Abby is part Irish Wolfhound, part English Sheepdog. She takes up a lot of room in our little 3 bedroom, 1,100 square foot house. But, she's polite. as far as dogs go, and she is part of the family. Consequently, she stays in the house at night.

Occasionally, she's in the way. Especially in our small kitchen. I sometimes do the cooking at home. Abby likes to browse through the kitchen, while the cooking is being done. You can find her with her nose in the air, and her eyes trained keenly on the counter tops, in hopes that scraps might fall.

During the frenzy of cooking - which it can become for me, I often find Abby in my way. If you are in my house while I am doing the cooking, you will hear the words, "Abby, go lay down." She knows what that means, and slinks off to lay in the hallway - for a little while, at least.

Sometimes, it's tough having a big dog in a little world.

Sometimes it's tough having a seasoned leader in a small church. They can easily become like the big dog who is always in the way.

I have pastor friends who have suggested certain leaders go to another church, rather than their own, because those leaders "usually have their own agendas." When I am cooking, Abby has her own agenda also. She wants to eat. I want to work. She's in the way.

I have never asked a seasoned leader to leave, like I ask Abby to leave the kitchen, but there are certainly times I have felt like it. People who have their "own ministry," or are trying to build their own ministry, do have their own agenda. This agenda can be at odds with the local church, if it is not subject to the vision of the church during the times of fellowship. It can be a drain on the resources of the local church, if they expect the local church to "support" their ministry.

The "big dogs" have often searched out how they could benefit from me. They have talked about how they could help the local church, but what they want from the church, is often more than they are willing to give to the church. Like Abby in the kitchen, they can eat, but they're not much good for cooking.

There is only one way to be a good leader in a local church. You must surrender your personal agendas, to the agenda of the local congregation. Then as your ministry fits within the context of the local church's plans, you can begin the work of ministry.

It's tough being a big dog in a little world.

It's tough working in the local church, when you have established ministry experience, and you are not a pastor.

People expect more from you. Sometimes you sense that other leaders are afraid of you, or that they don't trust you. You feel as though you must tread softly, or you might end up offending the leadership.

Then of course, there is the fact that you know how things ought to be done - after all, you have done the stuff for quite some time yourself. This is where the trouble usually begins.

The small church is a place where "big dog" problems are magnified. But, if a leader cannot surrender his agenda to the agenda of the local congregation, then he is not the kind of leader I will follow. I have also learned that he is not the kind of leader with whom I can trust my little flock. A big dog with his own agenda, sometimes becomes a wolf.

Years ago, I was looking for a home church. I decided to find a small church. I figured that larger churches had worship leaders, and probably didn't need my music skills. I was hoping to become a big dog in a small world. I did just that, and it became a wonderful experience. But you see, they had a need, and I filled it. They had an agenda, and I worked within it.

As I finish writing this, I have stopped to look behind me. I gave that 119 pound beast a good pat on the head. She likes to lie in the office while I work. She's a faithful big dog. She's worth having around - even in this little house.

Yes, it's tough having a big dog in a little world. Yes, it can be tough being a big dog in a little world. It can be worth it though, if big dogs learn to give as much as they eat.