The Small Church Ministry Podcast

Laurie Graham Ertl
  • 5.0 (106)
  • 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. 3d ago

    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 ➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

  2. 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 ➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

  3. 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 ➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

  4. 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 ➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

  5. Sep 8

    245: Mental Health, Hormones, Rest & Relationships: Understanding Women in the Church | with Dr. Amy Oberg

    What if there’s more going on beneath the surface than we realize? In this conversation with Dr. Amy Oberg, we’re talking mental health, hormones, rest, relationships, and why understanding our brains and bodies actually belongs in conversations about faith. And yes, we’re going there with some of the things the church has gotten wrong along the way. Listen in for: Why mental health belongs in the conversation for ALL of usBrain, body and spirit, and what happens when we separate pieces that were meant to work togetherThe wild reality of women’s hormones, emotions, bodies, and seasonsWhy Amy says churches need mental health literacy, not mental health clinicsWhat can change when we get curious, slow down, and actually listen to people CONNECT WITH DR. AMY OBERG https://www.amyoberg.com/drao 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 ➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

  6. Sep 1

    244: The Women Who Make Small Churches Work

    Women are woven through almost every part of small-church ministry, and some of their biggest influence happens in relationships, not official roles.  But while churches invest in ministry ideas and practical skills, we often assume the human side of ministry will just come naturally. What if that's something we can get better at too? Listen in for: ➡️ Why the ministry of women is much bigger than Women's Ministry ➡️ The relational influence that never shows up on a ministry list ➡️ Why good intentions don't automatically create healthy influence ➡️ What CONTEXT, SELF, and PEOPLE have to do with developing women, not just ministry skills ➡️ Why developing women should matter to the whole church 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 ➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

  7. Aug 25

    243: I’m Resigning as the Idea Girl for Small Churches

    After years of equipping small churches with practical ideas, my thinking has shifted.  Great ministry ideas matter, but they’re only one part of equipping small-church leaders and volunteers with what they need to lead well, develop people, and build healthier churches. Listen in for:  ➡️ Why I’m officially resigning as the “Idea Girl” for small churches ➡️ What’s changed in how I think about equipping small-church leaders and volunteers ➡️ The four areas I believe we need to get better at ➡️ Why understanding ourselves and other people belongs in ministry training ➡️ What this shift means for Small Church Ministry going forward 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 ➡️  Small Church Network: smallchurchministry.com/membership

  8. Aug 18

    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 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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