The “Small Church” Complex
We’ve all heard it many times and most of us have said it: “We just can’t compete with the big church down the street.” This is obviously an issue in church planting – just note the number of families that visit but don’t stay. They say things like, “We’re going over there because they have a good program for our kids,” or “I like the ladies group at that other church.”
It’s true – we can’t compete! But what makes matters worse is that as church planters we often focus on this and begin to react to it. We develop a “Small church complex”. We allow discouragement to settle in our minds, and sometimes even resentment to grow in our hearts.
Of course we want our new church to grow – nobody wishes it to stay small. But the fact is, that just like people, a church cannot jump from infancy to maturity. It must of necessity go through each stage along the way. Since being a child or an adolescent is God’s will for the individual at that time of his life, shouldn’t we accept where a church is at a particular moment as part of God’s plan for its development.
As a church grows, its potential for ministry programming increases. But, at the same time, there are things that it will not be able to do as well as it could when it was small. A big church has to work harder and find creative ways to keep doing some of the things that happened more naturally when it was smaller.
Don’t try to compete! You won’t be able to do everything the bigger church does, and you will have nothing but frustration trying. Don’t act as though your church were someplace it has not yet arrived. And don’t waste your time (or sacrifice your emotional well-being) wishing it were already there. Accept where you are right now as God’s plan for you. Instead of lamenting what you are not able to do, start taking advantage of the things that you can do well as a smaller church.
Make it your goal that your church be known for two things: The quality, practical teaching of the Scriptures, and the friendliness and love of the people. Nobody should be able to teach the Word in a loving, practical way better than you. The big church may have multiple staff to prepare wonderful multimedia presentations, but you have the Scripture and the Holy Spirit coupled with a close relationship with people that earns you a pathway to their hearts. Other churches may have great facilities and terrific equipment, but when your teaching comes from a heart of love for the listeners, it will effectively minister to them.
Be people focused rather than program focused. The big churches may have great programs, but they will never be able to do what you can do when it comes to people. They may have many activities for every member of the family, but they cannot know the people, love the people and care for the people like you can as the shepherd of a small, growing church.
Stop focusing on the size of your church. Don’t apologize for being small. Don’t draw attention to numbers by putting up an attendance board. Don’t make comments about how few are present. Instead of focusing on those that are missing, turn your attention to the people that are there.
Seek to learn and remember the names of those who visit. Recognize them personally when they come again. Use hospitality as a tool to build relationships with people (after all it is a biblical part of the pastor’s ministry). Help people get to know one another by inviting groups of people or families to your home. Build opportunities for fellowship into your church’s schedule of activities. Use corporate prayer times to teach your people to love and care for one another. Seek to create a climate of friendliness in your church – then as it grows, work hard to make sure that atmosphere continues.
Stop lamenting that your church is small. Take advantage of who God has made you and where He has placed you. Use what you have for His glory.