Vaters' wisdom in this little book goes against so much of the "accepted wisdom" of church growth "experts". A healthy church grows numerically, we're told. Small Church Essentials counters the popular wisdom with honest, faithful best practices for churches with smaller memberships.
As a former small church pastor, I can personally speak to the demoralization that occurs when the church growth expectations are too closely followed. Vaters experienced that same demoralization -- until he had an epiphany: "We are always striving to increase our capacity for effective ministry" is a more healthy approach.
Small Church Essentials isn't anti-big church by any stretch of the imagination. By the same token, though, it's not uncritically pro-small church. Vaters is honest. But Small Church Essentials is essential reading for small church pastors for just that reason. It's a helpful, hopeful book.
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I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review here.