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 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.
The Small Church Ministry Podcast
Latest Episodes
254: The Significance Gap | Platforms, Pedestals, and a Purple Rock
What does a purple rock with a zebra on it have to do with changing small church culture? More than you might think, especially when we start questioning why we give so much attention to titles, platforms, accomplishments, and volun...
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 ...
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 d...
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 ep...