I grew up in a large, prominent church in Chattanooga. We had an outstanding nursery and fun, state-of-the-art children’s ministry. The youth group was large, with students from all across the city coming together weekly to engage in a contemporary worship setting. Adults had numerous Bible studies to choose from and ways to connect with the church.
During Sunday morning worship services, the large sanctuary would be filled; the worship music would uplift; a powerful, biblical sermon would be preached. It was out of this church that I was saved as a child and called to preach at 18.
I love that large church, but I also love smaller churches.
Now, at 27 years old, I have served at a single church as the student minister, associate pastor and now as senior pastor for the last 2 1/2 years. My church is one mile from my childhood home in the North Hixson community of Middle Valley. During this time, the Lord has demonstrated to me that he is at work in smaller churches, too, and you can be a part of what God is doing.
We as people have developed a consumer mindset that has overflowed into how we think about church and what we think church is supposed to be. We want everything now and our way, not only with things like fast food and smartphones, but also when it comes to church.