Recently, you published a thoughtful letter about the challenge of ministry in small churches. I would like to add some thoughts to the discussion. As a longtime small church pastor who grew up in a small church, I can testify that along with the challenges come great rewards and a lot of joy.

More hands in ministry are always needed and welcomed. I am sure our large church colleagues can “Amen” that. But there are some deeper truths that every church of every size needs to remember.

First, the true life and strength of the congregation is not in numbers or in our own resources, but in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ literally is our life, and we are his body.

Second, every congregation has its own particular call in the work of God’s mission. God uses many kinds of faith families in a variety of configurations in the work of drawing people into the embrace of Jesus. Small congregations and the special blessings they offer are part of God’s strategy for reaching people.

Third, every Christian is a minister with a role in God’s plans. Our baptism signifies dying and rising with Christ along with the washing away of our sin. But it also signifies our commission to serve according to whatever gifts God has given us.

It is important for small congregations to recognize, celebrate and use the gifts that they already have, even if they find that they need to look beyond themselves for help with particular tasks such as preaching. They need to follow the example of David preparing to go against Goliath. David was unable to function in King Saul’s big, heavy armor. Instead, he took the small slingshot that he already had and selected five small, smooth stones to work with.

Practically speaking, there are a number of ways to help meet the challenge of worship leadership in small congregations. Thanks be to God for retired clergy who help, and for seminary students who serve congregations while they are going to school.

Trained lay pastors are another option. In my denomination, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), elders can take special training in a number of areas, such as Bible, preaching and worship, and pastoral care. Some graduates of our training programs supply pulpits on a temporary basis, but others are commissioned to serve a particular congregation long-term, and they are authorized to administer the sacraments there.

In the Episcopal tradition, there are some dioceses that send teachers into local congregations to train people within the congregation to perform all of the pastoral functions. Someone within the congregation is ordained locally to preach and administer the sacraments. People share the pastoral care and other tasks. Congregations can take a team approach to ministry within the congregation, but they also can team up with other congregations.

Another model for ensuring that the people of God have the word brought to them is the bivocational model. The Apostle Paul used this model. He made tents as a way to support himself; hence, this model is also called tentmaking. Creative thinking and support from the broader church are needed to help more potential pastors become tentmakers. For example, business people might find themselves in a position to mentor one of these pastors in launching a small business.

Practical resources also are available for churches that have no one who can play a musical instrument. Hymn CD sets and mp3 downloads are available, including one source of free music downloads from smallchurchmusic.com. A church member with an iPod could download the hymns, sync them to the iPod, and play them through speakers at church. There also is software available for editing the music files for the needed tempo and number of stanzas. For lists of available small church resources, detailed reviews, and links to sources, you can visit my website The Mustard Seed Journal at maryharristodd.wordpress.com.

What an exciting time to be a part of the mission of Jesus Christ! Every disciple is needed in ministry. Every church of every size in every context is needed. The way to move forward is to lay down our life and our congregation’s life, take up our cross, and follow Jesus. Congregations that are willing to die with Christ, for his sake and for the needy world’s sake, will surely also rise with him.

Mary Harris Todd
Presbyterian Minister

Rocky Mount