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My adore my home church which would probably be considered a larger church, but I have always envied my friends who worship in smaller churches. As a believer you go where God calls you to be and you find your place there large or small. I believe the church is designed to be a family and you work out your problems and stay with those people unless God calls you somewhere else. 

In our recent travels we have visited smaller churches we could easily call home if we lived there. There are 2 church plants that immediately come to mind. They were overflowing with love and kindness. The rooms we met in were small and cozy and the teachings were fierce and full of God's truth. 

My prayer for you, if you are reading this, is you are content where you are knowing you have a place to serve God's people in a family. If you are still church hopping and trying to decide or in a rut in your own small church, I hope God will use this to stir up love for the small church in your heart. 

7 Reasons to be Thankful if you Attend a Small Church! 

1.Everybody knows everybody:

If church is meant to be a family of believers living life together then knowing everyone at every service and function is a blessing indeed. People know your likes and dislikes. People know the names of all your children. There is a peace that overcomes you in dark times when you can walk into your church and anyone in the room can pray for you, hug you or give you an apt word of encouragement. It should be noted this can happen in a large church too if you are constantly involved, serving and staying plugged in. 

2.People notice when your family doesn’t show up:

Now, I will say in a larger church, the people who sit by you week after week, may notice if you are not there and may ever reach out to you if you are REALLY good friends, but at a small church, people really notice when your family doesn't show up. When recently visiting a lovely church in Virginia, the children and I showed up one Sunday and we were greeted with great exuberance. People asked the children's names, they set out more chairs for us. We are quite a large group. It was such a warm welcome. They didn't know us at all. We were blessed to make it back to that church the next week, and a man we had only spoken to for a moment the week before yelled from across the parking lot, "You made it back!" What a pleasure to be noticed when we only had the blessing of joining their congregation for 2 weeks. 

3.Accountability is easily sustainable:

If we are honest with ourselves and honest with God, we are in desperate need of people who will call us on our sin and set the standard for righteousness in our lives as achievable. Knowing fewer people at church more intimately means there can be genuine accountability that God can use to bring about change. This can happen in small groups at large churches too, but what if the whole church came along side you?!!

4.You know when there is a need and can meet the need:

People get sick, have babies, have family members that die suddenly. When you know everyone then you can serve them quickly and meet their needs personally. This is such a huge part of belonging to a body of believers who knows you intimately. Prayers come more naturally with friends who you fellowship with too! More points for the quaint congregations! 

5.Quick integration of new families:

It is so easy for newcomers to quickly find their place in a small church, partly because there is surely a job to be done and partly because there is no place to get lost. 

6.Feels like family immediately: Family is the goal.

Your church should feel like family. Your church should feel like home.  You shouldn't feel lost or unseen, but in a family where you have a place and a purpose. As with many of these points, I must say I have felt this for years in my large church, however I was shocked to feel it immediately in small churches on my first visit. 

7.More opportunity to discuss messages in depth with your pastors:

We have always had the benefit of knowing our pastors well enough, but truth be told they are in high demand. I always say seeing them at church is like seeing Tigger at Disneyland. There are lines of people waiting to talk to them, not always in the traditional sense, but congregants hovering, hoping to get a moment with the man at the pulpit. The blessing of a small church is that there is time for everyone to not only speak to their pastor, but to get to know him and discuss things with him. 

Next week I will write about all to be thankful for at a large church. I truly believe God calls us to where we are most needed, not necessarily where we are most comfortable. Will you allow love and gratitude to reign in your heart wherever the Lord has you?

 Thank you so much for sharing your time with us. Our passion at Cedar Creek Ministries is to serve pastors and ministry leaders! We would love your help in serving those who serve us so well. 

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This post was written by Nickole Perry, co-founder and Director of Operations at Cedar Creek Ministries. 

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