The Church Lobby

Karl Vaters
  • 4.8 (35)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Karl Vaters interviews church leaders about the important issues of faith and ministry. It's called The Church Lobby because: The church lobby is where the church meets and does ministry. The church lobby moves conversations from the stage to the floor. The church lobby is a good place to take the temperature of a church’s health. Karl Vaters is the author of several books, including Small Church Essentials and The Grasshopper Myth. Formerly known as Can This Work In a Small Church?, this podcast primarily looks at church leadership from a small church perspective.

  1. Jul 30

    Ep 133: The Octogenarian YouTube Pastor: Mike Bayer on Building an Online Brand, Senior Ministry, and More

    How do you start a YouTube channel at the age of 81, and reach 25K subscribers in less than 6 months? That’s what pastor Mike Bayer did. Now he’s at over 44K subscribers, and it’s providing him with a second source of income in his later years of ministry. Karl Vaters talks with Mike about how he made YouTube work for him, plus: The importance of intentional ministry to senior adultsHow to use your church’s YouTube channel for better engagementIdeas for making an income outside the walls of the churchMinistry adjustments for the fourth quarter of life And more. Links:Old Me Living Better: YouTube ChannelOld Me Living: Skool channelMike’s Facebook PageSnugSafe.comThe Aging Pastorate: Sam Rainer on the Looming Pastoral Retirement Crunch (Ep 128) There is no bonus content for this episode. To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

  2. Jul 16

    Ep 132: An Insider's Critique: Todd Wilson Examines 70 Years of the Church Growth Movement

    Karl Vaters interviews Todd Wilson about some of the lessons that we need to learn when we look back at the Church Growth Movement. Todd is the co-founder and founding CEO of Exponential, so he critiques the Church Growth Movement as one of its leaders. This gives him a unique perspective we need to hear. Karl and Todd talk about the content of Todd’s new book, How Did We Get Here? Examining 70 Years of the Church Growth Movement. They cover topics such as: How the modern church has adopted a Consumer-Driven Operating SystemHow Donald McGavran’s Church Growth methods and language were co-optedWhere the “church as business” model came fromWhat must come nextAnd more. Links:How Did We Get Here? Examining 70 Years of the Church Growth Movement (Free e-book w registration)How Did We Get Here? Examining 70 Years of the Church Growth Movement (On Amazon)Multipliers: Leading Beyond Addition (Free e-book)Email Todd at Todd@multipliers.orgTechsoup.orgThe Unexpected Origins of the Church Growth Movement, with Dr. Gary McIntosh (The Church Lobby, Ep 027)De-sizing the Church: How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What's Next (by Karl Vaters) Bonus Content Summary12 Dilemmas Within the Church’s Prevailing Operating System, with Todd Wilson In Todd Wilson’s book, How Did We Get Here? Looking Back to Look Forward, he refers to the current church systems as functioning under a faulty operating system, and he describes 12 dilemmas within that system. In this subscriber-only content, Karl Vaters talks with Todd about several of these dilemmas. To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

  3. Jul 2

    Ep 131: The Normal Church Song: Thomas Austin Sings About Why You Shouldn’t Try to be a Megachurch

    “What's wrong with being just a normal church?” That’s the question at the center of Thomas Austin’s song, Normal Church. In this episode, Karl Vaters interviews Thomas Austin about the content of his song, including where the idea for it came from, some of the criticism he’s received for it, and what message he’s trying to convey through it. Some of what comes through in this conversation includes: Thomas’ love for the churchHis (and Karl’s) desire to see normal churches not try to be something they’re notThe problems that happen when normal churches try to copy the megachurch modelThe desire for authenticity among younger generations And more. To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

  4. Jun 18

    Ep 130: Overcoming Discontent: Chris Maxwell on Finding Contentment in Life and Ministry

    Discontent is a tricky monster. It’s so easy to spot it in others, but easy to overlook in ourselves. Karl Vaters interviews pastor Chris Maxwell about what contentment is not (laziness or mediocrity), what it is (an inner peace), what causes so much discontentment, why contentment is essential for healthy lives and ministries, and so much more. This is based on the content of Chris’ new book, Contentment: What You’re Searching for May Already Be Yours. Bonus Content SummaryHow to Practice Contentment In Our Calling, with Chris Maxwell Karl Vaters talks with Chris Maxwell about 6 simple steps we can practice to overcome discontent and embrace the inner peace of contentment, including” Redefine SuccessEmbrace LimitsCelebrate the OrdinaryStay Curious, Not CompetitiveLet Joy Lead YouStay With God, Not Just the Goal This is based on the content of Chris’ new book, Contentment: What You’re Searching for May Already Be Yours. Links:Contentment: What You’re Searching for May Already Be Yours.The Bible Project To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

  5. Jun 4

    Ep 129: Run to the Brokenness: Kevin Foster on How Your Church Can Stand Out by Serving

    Kevin Foster is the founding pastor of LifeBridge Community Church in Fresno, CA, a church that made a radical shift in emphasis several years ago when the brokenness of the people in their lower income city led them to run to the brokenness. Karl and Kevin talk about: Redefining success in ministryHow young leaders are not rejecting ministry—they’re rejecting the narrow definitions they’ve seen modeledA new way to look at church metricsHow to finance ministry to broken people and a lot more. LinksRun to the Brokenness: How Your Church Can Be the Center of Your CommunityRuntotheBrokenness.com Bonus ContentHow to Overcome the Occupational Hazards of Ministry, with Kevin Foster Karl Vaters talks with Kevin Foster about the hazards of ministry that so many pastors experience, and how to overcome them. They include: 1) Becoming a Casualty of Others’ Brokenness 2) Leading Through the Tension of Frustration 3) Comparing Yourself to Other Churches Kevin is the founding pastor of LifeBridge Community Church in Fresno, CA, and the author of Run to the Brokenness: How Your Church Can Be the Center of Your Community. To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

  6. May 22

    Ep 128: The Aging Pastorate: Sam Rainer on the Looming Pastoral Retirement Crunch

    Karl Vaters talks with Sam Rainer about some massive changes that are happening, and how the looming pastoral shortage will affect everything about the way churches function in the next generation or two. Based on Sam’s article, The Coming Massive Wave of Retiring Pastors and Church Staff, this conversation covers what caused this crisis along with some hopeful solutions including the rise of bi- and co-vocational ministry, opportunities for interim pastor ministry, the importance of planning your pastoral succession, and so much more. Links: The Coming Massive Wave of Retiring Pastors and Church Staff (article)Church AnswersChurch Answers University certification programCalendlyKarlVaters.com/OnDeck Bonus Content How To Prepare Your Church for Your Pastoral Retirement, with Sam Rainer Karl Vaters talks with Sam Rainer about what you can do prepare your church if you’re a pastor who’s set to retire soon, including the following three proactive steps: Evaluate your leadership pipelineCreate flexibility in your staffing model.Honor and utilize experienced pastors. To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter. Mentioned in this episode: On Deck Landing Page

  7. May 7

    Ep 127: Effective Small-Church Prayer Strategies, with Chris Paavola

    Prayer is a foundation of a healthy Christian life and church. Karl Vaters talks with Chris Paavola about four strategic ways his church prays that can help any church lay a more solid foundation for health. The foundation of this conversation is a talk Chris gives to pastors, titled 4 Ways Small Churches Can Grow in Prayer. Sunday Intercessory PrayerPrayer ServicesPrayerwalkingA new way to take prayer requests This last point comes straight from the Bible using the for/that method. It can make your church prayer request times feel less like gossip and more like the time of connection and intercession they’re meant to be. Chris Paavola is a pastor in Battle Creek Michigan who has written and spoken extensively about prayer, including Pray What You See: A Five-Week Prayerwalk Challenge. Bonus Content One Statement, One Question: The Power of a Simple Witness in a Complicated World, with Chris Paavola Karl Vaters talks with Chris Paavola about how the resurrection of Jesus changed (and still changes) everything, especially to cut through the clutter by bringing unbelievers into the real reason we believe what we believe. One Statement: “That’s not why I believe.” One Question: “What do you think happened on Easter morning?” Links: PrayForYourChurch.com @chris_paavola on Instagram @chris_paavola on X (Twitter) Using AI To Find Great Sermon Illustrations, with Darrell Stetler (Ep 111) Books: Pray What You See: A Five-Week Prayerwalk Challenge 25 Prayers to Christmas: Praying through the Christmas story 52 Prayers for Your Church: Because there's so much to pray The Seven Symbols of Ash: An Interactive Ash Wednesday Experience Less for More: Seven fasts in seven weeks for more of Jesus 40 Prayers to Launch: 40 prayers to help people pray for your church plant’s launch To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

  8. Apr 16

    Ep 126: Creating Margin in Ministry Through a Side Hustle and Travel Hacking, with Tim Walker

    Karl Vaters talks with Tim Walker about three important subjects: First, they talk about the new world of the “side hustle” culture, and why it can be an answer for pastors and churches to do more ministry with less stress. Second, the importance of creating margin in our life, our finances, our time, our energy, and our families. Third, Tim introduces us to the importance of time away from the church, the value of travel, and how to do this well without adding an additional financial burden, through the lessons he's learned about travel hacking. Tim is the pastor of Restored Church in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and runs the Travel Multiplier website. Links: Travel MultiplierSeats.aeroPoint.meThe Church Lobby, Ep 86 with Tim Walker There is no Bonus Content for this episode. To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

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4.8
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

Karl Vaters interviews church leaders about the important issues of faith and ministry. It's called The Church Lobby because: The church lobby is where the church meets and does ministry. The church lobby moves conversations from the stage to the floor. The church lobby is a good place to take the temperature of a church’s health. Karl Vaters is the author of several books, including Small Church Essentials and The Grasshopper Myth. Formerly known as Can This Work In a Small Church?, this podcast primarily looks at church leadership from a small church perspective.

Information

  • Creator
    Karl Vaters
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    137
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The Church Lobby

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