WHEN SIZE MATTERS: Do You Get Lost In A Large Congregation?

At the Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas Bishop T.D. Jakes leads a congregation of over 30,000. In the same state at Lakewood Church, an estimated 42,000 members show up for sermons led by Senior Pastor Joel Osteen. 500 members, 1,000 members, 4,000 members… the numbers tend to be mind boggling when it comes to the size of today’s congregations, especially when one considers the mega-congregations like Joyce Meyer’s once started in some old warehouse, living room or garage. While some persons don’t mind being a part of a large entity of parishioners, others find themselves a bit lost in the whole mix.

            Lost for some comes in the form with the fact that they’ve hardly ever seen their church leader up close and in person because they have to tow a line of hundreds just for that old fashioned handshake. Lost for others in large congregations comes in the form of not knowing the members of their church and feeling like disillusioned lambs in the flock.

            “I grew up in a small congregation and I always enjoyed the intimacy,” says Claire. “After church, the pastor was able to greet or shake the hand at least one member of each family. I visited many large churches in the Tampa area but none of them are quite as appealing to the smaller ministries where everyone has a chance to get to know each other. I feel like the members of our church are a part of one large extended family. Some people feel like we’ll one day be empty but I know we won’t because you always have babies being born and people marrying into the fold when the older kids tend to go off to college. It’s also easier to remember about 200 people than it is to remember 2,000. Some says there is strength in numbers but when it gets too large there can also be separation in numbers too.”

            In Houston, David said that he left a large congregation because he felt it lacked the one on one connection he desired.

            “Every group I joined, I felt like they were already well established and had no need for new contributions from people like me,” explained David. “I’ve had more than one occasion where my wife or kids would invite persons to our church and we’d find out that they were members of the church already and it would be like ‘Oh wow, where do you guys sit?’ or ‘Which group are you a part of?’ As a part of the church, we should know who goes there and so if we see each other on the street or in need we will feel more motivated to work with each other.”

“Another thing we had a problem with was the fact that when service was over, we hardly ever got the opportunity even shake our Senior Pastor’s hand and yes, it was a line that security officials cut off after a while so that they church family could head on out. I’ve always hoped for a place where we get to know each other and share our gifts in the Lord but I feel our medium sized church (500 members) serves us fine.”

Sherrell left her mega-church home in Atlanta and moved to The Bahamas when she got married.

“I never realized that churches existed like in every nook and cranny imaginable,” she jokes. “Even like the tent ministry was a bit strange to me because I’m a city girl but I enjoy the small 50 member starter church my husband’s family is a part of. However, I must say though, I see the struggles of paying rent, increasing membership and trying to provide support to the group that can be quite a challenge without the financial support. I think that yes, there are some good aspects to a small church but with a larger church we had so many things such as a daycare, an adult education centre, and even a financial aid system where we could help each other out with car payments or mortgages. With a small church, you don’t get that kind of support.”

Regardless of the size of the church, David notes, what is most important is the size of the praise.

“I think the important thing is to find something that you are more comfortable with,” he concludes. “The magnitude of worship comes from your heart not the members who are worshipping with you. We should make a joyful noise because at the end of the day it’s only a building, when we worship and pray we transform it into a sanctuary of praise.”

What do you think? Does size really matter to you? Take our poll and leave your comments.

Manifest Gets Digitized: Bahamian Hip Hop Icon Manifest Signs Digital Music Distribution Deal With Anvan Entertainment

CEO of Dunamus Soundz Records, founder of the Bahamas Hip Hop Fest and multi-award winning producer/artist Lavard ‘Manifest’ Parks (left) and Keith Rolle, COO of Anvan Entertainment celebrate the signing of digital distribution deal with the company. Manifest’s latest album Parables (foreground) has already been seeing an increase in sales in the United States and Caribbean as a result of him being the first Bahamas-based artist to sign with Anvan. (Photo by Torrell Glinton, Bahamas)

         By Arthia Nixon/ Nassau, The Bahamas… Not even 30 years-old, Lavard ‘Manifest’ Parks is considered one of the Caribbean’s pioneers of hip hop. The industry icon has been a fixture on the scene for over a decade now collaborating with some of the biggest names in the region and racking up multiple Caribbean Gospel Music Marlin Awards including Song of the Year, Record of the Year and more. As one of the youngest producers balancing a family, successful label and nationally syndicated radio show in his native Bahamas, the founder of the Bahamas Hip Hop Fest has set the pace for the next generation of hip hoppers through the shining example he’s provided with the success of his label Dunamus Soundz Records.

            Now Manifest continues his undisputed rise to greatness by becoming the first artist in the region to sign a digital distribution deal with Anvan Entertainment, a digital music distribution company focused on taking Caribbean Gospel Music to the world. The company has access to Integra Interactive’s myMEDIA ConneXion™ touch screen kiosks at well over 700 Christian retail stores throughout the United States, including 350 of these locations having the myMEDIA BurnBar™ media-on-demand kiosk.  The kiosks will now carry all Manifest titles enabling shoppers to immediately burn to disc the songs.

            Regional Representative and Chief Operations Officer for Anvan Entertainment, Keith Rolle expressed his optimism for working with a prolific talent like Manifest, someone who has already garnered a following in The Caribbean, North America and even as far away as the UK.

“Anyone who hears the music Manifest, & his Dunamus Soundz record label produces, can fully appreciate this diasporatic cycle of Hip Hop from The Caribbean to America and back to The Caribbean again,” said Rolle. “His work ethic & focus is incredible! I recall when Manifest removed the television from his home because it distracted him from reading his Bible and working on music. He’s been faithful in the small things and I believe that’s proven to be the secret of his success. As a result, every project Manifest works on surpasses its predecessor.”

According to Rolle, every time Manifest touches the mic he brings a new story, new revelation, and he takes risks. This was another reason Rolle was thrilled to work with him.

“Being the first record label to sign with Anvan Entertainment was just another progressive step that reveals the combination of faith, vision and business savvy that’s embodied the journey of Manifest and Dunamus Soundz,” added Rolle. “He founded The Caribbean’s first hip hop record label and Anvan Entertainment is The Caribbean’s first digital music distribution company operating at this level in U.S retail stores. That’s a match only made in Heaven.”

Manifest noted that he and his team loves new adventures and they are thrilled to spread their message of hip hope through digital downloads.

“We are excited to be reaching such a vast audience,” he noted on behalf of himself, Dunamus Soundz power producer Corridon ‘Papa Don’ Hanna and the label’s executive board. “With myself and Papa Don each welcoming our first child this spring, Anvan gives us the opportunity to reach old and new fans without actually having to physically be there or on the road as often and that’s something our wives and babies can appreciate.

“Also, it gives fans the opportunity to come across our music by chance. The thing is, we’ve all had that experience of sampling new sounds on the digital machines in music stores and this gives people an opportunity to sample our sound and get hooked into why we’ve been consecutively racking up awards for our God-given gifts and talents. Bottom line – it’s all going down this summer. Stay close because this thing is about to blow!”

Manifest added that he’s looking forward to seeing his music in stores as he travels and to new opportunities as a result of it. Some of his hits due to be digitized include songs from Parables including the smash hiphopera duet with opera legend Joanne Callendar, I Shall Rise, plus soon to be released songs from the upcoming album HISLife, HISMic and more. The songs will be available for download by in summer 2009.

For more information  and songs visit www.dunamussoundz.com or http://www.myspace.com/dunamussoundz

Welcome!

Welcome to Global Gospel News!

Thank you for taking the time to be a part of our community. It is our prayer that you are spiritually led and focused as you browse our site. We hope that you take the opportunity to join in the discussions, debates and reading as we eventually make our way to print. Until then, we want to encourage you to put God first in all that you do and allow Him to lead your path.

Be Blessed

Global Gospel News Team