Big Boats – Little Boats
Maybe you’re the pastor of a large or growing church. Don’t forget that the smaller churches around you that are also part of God’s fleet. Remember also that you were one of them at one time. Maybe you’re the pastor of a small and struggling congregation and you’ve given up hope of ever growing past what seems to be the lid of church growth. Remember that it is the task of every church, not just the big ones, to make disciples and rescue people that are in desperate need of God.
We have all been called to be “fishers of men,” big or small, we must keep casting our nets in the waters of this world that are teaming with lost souls. Regardless of size, fulfill your calling to rescue the unsaved world around you.
Without a doubt, a big ship can do incredible things. With greater resources, they can give more to missions, help more hurting people and accommodate greater numbers in weekly worship experiences. That said, we cannot ignore the unmistakable value of small churches, rural congregations and new church plants.
Jim Graff of Significant Church Network shares the following statistics about the “little boats” in the USA:
6% of Americans who attend church attend mega-churches.
34% attend churches between 300 and 2,000
60% of people attend churches under 300 people.
88% of America’s counties and parishes are under 150,000 people.
90 Million Americans live in these counties.
There are only 12 nations in the world with over 90 million people.
In the US there are 3142 counties in America.
359 counties have more than 150,000 people.
2,783 counties have less than 150,000 people.
71 cities in the US with over 1 million people.
734 cities between 50,000 and 1 M people.
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There are many more little boats than big and many more people are affected by what they do than the mega-churches America. These are amazing facts. Keep on fishing!
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Comments
Steve Wulf
An amazing post, thanks for sharing it Billy!
Steve Wulf
greg cooper
Thanks Billy,
I am pastoring one of those little boats and it is sinking. We are going to ask the church to vote on restarting in the next 4 to 6 weeks. We may need a coach and some partners – would ARC be interested?
I met you a couple of weeks ago at Liberty U at an ARC roundtable. I have started following you on twitter and I am excited about the ARC family and what God is doing through you to build His kingdom.
Greg
Luke
This is great stuff… long time ago realized every parish/county needed a great church. Geography plays a big roll in local rural congregations… ie. folks will travel 30 miles one way to the county seat rather than crossing a river into another county and travel 3 miles to a church.
u r the best Bro Billy… God’s hand on you heavy these days. Jesus is pouring his hand of glory upon you and Charlene.
Terry Shiver
Thanks Billy! We have planted Christ Community between two counties in Florida that have a population of 100,000. However, there are over 85% who are unchurched. There are plenty of souls that need a savior!!!
Thanks again for a great post!!
Terry Shiver
Bob Ordeman
Those figures bring back the reality that people need the gospel. The harvest really is plentiful. I am honored to be part of Jesus’ harvesting team. It reminds me of the Moravian brethren mantra “we go to win for the Lamb the reward of His suffering.”
Joel Dyke
Bro. Billy,
Thanks for the post! Very encouraging!
Joel
Billy
Thanks Joel and Steve. I love the local church and have always been a proponent of the little boats. Billly
Billy
Greg Cooper, just contact ARC and let us work with on a re-start. Hopefully we can add some value. Billy
Chris Byrd
Hello Billy,
Thanks for this post. As a pastor in a smaller community and a part of the Significant Church Network, I know first hand the kinds of emotions you have when in the midst of leaders from the larger venues with larger churches. It requires a true sense of mission, vision and purpose to labor effectively for the long haul.
God loves people. Jesus spent most of his years in earthly ministry in towns and villages. Every member and every part of the Body of Christ is essential to fulfill Christ’s commission to every generation of the Church.
We are hosting a regional meeting of Significant Church. I would love to have you come.
Chris
Chris Byrd
Thanks Billy!
The Significant Church Network is a great resource for churches and pastors who serve in the smaller cities and counties of America.
Chris Byrd
Billy
Chris, I would love to be a part of anything that Significant Church Network is doing. Billy
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