For over forty years the American church has had an unhealthy view of church health and size — too often seeing bigger and healthier as though they’re the same thing.
In this short video clip, I show why this has led to the Tyranny of Results, and why it’s so dangerous. Then, I offer a more hopeful way forward.
Bottom line: we need to widen our view of church health and growth from one-dimensional, to at least two-dimensional, consideringing health and size through different lenses, as seen in the following illustrations:
FROM THIS
TO THIS
This is another segment from my full-length seminar talks that we’re releasing every two weeks. This video is from the full-length talk, De-sizing the Church.
For more information about this and other full-length sessions that I can present at your pastors seminar, webinar or multi-day workshop, go to my Speaking Menu page. You’ll find more video clips like this as they’re created, plus a contact form to inquire about available dates, and a full menu of session titles.
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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