Don't dismiss the small church

I remember hearing once that God must love small churches. He made so many of them. We want churches to grow, and that's good, but many churches are in areas where having a big church is unlikely, and many faithful Christians appreciate the feel of a small church. But this isn't a debate about large or small churches.

This is about a small church with a big hope.

I spent last weekend with the youth group connected to the Benalla Presbyterian Church. There was 17 people from grade 6 to year 12, and then on Saturday night some of the families from the church came to join us for the Camp Concert - where I saw a camp skit I hadn't seen for thirty years! And it still made me laugh!!

There are a whole lot of churches with that size of youth in their church who wouldn't even dream of having a youth camp. But this church did. There are a lot of churches who would say it wasn't worth the hassle of organising a campsite and getting someone to cater and all that goes with it. But this church believed it was worth it. And it wasn't just the minister. Some people came to cook the food that other people in the church had donated. Some people couldn't come, but they covered the cost for some of the youth to get there.

What will it achieve? In God's grace, we believe it will lead to changed lives and world impact. Because we can't read the future, we don't know what these young people will grow to be. But that is the same in a big church or a small church. Don't let that stop you from getting people together and sharing the gospel together.

I had a great time at the camp, and I was pleased my son Daniel was able to be there too. We met some great people. Some young, and some not. But all connected.

So don't dismiss the small church. Pray for them. Support them. And if the small church is the one near you, then go there. You might just meet some of God's great people there.

And if you're in the Benalla area, look out for the Presbyterian church. God's people live there.