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
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...
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 co...
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 Sheph...
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 l...