In this episode I interview Cory Hartman, co-author of Future Church: Seven Laws of Real Church Growth about what happened when church growth answers didn’t work for him or the church he served.
His background and experiences will sound familiar to most small church leaders. And this conversation will be very encouraging.
In this conversation, Cory and I talk about
- How Cory, a “failed” small church pastor became the co-author of a book about church growth (including an update of what “failure” really means)
- The essential distinction between what he calls Upper Room and Lower Room churches
- The four “can’t miss” answers for church growth, and how they did miss for him
- How he redefines some important terms like “church growth”, “success”, “discipleship” and “conversion” in more biblical ways
And more.
Link from this Episode
Support This Work
Click here to support this work on a one-time or ongoing basis. This will help us continue to put these resources into the hands of the ministries that need them the most.
Want More?
Listen and subscribe to the podcast on all major platforms including
APPLE | SPOTIFY | STITCHER | AMAZON MUSIC | iHEART RADIO | GOOGLE PLAY
New episodes are available every month.
If you click here to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter you’ll get all the breaking podcast news early!
Also, if you have any other ideas or guests that might fit this podcast, let me know in the comment section, below.
Credits
Producer
Veronica Beaver | [email protected]
Editor
Phil Vaters | [email protected]
Music composed and performed by
Jack Wilkins | JackWilkinsMusic.com
Podcast logo created by
Solomon Joy | Joyetic.com
Correspondence
Shelley Vaters | Shelley@KarlVaters.com
Covocational Pastoring: What It Is, And Why You Should Consider It, with Jon Sanders (ep 87)
Working a side hustle is no longer the exception for pastors, it’s the norm. Embracing it might answer your and your church’s needs.
Bigger Fixes Nothing (Video)
Would the problems in your congregation get better if your congregation got bigger? Maybe not.
How Church Size Affects Everything, And Why Everyone Sees It Differently
Pastors, attenders, and Christian influencers see church size through very different lenses. And the consequences are bigger than we realize.
Author
-
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.
View all posts