The Small Membership Church

A Mustard Seed, not an Acorn

Why is the Small Membership Church a mustard seed, and not an acorn? The Gospel of Matthew tells us “The kingdom of heaven is like what happens when a farmer plants a mustard seed in a field. Although it is the smallest of all seeds, it grows larger than any garden plant and become a tree. Birds even come and nest on its branches.” (Matt. 13:31.32 CEV) There are several reasons why this parallel is important. First, small is biblical. The smallest seed produces a place where there are far-reaching implications and comfort is offered. The Small Membership Church is like this – children raised in the small church have populated the country with the faith they were raised upon!

Second, the Small Membership Church as a mustard seed and the Large Membership Church as an acorn gives the correct impression that these are very different seeds. It is not implied that the small church must get larger, or the large church must shrink. Each size of church has its own characteristics, and they are all good in a healthy church that knows how to act its size!

Third, it is important for those who have not experienced the Small Membership Church to understand its important uniqueness’. The characteristics that are discussed in chapter one are essential to seeing the differences between the sizes of churches. Intimacy, toughness, time equals people, and other characteristics are specific things that are unique to the small church that need to be cherished.

Finally, those people who make up the thousands of small churches throughout the country need to see that a mustard seed is a powerful image of small church life. The story that Jesus tells about faith the size of a mustard seed and being able to move mountains is a true image for the small church. An interesting definition for the small church is:

“We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much for so long with so little; we are now qualified to do anything with nothing!”

Those in the Small Membership Churches need to embrace the idea that the impossible can be done with a mustard seed, not a pumpkin seed! The “Just-A Syndrome” can be broken. It is not just-a small church, or just-a lay person, or just-a church in the country. It is a mustard seed full of potential to do what God had called in this community!

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