The Small Church Ministry Podcast

What if you could enter the next ministry year with clarity, unity, and a plan that actually fits your church?  In this episode, I talk with Lauren Jackson from Kids Ministry Circle about how churches of any size can create a meaningful, intentional KidMin plan—and why July is the perfect time to start.  Whether you're leading solo or working with a team, this conversation will give you pract...

What if your small church could run a meaningful, Jesus-centered children’s ministry—even with just a few kids and a couple of volunteers?  In this episode, I’m talking with Group Publishing about their brand-new Sunday School curriculum, Two or More , designed specifically for smaller churches and mixed-age groups.  If you've been trying to “make it work” with curriculum that doesn’t fit you...

In this episode of The Small Church Ministry Podcast, Laurie names something many small churches deal with—but haven’t had the words for: ministry silos.  You know when two ministries plan events on the same night—and no one realizes it? Or you hear about something great after it already happened? That’s a silo—and it’s more common than we think.  We’ll talk about why silos form, how they quietly...

In this inspiring episode of the Small Church Ministry Podcast, host Laurie Graham talks with Heather Harkins about transforming children's ministry in a small church.  Heather shares practical strategies for increasing congregational involvement, breaking down traditional ministry barriers, and creating meaningful intergenerational connections.  Learn how her church reimagined children'...

In this series, we’ve been naming what’s broken in church culture—and today, we’re talking about what we lost in discipleship. When did spiritual growth become just facts, checklists, and classroom settings?  Jesus didn’t disciple minds—He discipled hearts. He invited people into His life. He wept. He asked questions. He modeled emotional depth, not just theological accuracy. Somewhere along the w...

This anniversary series is about naming what’s broken in church culture—and making room for leadership that looks like Jesus. In this episode, we’re rethinking the phrase “We’re a biblical church.” It’s often used to divide, not unite—and that’s a problem. We’ll cover: 1. Why “we’re a biblical church” can actually drive people apart instead of uniting us. 2. My personal frustration with how “bibli...

Church should be a place of growth and healing—but too often, dysfunction gets disguised as “unity” or “God’s will.” In this episode of our anniversary series, we’re naming the unhealthy systems churches cling to and calling for leadership that reflects Jesus’ heart. We’ll talk about: 1. True unity vs. fear-based “togetherness” 2. The damage of avoiding hard conversations 3. How power imbalances k...

We’re kicking off our 4-part anniversary series: “Off Script: Five Years Later & Still Saying What No One Else Will.” This series names what’s broken in church culture—and calls us to something better. From power dynamics to discipleship, we’re going there. Today’s episode tackles a common problem: treating volunteers like a workforce instead of ministry partners. This mindset leads to burnout...

In this inspiring episode of the Small Church Ministry Podcast, Carla Adams shares how four churches in her small Georgia town broke down denominational barriers to unite in community service and fellowship.  Learn how these churches - including Baptist, Methodist, and others - overcame historical divisions to collaborate on events like Easter sunrise services, community giveaways, and women'...

In this inspiring episode of the Small Church Ministry Podcast, host Laurie Graham sits down with Theresa J. Stewart, author of "The Small Church Advantage," to challenge traditional views of small churches.  Theresa shares powerful insights on how smaller congregations are not deficient, but unique "test kitchens" for innovative ministry.  Learn how volunteers and lay members...

In this insightful episode of the Small Church Ministry Podcast, host Laurie Graham sits down with Pastor Doug Butler to explore the often-challenging dynamics between pastors and church volunteers.  They dive deep into building trust, understanding, and unity in small church settings, discussing how to: Overcome communication barriers Embrace diverse personalities Create a supportive church commu...

In this special episode of the Small Church Ministry Podcast, host Laurie Graham talks with Sarah Harlow about creative, meaningful outreach strategies for small churches.  Sarah shares innovative ways her church connects with the local community, from blessing baristas to writing appreciation cards for community leaders. In this episode: Discover how to do outreach with limited resources Learn si...

In this powerful opening session of the Small Church KidMin + Youth Ministry Conference, host Laurie Graham explores volunteer recruitment through a Jesus-centered lens.  She challenges ministry leaders to shift from merely recruiting volunteers to developing people, emphasizing the importance of seeing and valuing individuals.  Drawing on personal stories and biblical insights, Laurie discusses h...

In this powerful episode of the Small Church Ministry Podcast, host Laurie Graham sits down with Melissa MacDonald to explore the critical role of recognizing and connecting with hurting kids in small church settings.  Melissa shares her personal experiences as a foster parent, after-school program director, and ministry leader, offering practical insights on how to love, support, and disciple chi...

In this powerful episode of the Small Church Ministry Podcast, host Laurie Graham sits down with Kim Botto to explore how small churches can create a welcoming environment for every child, especially those with neurodivergent needs or trauma backgrounds. Listen in to: Discover why 1 in 3 families with children with disabilities have left a church Learn practical strategies for inclusion that don&a...

Laurie Graham and youth ministry expert Mike Haynes discuss effective strategies for engaging and teaching teenagers in small church youth groups.  Key topics include:  Recognizing the challenges of over-scheduled teens Leveraging teenagers' natural agency Structuring interactive youth group time Adapting teaching methods to match teenage cognitive development The episode equips small church...

Join Laurie Graham and special guest Angela Marks in this inspiring episode of the Small Church Ministry Podcast as they dive deep into children's ministry.  Angela shares her transformative journey from an IT professional to a passionate children's minister, revealing how a great children's ministry isn't about big budgets or fancy programs, but about seeing the incredible pot...

Laurie Graham and Victoria White discuss the inclusion of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the church.  Victoria, an experienced advocate, shares her passion for this issue and the benefits of welcoming this population, such as slowing down and gaining new perspectives. The conversation covers practical steps for churches to reach out and build relationships with th...

In this episode, Laurie Graham welcomes guest Kelly Wilson to discuss her experience implementing a "planning party" at her small church.  Kelly shares how the planning party concept helped address the challenges she and her husband faced as the primary planners and implementers of church activities. The planning party involved the congregation in a low-pressure way to generate ideas ......

In this episode, host Laurie Graham and guest Brenna Fields Hayes dive into the topic of healthy responses to church conflict.  They discuss the prevalence of unresolved conflict in many churches and the importance of creating safe environments for open communication.  Brenna shares insights on:  the role of personal responsibility evaluating one's own motives and emotional readiness finding...

Alastair and Nicola Bruce from a small church in Scotland share how they transformed a coffee shop space into a community pantry, cafe, and pre-loved shop to provide support with dignity and build relationships.  They offer practical advice for other churches to start small and match resources to community needs.  The community pantry became a platform for long-term support and missional engagemen...

Laurie Graham and Cheri Kulhawick share tips for small churches organizing large community events, including ... The importance of early planning Building a diverse team Befining a clear purpose Being flexible when things don't go as expected Cheri also shares a candid story about pivoting after an event had more supplies than attendees.  This episode is full of practical wisdom and encourage...

In this episode, Laurie Graham and DG Wynn discuss finding your place of influence and using your unique gifts and passions in ministry.  They explore ... The limitations of spiritual gifts inventories Share examples of people making an impact through unexpected talents Emphasize the importance of embracing small beginnings This episode encourages listeners to be open to using their gifts, no matt...

In this episode, Laurie Graham welcomes Justin King, the founder of The Church Crew, a scheduling tool designed to help small churches manage their volunteers more effectively.  They discuss: Justin's personal experience with volunteer management challenges, the features of The Church Crew The importance of healthy systems to support volunteers Balancing the use of scheduling tools with leavi...

In this episode, Laurie Graham welcomes Derek Maxson, an expert in helping small churches improve their online presence. Derek shares his insights on the three types of church website visitors: Insiders Shoppers Seekers He emphasizes the importance of catering to "Seekers" - those visiting in crisis - and provides practical tips on what to add to your church website.  This episode is a m...