Small Church Hubs Strategy Across ‘Baptists Together’
‘The Small Church Connexion’ was formed in 2003 as an initiative by the LBA to network the small churches across London. (The BUGB definition of ‘small’ is 40 people or less in each church). Hilary Taylor was a founder member and became the Small Church Enabler in the LBA in 2007, to be a link person between the smaller churches and the Regional Team. She works nationally with all Regional Teams across Baptists Together, has published a book ‘A Toolbox for Small Churches’ and is now working alongside the CBA. She feels called by God to serve the church in this specific and valuable way.
https://www.baptist.org.uk/Groups/305953/Smaller_Churches.aspx
https://smallchurches.wordpress.com
The Small Church Hub Idea
The idea of a hub is to be a centre for smaller churches to come for training, resourcing, celebrations and discussion. Where there are gatherings like this in Associations, they are usually centrally located and, while those who attend are blessed, there are many churches who wish to come but just can’t because of the distance. It makes sense to have a local hub where churches can meet and access input in at least every county, if not smaller areas. Hub centre churches will be identified across the country who are happy to host regular gatherings for this purpose, and some have already emerged who are happy to do this.
Our hopes for the Hubs
- To enable smaller churches to regularly network across a geographical area and access a range of events and resources to promote health, well-being and growth, promoting interdependence as the Body of Christ.
- To challenge, motivate and encourage small churches in their unique ministry and mission so that people can meet Jesus and be saved.
- For small churches to share together how God is working in and through them, and where appropriate, to share this good practice further afield as well
- To ensure that small churches are not forgotten or overlooked but included and valued as part of the wider Baptist family
Some ideas…
- Celebrations
- Workshops on various topics eg gifting, sharing faith etc
- Safeguarding training
- Discussions eg. The changing shape of church, How do we reach our Community? etc
- Specific knowledge sessions eg How to run a coffee shop, how to set up a Renew Wellbeing café etc
- Sharing stories and experience, in-house and across Baptists Together
- Sharing resources (online or paper) and skills, gifts and talents within each hub
So far 12 hubs have been established:
If you would like to start a small church hub in your area of the UK, do Contact me!