7 Ways To Get Past The Small Church Mentality

It’s not uncommon for small and even medium-sized churches to fall into a common trap - the small church mentality. There’s nothing wrong with being a small church. However, this mentality stunts your church’s growth. It becomes harder to attract younger members and even older members don’t feel quite as engaged. Until your church moves past this mentality, growth and attendance are likely to dwindle. Instead, start making changes today that ensure a future for your church.

1. Use Simple Technology

Mention the word “technology” in a small church and you might get groans instead of any form of agreement. Smaller churches are often filled with older members and leaders who tend to be set in their ways. However, it’s vital to point out that becoming a more tech-savvy church doesn’t mean bright lights and booming speakers. Start with simple technology upgrades. For instance, upload sermons to YouTube or your church’s website (if you have one). Add a simple surround sound system to make it easier for everyone to hear. This is also helpful for the pastor, so they don’t have to yell to be heard in the back. When technology doesn’t seem so overwhelming, members and leaders are more likely to embrace it.

2. Embrace Websites

Smaller churches spend countless hours on sending out flyers and pamphlets to advertise upcoming events. While that works well, it’s not the only way to get people to notice your church. However, the small church mentality often leads to being exclusive. By starting a church website, you’re opening your church to a global audience. While local marketing is still important, now you have a platform for engaging your members and non-members 24/7. Talk about upcoming events, showcase your members working in the community, inspire people with words of encouragement and scripture. Every church should have a website. If you’re not sure if a website is right for you or how it could help, check out a few of our previous posts:

• Top 100 Church Websites Of 2018
• 7 Ways Your Church Website Can Better Connect You To Your Members
• Growing Your Church - How To Make Your Website Irresistible To Visitors

3. Start Getting Social

Nothing helps break your church away from the small church mentality like getting more social. This doesn’t just mean getting more involved locally. It means engaging with strangers, who could be potential visitors, online. With the negative reputation social networks have, it’s easy to understand why this might not go over so well with your members. Even millennials are starting to hate social networking. However, this hasn’t stopped millions of people from using social networks regularly. You don’t have to use the platforms to spread hate. Instead, your church needs to be on social networks to spread positivity. Wouldn’t it be nice to see more sermons and scripture being shared and discussed than fake news?

4. Get Your Members Involved

Your members will push back hard if church leaders suddenly make more modern changes to start growing the church. They might quit or start another church. The best way to avoid this is to get your members involved. For instance, ask for volunteers for managing social media or updating the blog. Let them make suggestions on what changes they’d like most.

5. Find Out What Technology Members Use

Technology isn’t as overwhelming as some of your members might make you believe. In fact, most of them probably have a smartphone on their hip or in their purse. They go home and watch Netflix on their smart TVs. While this doesn’t apply to everyone, it does apply to many. If you want to get past the small church mentality and start creating a more modern church, find out what types of technology your members already use. They’ll be far more likely to embrace changes that they’re already familiar with.

6. Implement Online Giving

Online giving is a way to make it easier for your members and even non-members to tithe. For instance, maybe someone from 300 miles away was moved by your blog post and wanted to give a little. They could donate with their credit card or PayPal. By adding this more modern giving option, your church opens its doors to more funding, which aids in improving your church’s overall reach and effect on the community.

7. Remember Every Church Started Small

The most important thing is to remember that every church starts small. Even mega-churches had to start somewhere. Just because you have a handful of members doesn’t mean your church can’t have a major impact on your members, your local community and globally. All you have to do is embrace technology and some modern changes to move past being just a small church to being a church for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the "small church mentality"?

It’s the mindset that quietly tells a church to stay small, stay comfortable, and avoid change. It often shows up as resistance to technology, an inward focus that excludes newcomers, and a “we’ve always done it this way” attitude. There’s nothing wrong with being a small church — but this mentality stunts growth and slowly drives engagement down.

How can a small church use technology without overwhelming older members?

Start simple. Technology doesn’t mean stage lights and booming speakers — it can be uploading sermons to YouTube or adding a sound system so the back row can actually hear. Find out what tech your members already use; most have a smartphone and a smart TV at home. When the change feels familiar, the resistance fades.

Does a small church really need a website?

Yes. Flyers and pamphlets reach your neighborhood; a website reaches everyone, around the clock. It gives you a place to share events, showcase your people serving the community, and welcome visitors who are checking you out before they ever walk in. A church website is how a small church stops being exclusive and opens its doors wider.

How do I get reluctant members on board with changes?

Involve them instead of announcing to them. Ask for volunteers to run social media or update the blog, and invite members to suggest the changes they’d like to see. People defend what they help build. When members feel ownership, they push the church forward instead of pushing back.

Should a small church add online giving?

Yes. Online giving makes it easy for members and even non-members to tithe — including someone hundreds of miles away who was moved by a blog post. More giving options means more funding, which fuels your reach and your impact in the community. It’s one of the simplest modern changes a small church can make.

Can a small church really grow, or is it stuck at its size?

Every church started small — including every megachurch you can name. Size doesn’t cap your impact; mentality does. A handful of members can shape a community and reach the world when they’re willing to embrace a few modern changes. The question isn’t whether you’re small. It’s whether you’re staying small on purpose.

Is your church ready to take the next step to breaking free from the small church mentality? Start with a custom-made church website today.