Karl Vaters is the author of two books about small churches.
- Small Church Essentials: Field-Tested Principles for Leading a Healthy Congregation of Under 250
- The Grasshopper Myth: Big Churches, Small Churches and the Small Thinking That Divides Us
On his blog Pivot, he writes about Innovative Leadership from a Small Church Perspective for ChristianityToday.com several times a week. He’s also the founder of NewSmallChurch.com, a ministry that encourages, connects and equips innovative small church pastors.
Karl’s heart is to help pastors of small churches (up to 90 percent of us) find the resources to lead well, and to capitalize on the unique advantages that come with pastoring a small church – something virtually every pastor will spend at least some of their ministry years doing. He also believes that big and small churches can and should work together more often – to the benefit and blessing of everyone.
Karl has been in pastoral ministry for over 30 years. He is the teaching pastor of Cornerstone Christian Fellowship, a healthy small church in Orange County, California, where he has ministered for over 25 years with his wife, Shelley.
Two things really stood out: 1) Chaplains go and minister to those unable to minister, while Pastors equip others for ministry. Too many churches follow a chaplain model while congregations entropy.
2) Mentoring most effectively takes place within a group dynamic. This is so freeing for the one mentoring, because he/she does not need to have all the answers, instead see yourself primarily as a facilitator, trusting the Holy Spirit to move within the group!
Thanks so much for these podcasts.