Like this:

I haven’t written as much here over the past year as I wanted to do.  Pastoring while working with the prayer/prophetic/transformation movement(s) has taken up a huge amount of time, and most of my writings have been along those lines…some of which I may come back to in this forum as well. Yet I want to get back to some of the things that burn inside me for what I believe God wants to do through small churches. The idea that small churches need to be sold in order to make payments on mega church facilities is an absolute mistake. With a nudge in the right direction, these churches can be poised for the greatest harvest ever.

This summer I’ve had to come to grips with four essential things that are necessary to birth a break through with sustainability in the small church.  While I will number these, it goes without saying that my list is not set by priority. Depending on where your church is in each of these areas will determine which one should be the higher priority on your personal list. These deal more with the corporate aspects of the church than the personal aspects of your ministry, so bear that in mind as you read through them and don’t forget that there is nothing that can take the place of the depth in your personal relationship with Christ.

1.) Longevity: Most small churches have been small churches for a very long time.  Often they remember the glory days when Pastor So-in-so took them to the pinnacle of their history.  Sometimes they are younger works made up of individuals who have not shared a corporate relationship for any long duration. Which ever aspect your small church falls into, understand that your longevity in leadership will become a tool of God to direct the future of that congregation.

In the chaotic day and age that we live in, it is difficult for a pastor with two or three years of tenure to convince their congregation to follow the vision when either the pastor or the parishioner believe they may be leaving within the next year or two.  As a result, the power struggles that used to take three years to break through can now take eight or nine years to overcome.  Pastors need to be committed to their call and if the small church is going to break through under their leadership, their call needs to be specific to the community that they pastor.

2.) Link Arms: It didn’t take long for me to realize our church was not the only small church struggling in our city. Praying together, across denominational lines, with other pastors has helped me stay focused on reaching my city for Christ.  The relationships built in those prayer times have provided many opportunities to team up and reap a harvest.  Even partnering with larger missional churches has helped to reshape the perception of The Church in our city.  Now instead of being seen as competitors we view each other as co-laborers.  These churches rejoice with us in our triumphs as we do with them.

There are also countless resources available in every city through different agencies.  While not all agencies make good partners with churches, many (if not most) can and will.  Through these networks we are able to help those in need find the assistance that is available to them with little or no financial strain on us…just a lot of relational equity that creates plenty of open doors for sharing the Gospel of Christ.

In other words, you are not alone.  Don’t try to be a Lone Ranger…besides the price of silver bullets is on the rise.

3.) Love: Most older small churches are not typically known for their love.  They are known for their mess ups and mis-perceptions.  They are known for their doctrines and dogmas.  They are known for their antiquities and attitudes.  Yet what Christ said should be our predominant attribute is at best camouflaged and at worst non-existent. We must return to an unconditional love.  It’s not about loving the sinner but hating the sin.  It’s about loving the sinner in spite of the sin-just like Jesus did for us. If we can not be a church full of love then maybe it is time to sell the building and use the proceeds for something that will.

4.) Let God Transform: Pray, pray, pray…Ultimately, we must be dependent upon God.  It is HIS church, not ours.  Even the oldest most traditional of churches can be transformed.  Often we quote Scriptures about new wine needing new wineskins. We forget Christ’s first miracle was to change water into wine using ceremonial stone pots…he took dead traditions of men and transformed them into new wineskins to bear forth the greatest wine of the feast.  God specializes in saving the best for last, and using the least to produce the greatest.

In conclusion: If seemingly dead small churches will allow God to transform them into being conduits for His love, networking with Kingdom connections, and if the pastors will be called to their communities instead of looking at it as one rung on the ladder of success, then God can and will allow those churches to be a part of birthing the greatest break through since Pentecost, and therefore harvesting the greatest harvest in all of history!

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