Stretching 118 miles with a land mass of over 1,400 square miles, Long Island is the longest and largest of any island in the contiguous United States. Almost eight million people in that area results in over 5,000 people per square mile, making it one of the most densely populated areas of the country. … Continue reading West Sayville RBC on Long Island: Fish aplenty; the fishermen few
How does a small church reach out to its neighbors when many of them don’t speak English? That’s a challenge for the United Reformed Church in Sunnyside, WA, where 85% of the population is Latino. “Outreach is very difficult in a town like Sunnyside due to ethnic and cultural demographics,” Rev. Jordan Huff says. “Please … Continue reading URC of Sunnyside: Trusting God for the extraordinary in the ordinary
With only 38 members, New Westminster URC (formerly ORC) in New Westminster, BC, is definitely one of the smaller congregations in the United Reformed federation. But it follows God’s leading to out-distance larger congregations in creative outreach efforts. On January 12, 2015, the church launched its newest endeavor: The Way Forward, an addictions recovery support … Continue reading New Westminster URC: Finding the way forward
The city of Twin Falls perches beside the Snake River Canyon in southern Idaho. North of the city, the Perrine Bridge spans the expanse, nearly 500 feet above the river. The bridge is popular with BASE jumpers and may be the only manmade structure in the US where such jumping is legal year-round without a … Continue reading New Covenant URC of Twin Falls, ID: No home yet, but at home in God’s providence
Who says a small church can’t do big things? With only 11 families on the membership rolls, the United Reformed Church of Wellsburg is Classis Central’s smallest organized church. But it hosts an annual women’s retreat that brings Christian sisters together from beyond ecclesiastical boundaries. The annual retreat at a nearby Christian camp grew out … Continue reading URC of Wellsburg: keeping and sharing the faith
The emergence and popularity of megachurches in recent years has led many church-goers to think of success in terms of numerical growth, but small congregations often surpass larger counterparts in important elements like fellowship and unity. Bigger isn’t necessarily better. The ultimate indicator of success is faithfulness. Any true church—no matter it’s size—is one that … Continue reading Small Churches: Measuring success or faithfulness?
Glenda Faye Mathes 