Vancouver Hallelujah
Community Church
our LPD Church of the Week
At our LPD Conference on March 5, we were glad to welcome two churches into our LPD/EFCC Family. Vancouver Hallelujah Community Church meets at the Power to Change facility in Langley and Tebah Church meets at Johnston Heights Church, and both reach out to our growing Korean-Canadian Community.
Vancouver Hallelujah Community Church was planted in 2020. Church planting pastor Soo Young Lee, grew up in South Korea, the son of a pastor. He came to Canada in 2006, where he ministered in the Toronto region, before coming west to study at ACTS Seminary. While obtaining his Master of Divinity, he ministered at Korean Central Presbyterian Church in Surrey, before returning to Korea in 2010 for personal reasons. There, he ministered alongside his father at Osam Power Church.
Returning to Canada in 2012, Soo Young Lee served in student ministry at Korean Central Presbyterian Church, until he felt the call to church planting in 2020.
It has been a joy to come to know Pastor Soo Young Lee, Associate Pastor, Dahoon Lee and the team of leaders, and for Evans Hundermark and me to visit this church and welcome them into the Family on March 6.
We are excited for their part in the LPD, and look forward to serving together in the years ahead. Welcome Vancouver Hallelujah Community Church!
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Good Things in “Small” Packages
Looking back on more than 37 years of pastoral ministry, I have seen a lot of trends, “fads” and techniques used in churches. Generally, these trends begin with a rapidly numerically growing large church presenting something novel or fresh, and other churches seeking to emulate these same methods in their own context. From worship bands to video clips; from seeker services to celebrations of worship, I have seen many styles and trends come and go.
While much of this has been helpful, it has also led to thoughtful reflection. Many of the “mega-church” pastors and leaders have in one way or another disqualified themselves from ministry, and waves of trends have come and gone. We realize that numerical growth does not equal the growth of disciples, and that “transfer growth” does not equal “Kingdom growth.”
The issue is not so much the “size” of one’s church, but its mission, and its effectiveness in fostering and growing obedient disciples of Jesus Christ our Lord.
COVID has taught us that while we can “attend” a church anywhere online, we can only truly “be” the church locally. Nothing online can replace the fellowship, and sharing of life and faith that can happen in the local church, and this is often more effective in smaller churches than larger churches. Smaller churches are also typically more effective in evangelism than large churches.
I was struck by some statistics regarding evangelism and the size of churches. Christian Schwarz, founder of Natural Church Development writes, “Churches in the smallest size category (under 100 in attendance) had won an average of 32 new people over the past five years; churches with 100-200 in worship also won 32; churches between 200-300 average 39 new individuals; churches between 300-400 won 25. So a ‘small’ church wins just as many people for Christ as a ‘large’ one, and what’s more, two churches with 200 in worship on Sunday will win twice as many new people as one church with 400 in attendance.”
Here is the link to the article,“Is Bigger Really Better? The Statistics actually Say “No.”
is-bigger-really-better-the-statistics-actually-say-no
So, what are smaller churches “doing right,” that larger churches might not be? Perhaps we become more staff-dependent as churches get larger. Perhaps larger churches tend to be more “attractional” than “missional.” Perhaps, many will choose to attend a larger church due the programs offered, rather than providing opportunities to serve. I don’t believe that there is either a simple or single answer to this question.
I think that it can be safely said, that smaller churches tend to be more relational. In larger churches, we attempt to regain and foster the intimacy of the smaller church that can become lost as a church grows. What happens naturally and organically in a small church must be done very intentionally in a large church.
While we give a lot of attention to the largest of churches, the majority of Christians attend small churches. Here is a balanced perspective on small churches: small-churches-not-problem-virtue-excuse
In valuing the place and significance of small churches, we also recognize that there can be unhealthy attitudes that will ensure that a church remains small. Joe McKeever identifies a number of behaviours which will hinder growth in a small – or in fact any size of church in his article, “Ten Reasons Why Small Churches Stay Small.” why_small_churches_tend_to.html
I am thankful for both small and large churches – and for “middle-size” churches too! I am also thankful for our pastors and leaders! My encouragement to everyone today is to “think small” in terms of caring for people, and to not lose our focus or mission in an effort to simply “grow.” As the old saying goes, “bloom where you are planted,” and be faithful in the calling that God has entrusted to you.
Large or small church, we celebrate you! Please remember God’s people and the mission entrusted to you. May you be both salt and light where God has placed you, and may you enjoy fruitfulness in your ministry.
In our LPD, district churches range in size from the “teens” to the “thousands,” and each one is being used of God. No two are the same. I appreciate that Pastor Shinil Park, Lead Pastor of Grace Hanin Community Church, the largest church in our district (and the EFCC) has not lost sight of either people or mission. In choosing small group leaders, I have been impressed by his choice of those known for godly Christian character, for studying the Word of God, for sharing their faith. That works in both large and small churches!
Large or small, may God bless you, your church this weekend, and may He bless others though you!
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Help For Ukraine:
We can provide assistance and relief to those in Ukraine through the EFCC/EFCCM Benevolence Fund:
https://efccm.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=35cdcfb2f7c7bd4726822add2&id=b107c9248f&e=7182060ed5
This fund is being used to send relief to Ukraine and surrounding areas to help with emergency evacuation for refugees, food, blankets, pillows etc. These funds help with real life physical needs.
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Upcoming LPD Events:
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