What is The Grasshopper Myth?
The false impression that our Small Church ministry is less than what God says it is because we compare ourselves with others.
All the people we saw there are of great size. …We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them. – Numbers 13:32-33
Three undeniable realities of pastoral ministry:
- Reality #1: 80-90% of pastors will never pastor a church larger than 250 people
- Reality #2: 99.9% of pastors will pastor a Small Church for at least some time in our ministry
- Reality #3: You can pastor a Small Church well, without settling for less
Big or Small: What’s the Difference?
Many big church principles don’t translate well to a small church context
The law of large numbers: the bigger the crowd, the more predictably they behave
Many small church principles are specific to each congregation
Big church principles center on process, systems & curriculum
Small Church principles center on relationships, culture & history
Focus on mentoring, not curriculum
Coming Challenges for the Small Church
The way we do church is changing
- The way people give is changing
- The way people commit is changing
- The way people attend is changing
- The way people trust is changing
Our children will build different churches than our parents did
- Our parents had relationships and needed infrastructure
- Our kids have infrastructures and need relationships
Don’t just do ministry in the church, do ministry from the church
- Hauling rocks in a Volkswagen – be willing to sacrifice the building for the people, not vice versa
Have too much building? Invite ministries into the church
6 Ways to Get Ready for the Future
- Pay the mortgage!
- Train your farm team (discipleship)
- Get ready to be bivocational
- Embrace technology
- Partner with other churches
- Don’t let experience stifle adaptability
Karl Vaters • CornerstoneFV.com
NewSmallChurch.com • ChristianityToday.com/Karl-Vaters
Facebook.com/NewSmallChurch • @KarlVaters
