I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard small churches say “we are just too small” to do much of anything.
In today’s podcast, I talk with a pastor whose little country church is
- bringing the good news of Jesus AND
- serving the community AND
- leading people to faith in Christ.
I interview Pastor Laura Long, from a small country church in an economically depressed area of Marion NC, Clinchfield Presbyterian Church.
It’s clear that Pastor Laura loves the community, loves the people, and the church has had a great ministry of presence in the community.
Recently, they’ve been engaging the community as a church, and transforming lives one at a time.
If you think your church is too small to make a difference, listen in today’s show.
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In this podcast you’ll hear
- the community setting of church.
- the food program that connects them with their community.
- how prayer plays a role
- the intentional listening and response to spiritual needs.
- the impact of community service on your church
Recently, I’ve been doing a lot of teaching on engaging your community and sharing your faith while serving your community.
There are some great books on the subject such as
- AND: The Gathered and Scattered Church (Exponential Series)
- The Externally Focused Church
- Externally Focused Quest
- A New Kind of Big: How Churches of Any Size Can Partner to Transform Communities
- Growing the Church in the Power of the Holy Spirit: Seven Principles of Dynamic Cooperation
and it’s a theme that I’ve touched on every now and then on my website and in the podcast feed.
Our membership is small with mostly elderly people, family members and friends who don’t come out after 5 p m for any reason at all. The youth leave after graduation and remaining youth do not participate due to personal issues. I want to reach out to the community but the elderly members are not able to see this clearly. I am in my sixties, they are 72-99. One family member is the leader of her family and they follow her rather than the word of God or my leadership. I am stuck but trying.