A couple Sundays ago I preached at the small church which we are acquiring as a future satellite. One of the reasons they asked us to acquire them as a satellite is that they are so small and they have been unable to grow and attract new people for several years. They are in serous decline and they want to do something completely new and bold.
As I sat through the service and later gave the message to the 40 or so people in the room, I was taken back to my years in a small Baptist church, probably 200 people on a good day. I had a great experience in that little Baptist church. And for a morning, I saw again some of the things that are good about a small church:
- People weren’t there to be entertained. There weren't any strings, colored lights, guitars, or haze machines. It was a "no frills" zone.
- Nobody cared if there was a minor technical flaw. I had to start my own video clip on my laptop, yet the 10 or 15 seconds didn't seem to bother anybody.
- Everybody knew each other. They knew each others families, jobs and stories.
- The music was simple and sincere. Just a nice Wurlitzer organ, like the one in my wife's parents living room. The emphasis wasn't on the music, it was on the words.
- I could look into every eye. No speaking into the darkness.
- People were there because of relationships. Not because it was the place to be, the hot church, the best music, or the coolest preacher.
- Nobody was a professional. Those who led, prayed, sang or played were regular people just trying to serve.
- There were no clocks in the back, reminding me that people have places to go.
It was a good morning...
