“Small for a Reason?” Why That Mentality Misses the Mission

Revitalization is possible—every church has a story worth rewriting.

I recently overheard someone say, “You’ve heard the old saying, Churches are small for a reason? Well, now you know why.” It was meant as a punchline. Maybe even a warning or a not-so-subtle dig. But behind that simple phrase is a mindset that deeply undermines the work of church revitalization.

Let’s be honest: some churches are small because they’ve made poor decisions—divisiveness, mission drift, leadership breakdown. But many others are small because they’ve stood faithful in hard soil, aged out of their original community, or are simply waiting for someone to care enough to help them breathe again. A blanket statement like “small for a reason” assumes that small equals broken—and worse, that broken equals hopeless.

That’s not how God sees it. And it’s not how we should either.

Statistically, small churches are the norm—not the exception. According to the 2020 Faith Communities Today (FACT) survey:

• 70% of U.S. churches report fewer than 100 in weekly attendance.

• Nearly half (45%) average under 50.

• Most are pastored by faithful men, often bivocational, serving in aging or shifting communities.

  
  

The fact is, most congregations across America are not “large and lively.” They are small, quiet, faithful, and often overlooked.

Let me tell you about two churches I’ve studied firsthand.

One was in the Midwest, running just over 100 people. But it was in receivership bankruptcy, its former pastor and wife were in prison, its reputation shattered, and the church had drifted toward New Evangelicalism. A willing pastor stepped in—not drawn by the attendance, but compelled by the call. He preached the Word, restored the church’s convictions, paid down the debt, and reestablished integrity. Today, decades later, that church is thriving, financially stable, doctrinally sound, and once again respected in its community.

Another church, in the Deep South, had only ten elderly members. No scandal. No drama. Just quiet decline. But a pastor came—not for the spotlight, but for the souls. He loved those ten, preached to them like they were a hundred, and slowly, new life emerged. That church is now healthy, growing, and outward-focused.

Both churches were “small for a reason”—but in very different ways. And both were worth saving.

Just this month, a couple visited our church. They have a large family. They shared their frustration in trying to find an Independent Baptist church. They related something like this…“Most of them only have a handful of people, and most are over 70. There are hardly any middle-aged families—and just a few children.” It’s hard to argue. That’s the reality in many places. But I gently challenged them with something like this: Sometimes the church we want doesn’t exist until we help build it.

In this generation, finding a strong church may take less consumerism and more commitment. We can’t only look for what’s ready-made—we have to be willing to roll up our sleeves, plant roots, and help make a church what it can be.

So the next time you hear someone say, “Churches are small for a reason,” maybe reply with a smile:“Yes—and sometimes the reason is that God is preparing to do something big.”

And make no mistake—“big” doesn’t always mean packed pews or bursting budgets.

Sometimes the “big thing” God does is raise up a new leader with fresh vision. Sometimes, He revives a remnant to reach their community again. Sometimes, He merges two weary churches into one vibrant body. And yes—sometimes He lovingly closes the doors of a fading church so that its people, property, and resources can be reinvested into a new work with new life.

Revitalization isn’t just about preservation. It’s about purpose. It’s about seeing struggling churches not as wasted space, but as holy ground where God is still writing a story—sometimes of renewal, sometimes of redirection—but always for His glory.

Let’s stop dismissing the small and start discerning what God might be doing.

Because “small for a reason” might be true. But that reason might just be the beginning of something far greater than we ever imagined.