Town and Country Commission Visits Churches

In mid-July, the ECC Town and Country Commission visited four churches in western Pennsylvania. The purpose of the visit by three Commission members was to encourage pastors and leaders of town and country churches. The three Town and Country Commissioners, including the GLC’s Pastor Harvey Cozart, listened to stories of how God is active in these congregations. The churches visited included: Scandia Covenant Church in Russell, PA, Pleasant Covenant Church in Warren, PA, Mission Covenant Church in Sugar Grove, PA and the Evangelical Covenant Church in Port Allegany, PA

One of the of the striking things about the visit was how deeply the pastors and leaders were involved in their community. One pastor leads the marching band, another is a coach, another is the chaplain for the fire department, and another hosts home school students at the church. In small towns, the pastors see members of the community daily and build strong relationships outside of church.

The Chair of the Town and Country Commission, Pastor Jon Dietrich, wrote: 

The Small Things Matter

I had the privilege of traveling to western Pennsylvania with three other Covenant Pastors as part of my work as Chair of the Town and Country Commission of the Evangelical Covenant Church. During our trip, we visited and spent time with four different Covenant churches in the Allegany River area of Pennsylvania.

On Sunday morning, I had the privilege of preaching at an outdoor worship service at Scandia Covenant Church. As we gathered together for worship, covered by the shade of ancient oak trees, I was reminded of the long history of the church gathered in that place.

Each of the four churches we visited is well over 100 years old. For more than a century, generation after generation of God’s people have gathered in these communities to worship, pray, serve, and share the good news of Jesus Christ.

These churches are not large. They do not have the resources or visibility of many larger congregations. But as we spent time with them, I was reminded of something important: God has always been at work in small places through ordinary people who are willing to faithfully follow Him.

The ministry of these churches may not make headlines. Their acts of service may not be seen by thousands of people. But week after week, they gather for worship. They pray. They care for their neighbors. They serve their communities. They encourage. They open their doors. They keep showing up.

And through these simple, faithful acts of obedience and love, God is at work.

Jesus often reminded us that the kingdom of God begins in small and seemingly insignificant ways. A mustard seed. A little bit of yeast. A few loaves and fish. A cup of cold water given in His name.

We can sometimes believe that what we do for God only matters if it is large, impressive, or widely noticed. But Scripture tells us something different. God delights in faithfulness. He works through ordinary people doing ordinary things with extraordinary love.

Perhaps you sometimes wonder whether your faithfulness matters. Does it matter that you keep praying? Does it matter that you serve? Does it matter that you encourage someone who is discouraged, welcome someone who is lonely, or continue loving your neighbors in simple and practical ways?

The answer is yes.

The churches I visited in western Pennsylvania reminded me that the kingdom of God is not built only in large churches, famous ministries, or visible places. God is at work in small communities, in rural towns, and in the quiet, faithful lives of His people.

And He is at work here, too.

So let us not despise small things. Let us not underestimate the importance of simple acts of obedience and love. Let us continue to faithfully do what God has placed before us, trusting that He can take our small offerings and use them for purposes far greater than we can see.

“Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much.” — Luke 16:10

May we be people who faithfully show up, faithfully love, faithfully serve, and faithfully trust that God is at work, even in the small places.

Prayer:
Lord, help us to remember that faithfulness is never wasted in Your kingdom. Give us eyes to see the ways You are working in small places and through ordinary people. Help us to faithfully love our neighbors, serve our communities, encourage one another, and obey You in the simple things You place before us. And may we trust that You can use even our smallest acts of faithfulness for Your greater purposes. Amen.