IS THERE HOPE FOR MY SMALL CHURCH?

By the Reverend Terry L. Tilton, B.S., MDiv

 

In a landscape where small churches in the United States struggle for survival, this paper explores a pressing question: Is there hope for my small church? With 177,000 small churches (fewer than 100 members in attendance), they account for 59% of all congregations yet serve only 16% of church members nationwide.[i]  Many small churches face shrinking attendance, aging membership, and diminishing resources. While the challenges are steep, this paper offers theological reflections, practical insights, and real-life applications to guide small churches like the Chisholm United Methodist Church in Chisholm, Minnesota, toward a renewed sense of purpose.

The Current Crisis of Small Churches

Small churches are integral to many communities, providing stability, fellowship, and spiritual support. Yet, trends paint a bleak picture: between 2000 and 2020, average attendance in small churches dropped from 137 to 65.[ii] This decline is compounded by generational shifts, with younger demographics increasingly identifying as non-religious (“nones”). Political scientist Ryan Burge notes that approximately one-third of the nation’s 350,000 Christian congregations, mostly small churches, face extinction.[iii] For pastors and members, these statistics feel personal and urgent as they see their congregations dwindling and fear closure.

A Theology of Hope

This paper emphasizes that hope in a church context must be forward-looking rather than nostalgic for past glory. Drawing on theological insights, it argues that hope is born through perseverance and faith in God’s transformative power. This perspective acknowledges that churches, like all living organisms, go through cycles of birth, growth, decline, and death—but also resurrection. As Apostle Paul notes in Romans 5:3-4, suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. For churches, hope means aligning with God’s vision for the future, even amid the present uncertainty.

Chisholm United Methodist Church: A Case Study

The Chisholm United Methodist Church exemplifies the struggles faced by many small congregations. Located in a declining mining town in northeastern Minnesota, the church has seen its membership shrink from 461 in the 1970s to 49 in 2024, with an average attendance of 16 in person and 16 online. Once a vibrant hub of community activity, it now grapples with an aging congregation (average age of 77), the loss of outreach programs, and minimal engagement with younger families.

Despite these challenges, the church remains committed to discerning God’s will for its future. Recognizing the need for a fresh perspective, the congregation embarked on a reflection, prayer, and consultation process led by the Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

 Practical Resources for Renewal

Several resources and strategies are highlighted as tools for revitalizing small churches:

1. Spiritual Discernment: Programs like Choosing the Faithful Path[iv] encourage congregations to assess their strengths, weaknesses, and community context through prayer and study. This process helps churches identify realistic paths forward while acknowledging their current stage in the life cycle.
2. Incarnational Ministry: Edward Hammett’s Recovering Hope for Your Church[v] emphasizes the need for churches to move beyond maintenance toward ministries that embody Jesus’ presence in the community. This involves embracing change, relying on the Holy Spirit, and focusing on relationships rather than programs.
3. Faithful Dying and Resurrection: Anna Olson’s Claiming Resurrection in the Dying Church[vi] challenges churches to view decline not as failure but as an opportunity for transformation. By accepting that death is part of the life cycle, congregations can prepare for resurrection in new and unexpected forms.
4. Waiting on God: Andrew Root and Blair Bertrand’s When Church Stops Working[vii] advocates for a posture of waiting, trusting that God will act in God’s time. This approach counters the tendency to rush into strategies without spiritual grounding.
5. Prayer and Community Engagement: Desmond Barrett’s Revitalizing the Declining Small Church[viii] underscores the power of prayer and intentional outreach. Churches must connect with their communities through small, consistent efforts that build relationships and visibility.

Key Insights for Moving Forward

The Chisholm United Methodist Church embraced several strategies to address its challenges:

• Reflection and Prayer: The church’s pastor introduced a prayer tailored for the congregation, asking for discernment and guidance from the Holy Spirit. A sermon series focused on the church’s mission and the need for outreach.
• External Consultation: The congregation participated in the “Conversations at the Crossroads” program, led by Dr. Susan Nienaber, Director of Spiritual Vitality of the Minnesota Annual Conference. This process included interviews with members, assessments of community needs, and recommendations for future action.
• Community Building: Suggestions included hosting community events, leveraging the church building for local programs, and collaborating with neighboring churches. For example, the possibility of hosting a parent-child play program in the church’s unused fellowship space emerged as a promising opportunity.

Despite these efforts, the congregation struggled to overcome feelings of fatigue and uncertainty. Members expressed love for their church and its traditions but were unsure how to adapt to changing circumstances. The challenge lies in shifting from inward-focused nostalgia to outward-focused action and for the church to be creative, proactive, and patient in their renewal efforts.

Hope Discovered

“Only people with hope will struggle.”—Myles Horton[ix]

While the road to revitalization is difficult, the paper concludes that hope remains. For the Chisholm UMC, hope lies in small but meaningful actions, such as building partnerships, engaging with the community, and waiting for God’s direction. Even if the church eventually closes, its legacy can inspire new life in other forms.

As the author reflects, true hope comes from trusting in God’s promises and the power of resurrection. This hope is not tied to specific outcomes but to believing that God is still at work. Through prayer, perseverance, and faith, small churches can find ways to serve their communities and honor their mission.

Conclusion

The story of the Chisholm United Methodist Church is one of struggle, resilience, and faith. Like many small churches, it faces an uncertain future. Yet, by embracing a theology of hope and taking small, intentional steps forward, it can continue to reflect God’s love in its community. As the paper reminds us, hope is not about recreating the past but trusting that God is leading us into the future toward something new.

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[i]  Christopher Watson, “Worship in the Average Church in America”, Worship Leader, June 26, 2023, accessed January 10, 2025, https://worshipleader.com/leadership/worship-in-the-average-church-in-america/.

[ii] Ryan P. Burge, The Nones: Where They Came from, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going. (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Fortress Press, 2021).

[iii] Scott Neuman, “The faithful see both crisis and opportunity as churches close across the country,” Faith Communities Today, May 17, 2023, a survey by Hartford Institute for Religion Research, accessed November 10, 2024, https://www.npr.org/2023/05/17/1175452002/church-closings-religious-affiliation.

[iv] Beth M. Crissman and Nancy B. Rankin, “Choosing the Faithful Path: A Bible Study for Discerning a Faithful Future,” (Plowpoint Press, 2015).

[v] Edward H. Hammett, “Recovering HOPE for Your Church: Moving beyond Maintenance and Missional to Incarnational Engagement”, (TCP Books, 2014).

[vi] Anna B. Olson, “Claiming Resurrection in the Dying Church: Freedom Beyond Survival,” (Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY, 2016).

[vii] Philip J. Reed, review of Andrew Root and Blair D. Bertrand, “When Church Stops Working: A Future for Your Congregation beyond More Money, Programs, and Innovation,” accessed August 31, 2023, (Presbyterian Outlook, August 31, 2023).

[viii] Desmond Barrett, Revitalizing the Declining Small Church: From Death’s Door to Community Growth, (Wipf & Stock, Eugene, Oregon, 2021).

[ix] Myles Horton, Judith Kohl, and Herbert Kohl, The Long Haul: An Autobiography, (Doubleday, New York, N.Y., 1990) 44.