In most rooms the best way out is through the door. When it comes to effective small church ministry the door is to stay positive. Many small churches don't have a very good image of themselves. They see the larger congregations with TV shows and big fancy complexes, and these small churches slump their shoulders in ministry. The well of new members that brings energy into churches happens seldom or not at all in small congregations. And the energy level of present members discharged years ago.

I have suffered from depression probably my whole life. My depression was officially diagnosed as I was leaving the last church I pastored. A few years ago I went into crisis counseling because I literally didn't want to live. And I still struggle with those feelings occasionally. For me staying positive means staying alive.

Sometimes I get so down all I can think about is all the things that have gone wrong in my life. When that happens the depression can cause physical pain and make me sick. Finally, when the pain gets bad enough, I shake my self up and tell myself I have to get positive. The same thing happens to some small congregations. But they have been in pain so long that they've gotten used to it.

When I arrived at my last pastorate the congregation was without any positive feeling for itself. As part of a church service I asked the congregation to share favorite past memories. No one could think of anything. I was astounded and, admittedly angered. Scolding them, something a smart pastor would never do, I observed there had to be some good memories. Out of an attendance of about 60 none were offered

Certainly the congregation was troubled. They had failed in several attempts to call pastors before me. (One had gotten to a wreck while leaving the church parking lot.) I was told the year before I arrived the steward chairman had simple copied the church budget from the year before, brought it before council, and said “there didn't I do a good job.?” My district executive once told me that he had considered asking the district to take over the congregation's administration.

This was a good group of people. I believed that then and now. They just lacked faith in leadership and themselves. We set about restructuring the church's bylaws, started holding fellowship events, and special events to remind ourselves of the congregation's past. I tried to empower some of the lay leadership in the church that probably hadn't been really supported before. For pastors, like any leader, are only as good as the other leaders we work with.

New folks started showing up and staying. People, feeling better about the church, invited their friends, and we grew. Not a great growth by some standards, from about 65 to 85 folks a Sunday. About two years into my pastorate the congregation hit a rock of hard luck. Negative feelings surfaced again. And eventually I was asked to leave. But rather than folding my tent I spent the last six months of my calling visiting folks. During the visits I reminded our church family of the good things we had accomplished together. Many were angry because they didn't want me to leave. The church

had gone through a similar situation 20 years and never gotten over it. I had promised some folks before trouble arose that I would not let that happen. And I strongly urged my supporters to stay with the church. Because it's the people, and not the pastor, who are important.

Thanks to congregation leaders who had come forward the church continued to grow after I left. They had the strength to keep things positive. I even visited the church for a number of worship services after I left. To let folks know things were alright.

Getting positive is not an easy thing to do. It requires confronting yourself and even getting a little bit angry at yourself. I start by having conversations where I force myself to examine the good things in my life against what has me down. Sometimes that helps and sometimes that doesn't. I used to exercise and that helped a lot. But now with my knees gone, and the fatigue, working out regularly is more than difficult. And I don't do difficult very well. But to beat back depression I must find some way to work at my feelings. Staying positive takes effort, planning, and even preparation. Just trying to think your way into a change of attitude will leave you abandoned of hope.

Numerous times I find I have to accomplish something, anything, to start me back on the road to recovery. Sometimes things as simple as cleaning house or doing dishes (which really aren't simple for me) can help.

For small churches I recommend a mission program for folks in your area. Don't expect what you do to draw raving crowds, a few folks helped is something to be celebrated. Truth be told small churches can do anything larger congregations can. But not as many things at once and not on the same scale.

Preach honest, positive sermons. Look at the New Testament. More than once even Jesus felt defeated and down. But he always managed to bounce back. Often, I think, because of his compassion for other people. Just like us I don't things were going as well with the Gospel message as Jesus would have liked. But there was always so much need that the Lord felt compelled to keep moving forward. Doing what he could. I wonder why so many churches don't seem to share that same kind of compassion?

It's dishonest to play down the hard facts of life, but if the spirit of Christ is in us, shouldn't we, like Jesus, feel compelled to keep ministering in His name? One of my seminary professors once observed that he believed conservative Christians accomplished more in ministry than liberals. The liberals expect results and get discouraged. The conservatives expect no results, but only to serve Jesus, and so they keep going like battery operated rabbits. An over generalization of course, but a sound observation of principle just the same.

We are, after all, a people of resurrection. Our faith is built on the confidence of more chances and life after death. Even if we are talking about dead congregations.

Monty Keeling