The Small Church Ministry Podcast

Laurie Graham Ertl
  • 5.0 (105)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

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 Ministry and the Small Church Network, Laurie Graham Ertl shares why small churches matter—not as a scaled-down version of something bigger, but as powerful communities with their own unique strengths. Each episode offers creative solutions to real challenges with a mix of honest encouragement, leadership skills, and actionable next steps.  Laurie hosts the show with a perspective shaped by decades in ministry on every side of small church life—as a volunteer, staff leader, and pastor’s spouse. She knows both the pressure and the beauty of small churches firsthand, and brings steady encouragement, practical wisdom, and deep care for both volunteers and ministry leaders.

  1. 4d ago

    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 the Ministry Bundles here! 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

  2. Jul 21

    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 the Ministry Bundles here! 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

  3. Jul 14

    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 the Ministry Bundles here! 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

  4. Jul 7

    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 the Ministry Bundles here! 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

  5. Jun 30

    235: 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 pastorsThe role ordinary people play in a healthy churchWhat shared ownership actually looks likeWhy participation matters more than observationHow healthy churches are built together RESOURCES MENTIONED Join the Network for $6 for your first month here! Join our free Facebook Community Get the Ministry Bundles here! 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

  6. Jun 23

    234: 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 othersThe difference between caring and effectivenessWhy practical skills aren't competing with faithHow communication, conflict resolution, and leadership skills shape ministry outcomesWhy 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 the Ministry Bundles here! 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

  7. Jun 16

    233: "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 beliefThe hidden cost of reserving growth for a few peopleWhy staying small can feel safer than growingHow healthy churches develop people, not just leadersWhat 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 the Ministry Bundles here! 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

  8. Jun 9

    232: The Most Influential People in Your Church Might Not Be the Pastor

    We spend a lot of time talking about pastors, church leaders, and people with titles. But what if I told you some of the most influential people in your church will never stand on a stage, lead a meeting, or sit on a board?  In this episode, we're talking about the people shaping church culture every single week - and why the future of many small churches isn't sitting in the pastor's office. In this episode, we're talking about: Why influence and authority aren't the same thingHow everyday people impact a church's healthWhy the future of your church isn't sitting in one officeWhat influence actually looks like in a small church RESOURCES MENTIONED Join our free Facebook Community Get the Ministry Bundles here! 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

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About

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 Ministry and the Small Church Network, Laurie Graham Ertl shares why small churches matter—not as a scaled-down version of something bigger, but as powerful communities with their own unique strengths. Each episode offers creative solutions to real challenges with a mix of honest encouragement, leadership skills, and actionable next steps.  Laurie hosts the show with a perspective shaped by decades in ministry on every side of small church life—as a volunteer, staff leader, and pastor’s spouse. She knows both the pressure and the beauty of small churches firsthand, and brings steady encouragement, practical wisdom, and deep care for both volunteers and ministry leaders.

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