Small Church vs. Big Church

I’ve served in a variety of different size churches.  A church that averaged about 100 & one that averages about 2500.  Lots of differences beyond the # of people.  Each having its on strengths & weaknesses.

One common statement I’ve heard in smaller churches is something like “I like a smaller church because I know everyone.” I think that people in each size church know the same # of people.  In the small church it’s just a higher percentage of the regular attendees.

Seth Godin says

Dunbar postulated that the typical human being can only have 150 friends. One hundred fifty people in the tribe. After that, we just aren’t cognitively organized to handle and track new people easily. That’s why, without external forces, human tribes tend to split in two after they reach this size. It’s why WL Gore limits the size of their offices to 150 (when they grow, they build a whole new building).

To read Seth’s complete blog entry click here.  Click here for the wikipedia article on Dunbar’s #.

It’s interesting topic to me.  Especially, that I’m in a youth ministry that has a weekly attendance of about 250 teens & 350+ that attend at least once per month.  I’m learning how to do ministry where I may not be able to know every teen, parent & youth worker.

 

If You Are A Jr. High Boy You Must See This

No jr high boys read this blog, but they should just for this bit of info.

Visit Indexed.

 

Krave Conference

Our Student Ministry is hosting a youth ministry conference the weekend of February 5-6, 2010.  It’s an event that’s been in the works for several months.  We  have had 10 other youth ministers helping us develop the conference.  You can learn more by checking out the Krave Conference website.

The early bird rate is $40 (goes up to $50 beginning January 9th).

You can follow Krave on facebook & twitter.

Email me if you have questions

 

Directions

A couple of Saturdays ago while I was working in our front yard I noticed a car that was driving as if it didn’t know the location of its destination.  As the older lady (that’s in no way a reference to lady drivers not being good drivers or good w/ directions) approached my home I paused from my yardwork & approached the street.  She rolled down (isn’t it funny that we still use that phrase even though we haven’t rolled down the window in years) her  window to ask for directions.

She was looking for our neighborhood’s clubhouse (by the gift in the front seat I gathered that she had a child’s birthday party to attend).  I gave her the directions (go to the stop sign, turn left).  She paused.  Then replied that she’d tried that already & asked again for directions.

I gave the same simple directions.  She once again said she’d tried that & the clubhouse wasn’t there.  She continued by describing the clubhouse’s appearance & the playground, walking trail, & tennis courts that surround it.  I’m quite familiar w/ our clubhouse.  I have a clear view of it from my back porch.

From where she was parked she could see between my home & my neighbors & see the clubhouse.  I pointed this out to her & once again told her to go to the end of the street & take a left & the street will end at the clubhouse’s doorstep.  She looked.  Saw. And finally agreed w/ me on the clubhouse’s location.

Aren’t we funny.  We ask others for directions/help/advice.  Then tell them why they are wrong or don’t understand.

Isaiah 55:8-9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

$0.45

We arrived home this afternoon to find that our water had been turned off.  Turns out our city’s public works dept. hadn’t been receiving our online banking payment for the past couple of months.  Thanks to their quick after hours response of quickly realizing the mixup & having our water turned back on.

I (you?) never realize how much we need/use something until it’s not available.  In the 2 hours we didn’t have h2o we continually attempted to turn on the water facet.  If I had a nickel for each time we tried to turn on the water on I’d be approximately $0.45 richer.

 

Sad News

This article made me sad.

How can we be followers of Jesus & only give away 2.56% of our $?

 

Hillcrest Homecoming

Amanda & I spent the night @ Hillcrest’s Homecoming.  1 of my Parkway teens was in the homecoming court & I had the honor of driving her in the parade.  It was fun to get to reunite w/ several families & teens.

It wasn’t much of a football game, but Hillcrest consistently has the best concession stand food.

 

Man Spaces

How could the church apply this to reaching men?

 

Friday Five

1. Make A Decision by Seth
2. You Should Only Hire 2 Types of People
3. Mark says that God sometimes leads us to the last place that we want to be
4. The Plot-lines of Sermons by Ben
5. Michael breaks down the different speaking styles from day 1 of Catalyst

 

College Football Bucket List

I’ve been fortunate to be able to go to many college football games.  I once had a lengthy streak of consecutive home MS State football games.  I’ve been able to visit the majority of the SEC stadiums (still missing GA, TN, AR, UK, & Vandy).

The Oklahoma vs Texas game this weekend has me thinking about the college football games that I want to witness.

• Alabma vs Auburn – lots of passion & hate make for good entertainment
• Florida vs Georgia – neutral site game, long-time rivalry, tickets split evenly between the 2 teams
• Oklahoma vs Texas – same as above
• Texas A&M – any home game; love their traditions
• Army vs Navy – not always great football, but a great tradition
• Notre Dame – I’d cheer heartily against them, but I’d love to go to one of their home games

Any college game that you’d like to attend?