tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16182378.post936446506718796608..comments2024-03-21T19:48:11.287-05:00Comments on Pleasant View Schoolhouse: Small ChurchUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16182378.post-49295082483732272052014-02-05T00:07:05.986-06:002014-02-05T00:07:05.986-06:00I am eager to read this site when I have time, and...I am eager to read this site when I have time, and maybe pass it along to our pastor! I've been attending the same itsy-bitsy church since I was 8 years old. We've had the same pastor the entire time--he married us, he baptized our children, he buried my sweet mother. Our church is the smallest church in the state in our denomination to have a full-time pastor. <br /><br />The Holy Spirit is there. We know each other all well and understand the other members' foibles, gifts, talents, weaknesses, etc. We are family. <br /><br />(And our pastor has actually not once asked for money! That would be stunning, to say the least. He's quite the opposite.)Pollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09403233175071026416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16182378.post-50951037150792605062014-02-04T14:18:35.078-06:002014-02-04T14:18:35.078-06:00I think there's pros and cons for both church ...I think there's pros and cons for both church sizes. What matters is going!Farrahhttp://vintagewasp.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16182378.post-4536578776149751602014-02-03T12:00:03.812-06:002014-02-03T12:00:03.812-06:00After being members of a large church and moving g...After being members of a large church and moving geographically, we purposely sought out a smaller congregation because we found it difficult for us to navigate a larger church. There were small groups at the church, but when we worshipped with the entire church family, it felt like we were disconnected as the Body. We'd be sitting in a veritable sea of strangers! That made it difficult to be involved in various ministries going on within the church. Even the day we had our 2nd baby dedicated, it was overwhelming: 50 plus parents lined up across the front of the pulpit. And prior to the dedication service, we were asked to go through a receiving line where our minister shook our hand but didn't know who we were! It was "industrial church"! So upon joining a smaller congregation, our new pastor came for a visit with the chairmen of the deacons. The pastor found out we'd been members at the mega-church, and then he proceeded to tell us that his best friend was the minister of the mega-church. He told us he had a vision to make the church we'd just joined into a mega-church. . . after almost 10 years there, we felt called away to another church. It was so difficult. Our pastor had not had much success in growing membership numbers as he had hoped ALTHOUGH our congregation was wonderful with family ministry, foreign missions and community outreach. He continued to push for changes he believed would grow membership, and sadly, it has had the opposite effect. Bottomline: no matter the size of the congregation, we need be faithful to God instead of worrying about our numbers. I appreciate your linking that website!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16182378.post-61816851775641560302014-02-03T07:30:35.773-06:002014-02-03T07:30:35.773-06:00Oh wow! Our family has grown and been nurtured in ...Oh wow! Our family has grown and been nurtured in the Lord in a small church enviroment, the same one for over 20 years! <br />~debAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16182378.post-82235229925467121312014-02-03T07:05:09.753-06:002014-02-03T07:05:09.753-06:00Donnacrafts, I don't think anyone would like t...Donnacrafts, I don't think anyone would like that, in any size church!Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10747223126169684757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16182378.post-84222019183370560122014-02-02T23:33:34.091-06:002014-02-02T23:33:34.091-06:00Growing up seeing my parents, grandparents, aunts ...Growing up seeing my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles all faithfully serving in our small church are memories I treasure. <br /><br />And thank you for posting the link to the NewSmallChurch website--it's really good!Marlainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11755027641533973497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16182378.post-84913710883088084942014-02-02T19:26:28.613-06:002014-02-02T19:26:28.613-06:00I'm with you! Love our precious small church!...I'm with you! Love our precious small church!Kate at Wonderful Life Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01393342818341678583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16182378.post-75199141595547700172014-02-02T16:40:15.862-06:002014-02-02T16:40:15.862-06:00Whenever I have begun to go to a small church, I f...Whenever I have begun to go to a small church, I found that the Pastor literally begged for money. It was very uncomfortable. Then they always wanted more money for a larger building, etc. <br /><br />It just never worked for me, sadly.donnacraftshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10124533181973004453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16182378.post-7530082241029845032014-02-02T13:34:37.479-06:002014-02-02T13:34:37.479-06:00Hurray! Small churches! "Where two or three...Hurray! Small churches! "Where two or three are gathered...."Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05406378232568485111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16182378.post-43600492364705662042014-02-02T08:56:41.420-06:002014-02-02T08:56:41.420-06:00I go to an average size church and I often wish it...I go to an average size church and I often wish it was a smaller one. Larger churches tend to have less sense of community and may be more impersonal. You go every week and see a lot of strange faces who are only there to fulfill their weekly obligation and nothing more, and people tend to be less actively involved with each other. You're lucky to have the friendship, values and sense of purpose that a small church provides.kathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08602883597772387316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16182378.post-9589469961314603272014-02-02T08:22:26.349-06:002014-02-02T08:22:26.349-06:00Hi Anna,
Thank you for your kind recommendation o...Hi Anna,<br /><br />Thank you for your kind recommendation of my blog at NewSmallChurch.com. I've had a lot of readers come from your site since your recommended that they do so. I appreciate the chance to partner like this.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16195693368153434219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16182378.post-75694945733526604382014-02-02T07:40:12.062-06:002014-02-02T07:40:12.062-06:00Thanks for this link. We do not live in an area k...Thanks for this link. We do not live in an area known for large churches, just bunches of small ones. Each one has its distinctive. I will let my circle know about this Small Church website.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com