Deus Misereatur

Small Church Essentials: Field-Tested Principles for Leading a Healthy Congregation of under 250 by Karl Vaters My rating: 5 of 5 stars Karl Vaters, who pastors Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Fountain Valley California, writes for Christianity Today, and founded NewSmallChurch.com, is at it again with his new 256 page paperback, "Small Church Essentials: Field-Tested Principles for Leading a Healthy Congregation of Under 250". Very much like his previous book, " The Grasshopper Myth ," the author energetically and thoughtfully encourages small churches and their pastors, but moves more into practical ways to be a thriving church. "Small Church Essentials" begins in familiar territory, showing how being small does not mean being broken. In the first three chapters Vaters addresses the reality that over 90% of churches in North America are under 250, and that this is a good thing. "Let's stop acting like we're embarrassed by all the s...

Moses once announced, “ For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them ” (Deuteronomy 4.31); and Paul once prayed, “ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort ” (2 Corinthians 1.3). We rejoice that you are merciful and a God of mercies and comfort! Be merciful to your people on every continent, counting this congregation, Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church; Alameda Baptist; Berry Road Baptist; Bethel Baptist; and Beverly Hills Baptist church. Be merciful toward our brothers and sisters facing difficult times in difficult places like Iran, Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Sudan, Myanmar, and Indonesia. Be merciful and grant us your gracious presence and strength. Be merciful to the Presbyterian Church in America. Govern and guide us, our deliberations, decisions and directions as we approach General Assembly. B...