In the Shadow of the Steeple: The Vital Role of the Smaller Church in a Megachurch World

by Gene Williams

Book Overview

In a world of big, bigger, and biggest it can be difficult for pastors of small churches to keep from getting discouraged. In the Shadow of the Steeple offers pastors encouragement and hope, reminding... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0834121808
• ISBN13: 9780834121805
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: Beacon Hill Press
• Length: 118 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.3" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

Encouragement for Small Church Pastors

Sometimes pastors feel that in a megachurch world, their small church ministry is insignificant and unimportant. But retired Nazarene pastor Gene Williams has good news: Small churches have great potential to reach people for Christ. Williams points out that even large churches cannot reach everyone, and some people will never join a megachurch because they don't like big crowds. Williams certainly has the credentials to write this book. He has pastored churches for 47 years, some of them had less than 30 people, and one of them was a huge church with a TV ministry. And yet Williams says that some of his most rewarding ministry memories were when he was intimately involved in the lives of his small church members. In chapter one, Williams discusses the potential of the small church to reach the 25% of Americans who don't belong to any church at all. The next chapter is a discussion of the purpose of the small church, namely that the small church has the same purpose as the large one, to lift up Jesus, and to win as many people to Christ as possible. Chapter three, Williams talks about the problems of the small church. He observes that all churches have problems with people, programs, finances, and mental barriers, but that God can do great things no matter how big or small the church is. He thpoints out that Jim Cymbala started at Brooklyn Tabernacle with no salary and few members and little money to pay the bills, but that God miraculously provided for Cymbala and the church. Williamsstresses that we can be faithful to God and trust Him even in the midst of ministry problems. Williams then describes the pleasure of small church ministry, and what a joy it is to be involved in people's lives. He notes that in large church ministry, many families don't invite him to celebrations because "We know how busy you are,Pastor." But in the small church,he got invited to lots of things. There is also a chapter about the prospects of the small church. Willliams notes that since 50% of the people in any area are NOT attending church, there is potential for the small church to bring people to Christ. Williams also discusses the pride that small church pastors should have that Jesus has called them to care for some of the people He died for. There is also a discussion about the power available to small churches. Williams mentions that even though Barry Sanders was a small running back, he had a lot of power. This is the way he sees small churches. He also talks about the provision available for small churches. Williams describes a scene early in his ministry when he was pastoring a small church in Florida. There was one day when his family didn't have any food except a can of tomato soup. While his wife was preparing the soup, a lady came over with a big donation of food, and soon after, a ton of food was brought over for the family. Pastor Williams learned ALOT that day about God's provision. There is also a final chapter about the peace that small