“It doesn’t matter to the Lord whether He saves by the few or by the many” (I Samuel 14:6).
Depending on a number of factors, growing a small church may well be one of the more do-able things pastors can achieve.
Those variable factors include…
–the health of the church (you don’t want a sick church to grow; it needs to get well first!). I once told my congregation, “There’s a good reason no one is joining this church. I wouldn’t join it either!” Believe it or not, those words were inspired and the people received them well, and repented.
–the attitude of the congregation (if the people are satisfied with the status quo, newcomers will not be welcomed). I’ve known Sunday School classes composed of a small cluster of best friends who felt imposed on by visitors and new members. No one wants to go where they’re not wanted.
–and the location of the facility A church situated five miles down an isolated road, at the end of the dead end trail, can almost certainly forget about growing. Yes, it’s been done, but rarely.