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THE SHADOW OF THE MIGHTY MEGACHURCH

"Come to our church this Sunday night to hear Rex Humbard," the announcer urged over his church's 100,000-watt radio station. "And for special music he's bringing with him country music star Ricky Skaggs. That's right, folks, I said Ricky Skaggs."

"So what?" I demanded out loud to my car radio. "We're having the 'Converted Crooks' Sunday at our church, and they play the 'saved saw' and the 'Spirit-filled spoons.' " We had to look at this with a sense of humor. My husband was the pastor of a congregation of approximately 250 people, and there was no way we could afford superstars at our church.

I can praise God for burgeoning churches, for pastors building large ministries to further the kingdom. But statistics tell us most churches in America have fewer than one hundred members. What does the pastor of a little church do when a megachurch is nearby, one that can afford radio and television programs, full-page newspaper ads, and gorgeous buildings? How do we cope with the feelings of inadequacy, ...

May/June
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