Embracing the Small Church - Opportunity

For you football fans you know the story of Rudy Ruettiger. An undersized football player 5’5”, 165lbs.(That’s me at my college weight), not strong enough nor fast enough to play for the elite University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Yet, with grit, determination and a love for the game, Rudy kept the hope that one day he would be able to play. All four years he tirelessly worked on the practice squad attending all workouts, training camps, and games with never a glimmer of hope he would dress for a game, much less play a down. In the last game of his senior season, the Head Coach told him to dress for the game and with only a few plays left against Georgia Tech, he gave Rudy the nod to go in. Taking his position on the defensive line up against 6’ plus 300lb. linemen, Rudy was nothing more than a pesky fly on the first play. With the clock running out, the ball was snapped and Rudy cut around the hulking blocker and sacked their quarterback. The crowd erupted with a standing ovation and the entire team carried him off the field on their shoulders. His career stats, 2 plays, 1 sack and yet he is one of the most loved and remembered Fighting Irish of all time which includes Hall of Famer’s Joe Montana and Tim Brown. He is also one of only two players to ever be carried off Notre Dame’s field.

One of the advantages of being a strategic small church is the opportunity to give an initial step into service and help develop a budding calling and future ministry. Sometimes even in ministry we reserve certain roles for the professional, trained or experienced, however smaller congregations often struggle trying to fill music, youth, and children’s leadership roles with experienced, trained individuals. If roles go unfilled for long it can reduce the effectiveness and momentum of the overall ministry and vision of the local church. As in football, free-agency isn’t the only way to develop a team. Sometimes giving an initial opportunity to players off of the practice squad is the best way to develop a future Hall of Famer.

When we embrace this opportunity as a small church, we can not only witness the growth and development of a ministry leader, but also be the recipient of their dedicated service.  Most watch the games from the stands, or some nervously from the sidelines hoping for the opportunity, but there are those times when the Head Coach gives the nod and says, “Get out there and make a play!”  If you are the one running onto the field for the first time, put on your helmet and do your best.  As you watch someone make their first hesistant play of ministry you might be watching a future Hall of Famer right in your small church.

Do not let anyone treat you as if you are unimportant because you are young. Instead, be an example to the believers with your words, your actions, your love, your faith, and your pure life… Continue to do those things; give your life to doing them so your progress may be seen by everyone. – 1 Timothy 4:12 & 15, NCV