Welcome to The Pastor’s Project where the goal of this ministry is to encourage pastors and save small and rural churches.  Both desperately need our support and prayers.

Did you know that one billion people around the earth worship in a church that is 100 or fewer people in size?  Did you know that 90% of churches in the United States have an average attendance of about 100 and 80% of those congregations are around 50?

With that in mind, I don’t want churches to be small, I want small churches to be great!  There are three truths we must acknowledge if we want these churches to be great.

My desire at The Pastor’s Project to help small churches isn’t because I want churches to be small.  I believe no matter how great any church is, it can always be greater.  Healthier. Better. Whatever its size.

Truth #1:  Small Churches Can Be Great

A lot of people don’t realize this, including small church pastors.  We’ve become so obsessed with church growth that we’ve inadvertently sent the message to millions of prayerful, Godly, hardworking small church leaders that they can’t be a great church until they’re a big church.  THAT’S SIMPLY UNTRUE!

A church can’t be great if we don’t think it can be.  Instead, believe this; You don’t need to become big for your church to become great.

Truth #2:  Great Small Churches Look Different Than Great Big Churches

One of the obstacles preventing many small churches from being great is that so much of our pastoral training comes from a big church perspective.  When we pastor a small church there’s only so much we can learn from those who lead big churches.  Even if they used to pastor a small church, which most of them have.

SMALL CHURCHES ARE DIFFERENT.

So where do we get help?  Small church leaders need to talk to each other.

Truth #3: Some Great Churches Stay Small

All things grow differently.  But growth is never as simple as older equals taller or healthy equals bigger.  All healthy, living things reach their optimal size at maturity, then they grow in different ways from that point forward.

If the church is one body with many parts, isn’t it possible, even likely, that the body of Christ needs churches of all sizes? No pastor is a failure if his church reaches its optimal stage of maturity, then starts growing in ways other than butts in seats for worship services.

Truth #4  Welcome to the No-Excuse Zone

We may not all see numerical growth in the church we pastor.  But that is never an excuse.  We are all called to participate in the growth of the church no matter what size our congregation may be.  Being small is no excuse to do church poorly.