Small Church Ministry

There’s an allure to ministering in a large church that I’ve never quite understood. I visited First Baptist Jacksonville for a Pastor’s Conference a few years ago. I believe that there were over 14,000 people there. I went to the conference as part of a seminary course on Church Administration, so we got to view some of the behind-the-scenes administration of the church and it’s facilities. It was very impressive to say the least. There were programs and opportunities for every group that you can think of in which to get involved. The administration and leadership of that church was wonderful and they provide an awesome ministry to the folks in Jacksonville. I don’t believe that I’d be comfortable ministering in a church of that size.

For the last several years, my wife and I have been at First Baptist Church of Alamance, a small, rural church just outside of Burlington, NC. At the time we started attending, the church was in a growing stage and experiencing the pains and stresses that come along with growth. We went to help out our friend, Daniel Gregory, who pastors the church. I’ve learned some important things about ministry from our experiences in a small church. There are ample opportunities for one-on-one ministry. You really get to know the people in a small church environment. They aren’t just faces that you recognize, they are friends. There are a lot of opportunities to be creative in your ministry. Each Sunday isn’t a Hollywood-style production that demands everything to be just so. The worship time can be more flexible since there aren’t the demands of consulting the lighting crew, sound crew, media team, etc. One of the neatest things about small churches is the chance to see individuals grow in their faith and apply the principles you’ve taught. It’s a blessing to watch people making godly decisions that they may not have the month or year before.
As I search for a local church pastorate, I’ve intentionally sought small churches to send my resume to. A post entitled “Advantages of Starting Out in a Small Church” on Les Puryear’s blog caught my attention the other day. Here’s a quote that was particularly encouraging:

In one year at a small church you’ll get to do 25 times the things you’ll get to do on a large church staff. Weddings, baptisms, funerals, hospital visitation, budgeting, preaching, prayer meetings, leading board meetings, and a hundred other things are normal for a year’s work in a small church. On a large church staff you may serve ten years before you get to do 90% of a minister’s ordinary work. Plus, in a small church your ministry impact is directly measurable—you can see the effect quicker driving a small craft instead of working on a huge aircraft carrier. - Les Puryear, Joining God in His Work

This reminded me and reinforced what God is leading me to seek in pastoral ministry. Being in a small church has been a tremendous blessing and has taught me more about ministry than I may have learned in a large church. If you’re reading this and you’re seeking a pastoral ministry, don’t discount the small church. If you’re reading this and you’re a member of a small church, encourage your pastor by letting him know that you appreciate all he does.

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