A celebration of small

If you have never met me, you might not know something important about me: I am 4’10” tall.

Many short people bemoan their size. I understand the inconvenience of it in certain situations. I had to sit on a pillow when I drove my first car. (I still require multiple pillows below and behind me when I drive a 15-passenger bus.) I need my Spidey skills to reach an item on the top shelf at Publix. I wasn’t meant to be a basketball star, as much as I love the game.

For the most part, though, I welcome being the smallest adult in the room. I connect well with children because they think I’m one of them. It’s easy to tell a new acquaintance how to find me in a crowd. Adults consider me non-threatening, which means they honor me by sharing more deeply about themselves. I also have the element of surprise when I say a firm or difficult word, because no one expects that from the lady who looks like a kid. And my height has been key to my parenting, because I could always join my son in what he was doing, whether he was sitting at a table in a tiny chair or climbing in a play place at a fast food restaurant.

My experiences as a short person have no doubt shaped my love for small churches. Megachurches hold no interest for me. Program-sized churches have a lot to offer, but they’re not where I choose to spend my time either. I want to be in and work with those churches that are tied to a specific neighborhood or that are thinking about going from a full-time to a part-time pastor or that create communities of belonging and service for those people who would never set foot in a big box church. These congregations are thinking every day about how to be faithful with what they have. At their best, they are nimble and innovative and have an impact far beyond their small size. They are not slowed down by bureaucracy but can more easily experiment, reflect, and make changes based on their learning. They understand the importance of bringing everyone along. They make things happen together, not just depend on the pastor to get it all done. They incorporate all ages into most ministries, because siloing children and youth is not an option or a desire in a small church.

Sure, most small churches would like to have more resources and people, and there is real struggle that comes with having less. But there is so much good in being small. Claim your advantages and use your gifts, and in the process you will honor God and grow in the ways that really matter.