Many small churches are dying. Over the years, many smaller, community churches, due to attrition by death or the transfer of membership to larger congregations, have ceased to exist, and many others are now finding themselves on the threshold of closing.

We should ask: What is necessary to keep these churches open?

And, the simplistic answer: Workers!

What responsibility do larger churches have to these small denominational churches, if any?

The answer is, none. There was a time when downtown churches started missions in outlying areas. Is it now time for larger churches to go outside their communities and offer assistance? If the need once existed to plant churches, is there still a need today? Do un-churched folks remain in these areas?

Can the solution be money? Not really.

It’s not about money, as some might suspect, to keep these churches open. For these smaller churches there hasn’t been a building program in ages, therefore, there is no debt – just regular monthly operating costs.

What are the needs, and what are the obligations, if any, for these larger churches to come to the aid of fellow Christians? Nothing, other than that old biblical cry of old: “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”

No, it’s not about monetary needs, but a need for laborers, and it goes back to the words of Jesus: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Workers are needed to put their talents to use. Larger churches are loaded with talented members, but some might not be willing to use them outside the confines of their own church. Perhaps if they knew of the situation, and God should get hold of their hearts, there would be an outpouring of love for this type of ministry.

Will this mean the workers will stay in these fields permanently and have to move their membership?

No, just coming and going on a rotational basis.

Within the larger churches are Bible study groups who sit down Sunday after Sunday to hear the Word of God being taught, but who may never get the opportunity, and who may welcome the opportunity, to put what they have heard into action.

Why not have members of these Bible learning groups get on-the-job training in ministering to the needs of these dying-on-the-vine churches, putting into practice what they have been taught?

Presently, I am ministering to one of these smaller churches where very few families still are in attendance.

The building, dating back to 1903, was once a thriving body of Bible-believing Baptists, providing a witness of salvation within the shadow of their steeple.

As you travel through this small community on U.S. 301, the church’s steeple is a testimony of the Christian witness. It should remain there to remind the community that they are walking in the shadow of the Almighty.

Within larger churches are retired ministers who are vitally needed to fill pulpits within a few miles of where they sit each Sunday in padded pews.

Smaller churches cannot afford full-time pastors, but are able to pay a small remuneration to those who will preach to them the Word. It doesn’t have to be a Sunday-after-Sunday situation, for there are enough retired ministers in large churches to stay retired in between given Sundays. This is possibly the weakest link in these small churches, because churches want a man of the cloth to be present when there is a need.

Larger churches have huge choirs of talented voices singing praises. Most have musicians and handbells. Smaller and going-out-of-business churches have none. Their musical instruments have been idle for a long time. Dusty organs and the out-of-tune pianos would bring chords of joy to the Lord our God.

Larger churches send their mission teams to foreign shores. And, they should! The church in Jerusalem first evangelized their city, and then went out into the known world to preach Jesus. There is so much to do, and with little effort on the part of a few, some of these smaller churches could remain open.

When the Christians in Jerusalem fell into poverty, a collection was taken from other churches to help.

Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and others, not only established churches, but backtracked to better equip them in the faith. Should today’s larger churches send out Bible teachers, piano and organ players, pastors, and deacons, to bring dry bones back to life?

God will have to answer that question for each one of us.

Since many are autonomous bodies, understandings between churches must be understood.

I welcome your thoughts and comments.

Gene Jackson

Battleboro