Healthy Churches Have Healthy Pastors
The Church Revitalization Podcast
Pastor failures -- moral, emotional, and relational -- are rarely just personal crises. Too often, the church itself has inadvertently created the conditions for them: isolated leaders, missing accountability, and no margin for rest. In this episode, Scott and A.J. make the case that keeping a pastor healthy is a team responsibility, and walk through three practical systems any church can put in place before a problem develops. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast, produced by The Malphurs Group -- a church health and strategic planning consultancy....
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Stop the Summer Slump Before It Starts
The Church Revitalization Podcast
Every church feels it: attendance dips, energy fades, and ministry momentum stalls somewhere between Memorial Day and Labor Day. But the summer slump isn't inevitable. It's the result of low expectations and no plan. In this episode, Scott and A.J. make the case that April is exactly the right time to get ahead of summer, and they give you three practical categories of action to help your church stay healthy and even grow through the slower months. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast, produced by The Malphurs Group, a church health and strategic...
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The Missing Link Between Your Sermon and Your Worship Service
The Church Revitalization Podcast
Most churches run their preaching ministry and worship ministry on parallel tracks that never really meet. The result is a Sunday service that feels more like a playlist followed by a sermon than an integrated, unified experience. In this episode, Scott and A.J. explore the practical steps any church can take — regardless of size or style — to build real collaboration between the pastor and the worship leader so that Sunday morning becomes a cohesive whole. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are church health consultants with The Malphurs Group and co-hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast....
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3 Reasons Your Church Isn't Keeping Its Guests
The Church Revitalization Podcast
You've got guests showing up on Sunday — but they're not sticking around. In this episode, Scott and A.J. break down three common, fixable reasons your guest assimilation process is losing people, and what you can do to turn things around without a massive budget overhaul. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast, part of The Malphurs Group — a church health and strategic planning consultancy that has helped hundreds of churches across the country get healthy and grow. Each week they bring practical, actionable insights to help church leaders move...
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Three Budget Areas Your Church is Underfunding
The Church Revitalization Podcast
Most church budget conversations focus on what to cut. But what if the real problem is what you're not funding? In this episode, Scott and A.J. make the case that churches are dangerously underfunding three key areas — and the cost shows up in plateaus, burnout, and declining impact long before leaders realize why. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast and consultants with The Malphurs Group, a church health and strategic planning organization helping churches across the country move from plateau and decline toward fruitful, sustainable ministry. ...
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How to Overcome the "We've Always Done It This Way" Objection
The Church Revitalization Podcast
"We've always done it this way." It's the most common objection church leaders face when trying to move their congregation forward — and one of the most frustrating. In this episode, Scott and A.J. break down what this phrase is actually communicating, who tends to say it and why, and walk through a practical three-step framework for responding to it without blowing up the unity of your church. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are consultants with The Malphurs Group, a church health and revitalization ministry. Each week on the Church Revitalization Podcast they bring practical, field-tested...
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Why Your Small Groups Aren’t Actually Making Disciples
The Church Revitalization Podcast
Small groups are one of the most common ministries in the church — but are they actually producing disciples? In this episode, Scott and A.J. make the case that many churches have confused participation with transformation. Just because people show up to a group doesn't mean discipleship is happening. In fact, your small groups ministry might be the most dangerous ministry in your church — because you think discipleship is happening when it isn't. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are consultants with The Malphurs Group, helping churches develop practical strategies for revitalization,...
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Warning Signs of Volunteer Burnout & How to Prevent Them
The Church Revitalization Podcast
Most churches don't lose volunteers to a dramatic exit — they lose them to a slow fade. In this episode, Scott Ball breaks down the three warning signs of volunteer burnout that leaders often miss until it's too late, and then shares three practical systems you can build right now to prevent burnout before it derails your ministry. Scott Ball is a church consultant with The Malphurs Group and co-host of the Church Revitalization Podcast. Each week, Scott and A.J. Mathieu tackle practical, actionable topics to help churches thrive. In this episode: [00:04:11] Why volunteer burnout is a...
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Building a Church That Outlasts Your Leadership
The Church Revitalization Podcast
What can medieval cathedral builders teach us about church leadership? Notre Dame took over 200 years to build — surviving wars, plagues, and leadership transitions — yet many modern churches can't survive a single pastoral transition. In this episode, Scott and A.J. explore why so many churches collapse when a long-tenured pastor leaves, and what you can do to build something that lasts far beyond your tenure. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are church consultants and the hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast, brought to you by the Malphurs Group. Each week they tackle practical,...
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The Hidden Cost of 'Just One More Ministry'
The Church Revitalization Podcast
Every church leader faces the dilemma: someone brings you an exciting new ministry idea, and it's easier to say yes than to disappoint them. But continuously adding programs creates calendar clutter, burns out volunteers, drains resources, and confuses your congregation about what actually matters. In this episode, we equip you with a practical three-question framework to discern when to say yes to new ministry ideas—and how to gracefully say no when needed. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are church consultants with The Malphurs Group, where they help churches navigate decline,...
info_outlineMany churches struggle with senior leaders who are stuck doing ministry instead of leading others to do it. In this episode, we break down how to make the shift—biblically and practically—from being hands-on doers to high-leverage leaders who equip others for lasting impact.
Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu, church consultants with The Malphurs Group, co-host the Church Revitalization Podcast. With decades of combined experience helping churches thrive, they share real-world insights for leaders looking to lead more effectively and build healthier teams.
In this episode:
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(00:45) Why equipping others is a biblical imperative (Ephesians 4)
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(06:20) What it really means to lead instead of do
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(13:00) Why you need more tolerance for failure and less for mediocrity
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(19:40) How to build a culture that rewards leadership, not just busyness
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(23:45) Practical steps for managing the transition from doing to leading
🔗 Links & Resources
→ Healthy Churches Toolkit — Try it free for 7 days
→ Episode article & transcript
→ YouTube