• Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • About
  • Home

Pathway

Missouri Baptist Convention's Official News Journal

  • Missouri
    • MBC
    • Churches
    • Institutions & Agencies
    • Policy
    • Disaster Relief
  • National
    • SBC Annual Meeting
    • NAMB
    • SBC
    • Churches
    • Policy
    • Society & Culture
  • Global
    • Missions
    • Multicultural
  • Columnists
    • Wes Fowler
    • Ben Hawkins
    • Pat Lamb
    • Rhonda Rhea
    • Rob Phillips
  • Ethics
    • Life
    • Liberty
    • Family
  • Faith
    • Apologetics
    • Religions
    • Evangelism
    • Missions
    • Bible Study & Devotion
  • E-Edition

More results...

Visit to smaller member church brings hope

February 12, 2009 By The Pathway

 

Visit to smaller member church brings hope

As I look at the title of this article I am reminded of what one person has said, that there are no small churches in God’s eyes.

God looks at the size of the heart for Himself, obedience of the worshippers, and respect of the worshippers toward God. Each church, regardless of the numbers sitting in the pews, comprises the Bride of Christ and the Body of Christ in that location.

I had the privilege of worshipping in a church recently that had 58 in Sunday School and close to 100 in worship. Walking into the building there was a sense that God was there and that something good was going to happen. The songs were from the 1975 Baptist Hymnal and the music was played on a piano and organ, with no screen with words and no videos or PowerPoints. Some by this time may be yawning and wondering how worship could take place. However, real and authentic worship did occur.

There were two baptisms of adults and the next week there will be two more baptisms. When the children’s time came there were 29 children that came up front and a layman from the church presented a simple biblical truth and the children and adults were blessed by the parable of the 10 virgins waiting for the bridegroom to come. The pastor preached a message without the aid of video or PowerPoint but connected with the congregation and involved them in the message.

After the service was over I asked the pastor, “Where did all the people come from? Why do they stay?”

“I ask folks who come why they come, and why they join or at least keep coming,” he said. “They reply, ‘We sense God’s presence and we feel genuinely loved by the folks who are there.’ I cannot explain it. It is a God thing.”

One may be thinking that this church is the exception to the rule. Maybe it is. I would like to believe that this church is the standard bearer for others to follow. My recent experience worshipping in this smaller membership church has given me hope about our smaller membership churches.

There may be hundreds of churches like the one I described. These smaller membership churches are led by pastors who may be students, bi-vocational, or retired; their heart, soul, and energy are in helping the Bride of Christ reach a lost and dying world with the love of Jesus. They are churches that take the Great Commission seriously and arrange the life of the church to be on mission with the Savior.

I am looking forward to my next visit to a smaller membership church here in Missouri. (George Roach is Missouri Baptist Convention ministerial services specialist.)

 

 

Comments

Featured Videos

Lick Creek Fellowship - A Story of Cooperation

A declining rural church faced closure after years of dwindling attendance and aging members. But after the doors closed, a small group stepped in to build something fresh from its legacy. Watch this video to hear this story of cooperation and new life.

Find More Videos

Trending

  • The blessing of staying

  • Amendment on role of women in pastoral ministry fails to achieve 2/3 vote

  • Citing challenges overcome 100 years ago, Iorg urges Southern Baptists to choose cooperation

  • Churches partner to start children’s Bible club

  • ‘Stand together’ for the sake of reaching nations, Chitwood tells SBC messengers

  • MBU sports team focuses on more than athletics

Ethics

FIRST-PERSON: Liberty for all – a Baptist distinctive

Baptist Press

As the echoes of Fourth of July fireworks fade and we turn our attention to the week ahead, Southern Baptists also will take a moment to celebrate a key freedom that Americans have long enjoyed and that Baptists have continually sought to defend.

Religious liberty ‘the best blessing’ America has, Baptist immigrants say

Baptist Press

More Ethics Stories

Missouri

Resolutions due 60 days before MBC annual meeting

Staff

Resolutions must be submitted in writing to the Committee on Resolutions at least 60 days prior to the first session of the annual meeting. Persons submitting resolutions must certify that they are messengers.

Copyright © 2025 · The Pathway