SMALL CHURCH CONNEXION The Small Church Connexion was established as an initiative of the LBA in 2004 for mutual help and support between small churches.

News

The Small Church Connexion is organising a spring event on 20 April 2013 and an autumn event  on Saturday 12 October 2013.  Brief details are below - more to follow. The Small Church Connexion also has a new initiative called Mission@home. Copies of the Small Church Connexion Newsletter can be downloaded here.

Spring Event

Personal Retreat

at The Foundation of St Katharine

Saturday 20 April 2013

10.30am - 3.30pm

Worship Leader: Karen Bate

Guest Speaker: Ruth Gouldbone

Autumn Event

Celebration and Drama

Discussion on Leadership & Conflict

at the LICC

St Peters Church, Vere Street, London

The Small Church Connexion helped develop "A Toolbox for Small Churches" which is a spiritual and.. practical guide to life in small churches and includes 26 stories of how it works in reality from churches across the UK. It was written by Hilary Taylor (LBA Small Church Enabler) and published in 2007. Copies can be obtained from Hilary Taylor. See also her Small Churches Blog.

The Small Church Connexion held a Resources Exhibition in 2005 and 2007. It also organised a series of training days during 2007 and a series of practical workshops in 2008.

Mission

The Mission Statement of the Small Church Connexion is: "to connect small churches to fulfil their mission" through: Encouraging, Networking, Training, Resourcing, Challenging.

Definitions

The Small Church Connexion has defined a small church as one having 30 or less people attending the main worship service. The Small Church Connexion works across London in all Districts of the London Baptist Association, and has the full support of the LBA Directors, Regional Ministers, and District Ministers.

Aims and Objectives

The short term aims and objectives of the Small Church Connexion are to:

• Have a representative from each District on the Steering Group
• Make presentations to churches at District level
• Plan and present a resources day in central London in March 2005 and invite all LBA churches to attend
• Contact all LBA churches as SCC now has the responsibility on behalf of the LBA to pull together a list of people available to lead worship/preach

• Ensure small churches are valued
• Ensure small churches are resourced well to perform their mission
• Encourage small churches to contribute as a vital part of their District of Baptist churches
• Encourage small churches to make an impact on their local community
• Encourage the twinning of large and small churches for mutual appreciation and spiritual and practical resourcing

Events

Events organised by the Small Church Connexion are included in the LBA Diary with details included in the listing of LBA Events.

What we have done so far....

• Formed a steering group of pastors and workers all involved in small churches throughout London to plan and pray
• Decided our Aims and Objectives
• Received full support from Directors, Regional and District Ministers across London
• Held a successful Resources Exhibition in May 2004
• Encouraged networking between those from small churches who attended the exhibition
• Produced a Resources Directory
• Keeping the small churches informed with mailings
• Have a London rep. on the BU Small Churches Project committee
• Touring the District to meet people where they are
• Held a Resources Exhibition with seminars and prayer room in March 2005
• Held another Resources Exhibition in 2007
• Held a series of District Training Days during 2007
• Encouraged Hilary Taylor in producing her book "Toolbox for Small Churches"
• A series of Practical Workshops during 2008
• A series of Encouragement Days during 2009

Mission@home

When asked, small churches don’t usually ask for money, but people. Small Church, I have found, is the best training ground for serving God and each other in many ways. Although people are willing, they often lack the skills or knowledge. Training would be helpful but a day’s course won’t help much.

What is the best way to learn? Someone doing the job alongside you for a period of time.

Mission@home is the scheme that Small Church Connexion are running, releasing kingdom gifts across London, with mission in mind. Small churches are always looking for ways to grow – they have to be mission minded.

Many people have energy, experience and time when they retire and want to do something for God. There are some good examples of this working already such as two retired lay people each giving their churches 5 years to come to a place to receive a full time minister. Hopefully, people of all ages will rise to the challenge and use their skills to make a difference.

Think of it as mission@home. Many people would love to go on overseas mission but can’t afford it or have visa or health issues.There are plenty of opportunities in London – the city where the world comes to us! From inner city to leafy suburbs. This is mission, to offer skills and experience to another church, to teach others so they can continue when the time is up.

That’s part of the attraction – there is an agreed time limit – 3, 6, 9 or 12 months. Each volunteer will have a different skill set and experience and so will be placed where they fit best.

I asked small churches at our latest event what areas of church life could use a volunteer for a period of time and they said:

• Assisting various projects in our church
• To help us run a youth discipleship Freedom in Christ course
• Help with children
• Spiritual father for young men
• Worship - evangelism - ministry to men
• Youth Activities

We have been approached so far to provide someone who can:

• Help the new secretary and treasurer to build basic infrastructure
• Provide 3 months leading of the church so minister can go on sabbatical

Small church people can work be on mission too – this is not just a large church helps small church project. People from small churches are LBA directors, District Ministers, lay preachers, part of Small Church Connexion to name but a few. In Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas were part of the leadership and were sent out to do mission. Our first volunteer is an elder in a large church. Anyone can join the scheme.

For more information, please contact the Administrator (Hilary Taylor)

LBA Database

This is a list of available men and women who are preachers, worship leaders, musicians and those who have skills as treasurers, and who have risen to the challenge of serving other churches across the LBA. This service is organised for the LBA by the Small Church Connexion.

Every LBA church can benefit from this service as well as sign people up to serve.

The LBA Database Manager is Neil Tresise - call Neil to book someone or to volunteer.

Contact

To get in touch with the Small Church Connexion, please contact the Administrator (Hilary Taylor). Hilary is the LBA Small Church Enabler. See also her Small Churches Blog.