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The Church Lobby

Karl Vaters
Small Churches
Community Engagement
Discipleship
Christian Leadership
Christianity
Church Growth Movement
Pastoral Leadership
Church Leadership
Church Ministry
Wilkes-Barre
Church Growth
Grief
Leadership
Bivocational Ministry
Mental Health
Co-Vocational Pastoring
Restored Church
Multiethnic Kingdom Culture
Hub For Movement Strategy
Trunk-Or-Treat

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 ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes133Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Religion & SpiritualityChristianity

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Artwork for The Church Lobby

Latest Episodes

Kevin Foster is the founding pastor of LifeBridge Community Church in Fresno, CA, a church that made a radical shift in emphasis several years ago when the brokenness of the people in their lower income city led them to run to the brokenness.

Karl a... more

Karl Vaters talks with Sam Rainer about some massive changes that are happening, and how the looming pastoral shortage will affect everything about the way churches function in the next generation or two.

Based on Sam’s article, The Coming Massive W... more

Prayer is a foundation of a healthy Christian life and church. Karl Vaters talks with Chris Paavola about four strategic ways his church prays that can help any church lay a more solid foundation for health.

The foundation of this conversation is a ... more

Karl Vaters talks with Tim Walker about three important subjects: First, they talk about the new world of the “side hustle” culture, and why it can be an answer for pastors and churches to do more ministry with less stress.

Second, the importance of... more

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Recent Guests

Sam Rainer
Pastor and author discussed in-depth, author of articles on pastoral retirement
Church Answers / Sam Rainer, LLC
Episode: Ep 128: The Aging Pastorate: Sam Rainer on the Looming Pastoral Retirement Crunch
Chris Paavola
Pastor in Battle Creek, Michigan; author and speaker on prayer
Pastor, Battle Creek, Michigan; author
Episode: Ep 127: Effective Small-Church Prayer Strategies, with Chris Paavola
Shaunti Feldhahn
Doctor, researcher and co-author of When Hurting People Come to Church
Church Cares Initiative
Episode: Ep 125: How People of Faith Can Help Solve the Mental Health Crisis, with Shaunti Feldhahn & James N. Sells
James Sells
Doctor and psychologist with experience in Christian ministry
Church Cares Initiative
Episode: Ep 125: How People of Faith Can Help Solve the Mental Health Crisis, with Shaunti Feldhahn & James N. Sells
Darryl Dash
Pastor in Toronto, Canada; author of Advice to New and Aspiring Pastors (The Gospel Coalition Canada)
dashhouse.com / Gospel for Life
Episode: Ep 123: Six Things I’d Do Differently If I Was a Young Pastor Today, with Darryl Dash
Kurt W. Bubna
Author and speaker, reflected on personal journey and experience with trust and integrity.
Episode: Ep 122: Philip Yancey, Shattered Trust, and Rebuilding Your Integrity, with Kurt Bubna
Laurie Graham
Runs smallchurchministry.com, providing resources for volunteers in smaller churches.
Small Church Ministry
Episode: Ep 121: Six Big Shifts In How People Volunteer—And How To Respond, with Laurie Graham
Dave Ripper
Lead pastor of Crossway Christian Church in New Hampshire
Crossway Christian Church
Episode: Ep 120: Experiencing Scripture Like Dallas Willard, with Dave Ripper
Jeff Hoglen
CEO of churchplanning.com and coach for church planters
churchplanning.com
Episode: Ep 119: Pushing Back Against The Lie Of Fast Church Growth, with Jeff Hoglen

Host

Karl Vaters
Host of The Church Lobby

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 54 ratings
  • Microphone

    Your microphone volume has been low for many months. The ad volume was high and clear in comparison. I’ve had trouble listening and the content is wonderful. I want to hear it better. Thanks and blessings

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fr. Howard
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great wisdom

    Powerful, practical, and biblical wisdom to lead any church no matter the size. I’m a music leader for my local, small church and these conversations and suggestions will build your knowledge, your humility and encourage you. Just Wonderful! Every church should use this tool and resource.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tellis478
    United States4 years ago
  • 6 stars… no really

    Karl is a gift to small church pastors. I’m sorry to say I didn’t catch this from the beginning, but now I get to binge 2 months worth at once. That means more great moments like Darth Vader wielding a dog brush. Lots of guys have been championing small church over the last 5 years, but Karl was the original. Thankful God has enabled him.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Apostle84
    United States5 years ago
  • So needed!

    Karl Vaters has his finger on the pulse of a small church. Make sure to check out his book The Grasshopper Myth. Changed my view of what the small church is. Great stuff!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pastor James Turnes
    United States5 years ago
  • Finally!

    This is great. I love the premise. Big churches are good and have their place, but solutions for a big church and a small church are different. Thank you for making this.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mdehnert82
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise practical, biblically grounded insights for small churches.
Audience notes binge-worthy discussions and deep respect for the host's focus on small church realities.
Fans highlight candid, actionable leadership guidance and tangible takeaways.
Feedback emphasizes the show's emphasis on rest, margins, and sustainable ministry.

Top Christianity Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep 127: Effective Small-Church Prayer Strategies, with Chris Paavola
Q: What's the best piece of ministry advice you've ever received?
Maintain unrelenting optimism in the face of evidence to the contrary, and keep believing people will show up and engage.
Ep 127: Effective Small-Church Prayer Strategies, with Chris Paavola
Q: What free resource has helped you lately that you would recommend for small church ministry?
The Pray For Your Church site and newsletter, a simple, practical source of weekly prayers focused on specific ministry areas.
Ep 127: Effective Small-Church Prayer Strategies, with Chris Paavola
Q: What are the biggest changes you've seen in your field of ministry in the last few years and how have you adapted to them?
The rise of AI as a tool for sermon prep and planning, used to generate ideas, gain fresh perspectives, and sharpen language without replacing creativity.
Ep 125: How People of Faith Can Help Solve the Mental Health Crisis, with Shaunti Feldhahn & James N. Sells
Q: What is the CARE acronym and how does it help churches understand how to help people with emotional challenges?
CARE stands for Coordinated Attention, Restoration, and Encouragement; it reframes care as a coordinated process with a central care coordinator, connecting the right level of support at each layer of the two pyramids and focusing on ongoing relational care rather than immediate clinical treatment alone.
Ep 124: The Art and Science of Making Disciples, with Peyton Jones
Q: What are the biggest changes you've seen in your field of ministry in the last few years and how have you adapted to them?
There's a shift toward more holistic team-based ministry, with an emphasis on collaborative leadership, healthier church cultures, and a move away from glorifying the lone pastor; adoption of technology and new tools like AI for research while keeping the human touch central.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Church Lobby

What is The Church Lobby about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on practical ministry leadership with a strong emphasis on small-to-mid sized churches. Episodes blend hands-on strategies for governance, discipleship, volunteer engagement, and mental health within faith communities, often featuring pastors, authors, and researchers who offer actionable frameworks (e.g., care ministries, slower growth models, and discipline-based discipleship). Notable threads include prioritizing rest and margins for leaders, rethinking traditional growth metrics, and weaving humility, authenticity, and relational care into church life. A distinctive trait is consistently highlighting the needs and realities of smaller churches while inviting diverse expert guests to translate big concepts into doable s... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Church Lobby?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Church Lobby:

1. The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
2. The Unstuck Church Podcast
3. Theology in the Raw
4. The Russell Moore Show
5. Rebuilders

How many episodes of The Church Lobby are there?

The Church Lobby launched 5 years ago and published 133 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Church Lobby?

Recent guests on The Church Lobby include:

1. Sam Rainer
2. Chris Paavola
3. Shaunti Feldhahn
4. James Sells
5. Darryl Dash
6. Kurt W. Bubna
7. Laurie Graham
8. Dave Ripper

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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