Revitalize Your Church

A young pastor once contacted me, seeking suggestions for effective ministry in his small community.  Here is my response: 1.  Think Big and Little. Too many rural pastors suffer from myopia -- small vision.  "How can anything significant happen in a little place like this?"  However, it pays to remember that Jesus launched the greatest mission in human history from rural context.  If you have the right perspective, you can touch the world from the end of it!  Refuse to be small minded. Do something special with what you have.  Go the extra mile and put some "wow" into it.  It doesn't take much more to make a huge difference.  Remember, in a small community, you don't have to be great to be spectacular. Take a risk and do something big.  Plan a significant event and invite the whole community.  (A few ideas: a dinner to honor veterans or rescue workers, a fun outreach for children, a hunting or fishing expo, a concert, the ...

Pastoral work glides on two skis:  leading and loving -- and love is always the lead ski. I used to think that loving was the only ski required for an effective small church pastorate.  But that is not the case.  Most small church parishioners want their pastor to take them somewhere.  They desire to make a difference for eternity rather than merely going around in circles.  They long for life, energy, spiritual passion and momentum.  They want to see something happen! It is a myth that members of small congregations don't want change.  Except for a few dysfunctional power brokers, saints in small churches don't want to settle for status-quo.  As Carey Nieuwhof says, "most people actually want change.  They just want well-led change."   (And some of the "dysfunctional power brokers are just good-hearted folk who love their church too much to let it be hijacked by stupidity.) Resistance to pastoral leadership in a small chur...

The majority of protestant churches are in small towns and rural communities. Many pastors, upon graduation from seminary, find themselves in one of these "ends of the earth" assignments. Their attitude is "I'm stuck here in this one horse town until I learn the ropes.  Then, I'll move on and do something important." Today, as Christmas approaches, I'd like to challenge the assumption that small places are insignificant. Jesus, God in human flesh, came to the earth on a mission from heaven to transform humanity. He looked the whole world over and picked the perfect place to launch his global and eternal enterprise. Where did he go? What was his strategic missional selection? A small town! "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times." (Micah 5:2) You won't get any Christmas cards with p...

"We’ve got to put roots down in a neighborhood and do it the way Jesus did. That is ‘come follow me.’ When we are way too small to get involved in large projects by ourselves, we’ve got to get people in the neighborhood involved in humanitarian outreach programs. There are people out there who really would like to have opportunities to help and work."  -- Ruth Tucker

We'll probably never be a megachurch.  Our small northwoods village doesn't lend itself to a congregation like that.  However it's a perfect place for community impact -- a great place to build a "mega-watt" church.

An interesting piece that appeared at The Christian Post Blog by Able Baker:   11 Challenges Unique to Rural Pastors.

I've recently had the opportunity to connect with a fellow small town church advocate, Pastor Shannon O'Dell, of Brand New Church in the thriving metropolis of Harrison, Arkansas. Under Shannon's leadership the congregation has grown from 31 attendees to a multi-campus church, reaching thousands. I was delighted to receive a free copy of his new book, Transforming Church in Rural America via Booksneeze, and read the whole thing in two days. As one who connects with a lot of rural pastors every year through my speaking and writing, I'm always on the lookout for good resources for them. There aren't very many. Most conferences, magazine articles and ministry books are geared to the suburban minister and the megachurch mentality. Books about small town and rural ministry are quite rare, and often depressing. Authors tend to pity to pastor who serves in a small place. We pastors in small communities don't want to be pitied -- we want to be challenged! I...

Today, my friend, Dann Pageler introduced me to Heartland Ministry Network , an outstanding new resource to help pastors in small communities (associated with Trinity Bible College.) I was privileged to join them on a conference call with Shannon O'Dell, who I happened to quote on my blog earlier this morning (prompting Dann's e-mail.) Shannon shared some keen insights on transformational ministry in the rural context. He really inspires me! Some great thoughts from the conversation: 1. "Churches with less do more!" 2. "The less resources you have, the more you have to plan ahead." 3. "Resist the urge to settle." 4. "The goal of a rural church should be to reach the last, the lost and the least." 5. " Don't let church bullies (who want control without responsibility) dictate the future direction of the congregation." 6. "Your marriage is a reflection of your walk with God. 7. "If you're weary, ge...

"Leadership is resisting the urge to settle." -- Shannon O'Dell Wow -- I really needed to hear that one. It's so easy to settle into complacency when you have a good situation and long tenure. I've been reading his outstanding new book, Transforming Church in Rural America, and will be reviewing it here in a couple of weeks.

I swiped this from a great post at TN Rural Church, called "Missional Living in Southern Rural America." The same truths apply up north too -- so I switched the word "southern" to "northern" and am passing it on to you: 1. Northern Rural Churches must see themselves within the context of a vast mission field. 2. Northern Rural Churches must see themselves as missionaries (not just church members) within their own rural context. 3. Northern Rural Churches must begin to see the growing lostness that exists in their very churched culture. The assumption that most people are saved is just wrong. Many have been exposed to the Gospel, but have not yet made decisions for Christ. 4. Northern Rural Churches must figure out how to invest their resources (buildings, dollars, people, spiritual gifts, etc) incarnationally. 5. Northern Rural Churches must get past their “smallness” and realize thier potential in Kingdom Work. We, by and large, are small. Get over it a...

Florida family gives up on Small North Dakota Town Michael and Jeanette Tristani are moving back to Miami, after giving rural Hazelton, North Dakota a whirl. During their four exile to Siberia, they never did figure out how to fit in. It's been quite an experience, 50-50 at best," Tristani said. "It hasn't been easy. No one really wants new people here." Not everybody can hack it in a smalll town. It takes a good dose of time, patience and adaptability. It was about four years after moving to Hayward from southern California before I began to feel like I belonged -- and that was only after a few funerals, ice fishing, coffee at the Co-op, and hunting. When in Hazelton, do as the Hazeltoners do. The village don't adust to the newcomers. The newcomer must adjust to the village in order to survive it. There is one exception to this rule. Perhaps, a vibrant small town-rural church could help with this transition -- creating the open and welcoming space for newco...

Here's a delightful article, written a few years ago ( in Touchstone ) by my friend, Joel Tate, who pastors a wonderful congregation in rural Vermont. I believe small places, though often overlooked and neglected, are close to God's heart. After all, Jesus, himself, was a country parson.

Suburbanite, Emrys Tyler, upon graduation from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California, received the call to Ninevah -- Ninevah Presbyterian Church -- a rural congregation on the banks of the Susquehanna River in New York. Tyler quickly discovered that Ninevah is a place "where folks measure themselves, not by what they build, but by what they grow. And to grow the fruit of the land, you have to put your fingers in the soil, sweat in the sun, and wait with patience through the winter." Along this line, he wrote an outstanding article in a recent edition of Fuller Focus: The Spiritual Gift of Catching Cows. (Special thanks to my friend, Ron McClung, who sent this article to me.)

Tim Keller's advice to young ministers -- "Consider Becoming a Country Parson." That's good advice for those who are eager to get out into the field of ministry. As a solo pastor, you'll get a chance to do just about everything everything. Most young people upon graduation, hope for a staff position in a larger suburban church, but that kind of ministry does not equip one for the multiple demands of senior/solo pastorate or church planting. The fact is -- there is a shortage of rural/small town pastors -- and a glut of people hoping for staff positions. One important reminder, however, is in order: a country pastorate is NOT merely the stepping stone to a "bigger and better" ministry. It may BE the bigger and better ministry for you. With over 18 years of experience as a country parson, I can honestly say it is the most rewarding ministry position I could possibly imagine.

I have a sledgehammer in my garage, and I also have a small finishing hammer. They are both equally important to me. If I had to choose between the two, I suppose I'd pick the little guy. He's been a real help to me over the years -- but I'd rather not choose at all. Both hammers are my good friends and trusted companions. Thus, the hammers teach me a valuable lesson; bigger isn't always better! Smaller isn't always better either. The value of the tool is determined by the task ahead. Driving stakes for a circus tent? Use the sledge! Repairing the living room coffee table? The finishing hammer will do perfectly. (My wife would not appreciate me using the sledge for that!) This brings me to an important point. Why do we compare ourselves with others? Why do we allow ourselves to feel inferior (or superior) to the people around us? We're all equally important -- though we have different roles and functions in life. We're all a part of the same toolbox! We all ...

Izaak Walton, the patron saint of fishing, wrote a beautiful biography of his friend, George Herbert , who served a minister in a small village (Bemerton, England), until his life was cut short. Herbert's life was a candle, buring bright for Christ. As a young man, he desired a place in the courts of the King - -and was on the fast track towards such a royal position during the reign of King James. God had other plans for George, however -- and selected him to serve in HIS court -- The Court of THE King of kings. George served a small parish, St. Andrew's Church at Bemerton with gladness and wholehearted enthusiasm, demonstrating the love of Christ in all his doings. He considered his small town ministry the most important mission on earth. He wrote a wonderful book on pastoral work called The Country Parson which is packed with excellent advice for ministers who serve in small places (or large places for that matter.) I few quotes from Herbert: "In God and His service ...

Congratulations to my good friend, Andi Wittwer, who was installed last Sunday as the pastor of the Woodland Wesleyan Church. Andi has cut back her work schedule (managing at Hardware Hank) to four days a week (ten hour shifts) so she can have both Wednesdays and Sundays off in order to pastor this little northwoods congregation. Her husband (and my barber) Ron, is a kind and loving man. He has overwhelmingly supportive of Andi's calling and is her number one cheerleader. The good folks in the Danbury area are in for a real treat -- and lots of faith adventures! God is going to do some special things through this beautiful couple.

A great survey for churches in small towns and rural communities to assess congregational health: ASSESSING THE HEALTH OF CHURCHES IN LOW-DENSITY POPULATION AREAS (By Dr. Harold Longenecker) May Be Reproduced With Their Permission

I just returned from speaking to a wonderful group of Wesleyan pastors from the Western Pennsylvania District. They were fantastic -- hung right in there with me as I blabbed along! My host, Shawn Cossin, is an outstanding young pastor (former state trooper) who is has a thriving ministry at Sandy Lake Wesleyan Church. It was a real joy to get to know him. We have kindred spirits! Shawn definitely has a bright future. Our conference was at Hyde Wesleyan Church -- which is famous for it's amazing missions program. I don't think there's a church anywhere that's more intentional about blessing the nations than these guys. I was blown away. Unfortunately for me, their senior pastor, Bob Croft, was on sabbatical. So, I'll have to wait to catch a few pointers from him. I was especially delighted to reconnect with my friend, Jeremiah Gomez. He's a sharpie! It was also a joy to visit with District Superintendent Randy Swink and his wife, Gayle. They're doing a gre...

I'm back in the saddle again, after spending a couple of days with a delightful group of small town and rural pastors in upstate New York. The conference was held at the Wesleyan Church in Big Flats. (Big Flats is a great town but not very big! I wonder how big Little Flats is!) They had me come and speak for a day and a half in an effort to encourage and inspire these faithful soldiers for Jesus who serve in little places. It was a tremendous honor for me to be with them. Although I went there to bless them, these folks ended up blessing me more! How beautiful to see such commitment and faithfulness to the cause of Christ. The host pastor, Bern Lytle, for example, has pastored the same congregation for about a quarter of a century -- and he still loves it!! You can see the gleam in his eye! He truly is making a difference in his community. I was blessed to meet Lynn Ensign, who pastors Mt. Pisgah, a thriving congregation in the middle of nowhere. His roots go back to Wisco...