by Gary Becker
(Executive Director of Biblically Balanced Ministries)
Small churches under 100 in attendance and even some churches up to 150 are facing crises times. The challenges to keep the doors open are increasingly difficult. And, when a pastor retires or leaves the challenge to find a new pastor becomes almost impossible. The challenges are faced by smaller churches from the cities (urban) to rural areas.
The reasons are actually well known and pretty obvious. Here is a list of a few of the basic challenges:
Finances are often at the top of the list.
Many smaller churches are struggling to meet the basic cost of operation.
Building maintenance costs for older buildings can become a burden.
Paying the pastor and any other staff becomes almost impossible.
Pastor availability to replace a pastor is a major challenge.
Bible Colleges and even seminaries are not producing pastors in any great number.
Pastors are often leaving the pastorate for a multiple of reasons. One of which is the fact that churches cannot afford to pay a livable wage.
Pastor expectations are two sided.
Most pastors are expecting a reasonable salary and benefits. But, this is often beyond the church’s ability to compensate reasonably.
Churches are often expecting too much out of pastors.
Pastors who have to provide their own housing find it impossible on what the church is able to pay.
Expectations of people looking for a church.
High expectations are good but can be unrealistic for smaller churches.
The “church shopper” is often looking for a high level worship team and very dynamic preaching. In a small church this is often unrealistic.
These are not all the issues but often become the major hurtles.
There are some who enjoy the small close fellowship of a church that is almost like a small group. It can be very comforting to function with a small group of friends. One of the difficulties that comes with this is it becomes a closed group. The church members may not feel they are excluding people but most people do not feel comfortable breaking into an existing close-knit group.
Unfortunately, many churches can survive until the pastor leaves or retires. This results in feeling that the church can go on forever. Then they must face the reality. Additionally, many older pastors never prepare the church or themselves for the next transition.
However, we need to realize that something that is not growing is likely to die soon. Some of my greatest joys in ministry have been helping churches about to die or close find renewed life and become fruit bearing ministries.
The first step in getting beyond the crises is to admit you have or about to have a crises. If you are in a small church all may seem like you can go on but reality will come. The best recommendation we can give is to seek help to evaluate the church’s potential before it is too late.
BBM is a ministry that seeks to help pastors and churches to not only face the realities in a small church but prepare for a future for the church. Check our website for helps for your church, www.balancedministries.org.