200churches Podcast: Ministry Encouragement for Pastors of Small Churches

This episode is Part 1 of a two part conversation between Jeff and Rob Tarnoviski, Lead Pastor of Bethel Fellowship - The Church at Franklin Mills, in Philadelphia PA. Rob and Jeff have been best friends for 30 years, yet have been serving in very different contexts. This episode includes some personal conversation never intended for the podcast. Finally, it seems that Jonny is a bit jealous of th...

This is the second of five episodes with Dan Reiland, author of Amplified Leadership: 5 Practices To Establish Influence, Build People, and Impact Others For A Lifetime. Dan talks with Jeff and Jonny about building people as you recruit and develop leaders. Dan is the Executive Pastor at 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, GA.

In this episode, Jeff and Jonny discuss the issue of church size, group dynamics, and how both create that annoying 200 barrier in most churches. They key off an article by Timothy Keller. They also have their first hint of conflict ever on the podcast, after 35 peaceful episodes!

New podcast theme music debuts in this episode! Jonny and Jeff talk about how to avoid being thrown off course by those frequent and even necessary distractions in ministry. Momentum is important and they talk about how not to lose it.

Jeff and Jonny talk about pastor's kids, and are joined by Jeff's son, Doug. Doug and Jonny are both pastor's kids and have grown up in a ministry family. Jonny has two preschool sons, and Jeff has three adult children, and one at home. In this episode, you get both perspectives, raising pastor's kids, and being one!

Jeff and Jonny talk with Dan Reiland, Executive Pastor of 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, GA, and author of Amplified Leadership. This is the first of five episodes that will be released on the last Wednesdays of August through December 2013. Dan focuses in on how pastors can best raise up leaders to join them in the work of the ministry.

Jeff and Jonny talk about the importance of creatively communicating God's word every weekend. With some tongue-in-cheek humor, and a lot of passion, they explain why creativity and change actually honors God's word and keeps people engaged.

Jeff and Jonny talk with Karl Vaters, a 200church pastor from Orange County, CA and founder of NewSmallChurch.com, a blog devoted to Small Church ministry. This is only 30 minutes of an almost hour long conversation we enjoyed. Karl is full of vision and energy, and most importantly, passion for the body of Christ! Karl will definitely be back to join us again on the podcast!

We often view strengths as positive and weaknesses as negative. Jeff and Jonny talk about the benefits of both, and why you want to keep your weaknesses! This is a great "perspective" episode, to help you appreciate how God has uniquely created you for your leadership position in your 200church. They also have a little fun along the way...

In this episode, Jeff and Jonny share their hearts as they describe their vision for 200churches. They believe that as pastors, you can get enough training, education, and information – but you cannot get enough encouragement and inspiration! They share how they want to encourage, inspire, and support you as a 200church pastor! They also talk about how easy a pastor can find him or herself isolate...

Who wants conflict? Well, just anyone who wants to find the best solution, the greatest idea, or the most effective method! In this episode, Jonny and Jeff talk about why a pastor of a 200church should encourage, utilize, and manage positive conflict with his or her church leadership. Conflict exists whether we recognize it or not. We should leverage it to provide better leadership for our church.

Personalities clash, preferences collide, pride swells, and ministry leaders disagree - what to do about it? So many churches suffer, split, or even dissolve because church leaders do not resolve conflicts and differences. Jeff and Jonny share ten steps that will allow you to resolve any disagreement in your 200church ministry.

Do you pander, hedge your bets, or back off potentially controversial issues? In this episode Jonny and Jeff talk about speaking boldly in your 200church. You might think it would be easier to be bold if you had more people, and could afford to lose a few, but wimping out or pandering to big givers or strong personalities are things that all pastors struggle with at one time or another... better t...

Jonny and Jeff are joined by Greg Atkinson, the Campus Pastor at Forest Park Carthage, near Joplin MO. Greg is an author and speaker, but his heart is in the local church and he is first a pastor. Greg shares what it took for him to turn his messy 200church around.

Jeff and Jonny answer a question sent in by Tyler Eiland. He asked about how to lead people in his church who have been attending the church he pastors for twice as long as he has been alive... Good question Tyler! Many of us younger leaders have to deal with that reality. The guys give 8 ideas for leading and influencing the older people in your church.

Jonny and Jeff talk about social media that every 200church must engage with. It's easier than ever to stay connected with people, we just have to do it. Here are five social media technologies that your church must engage with, or be left out...

Jeff and Jonny talk with Steve Spear, a former Willow Creek pastoral staff member, and current TEAM World Vision volunteer who is running across America to raise 1.5 million dollars to provide clean water for life to an African community of 30 thousand people. Steve is in West Texas as this is recorded, and just completed a 30 mile day, most through a dust storm!

Jeff and Jonny share their experience and the lessons they learned at the Chick-fil-A Leadercast on May 10, 2013. They comment on the speakers, the value of leadership development, and the advantage of being monkey buddies.

Jonny and Jeff are joined by Robert, a recent attender to their church. Robert is a pastor's kid, who became disillusioned with the church as a young adult, and stepped away from it for about seven years. Rob joins the discussion to talk about what his generation wishes the church would do!

Jeff and Jonny are joined by David Craig, who is to blame for Jonny! Jonny's Dad talks about his experiences over forty years of pastoring 200churches, and his new book, The Gospel According to Molly. They generally discuss ways to encourage your church family as a pastor.

Jeff and Jonny talk about the warning signs of plasticity in pastoral ministry. Are you a "Plasti-Pastor"? Jonny calls them "Ken Doll" pastors, and Jeff just thinks they're phonies. The tendency toward plasticity haunts us all as pastors, and they give some suggestions at the end of the podcast for how to get back into our own skin.

In this episode Jeff and Jonny are joined by Ryan Perz, a pastor of a 200church... of 50! Ryan joins the conversation, sharing some of his background and the thing he has in common with Jonny and Jeff, as they discuss the pros and cons of ministry in a smaller church.

In this episode Jonny and Jeff define what a selfish church is, maybe not what you're thinking. They then talk about the antidote, what can turn a selfish church into an outward focused church.

In this episode Jeff and Jonny share their fantasy Sunday morning service - and the unrealistic expectations that accompany it. Then they share four expectations we can all see fulfilled every Sunday morning, no matter the size or make-up of our church.

In this episode we welcome a cameo appearance by Michael Hyatt, and play a clip from his podcast to set up our discussion on how to build relationships with your church board, so that you can work together to effect change in your church.