come until he'd spent 21 months in a Burmese prison. A fact that just doesn't fit the instant, results-now methodology of the current church growth movement. Judson wouldn't be pleased. He might want to know how many are too few? He spent 10 years at a station where no results seemed to be forthcoming. Can we really assign a number? Yes, if we follow the latest growth plan, published for our convenience and costing only $399.99.

He might ask us how many conversions are enough? The answer to that question is never given. The unspoken assumption is that the scriptures set an expectation on baptisms, conversions and additions. We feel good when those numbers are high because we think we've met the standard, whatever that might be. We feel discouraged when we don't because we think we've missed God's will somehow. Faithfully preaching the gospel is not enough in the current climate.

During the life of Adoniram Judson the people of Rangoon needed a pastor. Whether they knew it or not, they needed a Judson to live with them, model Christ and do the work of the ministry. The same is true today. The people of Rangoon are still in need of a pastor.

Are you willing to lay your life down in the place where you are currently serving? You place isn't called Rangoon. Maybe its called Monkey's Eyebrow, or Black Gnat, or Deer Flats but the need of those people is still the same. They need you.

Maybe it doesn't fit the model of new, big, shiny, and upwardly mobile. Maybe, it's old, small, and so far back in the woods sunshine has to be pumped in. If the Lord called you there and you're preaching the precious gospel then it doesn't matter. We've bought into the success model preached by the charismatics to such a degree that we're become allergic to suffering for Christ. We want everything without a price. Easy and fast is the way of the world.

Today the voice of the church growth movement sets a standard which only large and progressive churches can meet. Ignore the hype, the numbers and remember Judson's patient service. The Bible says in Acts 2:47 that the Lord adds to the visible church everyday according to His will not ours. He does this according to His plan and it doesn't cost $399.99.

Stay Strong!

From the Mail Bag (A continuing story-line)

2008-12-04T19:49:00.000-05:00

My mail contains such good material for a Small Church blog. You may recall my entry entitled, "Getting It Right?" posted in September 2008.

I'm bombarded with conference post cards inviting me to learn at the feet of the latest and greatest in church-growth/leadership/innovation or whatever is the newest catch-phrase. Of course, all of these gatherings are sponsored by, planned by, taught by and feature the gurus of the big-church crowd.

I received one such post card recently and I noticed something I had never picked up on previously. It was a tri-fold card with the speakers' pictures on one side. All of them were white (Caucasian or Anglo-Saxon), young and attractive.

Why is that? I wondered.

Are there no big-church churches lead by African-American pastors? I asked myself.

I know the answer to that question because I have worked with several African-American pastors here in Cincinnati that shepherd large congregations. One of my dearest friends is the pastor of an African-American church about the size of mine. He has many contacts with pastors around the country who lead mega-sized congregations. However, I never see their names or faces in my mail box.

Don't they have something to contribute to the big-church church conference scene? After all they are big and "successful" according to the current definition. Why are so few invited to speak?

That got me to thinking:
Do these conference reminders go out only to white pastors?
Is the big-church church conference scene prejudice?
Can only white pastors learn from white pastors?
Are black pastors just not impressed enough with the big-church movement to care?

Or maybe they know something that we don't. The big-church church conference scene is geared toward teaching leadership and reaching an upwardly mobile white demographic. The average black church pastor has leadership down to science. Why would they need to be taught? They are also sensitive to reaching communities not single demographics.

The big-church church conference planners would do well to populate their speaker stables with more African American pastors to teach the rest of us how it should be done?
Stay strong!

The Small Church Manifesto

2008-12-02T12:16:00.002-05:00

The time has come
for small membership congregations to be recognized by their denominational leadership as important, strategic, and valuable members of the mission to reach the world for Christ. The time is past for devaluing these churches and their role in that mission. As large membership churches decline and begin their natural process toward smallness, small congregations make these affirmations which we believe to be facts of contemporary church life.

There is a great danger
inherent in the market-driven, contemporary Christian culture. The crime we are about to commit is the loss of our identity. The only value being taught is sameness and universal purpose. We are sacrificing the treasures of our founders on the altar of cultural expedience. This is establishing a no-name religion that stands for nothing and ignores the prophetic values of scripture.

Today,
there is a movement growing among small membership churches. This trend is a God inspired safe guard to keep us from total loss. Denominations have turned their backs on the small church therefore it is important for us to establish common ground for this growth to continue. We therefore affirm the following:

First: The Small Church is the natural and normal expression of the body of Christ.

Second: The Small Church is God's design as revealed in scripture and throughout Christian history.

Third: The Small Church naturally rejects faddish and market-driven church formula programs.

Forth: The Small Church is the guardian and instructor of sound doctrine which has been discarded by the big-church movement.

Fifth: The Small Church, regardless of denomination, is the foundation for mission support and denominational strength.

Sixth: The Small Church calls all denominational leaders to break with the money culture propagated by the big-church marketing system.

Seventh: The Small Church regards “health” and “growth” as functions of God's grace and not a function of numbers or programs.

Eighth: The Small Church is authentic rather than artificial. It demonstrates the Christian life rather than a Christian model.

Ninth: The Small Church rejects calls for merger, or closure, or re-tooling just to meet modern trends.

Tenth: The Small Church calls on all denominational leaders, denominational presses, and other institutions and entities to encourage and appreciate the sacrifice and work of the small membership congregation.

More on LifeWay's study

2008-11-24T09:59:00.003-05:00

Rev. Les Puryear has done a wonderful job on evaluating the actual study that the LifeWay article was based on. You will be surprised at the difference between the two. (maybe not!)
Go to Les' site, Joining God in His Work and read "The Encouraging Results of the LifeWay Small Church Study."
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Poor Planning or A Prejudiced Position?

2008-11-18T10:08:00.006-05:00

Good news! LifeWay research has focused on the Small Church. You will want to read the article, LifeWay Research finds Poor Planning Hinders Small Church Progress. I am always interested in how denominations view the Small Church. This study is especially interesting to me since it was conducted by a Southern Baptist institution. My thanks to Les Puryear for linking to the article on his blog, Joining God in His Work. I saw the link there yesterday (Nov. 17, 2008) and knew I had to read and respond. What follows are four questions I have about the study as reported in the article written by Mark Kelly. I'll finish this entry with three positive comments.

1. Why are such a small number of Small Church pastors surveyed? To be fair, if they sent out more questionnaires and only received 350 back what can they do? However, more attention needs to be paid to the pastor of the small congregation. If those congregations compose 80% of all denominational expressions then why do a study on such a small portion.

2. What questions were asked? I have rewritten the conclusions reached in the article. (You may find more or less after you read it.)

Most small church pastors fail to evaluate and clarify plans.
Many small church pastors say their church leaders are resistant to change.
Few small church pastors say they have a plan to accomplish God's will for their church.
Many small church pastors say their churches don't have time to plan appropriately.
Some small church pastors say their churches don't rotate responsibilities among the members.

Do you notice a disturbing attitude in these conclusions? Not one is positive. That leads me to believe the angle of the questions must have led to negative answers. I am not surprised by this. The template of the denomination (in this case SBC) is, "Something is wrong with the small church. Otherwise it wouldn't be small." (see my blog entry "Something's Wrong" 10/21/2008)

3. What are the recommendations? If you are a Small Church pastor you don't want to know the answer to that question. Again. I have rewritten these in my own words. You may find more. I could hardly stand to read these two.

Small church pastors need to organize for their goals and plans and then evaluate their effectiveness.

Do they really believe we don't do this? It's like the Old Fella said, "when you paint with a broom you miss a lot of spots." It goes to show that the big church/big denomination minds don't have a clue as to what the Small Church pastor does. The Small Church pastor is the master of planning, executing and evaluating goals. The disconnect comes for the "big" crowd when those efforts don't result in the appropriate number of baptisms/additions.

Small Church pastors should seek out, surround themselves with and utilize members who are gifted organizers.

You have got to be kidding me! This was penned by someone who has never been in a small church. The Small Church pastor does not have a B Team. The church is small, there are a limited number of people, and there may not be someone with the skill/gift of organization. What happens then? Silence. We're not suppose to ask those kinds of questions. I know what happens - the pastor finds a way!

4. What kind of "change" are pastors of Small Churches suppose to create? The research talked a lot about change. I would like for the researchers to identify the kind of change they mean. Lyle Schaller gives a clue to this in his book, The Small Membership Church: Scenarios for Tomorrow. He says the change that denominational institutions want in the small congregation is a change from a second commandment church to a first commandment church. The second commandment church is nurturing and caring. It is small and intimate and warm. The first commandment church is program and purpose driven. Lots of cells and small communities that function around an issue or ministry directive. When I read studies that assume the Small Church needs change I wonder where the studies are that suggest the same for the big churches?

Here are a few positives and recommendations:
1. I am thankful denominational minds are beginning to think about the Small Church. They are hearing the rumble of thunder off in the distance. A swell is building across denominations in the halls of Small Churches. A larger study needs to follow this one. One that is not plagued by the prejudice of big church/big denomination researchers and which takes a larger sample than 350 pastors.

2. The Small Church pastor knows that its not an easy calling. The study recognizes the reality that not every Small Church is healthy. There are people problems and money problems and space issues, etc. Some of the findings in this report certainly represent small church life but they do not apply to every Small Church in every denomination. However, we need to be honest about the level of dysfunction within some smaller congregations.

3. I think it's wonderful that there are more and more voices to speak up for the Small Church. One day soon the attitude will change and the Small Church and her pastor will be heard.

Stay strong!

From the Office of Dr. Elmer Gubersnoot

2008-11-10T15:02:00.004-05:00

Perhaps you've gotten one of these phone calls.

"Hello, may I speak to your Children's pastor or Families pastor."

I laughed. The caller seemed confused. "We don't have a Children's or Families pastor."

"Oh, well, could I speak to the team leader in charge of church wide education?"

I choked back more laughter. I knew he was just doing his job.
"I'm the pastor, you can talk to me."

"Is this the senior pastor?" I could hear the glee in his voice.

"No, I'm the only pastor."

"Oh, well, hello, pastor this is Michael calling you from the office of Dr. Elmer Gubersnoot."

"Hello, Michael."

"Pastor, I know your busy so I won't take up much time. Dr. Gubersnoot has just released his Family Growth Bible series. Now, I'm sure you're familiar with the ministry of Dr. Gubersnoot."

He waited for my answer.

"No, never heard of him."
This response seemed to be the wrong answer. The voice inflection of my caller had the, your not much of a pastor much less a Christian, tone.

He continued, "Dr. Gubersnoot's material is intended for families that are dealing with X." He then went on and on without breathing for several minutes. I had plenty of time to finish my Free Cell game and polish off my coffee.

"We just want to put this in your hands to review over the next thirty days," he finished.

After a few questions I discovered that I'd have to pay the return postage (but of course, I won't want to return it.) Then the other shoe dropped. If interested, this wonderful Gubersnoot study would only cost my church $395.00.

When I told my caller that my congregation couldn't afford his material, "We're a small church and use only our denominational material." He continued to try to sell me.

"But this is not just any study. It's Dr. Gubersnoot's." As if I was turning down Daniel and his three companions.

We don't have a large deposit of undesignated money laying around. We budget for all of our literature every year and have to stick to that plan. Every year it gets harder as literature prices increase and general budget gifts decrease or stay the same. Someone should tell the vendors who target the church market to make an attempt to understand who it is they are calling. And please don't try to sell me a Bible study like your selling insurance.
Stay strong!

Small Church Seniors!

2008-11-04T08:59:00.002-05:00

The Small Church is without doubt the largest demographic of congregations within American evangelical Christianity. Churches of 125 or less compose 80% of the visible kingdom.
That being true what is the largest demographic within the Small Church?

The answer to that question probably differs from congregation to congregation. However, from my experience and observation the Small Church's most stable demographic are the senior adults. Notice, I changed language on you. I went from largest to most stable. Your largest might be your youth or children. It might be your middle adults but the group that represents the back bone of your church is probably the seniors. While other groups may be larger they are not as stable as the seniors. They aren't as important either.

The senior adults in the Small Church are the most faithful givers. The majority of the tithers and givers in my church are my seniors. They are the ones that lead the way in gifts to the general fund as well as the mission offerings. They're as regular as the sunrise.

The senior adults in the Small Church should be the teachers (either explicitly or implicitly). These are the elders both in age and experience in Christianity. They must teach! If anyone pays attention they are teaching. The seniors in my church are the ones who support and attend every service even if they have to come from a distance to do it. The young families in the church need the example of long tenured marriages, membership in the congregation, and toughness when things go wrong.

The senior adults in the Small Church should be the biggest supporters of the pastor. There is an order of leadership mentioned in the Bible. The seniors in your congregation understand that order and in most case are the ones to show the pastor proper respect. If they don't communicate that to the other families the authority and position of the pastor will continue to erode.

The senior adults in the Small Church are the history department. They archive the history of the church and the denomination. It is imperative that the families of the church access that information before it is gone. We are on the verge of forgetting who we are and why we are. The trend of no-name, non-denominational congregations has taken a toll on the established denominational church. The senior adults can stem that tide by reminding us of our shared history. They must speak!

“A gray head is a crown of glory, it is found in the way of righteousness.” Proverbs 16:31

"How 'bout Six?" A Story

2008-10-27T08:29:00.000-04:00

Daniel Jamison was a small church pastor who loved his church. Blossom Valley Baptist Church was kind and hard working. They loved their little community and did all they could to reach the souls living there for Christ.

The church budget was small and restricted Daniel from going to conventions that required overnight stays or airplane tickets. He always felt like it was his duty to attend when he could. He was proud of Blossom Valley Baptist Church and wanted its people represented.

The year came when the State Convention of Baptists held their annual meeting in a town close to Blossom Valley. Daniel looked forward to attending. He remembered the meetings of his youth. He recalled how he would be so encouraged by the wise preaching and Godly advice he received from the speakers. He needed to sit under preaching like that again.

The day came and Daniel arrived. The new convention hall was shiny and beautiful with all the trappings of convention-going. The people were dressed well and there was an air of excitement in the crowd. Looking through the program that morning Daniel found the speaker he most wanted to hear. He'd been told so much about this gentleman and his great work with the mission board's evangelism department. Daniel was hungry to hear what the Lord would say to him through this brother's message.

The hour came and Daniel was found in the second row. The music was fabulous and inspiring, the prayers were uplifting and the atmosphere very respectful. The setting was perfect for a message from the Lord. The mission leader began his message with some off-color church humor that tore at the spirit which had so carefully been created by the preceding elements of worship. How could he have known though? Daniel watched as they escorted him in five minutes before he was to speak. After the customary laughter the speaker settled into the meat of his message. Distressed that he hadn't anchored his comments in a passage from the Bible Daniel still listened closely for the Lord to speak. Then it happened. The speaker drew out the tried and trite big church/big denomination insults.

"If you baptized five or less last year something's wrong," he shouted from the platform. "If you're not reaching your community for Christ there's something very wrong!"

Daniel felt like he'd been slapped with a cold, wet towel. His mind was locked on those words. He thought about the people of Blossom Valley and was glad they weren't in attendance. He was hurt. They had worked hard all year to reach their little community. Nothing was wrong with their effort or the results. The numbers might not be as big as this big church apologist would like but that was in the Lord's hands.

When Daniel came to himself he heard him say, "The problem is you're not praying hard enough!"

Daniel was on his feet. Standing just fifteen feet away from the platform he raised his hand. There were thousands seated around him. Daniel Jamison, pastor of Blossom Valley Baptist Church stuck out like a sore thumb. After a few uncomfortable seconds the speaker finally focused on Daniel.

He asked, "Brother, do you have a question?"

"Yes," Daniel said. "How 'bout six?"

"What do you mean?"

"You said that if we've baptized five or less there's something wrong. How 'bout six, is that enough?" Daniel said.

"Well . . . it depends. Six is fine if that is all you can manage."

"What if all you can manage is five? Is there still something wrong? Daniel asked.

Out of the corner of his eye Daniel could see the security personnel starting to gather. As long as the speaker was amused they probably wouldn't move in.

"I know a church of 200 that went from baptizing four one year to baptizing 32 the next. They employed our denomination's latest outreach strategy. You should have received a copy of it in the mail," the speaker said.

"I pastor a church of 32 active members and we baptized four people last year," Daniel said.

A few amens could be heard in the background. Everyone was listening closely to this encounter.

"Well, it sounds like your doing well in your corner of the kingdom," the speaker said.

He seemed nervous. It was obvious there were more in the crowd that agreed with Daniel than with him. Daniel knew it wouldn't be long now before the security came in to remove him.

"It's really not about numbers is it? We do our best and leave the results up to the Lord. So the church that baptizes five or less is doing just fine as long as they have been faithful witnesses. Wouldn't you agree?" Daniel asked.

That statement was not in-line with denominational policy and Daniel knew as soon as he said it that security would be speaking to him next.

"Brother, please come with us. You've disturbed this session long enough," a young security officer said.

As they were leading him out someone shouted, "Stay strong, brother!"

Something's Wrong!

2008-10-21T08:07:00.000-04:00

Last night was the annual meeting of my association here in Cincinnati. The featured speaker was a denominational executive from one of our mission boards. I went into the meeting thinking it would be encouraging. I should have known better.

My first clue to the trouble ahead was when the speaker didn't show up until 5 minutes before he was scheduled to speak. Now, he wasn't late to the meeting. He was in the building just not in the service with the rest of us. I have never understood the rationale behind that. Are they afraid of being overwhelmed with autograph hounds?

I could overlook that but then he draws out the tried and true big church/big denomination insults. "If you have baptized 5 or less in the last year something's wrong," he shouted from the platform. "If you're not reaching your community for Christ there's something very wrong!"

Is it possible to preach and witness and "reach" and still baptize 5 or less? The Small Church pastor knows the answer to that question.

He went on to tell us that passionate prayer will do the trick. We just aren't passionate enough in our praying. If we were there would be more results. Of course, all of these statements came with a stampede of illustrations from his big church experience that proved his point.

Is it possible to pray passionately, for years, and not see the kind of results he suggested? The Small Church pastor knows the answer to that question too.

Something's wrong but its not small results.

Something's wrong with denominational leaders who look down their long noses at Small Churches who are doing their best.

Something's wrong when those same leaders don't remember that it's the Small Churches that sacrificially support the mission and programs that fund them.

Something's wrong with using numbers as the only standard by which to judge the health/success of churches.

Something's wrong when denominational leaders are allowed to paint with brooms. They sweep into these meetings, make sweeping statements and sweep out. We need to hold them accountable. I saw lots of pastors walking out of the meeting last night either hurt or jaded.

Something's wrong with Small Church pastors who go to these meetings and never say anything. We just take it and go our way. It's high time to stand up to the big church bullies.

Something's wrong with me. I had a chance to stand up but I didn't. I just took it.
At least I have a blog.

Stay strong!

Small Church Pastors Exhorted to Learn

2008-10-16T14:47:00.000-04:00

Let me start this post by saying I am not against the "big" church. I am delighted when they do well and understand that both small and large congregations have a role to play in kingdom matters. To compare them however is a mistake. It's like comparing horses and door hinges. They are not alike.

I came across an article written in the Christian Post on Outreach Magazine's annual report on the fastest growing mega churches. I found it interesting that they mentioned the Small Church and its pastor. The Post article interviewed Ed Stetzer the author of Outreach Magazine's research.

Let me share some insights gleaned from the article.

In the top ten churches are notables such as Lakewood Church, Willow Creek and Saddleback. Their attendance ranges from 19,000 to 43,000 each week. However, the study indicates that these congregations have seen a decline in attendance over the last year from 5% to 15%. We all big and small alike have experienced a decline over the last several years. But for the small church pastor a 10% dip in attendance is very noticeable. If you have 80 people in worship on Sunday morning and you loose 8 over the course of a year that's a big blow to the entire program. Everything is affected from leadership to finances. If you're looking at 43,000 people each week do you even notice the 4,000 that aren't there?

The article mentions the trend of multi site churches and quotes Stetzer as saying this is the new norm for large churches. In the article Stetzer then turns his comments to the Small Church and its pastor. I was surprised and a little shocked that we would show up on the radar screen anywhere in this discussion. At first I was pleased because:
1. The small church was recognized as the average size of American congregations.
2. Stetzer was quoted as saying that outreach shouldn't be defined by numbers alone.
3. That smaller churches shouldn't try to become mega just because it seems trendy.

Amen! But then, as I read on, my pleasure turned to dismay. (I shouldn't have gotten by hopes up.) The "Nevertheless" statement waited for me at the end. Even when trying to recognize the Small Church the big church crowd still manages to suggest that the Small Church pastor can learn a lot from the successful large/mega church pastor. Why doesn't anyone ever suggest that a Small Church pastor be consulted. Can nothing be learned from us? Not in the current climate - we're not big enough. Only those with seats numbering in the thousands are to be consulted. We are the poor in the church community who only need to learn.
Right?
Wrong!
Stay strong!

Measuring Success

2008-10-09T15:37:00.000-04:00

In a recent issue of the Founders Journal Dr. James P. Boyce's commencement address from 1879 before the graduating class of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary was published. The theme of the message is for the class to concentrate on holiness and purity within their churches.

During the course of his remarks he makes some very interesting statements related to the small and large church pastorates. "Nor do we have the desire that you shall be called to large city pastorates. The success of a minister is often measured in this way."

I think Dr. Boyce has hit on the problem yet today. The larger the church the more successful (it seems) the pastor is. Which means that if you haven't moved up something must be wrong with you.

Try this equation on for size:
A large church is prestigious,
Its pastor is powerful;
Therefore, the pastor of a large church is a success.

Is this true? I think we could plug many other descriptive words in place of "prestigious" and "powerful" and this would seem true. The problem is we have replaced the church's (spiritual) idea of success for the the world's (business).

Where does this leave the Small Church pastor? He or she is told (both spoken and unspoken) that they are a failure. Of course, this is communicated in the nicest Christian way possible. So how should we measure success if it is not linked with the size of the congregation?

Think on that while I try a new equation:
The small church is strong,
Its pastor is versatile;
Therefore, both pastor and church are blessed.

Stay strong!

Conference Notes

2008-10-03T08:34:00.000-04:00

On September 27, 2008 I spoke at the Planting Seeds for Ministry Growth event at Hopewell UMC in Downingtown, PA. My workshop was titled, "Small Does Not Mean Struggling."
During the workshop I handed the participants an outline of my notes. What follows is a copy of those handouts (minus the group worksheets and bibliography). Thanks again to Rev. Jim Todd of the South West District and to Rev. Steve Morton of Hopewell UMC for hosting me.

1. What is the Small Church?

According to most definitions the small church can be classified as a congregation of 125 persons or less (mostly less) in regular, active attendance.

Some say the small membership congregation is struggling. Some complain that the small church is ineffective. Many wish the small churches would merge to form bigger, healthier congregations.

Denominational leaders and many para-church organizations see the small church and her pastor as a mystery. They find the small membership congregation a drain on resources especially in a one-size-fits-all world.

Lyle Schaller says in his book, The Small Church is Different, “The small-membership church is consistent with the natural order of creation.”

Jackson Carroll says in his book, Small Churches are Beautiful, “Small churches, by virtue of their size, have unique opportunities for vital functioning in some areas that are not normally open to larger churches.”

Here are three answers to the question "What is the small church?"

The Small Church is . . .

2. Relational.

The small church is unrivaled when it comes to building relationships. No one can sneak in or sneak out on Sunday. People are looking for contact and a sense of belonging. The small congregation provides this in abundance. (This is what the large and mega churches try to recapture with their small groups.)

The small church is more effective within its community. Many are engaged in civic causes and activities. They make a difference and bring a unique presence to community activities.

Care is expressed more effectively by small churches. They produce a sense of family that is translated into concern during the victories and disasters of life.

Leadership is exercised along relational lines rather than lines of responsibility. Spiritual gifts and God-given talents find expression in this template.

Outreach happens most effectively for the small congregation when it grows out of the functioning relationships of the group.

The person at the center of the relational chart is the small church's pastor. He or she is the chief care giver and the lynch pin behind the organization's success.

3. Strong.

Spiritual strength is difficult to calculate. Most small churches find themselves very healthy due to their strong focus on the Word of God. A faithful commitment to the Bible as the only manual for faith and practice is standard among smaller congregations.

Not only are small churches Biblically centered but they also have a strong missiology. Larger congregations are withdrawing from mission causes to redirect funds to maintain their programs and create mission stations in their own name.

The small church has not forgotten what and who it is in relation to the denomination. Most small congregations are active in their local denominational expression. They continue to affirm their involvement in the denomination and raise up lay leaders to continue that work.

Another strength is the sense of history present in the conscious of the small church. This acts as an anchor which helps give direction to the congregation. This history in many cases is preserved and cherished by the small church.

All of these strengths revolve around the small church's pastor. He or she is the person who oversees each of these issues. It is due to their passion that the small church is strong.

4. Vibrant.

Not having the resources for a multitude of programs the small church usually does one thing well. This becomes a signature activity which defines who they are in the community.

Involvement with the signature activity helps to define relationships within the church. Although this event might only happen yearly the resources of the church (both people, finances and space) are at the disposal of those leaders.

Because of its size and desire to be a part of community life the small church's leadership is more likely acquainted with the local government authorities. They may even be members of the congregation.

The person on point as liaison between the community and the church is the pastor. He or she is essential for a vibrant presence on the church field.

Small Church conference events

2008-09-29T13:48:00.001-04:00

I was privileged to be apart of the Planting Seeds event in Downingtown, PA this past weekend. Before I led my workshop "Small Does Not Mean Struggling" I was asked to speak on Friday night to the Small Church pastors of the Southwest District of the Eastern PA Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Rev. Jim Todd (pictured on the right) the district superintendent was my host. We met at Boehms UMC which I discovered was a birthing place for Methodism in America.

Pastor Ken and his wife were our hosts and made everyone welcome. The "funeral tea" was especially good.

On Saturday I spoke at the Planting Seeds for Ministry Growth event hosted by Hopewell UMC in Downingtown, PA. The picture is of the original building. I was blessed to be in a room right off the old sanctuary. It was a perfect place to hold a meeting for Small Church pastors and church members.

My thanks to Pastor Steve Morton (pictured on right), pastor of Hopewell UMC for his vision. I know the Small Church pastors were excited to have a workshop designed just for them. Ann-Marie Barber (on left) was the hostess, editrix, and general manager of the event. She is a wonderful leader for the Planting Seeds event.

The pastors and members who attended were wonderful and very easy to teach. You can see some of them in the picture. I'm tucked away in the background against the wall.
My thanks also to Bill Belnap, Lin George, George Haimbach and Dan Hepner for their help and kindness.

Five Static States of the Small Church

2008-09-26T09:57:00.000-04:00

I firmly believe that the Small Church pastor is the single greatest leader on the planet. In this edition of Small Church Strong I list the Five Static States of the Small Church. This is the environment where Small Church pastors minister and fulfill their calling.
Consider:

1. Finances
Let's get this one out of the way. Not every one in the congregation is tithing. We all know it. But even if they were we wouldn't be flush with cash. Yet with limited resources the Small Church finds a way to meet not only fixed expenses but ministry expenses as well.
Having a limited resource in this area isn't always a bad thing. We must look to the Lord for supply. The Small Church pastor understands the blessing of tithing and watches as the Lord provides for the flock.
It also causes the pastor to become creative in generating finances for their family and flock. I know of several entrepreneurial pastors who looked around their situation and made lemon from lemon-aid. Their ingenuity was the catalyst for blessing as the Lord provide in new ways.

2. Leaders
The small church pastor doesn't have many of these. There is no B Team at the Small membership congregation. Any hole in that team means an energy leak in whatever program they support. When one of the leaders is out it usually falls on the pastor to make it work. He or she has to be flexible enough to be a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. He/she has to be a plummer, an electrician, a lawn care specialist, a carpenter in addition to counselor, chaplain, pastor, preacher, teacher, and conflict resolution specialist.
The pastor of a small congregation knows as much about leadership as anyone. He or she has to navigate in shallow waters. They know how to captain a ship with a small, all volunteer crew. These people are the champions of leadership. They have the thickest skin and keenest minds but are perceived as under performers.

3. Space
Even if the small church could double its numbers it probably doesn't have the physical space for that kind of increase. No only is the space small but (in many cases) it is older and in need of repair. All the calls for growth fall on deaf ears when the space for the growth is limited and the finances and leadership to create the growth is not present.
The Small Church pastor has to contend with this Static State and find ways to make the space as warm, inviting and safe as possible.

4. People
The ministry of the Small Church pastor is to everyone in the church. They are not escorted in by a cadre of deacons or elders, preach, and then immediately leave. The Small Church pastor is the perfect picture of a shepherd feed sheep. He or she is rubbing up against their people every week. The ministry in a Small Church is not done by proxy. Everyone in this situation knows that would never fly - nor should it.
Speaking of people - there are problem people in the Small Church and because of the size they are immediately recognizable. Let me recommend Well-Intentioned Dragons. You'll find the reference in my book list. Again the Small Church pastor has to handle these folks and learns very quickly how to do it with grace to survive.
Because the situation in the Small Church is so intimate there is very little polish. Let me explain. When you go into a mega church service it is mostly performance based. There is lots of shine, polish, and glam. This is one of the things that makes the mega church so attractive. At the Small Church you may be greeted by Jimmy. He likes to greet every one and talks to them about everything all the way through the front door and follows them to their pew and talks until service starts or someone rescues you from his clutches. Or you might get a big hug and a "I love you" from a very sweet 52 year old Down-Syndrome lady who likes to greet folks too.
People looking for "shine" won't be back. People looking for family, will. The Small Church pastor manages a motley crew of wonderful, God-called people

5. Community
While driving through the country the other day I came across an Small Church. The building was the first thing I saw. It was a white weather board building with a steeple and a bell tower. There were out buildings surrounding it also made of the white weather boarding. I noticed that a road led away from the front of the church. Along the road, on both sides, where modern red brick ranch homes. The road ended in a "T" intersection. On the other side of the intersection was a school building and more homes. My last glance as I drove by was of a big green street sign at the corner. I guarantee that community grew up around that church. It was and is the focal point of life for that little village.
The Small Church pastor is unique because he/she knows that to be effective they must be engaged with the community-at-large. They become the village parson, the recognized town clergyman who is a lead by virtue of their position.
I had a great compliment given to me this week. A lady who is a long time resident of the community where I pastor saw me and said, "Well, if it isn't the shepherd of (my town)." I felt like someone had given me an Oscar. The Small Church pastor is the original community leader.

Thanks for considering these Five Static States of the Small Church. Have I missed any? If you have some to add please drop me a note in the comments.
Stay Strong!

Green Around the Gills: Sick of Bowing at the Altar of Political Correctness.

2008-09-20T13:10:00.000-04:00

I love the color green.

When my family plays Sorry! I always pick the green pieces. My wife tells me I look good in my green polo shirt. I'm a Packers fan, so I have lots of Packer green around the house. I would say the color green and I are close friends.

That being said, if I have to read another article or see another advertisement for "green churches" I will be ill. My condition has been brought on most recently by an article in Church Solutions' October 2008 issue. Dennis Walsh authored a piece entitled, "The Rocky Road Between Environmentalists & Evangelicals." Mr. Walsh did a good job hooking me into the article. In the first paragraph he complains about Hollywood, the media and politicians promoting the "new God-free moral code - where the only sin is greenhouse gas emissions and the pinnacle of virtue is the neutralization of one's carbon footprint." He had me. I was already starting to cheer. Then, things went Green.

Let me describe his arguments and express my concerns with each. Maybe this will be good medicine for my sickness.

1. He complains that the lack of church integrity on the Green issue "grieves the heart of God."
Is God grieved over this man-made issue? A review of Psalm 95 and Hebrew 3 will show us what God is grieved over. He is saddened by man's unbelief and hardness of heart. To be fair to Mr. Walsh hardheartedness is the root of the abuse of the created world but living a life of sustainability won't change that. Our job is to preach the cross. That alone will change the heart of men. Remember Mr. Walsh, it was the sin of Adam that caused the creation to fall. Romans 8:18 - 25 teaches us that redemption is coming for creation and for us who are in Christ but it won't come through eco-friendly practices.

2. Not knowing it Mr. Walsh identifies the problem in our modern churches. He says Americans have hollow, thirsty hearts that they try to fill by doing good for others. They are "Fed up with . . . the harsh and senseless demands of religion and its seemingly hypocritical leaders." He concludes by saying environmental activism provides comfort for these lost souls.
I agree with him on this point. American no-name, non-denom churches have gone out of their way to make people feel good by doing community action projects and social repair ministries. They have substituted the preaching of the gospel for pop culture trends that don't address the heart issue (see point #1) and so now are easily moved into the latest feel good activism. I want to know what the harsh and senseless demands of religion are, however.

3. He exhorts his readers, "God has called believers to be good stewards of the earth." He complains that we are not living a simple life, that we have no concern for sacrifice, and that we are not appropriately changing our behavior.
I can't find the passage in the Bible that tells me God has called me to an eco-friendly life. I can however find plenty of scripture telling me that God has called me to faith in Christ Jesus. A calling to life in Christ is a simple, sacrificial, behavior changing existence. This life results in a call to deeper mission and discipleship. It sounds like environmental activism is a religion all its own.

4. He stated that public opinion of environmental issues based on questionable scientific evidence must lead the church to transform its priorities. The church's bad reputation among the general population adds fuel (sorry if that's not carbon friendly) to the need for the church to conform.
(I feel like my fever is getting worse.) Are we living in the Twilight Zone? The mission of the church should change because of someone's bad opinion based on non-existent scientific evidence in order to make people feel good? The churches mission and priorities have been despised since their was a church. They won't change now due to public opinion. Thank God!

5. He complains that houses of worship are some of the biggest wasters of of energy.
I would like more information. Does he mean we don't use florescent bulbs? It's hard to be green because it's so expensive. Small churches especially don't have the budget to purchase all the latest energy saving devices. Only those with lots of money and lots of time are worried about making things greener. The small church is worried about changing peoples' hearts. (see point #1)

6. Mr. Walsh gives us a list of churches that are making changes. He cites the Catholic church, Southern Baptists, Mormons, and the Presbyterian church as making declarations in support of the climate.
Are these suppose to be evangelical churches? The only evangelical group in his list are the Southern Baptists. I happen to be Southern Baptist. I don't know what declaration he is referring to but it was probably a resolution made during the convention. Resolutions are tooth-less declarations describing the mood of the messengers at the convention on one particular day. These are not binding dictates passed down to the churches (thank God for autonomy) but feel good statements.

7. He concludes his article with this statement. "The Christian groups who have so often minimized the issue, and even dismissed it altogether as a political construct, are beginning to change their point of view. A shift in the priorities of evangelical Christians is underway."
That we should shift our priorities is scary. If we do, in favor of environmentalism, we will cease to be the church and become druids, and animists. It is time for the church to take a firm stand against the encroaching religion of environmentalism. We must cause a shift in the priorities of the world.

I feel better.
Stay strong!

Small Does Not Mean Struggling

2008-09-16T23:58:00.000-04:00

The Small Church Pastor has to hide from the barrage of voices telling her/him that they really aren't doing enough. The unspoken assumption is that if it's small it must be stagnant. The Small Church is not dead! It comprises the largest percentage of congregations in America and world-wide. However, that truth does not stop the marketing of "Big is Better."
The calls come from the the well meaning evangelists of Big Church USA. Sometimes words aren't spoken. A look is leveled, a pause in conversation, or a tightening of the body language communicates a message of dissatisfaction. The meaning is clear. If you really loved the Lord and did things the right way (i.e our way) you'd be growing and prospering.
This "Gospel of Growth" is based partly on the assumption that the Bible commands us to grow numerically. I don't disagree with growth neither numerically nor spiritually. I do disagree with someone outside of my congregation establishing an amount of growth for me. The evangelists of BCUSA will extol now much their church has grown and look down their noses at the "few", according to them, additions my congregation has experienced.
They can never show me the passage in the New Testament or the Old Testament that outlines a number or an amount or even suggests a percentage. They never entertain me with a fore-shadow from Exodus or a parable from Matthew that points to how much my small congregation should grow. No these circuit riders stay far away from Acts 2:46 - 47 which is a perfect picture of the small church in the New Testament. They can't show me "how much" because the Lord is in control of all of the "how muches," even theirs. He sets the limits and does the addition.
The other part of the "Gospel of Growth" is based on a contemporary business model. This template works so well for manufacturing and selling widgets that Big Church USA has swallowed it hook, line and sinker. Quarterly goals are set and targets mapped out which must be achieved. Once reached, new goals are laid out and old targets are discarded. It reminds me of Dr. Seuss' story The Zax. Listen to one of the Zax's opening statements. "Look here now!" the North-Going Zax said. "I say! You are blocking my path. You are right in my way. I'm a North-Going Zax and I always go north. Get out of my way, now, and let me go forth!" The Zax in his story are so focused on the grove in which they are walking that they can not see anything else, think anything else, or be anything else. But what happens when they reach their destination? What have they missed and who have they missed?
This focus on numbers and increase is myopic. We will end up having missed the Lord along the way. He is our focus. He can handle the numbers part. It's our job to trust Him and not to get caught up in the latest model of growth to come sweeping through the Prairie of Prax.
Stay Strong!

Getting It Right?

2008-09-05T11:51:00.000-04:00

I get lots of mail. I'm sure you do, too. Much of it comes in the form of the 8" x 6" glossy postcard from the latest conference that will change my ministry life forever.
I got one of those the other day. This one was from the "Walnut Stream Association" which wanted to transform me and give me insights that I wouldn't get elsewhere. So I opened it--which always precedes pitching it. As I glanced through, one of the banners caught my attention. It said, "Come Hear From Churches That Are 'Getting It Right.'" I was hooked. Who's getting what right? I wondered. So I read on. The following is an excerpt from the smaller print below the banner. "They come from many different places, denominations, and cultural settings and they have a huge range in adult weekend attendance, from 220 to over 9,000."
I should have thrown the thing away, because after reading that I blew up (in Jesus' name). Here are my complaints:

1. "Walnut Stream" doesn't want small church pastors to attend. One of the "Dig Deeper Over Lunch" sessions is advertised for "Churches Like Yours" who have an adult weekend attendance of under 500 (that's the lowest amount). Under 500? How about a total attendance of 50?

2. The ad demonstrates a gross misunderstanding of the size of a small church. I'm sure who ever wrote this ad copy thinks that 220 is a small church. By the way, why would they send it to me? They don't even know who it's going to. Surely there aren't churches in America with fewer adult weekend attendees than 220, are there?

3. Small churches and their pastors aren't "Getting It Right." Of course we aren't. If we were we'd be running 220 to 9,000 in adult weekend attendance, right? Honestly, the Lord can't be pleased if your numbers are below 220, can He?

I feel better now.

Let me counter this piece of junk mail with some of my own. Although, I won't be so bold or wasteful as to send you a glossy flier.

"Strong Pastors Get It Right!"
Join thousands of Pastors who have a weekly total attendance of 5 - 125 yet have one thing in common. They're "Getting It Right" every week. They understand spiritual growth, the sacrifice of the ministry, and the joy of intimate shepherding. They are the true spiritual entrepreneurs of our time.

Enjoy sessions such as:

One Pastor's Journey with a Pipe Wrench.
You'll enjoy this shepherd's story of maneuvering through a crawl space in the winter to repair a broken pipe.

The Latest Findings on Shepherding Small Finances.
Instruction and encouragement for the Small Church pastor who doesn't have the budget to meet every fixed expense or ministry need.

There be Dragons Here!
You'll enjoy this humorous look at the difficult people the Small Church pastor has to contend with and receive encouragement to survive gracefully.

Who wouldn't want to attend that kind of conference? Sadly, I don't look to get that announcement anytime soon. Anyway, the mail's here and I've got another flier to read. Stay Strong!

A Beginning

2008-08-29T11:01:00.000-04:00

Small Church Strong will start with a article I wrote for Church Solutions Magazine and appeared in their August 2007 issue. I would like to thank Karen Butler and her editorial team at Church Solutions for their encouragment and support.

A Parable of Comparisons

While pastoring in rural Kentucky I enjoyed the woodlands that surrounded my church. One day while hiking I came upon a strange site. In the midst of the forest a convocation of trees was in session. I hid myself and listened in on their proceedings as Brother Oak stood behind the council rock to speak.
“The Chair wishes to thank Brother Sequoia for that stirring speech entitled 'How to Produce Tons of Nuts Without Going Nuts.' We have received fraternal greetings from the Woodland Creatures Association thanking all of us for providing the much needed fruits that sustained them over this last winter. Now the Chair recognizes our distinguished committee composed of Brother Hickory, Brother Ash, Brother Elm and Brother Maple.”
The Oak gave way to a very large Hickory which moved ever so slowly behind the rock. “The task before us was of the greatest and gravest concern. Our special called committee could not have done this work without the encouragement of our distinguished Chair, Brother Oak. Our assignment was to determine if the smaller members of our association were, in fact, trees.”
Now I've never seen trees speaking to each other before, so I'm not completely sure but it seemed as if there was a nervous pause. Scanning the crowd I noticed that the majority of attendees were smaller trees – Dogwoods, Red Buds, Cedars, and so forth.
“After a diligent comparison of the small trees (so called) to ourselves we have come to the conclusion that they are not trees in the general sense of the word. They are not as tall and don't produce as many leaves as we do. Their fruit and seed production is far below ours nor do they enjoy the clear sunlight. Their contribution to the woodland fauna is negligible compared to us. Not only that but they also drain the necessary resources from the forest floor that we need to continue our grand work. However, in the interest of unity and fidelity we move that the small trees (so called) be allowed to remain as members of our fraternity.”
Brother Oak now stepped up behind the rock. “Are there any questions?”
A Dogwood stood and addressed the podium. “Brother Oak what sense does it make to compare us to you? Any such comparison would of course render the results the committee has reported. We smaller trees are indeed trees. We have bark, root, branch, stem and leaves. We flower, bare fruit and seed. We provide for the woodland wildlife in many ways. In short we follow the Creator's pattern. We may not be as grand as you but we are still trees.”
A muffled sound of affirmation rolled across the gathered assembly. Silence followed. Then Brother Oak said, “It is the opinion of the chair that this matter be referred back to the committee for further review.”
The convocation quickly broke up and I returned to my wanderings before being detected. I mused at how ridiculous it was for the larger trees to assume that the smaller ones weren't really trees at all. Is the Dogwood less of a tree because it doesn't reach to height of the Oak's grand canopy? Of course not.
So why do we make the same assumptions about churches? Is the smaller congregation less of a church because of its size? It may not have the large budget and huge programs of a mega congregation but it has everything it needs to impact its community for the kingdom.
Too many churches and pastors labor under the illusion that they aren't doing enough for the Lord because they are small. Let me relieve you of that burden. Smaller does not mean less than, but it does mean different. The large and mega churches are trying to capture the small church feel. They really want what you have!
So if you are serving in a small congregation whether rural, urban or suburban focus on your strengths. Look around your church. I guarantee you there is at least one thing that your congregation does better than anyone else. Celebrate that uniqueness and continue to do it even if it doesn't seem “big” enough. Remember, what you have is what everyone else wants – a place where people can connect and be valued.