The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast CNLP 689 | DeSizing the Church, The Drug of Size, The Good and Bad of the Church Growth Movement, and What Small and Large Churches Get Right
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Nov 12, 2024 Karl Vaters, an experienced pastor and author, shares insights on the concept of 'desizing' the church in today’s context. He discusses the obsession with church size and its pitfalls, advocating for a focus on spiritual health rather than numbers. Vaters highlights the unique strengths of both small and large congregations and the unintended consequences of the church growth movement. He also emphasizes the need for genuine leadership and community engagement over simple numerical success.
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Burnout and Redefinition
- Karl Vaters found church growth principles helpful but not always effective.
- After experiencing burnout, he sought counseling and redefined success in ministry.
Shoe Size Theory
- Karl Vaters suggests pastors have a natural "shoe size" for church leadership.
- He questions if the prevalence of small churches is part of God's strategy.
Mismatched Ministry
- Carey Nieuwhof asks Karl Vaters about his experience pastoring a larger church.
- Vaters describes feeling mismatched to the role, leading to unhappiness and a decline in church growth.
