The Soul of a Small Church
By Lew Parks
These are anxious times for the lay and clergy leaders of small congregations. The repercussions of a disappointing economy, aging and shrinking membership, and a growing sector of happy seculars combine to raise hard questions. How long can we go on like this? Fail to connect with those outside our doors? Afford our pastor? Keep up this building?
Give credit where credit is due. Many if not most of the lay and clergy leaders of small churches know that nostalgia, blaming others, and cussed defensiveness will only delay necessary work.
They know that the times call for reawakening a sense of identity and mission, maybe even radical surgery. But they also know that not everything about a small church needs to be fixed, and small churches are not deficient just because they are small.
Teaching Children to Tithe
By Dan Pezet
Teaching children to tithe is an important part of their faith education that we often overlook. Giving to God is a core value of our faith that should be taught early and reinforced often.
The most common way that I see tithing taught to children is simply by grownups giving children a quarter to put in the offering plate. This is okay for very young children because it gives them an opportunity to participate. But this may not send the right message to elementary school children.
The Right Question
Leaders do not need answers.
Leaders must have the right questions.
When a congregation is deciding to embark on a new church-wide ministry, some questions can help determine if the effort is viable.
What is the need?
How does it fit our mission?
Are there enough people with the need?
Is someone else already meeting this need
better than we can?
