Welcome!
The first set of entries to this weekly blog (#1–#47) is entitled “Letters to a Small Church Pastor.” These are brief letters that are focused on topics I have found important in the life of a small church pastor. The second set of entries (Beginning with #48) is entitled “Letters to a Small Church Congregation” and is directed to the lay leaders and other members of small churches.
Although I often use examples from my own ministry, the bulk of the information in the letters comes from what the Holy Spirit has taught me through many years of ministry, reading insightful books or articles and listening to people who are much wiser than I am. It is my prayer that these letters will encourage and challenge you as a small church pastor or as someone who attends a small church.
Introductory Letter (Read First)
Letter #52 (It’s Jesus’s Church)
Letter #51 (Whose Church Is It?)
Letter #50 (Inevitability of Change)
Letter #49 (First Impressions–2)
Letter #48 (First Impressions)
Letter #29 (Dare to Be Different)
Letter #27 (Remember Your Source)
Letter #24 (Changing Others–2)
Letter #23 (Changing Others–1)
Letter #22 (Changing Yourself)
Letter #17 (My Wants vs God’s Will)
Letter #16 (The Greatest Obstacle)
Letter #11 (Expand the Family)
Letter #6 (You Failed at Something)
If you would like to be notified via email when new letters and other posts are placed on this site, please let us know via a comment after one of the letters and check the “Save My Name” box before you post your comment. Your email will not be shared with anyone, and we will not clog up your email with unnecessary links, posts, ads, promos, or other “junk mail.”
If you are a Small Church Pastor and would like to receive additional encouragement beyond these letters, send me a note via the contact info supplied. By the way, this site is not designed for debates about doctrine. It is designed for mutual encouragement as you lead your small church. (Be sure to read the Introductory Letter.)
God Bless, and I look forward to helping other small church pastors to achieve all God has planned for them and their congregations.
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Letter #52 (It’s Jesus’s Church)
Dear Small Church Congregation, In the last letter I proposed that there are people who have forgotten who owns Christ’s church (assembly, disciples, body, bride). That forgetting has prompted them to think they own the church—not just the building, but the whole thing—the people included. They act as if they should be able to…
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Letter #51 (Whose Church Is It?)
Dear Small Church Congregation, I saw a t-shirt recently with the statement, “I Love My Church.” I thought, “how nice.” The person “loves” attending a worship service at that church facility. Or does the person “love” the people who worship there? Or does he/she “love” the activities or the youth group or the music…
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Letter #50 (Inevitability of Change)
Dear Small Church Congregation, In the letters on first impressions, I mentioned some things that may need to change in how you approach worship services and the overall state of your facilities. I hope you can realize that these changes will lead to better first impressions for visitors. Sometimes we just need to take…
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Letter #49 (First Impressions–2)
Dear Small Church, In Letter #48 I introduced the idea of creating a first impression based on the facility and general atmosphere we want to create for a first-time visitor. This letter goes into the actual worship service and how it can impact the first impression. We want visitors to return and become…
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Letter #48 (First Impressions)
Dear Small Church Congregation, Example #1: I recently walked into a church building foyer and looked up to see how high the ceiling was. (I’ve spent a good deal of my life involved in construction, and noticing wall height is just something I do out of habit.) There in that decorated space for an…
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Letter #47 (Announcement)
Dear Small Church Pastor, This letter is more of an announcement than it is a topical letter directed to small church pastors. The first forty-six letters were designed to encourage and motivate those individuals who lead small congregations. Beginning with Letter #48, I will address small church congregations, including their lay leaders and members…
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Letter #46 (Revival)
Dear Small Church Pastor, Many pastors schedule a yearly “revival” during a particular season. Some contact an evangelist, possibly the same one each year, to have that person come to encourage and motivate the congregation. Others bring in two or more speakers for a series of worship services that will hopefully challenge the congregation…
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Letter #45 (Frustration)
Dear Small Church Pastor, Everyone, including small church pastors, experiences frustration from time to time. That nagging question of why isn’t anything noticeable happening yet? The feeling that prayers are bouncing off the ceiling and back to the floor. Constantly worrying if the right choices have been made about volunteers, outreach efforts and even…
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Letter #44 (Rain)
Dear Small Church Pastor, Having planted quite a few gardens over the years, I understand the value of rain for a garden as compared to water that comes from a well. Veggies and fruits will grow when there is well water applied to them, but they just fare better when they get sufficient rain…