Contact: Joni Sullivan Baker, Buoyancy PR, 513-319-3231, buoyancypr@gmail.com

CINCINNATI, Jan. 16 /Christian Newswire/ -- They serve as many as a quarter of a million churches, but they remain for the most part unnoticed.

They are the leaders of the smaller church in America. Statistics vary, but by most counts, the majority of Protestant churches in America are small, with some 225,000 congregations estimated to have fewer than 125 people in worship each week.

Meanwhile, other statistics also note the majority of American churches are not growing, and 4,000 close each year. Not surprisingly, the number of Americans with no church affiliation continues to rise, now almost 65% of the population.

In light of these statistics, the Energizing Smaller Churches Network (ESCN) believes leaders of smaller churches serve a vital role, even though they often undervalue their contributions.

This year, it is bringing a one-day conference, "Your Ministry Matters," to 19 cities to encourage and reaffirm the importance of smaller churches and their leaders.

Designed for ministers and volunteer leaders from churches of 200 or less, the event will pack workshops, speakers and experts into a one-day conference.

Seasoned leaders with demonstrated commitment to and love for smaller churches will provide keynote sessions, drawing on decades of ministry experience to challenge leaders to a new view of their ministries that allows them to cast new vision and become reenergized.

In addition, local workshop leaders will offer sessions on outreach, developing leaders, team building, worship, youth and children's ministry, and finances.

"The role smaller churches play is vital to the kingdom as a whole," said ESCN director Shawn McMullen. "We want men and women to come away from this conference with a renewed sense of value for their personal ministries and for the churches they serve because it's easy to undervalue our own work. With that encouragement, we want leaders to find energy for casting new vision for their ministries, regardless of the size of their congregation or community.

"The conference will above all be practical," he continued, "with Q and A sessions and specialized workshops that will offer step-by-step instructions, specific tools, and helpful resources for effective smaller church ministries."

ESCN's spring conferences begin this month, and the schedule includes:

• Saturday, January 26, at Boise Bible College, Boise, Idaho;
• Thursday, January 31, at Dallas Christian College, Dallas;
• Saturday, March 1, at Central Christian College, Moberly, Mo.;
• Saturday, March 15, Summit Christian College, Scottsbluff, Neb.;
• Saturday, March 29, at Alberta Christian College, Calgary, Alberta, Canada;
• Saturday, April 5, at the Oregon Christian Convention Conference Center, Turner, Ore.;
• Saturday, April 12, Manhattan Christian College, Manhattan, Kansas;
• Saturday, April 19, St. Louis Christian College, Florissant, Mo.
• Saturday, May 17, Kentucky Christian University, Grayson, Ky.

The fall conference schedule will offer 10 additional conferences in Minnesota, Illinois, North Carolina, Missouri, Michigan, Tennessee, Nebraska, Ohio, and Georgia. A complete schedule and registration information is available at www.escnetwork.org.

ESCN, a national organization based in Cincinnati, Ohio, seeks to provide training and resources for churches of 200 members or less. Through conferences, print resources, Internet communications consultation and relationship building, ESCN promotes the health and growth of smaller churches by affirming their value and enlarging their vision. More information is available at www.escnetwork.org. It is sponsored by Standard Publishing, also based in Cincinnati.

Churches are encouraged to come as a group and bring their volunteer leaders. Cost for the conference is $49 per person ($10 for full-time college students) if pre-registered, or $59 at the door. The conference cost includes lunch and parking, in addition to materials. For more information or to register, go to www.escnetwork.org.

Since 1866, Standard Publishing has been providing true-to-the-Bible resources that inspire, educate, and motivate Christians to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, Standard creates a wide array of Christian products and resources for churches and families. For more information, visit www.standardpub.com.

NOTE: For a factsheet about Churches in America or to interview ESCN Director Shawn McMullen, contact Joni Sullivan Baker, Buoyancy PR, at 513/319-3231, or buoyancypr@gmail.com.