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If A Church Has A Very Small Congregation, Should It Disband?
In Matthew 18:20, Jesus says very clearly "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." This is neither parable nor prophesy, but plain fact. It seems to be only in this age of the mega church and the worship at the altar of the dollar that the number of people coming together in the name of God has become an issue. From the very beginning, people have worshipped in small groups, at first out of fear of persecution, but in modern times freely and openly in homes and until recently, openly and unfettered in offices, parks, public libraries, and places of businesses. Small group worship is nothing new. In fact, it is the way most if not all churches got their start.

There is a lot to be said on behalf of small congregations. They are very often extended families, caring, sharing and celebrating each others' joys and triumphs; supporting each other in times of tribulation. The minister is an integral part of the fabric of each member's life and far more easily accessible during times of need. This kind of bond is virtually impossible in larger churches. When clergy have hundreds or thousands of congregants to minister to, it is impossible for them to provide the same level of caring service. Hence, many people who are affiliated with mega churches feel lost in the shuffle unless that church has taken very definite steps to organize itself in such as way as to establish small groups within the church to assure that each member gets the type of spiritual nurturing that he or she expects and deserves.

In this day of the big fish [i.e. big corporations] swallowing the little fish [i.e. small independent businesses], it is no wonder that that same mentality seep into religion. No one denies the fact that churches need money in order to survive. However, a small congregation with Christ centered consciousness can certainly sustain the viability of a church through tithing, prayer and honest commitment to serving God.

There are, of course, exceptions to every rule and that applies here as well. Far too often, small congregations exist not to serve God, but to serve the egos of individual personalities. When this occurs, those involved must be honest enough to admit that they are indeed Edging God Out by serving the EGO, not God. Having acknowledged that very real possibility, we cannot ignore the many small congregations and home study groups that are springing up all over the world as millions of people embark on the search for God in their lives.

Just as each and every one of us has a different personal story and traveling on our own individual path toward oneness with God, we must acknowledge that the spiritual path is not a one size fits all' journey. Some of us find God in the churches of our youth. Others find God only after many years of trial and error. There is no right or wrong path to true religious and spiritual awakening. There is only one God and in the end, we all worship that one true God. Small congregations coming together in the spirit of oneness with each other and with the unified goal of achieving oneness with God are certainly viable and worthy of maintaining their status as a church' if bearing that particular label is valuable to them as a group.

After all, a church is not a building, regardless of how small and unimpressive or how massive and beautiful. Church is wherever God's many wondrous creations exist for He is indeed omnipresent. Church therefore will always continue to exist in the hearts and spirits of the people who come together in Jesus' name.

Learn more about this author, Vernelle Nelson.
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