The Quiet Strength of the Small Church

by Bart Denny

“I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” — Revelation 3:8 (NIV)

I have wrestled with a quiet burden that many pastors know all too well—even if they rarely say it out loud.

If I’m doing this right… shouldn’t the church be exploding in growth?

I’ve poured myself into small congregations with love, prayer, and the Word—only to measure progress in single digits, not surging crowds. For a long time, I wondered if that meant I was failing.

But slowly, God has reoriented my heart. He’s shown me that the small churches I’ve pastored aren’t signs of weakness—they’re signs of His unique calling on my life. The roles I’ve held, the communities I’ve served, the saints I’ve shepherded—they aren’t consolation prizes. They’re my assignment from God Himself.

And if you’re serving or worshiping in a small church, you need to hear this clearly:
You are not less-than. You are not broken. You are not abnormal. You are essential.

Most Churches Are Small—And That’s Normal

Let’s be honest: we live in the shadow of the megachurch era. The metrics of success often sound more like a boardroom than a Bible study—attendance, square footage, giving trends, streaming reach.

But the numbers tell a different story. According to the Faith Communities Today 2020 study: The median church in the United States has just 65 people in weekly attendance.

That’s not a flaw. That’s normal. In fact, over 90% of churches in America have fewer than 250 attendees. According to Karl Vaters, in Small Church Essentials, “More than half of all churchgoers worldwide attend small congregations.”

The majority of God’s people are not in arenas or stadium sanctuaries. They’re gathered in homes, rural chapels, converted storefronts, and country churches where the pastor knows every name and every story. That is not a problem to be fixed. That is a strategic strength to be embraced.

What the Bible Says About Small and Faithful

God has always delighted to work through what the world overlooks:

• Gideon’s army was too big, so God trimmed it down to 300 (Judges 7).
• The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed—tiny, but transformative (Mark 4:30–32).
• The early church met in homes, not cathedrals (Acts 2:42–47).
• Jesus prioritized time with twelve men over preaching to the thousands (John 6:66–67).
• The church in Philadelphia had “little strength,” yet Jesus commended them for their faithfulness (Revelation 3:8).

When we’re small, we’re reminded that the power isn’t in us—it’s in Him.

“Well done, good and faithful servant…”

— Matthew 25:21

(Not 'successful.' Not 'spectacular.' Just faithful.)

Rethinking Church Growth

The Church Growth Movement taught us some valuable things. But it may have introduced an unhealthy assumption in some of us: if a church isn’t growing numerically, something must be wrong.

But listen to what Brandon O’Brien says in The Strategically Small Church:

“Small churches are not miniature versions of big churches. They are a different thing entirely—and they are better suited to some forms of ministry than their larger counterparts.”

Or this from Mark Clifton in Reclaiming Glory:

“The measure of success is not size, but faithfulness. Not popularity, but perseverance.”

Please don't understand this blog post as me knocking the large or mega-church. Many, if not most, of them are doing really excellent, God-honoring ministry--evangelizing the lost and preaching the Word, not "tickling ears." They are neither superior or inferior to the small church--they just reach different people.

So, pastor, hear me: your job is not to engineer explosive growth. Your job is to preach the gospel, shepherd the flock, love your neighborhood, and obey the Lord. God brings the increase—or doesn’t—in His sovereign wisdom.

Practical Wisdom from Proven Leaders

Simple Church (Eric Geiger & Thom Rainer)

• Clarity is kindness. Define your discipleship pathway.
• Less is more. Eliminate clutter. Focus on making disciples.
• Alignment matters. Every ministry should support the mission.

Anatomy of a Revived Church (Thom Rainer)

• Face reality. Denial kills churches faster than decline.
• Pray fervently. Revitalization starts on your knees.
• Reach out. Evangelism must move from optional to essential.

Reclaiming Glory (Mark Clifton)

• Love your community. See your neighborhood as a mission field.
• Measure obedience. Stories of transformation beat stat sheets.
• Empower laypeople. Bi-vocational and volunteer leaders are the future.

The Strategically Small Church (Brandon O’Brien)

• Use your size. Small churches pivot faster and care deeper.
• Prioritize relationships. Ministry is personal, not programmatic.
• Stop imitating megachurches. You have your own identity—own it.

Small Church BIG Deal (Chris Vitarelli)

• You’re not a stepping stone. You’re a cornerstone in your community.
• Train missionaries. Equip people to serve where they live.
• Be visible. Small churches thrive when engaged locally.

Small Church Essentials (Karl Vaters)

• Redefine success. Healthy ≠ huge.
• Lead with confidence. Small doesn’t mean second-class.
• Find your tribe. Connect with other small church pastors. This is life-giving in my experience. And when you think "tribe," don't limit yourself to your own denomination. I'm not knocking denominations. But, personally, I have more in common with the pastor just down the road who serves in a different denomination than I do with the pastor serving 45 minutes away in a large, urban church in my denomination.

A Final Word of Encouragement

Dear pastor, if you're laboring in a quiet corner of the Kingdom—preaching to 27 souls, leading worship with a guitar and a tambourine, praying over potluck casseroles and hospital beds—I know what that's like.

But more importantly, God sees you. And He is not disappointed.

You are exactly where He wants you. And if He called you to serve a church of 30 with the same heart you’d give to a church of 3,000, then do it with joy. Because the quiet strength of the small church just might be the loudest testimony of the gospel’s power.

A Prayer for the Small Church

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for the gift of the small church. Thank You for front porches, fellowship halls, folding chairs, and faithful saints. Thank You for the pastors who serve in obscurity, yet bear Your light with courage and compassion.
Strengthen their hearts. Remind them they are seen. Help them rejoice in the ministry You’ve given—not the one the world glorifies.

Teach us to measure success by faithfulness, not fame. Use our small churches to make a big impact for Your Kingdom.

In the name of the One who chose fishermen and tax collectors,

Amen.

About the Author

Bart Denny is a retired U.S. Navy officer and the lead pastor of Pathway—A Wesleyan Church in Saranac, Michigan. He holds a Ph.D. in Christian Leadership and teaches ministry and leadership courses at the graduate level. Bart writes about church revitalization, small church ministry, and biblical preaching. These views are his own.