In the spring of this year, Christianity Today released a small publication, CTPastors.com. Within that publication, is an article entitled, “Little Church, Big Faith,” which summarized the 2020 Faith Communities Today (FACT) survey on the state of the Church in America.

The survey revealed that the median attendance at church on a given Sunday is now half what it was 20 years ago, dropping from an attendance of 137 to 65. Whereas in the year 2000, 45 percent of churches had an average weekly attendance of 99 or fewer people, today 65 percent of churches report that smaller level of attendance.

But the news is not all bad.

The remnant of members that remains in the pews is more active, gives more, and spends less on staff, freeing up budgets for mission and local ministry.

The FACT survey revealed that churches of each size of membership have their own strengths.

Churches of 100 attendees or less have a higher percentage of members who participate in weekly worship. They give more generously per person and designate the highest percentage of the church budget to missions and charity. And, the members are more likely to volunteer within the church ministries.

Churches with 100-250 attendees are generally financially healthy, most likely to be a new congregation, and often share their building with community groups or other churches.

Churches with attendance over 250 generally have a strong sense of mission, purpose, and spiritual vitality, have a higher percentage of members involved in community service and have a greater diversity of members both in terms of age and race.

As CTPastor.com points out, the FACT survey also revealed that 60 percent of churchgoers now attend the largest 10 percent of churches. But, these larger churches also have the highest turnover rate, have fewer members who engage meaningfully, have the smallest percentage of members who volunteer and have the least amount of giving per member. The article notes that ministers of these larger churches have learned how to keep members engaged by plugging them into small groups.

I found the article both discouraging and encouraging. It is discouraging to see that church attendance continues to decline. That says a great deal about the state of the communities those churches serve. In a time when we need Christ more than ever, more and more people are seeking other ways to get through their struggles or are struggling alone. And, they often are spending their time, talents, and money in other ways that do not have an eternal focus—or even a community benefit.

I found the study to be encouraging in that the small churches that remain hold a remnant that has not given up. They give more, serve more, and outreach more as a group than others.

Jesus can do a lot with a little. He demonstrated that over and over in his ministry. Wish fishes and loaves, with twelve disciplines, and with a mustard seed of faith.

Those of us who attend and support small churches should not lose hope or faith. Out of a tiny acorn comes a magnificent oak tree. We give our tithe and time to God and watch the tremendous things He alone can do.

Even in the smallest of churches.