How many will follow is a question that every pastor and church leader grapples with at some point in their ministry. You pour your heart into sermons, counsel the hurting, pray for revival, and invest deeply in people’s lives—yet some still walk away, leaving you to wonder if your efforts are truly making a difference.

The truth is, even Jesus asked this question. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and taught crowds that numbered in the thousands. But when it came time for the cross, how many remained? Very few. If you’re feeling discouraged in ministry, you’re not alone—and this article will encourage you to stay faithful to your calling.

Jesus and the Question of Who Would Follow

Jesus had unbelievable crowds. Thousands pressed in to see Him, climbed trees for a glimpse, and tore through rooftops to get to Him. But He knew something that every pastor, preacher, and ministry leader must understand: Many will come, but few will truly follow.

They followed Him for the miracles. They followed Him for the free food. They followed Him as long as there was blessing without sacrifice.

But when the road to the cross became clear, they left.

When Jesus hung on the cross, where were the thousands He had healed, taught, and fed? Gone. Only John, His mother, and a handful of others remained.

Does this sound familiar?

Maybe you’ve given your all to people—preaching, mentoring, counseling, and encouraging—only to watch them walk away. You wonder, “Was it all for nothing?”

The answer? Absolutely not.

The Fickleness of People and the Faithfulness of God

People are fickle—that’s why the Bible compares them to sheep (Isaiah 53:6). They wander when the next exciting thing comes along. They leave for greener pastures. They forget the sacrifices made for them.

But while people are fickle, God is faithful.

Jesus never measured His success by the size of the crowd. He was never impressed by numbers. He was looking for true followers.

And as a pastor or church leader, so should you.

Ministry Can Feel Like a Lonely Road

If you’ve ever wondered, “Does my work matter?”, take heart—you’re in good company.

• Noah preached righteousness for 120 years while people mocked him. In the end, only his family followed.

• Moses led millions out of Egypt, yet spent 40 years with a rebellious people who constantly questioned him.

• Elijah stood alone against 450 false prophets, crying out to God while others wavered.

• Paul traveled, planted churches, mentored leaders—but in the end, he wrote, “Only Luke is with me” (2 Timothy 4:11).

The loneliness of ministry is not a sign of failure. It is often proof of obedience.

Focus on the Faithful Few

Yes, some people will walk away. Some will come for the blessings but not the commitment. Some will leave for something more exciting, easier, or entertaining.

But some will stay.

And those are the ones who matter.

Look at John. When the others fled, he stayed. He was at the foot of the cross. He was at the empty tomb. He was in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost. He was on Patmos receiving the final revelation of Jesus.

Every pastor needs a John.

Not everyone will follow. But some will. And they are worth it.

Stop Measuring Success by Numbers

It’s easy to fall into the trap of numbers.

• How many people attended service?

• How many new visitors did we have?

• How many responded to the altar call?

While growth is good, it’s dangerous to measure success by the size of a crowd.

Even King David fell into this trap. When he numbered Israel to measure his success, God rebuked him (2 Samuel 24:1-10).

Success in ministry is not about numbers—it’s about faithfulness.

Jesus never commanded us to count followers. He commanded us to make disciples.

Your Job is to Lead—Not to Control the Outcome

How many will follow? The answer is simple: That’s not your burden to carry.

• You cannot control who follows—you can only lead.

• You cannot force people to be faithful—you can only be faithful yourself.

• You cannot guarantee their commitment—you can only remain committed.

You were never called to carry people—you were called to point them to Jesus.

Encouragement for Pastors: What to Do When You Feel Like No One Is Following

If you’re struggling with discouragement in ministry, here’s what you need to do:

1. Shift Your Focus from Numbers to Discipleship

It’s not about how many come—it’s about who grows. Pour into the faithful. Mentor your John.

2. Trust That Every Seed You Sow Will Bear Fruit

Not every seed sprouts immediately. Some seeds take years to grow. Keep planting faithfully.

3. Let God Handle the Results

You are responsible for obedience—not outcomes. Keep leading. Keep preaching. Keep serving.

4. Don’t Let the Fickle Discourage You

Even Jesus lost followers. Paul was abandoned. You are not alone.

5. Stay Faithful to Your Calling

At the end of the day, it’s not about how many followed—it’s about whether you were faithful to the mission.

Final Thoughts: Lead Strong. Lead Fearless. Lead Faithful.

So how many will follow?

Maybe thousands. Maybe a few. Maybe only one.

But that’s not your concern.

Your job is to lead with faithfulness. To preach the Word in season and out of season. To pour into the ones who stay.To trust God with the results.

Jesus didn’t call you to count followers. He called you to make disciples.

So keep leading. Keep serving. Keep preaching. And never forget: God is the one who brings the increase.

About Pastor James Smith

Pastor James Smith, Valparaiso, Indiana – Founder of PreachIt.org, OpportunityHope.org, and PastoralHelps.com.

He equips pastors worldwide with sermons, leadership tools, and encouragement, while also caring for orphaned and at-risk children in West Bengal, India through OpportunityHope. Beyond the orphanage and school, OpportunityHope provides clean water wells, livestock, and other humanitarian helps to families and villages in need. Additional books, leadership training, and mentoring resources are available through PastoralHelps.com.