Smaller Scale
The Sower's Chapel is a small church along Iron Bridge Road in Winfield Township.
The church is without a full-time pastor to lead its congregation of fewer than 40 people each Sunday.
Instead, the church, which was founded more than 30 years ago, has visiting pastors commute from Pittsburgh and beyond to give sermons.
The scene is very different from what is happening in the megachurches that are becoming more popular in Butler County.
But organizers at small churches, such as the Sower's Chapel, are working to prove size is all about perspective.
“I think we mean a lot to the community,” said Kenneth Blair, a leading organizer with the chapel.
Blair and his wife, Zarah, both dedicate their time to the church and the neighbors they serve.
Such an effort is needed from the few people who run smaller churches.
Unlike the largest churches in the county, which have full-time staffs of nearly 50 people and hundreds of available volunteers, these smaller churches are run by a handful of individuals who wish to make a difference in their communities.
“I think we're very important to our community,” said Tom Hilliard, the lay leader at Chicora United Methodist Church. “It's a shame more people don't realize the importance of these churches.”
Hilliard said his church, which has been in existence for 130 years, hosts about 40 to 70 members at its Sunday service.
In comparison, the largest churches in the county seat more than 3,500 people per week at various services and have member counts totaling more than 10,000.
With low numbers, maintaining their base congregations is becoming an increasingly difficult struggle for small churches.“It's no secret there's a lot of competition for churches to draw members,” Blair said.A sense of competition exists because many churches are finding it difficult to recruit new members, particularly young people.“Our biggest struggle is reaching out to younger people, which is normally a problem for churches,” Hilliard said.Fewer of those in attendance are children.“There are just too many things for kids to do that take away from church services,” Hilliard said. “We need to find a way to get them back.”Hilliard said organizers have been creating special events targeted toward youths. Perhaps the most successful such events are campfires and contemporary services, which feature more modern music, he added.“Contemporary services are probably not my favorite services, but they're for the young people,” Hilliard said. “You have to change a little to pass along the desire to come to church.”Churches are also attempting to recruit younger parents.“Getting young families involved is what we need to do the most,” Hilliard said.Sandy Towberman, a co-pastor with Springdale Lutheran Church in Concord Township, said her church is also reaching out to younger families.Springdale, which was founded in 1876, has two part-time pastors and a congregation of about 40.She said the church has been able to recruit new members recently to maintain its base but still needs those younger families.“People here are getting reactivated to the church, and we're getting some new people,” she said. “We're attempting to reach out to the community, particularly families with small children.”
One of the main reasons Towberman wants to attract younger families is to start a Sunday school in the fall.While the area megachurches have full educational programs for numerous students up through eighth grade, smaller churches can struggle to keep their Bible studies going.“Our Sunday school usually takes off during the summer,” Hilliard said, “We've been trying to draw younger people to keep it going year round.”Sunday school isn't the only program smaller churches work hard to run.Most offer at least some ministries outside religious study.“It's a challenge to maintain proper programs,” said Blair, whose church also is working to solidify Bible study programs.But as difficult as it is to run a small church, the outcome can be rewarding for those who do.“It pulls on your abilities,” Blair said. “It's a challenge, but it's a good challenge to get involved.”Blair said there is a special connection in helping out a smaller church.“You feel like you're doing it yourself,” he said. “It's up to you to promote whatever you're doing.”Despite the struggles smaller churches can face, most are still involved in community programs.“We participate in a food bank and do a lot for the community,” Blair said. “We've got a lot of community leaders active in Butler.”Hilliard said his church is also active in the community, hosting various activities including youth groups, craft sales, and helping with a food bank.Towberman said community service is vital for churches with limited resources.“It's important to network within the community in which you're located,” she said. “Cooperation with other social organizations in the community will allow you to achieve things you couldn't achieve on your own.”And beyond the community activities, the churches work just as hard to provide services for their members.Hilliard said his love for his church comes down to the feeling within its walls.“It's very welcoming,” he said. “One of the biggest things that got me back to the church was they welcomed me with a warm atmosphere.”
<b>The Sower's Chapel</b>100 Iron Bridge Road, Winfield TownshipWeekly attendance: Fewer than 40Founded: 1982<b>Chicora United Methodist Church</b>203 Central Ave., ChicoraWeekly attendance: 40 to 70Founded: 1874<b>Springdale Lutheran Church</b>1061 Mahood Road, Concord TownshipWeekly attendance: About 40Founded: 1876
