On preaching and ministry, volume 1, number 8

On Preaching and Ministry presented by The Jenkins Institute

We begin 2017 with a special Ministry edition.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census there are over “more than 34,000 local generalpurpose governments with less than 25,000 residents and 31,000 local general-purpose governments with less than 10,000 residents.” While a large percentage of Americans live in metropolitan areas those areas it is concluded are really for the most part towns of 20,000 or more who eventually grew into each other. Small town living is alive and attractive in our country. The strength of our country is really in it’s small town values and the interpersonal connections that small towns foster. And, apparently those small town values have fostered mentalities that have opened doors for the gospel. Many great, effective, healthy, unified churches are in small towns.

While we both preach in larger areas today (Jeff in the Dallas area, Dale in the Nashville area) we both have preached in small towns. At one time Jeff’s first full time work was in Trinity, AL (population at the time was about 1,300) and Dale’s was in Eva, AL (it’s population about 200).

In the United States there are between 10-12,000 churches of Christ. While some bemoan that many of these are small the truth is the strength of our brotherhood is in our small town churches. If the greatest percentage of our congregations are in small towns we must learn to do effective ministry and to grow healthy small town churches.

In this month’s offering of “ON,” we investigate local ministry in small towns.

We are thankful that the men who have written this month are men who are in such works and model great ministry and minister’s in small towns. We hope you’ll benefit from the many thoughts crafted and the many ideas shared and we invite you to share this with other church leaders in small towns. If this is your first encounter with TJI or ON and you’d like a free subscription send your email address to TJI@TheJenkinsInstitute.com

- from The Editors, Jeff and Dale TheJenkinsInstitute@gmail.com

How A Great Church Can Impact A Small Town

by Bryan McAlister, bryan@centervillechurchofchrist.org

Small Town… …Big Impact

Chances are, if you grew up in a small town, you found yourself in the pursuit of an escape, a new place, a bigger place, a place where things were bound to be “better.” When you looked around your world in your youth, you knew there had to be something more, because after all, “There’s nothing in this small town!” Until one day in the not too distant future of your life, you realized that the small town which had been the prison you sought to escape, actually contained everything you can’t seem to find in the land that you were certain “had it all.” For nearly two decades of ministry, there remain those young hearts who cannot wait to get away

from the place where everyone know you, your parents, and your grandparents, but after a time (and it doesn’t take long) they’re tired of being the stranger and they want someone, anyone, to recognize them. Part of me wonders if the house where the prodigal son could not wait to leave, was found within the city limits of a small town? The far country he traveled to left him empty and broken, while the safety of his father’s house filled him with the warmth and healing like no other.

Wherever the church is, when she’s created in the image of God and after the express image of the Son (Colossians 1:18), the church is great! May I even be so bold as to suggest to you that everything you need is not just found in your small town, but in the church in your small town. For nearly half of my time in located work, one of the greatest joys has been to serve in an exceptionally great church in a very small town. You’re the face of that church wherever you go in that small town. Remember and celebrate a few things in your small town church.

A great church can impact a small town with her reputation. Each time you encounter our Lord’s word spoken to the seven churches of Asia, no matter whether a compliment or complaint, He made it clear, “I know your works…” (Revelation 2:2, 9, 19, 23; 3:1, 8, 15). While churches are not to be confused as the “new car showrooms” for people, we’re also not to dilute our thinking that so long as we’re “respectable sinners” all is well (John 17:15; James 1:27). The church can have a great impact on the small town when the Christian you see on Sunday shines the same light at the Friday night homecoming football game.

A great church can impact a small town with her reach. May 2010 was a turbulent time for many impacted by the historic flood in Middle Tennessee.

Homes, businesses, communities, and lives were devastated. Many communities turned to the churches within their borders for support. It was a humbling experience as without sending word to surrounding areas or communities, our congregation began receiving pallets of food, water, non-perishables, and monetary donations. When these items and more continued to be received, finally the question was asked to many, “Why send these things to us when we did not ask?”

The response touched our heart and reminded us of a great responsibility, “We know your church and we know you’ll do what you can to help.” A small church can reach into her community because she knows the people, their lifestyle, and their needs. When she makes it a habit of reaching into her community, others will see it, and praise it.

A great church can impact a small town with her return. Reaching into the community is essential, but so is returning the community. Some lonely hearts will complain, “That church runs the town!” Maybe they do, but if their reputation is driven by God, and if their reach is with the motive of the gospel, then what the church can return to her community is priceless. When the church in your small town loves her own and the ones not her own with a sincere love, the return to the community will be a reminder of the goodness which exists in this world (John 13:35). When your small town suffers a loss, has a disagreement, supports a project, confronts a crisis, responds to a heartbreak, or celebrates a success, let it be that the members of that small town church show the image of Christ without confusion, and others glorify Him (Matthew 5:13-16). Above all else, the impact of the small town church is the place where all can find a place to return to and call home.

Yes, I think the prodigal, like most of us, woke up one day and was convinced there was something better outside his house, his small town, and his faith. He looked far away for it, and found only heartache. It really wouldn’t surprise me that when the prodigal went home, it would have been to a small town; after all, once he left, he couldn’t wait to get back.

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If you want to build a better Bible School ministry, it starts at the top. Your leadership must be on board with the importance of the Bible School ministry in order for growth to occur. If the leadership, education minister, and teachers are all on the same page, and if you are willing to stay true to His Word, then hold on tight because great things lie ahead.

As any good coach of a team sport would tell you it is crucial that all team members operate as a unit (all parts working together). It is imperative that all involved in the education ministry of the church work together as a team striving to reach the ultimate goal of teaching the students about the Good News of Christ. It can be done but it will take a team effort.

Whether you are working for the Lord in a town that has a population of over 100,000 or in a town that has the population of 2,500, it is completely possible to build a Bible School ministry that is vibrant and growing. Here’s a simple approach that I’ve used for over 30 years that has been a great blessing to me in my work and I think it could be effective at any church if properly implemented at the local level.

Training: Training is one of the key ingredients to a successful education ministry at the local church. If the Bible School ministry is to grow, teachers, as well as prospective teachers must receive proper training. This training can be in the form of in-house training or through the attendance at workshops, lectureships, or seminars. Again, it is extremely important that the elders, ministers, coordinators, and teachers be on the same page regarding training opportunities.

Equipping: Since equipping and training are virtually the same thing, let’s place equipping into the category of the classroom. The classroom must be equipped with the necessary tools so that the students will have every possibility of growing in the knowledge and spiritual understanding of God’s Word (Col. 1:9-10). Budgets are tight at most churches but as the funds become available, leaders must provide more and more opportunities to improve the classroom with up to date equipment.

Assigning: If the Bible School ministry is to thrive, whoever oversees it must be willing to make the necessary assignments. Just because an individual has taught a class for several years doesn’t mean that they are the right fit for that particular class, and just because a prospective teacher wishes to teach a certain class doesn’t mean that they should. There’s a lot of factors that go into the selection of teachers and the placement of teachers. Often it is experimental and perhaps it should be approached that way. It probably won’t take long to see if the fit works. Adjustments can be made at the appropriate time.

Ministering: Once the teacher or prospective teacher has received training, as the room is continually being equipped, and once the individual has been assigned, it’s time to minister. The students, classroom and classroom management becomes the responsibility of the teacher. In other words, it’s time for the teacher to roll up his or her sleeves and get busy for the Lord. There perhaps is no better way to succeed in this area than to remember the care, concern and compassion that Christ, Himself, displayed while He was on this earth and then implement those 3 traits in your classroom. Care for your students while they are in your classroom, be concerned

about them when they are out of your classroom, and always have compassion for them. You will succeed as a teacher if you perform these 3 tasks.

All of us want to have the most effective and efficient Bible School ministry possible. It is important to remember that we are all on the same T.E.A.M. working together to reach as many as possible in our community and through out the world.

God bless you in this great effort.

Helping the Church Make a Big Impact in a Small Town

by ANDREW ITSON, andrewitson@gmail.com

It seems almost inevitable that anytime ministers get together someone will ask, “How many folks do you have on a Sunday morning?”

There is nothing wrong with that question but maybe the reason we ask that a lot is because as men, we like to know how we measure up against our colleagues. But what if the conversation changed? Instead of asking, "Tell me the size of your congregation?" what if we moved to, “Tell me about the impact your church is having in your community?” We would then begin to measure, not size of the church, but the size of the church’s footprint in the community. Even the smallest church, pound for pound, is capable of becoming a high impact church.

So, say you have people 50, 75, or 100 members, so what!? By using creativity, ingenuity and networking, it is possible to make a big splash in your neighborhood.

You may never be the best or biggest church in the community but you can become the best church for the community. Here is how.

FIRST, FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR CITY. As a minister, you must see your city how God sees your city. Often times we can spend wasted minutes wishing we where somewhere else. Dreaming about what ministry life would be like in a different or bigger city. If that’s God prodding at your heart, move, if it’s just you, stop it. There are people all around you that need Jesus and you can be a part of that. No matter what size city you are in, please know that there is something beautiful that God wants to do right where you are! Change your thinking, fall in love, and get to work! There’s an opportunity right where you live to not just survive your city but to do truly innovative ministry right where you live!

SECOND, BE "IN" YOUR CITY. A lot of our efforts of growth seem to begin and end with brainstorming sessions in our church buildings. We think big and then all of a sudden get discouraged because we may not have the facilities or the money to get it done. Growth begins when you take your vision and that hometown feel your church has and bring it TO the people. Over the past few years we have been trying to establish our "church's name" in our community. Instead of having worship in our building, on occasion we went to where the people were and had worship and a meal at the park. We connected with our chamber of commerce and city council and wanted them to know that we want to be the church that they call on when they need help with school events, public prayer, hosting community events, assisting with local nursing homes, and meals for our local servicemen. We offer a free mother's morning out to our community, host a spring fling with free health screenings, eye exams, a meal, and inflatable's for the kids. Most of these events cost to next to nothing. It just required communicating, delegating responsibility, and following through.

But please know that churches should not get involved in the community just for the sake of getting involved. That would be pointless. As leaders, we must make it clear that our involvement in the community is not about merely providing something for church members to do, or to give volunteers a way to feel better about themselves. We get involved in the community to better represent Jesus, and to make His name known. As you are involved in your town, yes, you’ll have fun.

Yes, you’ll get to know people in your community. Yes, you’ll find that it is a lot of work to organize and oversee these events. Yes, you’ll probably gain more respect in the community. But the real reason is to glorify God by reaching people with the gospel. Keep that as the focus.

THIRD, REMEMBER THAT YOUR SERMONS MATTER. Because you love your city and because you are "in" the community you WILL have people come to your worship services and want to know more. Use this time wisely. Unfortunately today many churches are known more for what they are against than what they are for, and it shows in the sermons. Your sermon goes a long way in sending a message, make sure it is a positive one filled with grace, love, and truth. When you prepare your sermon, don't just have the "seasoned Christian" in mind.

Sermons matter. They’re not the last word, they’re not the only thing. But I believe as preachers and teachers we have a unique privilege of helping people “come and see” where God is dwelling in their lives and in the world, and then inviting them to embark on a journey with God that will take them somewhere we never could.

God was for everyone and we should be for everyone, have that in mind as you prepare.

If I’m honest at times I do wish Robertsdale had a Starbucks, and an Apple store.

There are also moments when I think that ministry would be a lot easier in a bigger city. But you know what? Those moments are becoming fewer and fewer for me. It’s not because those things are true or not true, it’s because God has captured my heart with something greater. It’s not just surviving my city, it’s about rallying around our "smallness." I don’t see limitations, I see the opportunities. I see the future. I see God doing an incredible work. I see unique possibilities. I see incredible people that God so desperately loves. I see my local church as hope of the world, and the hope of my small town.

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Living in a small town, like living anywhere else, has its advantages and disadvantages. However, the Gospel has as power to change the souls of men and women in the most sparsely-populated hamlet as it does in the most denselypopulated metropolis.

That said, one of the advantages of being in a small town is the “community” you are striving to reach is clearly defined. For example, the community in which I live and work (Haleyville, Alabama) has a population of about 4500 people. While many more people live in the rural areas surrounding the city limits, we can quite easily define “reaching our community” because the numbers are not overwhelming. Our congregation of 200+ can truly dream of reaching our entire town of Haleyville.

But how do we do that effectively through various programs of the church? Here are 3 things that we try to keep in mind as we plan programs.

1. Less is More. Too many congregations (really, most congregations) have a myriad of programs and events that, if not evaluated well and run very efficiently, will take finances and volunteer hours away from each other. In the end, these programs begin to compete with one another. Instead, it is far better to build one program at a time, but to do so with excellence. You will have far more buy-in from the congregation, because it will take many more people to do something well, and because you can cast a compelling vision for one thing, rather than running ourselves “hither and yon” to do dozens of programs and events.

2. Outward Outweighs Inward. It sounds cliche, but it is so true in a small town: “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

That is true of our care for individuals, but in a small town, we must also show that we are good citizens to the community. If our calendar is filled with “inward focused” programs, we will not grow. (That’s not to say we should never have these type of events, but they should not dominate our schedules.) Instead, we must reach out into the community far more than we just appease our own people. In a small town, people notice when a church is picking up litter, cleaning up playgrounds, visiting in nursing homes, and so on. And, by the way, this is far more than just “good p.r.,” as it is sometimes called. It is opening doors to reach people with the eternity-changing message of the cross.

3. Remember the Children. Drive to almost any small town in America. When you come to the city limits, you are likely to see one of two signs (besides the “city limits” sign). One will be a sign indicating if someone famous is from there or a famous event happened there. The other? “1984 State Champions: Girls’ Softball.” It can be something that happened last year, or 45 years ago, but small towns are proud of the accomplishments of their kids! The church needs to remember that. Whatever can be done to show that we love and appreciate the children of a community should be a high priority. Host dinners for sports teams or the band. Provide a Christian alternative to the PROM. Preachers and elders (not just youth ministers), go to sporting events, band concerts, and choir concerts. Don’t just “have” Vacation Bible School, do it with excellence. Have top-notch safety measures in place for your cradle roll and other classes for small kids. You may not win those children or their families to Christ through one event, but people will remember that “that church” is the one that cares for our children. In a small town, that’s a powerful seed that is planted.

If you notice, none of these is exclusive to a small town. Having lived in Nashville, I would say similar things about effective programs in a larger city, as well.

However, in a small town, what you do—and whether you do it well or not—is going to be noticed and talked about. May the Lord help us all to make sure that, through our humble efforts in His name, that He is “the talk of the town!”

Working With Elders In A Small Town

by STAN BUTT, JR, stanbuttjr@gmail.com

My dad always preached. From the time he and mom loaded us into a brand new Plymouth Volare woody station wagon (the only souvenir of a Chrysler-Plymouth dealership he owned in his hometown) to drive us half-way across the country to Bear Valley when I was four, he always preached.

He never had quite the temperament for full-time ministry, so after a few years in Appalachian East Tennessee he gravitated back to secular work, but he never quit preaching. During this time he rarely preached for a church with more than seventy-five members and never for one with elders. This meant that the model for church leadership I witnessed as a boy was the Men’s Business Meeting. I will spare you the gruesome details for those of you who are unfamiliar with this form of “leadership.” But I will tell you that I learned one important lesson from watching my dad, and the Lord’s church, bullied and abused in these meetings. Here it is: The Lord knew what He was doing when He commanded His Church to be led by elders.

The New Testament model of church organization is, has been, and ever will be the ideal by which the Lord’s Church can come closest to reaching her full potential on this earth. This pattern remains the surest defense against false teaching, manipulation, and aimlessness, and it is capable of providing peace, stability, and direction. The work of the local church is and has always been too big for one man.

Only Biblical elders can keep the local preacher from becoming a scarecrow or a scapegoat. Because of this the preacher in a small town needs to do everything he

can to keep the elders of the church healthy, effective and joyful. He can do this in many ways. Here are a few.

PREACHING Preach about elders a lot. Several times a year. Teach what a Biblical eldership looks like and does. Preach about what elders aren’t. Remind the congregation that the eldership is not a board of directors or a complaint board. Teach about the awesome responsibility of the eldership for souls and then teach about every soul’s individual responsibility. Preach Matthew 18 and mention the elders every time you do. Preach 1 Peter 5. When you preach about elders you accomplish at least three important things. First, you equip your current elders with Biblical guidance for their work. Second, you educate the congregation about what they should expect from their elders and what their elders should expect from them. Third, you educate and encourage younger men in the church to aspire to “desire” the good work of shepherding. Long term, consistent, and Biblical teaching about elders will bless the elders, the congregation, and the preacher.

A word of warning for the wise though: preach about elders when things are good.

If you’re in the middle of spat with an elder, don’t use the pulpit as a place to stand up and tell him how to do his job.

PREPARATION Contrary to popular opinion, Paul’s list of qualifications for elders is not a job description. A church is generally so happy to find a man qualified for the job they neglect to tell him what the job actually is. Do you remember the episode of Seinfeld when George got hired for a job and didn’t know what it was? They showed him his office and handed him the “Pensky” file to work on. He was too embarrassed to ask what he was supposed to do with it, that he spent weeks putting it in new folders, shuffling it around, ordering, re-ordering it, and labeling it. He never worked it though, because he never knew what the job was. I think this happens to elders too often. The preacher can help prepare his elders. He can be on the lookout for good conferences and seminars. He can take them with him to Better (ding-ding) and Freed Hardeman’s new leadership seminar the Friday after lectureships. He can take them visiting with him and to preacher’s luncheons. He can pass along good books and team teach with an elder. In short, he can spend quality time with his elders helping prepare them to do something they already want to do - be better elders.

PROPPING Shepherding is a thankless job if the preacher doesn’t do it. When Moses’ arms got weak he needed someone help hold them up. Strengthening weak knees and the hands that hang down is important preacher work. It’s especially important for him to do this for his elders. Every chance you get thank the elders from the pulpit.

Remind the congregation of the awesome responsibility elders have and the sacrifices they and their families make for the church. The congregation itself benefits from this, because it fosters confidence in the church’s leadership and lets the congregation know that the preacher loves and respects his elders.

Congregational respect for elders starts in the pulpit.

That being said, make sure you’re not undermining your elders. Don’t take meetings about elders. If you’re going to tell the church that the elders aren’t a complaint counter for the preacher, make sure they know that you’re not one for the elders.

Don’t let any member of the congregation hear you speak disrespectfully to or about one of your elders. There are times to say hard things to elders. They are in a closed room, which you leave only after some tears, some prayer, and some hugs.

They are not in the hall.

A preacher should constantly encourage his elders.

PRAYING The preacher’s work for and with elders begins with prayer. Start and end every meeting and every serious conversation with prayer when possible. Pray for them every time you lead a public prayer. Thank God for them and ask Him to equip them to do their important work. I always ask that God will give them “strength, wisdom, compassion, and vision.” Pray for their families. Don’t fall into the trap of praying “for the decisions they make,” and don’t let your congregation fall into that trap either. Good preaching about elders will usually take care of that, but too many congregations and elderships believe the majority of an elder’s work involves making decisions. Lastly, make sure you are constantly praying for your elders in your private prayers. This is where you can get specific and personal. I remember an old cliche that said “the best way to have a better preacher is to pray for the one you’ve got.” The same is true with elders. Praying for elders will likely result in their improvement, but it will definitely result in an improvement in your attitude toward them. Be sure to pray for yourself when you pray for your elders. Ask God to help you to be humble and wise. Ask Him to help you know what to say, how to say it, and when to keep your mouth shut. I cannot stress this enough - prayer is

absolutely indispensable in a preacher’s work with his elders. It should permeate every nook and cranny of that relationship.

Every preacher should know the blessing of working with godly elders. I hurt for those who don’t. As preachers, let’s take the responsibility for raising these men up, educating them, encouraging them, and equipping them to do this good work the Lord has given them.

The Impact of Long-Term Ministry in a Small Town

by PHILLIP HINES, phines@bellsouth.net

In many ways, small town ministry is completely different from that in larger cities.

I believe that the largest difference has to do with relationships.

Hartselle, Alabama, is a city of fourteen thousand people. The children are divided between three different elementary schools, but end up in the same junior high school and high school. Through the years, they will play sports with, and against, one another. In a small town, you grow up knowing most of the people who live there. It makes you believe the old adage that it is a place where everybody knows

everybody. This can be the opposite living in larger cities. People may live miles apart from one another and drive great distances to attend church services.

Students attend different schools all the way through high school. There is not that close sense of community.

I grew up in a small town. Upon moving to Hartselle in 1980, I knew the necessity of being known and being involved in such an environment. A long-term commitment would be necessary. I also understood the importance of the church being a part of the community. Any church’s participation in its community is so important for growth and spreading the gospel.

It seems easier to achieve that in a small town. With a smaller physical area, the monetary cost of getting information into every home is much less. Through the years, we have mailed into every home in the city once or twice a year. With these mailings, we advertised meetings, special events, and messages from God’s word.

The people in Hartselle knew we were there. Every three to four years we had events at the city Civic Center dealing with lessons on the home and family. It was amazing to see how many people from our town would attend a service at the Civic Center instead of one in our church building. We often advertised by hanging banners across main street (something you could not do in a larger city). We were highly involved in community activities. One example was working with the Clean City organization picking up trash and cleaning un-kept areas of Hartselle. In September of 2016, we helped the city by cleaning our park and re-working the landscape at the police station.

The ministry that has really gotten the attention of the town is our “Feeding of the 800” on Christmas Day. For the last eight years, on Christmas Day, we have prepared and delivered hundreds of meals to the less fortunate. People from the community now show up and want to help deliver meals with us. Every year at this time, we will receive checks from people who are not members of our congregation who want to help us financially with this good work. On Christmas Day of 2016 we prepared and delivered 846 meals.

As a young preacher, I heard a sermon from Charles Hodge that made a tremendous impact on me. It had to do with the death of Lazarus in John 11. In verses 25-26 Jesus teaches Martha a deep truth about the resurrection and she

believed it. Why did she believe it? Because she knew Jesus loved her (verse 5).

How did she know Jesus loved her? Because Jesus spent time with Mary, Martha and Lazarus (Luke 10:38-42). Today, if we are going to teach the truths of the gospel to the lost, they have to know that we love them. The way in which they will know that is for us to spend time with them, serve them, and meet their needs.

Through the 36 years that I have been at Hartselle, this is what I have tried to practice and to instill in our local church. Today, the people in the community of Hartselle know who we are, and who I am. They know me not because I am some great preacher, for I am not. They know me because of the years of picking up trash and weed-eating, coaching youth sports, being involved in civic organizations, serving on the hospital board, and just loving the city. This is a relationship that can only come through a long-term ministry. As a minister, you cannot have this effect on a city or a church if you plan to stay for only a short period of time, or if you are just using the local church as a stepping stone to a bigger church and larger city.

So, what is the impact of long term ministry in a small town? Through the years, mayors, city councilmen, and the superintendent of education have come by my office to talk and have a prayer. Wherever I go in the city, I am known. People from the community often call me with their questions about the Bible. Souls have been saved. A relationship has been made with the people in our area. We are known by many as “The church that will help people.” And, we have been able to share the truths of God’s word.

The Power of the Pulpit in a Small Town

by D. L. Debord, restorationpreacher@gmail.com

We have all seen those paintings of small towns surrounded by snowy mountains. We see those warm homes surrounding the downtown.

If we zoom in a bit further we see one of the most notable buildings, the church house. This building isn't just in the center of the town, it is the center of the town. It's as if the town was built around the church. Inside that church building, one man stands for God before the community--their local preacher.

Every preaching opportunity is different. Congregations will change from week to week.

Heraclitus said "You can't step in the same river twice for it's not the same river and he's not the same man" (as quoted by Plato).

However, there are some unique blessings, opportunities, and challenges for the preacher in a small town.

Every preaching opportunity has the same major sacred obligation-preach the Word (2 Timothy 4:1-4). The Scriptures alone are from God and the Scriptures alone are worthy of the worship event (2 Timothy 3:14-16). The preached Word is still essential to God's plan of redemption. "Faith comes by hearing and

hearing by the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17 ESV). Paul, the great evangelist, understood that "it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21).

The local preacher has special opportunities in smaller communities because they are truly communities. Small towns are places where everyone knows your name.

They also know the preachers. They respect the preachers. They hold their preachers in esteem. They love their preachers.

Preachers, love your towns.

We must value each of the opportunities to represent God and church before the community. Simply being the local preacher has given me special opportunities to lead prayers at ball games, to be the play by play announcer at football games, and even give a pep talk at a boys basketball game. I have preached on community television and local radio. I even had the opportunity to be the news anchor on one local television channel. I also rarely pay for meals in restaurants. Why? It's not because I'm great or talented. It is because the community loves their God and their preacher.

Herein lies the special influence of the small town preacher--mutual love. The relationship shared between preacher, God, and the community is a special blessing. One of the master keys to successful preaching in any community is honor those relationships. The greatest preacher ever to live gave the The effectiveness of the small two greatest commands of town pulpit is built upon private homiletics: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and s t u d y, p r a ye r, a n d p u b l i c with all your soul and with all your ministry. These three tools will mind. This is the great and first make your preaching powerful commandment. And a second is like in any area it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:38-39). On these two hang all the great preaching principles.

The effectiveness of the small town pulpit is built upon private study, prayer, and public ministry. These three tools will make your preaching powerful in any area

but especially in small communities. Paul reminded one of his favorite elderships of his preaching ministry by saying, "You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me" (Acts 20:18-19). We can have powerful pulpits by following Paul's example.

Love your Lord. Love his Word. Love His people. Love lost people. They will love you more than you deserve and they will love your preaching too.

Promoting the Church in a Small Town

by Drake Jenkins, drake.jenkins@students.fhu.edu

One of the greatest blessings of my life is to share in the work of ministry, and especially in small town America. Everyday seems to be a new adventure in ministry. Some days are extremely busy and you can’t remember what day of the week it is because of staying up all night in a hospital room with someone’s distant family member. You can't predict what will happen day to day. Some days are just simple welcoming a new baby into the world, or welcoming a new soul in Christianity.

What I have learned most about ministry thus far, however, is that everyday is a blessing. Yes thats right, EVERYDAY is a blessing. From when the man tells you that your sermon was almost as good as the last preacher, to when the hurting new comer tells you “thats exactly what I needed,” its all a blessing. From when the family tells you that they are offended because you didn't handle something perfectly, or the way they would have (even though you are not perfect), to elders telling you how special you truly are to the church, its all a blessing. From when the person tells you “that was a great sermon for someone your age” (haha… uhhh….thanks?), to God blessing you with an opportunity to preach His Word, its all a blessing. Regardless of larger congregations or smaller congregation people are people and we must seek goodness in their lives. That is why I love small town ministry. Perhaps its easier to work in a small town. Everyone is sweet and calls you names like: buddy, honey, baby, little preacher man (my favorite). Perhaps it is a simpler place to work. But don't let that fool you. Work is work. There are souls in small towns too.

So how do we reach them? Are they reachable? Or do we all have the mentality of, “YOUR CHURCH IS ONLY GROWING BECAUSE YOUR TOWN IS GROWING.” I have a few suggestions.

Church work has much to do with marketing and branding. These are a few questions you will want to ask as you begin to promote the church in a small town (or any town): What do you have that the people you are hoping to attract can’t get?

What makes you worth a special trip?

What sets you apart from everyone else?

This is tough, because you may be thinking that you are different and special and wonderful (and you are, you are doing the Lord’s work), but to promote something has to go beyond that. A third part must step in. It’s not enough for you to believe in your small congregation, you need whats called “buy in.” Your members need to be taught to talk about your family as much as you do. They need to be as excited as you are about evangelism. Rome wasn't built in a day, nor was it built by one person. I think to many preachers think that since they are payed they are the only ones that GET to work. Marketings and brands is a collective work of minds and hearts wanting the same thing. Marketing is not to be lived out in solitary confinement.

NUMBER ONE - Marketings and Branding: If I'm going to promote something and market something I need to be seen as a brand. An effective brand strategy gives you a major edge in increasingly competitive markets. But what exactly does "branding" mean? Simply put, your brand is your promise to your customer. It tells them what they can expect from your products and services, and it differentiates your offering from that of your competitors. Your brand is derived from who you are, who you want to be, and who people perceive you to be. In our case, Jesus is our brand. People need to see that we are truly the Church of Jesus. So market Him. Your promise is that we are sinners who found the Savior and because of Jesus we get to go to heaven (John 14). We have to tell people that. And people in small towns love that.

Everywhere you go in a small town I guarantee you, someone knows one of your members (or most likely is related to one of them). Bring that up. Laugh. Tell stories.

And then ask them to come here about Jesus. Everywhere you go have a card with your church name and logo, wear the church name on your clothes, wear the church name on your car, leave your card on every table you eat at. Marketing and branding never stop. Work must be a lifestyle not a job….If you want to promote a

church in a small town you need to be branding and marketing all over the place.

People need to know who you are and that you stand with Jesus….Do you go to the football games in town and people know you’re the preacher? Do you preach funerals for those in need and give them Jesus? Do you talk to people in the fast food window about where they go to church? Do you get lists of your members relatives and then call them or go see them? Do you watch your members children play sports, just hoping to meet another family you can invite? Do you spend times in the county school because of so many opportunities? Do you go to town hall meetings so you can meet the leaders of the county and tell them you are praying for them, and invite them to worship? Listen: marketing and branding never stops.

You are a walking billboard for your church family and for Jesus. Brand them. Brand HIM. NUMBER TWO - Prayer: Do you know why every article you read and every sermon you here on growth and promotion always has a point on prayer? BECAUSE IT WORKS!!!! AMEN!!!!! We need to be a people of prayer (I Thessalonians 5:17).

Every day as a church we pray for three things: First, for lost people. Second, to have success in bringing glory to our Father. Third, we pray “give us just one person to influence today for Jesus.” EVERYDAY. I’ll tell you what; that works. Pray for growth in small towns. Pray that God will bring you wisdom when growth comes.

Have the prayer of the prophet of old, “Here am I SEND ME” (Isaiah 6:8), and when you come back with new souls pray that God will send them out.

Promoting is all about giving people something that you believe in and that you know is better - Promote Jesus. Everyday. In small towns or in large metroplexes Promote Jesus. That is how church families grow. Thank you for working. May God bless your work for HIM.

The Impact of a Large Church in a Small Town

by Steven Hunter, schunter@ymail.com

One thing we learn when conversing with one who identifies as “Christian” is that most people are ecumenical in their outlook. That’s to say that they view all denominations as a part of the whole of the body of Christ. Not everyone who comes to worship with us at Glendale Road is a member of the church. They might have said a sinner’s prayer or invited Jesus into their heart to be saved. Some may have even been “baptized” when an infant. Yet, they decided to visit or come on a regular basis to our congregation because it is large.

We have the opportunity to impact their lives by preaching the ancient gospel. Just recently, a family came to visit with us from a Catholic background. They have visited several times, and an elder and I had the opportunity to study with them.

Having a background in church history, I was able to convey how we endeavor to do what the primitive Christians did as well as when certain changes arose. My aim was not to bash or judge another, but to emphasize that we seek to be as they were in the New Testament as much as we can. Were it not for the fact that Glendale Road was so large, they might not have visited us. They’ve lived in the city for over twenty years, so they knew about us.

We’re in a good location, and we also have a presence in the community. Members of our congregation work in the local school systems, some are in positions in local government, and others are leaders in various industries around the area. A congregation is only as good as its people, and we have good people who try to live pleasingly to God. As such, they are kind, helpful, and caring. When folks in the community know them, they invariably learn that they worship at Glendale Road. As they get to know our members, they are either drawn to us out of interest, or they come wanting to see just how formative the church is the one they know.

While evangelism is the main goal of our faith, we are also to be the light of the world. People know about our local benevolent ministries and the good we aim to do for the greater community. When a congregation allows local organizations to

use its facilities for their meetings and other community impacting functions, the congregation is noted as caring for the community as a whole. If all we did were to preach the gospel, that would certainly be enough. However, by showing that we care for the community in which we’re situated, we’re able to convey how we not only want the best for the lost souls around us, but for the overall community.

I believe that our impact has resulted in the salvation of lost souls over the years, and I also believe the congregation has been a blessing to the community at large.

Building from that, we can impact our city by fostering a mentality that would glorify God and be good for the entire area. As such, we communicate that we are not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners. We love people because God loves people. In a hopeless society and world, we want people to know that they can find hope in Christ at Glendale Road and that the message of the gospel is such that it can, as it did in Acts, turn our small town upside down.

RAISING A LARGE FAMILY IN A SMALL TOWN

by Jeff Collet, fairfieldcocpreacher@gmail.com

Jeff and his girls…

I am fairly certain that the main reason I was hired to preach at the Fairfield Church of Christ was because by hiring me attendance would automatically be increased by 10 percent. Such is the good fortune of having 5 children! I enjoy telling people that they are my wife’s children from her first marriage……..the looks I get are priceless! (I am the husband of her first marriage).

The old adage of “there are no secrets in a small town” is usually interpreted as being negative. Some people have surmised that gossip is so bad in small towns that word spreads from one end to the other before the act is even committed!!! I disagree with the notion that living in a small means we have to be so on guard against everybody “knowing our business”. We are to be “in the world, but not of

the world” (1 Corinthians 5:10) and “none of us lives to himself and no one dies to himself” (Romans 14:7) and “a man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment” (Proverbs 18:1). It is nearly impossible to be influential if we hide away in secret for fear of what people might say………guess what, people will talk about other people no matter what you do!!! So the following are a couple of things we have done over the years that have proven effective.

HOSPITALITY We have learned over the years that people are drawn to our house for some very simple reasons. For one, crowds attract people and boy do we have a crowd at our house!!! Kids love being around other kids and at our house each of our girls (you heard right, all 5 of ‘my wife’s’ kids are females) has a friend over at any given time and that seems to in turn attract even more kids. Second, we frequently invite other families to supper and we always try to keep food on hand for those kids that are always dropping in. Make good food, you make fast friends. Third, a lot of people in our society come from dysfunctional homes and they are attracted to stability.

The preacher’s family can offer solid footing for others to stand on.

KEEP IT REAL We believe in being genuine, bona fide, real, open and honest, sincere people.

Since there are no secrets in a small town anyway, why not just be open and real?

It is difficult at times trying to live holy while trying to avoid a holier-than-thou perception but I do believe that people are looking for someone to whom they can relate. While we do our best to not sin the truth is that at best we are sinners saved by the grace of God. Hypocrisy is likely the most detestable sin there is so it is better and easier just being real. People are looking for relevancy in this world and if my family is relevant then we will have an opportunity for influence. My family chooses to be the same in the community as we are in our house or at the church building, replete with flaws, issues, problems, and challenges. However, we are stable and I believe a “real” family that is solid can close the gap in a small town between those outside of Christ and those in Christ.

The most influential Christian families I have known have both opened their home and put themselves out there in the community. May every Christian always do what they can, with what they have, wherever they are.

Advantages of Ministry in a Small Town

by Mark Howell, mah2100@gmail.com

What population constitutes a “small town”? That great repository of sometimes worthless knowledge known as urbandictionary.com defines a “big city” as 300,000+, a “big town” as 7,000-20,000, a “town” as 800-7,000, and a “small town” as 200-800. For nineteen years, I preached in Atwood, Tennessee. With its 1,000 citizens it may not fit the definition of those at urbandictionary.com, but for probably everyone else in the world it is the epitome of a “small town.” Even now,

serving the Midway congregation in Jasper, Alabama, most would say I am ministering in a small town though its population is fourteen times that of Atwood.

It has been my privilege and blessing for more than a quarter century to work with two great small town congregations. Though both are located in what may be considered “small towns,” a comparison causes me to reflect on some of the enormous advantages of even the smallest of the two. The things I write may be considered by some to be disadvantages, but I have found that it really depends on what you choose to make of the situation. And so, in my view, allow me to share some things I view as advantages of ministering in a small town.

The Pace is Somewhat Less Frantic That’s not to say the people or the church are not busy. Families are still faced with the hustle and bustle of Little League baseball, Friday night football, and basketball on almost every night except Sunday and Wednesday. We’ll return to these later, but the slower pace meant there was additional time for me as a preacher to work more for the broader kingdom. I was able to spend more time on projects with House to House Heart to Heart, and with the growing Polishing the Pulpit workshop. Though we may work with a specific congregation, we work for the Lord and His Kingdom covers the entire planet. If you are privileged to work in a small town with a slower pace, never feel as though you should take your foot off the pedal. Do not neglect your work at home, but use what extra time you may have to reach beyond your own city limit.

Involvement is Sometimes More Meaningful Small towns usually have several “extra-curricular” activities with which to be involved. Little League teams need coaches. Election commissions need poll workers. Volunteer fire departments need firemen. And usually, the available pool of potential workers is more limited.

I have had the privilege of serving in all these areas. These afforded me the opportunity to get to know most citizens in the town and many others in the county. Simply put, I was able to build relationships with all my contacts! Upon my arrival in Atwood, I was asked to be a part of the fire department. I eventually served as Assistant Chief and then Chief. Along with that came the opportunity to become a licensed Medical First Responder. Even for those who were not Christians, it really meant something when “the preacher,” and hence, the church was there during their time of need.

The People are for the Most Part “Close-Knit” When everybody knows everybody, it can be both good and bad. When someone in town is struggling, someone at church usually knows it. When a local visitor attends, he already knows several folks and is made to feel welcome. Follow-up is also pretty easy because of this. When at those earlier mentioned games, it was the townsfolk who needed to hear the Gospel with whom you are able to associate as a friend. When some church event was scheduled, it is not hard to get the word out.

The People Move Away This final advantage I wish to share really appears on the surface to be a disadvantage. Because of lack of jobs, many children in the congregation grow up and move away. Roughly halfway through my tenure at Atwood I pondered why we were not “growing” numerically. I went back through records and found that half of those who had been members when we arrived had either died or moved away.

And yet, the congregation remained the same size. We were having baptisms and people were being added to the Lord’s church but we did not seem to be making progress. Most of those who had moved away were still faithfully serving the Lord in their new location. And herein lies the advantage. Not only were we evangelizing in our small town, we were helping to provide bible class teachers, preachers, youth workers, and strong Christian influences in the kingdom in other locales! Like those of the early church, they were leaving their small home town and going everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8:4).

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Building and Maintaining Relationships in a Small Town

by Adam Miller, adam_miller_99@yahoo.com

Relationships! They are so important in all we do in life. They are also very important in ministry. We’ve heard the old saying, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Think about small town Mayberry.

Boy, they knew everything about everyone didn’t they? In one episode, a visitor was coming through town and his car broke down. Well, it happened to be on Sunday when he needed it fixed; but guess what? Everything closes on Sunday in Mayberry.

Even the phone lines were tied up. A couple of the older women of the town were tying up the phone lines catching up on the weeks activities. Small town Mayberry was built upon relationships.

As we are working in ministry in small towns, we have the perfect opportunity to teach the gospel to others by building and maintaining relationships. Since I have been in ministry, I try really hard to be seen in the community “mingling” with others. No, I don’t do this so I can just be seen. I do this because I’m a minister for the congregation in a small town and I believe the more I get out and “mingle” with people the more opportunity I have to spread the gospel to them. I volunteer as a chaplain at a local Sanctuary Home. I speak regularly at a local Nursing Home.

When I need something real quick, I shop at the local Fred’s down the road. I have the privileged opportunity to preach each Sunday morning for a local television broadcast. In your town, YOU need to be seen. Preachers – we need to be seen in the public. We need to support our local ball teams. Make ourselves present at some football games on Friday night.

Some things we may want to do to encourage others are local prayer meetings, visitations with those hurting, meetings where children can get together, and many other outreach programs that work really

well in small towns. We need to be accessible to those in our community. Your local school system is another great way to get into the community and build relationships. When available, sign up to do career days, and explain what a great job you have as a minister. Encourage young men to be ministers.

Back to relationships! Once we have built these relationships, it’s time to maintain them. We need to continue with lots of follow up with families that we meet in our community. Maintaining those relationships mean we can eventually spread the love of Jesus to them. Isn’t that our ultimate goal as well? Let’s remember our purpose; and that is to teach the gospel to the lost. As we work on building a rapport with others, let’s be sure we are inviting them to our worship service, and inviting them to have Bible studies with us.

A great way to get into the homes of our families is to do this via the children. VBS is a great tool in a small town to reach children, and eventually to reach their parents. Continue follow up with these families the best we can. Let’s offer our community a very friendly place to worship that offers them the gospel. Be ready to teach them, and to involve them into the work of the church.

Let’s get out and teach others about Jesus!

Team Ministry in a Small Town

by Joseph Horton, jhorton16@hotmail.com AND Alex Courington, alexcourington@gmail.com

We have had the pleasure of working together in Winchester, TN (population: 8,539) for a year and a half. When you live in a small town, it’s nearly impossible to go out to dinner or especially to Walmart without running into someone you know. Ministry in a small town is unique and presents its own challenges and rewards. In our brief time working together, we’ve discovered some important principles for team ministry in a small town. These are not novel, and they certainly aren’t rocket science. What we’re hoping is that these simple ideas will be helpful and challenging reminders for your ministry.

First, understand your roles: I (Joseph) am responsible for most of the preaching and visitation, while I (Alex) minister to our young people. We’re guessing that most of you who minister in a team in a small town are in similar situations. Our elders have helped define our respective roles and this frees us from the pressure of trying to “do it all.” For instance, I (Joseph) don’t try to build a deep relationship with every teenager, while I (Alex) don’t try to visit every elderly person in the hospital. However, we recognize that there are times we should step outside of our specific roles. On a good team, each minister has a role, but on a great team, each minister will fill whatever role is necessary for the health of the congregation. There may be some teenagers with whom I (Joseph) need to connect, and some older members who I (Alex) need to visit in the hospital. We pray for wisdom to know when to minister within our roles and when to take a step outside of them (James 1:5).

Second, focus on communication: While we respect each other’s time and responsibilities, we also try to be available to one another. In regard to some congregational issues, the best person to talk to as you seek clarity and work toward meaningful solutions is your ministry teammate. This commitment requires trust and a willingness to see communication with each other as time well spent.

The goal is to have a partner in ministry with whom you can be comfortable enough to communicate your frustration, excitement, anger, and joy. We recognize

that for our personal and professional well-being, we must be willing to open up to one another in honest communication.

Third, value your relationship: This principle is really the umbrella that encompasses the other two. Our relationship is an asset to our ministry and a rich blessing to each of us. Though I (Joseph) am a bit older, I do not view myself as Alex’s superior. We are teammates and fellow workers with God (1 Corinthians 3:9). Thankfully, we’re also good friends. We enjoy spending time together outside of the office. And we’ve discovered that our friendship not only benefits us, but can also serve as a model for our congregation and small community. We believe that sharing a healthy relationship with one another can promote warmth and healthy relationships in our congregation. We believe that being “united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10) can inspire a spirit of unity among the brothers and sisters we serve. And whether we like it or not, our relationship, among other factors, determines how outsiders view our congregation. This may be more true in a small town than in a larger city that the ministers and their relationship serve as the face of their church family. We embrace this huge responsibility. May God bless you and your team as you minister in the small town where God has placed you!

Building an Evangelistic Church in a Small Town

by Sam Dilbeck, samdilbeck@gmail.com

Most of the buildings guarding Buffalo Street in Caddo were built before Oklahoma’s statehood. After the railroad was routed through a nearby town, time stopped in Caddo, a town of less than a thousand citizens. For many people, visiting Caddo is like stepping back in time, but for me it’s going home.

Towns like Caddo struggle to survive, and they present the church with many challenges. The devil works hard to hinder church growth, so problems arise when building an evangelistic church, but some problems are unique to small towns.

A Picture of Health When I picture an evangelistic church, I see a growing church because God’s Word always accomplishes its purpose (Isaiah 55:11). I see a church with Christians working in concert to change their community (Romans 16:3, 7, 9, 21). I see a church vibrant with training and mentoring programs teaching the next generation how to do personal work (2 Timothy 2:2). I see a church with classes and ministries dedicated to helping new converts grow in Christ (2 Peter 3:18). That’s the image I see of a godly, healthy, evangelistic church.

Sometimes a church is fortunate to have two or three members who are stellar evangelists. They knock doors, set studies, and ooze with zeal. Personal work is their niche, and their congregation is blessed; however, it doesn’t make the congregation evangelistic.

An evangelistic church generates an atmosphere that creates, nourishes, and encourages evangelistic hearts. From the elders to the children, there is a desire and urgency to save souls.

Barriers to Overcome Beginning with this image of an evangelistic church in mind, what barriers keep churches from being evangelistic? One problem is fear. We fear we will alienate our friends. We fear questions we cannot answer. We fear we might say something wrong and drive people away from the church.

Another problem is time. We fill our lives with so many activities we leave little room for God in the ever-tightening gaps in our schedule, and often evangelism doesn’t fit. The same problem exists with those with whom we want to study. Like idleness, busyness is the devil’s workshop, too.

In large cities, people are less connected. Neighborhoods don’t have sidewalks between homes anymore. We are not as involved in one another’s lives. The opposite is often true in smaller towns, where everyone knows everyone’s business.

Often, neighbors are relatives, and converts are asked to sever family ties that have connected them for generations. Christians do not want to cause conflict, so to keep peace, they don’t proselytize.

Many times, churches turn their focus inward, putting their energies in youth programs, senior groups, or building projects. They hope these things will draw people to the church, so their activities replace their outreach.

Division creates another barrier to evangelism in small towns. The church’s history and problems are remembered for decades. A split that occurred 40 years ago is talked about as if it happened yesterday, and outsiders don’t want to “join a church” with a lot of problems.

Churches often struggle with evangelism because their efforts are scattered or members are not unified on the goal of evangelism. Some think it isn’t their job. Or they consider the church more of social club than a saving vessel. Others lack the urgency, not believing their neighbors face spiritual danger.

Climbing Trees When Zacchaeus faced an obstacle to seeing Jesus, he did the unthinkable—he climbed a tree (Luke 19:4). How can churches be like Zacchaeus and overcome evangelism obstacles?

First, every church needs to develop a pervasive sense of urgency. Every passing day brings us closer to Judgment, when all evangelistic efforts will cease. We must do the work God sent us to do while we can, because time is running out (John 4:35, 9:4; Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5). Urgency must begin in the hearts of the elders, and then be fed steadily to the church.

Second, we must restore the church’s focus. Part of the church’s mission involves edifying the saints, but when it becomes the primary mission, evangelism stops.

Evangelistic churches edify the saints by equipping them with the tools necessary to accomplish the great commission. When the people have a mind to work, the work gets done (Nehemiah 4:6).

Third, the church must be active in evangelism. Too many Christians practice passive evangelism. They focus on being friendly and welcoming to visitors, which is vital, but they are waiting for the lost to come to them. Evangelism must be active, “Go…make disciples” (Matthew 28:19-20). We need to develop evangelism training programs that focus on education and hands-on mentoring. Good training gives members the confidence to share the gospel. Going two by two not only strengthens our efforts, but it also trains the neophyte as well (Luke 10:1).

Fourth, churches need to inject themselves into the community. Churches can offer their property to civic organizations and support groups or get involved with community celebrations and service projects. We can partner with schools to help impoverished families or to assist with school activities like book fairs, sporting events, or tutoring programs. Through serving others, the church can be woven into the fabric of the community. The town must know the church isn’t a secret society, but a living organism, vital to its survival. They must know there was a prophet among them (Ezekiel 2:5).

Fifth, the church needs to present unity to outsiders. When small-town churches bicker and fight during services, the whole town knows before the closing prayer.

Disunity hurts the church’s influence and hinders outreach efforts; as Jesus said, “A divided house falls” (Luke 11:17).

Sixth, churches can help members prioritize their schedules. This may include teaching about priorities, but it can also include restructuring church activities to include evangelistic efforts. For example, a Wednesday Bible class may become a door knocking effort, or a youth rally may become a youth service project. Through better use of our time, we can be more successful in bringing the lost to Jesus (Colossians 4:5).

Seventh, we need to connect with people. In our social-media age, we have more relationships than ever before, but they are very shallow. Christians ought to get involved in people’s lives. How is my neighbor? Is his father sick? Are her kids on

the right track? By getting involved and connecting more deeply with people, we demonstrate the love of God and create more opportunities to share the gospel.

Conclusion Small towns offer many blessings and provide many challenges to the Lord’s church. Like any work, the key to success is overcoming the hurdles the devil puts in our way. When Christians work together to serve their community and live the gospel, they open doors of opportunity and develop evangelistic churches.

Reaching Out To The Community In A Small Town

by Reed Swindle, reed@footestreetcoc.org

While a larger congregation in a more populated area might have more resources, a smaller town allows for so much visibility and opportunity for not only being a part of the community but also reaching it. If we evaluate the percentage of congregations in smaller towns in comparison to those in larger, it is interesting to see that even though the congregation may be smaller the percentage of members per capita may be higher. 900 people out of 100,000 is not as high of a percentage as 300 out of 12,000 (I asked Siri). I mention this because small town ministry is very effective and we need to be proud of our small town congregations!

Many of the things discussed in this article will be discussed based on the fact that the majority of people in a small town have lived there for a long time if not their whole lives. Members of the community probably know more about the congregation you work with than you do. Many people in the community have either been a member of the church at one point, are related to someone who is a member or work with someone who is a member.

They remember how it used to be and may even have negative feelings towards the church. BUT, in a small town, it seems to be easier to change their minds! Here are some thoughts to consider when it comes to reaching the community in a smaller town.

1. The congregation needs to be proud of you! Whether it is in the local “mom and pop� restaurant, Hardees, the convenience store or the local sporting goods place, people in a small town talk! They have a lot of pride and love to

have something to add to their conversations as soon as the talk about the local football team is over. The members of the church have probably been members of the same congregation for a long time. Many have seen preachers come and go and certainly have their favorites! All of these things are OK! They will brag and brag about their preacher if he treats them with respect, shows them he cares, his wife is nice to them and his kids don’t act too bad in church. I remember a preacher telling me he used to carry a checker board into the local “old timer” hang out and sit down and just play.

2. “It” might not work in a small town. Some of our great preachers in larger cities have some really great ideas! They come up with programs, books, videos and Better. Things like this work great for their congregations and in their communities. I hate to say this, but they might not work in a small town.

While their ideas are dynamic, exciting and creative, they may not be cut out for every congregation. It is important to take the concepts of the programs these great leaders have used and adapt them to the smaller town setting.

There are also things that work great in a small town that may not be effective in a larger one. Use what is unique and exciting about your community to the glorification of the church.

3. Determine what makes something “successful.” It is easy to judge the success of a program or event only by how many conversions come from it. While ultimately we are seeking to convert people, sometimes there are other benefits that make things successful. The majority of the community knows exactly where your church building is. Consider things that help raise the opinion of what people associate with the church. We want people to drive by our building and say “there are some great people doing a lot of great things at that church.” Creative ideas that gets them in your building and thinking highly of what is going on is successful because it glorifies the church.

In Acts 17 Paul had been chased out the large city of Thessalonica and found himself 50 miles south in the small town of Berea. He found these people were more fair-minded, received the scripture with all readiness and searched the scriptures to see if the things he taught them were so (Acts 17:11). Ministry in a small town has great advantages and opportunities.

TJI Recommends‌

 

Order daily devotional books for every member of your congregation at OneWordStudy.com ($3.00 each!) and order your own One Word Preaching Resource for $3.50 at the same site. A great preaching plan.

An

Interview

A TJI Interview: 8 Questions with Jeff & Dale.

ON: Planned Preaching We posed 8 questions to three guys who have done ministry well. It happens that these heroes all preach in small towns so their words fix this month. Where better to get insight than from those who already do it well? Ted Burleson has preached in Columbia, TN, Jasper, AL and for the last decade plus has been in Hamilton, AL. Steve Baggett has preached for nearly a decade for the Walnut Street church in Dickson, TN. Russ Crosswhite preaches for the church in Fulton, MS. He and Linda have been in Fulton for over 26 years. We love each of these guys and thank God for their faith and work in His Kingdom. Enjoy.

TJI: Did you decide to preach in a small town on purpose?

Ted: No. I’ve always tried to follow where the Lord led me whether it was a large city or small town. I now preach in my hometown. When you fizzle out they usually let you come back home.

Steve: I actually did not make a decision about working with a congregation based on the size of the town. Had any of the congregations I have been with been

located in a larger city, that would have been okay. Having said that, Pam and I have learned over the years that we really like not living in a larger metropolitan area.

Russ: I did not make a decision to preach in a small town on purpose. The size of the town or city never crossed my mind.

TJI: What do you see as the advantage of a small town verses a large town?

Steve: In a small town the opportunity to know a large percentage of the population and to get involved in the community is a plus. Being one of the larger congregations in a small town also gives the opportunity to offer our building for community service when a larger venue is needed, and this goes a long way in creating and fostering good will in the community. There is also benefit for the local congregation for the preacher to be known and recognized in the community, because when people are hurting, if they know who the preacher is it is easier for them to reach out for help.

Russ: One advantage of a small town is that you have the opportunity to know to a certain extent most people in town and their extended families. That can be a great opportunity.

Ted: That’s absolutely right - If you feel like the old Cheers theme song, “I want to go where everybody knows my name,” then serving in a small town is an advantage. I grew up in the country, and like T.B. Larimore, I prefer the small town living.

TJI: What are the drawbacks (if any) to preaching in a small town vs. a large city?

Russ: I guess one big drawback of preaching in a small town is that there are not a lot of new people moving into the area. You have some but not many. For example here in Fulton the population of the town is still about 4,000 people. That’s what it was when I came this area over twenty-five years ago.

Ted: We do not have the conveniences of a large city (shopping, restaurants, etc.).

My wife does not have as much support of the wives of other preachers as she did in a larger city, except through a closed Facebook group of preachers’ wives.

Steve: I really cannot think of any disadvantage of living in a small town.

TJI: How has preaching in a small town impacted your family?

Steve: Living in a small town has provided a number of blessings for our family.

Friendships made in the community with folks who are not members of our congregation have been a wonderful blessing to our family. The opportunity to be involved in sports and school activities with our boys as they were growing up was also a blessing to us, and I think the congregation as well. In a small town there is a real sense of community, which enhances relationships with other families. Our sons would tell you that living in a small town does have the tendency to make the "glass house" in which you live more visible.

Ted: Frankly, there have been times of loneliness for our family, especially when Christmas falls on a Sunday and your family is made up of preachers. Our sermons are on local cable and local radio, so we have to be careful with statements about the community.

Russ: Preaching in a small town has impacted my family in the sense that most people in town know my wife, Linda, and that she is the wife of the preacher of the Fulton Church of Christ.

TJI: What are the best outreach efforts you have used that have been effective in helping the church to grow?

Russ: When someone visits your worship service it is easy in a small town to make friends with them. They want you to visit them and make friends. And after a while ask them to study the Bible. It’s not complicated, but in a small town you can do these things. We just need to do it more often.

Steve: When we lived in Franklin, KY our congregation was one of the leaders for folks who wanted to help keep the country a "dry" county. The congregation's leadership in that effort proved to be a wonderful blessing in the community. It opened a number of doors for us to share the gospel. In Dickson, one of the best things we are doing is our "Mission House" outreach. The church purchased two houses very near to our church property where we provide temporary housing for those who are homeless. The men and women who stay in these houses attend all of our worship assemblies, as well as some special Bible classes designed for them.

We have been blessed to baptize a number of people through this outreach ministry. We are also in the beginning stages of developing a "Room in Our Hearts" outreach, providing meals for those who are homeless or nearly homeless.

Ted: We have benevolence programs that involve our members reaching out to others. Our youth group does a community VBS. We have had some campaign groups help us, but the bump in attendance afterwards is difficult to maintain.

TJI: Some people say you have to gear down in a small town – have you found that to be true?

Ted: Small towns tend to be more conservative, so I have often had to switch from versions to the KJV exclusively and be careful with comments about the Holy Spirit.

The expectations on the preacher’s time are actually accelerated in a small town.

The people do not know what you do all week so they do not mind asking you to take them to the beauty shop on Friday.

Steve: If the work load for ministry increases exponentially according to the size of the town, I could never work in a metropolitan area. Those who believe that one has to "gear down" in order to be effective in a small town have obviously never lived in one. Whether a town is small or large, the gospel is to be preached and people are to be nurtured. It would seem to me that one only "gears down" by personal decision.

Russ: Steve, it’s really like anything else, it’s what you make of it. That’s true whether you are in a large city or small town.

TJI: What advice would you give to a young preacher who is just getting started and lives in a small town?

Steve: I would encourage young ministers who are starting their ministry in a small town to, as quickly as possible, get involved in the community. Volunteer for local service organizations, volunteer to assist in local sports for the youth, attend the local school sporting activities, etc. The more the community can see you and know you, the more positive their attitude will be toward the local congregation. Make the community your home; don't give the impression that you are simply there for a job. And, always conduct your affairs in a way that will bring honor to the church!

Russ: Visiting the hospital, nursing homes, etc. and people in their homes are very important to those that live in a small town. Everybody knows everybody and they know if you visit or not. So I would make sure that I consistently visited people.

After a while as you become more acquainted with the people you should visit people from the community who are members of the church. that are in the hospital. I have found that to be very important and helpful.

Ted: Learn from the customs of the local people, especially funeral customs. I have served on the ministry staff in six towns and cities and found funerals to be the most

obvious differences. Get close to the people; if you stay long you will be with them in their most crucial moments. It is all about relationships.

TJI: After having preaching in a small town for several years, is there anything you would do different if you were starting over?

Ted: Yes. I would have put less emphasis on attaining advanced degrees and more on building relationships. I would have trusted God more to provide for my needs. I would have consulted my wife more on every decision that I made. Two heads are better than one, especially if both heads (and the children’s heads) have to move once a decision is made.

Russ: I think there are always things you would do differently. One thing I would do differently is that in a small town when someone dies, the visitation the night before the funeral is very important. Looking back I believe that is an area where you can really make an impact. I would visit whether I personally knew the deceased or not because most likely I know someone in the family.

February 2017

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