By Brent Lacy

Your Small Church Is Not Too Small for Missions

“We are too small to do missions.” It is one of the most common refrains in rural church leadership. The assumption is that missions is something big churches do. Big budgets, big short-term trips, big missionary support portfolios. A church of 40 people cannot compete with that.

But missions is not about size. It is about obedience. And some of the most effective mission work in the world is being done by small churches that have decided that their size is not an excuse.

Rethinking What Missions Looks Like

Missions is not just sending people overseas. It is living on purpose for the gospel wherever God has placed you. And for a small church, that means embracing the mission field that is right outside your door.

Your community is your mission field. The neighbor who does not know Christ. The family that has never been invited to church. The person at the grocery store who is lonely and hurting. These are the people God has called you to reach.

Global missions matters. Supporting missionaries matters. But do not let the global crowd out the local. The Great Commission begins in Jerusalem before it extends to the ends of the earth.

What a Small Church Can Do

Support one missionary well. Instead of giving $50 to 20 missionaries, give $1,000 to one. Build a real relationship with that missionary. Pray for them by name. Visit them on the field. Let your congregation see missions as a personal investment, not a line item.

Send a team on a short-term trip. It does not have to be expensive or far away. A team of three spending a week helping a church plant in a neighboring state is a transformative experience that will change your church’s missions vision.

Partner with a church plant. Many new churches are being started in underserved areas by church planters with more vision than resources. A small church that partners with a church plant, sending money, people, and prayer, is doing missions at its most fundamental level.

Make missions a part of everything you do. Pray for missions in every service. Tell missions stories from the pulpit. Include missions in every budget discussion. When missions is woven into the fabric of the church, it becomes part of the church’s identity.

The Multiplication Effect

A small church that gives $5,000 a year to missions is giving a higher percentage of its income than a large church that gives $50,000. Percentage matters more than raw numbers. God honors the widow’s mite as much as the wealthy donor’s check.

And the impact of a small church’s missions giving is often more visible. When a church of 40 people sends a missionary, that missionary knows them by name. When a small church’s team goes on a trip, the whole church feels the impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do we choose which missionary to support?

Start with connections you already have. A former member who is now on the field. A missionary your denomination recommends. Someone you have met personally. Relationships make missions real.

What if we cannot afford a short-term trip?

Start local. A service project in your own community is a mission trip. A weekend helping a church in a neighboring town is a mission trip. You do not need a passport to do missions.

How much should we give to missions?

Start with 5 to 10 percent of your total giving. Increase as you are able. The goal is not a specific number but a growing commitment.

Is it okay to support non-denominational missionaries?

Yes. Support missionaries who share your theology and values, regardless of their denominational affiliation. The Great Commission is bigger than any one tradition.

Small but Significant

Your small church is not too small for missions. You are exactly the right size to make a real, personal, lasting impact. The God who used five loaves and two fish to feed 5,000 is not limited by your budget. Start where you are. Give what you have. And watch what God does with it.

Sources

1. Christianity Today, “Your Small Church Can Do Missions”
2. International Mission Board, “The Great Commission”
3. Lausanne Movement, “The Cape Town Commitment”

Frequently Asked Questions

How do we do this with only 20-30 members?

Focus on personal relationships, community presence, and consistent follow-up.

What if our community is resistant?

Start with service, not invitation. Earn the right to be heard.

What is the most effective strategy?

Personal invitation from a trusted friend.