Sacred Slow
Why Your Church’s Steady Growth is Better Than Explosive Success
March 2020 changed everything for us. Like churches across the world, we watched our sanctuary empty, our programs halt, and our community scatter. But COVID didn’t just hurt our attendance—it killed our personality.
When we finally reopened, it was weird. Really weird.
We’d removed 150 chairs from our sanctuary so people wouldn’t sit next to each other. We enforced social distancing and masks. We dismissed in sections so people weren’t forced to interact. It was sterile at best—and for a church that thrived on community, there was no community.
It was foreign and uncomfortable. Our church had always been about connection, fellowship, and authentic relationships. Suddenly, we were operating like a business meeting where everyone kept their distance. The warmth was gone. The hugs were forbidden. The coffee and conversation that happened after every service? Eliminated.
I wasn’t afraid we’d close—I was concerned that COVID had killed everything that made us… us. Our worship felt hollow. Our fellowship was nonexistent. Our community was scattered.
But sometimes God uses seasons of stripping away to show us what really matters. Sometimes He allows everything familiar to disappear so He can rebuild it better than it was before. Sometimes the forced reset becomes the fresh start you never knew you needed.
And that’s exactly what happened to us.
During those strange, sterile months of reopening, something remarkable began to happen in that sacred slow space of rebuilding: We discovered that smaller can be stronger, slower can be better, and steady growth can be more transformative than explosive success.
But here’s where this story gets ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!
That forced slowdown became our greatest blessing! What looked like death became RESURRECTION! What felt like failure became our FOUNDATION for something better!
God used our brokenness to build something BEAUTIFUL!
The Gift We Didn’t Know We Needed: The Reset Button
Here’s what I’ve learned about church resets: Most churches NEVER get the opportunity to hit the reset button. They’re so busy maintaining what is that they never get to reimagine what could be.
COVID forced us to stop, reassess, and rebuild—and it was exactly what we needed!
During those empty months, we asked the hard questions:
- What are we REALLY called to do?
- Who are we ACTUALLY trying to reach?
- What programs matter and what programs are just tradition?
- How do we want to rebuild this thing?
Those questions led to answers that changed EVERYTHING!
We reopened with a new directive: We weren’t going to rebuild the same church—we were going to build a HEALTHIER church!
The Power of Sacred Slow Growth
When we reopened with 25% of our original attendance, I had a choice: Panic about the numbers or embrace the process. I chose to trust that God was doing something different, something deeper, something more sustainable.
And that choice changed my entire perspective on growth!
Instead of trying to get back to where we were, we focused on building WHERE GOD WANTED US TO GO!
The results have been INCREDIBLE:
- We’ve grown back younger than before
- We’ve grown back stronger than before
- We’ve grown back more vibrant than before
- We’ve grown back more unified than before
- We’ve grown back more purposeful than before
This wasn’t just recovery—this was REVIVAL!
Why Steady Growth Beats Explosive Growth Every Time
Here’s what I’ve discovered about the power of incremental growth: It allows you to adjust, adapt, and build sustainably without getting overwhelmed!
Think about it: Explosive growth = Fire hydrant ministry (You’re just trying to survive the rush!) Steady growth = Garden hose ministry (You can actually water what you’re growing!)
With steady growth, you can:
- Integrate new people properly instead of just cramming them in
- Develop leaders gradually instead of throwing them into roles they’re not ready for
- Adjust systems incrementally instead of constantly playing catch-up
- Build relationships deeply instead of managing crowds superficially
- Maintain quality instead of sacrificing excellence for quantity
STEADY GROWTH CREATES STRONG FOUNDATIONS!
The Sacred Mathematics of Incremental Increase
Let me show you the BEAUTIFUL MATH of steady growth:
The progression looked different than we expected: We started with people who were cautious and distant, slowly building back to families who were connected and engaged. We grew from sterile services to vibrant worship. We developed from scattered individuals to tight-knit community.
But here’s what those numbers don’t show:
- Every new person was welcomed, connected, and cared for individually
- Every new family was integrated into the life of the church
- Every new member found their place and their purpose
- Every addition made us stronger, not just bigger
THAT’S THE POWER OF SACRED SLOW!
Why Our “Small” Restart Became Our Superpower
Starting small again gave us superpowers we never had when we were bigger:
- Agility – We could make decisions quickly and adapt rapidly 2. Intimacy – Everyone knew everyone and cared for everyone 3. Clarity – Our purpose was crystal clear because we’d been forced to define it 4. Unity – Everyone was bought into the vision because they’d helped create it 5. Quality – We could do fewer things excellently instead of many things adequately
Our “limitation” became our LIBERATION!
The Blessing of Building Back Better
Here’s what happened when we embraced the rebuild: We attracted different people than we’d had before—younger families, passionate believers, people hungry for authentic community and real purpose.
We went from attracting consumers to attracting contributors! We went from gathering an audience to building a family! We went from maintaining tradition to creating transformation!
The people who came back weren’t just filling seats—they were fulfilling PURPOSE!
Why Slow and Steady Wins the Ministry Race
The church growth world obsesses over explosive success stories: “From 50 to 5,000 in five years!” But what they don’t tell you is how many of those explosive growth churches burn out, burn up, or fall apart within a decade.
Sustainable growth creates sustainable ministry! Steady progress produces stable churches! Incremental increase builds incredible foundations!
We’re not just growing—we’re growing RIGHT!
The Sacred Discipline of Patience in an Instant World
In a world that worships overnight success, there’s something SACRED about choosing slow:
- Slow growth builds DEEP roots instead of shallow systems
- Steady increase creates STRONG culture instead of quick crowds
- Incremental progress produces INTEGRATED community instead of disconnected masses
- Gradual expansion generates GENUINE relationships instead of surface connections
SLOW IS THE NEW FAST IN GOD’S KINGDOM!
What I Would Tell My Pre-COVID Self
If I could go back to March 2020 and whisper in my own ear, here’s what I’d say:
“Don’t fear the breaking—embrace it!” “Don’t mourn the shrinking—celebrate the opportunity!” “Don’t rush the rebuilding—trust the process!” “Don’t chase the numbers—focus on the people!”
“This reset is going to be the best thing that ever happened to your ministry!”
The Questions Every Pastor Should Ask
Instead of asking:
- “How can we grow faster?”
- “How can we get more people?”
- “How can we compete with bigger churches?”
Start asking:
- “How can we grow healthier?”
- “How can we love people deeper?”
- “How can we build something that lasts?”
STRONGER QUESTIONS LEAD TO STRONGER RESULTS!
Your Church’s Steady Growth is SACRED
Pastor, if your church is growing slowly and steadily, CELEBRATE IT! You’re not behind—you’re BUILDING RIGHT!
Your incremental increase is creating:
- Deeper discipleship than explosive growth ever could
- Stronger community than instant success ever produces
- More authentic relationships than rapid expansion ever allows
- Better foundations than quick growth ever builds
YOUR SACRED SLOW IS GOD’S PERFECT PACE!
The Truth About Sustainable Success
Here’s what I’ve learned: The churches that last are the ones that grow RIGHT, not just fast.
The churches that matter are the ones that build DEEP, not just big.
The churches that transform communities are the ones that focus on PEOPLE, not just numbers.
YOUR STEADY GROWTH IS SUPERIOR GROWTH!
Embrace Your Sacred Slow Season
If your church is in a season of steady, incremental growth, don’t apologize for it—CELEBRATE IT!
You’re not missing out on explosive success—you’re building LASTING SUCCESS! You’re not falling behind—you’re moving FORWARD SUSTAINABLY! You’re not too small—you’re PERFECTLY SIZED for deep impact!
Your sacred slow is creating something SPECTACULAR!
Every new person you add carefully is better than a hundred you add carelessly! Every relationship you build deeply is worth more than a thousand you build shallowly! Every step you take steadily is stronger than a sprint you can’t sustain!
The Promise of Sacred Slow
Here’s God’s promise to churches that choose sacred slow: “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).
Your diligent, steady, careful growth is leading to PROFIT in God’s kingdom!
So embrace the pace! Trust the process! Celebrate the journey!
Your sacred slow is creating something SACRED and STRONG!
And that’s worth taking your time to build right!
SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE MINISTRY RACE!
