By Scott Laird
As I reflect on small and rural churches, my thoughts drift to the first church that called me into ministry and the church plant in the small town where I grew up. Both churches still serve and influence their communities today.
Small does not indicate importance or impact. I am reminded of that every day as Patty, my wife, and I recently celebrated our forty-fourth anniversary. Patty is “small” at 4’ 11,” but her spiritual influence has far exceeded her size. Likewise, small churches have kingdom influence far beyond their size. They provide opportunities for young men and women to explore and implement their gifts that medium and large churches typically cannot. How many two-year-olds are up front on a Sunday morning, being held in their father’s arms as dad leads singing? How many teens preach the Mother’s Day sermon in a large church? How many teenage boys and girls join with a parent or other adult and teach in the Bible School program in a large church? I could go on, but you get the idea, opportunities for service in the kingdom of God tend to be more readily accessible in small and rural churches. Often, our future leaders in churches get their first opportunities to grow in small churches because everyone is needed.
I was not raised within the church and became a Christian when I was twenty. The first time I ever served in a public way was in a small church. I will never forget that Sunday. The church had recently bought the local theater’s old chairs that were connected at the base. They were clearly more comfortable than their old pews. We probably had twenty-five in attendance, and I was asked to help with the Lord’s Supper. After helping to serve communion and offering a prayer, I went to sit down, and because the new chairs were not bolted to the floor, my momentum caused the entire row of chairs to go over backwards. Yes, it was extremely embarrassing. However, this small group of Christians dusted me off and encouraged my service rather than laughing at my faux pas. I imagine there were some good-natured jokes about my clumsiness but that was not what I carried away from that situation. I realized I can make mistakes around the people of God and still be used for good. Small and rural churches seem to have a knack for seeing the potential rather than the mistakes.
My preaching opportunities began in a small church and I learned a lot. I remember a Sunday night that I had prepared a “turn or burn, repent or perish” type of sermon because some young men I was working with were involved in some sinful behavior. I was ready to help these young men see the error of their ways and turn back to God. The problem was that none of them showed up for that Sunday evening and it was a few of the faithful older members who attended to hear this arrogant young preacher share a sermon that did not apply to their lives. Rather than being told I was a lousy preacher, they encouraged me for my Bible study and willingness to preach the word. I was allowed to grow and resolved that my preaching would be a blessing to the appropriate audience from that day forward.
Small churches in small towns often provide the preacher and members occasions to exert a greater influence on the community than large churches can in metropolitan areas. My brother-in-law used his small town and church opportunity to visit all the stores on main street once a month just to check in and see how things were going. He offered to pray for needs that the employees might have and extended help wherever it was wanted. Because of this proactive approach he was immediately contacted when community tragedies occurred, like the death of teens in an automobile accident and other difficult situations. Small means availability not significance.
Let me finish with two parables from Jesus. “He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” (Matthew 13:31–33, NIV) Seeds and yeast both seem to be small and possibly insignificant. However, God’s kingdom is powerfully influenced by small churches as they provide one of the best, if not the best, environment for our future leaders to receive the love, opportunities, and experiences to become all that God is calling us to be.
Please join me in praying that small and rural churches recognize the great roles they play in the kingdom of God. Training the next generation is only one of these. Grace and peace to all. Scott Laird
Scott Laird has over 40 years of full-time ministry while serving the Lord in Canada and Montana, serving at the Great Falls church of Christ for over 30 years. During his tenure in Great Falls, the church trained nine men and their wives in a two-year apprenticeship program, sent out over 850 Christians and their children across the United States and around the world, moved to a better ministry facility, witnessed over 400 baptisms, and equipped a number of new elders. Laird currently serves as the Co-Executive Director for the York Center for Ministry, is a HOPE Network Associate, an adjunct professor for Harding School of Theology, and participates on the boards of the Christian Chronicle, Yellowstone Bible Camp, and Yellowstone Bible Camp Foundation.