The Gift of Small Church Ministry: Beloved and Belonging

Matthew 3:13-17 – "And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, the Beloved.'"

At his baptism, Jesus heard what we all long to hear: "This is my Son, the Beloved." We all want to hear definitive words that we are God’s Beloved.

Before ministry. Before miracles. Before the cross. The Spirit descended, and God spoke identity: Beloved.

This Sunday, as we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, I find myself reflecting on the gift of small church ministry in Mission Presbytery, and how intimately connected it is to this truth of belovedness.

Nearly forty years ago, far from home as an international student, I found myself welcomed into Faith Presbyterian Church in Laurinburg, North Carolina, part of Coastal Carolina Presbytery. 

Faith was a small congregation, meeting in rented space at St. Andrews Presbyterian College. Their pastor, Rev. Dr. Caroline Wylie Smith, was the first female pastor I had ever seen, and she graciously agreed to baptize me.

I confess that in my faith journey, I have sometimes marginalized the role of that small church. But the truth is, Faith Presbyterian shaped my faith in ways I am still discovering. At my baptism, I felt totally welcomed by that congregation. I now had a great sense of belonging. 

Though I was a stranger among them, an immigrant who was broke and could hardly get by, baptism bonded us and made us one in Christ. I needed an identity to latch on to, and the small church offered Jesus Christ, our Lord.

This is the particular gift of small congregations: they can say intimately, personally, how much you belong and how much you are loved.

Here in Mission Presbytery, we are blessed with many small congregations scattered over the vast 66 counties in south central Texas. 

In their sanctuaries, lives are being transformed. Births are celebrated, youth are confirmed, youth are being sent to John Knox Ranch (the Filipino church in Corpus Christi say they send about 60 youth to JKR). 

Yes, in small congregations marriages are blessed, and other times we gather together to bear witness to the resurrection. 

These small churches may not make headlines, but they are doing the essential work of the gospel, reminding people that they are beloved. I have witnessed it in my many travels around the Presbytery. It is marvelous!

From that belovedness, everything else flows: mission, service, courage, hope. When we know we are loved, we become free to love others.

So as we remember Jesus' baptism this Sunday, let us also give thanks for the gift of small church ministry in our midst. 

These congregations are living witnesses to the truth that God's love is not measured by numbers or budgets or programs, but by the simple, powerful reality that in Christ our Lord, WE ALL BELONG.

Reflect: How would your ministry change if you truly believed you are God's beloved?

Prayer: Beloved God, speak your love over us again. Root our identity in you, and let our ministry flow from that deep well of grace. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.