The Church Lobby

Why would a young church planter choose to do ministry in the poorest neighborhood of a city in crisis?Many churches are fleeing the inner cities. Grand old church buildings with deep histories sit empty. But Tim Walker and Restored Church are facing these realities head-on in Wilkes-Barre PA.Karl Vaters talks with Tim about subjects like:Their church’s Hub for Movement strategyTheir decision to do ministry in the poorest part of townMinistry in a deeply post-Christian contextHonoring history, while moving into the future from a legacy church buildingTheir plan to plant a microchurch on every block of Wilkes-BarreLinks from this episode:Future Church, by Will Mancini and Cory HartmanFrom Megachurch to Multiplication, by Chris GalanosCory Hartman Podcast Interview (Ep 29)Frank Wooden Podcast Interview (Ep 81)GotQuestions.orgRestored ChurchTim@restoredchurch.orgBonus ContentHow To Foster Pastoral Collaboration In Your Town, with Tim WalkerKarl Vaters talks with Tim Walker about how he and other pastors in his town have created a network of ministry collaboration that blesses all churches and reaches the community more effectively.To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Karl Vaters talks with Chase Replogle about one of the most controversial, but unavoidable topics today—living with offense without being offended. This material comes from his just-released book, A Sharp Compassion: 7 Hard Words to Heal Our Insecurities and Free Us from Offense.Karl and Chase talk about why offense is a necessary part of life, how to use it well, and deal with it properly.Subjects include:How Jesus intentionally used offensive words in strategic situations to bring about desired resultsThe importance of discipleshipHow the absence of close relationships makes us more offendableHow church leaders can help those who struggle with being offendedAnd moreChase Replogle is also the author of The 5 Masculine Instincts: A Guide to Becoming a Better Man, and is the host of the Pastor Writer Podcast. He pastors the Bent Oak Church in Springfield, Missouri.Links from this episode:Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer Bonus Content SummaryThe Danger Of The Cult Of Self-affirmationKarl Vaters talks with Chase Replogle about the dangers of using self-affirmation as a guide to life and truth. Recent surveys have shown that self-affirmation, and specifically “how I feel at the moment” have widely replaced universal truths in many people’s lives.It’s also made its way into the church. While 91% of U.S. adults agree that “the best way to find yourself is by looking within yourself,” 76% of practicing Christians agreed with that statement.As Chase wrote in A Sharp Compassion, “Religion has not disappeared from America, as so many feared; instead, it has, like everything from our entertainment to our diets, become personalized. It has shifted from the risk of offense to the affirmation of the self.”

In September and October over 1.2 million people will search online for “Trunk-or-Treat near me.” Here’s how to be one of the churches they find.Karl Vaters talks with Darrell Stetler about practical steps to help churches of any size put on a high-quality, gospel-centered Trunk-or-Treat event. Darrell is a small-church pastor in Oklahoma City and he has created a free 23-page guide called Trunk-orTreat Planning for Churches: A Step-by-step Guide.Karl and Darrell talk about:The benefits of having a church Trunk-or-TreatPicking a themeWho it’s designed to reachWhen to start planningRecruiting volunteersHow to gather info from attendersHow to follow upPodcast Links:Free 23-page Planning Guide with Trunk-or-Treat Ideas for ChurchesThe Gospel Trunk-or-Treat Planning SystemPrevious Darrell Stetler Interview (Ep 38)Also from Darrell Stetler:NewStart Discipleship CurriculumFree New Believer Bible Reading Plan (1 Page PDF)Free audiobook on Discipling Your ChildrenFree NewStart Discipleship Journal: A 54-page Discipleship Bible Study for new Christians.Free one-hour Discipleship Training workshopSocial media:facebook.com/darrellstetler2facebook.com/newstartdiscipleshipyoutube.com/@newstartdiscipleshiptwitter.com/newstartdiscBonus SummaryYes, Your Church Can Do Trunk-or-Treat without Compromising Your Christian Values, with Darrell StetlerIf you have problems with Halloween, I'm right there with you. Not a fan. In this short video, Darrell Stetler and Karl Vaters talk about:Why our churches do a trunk-or-treatThe three attitudes Christians can have toward HalloweenThe misunderstood non-pagan origins of HalloweenWhy it’s okay for churches to offer a safe, Bible-based alternative Bonus Content Links:Halloween: A Distinctively Christian HolidayFree 23 Page Planning Guide with Trunk or Treat Ideas for ChurchesThe Gospel Trunk or Treat Planning SystemTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Karl Vaters talks with Brad Roth about the content from his new book, Flyover Church: How Jesus’ Ministry in Rural Places Is Good News Everywhere, for which Karl wrote the foreword.Topics include:How the rural church is different from the city and suburban church, not just in scale, but in typeHow metrics are very different in the rural churchThe lure of strategyThe radically different pace of rural ministryAnd moreBrad is also the author of The Hunger Inside: How the Meal Jesus Gave Transforms Lives, and God's Country: Faith, Hope, and the Future of the Rural Church.Links:DoxologyProject.comBook: God's Country: Faith, Hope, and the Future of the Rural ChurchBook: The Hunger Inside: How the Meal Jesus Gave Transforms LivesBook: Flyover Church: How Jesus' Ministry in Rural Places Is Good News Everywhere​Brad Roth Bonus Chat summaryOne New Person: Toward An Authentic Metric For The Rural ChurchKarl Vaters talks with Brad Roth about how and why metrics work very differently in rural churches than in urban and suburban churches. As Brad wrote, “Most of us don’t need numbers to know whether our church is thriving. Numbers often stand in for intuition and attempt to substitute with a dashboard what can only be learned through years spent with a people in a place.”To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Craig T. Owens, an insightful author and guide for shepherd leaders, shares his experiences with difficult congregants in this thought-provoking conversation. He discusses the challenges of dealing with flattery, criticism, and gossip, offering wisdom on handling slander with grace. The impact of personality clashes and the importance of emotional wisdom for pastors are emphasized. Owens also explores the evolving landscape of pastoral work, underlining the necessity of balancing personal life and ministry while sharing amusing anecdotes from his journey.

Frank Wooden, a seasoned church planter now focusing on the Microchurch model, discusses the shifting landscape of faith communities. He highlights why Microchurches are gaining traction, particularly among younger generations seeking genuine connections. The conversation covers the potential benefits for churches in crisis, including financial relief and engaging disenchanted individuals. Wooden also offers strategies for traditional churches to adapt to this new model, emphasizing the importance of leadership multiplication and community relevance.

Laurie Acker discusses practical strategies for small church ministry, emphasizing the importance of volunteers and training. They explore unique approaches for youth programs in small churches and highlight the significance of emotional health in ministry. The podcast offers insights on addressing trauma within church communities and prioritizing people over programs.

Pastoring in a post-Christian context is different. The more counter-cultural our faith becomes, the more important it is to understand that Christian consumerism is deadly and church cooperation is essential.Karl Vaters talks with Dan Nichols about these subjects, including:Negotiating a cultural shift in a longstanding churchPartnering with other churchesBridging the big/small church divideAnd moreDan Nichols is the pastor of Grace Christian Fellowship in Cortland NY, and the founder of Northeast Collaborative.Links:Northeast CollaborativeThe Bible ProjectGotQuestions.orgBless AppSoulariumSean McDowell YouTubeConstable's NotesEverand​Bonus ContentKarl Vaters talks with Dan Nichols about Creating a Spirit of Generosity in a Local Church. Dan’s church takes an offering every year that they give away in its entirety to ministries outside their church. This year it will go to nine other local churches that they work alongside.Karl and Dan talk about how that kind of generosity happens, and what a pastor can do to start moving a church away from fear and toward being outrageously generous.To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

As we come to the end of our ten-part series based on De-sizing the Church, we’re highlighting portions of conversations Karl Vaters had with five church leaders from various backgrounds about their first reactions to reading the book.Drew Dyck (author and editor) talks about the dangers of Christian celebrity.Peyton Jones (author and church planter) discusses how churches operating under the church growth paradigm are more likely to be in decline than growth.Greg Atkinson (author and church consultant) highlights the importance of broadening our understanding of church size and health.Stan Givens (pastor) comments on the importance of churches working together, and the essential role of discipleship.Sean Nemecek (author and soul care coach) looks at the high rates of burnout due to chasing numbers, and digs into the revivalist history of the Great Awakenings. Links:De-sizing the Church: How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What’s NextChurch PlantologyThe Weary Leaders Guide to BurnoutTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Author Mike Rubino talks with Karl Vaters about the dangers of idolizing church growth outcomes, the difference between trending and transforming churches, and the importance of prioritizing health over size in the church ecosystem. They highlight the need to balance metrics with spiritual growth and focus on biblical obedience instead of fixating on results.