Jesse Reimers

In an age of streaming sermons, viral TikTok testimonies, and AI-generated devotionals, it might seem like evangelism has never had more reach. And yet, according to recent research, evangelism in the local church is on life support. Carey Nieuwhof’s 2025 Church Trends report reveals a sobering statistic: only 1% of pastors believe their church is very effective at reaching unchurched people. That’s not a typo— 99% of churches aren’t seeing much fruit when it comes to introducing people to Jesus. Even churches on national “fastest-growing” lists are often growing through transfer growth —not conversion growth . People are switching churches, not finding faith. And in some denominations, nearly half of churches report zero baptisms in a full calendar year. Let’s pause and let that sink in: a growing number of churches in America are not leading a single person to Christ each year. For Small Churches, This Can Feel Defeating If you’re leading a small church, these trends can sound...

As a pastor of a small church, one of your most important tasks is to reach out to your community and share the message of the gospel with those who do not know Christ. While outreach and evangelism can be daunting, there are several strategies and tips that pastors of small churches can use to effectively reach out to their community. In this post, we will discuss some key strategies and tips for pastors of small churches in the area of outreach and evangelism. Build relationships: The first step in effective outreach and evangelism is to build relationships with those in your community. This can include reaching out to your neighbors, local business owners, and community leaders. Take time to get to know them and show genuine interest in their lives. Host community events: Hosting community events is a great way to reach out to those in your community. Consider hosting events such as picnics, concerts, or holiday parties. These events provide a fun and relaxed atmosphere for people t...