Small churches are the backbone of the Body of Christ, with an estimated 70% of all United States churches having fewer than 100 members (Lifeway Research).
While these small churches may not be growing in the size of their congregations, they are essential in reaching their communities for the Kingdom of God.
If you’re part of a small body of believers, you may be tempted to believe that your church is too small to do anything important. You see limited resources, few volunteers, and other, larger churches that seem better equipped to change your community.
While you might not have the largest budget or the biggest pool of volunteers to pull from, God can and will bless your efforts to serve Him in your city, even if you think your impact isn’t that big.
There are 3 very important things you must remember if you want to see the difference your church can make in your community, no matter how big or small your congregation is.
#1: Small Does Not Mean Insignificant
The Bible contains numerous examples that show that size does not equate to value.
In Mark 12, Jesus praises a woman who gave only two small coins because the heart behind her gift mattered more than the amount she gave. And in Matthew 19, Jesus directs His disciples to let the little children come to Him and does not hinder them simply because they are young.
Both stories demonstrate that the Savior of the world cares more about the heart than about its size.
Your ministry may not be as big as the church down the street or have as large a budget as the church across town. But the size of your congregation does not mean your body of believers is insignificant in the Kingdom.
God regularly used the unlikely, the small, and the meek to bring glory to His Name and to change the world.
If you want to make a huge difference in your community, no matter how small your church, you have to believe that small does not mean insignificant.
The Father can and will use your ministry as long as you do everything with a heart longing to serve Him and a desire to see lives changed for eternity.
#2: Even One is Huge to God
The true measure of successful church outreach isn’t how many people you connect with but rather how many make the life-altering decision to give their lives to Christ.
Jesus tells us in Luke 15 that the angels rejoice in Heaven over one sinner who chooses to repent. And He claims in Matthew 18 that a good shepherd will leave 99 sheep to track down and restore a single missing sheep, and that he will rejoice when that sheep is returned to the flock.
You don’t need hundreds of members or thousands of dollars to make genuine connections with the people in your community. Those connections are what allow you to plant the seeds of redemption in the hearts of your neighbors.
It doesn’t matter how much time, money, and effort you put into your outreach programs as long as you are doing all you can with what the Father has given. Because the salvation of just one person matters more than the planting of dozens of seeds that never grow to fruition.
#3: The Heart Matters More
The Gospel is very clear that the heart of the disciple matters more than any word or deed.
While the things you say and do are a reflection of what lies in your heart, it is the motivation and desire behind everything that is important to the Father.
Having 50 people in your pews who are on fire for God and long to see your community transformed by the Good News will do far more than an auditorium of thousands who claim faith but don’t live it out.
The secret to making a huge difference in your community, regardless of the size of your congregation, is to invest in the hearts of your people so they’re equipped to invest in the hearts of your community.
Making a huge difference isn’t about the size of your outreach efforts or the amount you’ve invested in connecting with your community. The size of the difference you make is completely contingent on the transformation that comes from a genuine heart allowing God to move.
When it comes to changing your community and making a difference in the lives of those around you, the size of your congregation doesn’t matter.
You must believe that size does not equal significance, that even one life changed is a big deal to the Father, and that the hearts of your congregants and the people you’re working to reach matter more.
If you truly believe these things, then the success of your ministry will not be limited by how many people you have in your pews. You will have everything you need to make a huge difference in your community and the Kingdom beyond.
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