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Small Congregation Challenges

According to the statistics submitted by congregations of the North Wisconsin District from 2009, there were a total of 31 congregations that had an average worship attendance of less than 36. In the 36-100 range, there are 92 congregations which mean 56% of the congregations in our district may consider themselves a ‘small congregation.' In America, the average church runs about 85 people.

At a recent church planters' conference Ed Stetzer and Todd Wilson shared some of the challenges faced by church planters they surveyed. Some of the challenges may be the same you face as a congregation. Below are the top 7 challenges.

Challenge 1 - Leadership development and reproducing culture. Recruiting and developing leaders, dealing with change, delegating and empowering volunteers were some of the topics listed. Are we developing leaders?

Challenge 2 - Financial self-sufficiency and viability. Concerns over finances and money management in the church can consume meetings. These issues are not confronted and little happens in the area of teaching proper stewardship and often the pastor's salary is the budget item that takes a hit. What are we doing in the area of holistic stewardship?

Challenge 3 - Volunteer mobilization. Put a team of members in place to help with planning and to assist in carrying out the ministry. Who has a passion for ministry to happen?

Challenge 4 - Systems, processes and culture. How can we grow our finances? How can we get people into bible study or grow as a disciple? How can we reach more people? A lack of resources and manpower often lead to an unhealthy system. Do we have a process in place to carry out ministry? "The man with a system, however inadequate it may ultimately turn out to be, has a vast advantage over a systemless rival, however brilliant." - Page Smith

Challenge 5 - Vision casting and avoiding mission drift. Is our ministry consistent with the vision and mission of the church? Congregations fail to establish clearly defined priorities for getting "out of the rut of doing the same thing and getting the same results." Nothing changes. Do the members believe in the direction of the leaders and are they following? Change?

Challenge 6 - Evangelism and discipleship. Disciples need to grow. How can we get the members to invite their neighbors, relatives, friends, co-workers to worship? How do we engage people in today's culture? What is our strategy? Do we have a strategy?

Challenge 7 - Spiritual, physical and mental health of planters and their families. Church planters mention that they struggle with loneliness and isolation; mistrust; lack of rest; and maintaining joy. The result can be problems at home or in a marriage. How can members encourage their pastor becomes a key. (Encourage them to participate in "Be Well...Serve Well" offered to all professional church workers by Concordia Plan Services.)

Most congregations have challenges regardless of size. Perhaps this is something to think about, and as church leaders you can discuss.

Rev. Dwayne Lueck
Assistant to the President

The vision of the North Wisconsin District is that congregations and their leaders demonstrate their

commitment to the urgency to reach the lost in their neighborhoods and communities

and beyond.