Revitalize Your Church

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...

"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

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

Sometimes, pastors need help thinking bigger. Chuck Warnock's 101 Outreach Ideas for Small Churches is a great place to start!

Great article by Ed Stetzer on strong, small congregations.

Today, I am flying to Columbus, Ohio, in order to spend some time with my dearly beloved mother and four older brothers (who are almost as dearly beloved!) I am looking forward to spending time with my family in Ohio. On Sunday afternoon, I'll be speaking with a group small church pastors and laypeople. I hope I can bring some encouragement and blessing to them!

Here's a great post from Keith Drury on the Advantages of Starting Your Ministry in a Small Church.