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A 4 page book review. In his text Small, Strong Congregations (2000), Kennon Callahan offers ministers solid, sound advise on how to appreciate the experience of being part of a small, strong congregation. Bigger is, of course, not better than small, but conversely being smaller likewise indicates no inherent moral superiority. What they are is different and Callahan addresses this difference in his straightforward book that advises ministers and church leaders how to build on and capitalize the advantages of being small and strong. No additional sources cited.
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author points out that there are, of course, small congregations, middle-sized ones, and the huge mega-churches that serve extremely large congregations. Callahan points out that, as a culture, Americans have
"fallen into a trap by thinking that bigger is better" (Callahan 15). Bigger is, of course, not better than small, but conversely being smaller likewise indicates no inherent moral superiority.
What they are is different and Callahan addresses this difference in his straightforward book that advises ministers and church leaders how to build on and capitalize the advantages of being
small and strong. Callahan begins by addressing the fundamental differences between congregations and size can influence a churchs perception of its mission and service. In advising one minister whose
church is in close proximity to a mega-congregation, he says, "So long as you focus on what you do well and think and act in that way, they cannot compete
with you. However, the minute you try to become a mini mega-congregation, you will be done in" (Callahan 2). The author goes on to advise this minister to concentrate on
what small, strong congregations do well, that is on the qualities that bring small congregations together, such as a sense of mission and shepherding (Callahan 28). Callahan uses the
qualities that he identifies as intrinsic to small, strong congregations as the foundation for his chapters, building upon these themes. Throughout his text, his message conveys the sense that the
so-called limitations of small congregation are limitations only if they are viewed as such. For example, he says that small congregations that become strong learn that "God provides resources sufficient
unto the mission...With the grace of God and the resources with which God is blessing them, small, strong congregations share competent, compassionate mission in the community" (Callahan 129). Another
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