A micro church is a small, flexible, and intentional expression of the church, designed to thrive in the rhythms of daily life. These communities typically consist of 10-30 people who gather regularly to:
Commit to God: Centering their lives on Jesus through prayer, scripture, and praise.
Pursue Jesus in relationships: Building authentic, supportive relationships where they practice the one anothers found in scripture and help others to follow Jesus.
Reflect the love of Christ: Engaging the places they live, work, and play with the hope of the gospel.
Micro churches are a return to the simplicity and intimacy of the early church model found in the New Testament. They provide a space where everyone can participate, use their gifts, and experience the transformative power of the gospel in a personal and impactful way.
The micro church model allows us to live out the mission of Jesus in a way that is relational, flexible, and impactful. Here’s why we believe this approach is so effective:
Biblical Model: The early church in the book of Acts often met in homes and smaller gatherings, sharing life, worshiping, and reaching their communities together. Micro churches follow this biblical pattern of being a family on mission.
Relational Depth: Smaller communities allow for deeper relationships. Members can truly know and care for one another, offering support, accountability, and encouragement in a way that’s often harder to achieve in larger settings.
Missional Focus: Micro churches are designed to be outward-facing, focusing on reaching specific people or places with the gospel. This structure helps us stay intentional about living on mission, rather than becoming inwardly focused.
Adaptability: Micro churches can adapt to the needs of their context. Whether in a neighborhood, workplace, or shared interest group, they are uniquely positioned to meet people where they are.
Empowerment: The micro church model equips ordinary people to lead and live out their faith. It decentralizes ministry, empowering members to take ownership of the mission and make disciples in their unique spheres of influence.
While small groups and micro churches may look similar at first glance, they have distinct purposes and approaches.
Focus: Many small groups center on fellowship, worship, or Bible study, creating a space for believers to connect and grow in their faith. While this is valuable, the focus often remains inward. Micro churches, on the other hand, are intentionally outward-focused. They are designed to live on mission together, seeking to share the love of Christ with a specific group of people, neighborhood, or community.
Mission: Small groups may encourage members to live out their faith individually, but micro churches operate as a team with a shared mission. They are sent together to embody the gospel in their chosen context, actively engaging in outreach and discipleship.
Identity: A micro church is a fully functioning expression of the church, embodying worship, community, and mission. It’s not just a meeting or a gathering—it’s a community that exists to make disciples who make disciples.
SWC will train and equip anyone who is a follower of Jesus that wants to continue to grow in their relationship with him and step out on mission to be a micro church leader. Ordination or a seminary degree is not a prerequisite nor is it required.
This is not a big heavy job that is paid. This is something done off the side and around what the leader is already doing in every day life.