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"One Great Story" is where you find great ADC Alumni stories of how God has been at work in and through them and the ministries they have been involved in. 

Here's a story from Alumni Brian Keezer ('81):

Pastoring a Small Church
 

From the time I graduated I have imagined myself pastoring in a church over 200 people. For me success meant numbers, programs, multi-staff influence etc.. However over the past few years I have come to realize that there are very few churches throughout North America that are like that. Many churches have less than 100 in attendance on any given Sunday morning. When I look at our own Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches 76% of our churches have one hundred or less and 53% have 50 or less members.

Presently I am pasturing a church that in its peak had close to 250 in attendance. Today average attendance is around 60. However far from being a church that is in demise we are a church that is on the move. We are not without our challenges as we face the realities of the 21st century. We are none the less a church attempting to be relevant. Like many churches we consist of an aging congregation who as they get older find change difficult. They realize I believe that we need to grow however the unknown can paralyze. Helping people through transition I am discovering requires patience, trust, love and understanding.

Some things that I have found to be helpful as a Pastor shepherding a small congregation are these:
• Define what your Vision, Mission and Core Values are. We are discovering that this takes time and we are evolving. Since we implemented this 5 years ago we have been involving a number of our congregation in the process. It has not always been easy as change is stressful. However allowing for dialogue and input we are striving to be all we can be. We are realizing that we need to be long term focused therefore leadership including the Pastor needs to be committed. It takes at least 6-10 years to build trust among your people. They need to know that you love them and that relationships are built over shared experiences.

• Celebrate successes. Encourage and praise your people even in the little things. Every one whether they admit it or not has an innate need to be included and recognized. Leadership must make a point to let their people know that they belong.

• Be able to say you are sorry. We are not always right and when we make mistakes we need to admit it. This builds character.

• Building loving relationships. We have completed the NCD survey and have discovered our minimum factor is loving relationships. We also found that on average 80 percent of the churches who have done the survey struggle with this one. We are making positive strides to change this.

• Make attempts to be a church without walls. In the past the church in general I think has expected that people would come to church. One gentleman in our congregation a few years ago stated something like this at a business meeting. “They (the community) used to come by the wheelbarrow full”. With so many things to distract people we can no longer expect that people will come to church. We must be more intentional. To this end the church must find ways to enter and engage the community. Look in your community and see what is not being done . Do what no one else is doing and meet a need. The schools have even asked to use our facilities for programs they are offering. Schools are a great example. They are always in need of volunteers for reading and helping in various ways. They appreciate all the help they can receive. The opportunities are as big as ones imagination. Inviting the principals and councillors to share what is happening in their schools and community during announcement time Sunday morning gives us the opportunity to hear what is going on in the community but also to pray for them and to share the gospel.

• Be a church that is growing spiritual. We have been offering Christian Life and Service Seminars (C.L.A.S.S.) Sunday School for children and adults in an attempt to meet the need for spiritual growth and maturity.

• Be faithful. “Therefore my brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you now that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
It takes a church to raise a village someone has said. Recognize that you can and do make a difference and begin to think of ways you can engage the community wherever you are. Jesus said He would build his church. It is God’s harvest and he will bring the fruit in his time.

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