BeDeviant.com | THINK DIFFERENTLY - Latest Comments in Megachurch v. Mini-church

Re: Megachurch v. Mini-church

Alex — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:56:53 -0000

There were several factors. Admittedly one of the biggest being a personal decision to find life balance with 2 young children and a demanding job.

But the single biggest factor was the "mega churching" of the ministry. I used to play with the same people every week and every church service. It was a creative band and a small group that shared much more than music. We connected with the music, each other, and most of all with God. With the new structure I couldn't have felt more disconnected. The small group was gone, the music became a cookie cutter approach and the structure made me feel more like a cog in a machine than a member of a ministry. I stood playing at a church service and realized how much more I'd be worshiping by singing praise in the congregation with my family. Rather than standing on a stage with people I barely know plunking on a bass.

Re: Megachurch v. Mini-church

JustinWise — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:29:46 -0000

@Alex: What would you say was the single biggest factor to you stepping away from the music ministry you were involved in?

Re: Megachurch v. Mini-church

Alex — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:43:44 -0000

Small groups are the only way mega churches will survive.

I have mixed feelings on this topic. We have strength in numbers, but I'm often concerned that mega churches get lost in the details. It takes a huge amount of effort to organize a church of that size. And from my experience, highly organized process always leads to less freedom and discovery. There are so many gears and parts moving at the same time that it limits what people can do. The church has to be set in jello to allow God to mold and form it.

I used to be heavily involved in the music ministry because it was a beautiful place for fellowship, creative expression, but most of all to connect with God. As my church has reached mega proportions it required reorganization to a much more rigid, standardized process to the music ministry. My involvement began feeling more like a job and less like joy. If I'm not filled with joy in my service, my time is better spent elsewhere.

So there is an important balance that is very difficult to achieve. Big church . . . but somehow small at the same time.

Re: Megachurch v. Mini-church

Justin Wise — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:25:41 -0000

@Sir Dave: Amen. If digital pastoring is an end in and of itself, it will become toxic and voyeuristic. Technology needs to be an aide to community, not a replacement for it. Frankly, it's one of the reasons I'm not real keen on sites like Second Life. They don't correspond to reality in any way whatsoever.

Re: Megachurch v. Mini-church

Dave Sandell — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:40:07 -0000

Realizing that might not make much sense to people who don't actually know me. By "we're moving towards this model to become a member", I specifically mean the church at which I'm a pastor. Potentially true in the church-at-large, but not what I meant.

Re: Megachurch v. Mini-church

Dave Sandell — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:36:12 -0000

We're moving towards this model to become a member. Small groups are the lifeblood of our church, and the only way i can see the era of the digital pastor bearing much fruit. Got to plan for community time.