"I'm assuming he meant stronger."
Silver lining? You have to be KIDDING!
A smaller church means less people looking for the salvation of their Souls.
The sheep will find a church.
I think he meant stranger. That being so different that it stands out from the rest of the world.
Go to a megachurch, many have incorporated much of the modern culture into their gatherings. So much so that there is really nothing different going on there.
A church should be a bit strange to the rest of the world.
You wrote:
“A smaller church means less people looking for the salvation of their Souls.”
-— THat is not the whole story, thankfully. God is in control, He knows what He is doing:
Rom 3:10
As it is written:
“There is none righteous, no, not one;
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
John 6:44 (NKJV)
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him;
Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV)
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.