Tag: Small Church

Ministry Moments

On By BrianIn Ministry Moments, Uncategorized

Here are some helpful posts for small-town pastors:

Don’t Measure Small-Town Ministry Simply by Its Size – Stephen Witmer (TGC)
My friends’ ministry is expressing something of God and his gospel that couldn’t be expressed through a massive revival. All their many sacrifices, their unconditional friendship to a young Muslim family still blind to the glory of Christ, their consistent, prayerful sharing of the gospel with those who will listen—these demonstrate a generous God and a lavish gospel.

No City Is Too Small for God: Reaching the Crevices of the World – Josh Manley (DG)
But if you labor in relative obscurity and are tempted to think your work is unstrategic, I want to encourage you that, if you labor for the Lord, there is no such thing as an unstrategic city. He cares about every last sheep.

Brothers, Preach Your Heart Out — No Matter How Few People Are in the Room – Tim Counts (IX)
The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. Only the Lord knows what he will do with an army of preachers committed to expositing God’s Word with precision and passion week in and week out in small churches across America.

Brothers, let’s press on for the sake of the kingdom!

Missions Focused Small Church: Choose Missionaries

On By BrianIn Ministry Ideas

In past two posts we looked at the need to get focused and be strategic. Today we want to consider choosing missionaries. Of course your church probably already has missionaries, but as opportunities arise to choose new missionaries, here are some considerations.

First, research the missionary and missions group carefully before you invite them. If they aren’t a missionary your church should support or a missions group you can work with, don’t invite them. Consider doctrinal compatibility – do they agree with your statement of faith, and can you agree with theirs. Consider your ability to work together. We once had a missionary who wanted some of our young people to do a short term missions trip with them, but when we called the missions group they essentially wrote us off because we were an independent Bible church. So be sure to do your research before you invite a missionary to visit, and even more before you take on a missionary.

Second, consider supporting a national missionary in countries where there already is a growing church. They already know the language and culture. Plus their support is often considerably less. Whereas $100/month support is often only around 1% of the traditional missionary’s need, it is often around 25% of a national missionary’s need. One word of caution though – look for national missionaries that are accountable to some church or missions group. There are some phonies out there. A couple of good options I’d highly recommend include:

Finally, don’t forget traditional missionaries – especially those going to unreached people groups. The mission field is still vast, and we still need traditional missionaries. And of course one benefit for the church of having a traditional missionary over national missionaries is seeing them on furlough. And you can write to them without translation issues. But be sure to set a minimum monthly amount that makes it worthwhile for the missionary, maybe $50-100.

In the last post, I suggested the power of one or two, that is, focus on one or two missionaries. So perhaps your church might support one national missionary and one traditional missionary, and enjoy the best from both options. As before, I’d love your thoughts and suggestions – just leave a comment.

Missions-Focused Small Church: Get Focused

On By BrianIn Ministry Ideas

My church has been learning how to be a mission focused small church these last few years, and in the next few weeks we are going to consider some ideas that have been helpful for us on how to be mission-focused.

First, we need to get focused, and creating a missions team can be a great help. Find people in your church with a heart for missions and bring them together to help the church get focused, and indeed keep focused.

Pastors have many areas they need to focus on – sermons, Sunday School, worship, prayer meetings, counseling, outreach, missions, etc. Pastors simply can’t focus on one thing, which means that it will be very difficult for the church to be missions focused if the pastor is the only one promoting missions. Too often missions will get lost in the shuffle.

So create a missions team, and then write down your purpose. My church’s purpose looks like this:

  • Keep the church focused on missions.
  • Regularly evaluate our missions program and consider goals for the future.
  • Consider, present, and promote special missions projects.
  • Consider, invite, and prepare for missionary speakers.
  • Lead in caring for our missionaries.
  • Lead the church in praying for missions.
  • Seek to involve children and youth in missions projects, visits, care, and prayer.
  • Work together with the Elders, Leadership Team, pastor, and membership.

Your purpose may look different, but these are some key things we want to see in our church.

Once you have a team and a purpose, be sure to meet a few times each year to fulfill your purpose. Start by evaluating missions in your church. What is going well or not so well? And then plan for missions in your church. What projects do you want to do? What missionary do you want to invite? How might you care for and pray for your missionaries? How might we involve the children? And then bring your suggestions to the church leadership and/or congregation.

One more thing. Don’t just meet to talk. Have each member actively involved in fulfilling in the purpose. One person might be in charge of a specific project. Another might be in charge of missionary care. Or another might be in charge of hosting a missionary. Discuss your plan and then assign people to carry out the plan.

Next week, we will consider being strategic in our missions program.

Ministry Monday

On By BrianIn Ministry Moments

Here are some good posts on small town/church ministry:

You Won’t Waste Your Life – Jonathan Parnell (DG)
Millions, even in the States, call home those small towns and wide-open spaces that don’t make it on global maps. And the people who live there, the ruralites, need the gospel.

6 Ways Small Churches Can Love Their Communities – Trevin Wax
Is it possible to do acts of mercy in your local Jerusalem with a tiny band of volunteers? Surprisingly, it is. Here are six tips for small church outreach….

Seeing Potential Out in the Corn Fields – Phil Somers (RHMA)
Pray. As you dream, do it on your knees.  Pray that God will open your eyes to see your people, church and community as He sees them. Ask Him to help you see what they
could be if He gets hold of them. (Note: This is a PDF)

Ministry Moments

On By BrianIn Ministry Moments

Here are some encouraging posts for pastors of smaller churches:

The Kingdom of God in the Middle of Nowhere – Trevin Wax

Thank God for Smaller Churches and Their Leaders – Thom Rainer

Rural Ministry Is Not Second Rate – Jared Wilson

I’d love for more young guys to nail Starbucks and the corner pub and shopping malls and public transportation to the cross and go plant and pastor where you’re more likely to hear a cow moo than a car honk. Country folk are real folk.
And they need the gospel too.
– Jared Wilson