Small Church America—Revisited

How Pastor Karl Vaters lost his grasshopper complex and discovered, no one loses when the kingdom advances.

A year or so before Karl Vaters’ meltdown, 650 people attended the Easter service at the Southern California church he pastors. At long last, he believed, success was headed Cornerstone Church’s way.

More than a decade earlier, in December 1992, Vaters moved his family from a small city just north of San Francisco to Orange County to take the reins of a church of less than 30, which had burned through five pastors in 10 years.

He arrived without pretension. He understood the church would take years to heal.

At the same time, saturated in church growth strategy, Vaters couldn’t help but see the potential. Within 45 miles of their new home bloomed massive congregations—Saddleback, Crystal Cathedral and Calvary Chapel, giants of number and legend.

Having labored over a decade with little or no growth, Vaters had seen an increase in church attendance from 200 to 400 in the 18 months previous to the Easter service.

But in less time than it took to double in size, the church tanked.

And so did Vaters.

In January 2006, speaking to his church of fewer than 100 people, he announced he would be absent for 40 days. Later that same Sunday, without a reason, he fired the music pastor, then disappeared into a deep funk. Read More