The Small Church
Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 12:36PM 
Last week I preached in a church of 50 people in attendance on Sunday morning. I love preaching at this church. I have spoken there at least half a dozen times and the pastor is one of my best friends. What I love about this church is the people and their drive to see God do something in their midst. It is often times easy to become content in surroundings and believe that we are fine they way that we are, but Freedom Family Center is just the opposite. They are in their third building in just two years, people get saved almost every Sunday, and the people who walk through the door for the first time, leave with a sense of welcome and purpose. They are truly a "city on a hill." Not just because their church sits on a hill, but because of their desire to see the lost come to know Jesus.
Being an evangelist lets me go into churches similar and often contrary to this on a weekly basis. I get to experience the hand of God moving in the hearts of people. Every now and then, I have to watch as the hands of people push the heart of God away. People become one of three ways: Comfortable-all is well in this small church, Complacent-nothing needs to be done, or Compelled-there has to be more than this.
I have spoken in Churches with thousands of people in attendance and I have spoken at New Life Assembly in Norman, AR. A church of just 20 people. My grandfather pastored that church for 12 years before he decided to hang up his suit coat and start living a more leisurely life. The church didn't grow too much, it wasn't the most contemporary church in town, in fact the building didn't do much for the eye. But he pastored that church because he knew that someone needed to hear the message of hope.
I respect what I did last week and what I will do in weeks to come. It is the small church that allows me the opportunity to do what God has called me to do. The pastors of those small churches allow me to stand behind pulpits and preach the fire burning in my spirit.
I want to step into churches where pastors and people are compelled. Sometimes I go into churches where they are not, where they are comfortable and complacent.
As evangelists, if we ever become anything besides compelled...we become the problem. Churches don't need any more problems.
Reader Comments (1)
Jacob, thanks for coming to our small church in Andrews, TX. I am so hungry for the experience of God's presence and power. I feel that He will use our church again to reach our community. Thank you for your obedience to the Lord in reaching out to young people and even to us older ones. May God richly bless you and your family. I pray the morning sickness passes quickly for your precious wife, and soon you have a healthy baby.
Love in Christ,
Bill and Linda Youngblood