Dear Small Church Pastor,
There is a special blessing that comes to the small church pastor and its congregation when they gather to work together. Let’s consider this blessing and some of its benefits.
One benefit of working together is that you have the opportunity to build stronger relationships with the people present, just as when you eat together. You know as well as I do that work does not always require such concentrated focus that people cannot talk about everyday life while working. It’s during those times that you can learn more about your congregation, their likes and dislikes, dreams, fears, concerns and personal needs. (Sound familiar?)
The metal roof and steeple of one of the churches I pastored had seen years of weathering which had discolored them. We decided to gather volunteers, pressure washers and a high lift to clean the roof. As we were working, we talked about the history of the church, who was involved in establishing the ministry in that community and how the congregation had developed over the years. We talked about their family histories, too, and where their children had gone to school, what careers they had sought and who was still living in the area. We talked about why someone had missed the work day because of illness in his family. We talked and we learned a great deal about each other that day, and that knowledge helped solidify our relationships.
Another benefit of working together is you discover people’s strengths and weaknesses. You discover what they do well and areas in which they can be helped to improve. You might even discover your own strengths and weaknesses and how you can improve your own abilities. Always remember that working with others might just give you new information about how to achieve something that you did not know how to do before learning that information. And you can share things you know with others who may not know those beneficial bits of information yet. Essentially, you have the opportunity to learn from your congregation, and they can learn from you.
At one of the churches I pastored, the floor in part of the building was sagging because of previous damage from termites. I asked for volunteers to help bolster the underpinning of the frame building. As we were setting up our equipment and began to place supports and new lumber under the floor, I discovered that one of the men who was helping had worked for a company that set up mobile homes. He had done exactly what we were attempting to do numerous times and knew every step involved in securing a sound foundation for the building. That knowledge came in handy that day.
In addition to these two benefits, working on and completing a task together helps relationships to grow because those involved in the work have accomplished a common goal together. Having a common goal is an important aspect of leading a congregation. When members of a small church gather to share their skills and knowledge in order to get something done, especially if it is some outreach into the community in fulfilling the great commission, a strong bond is created among the workers. When people plan a project together, prepare the supplies needed for the project and then go about doing the actual work to accomplish their goal, there is a sense of unity that is developed. That unity is necessary for the congregation to develop its identity in the community it serves.
One of our congregations decided they wanted to host a benefit dinner for a young boy who had serious medical needs. They wanted to reach out to that family to simply help with their financial struggles while making numerous trips to specialists, some of which were not very close to their home. The small congregation enlisted family members and friends to help. They planned the meal, collected the necessary food items, advertised the benefit well and gathered on the appointed day to work and help that family.
The benefit meal was a huge success and provided a larger donation to the family than expected. Everyone was tired at the end of the day and the kitchen and fellowship hall needed a thorough cleaning, but they had achieved something together that had been a much-needed blessing to the family of the sick child. The sense of accomplishment pulled that congregation together and solidified their commitment to helping their community whenever they could.
The key to the idea of working together is the “together” part. Whether you are cleaning a roof, repairing a floor or cooking a meal, working alongside others in the important part. Resist the temptation to include the same few people all the time. Include as many as possible from the congregation. But don’t stop there. Encourage the congregation to invite their family members, friends, colleagues at work, neighbors…anyone else available…to come along and join in the project. Expand your circles of influence and include new people every time you get the chance to do so. Bring together as many as possible to get the job done, whether it’s physical work, like cleaning, repairing or cooking, or spiritual work, like praying for community needs.
Here’s a final thought. Ever since God created Eve to help Adam and complete him as his wife, there have been people working together to accomplish goals. Families, neighborhoods, communities, clubs, sports teams, businesses and, yes, small church congregations all rely on the “together” principle for success. The one who puts the people together will discover there are many more benefits to working together than I have mentioned in this letter. So, get some folks together and go to work.
Sincerely,
A Small Church Pastor