Bigchurchesdidn’tcreatetheproblemsfacingtoday’scongregations.Butourobsessionwithsizehascomeatagreatcost.We’reobsessedwithbigness.SupersizedmealsandTVscreens.Squarefootage.Andbigchurches.“What’sthesizeofyourchurch?“Thatquestionhasstirredinsecuritiesorstrokedtheegooftoomanypastors.Foralongtime,wethoughtbiggerwasbetter.“Churchgrowth“and“numbers“dominatedourthoughtsandconversations.Butmorethanever,peoplearefeelingdisconnected.Trustinthechurchisdwindling.InDe-SizingtheChurch,pastorKarlVaterstakesusonamulti-facetedjourneythroughourcenturies-longobsessionwithsize,bothinandoutsidethechurch,andhowithasnegativelyaffectedthosewhoserveandworshipinbigandsmallcongregationsalike.HealsodispelssomeprevailingmythsandaffirmswhatwasgoodandtrueabouttheChurchGrowthMovement.Andheinvitesustoconsiderhowremovingchurchsizefromtheequationcanbeanessentialelementinrebuildingtrust,restoringrelationships,andrenewingourspirituallives.Thisbookreframesthewayweseethesizeofourchurchesandhelpsusseehealthandfruitfulnessthroughde-sizedlenses.Theresult?Renewedcongregationsthatreachsurroundingcommunitiesandfaithfullyengageculture.
