The Small Church Ministry Podcast

If Sunday music feels a bit stale in your small church, listen in for some ways to lead people deeper into worship no matter what worship style or size of your team. When we start believing we need better music, a bigger band, or more talented singers, we’re not thinking right. Worship goes way beyond music. While music can certainly contribute to great worship for many people, we don’t need music to worship. In fact, for some people, music will never be the primary way they connect with God or experience His presence. And that’s okay.Tune in to this episode to hear … That leading worship is not the same as worshipping in front of peopleWhy worship leading is less about you and more about themHow changing the worship style of your congregation might not be what they needCreative ways to help non-singers worship God on Sundays apart from musicCome Thou Fount: A Creative Worship ResponseGet on the invite list to our Worship + Tech Conference happening in October 2022!Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Laurie and The Small Church Ministry Podcast!!" << If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- in small churches! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about this episode!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. This is the best way to stay up to date on the new episodes I release every week. If you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!Follow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Summits: https://smallchurchsummits.com/The Small Church Academy: https://smallchurchministry.com/academyGet the Ministry Bundles here!Support the showFollow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Network: https://smallchurchministry.com/membership/

Developing a worship team In a small church can seem impossible when there are no singers, musicians, or sound engineers in sight. While big churches can put out a call for team members and move forward with a selection process, small churches face a different challenge - and a much greater opportunity. Here’s the difference: people in small churches aren’t recruiters; we’re developers. Whether you lead hymns or praise, organ or electric guitar, song leader or worship team, tune in for this series on worship & tech ministry in small churches.In Part 1 of our Worship & Tech in Small Churches Series, we’ll be talking about …The difference between recruiting & developing (& why you need to make the shift)How to wait well, including what worship looks like when all the pieces you want aren’t in placeCreating environments for church members to experience & experiment with musicEquipping others to develop gifts that you don’t have and you can’t teachSetting people up for success instead of failure and frustrationGet on the invite list to our Worship + Tech Conference happening in October 2022!Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Laurie and The Small Church Ministry Podcast!!" << If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- in small churches! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about this episode!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. This is the best way to stay up to date on the new episodes I release every week. If you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!Follow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Summits: https://smallchurchsummits.com/The Small Church Academy: https://smallchurchministry.com/academyGet the Ministry Bundles here!Support the showFollow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Network: https://smallchurchministry.com/membership/

Leading well in small churches requires a unique set of skills. In fact, excellent small church strategies look very different from those in large church settings. One of the troubles arising in many church leadership programs and organizations today is that the majority are led by leaders of large churches trying to teach those in small churches how to do ministry better. While the motivation is beautiful, the impact is limited and sometimes even detrimental. Small church ministry isn’t simply less or smaller ministry; it is a different kind of ministry that requires specialized skills and considerations. If you want to level up your leadership in small churches, the best place to learn is from successful small church leaders. Listen in to hear:Why small churches are positioned to change the planetThe distinct differences in small churches that affect leadership needs6 skills that the best small church leaders possessHow you can become a better leader for your small churchGet on the invite list to our Worship + Tech Conference happening in October 2022!Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Laurie and The Small Church Ministry Podcast!!" << If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- in small churches! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about this episode!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. This is the best way to stay up to date on the new episodes I release every week. If you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!Follow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Summits: https://smallchurchsummits.com/The Small Church Academy: https://thesmallchurchacademy.com/Get the Ministry Bundles here!Support the showFollow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Network: https://smallchurchministry.com/membership/

If you struggle with involving the younger generation in your women’s ministry, you’re not alone. In fact, in most ministry areas, there’s a certain type of person who shows up and quite a few others who stay on the sidelines. If you want to broaden your reach, listen in to hear how involving others in the planning process might just bring the change you’ve been hoping for. In this episode, we’ll talk about … Two main reasons people want to involve the uninvolvedWhy humility and love are more important than great event planningHow planning parties work to grow your reach and how to throw one of your ownWhich 4 ingredients you can’t skip if you want people to feel heard and valuedRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Laurie and The Small Church Ministry Podcast!!" << If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- in small churches! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about this episode!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. This is the best way to stay up to date on the new episodes I release every week. If you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!Women's Ministry Bundle >> https://smallchurchministry.com/womens-ministry-bundle/A 4-Week Plan to Start (Or Restart) a Women’s Ministry with 7 Easy Steps >> https://smallchurchministry.com/how-to-start-a-womens-ministry/Sign-Up For The Free 5-Day Challenge >> https://smallchurchministry.com/Follow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Summits: https://smallchurchsummits.com/The Small Church Academy: https://thesmallchurchacademy.com/Get the Ministry Bundles here!Support the showFollow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Network: https://smallchurchministry.com/membership/

Today we’re taking a look at what to do with feelings of disappointment, frustration, and failure - when everything you’re doing isn’t working and your efforts to bring new people in aren’t paying off. We’ll be talking about … Why your feelings do matter and how they do have more of an impact than you thinkA few of the most damaging and unbiblical statements we all should stop repeatingHow a few corrections in your view of “church” might make all the difference Sign-Up For The Free 5-Day Challenge >> https://smallchurchministry.com/Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Laurie and The Small Church Ministry Podcast!!" << If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people, just like you, in small churches! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about this episode!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. This is the best way to stay up to date on the new episodes I release every week. If you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!Follow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Summits: https://smallchurchsummits.com/The Small Church Academy: https://thesmallchurchacademy.com/Get the Ministry Bundles here!Support the showFollow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Network: https://smallchurchministry.com/membership/

What exactly should pastors in small churches be doing to earn their keep? And who gets to decide this anyway? Today we’re talking about power struggles, job descriptions, and why a calling shouldn’t resemble indentured servitude. In this episode join me to talk about …How to solve personnel issues before they erupt like a volcano spewing deadly lavaWhy labeling personnel conflict as a spiritual attack might be holding back growth on all sides (and personal responsibility too)And for pastors on the brink, you might get a little clarity to stay or to goServe Well Study >> https://thecreativelittlechurch.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1135356/?action=signup Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Laurie and The Small Church Ministry Podcast!!" << If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people, just like you, in small churches! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about this episode!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. This is the best way to stay up to date on the new episodes I release every week. If you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!Follow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Summits: https://smallchurchsummits.com/The Small Church Academy: https://thesmallchurchacademy.com/Get the Ministry Bundles here!Support the showFollow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Network: https://smallchurchministry.com/membership/

Most people on the planet would agree that, of course, we want to keep our children safe. And yet, when many small churches try to put current best safety practices in place for their nursery, children’s Sunday school, or KidMin, they’re often met with resistance. Questions like these popup, with a lot of emotion attached: “Are all these policies really necessary?” “Why do I need a background check when I've been teaching Sunday School for 25 years?” “If you don’t trust me to change a diaper, you shouldn’t put me in the nursery.”If you want to experience support instead of push back for upping the children’s safety standards in your church, listen in for seven specific steps to help turn the struggle into a celebration instead. Taking wise steps to move forward with purpose will go a long way in protecting the kids in your care, keeping your volunteers serving more joy and confidence, and growing a reputation of excellence in your community.Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Laurie and The Small Church Ministry Podcast!!" << If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people, just like you, in small churches! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about this episode!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. This is the best way to stay up to date on the new episodes I release every week. If you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!Follow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Summits: https://smallchurchsummits.com/The Small Church Academy: https://thesmallchurchacademy.com/Get the Ministry Bundles here!Support the showFollow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Network: https://smallchurchministry.com/membership/

Instead of your small church being a rather scary place for visiting families, learn how to make your small church one of the safest places in your community. While the familiarity of a small church leads to comfort and trust for its members, that’s not a shared trust for visiting families.In this episode we’ll talk about challenges facing many small churches in regards to best practices for safety in children’s ministry, and what to do about them. The obstacles of smaller budgets and less volunteers doesn’t excuse us from high standards in protecting our kids, our volunteers, and the reputation of our churches. Although small church ministry is different, it should never be less. Join me for the discussion on what matters (and why) in regards to safety & policy in children’s ministry. Plus we’ll throw in a few creative solutions for funding background checks and having an extra set of hands in situations where 2 adults in a room might be challenging. In episode 30, we’ll follow up with how to make policy changes a celebration instead of a drudgery as these shifts create some amazing changes & forward motion in your church culture. Key areas in today’s episode:Screening & Training Volunteers Adequate & Safe SupervisionRegistration, Consent, & Check-in/Check-OutBathroom Trips & DiaperingLimited Access to Children’s AreasRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Laurie and The Small Church Ministry Podcast!!" << If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people, just like you, in small churches! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about this episode!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. This is the best way to stay up to date on the new episodes I release every week. If you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!Follow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Summits: Get the Ministry Bundles here!Support the showFollow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Network: https://smallchurchministry.com/membership/

The church is God’s design for His people, and it also can be a messed up place. It’s no secret that many seek out large churches for the chance to be anonymous, which is the choice to be surrounded by community and yet removed from it. In small churches though, there’s no hiding. I believe this is God’s plan - to be seen and to be in community. But what happens when that community is full of faulty humans? When it’s not a safe place? When people are hurt? In fact, why in the world would the Almighty God choose to be represented by a community of messed up people? Let’s talk about how this imperfectly plays out. What do we do when the church fails us or when we fail the church? I’ve had plenty of reasons to leave the church, and I’m sure you do too.If you’re tuning in to hear our typical awesome small church strategies and creative ideas, you have my blessing to skip this episode and choose another! This episode is less about the doing and more about the imperfect humans being utilized in the process. Tune into this episode if  …  You’re curious what happened when a very active pastor’s wife stopped going to churchYou don’t understand how people who once loved the church leave and never come backYou’re carrying around some church hurt of your own and you don’t know what to do with You want to know how to better support others who are strugglingCheck out The Small Church Pastors' Wives Conference >> https://smallchurchsummits.com/pw2022/Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Laurie and The Small Church Ministry Podcast!!" << If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people, just like you, in small churches! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about this episode!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. This is the best way to stay up to date on the new episodes I release every week. If you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!Follow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: Get the Ministry Bundles here!Support the showFollow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Network: https://smallchurchministry.com/membership/

If you or your volunteers are showing signs of burnout, you’re not alone. You also don’t have to stay there! Most small churches function with a small group of committed people who don’t want to disappoint God, their pastor, or the people who fill the pews. Sometimes that commitment leads to exhaustion and, little by little, the joy of serving slowly begins seeping away. Whether you’re the pastor, ministry leader, or prefer to stay in the background, no one is immune to burnout. If you’re human, you’re at risk.This podcast is for you if …Your team seems to be fading in commitment and passionYou wish you had the motivation you remember when you first signed to serveYou want some tangible tips to refresh your personal vision or your teamCheck out The Small Church Pastors' Wives Conference >> https://smallchurchsummits.com/pw2022/Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts"I love Laurie and The Small Church Ministry Podcast!!" << If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people, just like you, in small churches! Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about this episode!Also, if you haven’t done so already, follow the podcast. This is the best way to stay up to date on the new episodes I release every week. If you’re not following, there’s a good chance you’ll miss out. Follow now!Follow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Summits: https://smallchurchsummits.com/The Small Church Academy: https://thesmallchurchacademy.com/Get the Ministry Bundles here!Support the showFollow Us:Website: https://smallchurchministry.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallchurchministry/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallchurchministryCreative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministrySmall Church Network: https://smallchurchministry.com/membership/