Since the start of the pandemic, there’s been lots of talk and ink splatter regarding the decline of the church at large. The three things I’ve heard about most are pastors leaving their churches to pursue new vocations, increasingly low church attendance, and churches closing their doors. Now I’m no expert, but as I’ve tried to research these things, I’ve found them difficult to verify in quantifiable ways. Like a lot of things, the statistics seem to vary depending on how or where you’re looking.

That said, what I’ve been seeing in my region these last few years would seem to agree with these reports. And so I’m left with the question: If these things are true, how am I to respond where I am? If you’re reading this article right now, there’s a pretty good chance that you’re helping to lead a small church in a small town. If so, how are you seeing these things play out in your area, and how are you navigating this changing landscape?

A Case Study

In case it might be helpful, I thought I’d share a bit about what I’m seeing and experiencing where I’m living. I help to pastor Christ Restoration Church in New London, New Hampshire. We were planted over eight years ago by Christ Redeemer Church (CRC), a congregation that was established in the Upper Valley of New Hampshire over twenty-three years ago. The reason why my wife Leah and I decided to participate in this church plant was because we’d been so deeply impacted by the gospel-centered preaching and teaching of our sending church. They’ve played a truly integral role in our spiritual formation as a couple and family. And not only did they help to get our church off the ground, but they’ve continued to support our congregation in myriads of significant ways.

Thankfully, their influence hasn’t been limited to our congregation only. Within the last ten years or more, they’ve evolved into what you might call a “hub” church. In other words, they’ve become a stabilizing and strengthening partner for surrounding churches who might be in need of camaraderie, support or resourcing for one reason or another. Over that span of time, many spokes have been connected to the hub, and all have become stronger for it, CRC included.

A Helpful Hub

Around the time that Christ Restoration Church was planted in 2014, other local churches began to connect with CRC in various ways and for various reasons. One thing we had started up around that time was a preaching cohort. It was a weekly meeting. We read and discussed books about preaching. We outlined messages together. We listened to and constructively critiqued one another's sermons. This was a helpful way to strengthen and develop established and budding preachers from within. Before long, others were invited to join us from other churches in order to benefit from and add value to these meetings. I think that some of the “spoke” connections began here. There seemed to be a good dynamic developing that was both needed and appreciated.

Coincidentally, CRC began to develop an internship ministry and pastoral residency program around this same time. Alongside that, we were learning of needs for local, solo pastors of smaller congregations to get some reprieve from preaching every week. This became a mutually beneficial way for us to meet practical needs and to provide opportunities for our residents and interns to preach and minister.

In 2016, a church just over the border in Vermont had recently closed their doors and put the church up for sale. For fear that their historic church might soon become an antique store, they asked us if we would consider buying it at a generous price with the idea of maintaining it as a church. We did, and in time it became a replant pastored by one of our residency graduates. They’ve been holding weekly, gospel-rich worship services there since 2018.

As word about these things spread, so did the requests. In some cases, we began to assist churches who were temporarily without a pastor, filling their pulpits on a weekly basis. With these growing needs, we slowly took steps to grow the quality and size of our residency and internship program. And then the pandemic hit.

A Changing Landscape

The kinds of needs and opportunities that I’ve described here were not unusual to us prior to the pandemic. Since then however, the mounting needs and the number of requests have grown beyond our ability to meet them. Over the course of 2021 we assisted nine local churches in various ways. Currently, our executive pastor, residents, and interns all preach nearly 50% of the time, and often in two churches per Sunday. That’s astounding and possibly unsustainable. It’s becoming clear that our current economic situation has raised the cost of living and made it all the more difficult for churches to meet the demands of their budgets and to provide competitive salaries for those who might come and minister here in New England. We’ve found that though we live in a very desirable location, through the years it’s become harder and harder to recruit ministers to join us here.

The Lord of the Harvest

So, back to my original question: If the church at large is in national decline, how might small-town churches respond in the face of that adversity? Here are a few closing thoughts:

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” (Matthew 9:36-38).

The challenges are very real, and yet they’re ripe with potential! I would suggest that the model that CRC is currently using is worthy of your consideration. It’s good for workers to harvest together; to share meals and resources with one another. Churches with a shared vision and desire to experience and manifest the gospel of Jesus should investigate ways they might partner together. This just might be the best way forward in the days ahead. What are your strengths? Bring them forward. What are your weaknesses? Make them known.

And yet, as helpful and as needful as these things surely are, they’re not enough. They never are. We need the help and the provision of the “Lord of the harvest.” What a helpful reminder that the harvest belongs to him. And notice what His posture is toward our needs. If you’re serving in a small context that is stressing and depressing you, please know that he knows, and that his response to your need is one of compassion and a ready desire to hear and respond to your prayers for assistance.

As we face an uncertain future, let’s fix our hope upon the surety of our God and look for ways to partner with one another in the work that he’s bringing about. And may the Lord of the harvest send more workers for his harvest.

For more information about Small Town Summits, including upcoming Summits, click here.