The Strategically Small Church: Intimate, Nimble, Authentic, and Effective - Softcover

O'Brien, Brandon J.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0764207830 ISBN 13: 9780764207839

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers, 2010

Synopsis

Brandon O'Brien helps pastors and church leaders understand that a smaller church is sometimes better than a big one. He demonstrates the strengths of small congregations, including that today's church "shoppers" want services that are local, personal, and intimate. Also, small churches provide space to nurture close relationships across age and lifestyle barriers, and they facilitate a higher level of commitment from laypeople. And small church budgets are often more effective because of greater efficiency. The Strategically Small Church will encourage small-church pastors in their ministries and challenge them to play to their strengths.

About this title

About the Author

Brandon J. O'Brien is editor-at-large for Leadership Journal and their popular blog, Out of Ur. He holds an MA in church history from Wheaton College and served as pastor of two small congregations. Brandon lives with his wife in the western suburbs of Chicago, where he is a doctoral student in church history at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

From the Back Cover

Blessed Are the Small

Our culture's infatuation with bigness--bigger cars, bigger houses, bigger businesses--has infiltrated the church. But smaller doesn't equal second-rate. Leadership Journal editor and former pastor Brandon O'Brien shows how small churches are uniquely equipped for success in today's culture.

O'Brien celebrates churches that are taking full advantage of their small size and analyzes how other churches can learn from their strategies. For example, strategically small churches:
facilitate a higher level of commitment from laypeople
focus attention on fewer programs, increasing effectiveness
nurture close relationships across age and life-experience barriers

But perhaps most important, O'Brien asks churches to rethink what it means to be successful. Sometimes small is just right.

"Kudos to Brandon O'Brien for reshaping the small-church brand. Using real-life examples of 'small' as an intentional ministry strategy, O'Brien gives hope to small churches everywhere. A must-read for church leaders!"

Chuck Warnock, Author of Confessions of a Small-Church Pastor

"Every page paints a picture of the strategic potential for kingdom ministry that flows from smaller churches."

Kara E. Powell, PhD, Executive Director, Fuller Youth Institute
Fuller Theological Seminary

Edition details

• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0764207830
• ISBN 13: 9780764207839
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 176