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Ministry In The In-Between Times
“Jesus has called you and your work is never in vain – even if others never see the majority of what you do.”

Why Discipleship And Integrity Matter More Than Ever Right Now
We are not called to be successful, we’re commanded to make disciples, act with integrity, and be like Jesus.

Pushing Back Against The Lie Of Fast Church Growth, with Jeff Hoglen (Ep 119)
“Somewhere along the way, a lie crept in: If your church is healthy, it will grow fast. But most of the time? That’s not the story.”

Church Turnarounds And The Rewards Of Longevity
Church turnarounds are more about the direction you’re heading than the speed you’re going.

My Top Fiction Books of 2025
Of all the books I read in 2025, several stood out. Here are my ten most notable fiction reads.

My Top Nonfiction Books of 2025
Of all the books I read in 2025, several stood out. Here are my most notable nonfiction reads.

What Innovative Churches Do That Imitators Miss
Don’t copy the churches you admire. Learn from their principles, then extend them into places that only your church can go.

Why the Body of Christ Still Matters, with Brad Edwards (Ep 118)
“To be blunt, elevating the spiritual realm and devaluing the material world is not biblical Christianity.”

Seasons, Cycles, and Serenity
We can’t control the seasons of our life, or of the church we’re called to lead, but we can do something about the cycles.
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Author
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Karl Vaters produces resources for Helping Small Churches Thrive at KarlVaters.com.
He's the author of five books on church leadership, including his newest, De-Sizing the Church: How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What's Next. His other books include The Grasshopper Myth and Small Church Essentials.
Karl also hosts a bi-weekly podcast, The Church Lobby: Conversations on Faith & Ministry, featuring in-depth interviews about topics that concern pastors, especially those who minister in a small church context. He has served in small-church ministry for over 40 years, so he speaks and writes from decades of hands-on pastoral experience.
You can follow Karl on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn, or Contact Karl to inquire about speaking, writing, and consultation.
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