Is size important?

So onto the issue of size...

Does a church have to reach a certain size before it can be considered a sucess?

I guess the obvious fact is that I'm not really bothered by the idea of never "growing" a big church. I'm more bothered about other things that seem like more tangible signs of sucess to me

# helping people who really are poor in genuine sustainable ways...

# welcoming people who don't feel comfortable with traditional church environments...

# building and deepening relationships...

# getting to become a bit more like Jesus...

There are loads of other benefits besides, like not having to hire venues or spend money on lots of admin type stuff, also there are loads of relational benefits of staying small - it means people can be known much more easily ...

A place of safety...

This picture was taken on a recent trip that a friend and I took to visit Mars Hill Bible church in Michigan, one evening we drove over to the lake and found this harbour. It reminded me of something so I obsessivly took pictures of this and other harbours that we saw... however it turns out that Steve's shot was best...

A long time ago my wife (Lorna) and I were at meeting in a Vineyard church (we've been members of various Vineyard churches for about 15 years now)and when someone was praying for us they gave us a word or picture. (kind of an impression that popped into their head while they were praying for us that they thought may have been from God...) What they said was that we would be like a harbour, a place where people would be safe and could feel secure and protected.

In beginning to think about a church I don't think that this is a bad place to start ... I'd love it if I could ensure that everyone who came into anything we did could feel the way that I think God thinks of them. Unique, valuable, worthwile and loved regardless of their ideas, beliefs, culture or lifestyle.

Given how difficult it is to help people to feel this even when they are just coming into your family has anybody got any ideas about how you could do it with a church?

I was thinking...

# Stay small enough to welcome everyone.
# Be big enough that everyone can meet someone they can become friends with.
# Focus on Jesus and not on doctrine or traditions (as helpful as those things can be)
# Serve good coffee (and cake)

let me know your thoughts...

Dave