The Church Lobby

Karl Vaters interviews Ron Klassen of the Rural Home Missionary Association (RHMA) about seeing the unique nature of the small church, not as a problem to be solved, but as a strength to leverage, and even to exploit. Here are a few highlights:Small churches have unique ministry gifts that shouldn’t be seen as problems to fix, but as positives to exploit.The relational aspect of small churches is something we need to lean into, not shy away from. It will even make you come across as a better preacher!A lot of small church ministry happens off-book and outside of organized programs. Exploit that.Don’t take intergenerational relationships for granted. And don’t push back against them. Exploit the value of them by being intentional about them.If you know a small town or rural church leader who could use this encouragement and these ideas, pass this episode along to them. And pick up Ron’s book, Maximize! Leveraging the Strengths of Your Small Church.Links:Maximize!: Leveraging the Strengths of Your Small ChurchRural Matters InstituteTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Karl Vaters interviews Matt Whitman, host of the Ten Minute Bible Hour podcast and YouTube channel.Karl and Matt talk about the intersection of Bible teaching/preaching and pastoral care. This conversation also covers The importance of our online presenceHow to avoid the temptation of living by clicksTaking care not to get stuck wandering down political and theological rabbit trailsWhy teaching about the Bible is as important as teaching from the BibleLinks:The Ten Minute Bible Hour YouTubethetmbh.comMatt Whitman TwitterNo Dumb Questions PodcastDwellGetting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving InHow To Think: A Guide for the PerplexedTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Karl Vaters interviews Matt Steen, a former pastor and church planter, now with Chemistry Staffing, a ministry that helps churches find great staff members (and helps staff members find great churches).The episode is filled with practical advice, includingWhat’s changed in pastoral transition/placement over the last generationHow the pandemic has accelerated pastoral transitionsThe five key principles to look for when looking for a new pastor or churchOf special help will be how Matt describes the difference between “close-fisted” and “open-handed” theological issues, as well as the importance of giving churches time to get used to a pastoral departure, and to get ready for a new pastor.These principles are especially important in a small church context because the unique characteristics of the church need to be identified and accounted for in a pastoral search. And if they are, the so-called pastoral revolving door may just slow down for a lot of churches and pastors.Links:Chemistrystaffing.comBefore You Go, by Wade HodgesWhen to Leave, by Wade HodgesThe Pastor: A Memoir, by Eugene H. PetersonTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Karl Vaters interviews John C. Nugent about this subject, which is at the root of some of the biggest challenges pastors are facing today.Dr. Nugent is the author of several books including Endangered Gospel: How Fixing the World Is Killing the Church. He is a professor of Old Testament studies at Great Lakes Christian College, and co-host of the After Class Podcast.John’s approach helps us understand where common misunderstandings about these issues come from so we can address them lovingly and biblically. He also frames these issues according to the entire story-arc of scripture, rather than just proof-texting.This is a great way to see the church for what Jesus called us to be. Not isolated from the world, but as a representation of the Kingdom of God within the world.Links:Endangered GospelAfter Class podcastJohnNugent.netWorks of Gerhard LohfinkTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Karl Vaters interviews Cory Hartman, co-author of Future Church: Seven Laws of Real Church Growth about what happened when church growth answers didn't work for him or the church he served.His background and experiences will sound familiar to most small church leaders. And this conversation will be very encouraging.In this conversation, Cory and Karl talk about How Cory, a “failed” small church pastor became the co-author of a book about church growth (including an update of what "failure" really means)The essential distinction between what he calls Upper Room and Lower Room churchesThe four “can’t miss” answers for church growth, and how they did miss for him How he redefines some important terms like “church growth”, “success”, "discipleship” and “conversion” in more biblical waysAnd more.Links:Future Church: Seven Laws of Real Church GrowthBecoming a Disciple Maker: The Pursuit of Level 5 Disciple MakingFuturechurch.coTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Karl Vaters interviews Dr. Sandie Morgan, co-author of the new book, Ending Human Trafficking.In this episode we talk about how healthy churches are uniquely positioned to help prevent human trafficking, including:What signs to look for in people who may be vulnerableHow to partner with other agencies and law enforcementHow to set proper policiesWhy we need to pay more attention to labor trafficking, not just sex traffickingHow to find resources in our neighborhoodAnd so much more, including a take on the biblical story of Elisha and the widow (2 Kings 4) that any pastor can preach from to help your congregation understand the importance of this issue and how to prevent it.Dr. Morgan is also the host of the Ending Human Trafficking podcast, and the director of the Global Center for Women and Justice at Vanguard University. She also served by presidential appointment on the Public-Private Partnership Advisory Council to End Human Trafficking.Links from this episode:Ending Human TraffickingSweat and Toil appendinghumantrafficking.orggcwj.orgSandie Morgan social media: Twitter, Facebook, InstagramTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Karl Vaters interviews Dr. Gary McIntosh about Donald McGavran's role as the pioneer of the church growth movement.But don’t let the term "church growth movement" stop you from listening. Dr. McIntosh tells us that the origins of church growth are far different than what most of us have been taught recently.Some of the misunderstandings he clears up include:That it came from the heart of a missionary, not a pastorThat it was about being cross-cultural, not omni-culturalThat it was focused as much or more on the impact of smaller congregations than the building of bigger onesDonald A. McGavran: A Biography of the Twentieth Centurys Premier MissiologistTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

An interview with Austin Savage about the role of marketing in church leadership, including what marketing is, what it isn’t, and why we need to destigmatize it to use it effectively.You may know Austin from the work he did with 95Network.com, including several years co-hosting the 95Podcast with Dale Sellers. Recently, he established Austin Savage & Co. to help churches with creating content and using media in the church.In this conversation, Karl and Austin talk aboutThe difference between Marketing and promotion/advertisingHow to put the content your church is already creating into the marketplace in creative waysHow to get started without costing any moneyLinksAsana95network.orgAustinsavage.coTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

So, your church has a Facebook page? In a small church, that should be enough of an online presence, right? Wrong.It finally happened! The answer to the question, "Can This Work In A Small Church?" isn't "yes"! (Well, not entirely, anyway.) Find out why in this interview with Josh Givens.Topics include:The importance of getting onlineWhy we must stay connected to the people we meet thereWhy we must invest money and time to own online real estate (a website)The importance of the pastor’s personal online presenceHow much your church communicates before people step inside the buildingJosh is the Communications Director for Northside Bible Church in Mobile AL, and for 614Ministries.org.LinksNorthsideMobile.orgUsing Photos Online (YouTube video)Unsplash.com (Free photos)614Ministries.orgJDGivens.comCornerstoneFV.comCanvaTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

An interview with Jon Sanders, the founder of SmallTownBigChurch.com, co-host of the EntrePastors podcast and author of Rural Church RESCUE: A Call to Restore Healthy Churches to Rural North America.Jon and Karl talk about how Jon used the principles he learned as a firefighter to help churches better understand how to do ministry that matters. The parallels between the roles of firefighter and pastors are vivid, and the lessons are clear.Subjects include the need for a clear mission and vision, the need to adapt, and the necessity of training and working as a team.Links:Rural Church RESCUE: A Call to Restore Healthy Churches to Rural North AmericaCalendlySmalltownbigchurch.comEntrePastors podcastTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.