Kennon L. Callahan, Small, Strong Congregations: Creating Strengths and Health for Your Congregation. Jossey-Bass, 2000.
Referenced in: Small Church Leadership
LifeandLeadership.Com Summary
The name Kennon Callahan is legendary in the field of church leadership. His popular Twelve Keys to an Effective Church series remains a standard text on development of established churches. If he writes a book, it should definitely be near the top of a reading list on the subject. He never disappoints in providing gems of leadership wisdom, even if one does not follow his carefully constructed step-by-step methodologies. This book, Small, Strong Congregations, is no different.
Small, Strong Congregations presents one of the most realistic, usable, and hopeful strategies for small church development. He suggests that small congregations probably should not assess themselves by his other rubric, the Twelve Keys, but should conceive of themselves in terms of eight distinctive qualities afforded by their size:
- Mission and service
- Compassion and shepherding
- Community and belonging
- Self-reliance and self-sufficiency
- Worship and hope
- Leaders and team
- Just enough space and facilities
- Giving and generosity
He says, “wherever some of these are present, with excellence and strength, you are likely to find a small, strong, congregation.” (28) The book devotes chapters to each of these dimensions.
The final chapter presents a simple, workable procedure for congregations to assess their level of functioning in each of the eight characteristics. From there, Callahan suggests a continuously repeated five-phase rhythm of intentional development:
- Claim your strengths
- Expand one current strength
- Add one new strength
- Work to the point of delivering well on five of the eight characteristics
- Live as a small, strong congregation
One essential key he repeats is to “Act now,” moving into the future God has designed for one’s congregation. There are few resources that are more workable and encouraging than this guide by Callahan. Any small church leader will come away from his books feeling gently encouraged, boldly challenged, and competently instructed on leading a congregation into a brighter future.
From the Publisher
Many books suggest that the future of the Christian movement rests with the success of mega-congregations. These authors also conclude that small congregations are doomed. Kennon L. Callahan-today’s most noted church consultant-moves ahead of such thinking and envisions a very different future. In this newest book, he confirms that the twenty-first century will be the age of consciously small, strong congregations that are dedicated to advancing God’s mission:
The twenty-first century is the century of small, strong congregations. More people will be drawn to small, strong congregations than any other kind of congregation. Yes, there are mega-congregations; Their number is increasing greatly. Nevertheless, across the planet, the vast majority of congregations will be small and strong, and the vast majority of people will be in these congregations.
With uncommon wisdom Kennon L. Callahan – today’s most noted church consultant – moves ahead of conventional thinking and in Small, Strong Congregations offers his unique vision of the church of the future.
This important book chronicles the emergence of a vast number of congregations that are questioning the bigger-is-better notion in church membership. These congregations are deliberately small, active, and happy in their dedication to creating strong church communities that advance God’s mission. Step by step, Kennon Callahan shows pastors and other church leaders how they can develop the values and specific qualities helpful to shape and strengthen their own small congregations.
Written to be a hands-on guide, Small, Strong Congregations offers practical suggestions for creating mission and service, compassion and shepherding, community and belonging, self-reliance and self-sufficiency, worship and hope, teams and leaders, space and facilities, and giving and generosity. This wise resource is filled with illustrative examples that show clearly how myriad small churches have created solid, vigorous congregations.
Editorial Reviews
“Leaders, Staff, and volunteers, will benefit from this rich resource.” -Charity Channel
“…the book is a letter of encouragement for small churches to boldly be themselves.” -Anglican Theological Review
About the Author
KENNON L. CALLAHAN, Ph.D., is the author of fifteen books, including his best known work, Twelve Keys to an Effective Church, which has formed the basis for the widely acclaimed movement of mission growth. Several of his books have been translated into various languages. Dr. Callahan is today’s most sought-after church consultant and speaker. Thousands of congregations and tens of thousands of church leaders and pastors around the world have been helped through his writings and workshops. His seminars are filled with wisdom, encouragement, and practical possibilities. He travels extensively, meeting with and speaking to assembled groups of pastors and church leaders from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and many other parts of the world.
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