Only the Best

One of the things I’ve been noticing lately at our Fireside Park meals is that while the number of people gathering may not always be large, there is something incredibly powerful happening in those smaller gatherings. There seems to be a level of intimacy, connection, and genuine relationship that sometimes gets lost when the crowds become bigger.

It has me thinking about something I believe we should continually ask ourselves in ministry. Is bigger always better?

I think sometimes we become so focused on reaching more people that we overlook the significance of reaching someone deeply. There is something beautiful about sitting with a handful of people, sharing a meal, listening to their stories, remembering their names, and simply being present in one another’s lives. Those are the moments when relationships begin to develop, trust is established, and people start to feel that they truly matter.

When I look at the ministry of Jesus, I’m reminded that although He spoke to multitudes, some of His most meaningful encounters happened with just one person or a small group of people. He invested deeply in twelve men. He sat at tables, shared meals, listened, and made Himself available. He never seemed to measure the significance of an encounter by the size of the crowd.

I’m beginning to appreciate more and more that the strength of a ministry isn’t necessarily found in how many people gather, but in what happens between the people who do.

Don’t misunderstand me. I love seeing our outreach grow, and I believe we should always make room for more people. But I also believe there is something sacred about these smaller gatherings that we need to be careful not to lose as we grow.

Maybe the question isn’t whether bigger is better. Maybe the question is whether we are creating the kind of space where people can genuinely connect, feel loved, and begin to experience transformation.

After all, Jesus didn’t simply call us to gather crowds. He called us to love one another.

And sometimes that love is most clearly experienced around a small table in a park, sharing a meal with people who are slowly becoming more than the people we serve. They are becoming people we know, people we care about, and people with whom we share our lives.

I’m reminded once again that ministry isn’t always about doing more. Sometimes it’s about being more present with the people God has already placed in front of us.