Shawn McMullen, Unleashing the Potential of the Smaller Church: Vision and Strategy for Life-Changing Ministry. Standard Publishing, 2006.
Companion volume: McMullen, Releasing the Power of the Smaller Church
Referenced in: Small Church Leadership
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
McMullen is pastor of a Church of Christ (instrumental) in Milan, Indiana and a founding member of the Energizing Small Churches Network. He edits this collection of insightful articles from fourteen leading small church practitioners among Churches of Christ/Christian Churches such as Curtis Shelburne, Milton Jones, Derrick Ritchie, and Tom Claibourne. Bob Russell and Rick Atchley write the foreword.
Authors cover a variety of issues, all from the perspective of developing congregations with membership of 200 or less. Topics include creating growth climates, outreach, evangelism, missions, worship, youth ministry, recovery ministry, working with volunteers, etc. The contributors draw primarily from their own experiences in rural, small town, and urban settings. Most chapters begin with a description of the congregational setting and history, followed by a narrative of circumstances which were especially pivotal for development of an aspect of ministry (e.g. worship, children’s ministry). The stories and principles are inspiring and instructive.
This book is especially bent on encouraging small church ministers and members toward a more hopeful self-image. Another theme is admonishing ministers to “stay where you are, commit to a long-term ministry, learn from others who have done the same, and impact your church and community for the cause of Christ.” (20) It is full of stories from history such as that of Puritan minister Richard Baxter, who in the 1600s led a thriving church in a notoriously corrupt community in Kidderminster, England. McMullen draws from this to insist: Regardless of the location and size of your church, you have the potential to engage in life-changing ministry that transforms your community. (20) Any small church leader would benefit from this text.
From the Publisher
Megachurches get most of the publicity these days, but everyone knows most churches are smaller. In fact, one report says the average church attracts fewer than 90 adults on a typical weekend. But small churches can be above average! This book shows how. Each chapter addresses the unique problems and opportunities of smaller churches. You’ll find here practical ideas for every aspect of ministry, written by leaders of small churches, or churches that recently were small. Megaministry can happen in congregations that never will be megachurches. This book will show you how.
Editorial Reviews
Shawn McMullen does an excellent job of showing how congregations of less that 200 can transform lives and impact their neighborhoods for Christ. The testimonies from more than a dozen dynamic ministries in a variety of situations inspire anyone in a smaller congregation with a “can-do” mentality. -Bob Russell, Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Kentucky
In this book you will read about smaller churches where God is alive, where the kingdom is expanding, where lives are being changed. You will be reminded that God is not looking at the size of the auditorium, but the size of the hearts of the people who worship in it. And you will be reminded that the gates of Hell cannot prevail against the church of Jesus. -Rick Atchley, Richland Hills Church of Christ, North Richland Hills, Texas
About the Author
Shawn McMullen, editor of The Lookout magazine, also ministers with the Church of Christ in Milan, Indiana. He is a newspaper columnist, the author of several books (Releasing the Power of the Smaller Church, I Want to Teach My Child About Fitness), and a founding member of the Energizing Smaller Churches Network (ESCN).
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