The Fellowship Network International
2026 South East Conference
March 3-4 • Durham, NC
Notes for sessions with Karl Vaters
Session 1: Redefining Success In Ministry
Define success in ministry without numbers attached to it
- Big church leadership compensates for the pastor’s absence
What is The Grasshopper Myth?
The false impression that our small church ministry is less than what God says it is because we compare ourselves with others.
All the people we saw there are of great size. …We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them. – Numbers 13:32-33
Three undeniable realities of church ministry:
- Reality #1: 80-90% of churches will never be larger than 250 people
- Reality #2: Virtually all pastors will pastor a small church for at least some time in our ministry
- Reality #3: You can lead a small church well, without settling for less
Rethink small church as a strategy to use, not a problem to fix
- Even if you didn’t become small strategically, you can move forward strategically
Don’t fall for IKEA Envy
The differences between big and small churches aren’t just a matter of scale, but of type
Small is not a problem, a virtue or an excuse
The church needs to embrace its “long tail”
A big church is not a reward for faithfulness
A small church is not a penalty for faithlessness
Session 2: Big Churches, Small Churches – What’s the Difference?
Over 90% of our churches are under 200, over 80% are under 100
- First Reaction: Oh no!
- Second Reaction: So what?
- Final Reaction: Now what?
People will come to small churches, but they won’t give up quality to do so
Many big church principles don’t translate well to a small church context
The Law of Large Numbers: the bigger the crowd, the more predictably it behaves
Big churches emphasize process, systems, and programs
Small church leadership emphasizes relationships, culture & history
RELATIONSHIPS
- In a big church, only the friendliest people are on the First Impressions team
- In a small church, everyone is on the First Impressions team
The G.I.F.T. plan for friendlier churches
- Greet someone new
- Introduce people to each other
- Follow Up on someone
- Thank someone
CULTURE
- The unwritten set of rules that governs everything a church does
- Pastors of pre-existing small churches don’t set the culture, they inherit a culture
Three steps to reshape the culture of a small church
- Step 1: Know the current culture
- Step 2: Show them what you appreciate about the church’s culture
- Step 3: Receive limited permission to participate with them in moving the culture forward
HISTORY
Don’t fight your church’s history, go deeper into it
Session 3: How to Discover and Use What Your Church Does Well
The pastoral prime mandate: to equip God’s people for works of service (Eph 4:11-12)
The three essential elements of a healthy, effective church
- Great Commandment
- Great Commission
- Equipping God’s People
Every church must get equipped for a healthy pastoral succession
COMING IN FALL 2026!
Do what you know to do, pay attention to what works, and why
After you discover what your church does well, do it on purpose
- Front-load the value: feature what you do well
Use the “closet rule” for ministries: Don’t add a new one until you’ve dropped an old one
- What does your church do well, that you would like to do more of?
- What does your church do poorly, that you would like to do less of?
Move out of a destination mindset and into a process orientation
- Churches can handle change, but they don’t like to be surprised
- Give the leaders time to ponder big decisions
Register at Karl’s book table TODAY for SUPER EARLY BIRD price of $149
Walk with Karl Vaters, LIVE, through the 100 Days to a Healthier Church plan together.
Six intensive 90-minute weekly sessions (one hour of training, 30 minutes of Q & A).
The Church Lobby Podcast
Conversations on Faith & Ministry
Every two weeks Karl interviews a church leader about the topics that concern pastors, especially those who minister in a small church context.
Most of our real-life conversations about faith and ministry happen in church lobbies, both as a congregation and pastor-to-pastor. In The Church Lobby podcast, that’s what we do.
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