The Small Church Ministry Podcast

Laurie Graham Ertl
  • 5.0 (107)
  • Christianity
  • 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 Everyday Influence, 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. 1d ago

    253: Church Blind Spots: You Weren't Created to Be on the Sidelines | Part 2

    Ever had an idea at church but kept it to yourself because you figured it wasn't your decision? Or assumed someone with more experience, a title, or an official ministry role should be the one to step up?  For many of us, that's the church we grew up in. But what we've accepted as normal isn't the same as what's possible. In Part 2, we're flipping the camera around to look at how we sometimes accept church habits as just the way things are, without realizing how they limit our own influence and keep us from being the light we're called to be. In this episode, we're talking about: ➡️ Why we assume certain people have more to offer than we do ➡️ How we end up sitting back, even when we have ideas, gifts, and experience to share ➡️ How we sometimes help keep the very church habits we'd like to see change ➡️ What we can do when we don't have the title, the authority, or the final say ➡️ How to take responsibility for our own growth and contribution instead of waiting for an invitation RESOURCES MENTIONED Join the Everyday Influence Join our free Facebook Community 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 ➡️  Everyday Influence: smallchurchministry.com/influence

  2. Oct 27

    252: Church Blind Spots: You Can't Fix What You Don't See | Part 1

    We say everyone matters, everyone's voice counts, and everyone has something to offer. So why do the same three people make all the decisions, and why are we still asking people to fill jobs instead of finding out what they'd actually love to do? In Part 1, we're looking at how the decisions we make and the way we lead can actually get in the way of what we want for our churches. In this episode, we're talking about: ➡️ The church habits we've stopped noticing (but everyone else might see!) ➡️ What we're accidentally teaching people about whose opinions count ➡️ Why the same people keep running everything, even when we say we want more help ➡️ The difference between helping people grow and just filling volunteer positions ➡️ Simple changes we can make without forming another committee or rewriting the mission statement RESOURCES MENTIONED Join the Everyday Influence Join our free Facebook Community 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 ➡️  Everyday Influence: smallchurchministry.com/influence

  3. Oct 20

    251: That Ministry Decision Didn’t Go Your Way ... Now What?

    What do you do when the pastor says no, the board chooses something different, or a ministry decision you care deeply about doesn't go your way? It's easy to go from disappointment to feeling like we have no power at all.  In this episode, Laurie talks about how to care for what's happening inside us, recognize what was actually decided, and find the choices and influence that are still ours. Listen in for: ➡️ Why not having the final say doesn't mean having no say at all ➡️ Laurie's 4 A's for responding when a decision hits harder than expected ➡️ How to tell the difference between someone else's decision and the choices that still belong to you ➡️ What it can look like to leave, stay, adapt, or find another avenue for your influence ➡️ Three questions to ask when a ministry decision doesn't go your way RESOURCES MENTIONED Join the Everyday Influence Join our free Facebook Community 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 ➡️  Everyday Influence: smallchurchministry.com/influence

  4. Oct 13

    250: Is It Wrong to Want More People to Show Up?

    In this episode, Laurie talks about what happens after the numbers disappoint us. Because the problem usually isn't that we wanted more people to come.  It's what we start making that number mean about the people who didn't come, the ministry we planned, ourselves, or even what God is doing. Listen in for: ➡️ Why it’s okay to want more people to show up ➡️ What happens when disappointment turns into blame ➡️ What attendance numbers can tell us ... and what they can’t ➡️ Why a smaller number doesn’t automatically mean something went wrong ➡️ A different way to plan when you have no idea how many people will come RESOURCES MENTIONED Join the Everyday Influence Join our free Facebook Community 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 ➡️  Everyday Influence: smallchurchministry.com/influence

  5. Oct 6

    249: What If We’ve Been Getting Empathy Wrong? | with Soul Shepherding’s Kristi Gaultiere

    Most of us think we know what empathy is. But what if we’ve spent years caring for people, serving in church, and even trying to love people well without ever really learning how to receive or give it? In this conversation with Soul Shepherding’s Kristi Gaultiere, co-author of Deeply Loved, we’re talking about why empathy is so often misunderstood in the church and what could change in our relationships, our ministries, and our own emotional health if we got better at it. Listen in for: ➡️ What could change in a small church if we learned to practice empathy well ➡️ Why you may not understand empathy until you’ve actually experienced it ➡️ What happens when we rush past emotions with advice, encouragement, or even “I’m sorry” ➡️ Why receiving empathy may be harder than giving it, especially for people who spend their lives caring for others ➡️ The difference between empathy, coddling, and codependency CONNECT WITH KRISTI GAULTIERE Deeply Loved Book: Deeply Loved Soul Shepherding Retreats: Soul Shepherding Retreats Spiritual Direction Training + Certificate: CSD Training Meet with a Spiritual Director or Coach: Spiritual Director + Coach Directory RESOURCES MENTIONED Join the Everyday Influence Join our free Facebook Community 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 ➡️  Everyday Influence: smallchurchministry.com/influence

  6. Sep 29

    248: Just Because You Can Do It All, Doesn’t Mean You Should | with Charmaine Stulp

    Last week, women from small churches came together for our Women Reaching Women Conference, and this week we're giving you a peek inside!  In a small church, being capable can get you into trouble because when you can do a little bit of everything, it's easy to end up doing it all.  In this session, Charmaine Stulp helps us get more intentional about where we invest our time, strengths, and influence. Listen in for: ➡️ How to recognize your own sweet spots ➡️ The difference between something you can do and something that's really yours to do ➡️ What others may be able to do just as well as you ➡️ Why stepping back can sometimes be a really good ministry decision ➡️ Where your time and strengths can make the greatest difference CONNECT WITH CHAMAINE STULP www.ditchdaffodil.com RESOURCES MENTIONED Join the Everyday Influence Join our free Facebook Community 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 ➡️  Everyday Influence: smallchurchministry.com/influence

  7. Sep 22

    247: From Women’s Ministry to Reaching Women: The Ministry Is in the Conversation | with Dee Bryce

    What if reaching women has a lot less to do with getting them to our activities and a lot more to do with how we walk alongside them?  In this conversation with Dee Bryce, we’re rethinking women’s ministry, invitations, growth, and even what it means to minister to someone when every woman doesn’t need the same thing.  Because sometimes the ministry really is in the conversation. Listen in for: ➡️ The difference between recruiting women and actually reaching them ➡️ Why every woman doesn’t need another event, invitation, prayer moment, or push to participate ➡️ What changes when we walk alongside women instead of assuming we know what they need ➡️ Why growth can look very different from woman to woman ➡️ How ordinary conversations can become some of our most meaningful ministry CONNECT WITH DEE BRYCE www.flourishwomentoday.com RESOURCES MENTIONED Join the Everyday Influence Join our free Facebook Community 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 ➡️  Everyday Influence: smallchurchministry.com/influence

  8. Sep 15

    246: Strong Personalities, Bullies & Bad Behavior: When Women Hurt Women in Church

    What do you do when the difficult person is sitting three chairs down at Bible study... or leading it? Church relationships can get especially confusing when you add in grace, forgiveness, patience, keeping the peace, and that little voice that says, Good Christian women don’t make trouble. In this conversation with Jennifer Y. Afriyie, we’re talking about what happens when women hurt women in church, why we sometimes put up with more than we should, and how we can have compassion without giving away our agency. Listen in for: Strong personality, difficult behavior, or bullying? They’re not all the same.When difficult or disappointing crosses the line into destructiveWhy church can make bad behavior weirdly hard to deal withWhy strong, giving, forgiving women sometimes stay in unhealthy situationsHow we can be kind, compassionate AND still say, “That’s not okay.” CONNECT WITH JENNIFER Y. AFRIYIE www.jyaspeaks.com RESOURCES MENTIONED Join the Everyday Influence Join our free Facebook Community 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 ➡️  Everyday Influence: smallchurchministry.com/influence

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5
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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 Everyday Influence, 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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