Does Size Matter? (Part 4)

I love small businesses. Four years ago, I bought my only television from a local, small business. They delivered it, set it up, and called a week later to see how I liked it. Great service.

I decided to get a second television so I could watch the Superbowl while my kids watched “18 Kids and Counting” or whatever they’ll be watching. So I went back to the small business. The sales guy remembered me and showed me four different televisions that might work. He quoted me a price. I decided to compare prices and went to a mega-store. The salesman showed me probably 40 different options, all priced considerably less than the smaller store. My heart was with the small business.

But I bought from the big business…

Why? They had more options and better prices.

In a multi-site church, you can worship with a smaller group of people at your campus. You can be deeply involved with Christ in your specific community. At the same time, you can experience the options and excellence of the large church.

This certainly isn’t the only or best means of doing ministry, but we have found it effective to minister to those God has sent and reach more along with way.

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Does Size Matter? (Part 3)

Yesterday, we talked about one option for those who prefer small churches:

Pray like crazy that you don’t reach new people, so your church will stay small–just the way you like it!

Here are some more options:

• Start new churches. Instead of trying to bring people in, let’s send some people out.
• Start or participate in a network of house churches. (In some ways, that’s how I see our church. The purest form of the church is the LifeGroup. My LifeGroup is in many ways my church. Then all our groups meet corporately with the larger body.)
• Start new campuses.

The bottom line is, we must remember that the church doesn’t exist for us. But we are the church, and we exist to glorify God and to reach the world!

Other thoughts?

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Does Size Matter? (Part 2)

Someone told me, “I love your church, but it is just too big for me.”

Their statement raises some questions:

• When is a church just the right size?

Is 12 just right? How about 120? Maybe 3,000?

• When does a church become too big?

Is there a magic number? Is it when all the people can no longer meet in one service? Or one campus? Or one state? Or one country?

If you like a small church, I guess you can find one and pray like crazy that you don’t reach new people, then the church will stay small…just like you like it.

Or… more tomorrow.

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Does Size Matter? (Part 1)

(This week, I’m reposting a series from 2007.)

Why do some people go to small churches? Why do others go to large churches?

This is certainly an oversimplification, but track with me.

People tend to stay at small churches because they are:

1) Needed

Each week, someone is counting on them to pass out the red attendance folders, vacuum the floor, fill the communion cups, or help organize the choir robes. They are needed.

2) Known

People love small churches because they are known. If they have a toenail operation, someone knows. If they miss church, someone calls. If their pet cat gets hit by a car, someone cares. They love being known.

All things equal, why do people go to large churches? The answers vary widely:

• The church has a good Mother’s Day Out.
• The videos are cool.
• The church has great music.
• The junior high pastor pays attention to my kid.
• They have a class for widows.
• They have a class for addicts.
• They have a class for everything including annoying people.

People have tons of reasons to go to large churches.

But why do they leave? Typically because they don’t feel:

1) Needed

The paid staff does most everything. The professional band is too good for most. The yard is mowed by a company. The daycare workers are paid. If there is no place for me to use my gifts, I just might leave.

2) Known

If a person misses church and no one calls, it hurts. If someone is in pain and no one knows, again, not good. One can be in a crowded church building and still feel all alone.

What can we do to help people become needed and known no matter what the size of the church?

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Social Media Leveraged to Build Kindergarten

This week, a pretty cool thing happened over at the Stuff Christians Like blog. On Monday, Jon Acuff shared an idea with his readers: let’s raise $30,000 to build a kindergarten in Vietnam. He hoped to reach that goal by December 31. Instead, it happened in 18 hours. From 5:00am to 11:00pm, readers donated the full $30,000 so that 240 kids in Vietnam could go to school. Building on the momentum from the overwhelming response, they’ve set their sights on building a second kindergarten by his initial goal of December 31.

It’s great to see social media being used effectively to engage people in causes, particularly financially. There’s a lot we can learn from this.

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When the Wave Dies Down

Waves come and waves go.

When God blesses your ministry with a wave of impact and growth, you’ll be wise not to expect it to last forever. (If it does, you’ll be an exception—not the rule.)

If the wave slows, don’t try to recreate it. Those who continue to keep doing what used to work, generally miss anything new God wants to do.

If the wave dies, thank God for the ride you just enjoyed and watch for a new one.

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Keep a Long Range Perspective

While riding the wave, God may give you extra grace and stamina. But eventually, without adequate rest, you’ll burn out.
 
During times of great growth, you might feel like you’re running a sprint. Though you might run hard, you have to still run smart. Wise spiritual leaders remember that ministry is a marathon, not a sprint.

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Avoid Promises

When God is blessing you with more than you can handle, I’d suggest you avoid making rash promises.

I have seen many pastors make promises during the wave only to later eat their words (or be bound by a promise they wish they’d never made).

• We’ll never do a fundraiser!
• We’ll never borrow money!
• We’ll be in the new building by June of next year!
• We only hire staff from within!
• I will always teach live and in person.

Many ministries experience the “wave” early in ministry. They might assume it will last forever. Be careful you can keep the promises you make.

Try not to make immature promises you won’t keep.

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