The Small Church Ministry Podcast

By Laurie Graham Ertl

The only podcast created for volunteers and everyday leaders in smaller congregations, this show embraces small church ministry as a place where God is already at work. Founder of Small Church

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FAQs about The Small Church Ministry Podcast:

How many episodes does The Small Church Ministry Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 242 episodes available.

The Small Church Ministry Podcast episodes:

August 18, 2026 242: Your Church Wants to Reach New Families. So Why Aren't They Coming?
Your small church wants to reach new families. You’re planning events, finding volunteers, inviting people, and trying hard, but sometimes the families you’re hoping to reach still aren’t coming.
In this episode, we’re looking underneath the outreach ideas to question some of our assumptions about today’s families, what “successful” outreach actually means, and whether trying harder is really the answer.
In this episode:
➡️ Why it matters that we want to reach new families
➡️ The assumptions we may be making about what today’s families actually want and need
➡️ Why a successful event doesn’t necessarily lead to connection with your church
➡️ The difference between creating a transaction and building a relationship
➡️ Why your small church probably doesn’t need to try harder, but may need to start somewhere different

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Join the Everyday Influence
Join our free Facebook Community
Get your FREE ticket to the Reaching New Families Training! >> smallchurchministry.com/families
Support the show

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.
🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!

FOLLOW US:
➡️ Website: smallchurchministry.com
➡️ Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry
➡️ Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership
...more
29min
August 11, 2026 241: Healthy Responses to Unhealthy Church Leadership
Churches are made up of people, and people aren't healthy all the time. So what do we do when church leadership isn't at its best?
In this episode, we're talking about how to recognize unhealthy patterns, respond wisely, and become healthier ourselves along the way.
Inside this episode:
➡️ Why not every difficulty equals an unhealthy church
➡️ Common unhealthy patterns that often get normalized
➡️ Questions to ask before speaking up, staying, or stepping away
➡️ How to support your church without carrying what isn't yours

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Join the Everyday Influence
Check out our upcoming events
Join our free Facebook Community
Get your FREE ticket to the Reaching New Families Training! >> smallchurchministry.com/families
Support the show

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.
🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!

FOLLOW US:
➡️ Website: smallchurchministry.com
➡️ Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry
➡️ Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership
...more
50min
August 04, 2026240: Is "We've Always Done It This Way" Keeping Your Small Church Stuck?
Most churches don't struggle because people don't care. They struggle because they're trying to solve today's challenges with yesterday's ideas.
In this episode, we share one of our favorite strategies for creating a culture of learning that helps overcome resistance to change, develop volunteers, and move our churches forward.
We'll also pull back the curtain on why Small Church Ministry has invested so heavily in online events over the last six years, and why we hope they become more than just another event on the calendar.
In this episode:
Why fresh perspectives help churches move forward
How outside voices create new conversations
Why hope is one of the most practical things you can build
How online events can become part of your church's culture, not just your calendar

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Join the Everyday Influence
Check out our upcoming events
Join our free Facebook Community
Get your FREE ticket to the Reaching New Families Training! >> smallchurchministry.com/families
Support the show

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.
🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!

FOLLOW US:
➡️ Website: smallchurchministry.com
➡️ Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry
➡️ Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership
...more
39min
July 28, 2026 239: Healthy Churches Grow by Developing Everyday People | Leading Well Conference
What if one of the most important things your church could do isn't add another program, but intentionally develop the people you already have?
Recorded live at our Leading Well in a Small Church Conference, Laurie Graham Ertl shares why healthy churches don't depend on one pastor working harder.
They grow as everyday people learn to build trust, take ownership, solve problems wisely, and become the kind of people healthy churches are built on.

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Join the Everyday Influence
Join our free Facebook Community
Get your FREE ticket to the Reaching New Families Training! >> smallchurchministry.com/families
Support the show

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.
🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!

FOLLOW US:
➡️ Website: smallchurchministry.com
➡️ Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry
➡️ Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership
...more
39min
July 21, 2026 238: Reaching the Churched, the Unchurched & the Dechurched | with Pastor Patrick Dailey
Reaching your community starts with understanding your community.
Pastor Patrick Dailey explains why the words churched, unchurched, and dechurched matter more than ever, what it means to minister in a post-Christian culture, and how small churches can create natural opportunities to build relationships with the people around them.
In this episode:
➡️ What it means to minister to the churched, the unchurched, and the dechurched
➡️ Why "post-Christian" changes the conversation for today's church
➡️ How a family STEAM Night became a bridge into the community
➡️ Why small churches are uniquely positioned for this moment

CONNECT WITH PATRICK DAILEY
ontariocommunitychurch.org
patrickjosephdailey.com
instagram.com/iampatrickdailey

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Get your FREE ticket to the Leading Well Conference: www.smallchurchsummits.com
Join our free Facebook Community
Get your FREE ticket to the Reaching New Families Training! >> smallchurchministry.com/families
Support the show

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.
🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!

FOLLOW US:
➡️ Website: smallchurchministry.com
➡️ Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry
➡️ Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership
...more
44min
July 14, 2026 237: The Future Of The Small Church: What Has To Change? | with Dr. K. Kale Yu
The church is changing. The question is whether we're willing to change with it.
In this conversation, Dr. K. Kale Yu shares why the future of the small church won't be built on better programs or bigger budgets, but on ordinary people who are equipped to live out their faith every day.
In this episode:
➡️ Why today's church is facing more than a decline in attendance
➡️ The mistake many churches are making when trying to "fix" ministry
➡️ Why the future of the church depends on everyday people, not just pastors
➡️ What small churches can learn from the changing culture around them
➡️ One challenge every pastor needs to hear about leading the church into the future

CONNECT WITH DR. K. KALE YU
kkaleyu.net
Enkindle: Reviving the Church from Within (The Spark Initiative): a.co/d/07fF1Hil

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Get your FREE ticket to the Leading Well Conference: www.smallchurchsummits.com
Join our free Facebook Community
Get your FREE ticket to the Reaching New Families Training! >> smallchurchministry.com/families
Support the show

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.
🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!

FOLLOW US:
➡️ Website: smallchurchministry.com
➡️ Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry
➡️ Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership
...more
40min
July 07, 2026 236: How to Make Your Small Church Matter in the Community
What if the future of your church isn't determined by how many people attend on Sunday, but by the difference you make the rest of the week?
In this episode, Pastor Raymond Cabello shares how his church shifted from focusing inward to becoming a trusted, active presence in its community.
You'll hear practical ideas for building partnerships, serving with limited resources, and helping your small church make a bigger impact right where God has placed it.
In this episode:
➡️ Why serving your community starts with a mindset shift
➡️ How to build meaningful partnerships with schools, nonprofits, businesses, and other churches
➡️ Practical ways to make a big impact with a small budget and a small congregation
➡️ How opening your church beyond Sunday can strengthen your community presence
➡️ Encouragement for pastors leading churches that feel small, stuck, or overlooked

CONNECT WITH PASTOR RAYMOND CABELLO
crosskeysbaptistchurch.org
facebook.com/CrossKeysBC
instagram.com/crosskeys
youtube.com/@crosskeysbc
tiktok.com/@pastor_ray

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Get your FREE ticket to the Leading Well Conference: www.smallchurchsummits.com
Join our free Facebook Community
Get your FREE ticket to the Reaching New Families Training! >> smallchurchministry.com/families
Support the show

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.
🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!

FOLLOW US:
➡️ Website: smallchurchministry.com
➡️ Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry
➡️ Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership
...more
43min
June 30, 2026235: We've Expected Too Much from Pastors - and Underestimated Everyone Else
I've been told more than once that the real leverage point in a church is the pastor. Get the pastor healthy, and everything else will follow. I don't buy it.
In this episode, we're talking about why pastors matter, why ordinary people matter too, and why healthy churches are usually built by lots of people growing, participating, and taking ownership together.
In this episode, we're talking about:
Why we've put so much pressure on pastors
The role ordinary people play in a healthy church
What shared ownership actually looks like
Why participation matters more than observation
How healthy churches are built together

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Join the Network for $6 for your first month here!
Join our free Facebook Community
Get your FREE ticket to the Reaching New Families Training! >> smallchurchministry.com/families
Support the show

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.
🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!

FOLLOW US:
➡️ Website: smallchurchministry.com
➡️ Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry
➡️ Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership
...more
25min
June 23, 2026234: Great Volunteers Need More Than Spiritual Gifts
Great volunteers aren't just gifted. They keep growing.
In this episode, we're talking about why practical ministry skills matter more than many churches realize and how growing yourself may be one of the greatest gifts you can give your church.
In this episode, we're talking about:
Why some volunteers create more impact than others
The difference between caring and effectiveness
Why practical skills aren't competing with faith
How communication, conflict resolution, and leadership skills shape ministry outcomes
Why healthy churches are built by people who never stop learning

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Join the Network for $6 for your first month here!
Join our free Facebook Community
Get your FREE ticket to the Reaching New Families Training! >> smallchurchministry.com/families
Support the show

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.
🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!

FOLLOW US:
➡️ Website: smallchurchministry.com
➡️ Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry
➡️ Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership
...more
41min
June 16, 2026233: "I'm Just a Volunteer" Might Feel Safer. But It's a Myth.
"I'm just a volunteer."
That one phrase - one we've all heard and many of us have said - reveals a bigger problem than we realize.
In this episode, we're talking about what happens when churches concentrate growth, development, and learning into a handful of people while everyone else is expected to simply help. We'll explore why healthy churches aren't built by a few highly developed leaders.
In this episode, we're talking about:
Why "I'm just a volunteer" may reveal a deeper belief
The hidden cost of reserving growth for a few people
Why staying small can feel safer than growing
How healthy churches develop people, not just leaders
What happens when more people learn, grow, and take ownership

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Join the Network for $6 for your first month here!
Join our free Facebook Community
Get your FREE ticket to the Reaching New Families Training! >> smallchurchministry.com/families
Support the show

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people -- just like you -- in small churches who need to hear this.
🎙 Thanks for tuning in to Small Church Ministry Podcast! See you next week!

FOLLOW US:
➡️ Website: smallchurchministry.com
➡️ Instagram: instagram.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Facebook: facebook.com/smallchurchministry
➡️ Creative Solutions for Small Churches Facebook Community: facebook.com/groups/smallchurchministry
➡️ Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership
...more
33min

FAQs about The Small Church Ministry Podcast:

How many episodes does The Small Church Ministry Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 242 episodes available.

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