The Small Church Ministry Podcast
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.
The Small Church Ministry Podcast
Latest Episodes
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 under...
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 ...
240: 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 t...
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 E...
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 pos...