When I saw this scripture this morning after I posted this message, I had to share it. It fits my message to the T! “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8
Over the years I have been blessed to preach at so many Churches, most are small Churches. I became a Pastor in 2009 when I was manager at KKIM Christian radio in Albuquerque. I started to preach in Churches in Los Lunas, Magdalena, Albuquerque, and Rio Rancho. I was then was called to the First Baptist Church in Reserve, New Mexico years ago by Pastor Garland Moore of Grants/Milan. Garland at that time was working to fill the pulpit on behalf of the Baptist Convention at FBC in Reserve and Quemado. There would come a time when I was driving to Reserve and Quemado in the same month to help out. At one point I was driving to Reserve every Sunday for 6 months. From our house that is an 8 hour round trip. That wore out one car! God supplied another, then another just this year! This mission was sent to me by God. God showed me much all those years as he trained me up with the help of many mentors. It was better than any seminary! I learned from the best! I learned when God calls you, you go! God has a purpose always, He showed me what real Church is about. FGGAM will be 12 years young in August of 2024, Lord willing. I have met the most down to earth people ever over the years, I could shout that from the mountain tops! It preaches! ALL PEOPLE ARE A TREASURE IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW THEM! I beleive that the head Deacon at FBC in Reserve, Charles McCargish taught me the most! Wise Christian cowboy! The cowboy way! Amen! Man did he teach me the ways of God. Charles is in his 90’s now. I always told Charles he should write a book! PS: I have a book in my head that may never come out!! HA!
Sharon and I have been so blessed by God. He has given us so many friends. I am excited about the assignments God is giving me as we go into 2024. Small Churches have their challenges, just like the bigger Churches, we all serve the serve the same God! I have an appreciation for all Pastors, but an extra dose of appreciation for the Pastors of smaller Churches as you can tell from my writings. One of those is Pastor Paul Jaramillo of Open Door Bible Ministry in Los Alamos, New Mexico. I have preached at Pastor Paul’s Church about a half dozen times if memory serves me right! Pastor Paul and his wife Pat do such a wonderful work in serving their community. They give it all they got. If you live in the Los Alamos/Espanola area and are looking for a Church, the door is open for you! It is always a blessing to see Churches baptizing folks, like Paul recently did! (Pictures above are from a recent Sunday at Open Door) Paul also serves the community as a Funeral Arranger at DeVargas Funeral Home, and he also writes for FGGAM. Pat was a school teacher for years! They have such a heart for God and all people!
I am excited about a new Church that is opening here in Albuquerque! I am so blessed that I have been invited to preach there! More on this very soon! God has shown us to take Great Commission trips to California and Colorado in 2024! This year we traveled throughout New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, and Colorado to carry out The Great Commission
I pray that this article blesses and informs you about small Churches, it is written by Karl Vaters
From Churchleaders
The arguments we have about size are silly, dangerous and missing the point.
Everyone has something unique to contribute.
As for small churches, here are some of the most undeniable, irresistible blessings they bring to the body of Christ:
