EQUIPPING PASTORS FOR SMALL CHURCH MINISTRY (D.Min.)

259 Pages·2013·2.22 MB·English

COMMIT THESE THINGS TO FAITHFUL MEN:
EQUIPPING PASTORS FOR SMALL CHURCH MINISTRY

A PROJECT SUBMITTED TO
THE FACULTY OF THE TEMPLE BAPTIST SEMINARY
IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY

BY
DANIEL W. SURBROOK II
APPLEGATE, MICHIGAN
APRIL 15, 2013
Approval
by
The Doctor of Ministry Project Committee
of
Temple Baptist Seminary

Candidate: Daniel W Surbrook II

Degree: Doctor of Ministry

Focus/Emphasis: Pastoral Leadership

Project Report Title:
COMMIT THESE THINGS TO FAITHFUL MEN:
EQUIPPING PASTORS FOR SMALL CHURCH MINISTRY

Accepted by the Doctor of Ministry Committee in partial fulfillment
of the requirement for the Doctor of Ministry degree.

Committee Members:

Dr. Danny Cochran Date April 15, 2013
Committee Chairman

Dr. Roger Stiles Date April 15, 2013
Committee Member

Dr. Brent Powell Date April 15, 2013
Committee Member
© 2013

D.W. SURBROOK II

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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ABSTRACT

COMMIT THESE THINGS TO FAITHFUL MEN:
EQUIPPING PASTORS FOR SMALL CHURCH MINISTRY

DANIEL SURBROOK II

The purpose of this project is to develop a workshop for the local church
designed to better equip pastors to serve in a small northern church setting. Young people
begin their ministry careers knowing little about the small church, yet the majority of
pastors and church leaders will begin in the small church. A proper understanding of
church culture and identification of customs will facilitate success within the small
church. The researcher collected and compared information from small church pastors in
Sanilac County and identified consensus literature. The study of sources revealed the
importance of building relationships, being patient, and loving people through
faithfulness to God, family, and the church. These are the building blocks for the product
of this project, which is a workshop for teaching how to understand culture by building
relationships; how to identify small church customs while exercising patience; and how
to demonstrate love to God’s people by adapting to the current culture and customs of the
community and the small church. Finally, remaining faithful to God in all areas of life is
success for the small church pastor/leader. Small church pastors who evaluated the
workshop, found it appropriate, understandable, and profitable for the small church in
Michigan’s Sanilac County. Moreover, the primary premise that additional pastoral
education at the local level was needed, and that the design of the workshop was
appropriate for small church pastor/leaders, and its implementation, was affirmed.
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CONTENTS
LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................. VI
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................................................................................. VI
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 1
Background of the Study ......................................................................................... 2
The Statement of the Problem .................................................................................. 4
The Context of the Problem ..................................................................................... 5
The Definition of Terms .......................................................................................... 9
The Delimitations of the Project ............................................................................ 12
The Significance of the Project .............................................................................. 13
Professional Goals ......................................................................................... 13
Personal Goals ............................................................................................... 15
Ministry Goals ............................................................................................... 16
The Assumptions of the Researcher ....................................................................... 19
CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................... 21
Introduction ........................................................................................................... 21
Biblical Reasoning ................................................................................................ 24
Evangelism .................................................................................................... 24
Biblical Leadership........................................................................................ 31
Mandate to Train leaders ............................................................................... 35
Small Church Culture ............................................................................................ 37
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Proponents for Growth .......................................................................................... 40
Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 49
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................... 52
Introduction ........................................................................................................... 52
Project Design ....................................................................................................... 52
Project Description ................................................................................................ 53
Projected Schedule ................................................................................................ 54
Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 55
CHAPTER IV PROJECT FINDINGS, RESULTS, AND EVALUATION ................................. 56
Introduction ........................................................................................................... 56
Research Interviews............................................................................................... 56
Selection of Participants ................................................................................ 56
Interview Data ............................................................................................... 58
Resulting Categories ...................................................................................... 68
Pertinent Literature ................................................................................................ 71
“Inside the Small Church”—Anthony G. Pappas, ed. ..................................... 72
“Shepherding the Small Church”—Glenn C. Daman ..................................... 77
“Pastoral Care in the Small Membership Church”—James L. Killen, Jr ......... 81
“Leading the Small Church”—Glenn C. Daman ............................................ 84
Experiences for Practical Application .................................................................... 89
Workshop Summary .............................................................................................. 90
Workshop Evaluation ............................................................................................ 95
CHAPTER V PROJECT SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........ 99
Project Summary ................................................................................................... 99
Project Conclusion .............................................................................................. 100
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Suggestions for Further Application .................................................................... 101
APPENDIX 1 ..................................................................................................................................... 103
Pastoral Interview Questions ............................................................................... 103
APPENDIX 2 ..................................................................................................................................... 104
Workshop Evaluation Questionnaire .................................................................... 104
APPENDIX 3 ..................................................................................................................................... 105
Consent to Participate .......................................................................................... 105
APPENDIX 4 ..................................................................................................................................... 107
Pastoral Interview Summaries ............................................................................. 107
APPENDIX 5 ..................................................................................................................................... 137
PowerPoint Slides................................................................................................ 137
APPENDIX 6 WORKSHOP ........................................................................................................... 147
COMMIT THESE THINGS TO FAITHFUL MEN: ..................................................................... 147
EQUIPPING PASTORS FOR SMALL CHURCH MINISTRY .................................................. 147
BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................. 243

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LIST OF FIGURES
1. Question 1- What do you know about small churches in Sanilac County? .................. 63

2. Question 2- Have you had difficulty leading a small church in Sanilac County and if so
what were the difficulties? ................................................................................. 64

3. Question 3- How does your view of the importance and methodology for evangelism
compare with the dominant view in your congregation? ..................................... 65

4. Question 4- What are the primary characteristics of your church, for example
leadership, traditions, worship style, education, and preaching style? ................. 66

5. Question 5- Explain what type of governing body your church has and how does it
operate? ............................................................................................................. 67

6. Question 6- Do you have any additional information you would like to add that would
assist pastors in equipping for small church ministry? ........................................ 68

7. Questions 1-6 ............................................................................................................. 69

8. Resulting Categories .................................................................................................. 70

9. Pappas- Inside the Small Church ................................................................................ 76

10. Daman- Shepherding the Small Church ................................................................... 80

11. Killen- Pastoral Care .............................................................................................. 84

12. Daman- Leading the Small Church .......................................................................... 88

13. Pertinent Literature .................................................................................................. 89

14. Workshop Evaluation Ratings .................................................................................. 98
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To my Sharlene, Daniel Tiffany and James,
For your sacrifice
And
To Mom for your seamlessly
endless editing and encouragement
I am eternally grateful
I love you all!

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