Faith is Not a Number
Small Churches Still Make a Difference
Being a small church is not the same thing as being a dying church. Because numbers only tell a part of the
story. The real key to finding vitality
in small packages is in identifying our unique calling and in realizing how
that serves Jesus in this very special place.
What does success mean in your small or rural church? Too
often we adopt models that are better suited for the corporate world, rather
than the body of Christ, and in the process we find that both our vision and
our mission can frequently suffer. Part of the problem is that we consistently
ask the wrong questions.
From our 21st century, North American point of
view, we measure success with numbers.
How many members do you have? How many have you gained this year? How many have you lost? Then we tend to
compare those numbers with the standards set by other congregations. Our measure of a successful church is one
that is increasing in membership and consistently has more income than
expenses. Congregations that experience
consistent declines in these categories are a source of concern, regardless of
the type or quality of ministry that they practice. We feel comfortable with this corporate model
of assessment, because it is the same model that we use to assess the other
aspects of our lives.
Many small and rural churches suffer from an identity crisis
based on their perceived place in the comparative pecking order. As pastors we feed that mindset in the ways
we refer to our own ministry settings.
In talking to others about the work that we do, one of the first
questions we frequently ask is, “How many members do you have?” as if that is
the most important of all identifying factors.
Too often members of these smaller churches undervalue the work and
ministry they do, simply because they are trapped in a system that puts more of
a premium on the number of people in the seats and less of a value on the
quality of their faith or the things they do in the name of the Gospel. But what if we ignored the numbers and
focused primarily on mission? What if we looked at the work that we do in our
context through the lens of service to Jesus Christ, rather than quantifiable
categories?
Smaller membership congregations have the opportunity to
renew their own sense of spiritual well-being by intentionally thinking about
the purpose of their faith community. It
goes without saying that worshiping and glorifying the Lord is our primary
purpose, but what happens if attendance numbers are low or musical gifts are
absent or the quality of worship is uninspiring for reasons that are unrelated
to the gospel itself? These factors can
accelerate the sense that a church is in decline. Worship is essential, but if worship is the
only way the congregation expresses its life together or its presence in a
community, then a decline in worship may be an indicator that the life of that
congregation is coming to an end.
Vital churches, regardless of size, discover additional ways
to express their mission to Jesus Christ.
While worship is generally an internal expression of a congregation’s
calling, other means of outreach can feed the flames of their faith and assert
the importance of the church in that community.
Let's be very clear - making disciples and providing pastoral care are
essential functions of every faith community, regardless of size. And mere
activity should never be mistaken for the real business of the church. But
activity is the language that the church speaks in its effort to be visible to
the larger community. Through visible activities the church is able to
make inroads into larger circles, often filled with those who have a
marginal, or even no faith commitment. This is an opportunity for mission and
evangelism local-style, even if we never use those words. A low-membership church, even one that has
been in danger of closing, can experience a renewed sense of life and purpose,
when its members rededicate themselves to a particular work that distinguishes
them within that context.
Mission studies are common within most denominations, but
unfortunately they most frequently occur when the church is in the process of
seeking new pastoral leadership. Too
often that means that the study is seen as another hurdle that needs to be
overcome so that we can get on with the process of finding the right
person. As a result, they often reaffirm
the most common practices of a congregation and seldom lead to new ways of
thinking or new directions for ministry. Therefore it is important for congregations
seeking new vitality to think intentionally about their identity at a different
time, when finding a pastor is not the primary concern.
Every small and rural church should ask this question - If we did not exist in this community, what
would be missed?
If the answer is nothing, then the writing is on the wall.
That church is a good candidate for closing, since it contributes little to the
cause of Christ or the community itself.
But if the answer reveals an aspect of ministry or service, then the
conversation has a place to begin.
Vitality in any church, particularly a small congregation, is directly
related to identity. And identity is
related to the ways our efforts to represent Jesus are perceived and received
by ourselves and by those in the world around us.
Many churches still live in the shadow of their golden
years. They look back on a time when the pews were full and the Sunday School
rooms crowded and think that the same type of ministry is possible today. But
with very different resources, the 30 member church cannot live the same life
as the 200 or 300 member church that they used to be. The question is not "How can we do what
we used to do," but rather, "What can 30 people do well in this place
to bring glory to God?"
What does this look like in real life? A sense of service in the name of Christ is
unique to every faith community. In one
place I served it was our commitment to meals on wheels and the impact that had
on the shut-ins around us. In another,
it was realized by renewing our commitment to the young people of the
community, regardless of faith or denomination, and providing a place for them to
gather a couple of nights a week. In other towns it might mean providing weekly
volunteers at the local nursing home or sponsoring a food stand at the county
fair with prices that enable even the poorest of families to enjoy a meal. Some congregations have an annual meal or
event that everyone looks forward to, like a chicken supper or a roast beef
dinner. On the outside they may seem
like simple fundraisers, but in reality the ways that church members are drawn
together to make the event a success and the perception in the community that
this Christian church is doing something for others in the name of Jesus, makes
the event a success in ways that reach far beyond the number of people served
or the amount of money raised.
Even churches that have no distinguishing activities or
types of outreach can gain a sense of vitality by asking a couple of different
questions – what does our community need, how can our church fulfill that need,
and how could such an outreach serve the cause of Christ?
