There are far many more small churches than medium or big churches....
Following are 5 articles and 1 book written for small churches and small church leaders
10 SMALL CHURCH STRATEGIES IN A BIG CHURCH WORLD
Small churches BIG IMPACT
The dynamics of small church ministry
Developing a ministry team in the small church
Four unexpected benefits of a small church
Web Site: The Small Church leadership network
Book: Shepherding the small church
Showing posts with label Small Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Small Church. Show all posts
Monday, May 16, 2016
Monday, June 16, 2014
Book: The little church - stump or shoot
The Little Church - stump or shoot
This book is the result of trying to raise the right questions and gain some perspective on the mission of the Lutheran Church in Australia, but you could transpose the principles to any church. We are a church in decline and we are facing all sorts of problems. This book aims at refocussing our mission.
We need to start taking this problem seriously, not just the little churches, but the big ones in the cities and towns as well. Is it that we have lost our way? Have we lost our direction? If our goal was to nurture Lutherans effectively, we are not achieving that goal. If we were aiming for non-Christians, don't you think we might at least hit one every now and then?
In a church in decline, the focus is, “How can we survive?” “How can we keep our doors open?” when the question is supposed to be, “How can I reach the lost for Christ?” That is our great commission, making disciples, not running a church. Running a church is incidental to the mission and should support the mission. It is not in itself the mission.
Just because a church is old and in decline however, does not mean that the time of the church in a particular area is over. By the same token just because a church has been there for 100 years or so, doesn’t mean that it should be there tomorrow.
But maybe it is time to look to what God is doing in the community and what the church needs to do and be in the current climate! Maybe it’s time to look at our mission, look at the community and look at the church to see what needs to be done to get those 3 to meet in a new way.
Change will come to your church whether you want it to or not.
So don’t just let it happen, Make it happen!
For more information and to obtain a copy
Contact Rob Edwards directly
or Visit Australian Christian Resource
This book is the result of trying to raise the right questions and gain some perspective on the mission of the Lutheran Church in Australia, but you could transpose the principles to any church. We are a church in decline and we are facing all sorts of problems. This book aims at refocussing our mission.
We need to start taking this problem seriously, not just the little churches, but the big ones in the cities and towns as well. Is it that we have lost our way? Have we lost our direction? If our goal was to nurture Lutherans effectively, we are not achieving that goal. If we were aiming for non-Christians, don't you think we might at least hit one every now and then?
In a church in decline, the focus is, “How can we survive?” “How can we keep our doors open?” when the question is supposed to be, “How can I reach the lost for Christ?” That is our great commission, making disciples, not running a church. Running a church is incidental to the mission and should support the mission. It is not in itself the mission.
Just because a church is old and in decline however, does not mean that the time of the church in a particular area is over. By the same token just because a church has been there for 100 years or so, doesn’t mean that it should be there tomorrow.
But maybe it is time to look to what God is doing in the community and what the church needs to do and be in the current climate! Maybe it’s time to look at our mission, look at the community and look at the church to see what needs to be done to get those 3 to meet in a new way.
Change will come to your church whether you want it to or not.
So don’t just let it happen, Make it happen!
Contact Rob Edwards directly
or Visit Australian Christian Resource
Monday, September 15, 2008
Small Church in mission
Many Lutheran congregations are small because they:
However whatever the reason, the reality is that there are many small congregations and small congregations operate differently to large congregations. Being small does not have to be a deterent for being disciples and sharing God's gospel.
Following are some resources that may help you as a leader in a small congregation (and if you have any suggestions please leave them in the comments section, so others can benefit).
Town and Country Institute based at Gettysburg Seminary offers specialised courses online for Small Church ministries.
Small Groups Forum (sponsored by Village Missions) offers articles, discussion and help to small churches.
Presbyterian Presbytery of Kiskiminetas offers a number of resources for small church ministries in the areas of Description in a small church, worship in a small church, Leadership in a small church, strategy in a small church, revitalising a small church, ministry in a small church, Small Church institutes and programs, links to small church sites.
Small Church Music site offers music scores, lyrics, midi files, mp3s and other musical resources for small churches.
John Mark Ministries offers a range of articles relating to the small church.
smallChurch.com offers a range of articles and resources that help you better understand small churches and rural ministries; includes books, web links and conferences; helpful for information for pastors and lay leaders; and encouragement for small church ministries.
An article; A small church redefines its mission by Richard Bliese (professor at the Lutheran School of Theology)
General Board of discipleship Methodist Church offers a range of resources and information relating to the small church including events, articles and resources. Some of their resources include:
2. Biblical "Greats" for Small Church Leaders
3. Examples of Pastoral Leaders
4. The Christ-Centered Church
5. Options and Opportunities for Sharing Ministry
6. Questions for a Discussion on Mission and Ministry
7. Passion for People
8. Checking Your Church's Attitude
9. Ideas for Stewardship in Small Churches
10. Tips for Making NOW(rm) Work in Your Church
11. Assessing Your Nurture Ministries
12. More Outreach Ideas
13. More Witness Ideas
14. More Pointers on Lay Leadership Selection
15. Encouragement for Leaders in the Small Church
16. Organizing for Ministry
Episcopal Church blog for small church ministry
Transforming church article on growing a small church
With new books becoming available frequently, rather than suggest one or two books why not check out what Amazon offer (see below) in the way of resources for small membership churches. if you have used a particular book feel free to recommend or critic one of them in the comments page.
- are based in small populated areas.
- are structured or operate in ways that deter or make it difficult for people joining their congregation.
- don't have the resources; ideas, people, money, know how or attitudes to grow.
- have historically been small.
- don't believe in 'Church Growth principles' so decide to act in ways that deter their deter their congregation growing.
- are not in a traditional Lutheran area.
- have developed 'a belief' that being small is what God wants.
- don't know how to reach beyond their current members.
However whatever the reason, the reality is that there are many small congregations and small congregations operate differently to large congregations. Being small does not have to be a deterent for being disciples and sharing God's gospel.
Following are some resources that may help you as a leader in a small congregation (and if you have any suggestions please leave them in the comments section, so others can benefit).
Town and Country Institute based at Gettysburg Seminary offers specialised courses online for Small Church ministries.
Small Groups Forum (sponsored by Village Missions) offers articles, discussion and help to small churches.
Presbyterian Presbytery of Kiskiminetas offers a number of resources for small church ministries in the areas of Description in a small church, worship in a small church, Leadership in a small church, strategy in a small church, revitalising a small church, ministry in a small church, Small Church institutes and programs, links to small church sites.
Small Church Music site offers music scores, lyrics, midi files, mp3s and other musical resources for small churches.
John Mark Ministries offers a range of articles relating to the small church.
smallChurch.com offers a range of articles and resources that help you better understand small churches and rural ministries; includes books, web links and conferences; helpful for information for pastors and lay leaders; and encouragement for small church ministries.
An article; A small church redefines its mission by Richard Bliese (professor at the Lutheran School of Theology)
General Board of discipleship Methodist Church offers a range of resources and information relating to the small church including events, articles and resources. Some of their resources include:
2. Biblical "Greats" for Small Church Leaders
3. Examples of Pastoral Leaders
4. The Christ-Centered Church
5. Options and Opportunities for Sharing Ministry
6. Questions for a Discussion on Mission and Ministry
7. Passion for People
8. Checking Your Church's Attitude
9. Ideas for Stewardship in Small Churches
10. Tips for Making NOW(rm) Work in Your Church
11. Assessing Your Nurture Ministries
12. More Outreach Ideas
13. More Witness Ideas
14. More Pointers on Lay Leadership Selection
15. Encouragement for Leaders in the Small Church
16. Organizing for Ministry
Episcopal Church blog for small church ministry
Transforming church article on growing a small church
With new books becoming available frequently, rather than suggest one or two books why not check out what Amazon offer (see below) in the way of resources for small membership churches. if you have used a particular book feel free to recommend or critic one of them in the comments page.
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