Karl Vaters

Helping pastors by helping small churches thrive. Author of De-Sizing the Church, The Grasshopper Myth, Small Church Essentials, and more. Pastor for 40+ years.

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

The first job of leadership is to define reality.

A big part of defining reality is to acknowledge our weaknesses as well as our strengths.

https://t.co/sgF2uRE60J

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

Day 2832

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

William Strickland returns with sage advice from Paul’s instructions to Timothy, and from his own decades of pastoral ministry, about how to guard the truth, shepherd people, and remain faithful.

https://t.co/PHgvNbfUKx

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

Day 2831

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

"In a culture that celebrates scale and celebrity, it’s easy to wonder if what we do in small places matters.” (Charlie Cotherman)

https://t.co/UrGAVUuZ11

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

Day 2830

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

In my 40-plus years of pastoral ministry I’ve known and worked alongside hundreds of pastors. I’ve met thousands.

I can count the wolves in sheep’s clothing on one hand with fingers left over.

But there are some lies that even the 99+ percent of honest pastors have a hard time resisting. Here are five of them:

https://t.co/jJRe539Xme

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

Day 2829

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

Day 2828

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

Another great weekend in Cortland NY with Dan Nichols and the great people of Northeast Collaborative and Grace Christian Fellowship!

This wraps up my 2026 travel calendar. Now, heading home for some rest and the joy of the holiday season.

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

Planning should do for a church what rehearsal does for a band of musicians. It should help the team stop thinking about the notes and charts, so they can act as a unit; moving, adapting, and growing as they explore new musical vistas together.

https://t.co/B9zLnwW7cv

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

Day 2827

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

"I don’t think we have a healthy picture of what it means to be a pastor. We’ve made the pastorate heavy on sheep-care and light on leading." (Shawn Keener)

https://t.co/KQB8VRXGnc

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

Getting the planning team in the room for regular times of prayer, strategizing, and assessment is a very valuable part of the process. But having more meetings is a poor substitute for having a plan.

https://t.co/6FU5ENcfL6

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

Day 2826

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

It’s not easy to develop your own style and learn to speak with your own voice. But if you keep parroting words and ideas from other pastors, you’ll never get there.

https://t.co/nZ4J9ARwX4

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

Day 2825

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

Even in a small church, where the pastor often has to do more of the mundane tasks than our big-church friends do, we’re never exempted from the pastoral mandate to make disciples by equipping the saints.

https://t.co/4JyWpdszmY

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

If ministry in small towns and rural areas is so important, why are they so often overlooked? And how can we start re-focusing our attention where it matters? My conversation with Charles Cotherman centers around his new book, Strip Mine Jesus: Hope for the Rural Church, Small Towns, and Overlooked Places.

Even if you live in a heavily populated area, like I do, you can gain a lot from Charlie’s book and this conversation.

https://t.co/8OsXAhDIfT

[Karl Vaters @KarlVaters]

Day 2824

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. (2 Timothy 2:23)