Small Church BIG Deal: How to rethink size, success and significance in ministry

by Chris Vitarelli

Overview

The vast majority of church congregations are small. In fact, 85% of churches never break the 200 attendee mark.

And yet, instead of being seen as the norm and as an incredible way to do ministry, a bigger-is-better mentality reigns in America with mega churches driving the growth culture.

Small Church BIG Deal aims to change the way pastors think about their church. It doesn't create a big versus small scenario but simply challenges pastors to see the church as God sees it:

Not according to size but according to how people are prepared for ministry; how to remain faithful and obedient to the calling regardless of church size.

Small Church BIG Deal encourages pastors to rethink size, success and significance in ministry according to different metrics. It calls for a return to looking at ministry not as a marketing or consumer challenge but as a spiritual one. Every church must be viewed as unique, important and necessary in their location. Small Church BIG Deal argues for contentment, obedience and faithfulness as the benchmarks of fruitful ministry.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781647460143
Publisher:	Christopher Vitarelli
Publication date:	11/22/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	230
File size:	675 KB

Table of Contents

Part 1 - Size Matters

Chapter 1: Jeremiah's Burden

Chapter 2: The Church – Big vs. Small

Chapter 3: Harsh Judgment – What we really think about small churches

Part 2: Your greatest enemies

Chapter 4: The Pastor’s Heart. . . Contentment

Chapter 5: The Pastor's Leadership  . . . Expectations

Chapter 6: The Pastor's Ego . . . Magic formulas

Chapter 7: The Pastor's Identity . . . Self-focus

Part 3: Changing your mind

Chapter 8: Faithfulness and Obedience . . . The real measures of success

Chapter 9: What you do matters . . . Postcards from eternity

Part 4: Changing your approach - Why the small church is a BIG deal

Chapter 10: Proximity

Chapter 11: Spiritual Growth

Chapter 12: Connection

Chapter 13: Uniqueness

Chapter 14 – Lead like it counts

Appendices

Editorial Reviews

“In the small church we often struggle to see the value and worth of our ministry when there is so much focus on measuring success through numbers and finding significance through outward achievements. Chris speaks not only as one who serves in the small church but also as one who wrestles with the same struggle for meaning and significance. As a result, he brings an important corrective to not only our view of ourselves, but also of our view of ministry. Instead of seeing the small church ministry as insignificant, he reminds us that the small church significantly contributes to the spiritual health of people within the local congregation, as well as, the spiritual health of the broader church community. Chris provides an important contribution to the growing awareness of the value and importance of the small and rural church. This book is a required read for all those who serve a pastor, whether in a rural church in a forgotten place, a small urban church or even a large church with multiple sites and staff.”

Glenn Daman - Author: The Forgotten Church: Why Rural Ministry Matters for Every Church in America, and Shepherding the Small Church.

“Small Church BIG Deal is a wonderful book for anyone who pastors a church under 200 people (which is the vast majority of us). Chris Vitarelli has given us a helpful, encouraging and challenging look at the challenges, blessings and value of small church ministry. He starts with an honest telling of his own story – which will feel very familiar to most pastors – then walks us through some very practical ways to find health, hope and effectiveness in a small church context. I highly recommend it!”

Karl Vaters – Pastor, blogger at Pivot and author of The Grasshopper Myth and Small Church Essentials

“Chris Vitarelli writes for us, small church pastors, but he is writing about himself, and the transformative process God is bringing him through as he pastors his normal sized church. Chris created the Small Church BIG Deal conference to affirm and encourage pastors of ordinary sized churches. He hasn't simply talked about encouraging pastors, he's done it. This book brings that encouragement to deeper places in our hearts and minds - how we think about ourselves and small churches, and how we think about ministry and God's people. Small Church BIG Deal is Chris' work, that just might accomplish the work of God in you!”

Jeff Keady – Pastor and creator of the 200Churches podcast

From the Publisher