There are many challenges of finding our church smaller than it used to be, but many opportunities as well. Next week, the Council for Congregational Life and Witness are running three regional events in which ministers, elders, leaders and members of small churches across the Presbyterian Church in Ireland are invited to explore God’s positive vision for being a small and fruitful congregation.
The guest speaker at each of the events is Karl Vaters, pastor of Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, a small church in in Fountain Valley, California. He writes about the value and needs of small churches at Pivot on the Christianity Today website and is the founder of New Small Church, a blog encouraging, connecting, and equipping innovative small church leaders. The author of The Grasshopper Myth and a new book, the forthcoming Small Church Essentials, Karl will bring encouragement for small church ministry and help envision those who attend.
Organised by the Council for Congregational Life and Witness, council secretary, David Thompson, is encouraging people to make use of the few remaining places, “We are really looking forward to these gatherings of church leaders. The Council for Congregational life and Witness is committed to supporting the development of ministry and mission of churches of all sizes within the PCI family, but there is an increasing recognition that numbers in many congregations are smaller than they used to be.
“This often brings its own pressures, asking questions of us in terms of the need to downsize and reshape our church programme. Sometimes the overwhelming feelings that go with that are fatigue and failure, but it need not be that way. Rather new focus can result in freshness in how we live together in the community of the church and undertake mission in a more personal way – one person at a time.
“We need to recapture God's positive vision for being small and fruitful in the life and witness of our congregations and there has been much interest in these events since the Council raised this issue in its report to last year’s General Assembly. Places are booking up fast and we believe Karl’s ministry among us will be an important one in this season of the denomination’s life."
Cost of attendance is £5 per person (euro equivalent applies). Visit the links to the events below to book your place, and watch the promotional video at the bottom for more information.