Faithfulness Over Fruitfulness: Rethinking Ministry Success

by Bart L. Denny, Ph.D., Th.M.

I’ve often heard it said—sometimes harped on—that Christian ministry is about more than faithfulness; it’s about fruitfulness.

But I’m not so sure.

At least, not in the way it’s often meant.

Yes, there are times when ministries remain barren despite having every resource to yield a bountiful harvest. But that kind of fruitlessness is often the result of unfaithfulness—not a lack of results, but a failure to labor faithfully, wisely, and prayerfully.

What Is Faithfulness, Really?

Every Christian is called to ministry. But I write here especially to those in ministry leadership. For us, faithfulness includes the courage to honestly assess our work, let go of ineffective strategies, and adopt biblically informed, context-appropriate approaches. It means seeking mentorship, inviting accountability, and doing the hard work of loving people, preaching truth, and building community. That’s faithfulness.

We shouldn’t expect kingdom growth if we haven’t built relationships, proclaimed God’s Word with conviction, or soaked our ministries in prayer. We shouldn’t be shocked when outdated methods no longer reach hearts. You can be as “faithful” as you want running a 1970s-style bus ministry—but in most places today, it simply won’t work. Nostalgia isn’t faithfulness.

Still, there are times when even our best, most faithful efforts seem to fall flat.

When Ministry Fails—Despite Faithfulness

Sometimes, despite all the prayer, sweat, Scripture, sacrifice, and sincerity—a ministry fails. A church plant never takes root. A revitalization effort can’t stem the decline. A missionary sees no converts.

Many would deem such ministries “unfruitful.”

But I’m not convinced that’s fair—or biblical.

By the metrics of the modern church growth movement, Jesus’ own ministry would be deemed a failure. Crowds flocked to Him for a time, but when He preached hard truths, many walked away (John 6:60–70). At one point, He went from thousands to just twelve—and even one of those betrayed Him. Most of the prophets and apostles never saw the “results” we crave. But can we honestly say their ministries were unfruitful?

Redefining Fruitfulness

Let’s not be so quick to label a ministry “fruitless” because it didn’t grow explosively, fill the pews, or build a building. When Jesus sent out the Twelve (Matt. 10; Mark 6) and the Seventy-Two (Luke 10), He warned them—some would reject their message. Not every field is ripe when we arrive. Some must be plowed or planted first.

Statistically, most church plants close within five years. Most replanting efforts in dying churches fail. Yet many of these pastors labored with integrity, devotion, and love. Did they fail? Maybe by earthly standards. But not by God’s.

The Deep Pain of “Unfruitful” Ministry

For pastors and planters, the grief of seeing a ministry falter is real—and deep. They’ve prayed with the hurting, preached God’s Word, loved their community, recruited leaders, and given sacrificially. When that ministry ends—or never grows—it feels like death. And with that death comes the ache of self-doubt:

What did I do wrong?
Did I misunderstand God’s call?
Why didn’t it work?

Sometimes mistakes were made—but often, this is just the reality of ministry in a broken world.

A Story of Grace in the Midst of “Failure”

A dear friend once planted a church in a tough urban community. For three years, he and his wife poured everything into that work. And then, they prepared to close the doors. Just before doing so, God moved in a way they never expected. The church didn’t become a megachurch—but it did survive. It made disciples. It bore fruit. Modest fruit by worldly standards, but real fruit nonetheless.

The point isn’t that we should always press on and never let go. Sometimes God calls us to release what we’ve built. But my friend’s story reminds me of this: He didn’t measure success by numbers. He measured it by obedience. And that’s the right measure.

Faithfulness Is the Measure

Faithfulness is more than just “showing up.” It’s more than keeping the lights on. It means proclaiming Christ, loving people, and stewarding what God has entrusted to us. As Paul said:

“After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News… I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.”

—1 Corinthians 3:5–7 (NLT)

We do the planting. We do the watering. But the growth? That’s God’s job.

When It’s Time to Step Away

Sometimes ministry leaders must step back for reasons beyond their control—family needs, health, finances. Not because of scandal or sin, but because they can no longer continue. Many feel like failures. They haven’t dishonored the church—but they feel they’ve disappointed God.

Others remain in ministries that aren’t growing numerically—and wonder if they’re fruitless. But I challenge that thinking with this truth:

Faithfulness always bears fruit. And fruitfulness always flows from faithfulness.

But here's the thing: We just may not see it right away. And it might not look like we think it should.

The Fruit You May Never See

I think of Pastor Elton Mills. He never led a large church. But he invested in me as a teen. He prayed I’d enter ministry. He never lived to see that prayer answered. But it was. Decades later.

That’s faithfulness.

How many saints have labored in obscurity, never seeing the harvest they helped plant? How many missionaries or mentors will only discover their fruit in eternity? The apostles themselves had no idea what their obedience would lead to. But God did.

Eternal Perspective for Temporal Ministry

God sees what we can’t. He knows what He’s doing. Our job isn’t to produce results. It’s to be faithful.

So keep going. Serve with joy. Endure through tears. Surround yourself with people who understand. And if you must move on, do so without shame—because fruitfulness isn’t always visible in this life.

But know this: God sees you. God loves you. He is shaping you into the likeness of Christ. And one day, you will hear those words that matter far more than numbers ever could:

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

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About the Author

Bart L. Denny, Ph.D., Th.M. is a pastor, leadership scholar, and veteran church revitalizer. He serves as the lead pastor of Pathway – A Wesleyan Church in rural western Michigan and as an adjunct instructor in the College of Theology at Grand Canyon University. A retired U.S. Navy officer, Bart holds a Ph.D. in Christian leadership and has a passion for equipping churches and leaders for faithful, gospel-centered ministry—especially in small, rural, and revitalization contexts. He writes regularly at www.bartdenny.com.