I just finished A Little Book for Small Churches that Want to Grow by Baxter Hood. It wasn't all that helpful. In fact, it was rather unhelpful. While the book was published in 1991, I'm wondering if it was actually written several years before it was published. You see it seems to champion a church growth movement that has come and gone (one popular in the early 1980's). Now I'm not against the early 80's or the church growth movement, but I do realize that the dynamics of a small church (and its community) in 2009 are quite different from what they were 25 years ago.That isn't even the main problem with this little book. It's problem is that it assumes large church approaches to growth can simply be transfered to small churches. Everything I have experienced in the small church and everything I have read lately indicates the opposite. The small church is not a little-big-church. It is unique. It has unique opportunities and unique challenges. Failing to take this uniqueness seriously is simply not helpful. For example, if Bethel Church was to follow the strategy for growth outlined in this little book, we would need 150 volunteers and another 25 thousand dollars in our budget. This is simply out of touch with reality.
A third issue I have with this book is its overly managed style. It seems to assume that a small church can be whipped into shape and organized much like a big business. While good organization is important, one of the strengths of the small church is its close knit, family-like, care for each other. Families can't be set up into an organizational structure. They are relationships. Sure, we could try to manage Bethel Church into a sleek organization, but we would loose our relationships and some of our love and much of what makes us who we are.
One final concern I have with this book is its lack of "spirituality" (for lack of a better term). I don't question or doubt the sincerity of the author or his Christian commitment, but his approach is very weak on those things that are distinct to the the church--prayer, scripture, spiritual fellowship, etc. Yes, there are a few allusions to scripture and some mention of prayer, but God's unique work through Jesus Christ and by his Holy Spirit are mostly absent from this approach, and I can't buy into that.
Are there any redeeming qualities to this little book. Yes, there are a few tips on how to organize things and on how to evaluate things and how to go about working with committees, and the appendix does have a few helpful administrative tools. But overall, I can't really recommend the book.
Blessings, David
Interesting review. I always wonder about books about growth. Sure I would like the Bethel I pastor to grow in numbers, but I am much more concerned that they grow in faithfulness.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, how can a certain technique bring true numerical growth? I ask that as someone who is firmly convinced that salvation belongs to the Lord. He saves as he wills, usually in spite of our techniques. Anything that even implies that if you do this you will certainly grow with real God given growth, is making a claim far beyond anything we can claim as human beings. If we are faithful in living out our Christian profession, God may bring growth, but he may not. That is in his sovereignty. That is why I constantly point out the truth that the measure of successful evangelism is not how many people become believers, but rather that one has truly proclaimed Jesus Christ to unbelievers. The conversions from that are God's work.
Anyway, I am enjoying these reviews of various books. Very helpful for another small congregation pastor.