As a pastor of a small assembly, I know how hard it is to both start a church from nothing and at the same time maintain and be a good steward of the small things, as well as the small gains that come with what can sometimes be a daunting task.
The following is an outline for pastors of small assemblies as well as those who have no interest in leading or being a part of a "Mega Church". My purpose is to encourage pastors as well as members and remind us of the benefits (and obligations) of a small church lest we become discouraged.
According to a megachurch report by Scott Thumma of Hartford Institute for Religion Research and Warren Bird of Leadership Network, people who attend megachurches are more likely to be young, single, more educated and wealthier. This means that it is just the opposite for small churches.
The definition of church sizes is rather arbitrary, but here is one. A small church is less than 200 members (Which is 80% of American churches) There are benefits of small churches often lost in larger churches.
A small church is one where almost everyone knows each another. Face-to-face interaction is much easier, even when we don't remember their names, we remember their "face".
A small church is one where it is easier to develop familial relationships. A sense of "family", which is proper (1Ti 5:1-2). An opportunity to cross generational lines, where children learn to relate to others besides their peers. Where young and old benefit from each other's strengths. The family of God is a wonderful blessing (Mk 10:28-30); a blessing most often experienced in small churches.
More likely that one is needed and appreciated more, as well as given the opportunity to grow and be used. Smaller churches use those willing to serve much more frequently, out of necessity at times, but can also be by design. Small churches are often the training ground where leaders of large churches developed their skills.
One's absence is more keenly felt in a small church, especially when needed to fulfill a certain role. One's absence can be overlooked for several weeks in a larger church. For those needing encouragement, this is important and can be the greatest benefit of a small church. It is too easy to get lost in a crowd at a large church, unfortunately, this is a big reason why many attend a large Assembly.
We need brethren who will take notice when we begin to show signs of weakness (Ga 6:1-2). This is almost impossible in a large church. Proportionally speaking, more preachers, teachers, elders, and average members have been developed by small churches than large churches.
As a small congregation we need to focus on our strengths, which should. If we do not, we will likely stagnate, if not die altogether.
