'We hope to walk alongside small churches in whatever way seems best'

The Small Church Connexion includes a team of ambassadors who walk alongside small Baptist churches, and support them in appropriate ways. Tim Lovejoy co-ordinates this - and explains more

Questions like - ‘How’s things at church?’ and ‘How are you?’, can be a passing enquiry or polite greeting. But if the person asking is clearly interested in an honest response and has space to explore further and deepen their understanding, these two small questions can be the start of something of profound importance.

We’ll come back to that…

As I know from 26 years’ experience of working for and leading a small estate church, involvement means playing many key roles. Countless churches are like this; where dedicated people of faith wholeheartedly serve God, committed to ensuring that the Christian presence and witness in their local community continues, and praying that it flourishes and grows. 

But this dedication often means not having much, if any, time or energy to know where we can share our joys, sadnesses, encouragements and challenges, or to get informed advice.   

In the Small Church Connexion we aim to get alongside as many small churches as possible to provide encouragement and support. At the forefront of this work, and spearheaded by Hilary Taylor, has been the establishment of 22 hubs, where small churches in a geographical area, have met together.

Additionally (and one of my key roles in the small connexion team) has been to establish and develop a team of ambassadors – so far, we have five. As ambassadors, we contact small churches in our area, asking questions like the ones above – “How’s the church going?” and “How are you?”.

From that initial exchange, a relationship develops that, might include, for example:

• Ongoing gentle contact and a listening ear
• A visit to the church 
• Signposting to other people or resources that could help

As small church ambassadors we hope to walk alongside small churches in whatever way seems best, and as time allows. 


Do you have a heart for small churches and/or would be willing to pray for them?

• Would you like to become a small church ambassador in your area?
• Or would you be willing to be the first of our prayer ambassadors and praying for some small churches?
• Or are you just interested and care for small churches and would like to know more?

If so, please get in touch; we would love to hear from you.

As a rough guide, I think each ambassador can get alongside or pray for about 10 small churches. So, if we can double our team to ten, 100 small churches will know that, alongside their regional team, there is a connexion with a person, network and people praying, that exists solely for their wellbeing. 

I began by making a link between something ‘small’ and things of ‘profound importance’. We see God emphasising this possibility
and amazing truth throughout His Word. Similarly, the significance of small churches, the mission and presence they have in each of their local communities, is at the heart of our work. Please pray for us as ambassadors to small churches – we’d love to support as many as possible.

Thanks for reading 😊 

Tim Lovejoy is the community, mission and church development advisor at Fulmerston Christian Fellowship in Norfolk - contact Tim via the Small Church Connection: office@smallchurchconnexion.co.uk