Ryanne Molinari

An Active & Imaginative Life

church growth

February 3, 2026

Church Body Dysmorphia

I can still feel the discomfort. Standing in my junior high school’s bathroom, turning back and forth, growing increasingly anxious as I look in the mirror. I flex and pose in my Aéropostale jeans. Surely, I think, my right leg is thicker than the other. Surely everyone can see it. Maybe if I only do… Continue reading

Scribblings

body of Christ, body-dysmorphia, church, church body, church growth, church life, church membership, church-as-the-body-of-christ, church-body-dysmorphia, church-struggles, health, life, mental health, ministry, ministry life, ministry-issues, writing
November 7, 2022

Structural

Our little church is not so little anymore. Attending services still feels like a family reunion and newcomers have a hard time escaping without many handshakes (or hugs) and plates loaded with homemade snacks. I hope that our church maintains this small-church love, but there’s no doubt about it now: we are growing and need… Continue reading

Faith, pastor and pianist

Bible church, building a chuch, Christian writer, church building, church growth, church life, church problems, construction, good problem to have, ministry life, ministry life update, pastor, pastor and pianist, pastor's wife, Prairie Bible Church, updates, writing
July 19, 2021

Little Church on the Prairie

My life has been turned upside-down lately, but I am beginning to catch glimpses of the wondrous story it is becoming. I am also being forced (abruptly, but necessarily) to reckon with my own doctrinal stances, specifically regarding the Church. Since engagement, my now-husband and I were confronted all at once with “richer and poorer,… Continue reading

Grace & Gumption

church, church growth, church life, doctrine, doctrine of church, growth, iowa, little church, ministry life, pastor and pianist, systematic theology, theology, worship

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A blessed Ash Wednesday to you all. ✝️

Spent Martin’s first nap of the day making a playlist of hymns I hope he grows to love. Thank you all for the beautiful recommendations! I hope you enjoy. 🩵

Introducing Martin Molinari 🩵

Anyone else get shy when asked to share their “boring” testimony? I hope this post encourages you that there really is no such thing. After all, coming to Christ is not the end but the beginning of the adventure! Read the full post on my blog or Substack (links in bio), and consider supporting my work by subscribing for free.

Share your Spring 2026 repertoire in the comments! Let’s see what wonderful music everyone is working on this season!

A proper understanding of body dysmorphia can instruct us in combating "church body dysmorphia," which might be defined as follows: "a spiritual condition that arises when church members spend a lot of time worrying about trivial grievances. These concerns tend to be personal and subjective, rather than holistic and objective. Churches of any age and size can suffer this disorder, but it's most common during seasons of growth and transition."

Nothing to say other than whole milk cappuccinos are the best writing fuel. ☕️

My postlude from Sunday: Walther’s lively setting of the Old One Hundredth. 🙌🏻 How’s your week going? I can’t believe it’s already Wednesday.

Did you still have service yesterday? If so, what did you sing? What songs do you think would best suit a frigid day?