When I first read Gary McIntosh’s account, it both reminded me of my own past and helped me take aim on the future. McIntosh was an associate pastor in a large, 500+ church before accepting the call to a solo pastorate in a small and declining fellowship of 35 members. For the first six months, he possessed the touch of Medusa, not Midas, every program he attempted on turned to stone. McIntosh was baffled because every ministry idea he proposed had been successful at his previous church. Gasping for air, he called a board meeting, “Let’s dream a little about the future. Tell me where you want your church to be in twenty-five years?” Blank stares. Ten years? Five? Okay, next year? No clear idea. As despair was setting in, McIntosh sought the advice of a respected minister who told him: “One size doesn’t fit all.” What he meant was that you can’t lead a small church as if it were a large church. Countless conferences offer pastors and lay leaders instruction on implementing ministry programs, a vision, or outreach strategies with the thrust, “It worked for us and it’ll work for you too.”

A lethal assumption accepts “a church is a church and ministry is ministry.” We can misguidedly function under the idea that all churches are essentially the same and they are not. This is not to say that fellowships of varying size and setting share nothing in common but understanding that “one size doesn’t fit all” will serve you in the following ways.

1. Knowing who you are is critical to knowing where to focus your energies. Smaller fellowships can make the mistake of undertaking taxing ministry projects like carols by candlelight or building redevelopments that divert their limited resources.
2. The role of the pastor differs to accommodate the present needs of the fellowship. Consideration should be given to matching the pastor to the fellowship because of particular strengths needed at the various stages. The pastoral role required in a small congregation is the shepherd/friend; a medium congregation, 150+, requires an administrator/facilitator; the large, 400+, team-builder/leader.
3. Different churches will suit certain attenders and not others. Pastors regularly go through the ritual of beating up themselves because “good people” leave to attend another fellowship. Churches that believe they should be all things to all people are bound for pain and confusion.
4. Some attenders may become critical or attempt to thwart forward movement because the desired vision for ministry fails to match their previous church experience. People will equate a biblical “church” with the model to which they are accustom.

One size fits all? Guess again.