All Episodes
The Small Church Ministry Podcast — 245 episodes
245: Mental Health, Hormones, Rest & Relationships: Understanding Women in the Church | with Dr. Amy Oberg
244: The Women Who Make Small Churches Work
243: I’m Resigning as the Idea Girl for Small Churches
242: Your Church Wants to Reach New Families. So Why Aren't They Coming?
241: Healthy Responses to Unhealthy Church Leadership
240: Is "We've Always Done It This Way" Keeping Your Small Church Stuck?
239: Healthy Churches Grow by Developing Everyday People | Leading Well Conference
238: Reaching the Churched, the Unchurched & the Dechurched | with Pastor Patrick Dailey
237: The Future Of The Small Church: What Has To Change? | with Dr. K. Kale Yu
236: How to Make Your Small Church Matter in the Community
235: We've Expected Too Much from Pastors - and Underestimated Everyone Else
234: Great Volunteers Need More Than Spiritual Gifts
233: "I'm Just a Volunteer" Might Feel Safer. But It's a Myth.
232: The Most Influential People in Your Church Might Not Be the Pastor
231: Why “Take a Break” & “Just Say No” Aren’t Fixing Ministry Burnout
230: You Can’t Help Everyone (And It’s Exhausting)
229: Ministry Burnout Is Real (But It’s Not Inevitable)
228: How to Get People to Step Up at Church (Without Asking for Volunteers)
227: Why People Stop Volunteering at Church (And How To Fix It)
226: Why You’re Struggling to Get Church Volunteers (It’s Not What You Think)
225: 4 Simple Intergenerational Ideas to Stay Connected This Summer
224: Maybe Sports Aren’t the Enemy (And Neither Are Vacations)
223: What If Summer Is Exactly What Your Ministry Needs
222: Mistake #7: Not Giving Them an Easy Way to Quit | Church Volunteer Series
221: Mistake #6: Recruiting (Yep, Just Stop It) | Church Volunteer Series
220: Mistake #5: Planning First, Asking for Help Second | Church Volunteer Series
219: Mistake #4: Requiring Them to Come to Meetings | Church Volunteer Series
218: Mistake #3: Treating Volunteers Like They’re Volunteers | Church Volunteer Series
217: Mistake #2: Making Their Jobs Easier For Them | Church Volunteer Series
216: Mistake #1: Not Asking Them What They’d Rather Be Doing | Church Volunteer Series
215: The Digital Ministry Your Small Church Is Already Doing (And How to Do It Better) | with Leslie Kons
214: Outside the Bubble: Why Our Outreach Isn’t Working & What We’ve Been Missing
213: The Church Women Who Shape Our Faith (Without Ever Holding a Title) | with Traci Mason
212: What Women Really Need (And Why Church Programs Keep Missing It) | with Jessica Francavilla
211: What Actually Works in Ministry With Women | with Abigail Doust
210: Burnout Isn’t Anyone Else’s Fault (And That’s Actually Good News For the Church)
209: Small Churches Got Honest: What 2025 Revealed About Pressure, Hope, & What’s Next
208: Rest This Christmas: Jesus Holds Your Church Together (Not Your Year-End Numbers) | Church Finance Series (Part 6)
207: When Money Gets Messy: Fear, Power, and the Conversations Small Churches Avoid | Church Finance Series (Part 5)
206: Rethinking Your Church Budget: From Scarcity to a Story of Possibility | Church Finance Series (Part 4)
205: Why People Aren’t Giving to Churches (And the Hopeful Shift That Brings Generosity Back) | Church Finance Series (Part 3)
204: Models That Work: Paid Pastors, Bi-Vocational Leaders, and Fully Volunteer Churches | Church Finance Series (Part 2)
203: Money & Mission: Why Revenue Doesn’t Save the Church | Church Finance Series (Part 1)
202: Do No Harm - Sorting Through Counselors, Coaches & Confusion (and Why It’s Worth the Effort )| with Licensed Therapist Kati Quigley
201: Do No Harm - What Churches Can Do to Support Real Healing | with Licensed Therapist Kati Quigley
200: Do No Harm - The Hidden Damage of Pastoral and Biblical Counseling | with Licensed Therapist Kati Quigley
199: Church Spotlight: A Really Free Market - How One Small Church Is Reaching Its Community | with Ruth A. Popkin
198: Navigating Pastoral Transition Without Losing Your Peace (or Your People)
197: Reaching Young Families In An Older Church: What Small Churches Can Really Offer
196: Say It Louder for the People in the Back! Women, Small Churches, & Culture Change
195: "We’ve Always Done It This Way." The Small Church Lie That Keeps Us Stuck | with Ebonie Mukasa
194: Pastor. Pastor’s Wife. Volunteer. Leader. Are We Really That Different? | with Kristen Joy Humiston
193: The “Strong Woman” Lie That’s Breaking Us In Small Churches | with Dee Bryce
192: Women, You’re Not Too Emotional (You Might Not Be Emotional Enough) | with Becky Brown
191: Stop Saying People Aren’t Committed - It’s Hurting Your Ministry
190: Grace, Bullies, & Boundaries: How To Stay In The Conversation
189: When “Grace” Protects Bullies: How We Confuse Avoidance With Christlikeness
188: The Small Church Pay Debate: A Question That Drives Me Crazy!
187: When Your Church Feels Like It’s Dying: What to Do (and What’s Still True)
186: Planning Your KidMin Year | with Lauren Jackson
185: Finally, A Children’s Curriculum Made For Two Or More (Literally) | with Ali Thompson
184: Breaking Down Ministry Silos: Why Collaboration Matters in Small Churches
183: Church Spotlight: Building a Church-Wide Team - Involving All Ages in Children’s Ministry | with Heather Harkins
182: We Turned Discipleship into a Lecture: What Happened to Heart & Soul?
181: Let’s Stop Using ‘Biblical’ to Divide the Church
180: When Dysfunction Becomes the Culture—and No One Talks About It
179: Stop Using People: Volunteers Aren’t a Workforce—They’re Your Ministry
178: Church Spotlight: Unity in Action: Small Town Churches Collaborating to Meet Community Needs | with Carla Adams
177: The Small Church Advantage & The Vital Role of Laity | with Teresa Stewart
176: Getting on the Same Page: Trust & Understanding Between Pastor & Volunteers | with Doug Beutler
175: Church Spotlight: Outreach Ideas To Increase Visibility and Connect with Your Community | With Sarah Harlow
174: More Volunteers, Jesus-Style: Developing People, Not Just Programs
173: Recognizing & Connecting With Hurting Kids: Broken Families, Shifting Realities, & Small Churches | with Melissa J. MacDonald
172: Beyond Inclusion: Helping Every Child Find Their Place in Church | with Kim Botto
171: Teaching Today’s Teens: Leveraging Their Limited Availability, Perceived Apathy, & Growing Agency | with Mike Haynes
170: A Great Children's Ministry Doesn’t Require A Building, A Budget, Or A Brand | with Angela Marks
169: Engaging Adults With Disabilities In Your Small Church: Respect, Support, & Connection | with Victoria White
168: Church Spotlight: How A Planning Party Sparked Creativity, Community, and Collaboration | Kelly Wilson
167: Healthy Responses To Church Conflict: What to Do When Silence Isn’t The Solution | Brenna Fields Hayes
166: Church Spotlight: We Added Dignity To A Food Pantry With A Sit-Down Cafe | Alastair & Nicola Bruce
165: Small Churches & Big Events | with Cheri Kulhawick
164: Finding Your Place: Embracing Unique Gifts & Talents In Ministry | with DG Wynn
163: Scheduling Volunteers & Tools That Help | with Justin King
162: 3 Types Of People Who Visit Your Church Website (& Why It Matters) | with Derek Maxson
161: Helping Women Connect, Grow, & Thrive In Different Stages & Seasons
160: Why Copying Other Women’s Ministries Doesn’t Work & How To Find What Does | with Dee Bryce
159: Women’s Ministry & Embracing God’s Unique Assignment For You | with Aimee Nelson
158: Beyond Events: The Incredible Impact Of Organic Relationships In Women's Ministry | with Charmaine Stulp
157: My Favorite End-Of-Year Journaling Prompts
156: Emmanuel “God With Us” & The Power of WITHness in Ministry
155: The Weight Of Christmas & How To Lighten The Load | with Troy Matchett
154: 5 Simple Steps To Stop Othering And Start Including | Accessibility & Inclusion Series Part 6
153: Creating A Welcoming Place For Unchurched Youth & Non-Traditional Family Structures with Sandy Smith | Accessibility & Inclusion Series Part 5
152: Doing Ministry With Those With Disabilities with Rebecca Wall | Accessibility & Inclusion Series Part 4
151: How To Create A Safe Space For Neurodiverse People Of All Ages With Ruth A. Popkin | Accessibility & Inclusion Series Part 3
150: Got Room For Wheels? Let’s Talk Mobility With Joanne Petersen | Accessibility & Inclusion Series Part 2
149: Welcome Place For All: Accessibility, Inclusion, & Belonging In Small Churches | Accessibility & Inclusion Series Part 1
148: Healthy Church Systems: 6 Key Principles Of Trauma-Informed Ministry with Pete Singer
147: Why Using A Blue Christmas Service This Year Can Boost Community Outreach And Increase Connection
146: 4 Steps To Turn Church Conflict Into Peacemaking Possibilities | with Pastor Doug Marshall
145: How To Get Greater Buy-In And Better Attendance In Women’s Ministry
144: Actually Fun (& Meaningful) Games For Smaller Teen Classes & Youth Groups | with Zach Hartman
143: Best FREE Resource For Church Sexual Abuse Prevention & Response With Kris Buckman & Brad Eubank
142: Mental Health Awareness Month & How A Small Church Can Make An Impact | with Laura Howe
141: Building Community In A Disconnected World: Why An Alone Person Is An Emergency | With Rachael Swihart
140: Embracing The Gaps In Youth Ministry With Mike Haynes
139: You're Never Too Old To Learn The Guitar Or Start A Women's Ministry | with Pamela Yates
138: Sunday School Teaching Tips For All Ages | with Waynell Henson
137: Please Don’t Tell Me … “Ministry Would Be Great If It Weren’t For The People”
136: Helping Small Churches Thrive | Interview with Karl Vaters
135: Five Things To Get Unstuck & Experience The Ministry God Has For You
134: How A Small Church Became A Hub For Disaster Relief, Racial Reconciliation, & A K-12 School | with Dr. Dawn Baldwin Gibson
133: Small Church Mindset Shifts, Strategies, & Support | A Story Of Renewal With Allison Marco
132: Church Growth & The Comparison Trap | with Cledra Gross
131: Encouragement From A Small Church Pastor’s Wife | with Joni Topper
130: You Can’t Lead Well If You Don’t Teach Well: Healthy Leadership Is Others-Centered
129: We Can’t Love Well Without Understanding: Church Health & Community
128: You Can’t Be Well, If You Don’t Love Well: Church Health & Loving Others
127: You Can’t Serve Well If You Aren’t Well: Church Health & Personal Healing
126: Balancing Work, Family, & Volunteering At Church | with Bill Gunter
125: A Creative Approach To Midweek Discipleship | with Stephanie Carlson
124: Could A Podcast Work For Your Ministry? It’s Easier Than You Think | with Tim Hull
123: How To Build A Legacy Kids’ Ministry In A Small Church
122: The Genius Envelope Idea For Intergenerational Connection | with Adrienne Dillard
121: Neurodiversity, Storytelling, & Fidget Toys | with Krissy Richardson
120: Why Relationship Comes Before Discipleship With Unchurched Youth | with Pastor Sunny Brown
119: How To Make All-Age Worship Work (& Why We Should) | with Andrew Pressley
118: Children’s Ministry In Small Churches: Here’s The Gift We Have To Offer | with Natalie Frisk
117: 7 Things To Do When You're Tired Of Church Ministry
116: Why Celebrating Mother's Day In Church Is Complicated
115: Recruit & Retain More Volunteers: Make These 5 Changes To Your Volunteer Environment
114: How To Host A Tea Party That Makes An Impact
113: Great Ministry Starts With Where You Are And What You Have
112: Church Growth: Why Numbers Don't Equal Success
111: Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Planning Parties
110: How To Embrace Core Values To Increase Ministry Results, Consistency, & Support
109: From Small Church Pastor To Community Pastor | with Pastor Jeff Shouse
108: 23 Specific Ways To Build Relational Ministry Into Your Life
107: The Top Question To Ask If You Want A Successful Small Church Ministry In 2024
106: 5 Steps To Start A Women's Ministry From Scratch
105: How To Develop More Vision For Your Small Church Ministry
104: How To Help More People Find Your Church | with Justin Nava
103: Help Your Church Move From “More Events” To “More Purpose” | with Becky Sargent
102: Best Care Ministry: Teach People To Care Even When They’re Afraid | with Kari Bartkus
101: Nine Rapid-Fire Answers To Top Small Church Challenges
100: Behind The Scenes At Small Church Ministry With Maggie Dupree
099: 5 Steps To Handle Disagreement & Preserve Unity (Yep, It Can Be Done!)
098: Ministry Exhaustion: How To Recognize Signs & Seasons Before It’s Too Late | with Shannon Carroll
097: Two Strategies To Help Change A Small Church Culture From Numbers-Focused To People-Focused
096: Expert Tips For Better Church Communication & Event Promotion With Barbara Carneiro
095: 5 Keys To Lead Children’s Ministry Well In Small Churches | with Sara Vojtaske
094: Understanding Trauma In The Pews & What It Means For Your Small Church | with Janyne McConnaughey
093: How One Small Church Turned Their Passion For Foster Families Into Statewide Impact & Community Partnerships
092: Small Church Pastors: Shared Expectations, Support, & The Truth About Why They Aren’t Great At Everything
091: Christmas Edition | Easy Tips For Set-Up And Decor That Draw People In To Experience God (Not Just Learn About Him)
090: Effective Outreach: Moving From Programs & Events To Outreach As A Lifestyle | with Ebonie Mukasa
089: Teaching Children In Smaller Settings & The Power Of Object Lessons | With Anne Marie Gosnell
088: Secrets & Strategies To Avoid Ministry Burnout This Christmas
087: The Power Of A Small Church Christmas: Do These 3 Things (No Burnout Required)
086: Teaching Children In The Digital Age: What’s Different & How We Can Do Better | with Brittany Nelson
085: 3 Keys To Start (Or Restart) A Successful Ministry: Women, Children, Outreach, & More
084: Is A Grief Ministry Right For Your Small Church? With Karen Altizer
083: Children’s Ministry In Small Churches: Prioritizing Relationships Over Programming With Tyler Bates
082: Singles Ministry In Small Churches (We Need To Do Better) with Sabrina McDonald
081: Why Loving Volunteers Well Is Infinitely More Important Than Recruiting | Becoming Series Part 5
080: Is A Lack Of Volunteers Leading You To Solve The Wrong Problem? | Becoming Series Part 4
079: Why Empathy Might Be The Missing Factor In Your Volunteer Equation | Becoming Series Part 3
078: Every Volunteer Is Worth This | Becoming Series Part 2
077: Volunteer Issues Are Almost Always Leadership Issues | Becoming Series Part 1
076: Anniversary Edition: 5 Steps To Turn Milestones Into Celebrations That Propel You Forward
075: 3 Steps To Turn The Summer Volunteer Slump Into A Season To Remember
074: Are You Too Busy In Ministry?
073: Better Websites For Small Churches With Marc Hyde (5 Things To Fix)
072: What Are You Doing About Missions? With Reno Anderson
071: Outreach 101: How One Small Church Went From Feeding One To Feeding Hundreds Every Week | With Shineka Dixon
070: Stop Looking For The Perfect Program (& What Matters A Whole Lot More)
069: Small Youth Groups, Mighty Ministry | With Youth Pastor Don Joel
068: Children & Youth Ministry In Small Churches: What’s The Pastor Got To Do With It? | With Ryan David Sims
067: Try This If You Want Kids To Remember What You Teach With Joy Wendling
066: If You’re "Just" A Volunteer, You Can Do More Than You Think
065: Streaming, Church Planting, & Healthy Ministry With Phil Thompson
064: Why We Chose To Be A For-Profit Ministry (& What That Even Means)
063: Why Stepping Away From Ministry Is A Necessity Not A Luxury
062: Interdenominational Events & Partnerships: Tips To Keep The Focus On Who Unites Us Instead Of What Divides Us | With Amy Satterfield
061: Ministry "In The Middle" With Dee Bryce: Lessons Of Perseverance
060: 3 Simple Steps To Innovative Community Outreach | With Miles Larson
059: Close To Home: How Small Churches Can Make An Impact In Diaspora Missions | Special Guest Tim Rickel
058: Small Churches & Global Missions: How To Build True Partnerships | Jeff & Christine Stanfield From World Gospel Mission
057: Spreading Peace In Nepal | A Small Church Conversation With Charmaine Stulp
056: How To Facilitate A Bible Study When You Don’t Know Enough (& Why That Actually Might Be A Good Thing)
055: Level Up Your Women’s Ministry: How To Move From Fluff To Life-Change
054: "Among you as one who serves" | An Interview With A Small Church Bivocational Pastor, Tony Bryce
053: Is Your Small Church Called To Big Impact? | A Conversation With Reverend Timothy Jackson
052: A (Re)Solution For Competing For Dates & Volunteers In Your Small Church
051: Are You A Small Church Where People Gather Or Where People Connect? | A Conversation With Kristen Joy
050: Social Media & Small Churches: Why It Matters & How To Do It Better With Sheila Chester
049: When Volunteers Are Faithful | Responding To Volunteers Part 4
048: “We’ve Always Done It This Way” | Responding To Volunteers Part 3
047: When Volunteers Commit But Don’t Show Up | Responding To Volunteers Part 2
046: “Been There, Done That” | Responding To Volunteers Part 1
045: Sneak Peek Into The Live Launch Party Of The Small Church Network
044: Why Volunteers Really Say “NO” (& What to Do About It)
043: What Everyone's Talking About: Never-Before-Seen Help & Hope for Small Churches
042: The Most Affordable, Flexible Worship App For Small Teams & No Teams With Zarc Porter | Worship & Tech Series Part 8
041: What’s A Blue Christmas Service? (& Why We Might Need It More This Year Than Ever) | Worship & Tech Series Part 7
040: Basic Tech For Small Churches With Darin Elquist | Worship & Tech Series Part 6
039: How To Teach Yourself Tech When There’s No One Around To Learn From - With Matt Hernando | Worship & Tech Series Part 5
038: Reading, Response, & Reflection Find Their Place In Modern Worship | Worship & Tech Series Part 4
037: Why Aren’t They Singing? Zarc Porter Shares Tips For More Engaged Worship | Worship & Tech Series Part 3
036: What To Do When Worship Feels Stagnant In Small Churches | Worship & Tech Series Part 2
035: 5 Keys To Develop A Worship Team When There’s No One To Recruit | Worship & Tech Series Part 1
034: Leading in Small Churches: What Makes it Different and How to Do it Best
033: One Best Solution To Bridge Generation Gaps In Women’s (Or Men’s) Ministry
032: Church Growth For Small Churches: Dealing With Feelings Of Failure When What You’re Doing Isn’t Working
031: Healthy Expectations for Pastors In Small Churches (& What You Might Be Doing Wrong)
030: How To Build Widespread Support for Stronger Child Safety in Your Small Church
029: Keeping Your Children’s Ministry Safe With Smaller Budgets & Smaller Teams
028: Why I Left My Church & Why I Went Back
027: How to Bounce Back From Burnout (Tangible Tips For You & Your Volunteers)
026: Why We Don’t Have A Conference For Pastors’ Husbands (& A 1000 Other Things)
025: No More Boring Handbooks! Create a Ministry Handbook That Increases Momentum, Builds Trust, & Recruits Volunteers Too!
024: Where We’ve Been & Where We’re Going (The Story of The Creative Little Church)
023: Seriously Unforgettable Volunteer Appreciation
022: How to Share What You’re Learning to Influence Change
021: Does Your Logo Need An Update? 7 Steps For Small Churches
020: Yes, You Can Fire A Volunteer (But You Might Want To Do This Instead)
019: Incredible Tips For The Best Ministry Fair (& Why You Should Do One)
018: Personality Inventories & Spiritual Gifts Assessments (& Where We Get It Wrong)
017: 3 Quick Wins Plus 2 Long-Term Strategies To Get More Volunteers In Children’s Ministry
016: 5 Fresh Ways to Structure Children’s Ministry If You’re Short Volunteers Or Just Need A Break
015: Beyond Behaviors: Where Successful Mixed-Age Sunday School Begins
014: Create a Volunteer Culture of Loyalty & Longevity | Volunteer Series Part 5
013: Set Up Volunteers to Succeed in Your Small Church | Volunteer Series Part 4
012: Avoid The Top 7 Mistakes Small Churches Make When Recruiting Volunteers | Volunteers Series Part 3
011: Increase Your Pool of Church Volunteers & Identify the Right Ones Before You Ask | Volunteer Series Part 2
010: Strategies to Find, Keep, and Develop More Volunteers in Your Small Church | Volunteer Series Part 1
009: Do You Need Written Job Descriptions for Volunteers in Small Churches?
008: How Rest, Stillness, & Health Relate to Work in Small Church Ministry
007: The Beauty of Intergenerational Ministry in Small Churches (& How Your Church Can Experience it too!)
006: Choosing a Curriculum for Children’s Sunday School in Small Churches (& Why It’s Not Quite as Important as You Think)
005: The Best Way to Find Out Why People Aren’t Coming (& Why Your Assumptions are Probably Wrong)
004: How to Host Meetings People Actually Want to Come To
003: Debunking The 80/20 Rule (It’s Not a Rule; It’s A Symptom)
002: Why It's Not About the Numbers (& It Never Was)
001: 4 Reasons Small Churches are Awesome (& Why I Started This Podcast)