Every Sunday, Pastor Dave looks out at his congregation of 65 faithful members and feels grateful.
His small church is growing, the community is tight-knit, and ministry is happening.
But here’s what he doesn’t know:
Last week alone, 47 people tried to call the church. Only 18 got through.
The other 29? They hung up. Some were visitors looking for service times. Others were members needing prayer. A few were families in crisis, reaching out for help.
And they all walked away thinking the church didn’t care enough to answer.
The numbers don’t lie, and they’re worse for smaller churches:
📞 55% of Protestant churches are unreachable during business hours (Barna Group)
📞 For churches under 100 members, this jumps to nearly 70%
📞 67% of callers hang up when they can’t reach a human (Specialty Answering Service)
Here’s the kicker:
Growing churches retain 20–21% of first-time visitors. Non-growing churches? Just 9%. (Lifeway Research)
The difference? Follow-up communication within 48 hours.
Let’s be honest about what small churches face:
✋ 70% of churches have 100 or fewer attendees (Lifeway Research)
✋ Only 20% have multiple paid staff (SmallChurch.com)
✋ Most communication falls on overwhelmed pastors and volunteers
You’re trying to be available 24/7 while running worship, counseling, visiting hospitals, preparing sermons, and managing church operations.
It’s impossible. And it’s not your fault.
Southern churches are hit hardest. Only 36% are phone accessible during business hours compared to 65% in Mountain/Western regions. (Barna Group)
During COVID-19, pastoral care calls increased by 20% while small church accessibility actually decreased due to volunteer shortages.
The gap between need and availability has never been wider.
Churches using professional answering systems see:
🚀 833% ROI on communication investments (Missional Marketing)
🚀 40% increase in visitor retention
🚀 3x more crisis intervention success rates
🚀 50% reduction in pastoral administrative time
The secret? It’s not about replacing human connection. It’s about getting people connected to hearts.
AI phone agents for churches aren’t science fiction. They’re happening right now:
How many people attempted to connect to your church last week who couldn’t get through?
Your church exists to be available when people need hope most. But if they can’t reach you during their moment of crisis, how can you fulfill that calling?
Your heart for ministry is huge. Your availability shouldn’t be limited by your resources.
Start your ChurchCalls.ai account today and never miss another call that matters.
Because every call is someone reaching toward God. And every person matters too much to miss.
Small church, big impact. That’s what we’re here for.
