Where to… for The Salvation Army?

It’s the time of the mega church.  Heck, even emergent churches are only successful if they’re mega!  Well, at least that’s what general opinion would have us believe.

I don’t believe it for a minute… OK, you’ve got me…  Sometimes I believe it, then I argue myself out of it.  But then I wonder if I’m only doing that because I’m either jealous or even simply at a loss as to how some churches can grow just so quickly.  But that’s not really the issue.  You see I know that mega churches are neither good nor bad because of their size.  Likewise, smaller churches can’t be categorised so simply either.  However, in the Western world The Salvation Army, (and other traditional protestant denominations), are declining in numbers of disciples and converts.  At the same time, mega churches appear to be growing.

So the real question is this:  If, (and that’s a big word), mega churches are the way of the future how can we respond?

You see, The Salvation Army is, by definition a “small church” model.  We have congregations very close to others.  In the church I’m blessed enough to lead with Raewyn (The Salvation Army Johnsonville) we have other Salvation Army’s north (7 minutes drive), south (10 minutes) and east (12 minutes).  And each of those churches are in similar positions.

Obviously there are benefits to this model:

• As a “social justice/incarnational” organisation we are closer to the coal face and to those we are called to help; and
• It is much simpler to look after people pastorally (to name just a couple).

However, there are negatives too:

• It’s easy to get stuck in a comfortable mode where we are all inward focused and the great commission gets forgotten; and
• It isn’t always particularly good use of Kingdom money to pay officer couples to run smallish churches. (once again to name just a couple)

I’d absolutely love to hear people’s views on this matter (approach it from any angle you like!)

God bless

Paul