Picture this: you’re leading a group on a wilderness camping trip. After hours of navigating rocky trails and weaving through dense forests, you finally arrive at a clearing. It’s beautiful—a perfect spot to rest. The group starts setting up camp, content with what they’ve found. But as the leader holding the map, you know there’s an even better spot just a short hike further—a place with a pristine lake, better views, and more resources for everyone. If only they could see what’s ahead, they’d be willing to push on.

Now, imagine your church as that camping group. You’ve grown to 500—a milestone worth celebrating. Your hard work has paid off, with solid systems, a thriving community, and a sense of accomplishment. It’s a great place to be. But here’s the thing: just a little further down the path lies something even greater. If you could catch a glimpse of what God could accomplish through your church at 2,000, you wouldn’t be content to stay where you are.

Why should your church dream of becoming 2,000+?

• The Gospel’s Impact on Your Community
  Your church should grow faster than your community to ensure the Gospel gains ground. Imagine your city with more people following Jesus and discipled because your church grew. A larger church means a bigger impact—not just in attendance numbers but in transformed lives. Aiming for 2,000 pushes you and your team to think about deepening the impact of the gospel!
• You’re Already in the Top Tier
  Reaching an average weekly attendance of 500 places your church among the top 10% of congregations in the United States [ref]. According to data, only a small percentage of churches surpass this milestone, highlighting the systems and leadership capacity you’ve already developed. I know it feels like you still have so much to sort out, but God has already done so much through your leadership! With such a solid foundation, you’re well-positioned to expand your influence and impact. Why halt your progress now when greater opportunities for ministry and outreach are within reach?
• Standing Still Is Not an Option
  If you’re not moving forward, you risk slipping back. A church that’s not growing is stagnating, and stagnation can quickly turn into decline. The cultural and financial challenges churches face today demand progress—not perfection. It all hinges on forward movement. Growth isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have,’ it’s necessary for survival in an increasingly post-Christian (or even pre-Christian) world.
• The Ripple Effect – It’s Not All About Your Church
  Expanding your church beyond 500 members isn’t merely about increasing attendance: it’s about amplifying your community’s positive impact. Larger congregations often possess greater resources, enabling them to initiate and sustain programs that smaller churches might find challenging. By choosing not to pursue growth, church leaders risk unintentionally holding their community back from experiencing its full potential. Consider the following advantages of a larger church:
  • Enhanced Community Services: With more members, churches can offer a broader range of services, such as food banks, counseling centers, and educational programs. These initiatives address local needs and foster a sense of unity and support within the community [ERLC].
  • Increased Volunteerism and Social Support: Larger congregations can mobilize more volunteers for community projects, disaster relief, and other outreach efforts. This collective action not only meets immediate needs but also builds resilience and social cohesion [Financial Times].
  • Economic Contributions: Growing churches often contribute to the local economy by creating jobs, supporting local businesses through events, and attracting visitors to the area. Their presence can stimulate economic activity and provide stability in the community.
  • Leadership Development: A larger congregation provides more opportunities to identify and cultivate leaders, both within the church and in the broader community. This development fosters a culture of empowerment and service, benefiting society at large.
  • Broader Outreach and Evangelism: With increased resources, larger churches can extend their reach through media, missions, and community events, spreading their message and values more effectively.
    
    By choosing not to pursue growth, church leaders may inadvertently withhold these significant benefits from their communities. Embracing expansion isn’t just about numbers; it’s about fulfilling a broader mission to serve, uplift, and transform the world around you.

Listen, I understand the clearing you’re in is good, but the edge of the forest—the promise of what lies ahead—is even greater.

It’s time to pick up the map, rally your people, and keep moving forward.

Growth Math: Mapping the Journey from 500 to 2,000

Every church of 500 has the potential to become a megachurch. But let me be clear: this isn’t about chasing size for the sake of size. It’s about creating more opportunities to disciple people, make an impact, and fulfill your mission.

Here’s the key question: What would it take for your church of 500 to think differently about invite culture and retention so that, over the next six years, you grow to 2,000 or more?

The math is straightforward. For a typical church of 500, 2% of attendees each weekend are first-time guests—about 10 people. But what if you could increase that to 3%, bringing in 15 guests weekly? Over the course of the year, that’s 625 guests instead of 520. If your church retains 26% of those visitors, your growth rate will mirror your retention rate: 26%.

At this pace, your church could double in three years—and double again within six. Growth isn’t magical; it’s methodical. The challenge for leaders is to build systems that drive weekly guest invitations and strategies that keep those guests engaged long-term.

Check out our podcast series where we break down the math behind this growth. Dive deeper into these metrics and start planning your path forward:

• Key Metrics for Explosive Church Growth
• Understanding New Guest Metrics
• Engagement Pathway Best Practices

3 First Steps a Church of 500 Should Take to Grow to 2,000

In my book, Unlocking Your Church’s Invite Culture, I outline five essential ‘gears of growth’—a series of practical strategies designed to help churches increase their invite culture and grow their reach. While all five are important, I want to highlight three particularly transformative gears for churches of 500. When applied consistently, these strategies can position your church for meaningful, sustainable growth.

Shareable Weekend Teaching: Crafting Messages That Travel Beyond the Room

Your weekend teaching is the cornerstone of your invite culture. It’s not just about delivering great sermons but about creating content so compelling and relevant that your congregation can’t help but share it with friends.

• Address Felt Needs: Craft messages that speak directly to the struggles people face in their daily lives. Topics like overcoming anxiety, parenting challenges, or finding hope in hard times are universally relatable and make inviting friends natural. When sermons feel like a ‘pain reliever’ rather than a ‘vitamin,’ people are more motivated to bring others along.
• Equip Your Congregation to Share: Frame every series announcement not as “Join us this Sunday,” but as “Who do you know that needs to hear this?” Teach your people to think outwardly and see the weekend as an opportunity to serve others by inviting them.
• Leverage Stories and Testimonials: Share stories of how past sermons have impacted lives. These narratives give your congregation confidence that inviting their friends will lead to meaningful encounters with Jesus.

Eventful Big Days: Creating Irresistible Moments for Guests

Big days like Christmas, Easter, and other significant weekends are prime opportunities to double attendance. These events don’t just draw crowds—they ignite momentum in your invite culture and set the tone for sustained growth.

• Plan With a Bold Goal: Double your usual attendance. For a church of 500, this means planning for 1,000 attendees. This ambitious goal will inspire your team to think creatively and intentionally.
• Design for Guests: Make these events guest-friendly by focusing on creating a welcoming atmosphere, excellent kids’ programs, and engaging messages. Consider incorporating unique elements, such as photo booths, giveaways, or special music, to create a truly memorable experience.
• Equip Your Congregation to Invite: Provide invite cards, social media graphics, and email templates to make it easy for members to invite friends. The easier you make it, the more likely they’ll follow through.

Magnetic Community Service: Taking Church to the Streets

People are drawn to action. When your church is active in serving the community, it creates natural opportunities for engagement and invitations.

• Choose High-Impact Projects: Host events like meal-packing days, community cleanups, or back-to-school drives that meet tangible needs. These activities demonstrate your church’s heart for service and provide easy ways for guests to participate.

• Make It Invitable: Promote service events as opportunities for members to bring friends. For example, a meal-packing event where “anyone can help” removes barriers for unchurched guests to participate.
• Follow Up with an Invitation: Use these events as a bridge to weekend services. After serving together, invite participants to experience your church on Sunday. One church I worked with saw 5x the number of ‘new here’ guests at a recent event like this. It created huge follow-up opportunities to see those guests attend a “normal” weekend service!

To explore these ideas further, dive into Unlocking Your Church’s Invite Culture for more strategies to equip your church for growth. These gears work, but only when leaders like you take the first step. Are you ready?

Jars, Oil, and Vision: How God Multiplies What You Prepare

In 2 Kings 4:1–7, we meet a widow at the end of her rope. Her creditors are coming to take her sons. Desperate, she turns to the prophet Elisha, who gives her a strange command: gather empty jars, as many as you can find, and pour oil into them. Miraculously, the oil doesn’t stop flowing until every jar is full. The widow pays off her debts and has enough left to live on.

This story is a powerful reminder of God’s provision and our responsibility. Church leaders, what jars are you setting out for God to fill? Are you adding new services, recruiting volunteers, or launching new ministries? Are you creating the capacity for God to pour out His blessing?

Let’s get real: when was the last time you allowed yourself to think beyond the limitations you’ve set? Not your church’s limitations—yours. If God’s blessings stopped flowing today, would it be because you’ve run out of jars? Are you leading with a vision that’s big enough to terrify you? Maybe it’s time to admit that the only ceiling on your ministry is the size of your faith. Stop waiting for permission or perfect conditions to expand. What if your hesitation to dream big is robbing your church, team, and community of the blessings God is ready to pour out? What if the problem isn’t a lack of resources or talent but a lack of courage on your part? God doesn’t need you to play small, He needs you to prepare for something so audacious and bold that the only explanation is His hand at work.

Will you dare to believe that your church can reach exponentially more people? Could you be the leader who steps up when others shrink back? The jars you set out today will shape the legacy you leave behind. So, what will it be: another day in the clearing or a bold step into the forest where the real work begins?

Dreaming of becoming a megachurch isn’t about ego: it’s about faithfulness. It’s about putting out as many jars as possible—practically and spiritually—and trusting God to provide the oil.

So, what’s your next step? Will you settle for the clearing, or will you venture into the forest?