Navigating Financial Challenges and Pastoral Calling in Smaller Churches

In this episode, Mark Clifton and Mark Hallock discuss an article from Thom Rainer on why smaller churches are making a comeback.

Some statistics regarding church average attendance

• 31% – less than 50
• 37% – 51-99
• 24% – 100-250
• 8% – more than 250

The coming realities:

1. More pastors and staff will be co-vocational and bi-vocational.
2. Equipping church members to do the work of ministry is as vital as always.
3. Ministry and theological training must adapt to this reality.
4. Search committees will be looking for a different type of pastor.
5. Church budgets will be smaller.
6. Denominations must refocus their ministry and support of this new paradigm.
7. More churches will need to be adopted or they will die.

Resources related to this podcast:

The New Very Large Church by Thom Rainer