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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 J. Graham 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
206: Rethinking Your Church Budget: From Scarcity to a Story of Possibility | Church Finance Series (Part 4)
Most small-church budgets weren’t really created; they just grew over time. Leftovers from last year, assumptions from a decade ago, and line items no one can quite explain anymore.
And when a budget is shaped by nostalgia, fear, or “what we used to do,” it can make a church feel like it’s failing even when it’s not.
In this episode, we explore how to see your budget as a story and how to shift that story from scarcity to possibility.
You’ll learn:
- How churches unintentionally build budgets around fear and leftovers
- The difference between maintaining the past and investing in what’s alive now
- How to make mission-first decisions with what you already have
- Simple ways to start a healthier financial culture, even if this year’s budget is already set
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