The Small Church Ministry Podcast

If you’re looking for more volunteers for your children’s ministry, you aren’t alone. Children’s ministry takes many hands, even if you have only a handful of kiddos. An additional challenge facing staffing in small churches is the inconsistent number of children and the mixed-age factor. One week could require a fully-staffed nursery and an extra volunteer in Sunday school, while in another week you find yourself fully staffed, but no kids show up. It seems impossible to predict who you’ll need and when and difficult to recruit a staff when the needs vary not only by the season but by the week with little predictability. Join me in this episode to learn …A few unexpected quick wins to add a few more volunteers to your rosterSome long-term strategies to work toward building a committed team for the futureWhy taking better care of your current volunteers needs to move up on your priority listOne common (but often overlooked) reason your recruiting methods might not be workingAnd if you just read that description, and you’re thinking, “Team? I wish! It’s just me!” … don’t worry, I get it. There’s plenty of gold in this episode for you too! Again, you’re not alone. Tons of small churches are just like yours, with one or two people holding down the fort. Hang with me to find a better way.The Runner and The Sailboat: https://smallchurchministry.com/women-in-ministry/The Small Church Academy: https://thesmallchurchacademy.com/Get Your FREE Ticket To The Small Church Kidmin + Youth Ministry Conference: https://smallchurchsummits.com/kidmin2022Conference Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchsummits 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!FolloGet 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/

Whether Sunday School is feeling stale, you’re short volunteers, or your kids are bouncing off the walls, it might be time for a refresh. It doesn’t take a big budget or a big staff to add a new twist to your children’s ministry.  Any one of these 5 ideas is perfect for a small church, works great with mixed ages, and is just as engaging for 2 kids as it is for 20.Along with a bit of a reset, these ideas may also lead you to …New volunteers, you weren’t expectingKids more excited to come to classThe momentum you’ve been praying forThe Neighborhood: A 6-Week Rotation For Children's Sunday School: https://smallchurchministry.com/sunday-school-ideas-summer-service/ Get Your FREE Ticket To The Small Church Kidmin + Youth Ministry Conference: https://smallchurchsummits.com/kidmin2022 Conference Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchsummits 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/

Managing a mixed-age Sunday school class with 3-year-olds and 6th graders in the same room is no easy feat. In this episode, we’re rolling up our sleeves to tackle a desperate (and common) plea for help. I’m on a crusade to stop the destructive blaming of kids, teachers, parents, and pastors. Join me to learn how to get beyond managing behavior and create a safe place for everyone. You don’t need more kids or more volunteers to experience joy in mixed-age Sunday school.Wouldn’t it be great to … Anticipate goodness instead of dreading disruptions?Help children experience the fruits of the spirit instead of frustration?Enjoy parents, teachers, and pastors working together on the same page?Know your classroom is a place where children feel safe and loved?If that’s what you’re dreaming of, me too! Let’s do it.The Small Church Academy >> https://thesmallchurchacademy.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/

If you truly want to break the cycle of a volunteer vacuum in your small church - or maybe you have a revolving door of volunteers who come but don’t stay - creating a culture of loyalty & longevity is the ticket. There are many rewards of creating this type of volunteer culture including greater ministry impact, developing deeper relationships, and growing in significant leadership skills. But at the core, it’s just about being more like Jesus and following His example on earth.Don’t miss this episode if you want to … Learn how to keep volunteers for the long-haulDevelop ministry partners you can count on instead of inconsistent helpersDiscover the 4 reasons people remain on some ministry teams and quit othersApply Jesus’ life example and imitate His ways in small church ministryRate, 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/

This episode is all about setting up volunteers for success in small church ministry. Sadly, that’s the opposite of what most people experience. Instead of setting up volunteers for success, we too often set up volunteers for frustration, failure, or feeling trapped - sometimes we even set them on a path to be used and used up. Join me in learning how to create a culture where people actually want to serve, where people feel loved, honored, and supported. This episode is all about simple, doable steps that lead to refreshing small church ministry and a volunteer culture where people aren’t just stepping in to fill a role, but joining in a greater mission to make an impact.Listen in to hear …The key to developing passionate ministry partners instead of reluctant volunteersWhy agreeing on a job description isn’t just necessary but motivating & empowering tooA 4-step involvement process to yield more consistent results and confidenceHow to help your volunteers go from feeling used to being supported & cared forCheck Out The Small Church Academy >> https://thesmallchurchacademy.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/

When it comes to recruiting volunteers in small churches, a little intentionality goes a long way. Instead of rushing to find people to fill the holes, we’re talking about how to get the right volunteers in the right places so they end up serving with passion and joy, knowing they’re making a difference. The steps we’re talking about in this series on volunteers are about changing the culture in small churches - to go from lack and desperation to seeing needs met and having incredible impact. In this episode, we’re talking about …How to avoid the top mistakes churches make when recruiting volunteersWhy people love samples at the grocery store and what that has to do with ministry6 simple steps to the brilliant invitation we all should have been practicing from the startWhat NO really means and what to do with itRate, 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/

The first step in getting volunteers starts well before “the ask.”  If you’re like most small churches and struggling with getting volunteers or you’re hoping to do better, you can’t keep doing the same things you’ve always done. Join me in this episode to learn about the often-neglected step of Identifying Volunteers.Here’s what can happen if you adopt this process of Identifying Volunteers before you ask …Your list of potential volunteers becomes greater than you ever realizedThe 80/20 pattern in your church gets a kick in a new directionYour leadership becomes more thoughtful, prayerful, and effectiveYour ministry grows healthier as you get more of the right people in the right positionsRate, 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/

In this introduction to our Volunteer Series, we’re starting at the foundation and turning the tables on how some of our beliefs about volunteers - and quite a few commonly held teachings - are misguided and lead us further from the truth of what God has for us. Could it be possible that God has already provided all the volunteers you need to do exactly what He has for your small church today? Join me where it all begins - getting our beliefs aligned with Him so we can move forward in all He has called us to do. All the small church strategies in the world won’t help if our hearts are off balance and we’re not aligned with Him.Today I’ll be talking about …A few of the common lies we’ve been taught about volunteersHow wrong beliefs hold us back from experiencing the light & easy yoke of JesusJesus’ process for finding volunteers when He was on the planetWhy volunteers don’t exist to DO ministry, but they actually ARE our ministryRate, 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/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/

Just because you’re part of a small church doesn’t mean ministry is less important in your small space. Since we’re representing the God of the Universe, we should be concerned about doing ministry well! If you don’t have written job descriptions for volunteers (or if the mere mention of that just made you cringe a little!) join me for this episode. We’re gonna talk about why lots of small churches avoid job descriptions and why that causes all sorts of pain. And then we’re gonna talk about how to use job descriptions really well - if you need them, how to write them, and who to give them to. Learn how to …Write job descriptions that make ministry easier & more fulfillingFocus on results instead of tasks to leave room for creativity, personality, and growthWrite job descriptions that are welcoming & friendly instead of scary & demandingApproach your pastor with a job description for you (if you don’t have one already)Utilize job descriptions for developing volunteers & growing your teamRate, 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’re one of many who say you’re doing all the things because no one else will, if you’re flirting with burnout but committed to working unto the Lord, or you just plain want to find a little more peace & presence in your life, tune in to this episode. The truth is God doesn’t want martyrs and He doesn’t want His people frustrated and weary. In this episode, we’ll dive into ... How the majority of mantras about hard work are misguided and only half trueHow to appreciate God-given limitations as gifts, not begrudge them as liabilitiesWhy pushing through isn’t good for you or the people you serveThat most of us actually don’t need to work any harder; what we really need is to rest better9 things I do to incorporate rest & stillness in the midst of workRate, 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/