The Comparison Game

There are many books on the market today about church growth. The predominate idea is that every church is to be a growing church. We have conferences on how to build your church, how to take it higher and do more for God. The idea is that the best churches are the large churches. For years we have been taught told that there are no small churches: yet also told that there is no shame in pastoring a small church. The idea is that every church is supposed to be a big church. The problem with that there are small churches and many of them have a pastor who is trying hard to keep a good attitude while trying to find something to make his church grow. When it does not happen, they become discouraged, and in most cases either move to hopefully a place where he can do some good; or they drop out of the ministry. This book is the first book in a three volume set of books dealing with Pastoring the Small Church. In this volume Dr. Raynes deals with the accepting of the fact that no all churches or ministries are large. Just like there are large churches, there are more small churches. This book deals with what he calls the Comparison Game, the comparing of one church, one ministry, one preacher to another and making your assessments accordingly. He knows first had the attitudes associated with the small church ministries. The second volume deal with the pressures of a small church ministry and the third volume deals with the lessons he has learned that has helped him stay in the ministry, keep a growing vision in the midst of discouragement and a faith in the Lord when it seems like nothing is working. Volumes two and three are still in the preparation stages. Those who have read this manuscript have said it was a real help to them. One made the statement, "I wish you had written this thirty years ago. It would have helped me be a better pastor."