Well, it finally happened. It was 6:45 P.M., and still no youth had come. I should have known it would inevitably happen; attendance had been so low lately. But it was still terrible to have absolutely no one show up. Looking at the empty room, I gathered the games, Bibles, and assorted things and trudged to my car, locking the doors behind me. The hollowness of the door slamming shut is most piercing when no one has been there at all.

How did this happen? What did I do? What did I not do? Maybe it is me. Am I too committed? Not committed enough? Maybe I misread God's will. Arrgh! Now what? What am I going to say to the pastor tomorrow? Maybe I'll just go and resign tonight! I drove away, hoping none of the congregation would pass the empty church.

Everyone in ministry has had things go belly up. But when you work in a small church, the chances of this happening are even greater. However, this does not mean there is no hope for meaningful ministry in small churches. In fact, smaller ...