There are many things to be treasured about being part of a small church.

I've been part of small, medium, and megachurches — and seen Jesus at work in all of them.

I currently describe our local church in this way:

A small church making a big impact locally and globally.

You can even find it on our website in a few places and on a handful of our invitation cards.

I do that so that people’s expectations have a chance to be aligned to reality when visiting (ideally that happens before they visit!) and to help communicate that ‘small’ doesn’t have to be an attribute we treat as a negative in our American context.

A book that changed my life about 15-20 years ago was Strategically Small Church and I initially thought it was heretical because I assumed that you couldn’t be strategic (or healthy or Godly) if you were small. Thankfully, I no longer hold to that erroneous belief. And I also now know that just as ‘healthy things grow’ so do unhealthy things.

All of that to say, I’ve also been known as an apologist for large churches — I was a member and volunteer at a great one for over ten years; and I haven’t shifted perspectives. To be candid, I don’t know if I could’ve existed as a campus minister in a large metropolitan (read: expensive) city without the support of several large churches. Yet, I was also supported by dozens of smaller churches at significant amounts!

I’m merely ‘fleshing out’ the idea that churches of all sizes, if they are aiming for health and becoming a community centered on Christ, have things that are to be treasured.

Yet, they offer different treasures.

Right?

I mean let’s be honest — a church of less than 25 is very different than a multi-site church with many different services and dozens of ministries. But I don’t know if different is bad or if we have to moralize this reality…

I think we need all sorts of churches and all sizes to exist for the sake of others encountering God’s grace. But perhaps that’s a different post for a different day.

Most reports tell us that the average size of a church is 60-80, with most churches being under 100-120; all the while, more Christians are attending megachurches than ever before. (Of course, this is all localized data to the United States).

Here are some things my family and I have treasured about being part of a small church in this current season of our lives:

It is a place where you are known, seen, and people notice when you are gone.

The opportunity to be personally and deeply known by the local pastor is a gift. I don’t think this is needed for spiritual formation, but wow, it certainly helps!

Everyone seems to have some role in the life of the church as it relates to volunteering, serving, and/or leading. It’s like a collective or co-op, which is a totally different ‘vibe’ as my son would say.

It invites me to pursue relationships with people that might not be at my exact stage of life or in my ‘demographic’; so it feels like a large and extended family.

Connections take place on Sunday mornings quicker in a smaller community and that is a positive thing.

I tend to know more about the personal lives (ups and downs) of those I worship next to; which informs how I pray and even worship.

As a church staff, we can (at least in our context and situation) try new things and be adaptable without a ‘fear of failing’ since we are a handful of families seeking Jesus together.

When people (such as an attender or member) has a question or concern, there’s less layers to navigate to get help or express a concern about something. That’s hard but healthy!

There isn’t age-specific or interest-driven ministry groups for every niche or passion, which causes me to try new things and bend my own preferences.

My son is known and cared for by a handful of adults outside of us as parents; the people that volunteer in children’s ministry but also those that volunteer elsewhere!

As a staff pastor at a small church, it’s my hope and heart to always create room for one more family and one more person around the table and in our lives and within our community — and for now, we are aiming to be faithful (and to take joy!) in this season of small.

(originally published on Substack on Aug 17, 2026; re-published with permission on October 7, 2026.)