About this episode
Is the small church model dead? In this explosive episode of Lead Time, Tim Ahlman and Jack Kalleberg sit down with Pastor Rob Myallis (ELCA) for a brutally honest conversation about the economic realities choking the life out of mid-sized churches. With rising costs, unsustainable pastoral expectations, and shifting cultural engagement, Rob unpacks why churches averaging 80–120 in attendance may not survive without radical change.We tackle everything:$30,000 health insurance costsWhy 150 people is the relational ceilingThe burnout crisis among solo pastorsWhy people treat church like a rec center, not a sanctuaryAnd the hard truth: your old church model probably isn’t workingIf you’ve ever asked, “Why are so many churches declining?” or “What future does my congregation really have?”—this one’s for you.Support the showVisit uniteleadership.org