Is bigger always better?
Two questions:
1. Can you list one biblical and one practical reason why we keep trying to make our current churches larger?
2. How can we communicate the importance of ”one to one” and “one to few” ministry?
The conference/denomination in which I am a Pastor is having a conversation about who we are and why we matter. Since the comments at that site are restricted to members of the churches in the conference, I thought I would cross-post this topic.
Over the course of the recent Renov8 church planting congress in Calgary, the clear emphasis was on building authentic community. There was nothing said about gathering many people and building a big church – quite the opposite in fact. Almost all of the sessions were about “one to one” and “one to few” ministry. There was no emphasis on “one to many”.
“One to many” is NOT an invalid model, but I will say that we as a North American church have failed miserably at “one to one” and “one to few” ministry. I am saying that we seem to have put most of our eggs in that basket for a long time and it is an imbalance. Because of this imbalance people are prone to “bring a friend to church” so they can hear the gospel/get saved/hear about Jesus from the Pastor rather than being able to proclaim the gospel/assist in conversion/tell people about Jesus themselves.
It is this fundamental issue that I see as problematic in the modern mega-church. Its focal point is Pastor so-and-so who is often seen as a super-hero, cure-all, miracle-worker. Most Pastor so-and-so types gladly welcome this exaltation – or thrive on it. Not that that can’t happen in a small church, but the larger the fanbase (usually), the larger the ego.
Of course, there is a certain irony in this… I work at a large church, but to be clear I am not interested in whatever option extends the duration of my “occupation”. I am not a protectionist.
I am interested in whatever accomplishes the goals of (1) making new disciples and (2) encouraging and strengthening those who already are. In my experience, larger churches struggle with disciple-making while they excel at churning out dormant, comfortable attendees whose lives look 98% the same as most of their non-believing neighbors. I know – I was one of them. (That may not be the case at your church, and if it’s not, great!)
The Renov8 conference, like every conference dealing with emerging issues, is a reaction to the dormant, domesticated church of recent generations. Do they go too far? Yep – I think my notes on the conference reflect that. I thought some of it was pretty flakey. But I understand why the reaction is happening, and I’m on board with the sentiment, if not all the ways it plays out.
I don’t see how starting with the Gospel in our own neighborhoods is “re-inventing the wheel”. In fact, it seems like a thoroughly biblical course of action that obviously very few of us are pursuing. This much is true (as my friend Stephen in Leamington said) “Big or small we must as churches engage the culture and the neighbourhoods around us”.
We talk about it a lot. I don’t believe we’re succeeding.
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If you would like to see the robust conversation in the comments section of the post on the EMMC site, go here. (FYI – you need to read bottom up)
Let’s have our own discussion below in the comments section below. Have at at… I’m not totally decided either way so take your best shot.
