The Small Church Ministry Podcast

Dive into a conversation about recruiting volunteers with purpose and intent. Learn how to avoid common mistakes that lead to desperate asks. Discover why asking at the right times can make all the difference, and explore the power of genuine invitations over mere announcements. The importance of identifying potential volunteers early on and offering them a trial run before full commitment is emphasized. Plus, insights on responding gracefully when someone says no, ensuring future opportunities remain open. Transform your volunteer culture!

Discover the art of identifying potential volunteers before making the ask. By analyzing the 80% not currently serving, churches can uncover hidden talents and prevent burnout. Learn about matching roles to individual strengths and prioritizing character over mere experience. Embrace diversity to build effective teams, creating unity without uniformity. This approach not only enhances ministry but also aligns with what God is doing within the church community. Tune in for actionable insights that can transform volunteer engagement!

Discover the transformative shift in understanding volunteers as integral to ministry rather than mere helpers. Explore common misconceptions that lead to frustration and burnout in small churches. Learn how Jesus prioritized relationships over tasks, emphasizing care for volunteers' needs. Uncover the idea that God provides the right volunteers at the right time and the importance of aligning beliefs with His purpose. Get ready for actionable strategies on effective volunteer engagement and nurturing meaningful connections.

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 your FREE ticket to the Women's Ministry for Small Churches Conference! >> www.smallchurchsummits.comSupport 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 your FREE ticket to the Women's Ministry for Small Churches Conference! >> www.smallchurchsummits.comSupport 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/

God has a lot more in mind for our churches than different generations feeling misunderstood, unappreciated, and ignored. Instead of living in the beauty of intergenerational ministry that God created us for, many churches experience the feeling of  “us” and “them” - like the younger people want change; the older want to hang on to old ways. Check out this episode if you’re ready to close the gap between generations and build bridges instead! We’re talking about … How curiosity and compassion might be the two things you need mostHow to help everyone embrace the gifts and value of differing generationsHow to foster intergenerational relationships without adding more programs3 steps to close the generational gaps in your churchPlus some creative ideas you can implement with no cost and little planningDownload 15 Fun Ideas to Foster Intergenerational Relationships PDF >> https://the-creative-little-church.ck.page/a289e5d6be   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 your FREE ticket to the Women's Ministry for Small Churches Conference! >> www.smallchurchsummits.comSupport 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/

Choosing a curriculum for Children’s Sunday School can seem like a huge feat for small churches. We spend a lot of time previewing options and then a lot of money trying some, adapting others, and wishing for something else instead. Serving mixed-age classes with few volunteers and inconsistent attendance is a challenge for sure, but sometimes we make it harder than it needs to be. Join me as we talk about content in children’s Sunday School and consider some bigger questions we should be asking too. In today’s episode, we’ll shed some light on issues lots of small churches face in children’s ministry including …What’s more important than choosing a curriculumWhat scope-in-sequence means and if it really mattersWhy your curriculum choice matters less than you think Some creative options to consider for your Sunday School content 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 your FREE ticket to the Women's Ministry for Small Churches Conference! >> www.smallchurchsummits.comSupport 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 leaders in small churches are frustrated by lack of attendance at events or programs, phrases I hear a lot include: People at my church aren’t committed. They say they want programs and then they don’t show up. They’re too busy. They’re uncommitted. They just don’t care. When I ask ministry leaders how they know those things, they respond that if people were committed and cared, they would show up. I’d like to suggest that assumption isn’t always true - in fact, it’s usually wrong. We need to stop assuming and start asking better questions to get to the root of the issues. Join me in this episode to talk about …The 2 things every human craves & what we all have in commonThe singular best way to find out what’s really going onWhy people don’t always tell you the truth even if you ask (& how to change that)How to prepare your heart for the answersWhat feedback to listen to and how to make changesRate, 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/

Are you tired of planning meetings when no one shows up? Wondering how to build a team if you can’t get anyone to a training? Maybe you just want to make your meetings have more of an impact. We’ve all been there. Want to cast a vision, build a team, or even just get everyone on the same page? Planning meetings can be frustrating when they don’t have the result you were hoping for. If you struggle with meetings for any reason, you’re not alone. Tune into this episode to uncover … The real reason people don’t come to meetings (& it’s not because they’re busy)Why time really is more important than moneyFour elements every great meeting includesHow to turn meetings into parties that get things doneFor more on 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 your FREE ticket to the Women's Ministry for Small Churches Conference! >> www.smallchurchsummits.comSupport 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 biggest struggle most small churches have is volunteers - not enough volunteers, burning out volunteers, finding new volunteers, and keeping volunteers. There’s a lot of commiserating about the 80/20 rule, where 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people. But is that even true? Does it have to be?In this episode, we’ll be talking about ...Where the 80/20 Rule came from and why it’s not a rule at allWhy the 80/20 rule isn’t BiblicalThat it’s immensely important, but not in the way you think it isHow changing your belief about the rule is gonna change your ministryJoin our FREE Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministryRate, 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 your FREE ticket to the Women's Ministry for Small Churches Conference! >> www.smallchurchsummits.comSupport 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/