Case Study: Growing a Small Church in a Big City

How can a small church in a large metro area find a path toward growth? In this case study episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu walk through the real-life scenario of a 35-person congregation with an older membership, a new part-time pastor, and big questions about what comes next. Instead of offering cookie-cutter solutions, they pose four critical questions every small church should ask to clarify strategy, focus resources, and take meaningful steps forward .

Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are church consultants with The Malphurs Group, equipping churches worldwide to grow healthier through strategic planning, leadership development, and revitalization. Whether you lead a small church or simply want practical insights, you'll find encouragement and actionable takeaways here.

In this episode:

[05:17] Why visibility—both in the community and online—matters for small churches
[13:20] How to identify and invest in "tent-pole" ministries like kids or outreach
[20:02] Why doubling down on bold, biblical teaching leads to real growth
[25:28] Building spiritual friendships that last from Sunday to Sunday
[29:45] How to balance patience with urgency when leading change

Links & Resources:

Healthy Churches Toolkit: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com
Episode Article: https://malphursgroup.com/314
Website: https://malphursgroup.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup
Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup
YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup
X (Twitter): https://x.com/malphursgroup