The Church Lobby

Karl Vaters interviews church leaders about the important issues of faith and ministry.

It's called The Church Lobby because:

  • The church lobby is where the church meets and does ministry.
  • The church lobby moves conversations from the stage to the floor.
  • The church lobby is a good place to take the temperature of a church’s health.


Karl Vaters is the author of several books, including Small Church Essentials and The Grasshopper Myth. Formerly known as Can This Work In a Small Church?, this podcast primarily looks at church leadership from a small church perspective.

Christianity
Religion & Spirituality
1
Ep 068: The Small Church Worship Advantage, wit...
Did you know there are tools specifically for crafting worship in small settings? To find them we need to turn to an old source—aesthetics.
49 min
2
Ep 067: Beyond Burnout: Growing a Healthy Soul,...
A tired pastor talks to an expert in ministry burnout out what the differences and danger signs are.
32 min
3
Ep 066: Brain Science, Christian Connection, an...
What does brain science have to do with ministry, or even Christianity? This enightening conversation makes those connections.
47 min
4
Ep 065: Helping Small Churches Thrive (A specia...
A special Sunday message describing the history and future of ministry for small churches and pastors.
45 min
5
Ep 064: The Value of Pastoral Longevity (Gary G...
Lessons and memories from 31 years of pastoral ministry at the same church, followed by a healthy transition.
18 min
6
Ep 063: Using A.I. Without Losing Your Soul: A ...
Are you not sure how to feel about A.I.? Does it seem mysterious and scary? This will help.
71 min
7
Ep 062: Maybe You Shouldn't Live-Stream Your Ch...
To stream, or not to stream? The answer to that question may not be as simple as you’ve been told.
52 min
8
Ep 061: Why Reading Matters for Ministry, with ...
If we want to become pastors with gravitas, one of the most proven and effective ways to do it is by committing ourselves to a program of wide, regular reading.
50 min
9
Ep 060: How Just Showing Up Can Change Everythi...
We’re not called to change the world, we’re called to simple acts of everyday faithfulness
43 min
10
Ep 059: How Churches Can Stop Burning Out Pasto...
Good stewardship of a pastor’s time and energy should not be measured by what they do, but by what they focus on.
54 min
11
Ep 058: The Power of Prayer In Church Revitaliz...
What if your congregation was praying New Testament prayers for church revitalization?
54 min
12
Ep 057: How to Turn Board Meetings Into God Mee...
Is it possible for a church to cancel board meetings entirely? Dave Beckwith thinks so.
39 min
13
Ep 056: You're Pastoring More People Than You T...
How many people are you really pastoring? That used to be a simple question. It isn’t anymore.
38 min
14
Ep 055: What I Learned By Taking A Sabbatical, ...
Should all pastors take a sabbatical? If so, what should you do on yours, and what should be avoided?
31 min
15
Ep 054: 10 Surprising Stats That Prove Church S...
A fascinating conversation based on a report from a 20-year-long study about church trends and church size.
61 min
16
Ep 053: The Secret Power of Kindness, with Greg...
Kindness may be the least-appreciated of the Fruit of the Spirit, but it's one of the most important for our witness to the world.
53 min
17
Ep 052: The Power of Forgiveness, with Dr. Bruc...
We all want to be forgiven, but we have a hard time forgiving. This conversation will help.
48 min
18
Ep 051: Unlock Your Bible, with Dianne Finkelde
A how-to study guide for everyday Christians
32 min
19
Ep 050: How To Plan A Sabbatical, with Karl Vaters
Pastors don't get work breaks unless we take them. And our brains and hearts don't get a rest unless it's a long break.
23 min
20
Ep 049: YouTube Strategy for Churches, with Sal...
A practical guide for your church to reach more people through YouTube
48 min
21
Ep 048: Post-Pandemic Trends In Small Church Mi...
The expected post-pandemic wave of pastoral resignations hasn’t happened, but pastoral exhaustion has. Why? And what do we do now?
39 min
22
Ep 047: Overcoming The Dangers of Elitist Chris...
For anyone who's ever found themselves looking down on other pastors – or anyone who's been looked down on.
42 min
23
Ep 046: Team Leadership: Lessons from the Apost...
Managing conflict, coordinating a team, handing leadership to the NextGen. Pauls' life and ministry keep teaching us so much.
49 min
24
Ep 045: Dealing With Burnout In Ministry, with ...
For pastors who are wondering if they're dealing with with burnout. (Hint: if you think you are, you probably are.)
43 min
25
Ep 044: Ministry in Today’s Rural Church, with ...
Sipping a mocha in Harvard Square somehow seems more consequential than having coffee at the small-town gas station. But it’s not.
48 min