The Church Lobby

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.

Karl Vaters interviews Dr. Vincent E. Gil, the author of A Christian's Guide Through the Gender Revolution: Gender, Cisgender, Transgender, and Intersex (Cascade Publishing, 2021.) .Dr. Gil taught human sexuality and counseled at a conservative Christian college for 38 years. He has been a consultant on sexual issues for church leaders and denominations, and is himself a licensed minister.This is a sensitive subject that often causes division, or gets ignored due to some of the complexity and concerns. In this conversation, Karl and Dr. Gil talk about how to understand the current “gender moment,” and negotiate a better way than taking sides on issues.Karl and Dr. Gil address issues of concern to pastors, and provide a dialogue on how to approach varied sex/gender concerns in congregants and beyond.(Our apologies for a technical issue. In the front half of the podcast there are several times when you can hear a thumping in the background while Dr. Gil is talking. We have done our best to limit it, but we were not able to remove it.) Links:Dr. Gil’s Webpage: drvincegil.com.Dr. Gil’s recent book: A Christian's Guide through the Gender Revolution: Gender, Cisgender, Transgender, and Intersex (2021). Available in Hardcover, paperback and Kindle editions at Amazon.To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Karl Vaters and Jeff Hamilton (founder of Dad Academy) talk about the importance of helping men become the dad they want to be by becoming at least as intentional in their parenting as they are in their job.Topics include:Why “Dadding” is so important and so challengingThe importance of having an intentional planThe impact of building a positive culture in your home by creating a more Christ-like value systemLinks:Dadacademy.infoJeff@dadacademy.infoWherebySwitcher StudioInstagram: Dad AcademyFacebook: Dad AcademyTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

The Bible-Reading Coach is a guide to help anyone read through the entire Bible in 52 weeks.It all starts with a weekly podcast, available in both audio and video formats, hosted by pastor and author Karl Vaters, it’s designed to help beginners and longtime Bible readers get more out of your journey through God’s Word by making your reading journey Simple, Understandable, and Rewarding.SIMPLE: A weekly introduction to readings from Genesis to Revelation that helps you know what to look for as you read.UNDERSTANDABLE: Helps you see how this ancient wisdom applies to the way we live, think, and believe today.REWARDING: We want to help you read all the way from Genesis to Revelation by showing you what to look for and how to apply it to your everyday life.Are you a follower of Jesus who’s tried and failed to read through the Bible before? Follow our plan. This time, you’ll finish.Are you new to the Bible and the Christian faith? We welcome you! This can be a helpful first step to 1) understand what the Bible says, 2) discover why this collection of ancient texts is essential to the life and faith of billions of people, and 3) inspire you to dig even deeper.See what's coming in the weeks ahead on the Bible outline.Transcripts will be available in advance of each episode.Support this work. Help us keep our content free for those who need it the most.Find more resources for small church ministry at KarlVaters.com.

Karl Vaters interviews Peyton Jones, a church planter and church planting specialist. He’s written several books, most recently, Church Plantology: The Art and Science of Planting Churches, which is the basis for this conversation.Peyton and Karl talk about a lot of issues regarding church planting, but mostly about how most of our common perceptions of church planting are built on a faulty foundation. Not a church planter? Don’t let that stop you from listening. There’s a lot in this for every church leader.Links from this episode:Church Plantology: The Art and Science of Planting ChurchesReaching the Unreached: Becoming Raiders of the Lost ArtThrough the WordMinistry NinjaNewbreed TrainingTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

An interview with Jason Moore about how to blend online & in-person worship.Jason is the founder of the Both/And seminars which helps churches of all sizes create a better worship experience for both the online audience and the in-person congregation.In this conversation, Karl Vaters talks to Jason about how a church of any size can use online and in-person church to make each a better experience for worshipers. If you’re having a hard time with your online experience, or even if you’re doubtful about its value listen to Jason’s heart, his experience and his ideas, including…How online worship has gone from being expensive and rare to a common and essential aspect of church ministry – leaving many of us to play catch-up.How to ensure that the online church experience doesn’t to detract from in-person worship, but can add to it.The need to readjust the goal of church from getting people in the room to getting the message out.The fact that the main roadblock to a high-quality online/in-person experience isn’t money, it’s intentionality.Links from the episode:Midnightoilproductions.comfacebook.com/midnightoilproductionsinstagram.com/midnightoilprod/mail@midnightoilproductions.comOpen Broadcast SoftwareUnsplashTechsoup.orgTo get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.