Rev. Bill Crawford

And she gets so excited when she talks about it. And I will borrow her phrase. There is this effect that we can have where we're the great big small church. And we do have an impact beyond our size because the Holy Spirit is in us and the gospel we're presenting is more powerful than us. And so we need to live in that truth, even though it's a dark time in many ways. It's a troubling time.

And she gets so excited when she talks about it. And I will borrow her phrase. There is this effect that we can have where we're the great big small church. And we do have an impact beyond our size because the Holy Spirit is in us and the gospel we're presenting is more powerful than us. And so we need to live in that truth, even though it's a dark time in many ways. It's a troubling time.

We're battling for sustainability. Pastors are having a hard time paying their bills. All those things can be true and the gospel can be advancing. The kingdom work can be getting done. And so we want to be honest on both sides of that equation, not get too caught up in the hard stuff. We need to know the hard stuff, but we also need to never forget the good stuff.

We're battling for sustainability. Pastors are having a hard time paying their bills. All those things can be true and the gospel can be advancing. The kingdom work can be getting done. And so we want to be honest on both sides of that equation, not get too caught up in the hard stuff. We need to know the hard stuff, but we also need to never forget the good stuff.

Well, I think it's different for every church. And again, that's the thing about small churches is they're weird. They're all different. And so, you know, traditionally small churches would come in. I think many, many, many, many small churches still do this. Someone will start coordinating meals. Somebody will do this. Somebody will do that. So All of those things happen.

Well, I think it's different for every church. And again, that's the thing about small churches is they're weird. They're all different. And so, you know, traditionally small churches would come in. I think many, many, many, many small churches still do this. Someone will start coordinating meals. Somebody will do this. Somebody will do that. So All of those things happen.

These informal systems happen in a small church. They carry a lot of weight and they get a great deal accomplished. And so I think the role of a teaching elder that comes into a small church is to kind of tease out all of those informal systems and certainly not get in the way of any of them, certainly not ruin any of them by trying to make them too formal.

These informal systems happen in a small church. They carry a lot of weight and they get a great deal accomplished. And so I think the role of a teaching elder that comes into a small church is to kind of tease out all of those informal systems and certainly not get in the way of any of them, certainly not ruin any of them by trying to make them too formal.

but also being able to utilize them and make sure they're not missing anything. And so you don't wanna miss a member because they're not in a certain group or a certain clique or somebody doesn't have their phone number. But you wanna utilize, if you have deacons, you wanna be utilizing them. If you have elders, you wanna utilize them.

but also being able to utilize them and make sure they're not missing anything. And so you don't wanna miss a member because they're not in a certain group or a certain clique or somebody doesn't have their phone number. But you wanna utilize, if you have deacons, you wanna be utilizing them. If you have elders, you wanna utilize them.

So we have had conversations over 23 years in the eldership and deacons about just doing the work. Don't wait for me to call. And more and more, Brandon, you've seen it. I've seen it. A member will be in the hospital. And by the time I get there, two elders have already been there. you know, our deacons have already been in house.

So we have had conversations over 23 years in the eldership and deacons about just doing the work. Don't wait for me to call. And more and more, Brandon, you've seen it. I've seen it. A member will be in the hospital. And by the time I get there, two elders have already been there. you know, our deacons have already been in house.

I didn't even know about something and the deacons were there, took care of it, didn't even call me because it didn't require my attention. Those are all things that should be happening. And if they're not happening, then you need to work that direction. And again, in a small church, as a leader, you need to be careful how you move that ball.

I didn't even know about something and the deacons were there, took care of it, didn't even call me because it didn't require my attention. Those are all things that should be happening. And if they're not happening, then you need to work that direction. And again, in a small church, as a leader, you need to be careful how you move that ball.

You don't want to come in criticizing because one of the things I learned, and I think younger pastors need to know this, whenever you come into a church and criticize something, that's in play, especially if it's a formal system, you are criticizing someone. See, in a big church, you change a program, it's a committee, it's a group, it's a this, it's a that.

You don't want to come in criticizing because one of the things I learned, and I think younger pastors need to know this, whenever you come into a church and criticize something, that's in play, especially if it's a formal system, you are criticizing someone. See, in a big church, you change a program, it's a committee, it's a group, it's a this, it's a that.

In a small church, when you change something, someone initiated that, and you're telling those people that someone is wrong. Now, what if that's their grandmother? What if that's some famous pastor? Well, you need to address that no matter how wrong you think it is. You need to address that very carefully and pastorally and with care.

In a small church, when you change something, someone initiated that, and you're telling those people that someone is wrong. Now, what if that's their grandmother? What if that's some famous pastor? Well, you need to address that no matter how wrong you think it is. You need to address that very carefully and pastorally and with care.

And so sometimes there are systems that are unhealthy in a small church around this caregiving thing. But again, you need to start, one, make sure you're showing up, make sure you're doing the work, make sure you know who's sick. And then also... My word to all the elders, all of the deacons is, if there's something going on that I need to be involved in, I need you to get me involved.

And so sometimes there are systems that are unhealthy in a small church around this caregiving thing. But again, you need to start, one, make sure you're showing up, make sure you're doing the work, make sure you know who's sick. And then also... My word to all the elders, all of the deacons is, if there's something going on that I need to be involved in, I need you to get me involved.