The Small Church Ministry Podcast

What if there’s more going on beneath the surface than we realize? In this conversation with Dr. Amy Oberg, we’re talking mental health, hormones, rest, relationships, and why understanding our brains and bodies actually belongs in conversations about faith. And yes, we’re going there with some of the things the church has gotten wrong along the way.Listen in for:Why mental health belongs in the conversation for ALL of usBrain, body and spirit, and what happens when we separate pieces that were meant to work togetherThe wild reality of women’s hormones, emotions, bodies, and seasonsWhy Amy says churches need mental health literacy, not mental health clinicsWhat can change when we get curious, slow down, and actually listen to peopleCONNECT WITH DR. AMY OBERGhttps://www.amyoberg.com/draoRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin the Everyday InfluenceJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

Women are woven through almost every part of small-church ministry, and some of their biggest influence happens in relationships, not official roles. But while churches invest in ministry ideas and practical skills, we often assume the human side of ministry will just come naturally. What if that's something we can get better at too?Listen in for:➡️ Why the ministry of women is much bigger than Women's Ministry➡️ The relational influence that never shows up on a ministry list➡️ Why good intentions don't automatically create healthy influence➡️ What CONTEXT, SELF, and PEOPLE have to do with developing women, not just ministry skills➡️ Why developing women should matter to the whole churchRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin the Everyday InfluenceJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

After years of equipping small churches with practical ideas, my thinking has shifted. Great ministry ideas matter, but they’re only one part of equipping small-church leaders and volunteers with what they need to lead well, develop people, and build healthier churches.Listen in for: ➡️ Why I’m officially resigning as the “Idea Girl” for small churches➡️ What’s changed in how I think about equipping small-church leaders and volunteers➡️ The four areas I believe we need to get better at➡️ Why understanding ourselves and other people belongs in ministry training➡️ What this shift means for Small Church Ministry going forwardRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin the Everyday InfluenceJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

Your small church wants to reach new families. You’re planning events, finding volunteers, inviting people, and trying hard, but sometimes the families you’re hoping to reach still aren’t coming. In this episode, we’re looking underneath the outreach ideas to question some of our assumptions about today’s families, what “successful” outreach actually means, and whether trying harder is really the answer.In this episode:➡️ Why it matters that we want to reach new families➡️ The assumptions we may be making about what today’s families actually want and need➡️ Why a successful event doesn’t necessarily lead to connection with your church➡️ The difference between creating a transaction and building a relationship➡️ Why your small church probably doesn’t need to try harder, but may need to start somewhere differentRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin the Everyday InfluenceJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

Churches are made up of people, and people aren't healthy all the time. So what do we do when church leadership isn't at its best? In this episode, we're talking about how to recognize unhealthy patterns, respond wisely, and become healthier ourselves along the way.Inside this episode:➡️ Why not every difficulty equals an unhealthy church➡️ Common unhealthy patterns that often get normalized➡️ Questions to ask before speaking up, staying, or stepping away➡️ How to support your church without carrying what isn't yoursRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin the Everyday InfluenceCheck out our upcoming eventsJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

Most churches don't struggle because people don't care. They struggle because they're trying to solve today's challenges with yesterday's ideas.In this episode, we share one of our favorite strategies for creating a culture of learning that helps overcome resistance to change, develop volunteers, and move our churches forward. We'll also pull back the curtain on why Small Church Ministry has invested so heavily in online events over the last six years, and why we hope they become more than just another event on the calendar.In this episode:Why fresh perspectives help churches move forwardHow outside voices create new conversationsWhy hope is one of the most practical things you can buildHow online events can become part of your church's culture, not just your calendarRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin the Everyday InfluenceCheck out our upcoming eventsJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

What if one of the most important things your church could do isn't add another program, but intentionally develop the people you already have? Recorded live at our Leading Well in a Small Church Conference, Laurie Graham Ertl shares why healthy churches don't depend on one pastor working harder. They grow as everyday people learn to build trust, take ownership, solve problems wisely, and become the kind of people healthy churches are built on.RESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin the Everyday InfluenceJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

Reaching your community starts with understanding your community. Pastor Patrick Dailey explains why the words churched, unchurched, and dechurched matter more than ever, what it means to minister in a post-Christian culture, and how small churches can create natural opportunities to build relationships with the people around them.In this episode:➡️ What it means to minister to the churched, the unchurched, and the dechurched➡️ Why "post-Christian" changes the conversation for today's church➡️ How a family STEAM Night became a bridge into the community➡️ Why small churches are uniquely positioned for this momentCONNECT WITH PATRICK DAILEYontariocommunitychurch.orgpatrickjosephdailey.cominstagram.com/iampatrickdaileyRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Leading Well Conference: www.smallchurchsummits.comJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

The church is changing. The question is whether we're willing to change with it. In this conversation, Dr. K. Kale Yu shares why the future of the small church won't be built on better programs or bigger budgets, but on ordinary people who are equipped to live out their faith every day.In this episode:➡️ Why today's church is facing more than a decline in attendance➡️ The mistake many churches are making when trying to "fix" ministry➡️ Why the future of the church depends on everyday people, not just pastors➡️ What small churches can learn from the changing culture around them➡️ One challenge every pastor needs to hear about leading the church into the futureCONNECT WITH DR. K. KALE YUkkaleyu.netEnkindle: Reviving the Church from Within (The Spark Initiative): a.co/d/07fF1HilRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Leading Well Conference: www.smallchurchsummits.comJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

What if the future of your church isn't determined by how many people attend on Sunday, but by the difference you make the rest of the week? In this episode, Pastor Raymond Cabello shares how his church shifted from focusing inward to becoming a trusted, active presence in its community. You'll hear practical ideas for building partnerships, serving with limited resources, and helping your small church make a bigger impact right where God has placed it.In this episode:➡️ Why serving your community starts with a mindset shift➡️ How to build meaningful partnerships with schools, nonprofits, businesses, and other churches➡️ Practical ways to make a big impact with a small budget and a small congregation➡️ How opening your church beyond Sunday can strengthen your community presence➡️ Encouragement for pastors leading churches that feel small, stuck, or overlookedCONNECT WITH PASTOR RAYMOND CABELLOcrosskeysbaptistchurch.orgfacebook.com/CrossKeysBCinstagram.com/crosskeysyoutube.com/@crosskeysbctiktok.com/@pastor_rayRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Leading Well Conference: www.smallchurchsummits.comJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

I've been told more than once that the real leverage point in a church is the pastor. Get the pastor healthy, and everything else will follow. I don't buy it. In this episode, we're talking about why pastors matter, why ordinary people matter too, and why healthy churches are usually built by lots of people growing, participating, and taking ownership together.In this episode, we're talking about:Why we've put so much pressure on pastorsThe role ordinary people play in a healthy churchWhat shared ownership actually looks likeWhy participation matters more than observationHow healthy churches are built togetherRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin the Network for $6 for your first month here!Join our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

Great volunteers aren't just gifted. They keep growing. In this episode, we're talking about why practical ministry skills matter more than many churches realize and how growing yourself may be one of the greatest gifts you can give your church.In this episode, we're talking about:Why some volunteers create more impact than othersThe difference between caring and effectivenessWhy practical skills aren't competing with faithHow communication, conflict resolution, and leadership skills shape ministry outcomesWhy healthy churches are built by people who never stop learningRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin the Network for $6 for your first month here!Join our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

"I'm just a volunteer."That one phrase - one we've all heard and many of us have said - reveals a bigger problem than we realize. In this episode, we're talking about what happens when churches concentrate growth, development, and learning into a handful of people while everyone else is expected to simply help. We'll explore why healthy churches aren't built by a few highly developed leaders.In this episode, we're talking about:Why "I'm just a volunteer" may reveal a deeper beliefThe hidden cost of reserving growth for a few peopleWhy staying small can feel safer than growingHow healthy churches develop people, not just leadersWhat happens when more people learn, grow, and take ownershipRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin the Network for $6 for your first month here!Join our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

We spend a lot of time talking about pastors, church leaders, and people with titles. But what if I told you some of the most influential people in your church will never stand on a stage, lead a meeting, or sit on a board? In this episode, we're talking about the people shaping church culture every single week - and why the future of many small churches isn't sitting in the pastor's office.In this episode, we're talking about:Why influence and authority aren't the same thingHow everyday people impact a church's healthWhy the future of your church isn't sitting in one officeWhat influence actually looks like in a small churchRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

Burnout recovery goes deeper than just taking a break. In this episode, we’re talking about why surface-level burnout advice often isn’t enough, the deeper patterns underneath emotional exhaustion, and why so many people in ministry still feel depleted even after trying to rest, set boundaries, or “do less.”Listen in for:Why quick burnout fixes often don’t create lasting changeDeeper patterns underneath emotional exhaustion and overfunctioningHow chronic pressure and overresponsibility can reshape our nervous systemsWhy many people struggle to actually recover, even after restingRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

A lot of people in ministry feel like they’re constantly choosing who to disappoint. The church needs something. The team needs something. People want access to you. Your family needs you too. And eventually, it starts feeling impossible to hold it all together without losing yourself somewhere in the process. In this episode, we’re talking about:The pressure to always be available in ministryWhy constant availability slowly drains usWhat happens when we keep leading without space to recoverHow guilt and responsibility quietly shape our choicesReconnecting with Jesus outside constant outputRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

Burnout is real … but a lot of the time, we’re not as stuck as we think we are. We say we’re overwhelmed, but we’re still saying yes, still filling gaps, still stepping in “just this once.” At some point, we have to get honest about where we actually have a choice. Because if we don’t use it, we slowly build a version of ministry we don’t even like being part of. Where we still have more choice than we’re acting as we doThe difference between real limits and self-created pressureWhat it sounds like when we start blaming people, ministry, or the systemSmall shifts that move you out of reaction and back into agencyRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

At some point, we have to admit that recruiting isn’t fixing our volunteer problem. We keep planning … and then trying to get people to care about it afterward. And that’s where things break down.But what if the real shift happens before anything is planned? When people are part of the process early, something changes. They don’t just hear the plan- they help shape it. And when that happens, ownership follows.In this episode:Why ownership starts before the plan is finishedThe simple shift that moves people from the sidelines to the fieldWhat most of us miss when we try to “build buy-in”A different way to gather input that actually leads somewhereWhy this works—and why it feels so different from typical planningRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

Most people don’t say no to serving - they say no to how it feels. And often, that feeling comes from how ministry is built in the first place. When a few key shifts happen, things become more relational, more sustainable, and something people actually want to be part of.In this episode:Why people step back from serving (even when they care)The 4 shifts that change how ministry feels from the insideWhat happens when you move from managing people to building ministry with themHow small changes create a completely different experienceRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

Most churches assume they have a numbers problem. They’re trying to get more volunteers, when what really needs attention is the experience people walk into. It’s rarely a recruiting problem. It’s a culture issue that started long before the ask - shaped by what people have seen, heard, and come to expect from “volunteering.”In this episode:Why “we need more volunteers” is often the wrong starting pointWhat’s really influencing whether people say yes - or quietly opt outThe hidden patterns that make ministry feel like drudgery instead of joyWhy this changes how you approach everything … even if you’ve tried all there is to recruit more volunteersRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Small Church KidMin + Youth Ministry Conference: Summer EditionJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

When everything gets inconsistent, connection matters more - not more programming. Summer might actually be the easiest time to bring people together in simpler, more natural ways. Not perfect, not polished. Just real moments across ages that help your church feel like a community again. If you try one or two of these, you might be surprised what happens.Why mixing ages can actually make summer easier (not harder)Simple ways to create connection without extra volunteersLow-prep ideas that work even with inconsistent attendanceHow this shifts the feel of your whole churchRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Small Church KidMin + Youth Ministry Conference: Summer EditionJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

Every summer, we quietly start competing—with travel, sports, family time—and it gets exhausting. But what if the problem isn’t where people are going … It’s how we’re responding to it? People having full, busy lives isn’t a threat to the church. It might actually be the starting point for better ministry.The tension between church and real life in the summerWhy we feel frustrated (even when we don’t say it out loud)What changes when we stop competing and start noticingMeeting people where they already areRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Small Church KidMin + Youth Ministry Conference: Summer EditionJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

What if the thing we keep trying to push through… is actually the thing we need? Summer changes the rhythm of everything - attendance, energy, schedules - and instead of fighting it, we might be invited to work with it. Not as a setback, but as a shift. This isn’t about lowering the bar; it’s about leading differently. Why summer always feels “off” (and why that’s not failure)The pressure to keep everything running the sameLetting go of school-year expectationsWhat it looks like to lead the season you’re actually inRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Small Church KidMin + Youth Ministry Conference: Summer EditionJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

We close Stop Doing This to Volunteers: Top Mistakes Our Churches Are Making with one of the most uncomfortable conversations of all — quitting. When there’s no clear exit, service slowly turns into obligation. In this episode, we talk about why healthy ministries build off-ramps on purpose — and how giving people freedom actually builds more trust, not less.In this episode, we cover:Why every volunteer role should have a clear and normal way to endHow guilt-based retention quietly damages cultureWhy vacation days, sick days, and honest capacity conversations matter in church tooWhat it looks like to honor people beyond their roleRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

In Mistake #6 of Stop Doing This to Volunteers: Top Mistakes Our Churches Are Making, we rethink recruitment altogether. Instead of building programs and then scrambling to fill roles, what if our people shaped our ministry? This episode explores the difference between recruiting and developing - and why unique churches grow when we build around the gifts already in the room.In this episode, we cover:The difference between recruiting to fill roles and developing people over timeWhy cookie-cutter ministry models keep us stuckHow to let the people God brings determine the direction of your ministryWhy development builds long-term health (and recruiting often protects our programs)RESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin our free Facebook CommunitySupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

This episode in Stop Doing This to Volunteers: Top Mistakes Our Churches Are Making looks at how we unintentionally sideline volunteers before they even begin. We’ve been taught in leadership to make plans first and ask for help later. Turns out, that’s a great way to make people feel unnecessary, unimportant, and often unseen.In this episode, we cover:How early planning decisions limit participationWhy people disengage when they’re brought in too lateWhat shared ownership actually looks like in small churchesRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin our free Facebook CommunitySupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

In Stop Doing This to Volunteers: Top Mistakes Our Churches Are Making, we’re talking about meetings - and how they often do more harm than good. We say we value people’s time, but when we gather by default instead of by necessity, purpose, or engagement, we teach people that showing up doesn’t actually matter.In this episode, we cover:Why meetings are often more about leader comfort than team supportHow requiring presence can quietly drain goodwillEasy alternatives that respect people’s time and still develop volunteers like rockstarsRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin our free Facebook CommunitySupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

In this episode of Stop Doing This to Volunteers: Top Mistakes Our Churches Are Making, we talk about something subtle but powerful: the way our language and posture shape culture. When we treat people like “just volunteers,” we reinforce hierarchy instead of partnership, and “helping” instead of ownership.In this episode, we cover:How subtle language changes send powerful messagesHow hierarchy creeps in without us noticingSmall shifts that move us toward shared ownershipRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin our free Facebook CommunitySupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

In Stop Doing This to Volunteers: Top Mistakes Our Churches Are Making, this episode looks at a mistake that feels kind - but ends up weakening people and teams over time. When we over-simplify roles in the name of “helping,” we don’t just remove responsibility - we remove meaning. People don’t stay because a job is easy. They stay because it matters.In this episode, we cover:How doing too much for people isn't always helpfulWhy easier isn’t the same as healthierPeople who feel needed show up with different energyRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin our free Facebook CommunitySupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

This episode kicks off our Stop Doing This to Volunteers series by naming a simple but overlooked leadership habit: never revisiting where someone serves once they’ve said yes. We talk about the fear that keeps churches from inviting movement, and the belief many people carry that enjoying their role — or wanting something different — is somehow selfish instead of faithful.In this episode, we cover:Why long-term service doesn’t always mean long-term fitThe fear that asking “what would you rather be doing?” will leave you short-handedWhy liking what we do - and wanting something different - doesn’t make us less holyRESOURCES MENTIONEDJoin our free Facebook CommunityGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

Your small church already has a digital ministry - whether you’ve planned for it or not. Through your website, social media, and emails, you’re constantly communicating who you are and what people can expect, sometimes clearly and sometimes unintentionally sending the wrong message. In this episode, we talk about why that matters more than we think and how small, thoughtful shifts can help your digital presence reflect your heart, not just your information.In this episode, we talk about:How churches unintentionally communicate confusion, pressure, or disconnection onlineWhy your digital presence shapes trust long before someone ever visits in personWhat “digital ministry” actually means for small churches (without adding more work)Simple ways to align your online presence with the experience you want people to haveConnect with Leslie Kons: studiokons.comJoin our free Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

We’re sharing something special this week. Right after our Women’s Ministry for Small Churches Conference, we’re bringing you the opening mainstage session - a conversation that pushes back on the pressure-filled, program-heavy version of outreach many of us were handed.In this episode, we explore:Why traditional outreach models often don’t work in small churchesHow Jesus-centered outreach starts with people, not programsWhat it looks like to live with our communities instead of trying to draw people inSimple, relational ways to practice outreach without burnout or pressureGet the replays before Wednesday at midnight! www.smallchurchsummits.comJoin our free Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

So much of what forms our faith doesn’t happen in programs, events, or official roles. It happens through real women who show up, listen, love, and stay. In this episode, Traci Mason and I share personal stories of women in our church lives who shaped us in lasting ways without ever being “in charge.” This is an honest, grateful conversation about influence that’s relational, faithful, and far more impactful than we often realize.In this episode, we talk about:The women who shaped our faith through presence, consistency, and careWhy informal, relational influence often forms people more deeply than organized ministryHow small, faithful actions ripple through a church over timeWhat this kind of influence invites all of us to notice - and becomeConnect with Traci Mason: [email protected] your FREE ticket to the Women's Ministry for Small Churches Conference! >> www.smallchurchsummits.comJoin our free Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

So much women’s ministry is built on calendars, themes, and events - and yet many women still feel unseen, overwhelmed, or disconnected. In this episode, Jessica Francavilla and I talk about what it looks like to actually discern what women need in a given season, and why programs alone often miss the deeper spiritual and emotional realities women are carrying. We share how a small, multi-generational team listened, paid attention, and responded in ways that were more relational, more human, and far more impactful than another event.In This Episode, We Talk About:Why well-intentioned programs often miss what women are really walking throughHow discernment starts with listening, not planningWhat a multi-generational approach reveals that one age group can’t see aloneHow presence and responsiveness can reshape ministry without adding more to the calendarConnect with Jessica Francavilla: www.cityoffreedom.info www.livinghopeva.comGet your FREE ticket to the Women's Ministry for Small Churches Conference! >> www.smallchurchsummits.comJoin our free Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

After decades of ministry in small churches — including years as a pastor’s wife — Abigail Doust has learned what truly serves women and what quietly pushes them away. In this episode, we talk honestly about moving beyond stereotypes, events-for-events’-sake, and one-person leadership, and toward ministry that helps women feel seen, known, and spiritually formed. This is a grounded, experience-rich conversation about gathering women well, building teams, and creating space for authentic faith to grow.In this episode, we talk about: The difference between women’s ministry and a ministry that actually serves womenWhy many women quietly avoid church events — and what changes thatHow small teams and shared leadership create healthier ministryWhat discipleship looks like when we focus on the whole person, not attendanceConnect with Abigail Doust: equippingforimpact.comGet your FREE ticket to the Women's Ministry for Small Churches Conference! >> www.smallchurchsummits.comJoin our free Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

Burnout doesn’t happen because your pastor failed, your church is unhealthy, or no one stepped up to help. It happens when we believe we have no choice and keep serving under pressure instead of agency. In this episode, we talk honestly about why burnout isn’t someone else’s fault, why that truth can feel uncomfortable at first, and why it’s also the doorway to real change. You’ll hear: The stories that keep us stuck in burnout without realizing it Why waiting for leadership or circumstances to change rarely brings relief How agency creates options (even when nothing else changes)What it looks like to serve faithfully without burning yourself outJoin our free Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

As we wrap up 2025, we’re looking at the conversations that truly landed with small churches - the episodes and quotes that sparked response, resonance, and even pushback. Topics like decline, pressure, money, conflict, and culture change weren’t just popular; they named real life. In this episode, we explore what that tells us. And why honesty mattered more than neat solutions.You’ll hear:What this year’s most-downloaded episodes and most-shared posts reveal for all of usWhy honest conversations drew people in, even when they were uncomfortableThe unexpected hope running through some tough topicsA grounded way to close the year and look ahead with more peace and hope than everGet $20 off your first month of the Small Church Network! (Hit the monthly payment option to redeem): www.clc.thrivecart.com/small-church-networkJoin our free Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

This final episode in the finance series is a gentle reminder that the weight of your church’s future was never meant to sit on your shoulders. We talk about the very real year-end stress small churches feel, how Jesus measures ministry differently than we do, and why rest is an act of faithfulness, not neglect. If your church feels tired or stretched this month, this conversation will take the pressure down a notch.Listen in to hear:Why December pressure feels so personal - and why it isn’t the whole storyHow Christmas reframes the way we measure ministry, impact, and “success”How to lead with calm, grounded presence when everyone feels the tensionJoin our free Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

Money conversations in small churches get tense for reasons that go way deeper than dollars - fear, pressure, old stories, and unspoken roles all show up at the table. In this episode, we talk honestly about why finances can feel so emotional and how clearer, healthier conversations bring the room back together. It’s real, relatable, and the kind of clarity that lets everyone breathe again.You’ll learn:Why money in a church is never “just numbers” - it’s identity, trust, and responsibilityHow fear makes financial conversations smaller, quieter, or more reactiveThe everyday ways power can shape decisions without anyone noticingWhy avoiding money talk creates more anxiety, not lessHow simple, mission-first communication brings peace, connection, and honesty back into the roomJoin our free Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

Most small-church budgets weren’t really created; they just grew over time. Leftovers from last year, assumptions from a decade ago, and line items no one can quite explain anymore. And when a budget is shaped by nostalgia, fear, or “what we used to do,” it can make a church feel like it’s failing even when it’s not. In this episode, we explore how to see your budget as a story and how to shift that story from scarcity to possibility.You’ll learn:How churches unintentionally build budgets around fear and leftoversThe difference between maintaining the past and investing in what’s alive nowHow to make mission-first decisions with what you already haveSimple ways to start a healthier financial culture, even if this year’s budget is already setJoin our free Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

This episode unpacks one of the most misunderstood issues in small churches: declining giving. It’s not that people have stopped being generous - generosity is everywhere. The real challenge is that many churches have slowly lost the connection between giving and a visible, meaningful impact. When we stop assuming stinginess and start rebuilding trust, clarity, and a real mission, generosity has a way of returning naturally.You’ll learn:Why generosity isn’t dying (but obligation-based giving is)The emotional and relational reasons people redirect their givingHow transparency and mission rebuild trustPractical ways small churches can reconnect giving to real ministry impactJoin our free Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

A large part of a small church budget often goes to paying the pastor. Most small churches assume there’s only one “real” model of leadership - usually the one we’ve always known - and anything different feels like failure, pride, or danger. But there’s no single “biblical” or “more noble” model here. Healthy, vibrant churches exist in every structure: fully paid, bi-vocational, and completely volunteer-led.This episode lifts the shame, clears out the judgment, and helps churches learn:Why there isn’t one “right” model (and why that’s such good news)How assumptions, pride, and tradition shape our views without us noticingThe strengths + limits of paid, bi-vocational, and volunteer pastor modelsWhy most tension around leadership positions come from unspoken expectationsHow to discern whether it’s time to rethink your model when things feel stretched or scaryJoin our free Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

This episode reframes the entire money conversation by separating the Church from the nonprofit structure that houses it. We name the fear, pressure, and assumptions that swirl around finances - and then clarify why revenue impacts the organization, not the mission. When we stop confusing the two, financial decisions get calmer, clearer, and more grounded.You’ll learn:The difference between the Church and the 501(c)(3) that supports itWhy money isn’t needed to save your church (but it might save your building)How identifying fear and spiritual pressure around finances is a starting point for clarityThe real cost of trying to raise money to keep the lights on - and how a shift can save your church cultureCheck out podcast episode 187: When Your Church Feels Like It’s Dying: What to Do (and What’s Still True)Join our free Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

Finding the right kind of help shouldn’t feel complicated - but between long waitlists, confusing titles, and church mixed messages about therapy, it often does.In the final part of the Do No Harm series, Laurie and licensed therapist Kati Quigley talk about what makes finding help so hard, and why it’s still worth the effort. Together, they unpack the difference between a counselor, coach, and spiritual director, why “biblical counseling” can unintentionally do harm, and how to find affordable, faith-aligned options that actually support healing.Connect with Kati Quigley: katiquigleycounseling.orgJoin our free Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

In small churches, we’re often the first people others turn to when life falls apart - whether we’re on staff, leading worship, teaching kids, or serving on the elder board. In Part Two of the Do No Harm series, Laurie and licensed therapist Kati Quigley talk about what churches can do to help create more emotionally healthy spaces. This isn’t about becoming counselors, giving advice, or providing solutions. It’s about practicing empathy, allowing people to lean into their own painful places, listening well, and partnering with counselors and professionals we trust.In this episode:How small churches can normalize therapy and mental health supportWhy awareness of reactions matters (our own and others) in ministry meetingsHow to listen better and create safer, judgment-free spacesThe value of clear boundaries and trusted referral listsConnect with Kati Quigley:katiquigleycounseling.orgJoin our free Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

When the Church tries to heal what it doesn’t understand, even good intentions can cause real harm. In this first conversation of the Do No Harm series, Laurie and licensed therapist Kati Quigley talk about the unseen damage that happens when untrained pastoral or biblical counseling takes the place of trauma-informed care. It’s not about blame; it’s about awareness, wisdom, and protecting the people we’re called to love well.In this episode:The difference between spiritual care and clinical therapyWhy quoting Scripture can backfire for trauma survivorsWhat “do no harm” really looks like in ministryThe emotional fallout when help hurtsFirst steps toward safer, trauma-informed spiritual careConnect with Kati Quigley:katiquigleycounseling.orgJoin our free Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

In this Church Spotlight, Ruth A. Popkin shares how her small church started A Really Free Market - a ministry built on listening, not assumptions. Instead of following trends, they followed people, meeting real needs with dignity and creativity. It’s a story of simple generosity that’s reshaping how small churches think about outreach.Listen in for:How to listen to your community before deciding what they “need”The difference between following people and following trendsWhat makes A Really Free Market unique (and doable for any church size)How trust, conversation, and consistency open real doors for ministryConnect with Ruth A. Popkin:www.facebook.com/ReallyFreeMarketplacewww.blcin.com/the-really-really-free-marketCheck out podcast episode 166: We Added Dignity To A Food Pantry With A Sit-Down Cafe | with Alastair & Nicola Bruch: www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/166-church-spotlight-we-added-dignity-to-a-food/id1583416568?i=1000697609047Join our free Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

When a pastor retires, moves, or suddenly steps away, small churches often feel lost in the in-between. If this is hitting home for you, you’re not alone. Pastoral transitions are on the rise as more pastors retire and fewer step into ministry roles. In this episode, Laurie talks with Kari Bartkus, who served on her church’s pastoral transition team, about what it really looks like to help your church through a season like this—without panic, burnout, or losing your sense of purpose.In this episode:What to focus on when your church is between pastorsHow to care for people and keep communication openWays to fill the gaps without burning out a few key volunteersBuilding trust and teamwork in uncertain seasonsJoin our free Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

If your church feels “too old” or “too small” to reach young families, this episode is packed with simple, practical ideas you can try this week. We’re talking about how small churches can connect with young families—not by doing more, but by showing up differently. It’s not about flashy programs or keeping up with trends. It’s about presence, warmth, and creating spaces where tired parents feel seen, supported, and safe. Because maybe your steady, faithful little church is exactly what they need right now.In this episode, we talk about:Why waiting for young families to “wander in” doesn’t work anymoreWhere to actually find families in your community and how to connect with no strings attachedHow to welcome families once they walk through the doorWhy small, older churches might be the most relevant ones of allJoin our free Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

You don’t need a title to change the culture of your church. You’re already carrying influence—whether anyone names it or not. In this Lead Well replay, we’ll talk about how emotional health, spiritual maturity, and everyday presence shift the room around us—and why that matters more than chasing status or hustling harder.What you’ll hear in this episode:Why influence isn’t about titles, but about how you show upThe link between emotional health and the culture women create in small churchesHow to recognize the impact you’re already making (without burning out)A freer, more intentional way to carry your voice and presenceGet the Lead Well Conference Replays here: www.smallchurchsummits.comJoin our free Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRESOURCES MENTIONEDGet your FREE ticket to the Women Reaching Women Conference! smallchurchsummits.comSupport the showSUBSCRIBE & REVIEWIf you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!FOLLOW US:➡️  Website: smallchurchministry.com➡️  Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry➡️  Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership