4.6 Stars Out Of 5
4.6 out of 5
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Quality:
4.8 out Of 5
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Value:
4.6 out Of 5
(4.6 out of 5)
Meets Expectations:
4.4 out Of 5
(4.4 out of 5)
88%
of customers would recommend this product to a friend.
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Displaying items 1-5 of 18
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  1. Momof4
    Canada
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    A Must Read for all Ministry Leaders
    November 20, 2010
    Momof4
    Canada
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    Growing up in a small church provided me many opportunities to minister and for that I am very thankful. With the growth of mega-churches the small church has often struggled with how to increase numbers. I just finished reading the Strategically Small Church, by Brandon J.Obrien, and I am recharged and ready for action. This book outlines the strengths of smaller churches, our ability to build relationships, and opportunities for multi-generational ministry. I found this book very interesting and I would encourage all deacons, church leaders and pastors of smaller churches to read this book. I find the idea of program sharing very interesting, and hope

    to implement what I have learned in my ministry opportunities. Excellent work. I would give this book 4 stars. This book was given to me for purpose of review by Bethany House publishers.
  2. PastoralMusings
    Dixie
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: male
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Excellent!
    November 11, 2010
    PastoralMusings
    Dixie
    Age: 35-44
    Gender: male
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 4
    The Stategically Small Church is a refreshing book. It affirms the small church in its smallness. Not the ineffective, uncaring smallness that prays for "me and my four, and no more". It affirms the fact that smallness isn't a bad thing, but can be strategically used to honor God and minister to others.

    In the Christian world bigger seems to be better. It seems that we have bought into the world's idea that size equals worth. O'Brien counters that with the fact that a small church may not be able to do everything that big churches can, but they can do things big churches can't.

    Small churches can be nimble, move quickly, can be unhindered by beauracracy, and can be authentic. Not all small churches are like that, and there is no glory in being small for small's sake. The potential is there, however.

    Small churches have great potential to foster relationships, reach out to the troubled with care and compassion, and minister in a way that is felt in the heart. Why? Because in small churches practically everyone knows everyone. It also means that the membership is the ministry much more than in the large church. Everyone has the opportunity to be involved.

    One thing that I truly like is the emphasis made on intergenerational focus. We often feel that we MUST have youth groups. O'Brien states that we can have everyone worshiping together and working together. That is a good thing that bridges the so-called generation gap.

    Many positive things could be said about this book. In fact, I must say that I intend to read it again so that I can get more out of it.

    What about negatives? I think that would simply be the fact that there is a need for some "how to" on overcoming the problems that are so common to small churches: one man leadership, cliques and schisms, family rule, democratic process that sometimes equals mob rule, etc. In the end, however, I know that everything can't be contained in one book. Perhaps a sequel?
  3. Tootles
    New Hampshire
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    September 29, 2011
    Tootles
    New Hampshire
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    My brother who is a pastor recommended it for me to purchase for my own pastor. To me that is a very high review.
  4. Favorite Christian Books
    Covina, CA
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: Female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Blessed are the Small - Indeed
    November 4, 2010
    Favorite Christian Books
    Covina, CA
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: Female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 4
    Having grown up as a Christian in a small church I was excited to read this book. Initially I was concerned that the author was going to tell me how big churches pretend to be small, but yet have all the resources of a big church. I was grateful that the author was merely showing that many mega-churches are recognizing the benefits of community and a need to have "smallness."

    Mr. O'Brien did a good job of identifying the benefits of a small church. This book reminds pastors and lay leaders as well, that viewing success by the number of people in your church isn't Biblical. He gives us a much better and realistic way to look at our churches. Bigger is not necessarily better.

    The author deals with four key points for the strategically small church: intimacy, being nimble, authenticity, and effectiveness. He draws out each of these topics with practical information and examples of ways a churches have done this. He also gives some warnings of what not to do. The effectiveness chapter is probably the most critical for the small church. Here the author gives some excellent examples of how small churches around the country have made an impact in their community.

    This is a great book for pastors of small churches who may struggle with the definition of success. It can be a source of encouragement as well as ideas to help them lead their churches.

    Thank you to Bethany House for providing this book for my review.
  5. Lynda Lee
    Timmins, ON
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Small really CAN be big in the kingdom
    November 1, 2010
    Lynda Lee
    Timmins, ON
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: female
    The Strategically Small Church

    Brandon J. O'Brien

    Bethany House

    2010

    168 pages

    At last, someone who understands that the small church isn't necessarily dead or dying; that, at the risk of being branded for using and abusing a cliché, "good things DO sometimes come in small packages."

    Brandon O'Brien presents a solid case for that self-aware, self-confident small church that recognizes the advantages of its size and is not intimidated by the mega-church mystique. This book is balm to the soul of the majority of pastors who have come away from conferences led by their mega-church brothers, feeling like failures even when souls are coming to Christ and lives are being changed as a result of their ministries. As O'Brien says: "Mega-churches (regular attendance over 2000) make up less than one half of one percent of churches in America...we have allowed the ministry experience of 6 percent of pastors to become the standard by which the remaining 94 percent of us judge ourselves" (pg. 25).

    O'Brien deals specifically, and articulately, with six areas of church in which the strategically small church (with emphasis on "strategically") has valid advantages over its mega-sister: mission, authenticity, ability to change rapidly, equipping, focusing on the family, and training.

    The author emphasizes that there is no virtue in being small if you are not being strategic and that strategic doesn't means buying into the latest fads in church growth or trying to imitate the "big guys." It means recognizing who you are as a church and using that to best advantage for the sake of the Kingdom.

    Jim Belcher, author of Deep Church, says this in his forward to O'Brien's book: "What if God's plan for most churches is to be small? What if the best model for the church is to stay under five hundred people, and even closer to the tipping point of one hundred and fifty?" (pg. 10). For the majority of us who are in those kinds of churches, The Strategically Small Church is insightful, refreshing and motivating, a useful tool in helping us to become all that we need to be.

    ##########

    Bethany House provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.
Displaying items 1-5 of 18
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