GrowLeader Podcast with Chris Hodges

Episode 63: Year-End Momentum
Release Date: October 7, 2024
Host: Chris Hodges
Co-Host: Matt (Mat)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on building and sustaining momentum in the final quarter of the year for church leaders—specifically, how strategic planning, "stacking dominoes," vision casting, generosity, and intentional outreach can create powerful year-end and new year momentum in church communities. Pastor Chris Hodges shares actionable wisdom drawn from personal experience and offers practical frameworks for maximizing opportunities unique to the holidays and the turn of the year.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Stacking Dominoes” Principle for Church Momentum

Timestamp: 00:00; 10:56–13:28

• Main Idea: View the church calendar as interconnected events, not isolated ones—each should set up the next to maximize impact.
• Quote:

  "We like to think about our calendar like stacking dominoes... we're always asking ourselves, what can we do now that will knock down the next thing? That will knock down the next thing... so we can have what John Maxwell calls the leader's best friend. And that is momentum." — Chris Hodges [00:00 & 10:56]

• Emphasizes carefully timing events/sermon series to create waves of engagement, particularly during historically low attendance periods.
• Example: Placing the "At The Movies" series around Thanksgiving to increase attendance on typically low Sundays.

2. Navigating Politics as a Church Leader

Timestamp: 01:38–07:51

• Chris Hodges shares his approach to upcoming elections and how to guide churches with wisdom and unity:
  • Encourages Christians to participate civically and voices that it's biblical to do so.
  • Differentiates between voting for values/policies versus personalities:

    "I have the ability to separate the values and policies from the person and the personalities... I always think about what am I voting for." — Chris Hodges [02:15]

  • Notes that some pastors are graced for more direct involvement and warns against judging others' methods:

    "Just stay in the lane that God's given you and stay under your own grace, stay on your own message." — Chris Hodges [06:58]

• Advocates for civility amidst disagreement:

  "We've lost our ability to disagree and still be civil... Jesus had this ability to express value for people that he knew were turning away... and it softened them." — Chris Hodges [04:55 & 05:08]

3. Practical Planning for Fall, Year-End, and New Year

Timestamp: 10:56–16:34

• Lead ahead of the season: Begin planning for November, December, and January in early fall.
• Strategic Calendar: Use key series (e.g., "At The Movies") to drive attendance and engagement during slow periods.
• Vision Reinforcement: Use high-attendance moments (like the movie series) to share stories of impact, setting up year-end giving.
  • Take five minutes before key messages to highlight what the church's generosity has accomplished.

    "This is not new vision, this is what your giving is already doing... in story form to move the hearts." — Chris Hodges [14:17]

4. Outreach and Engagement Opportunities

Timestamp: 14:17–17:38

• Thanksgiving Outreach: Use the holidays for food distribution; couples naturally with themes of gratitude and generosity.

• "Giving Hope" Christmas Outreach:

  • Invite parents in need to select and wrap gifts for their own children, making them the hero in their family’s story.
  • Churches support parents, who in turn bless their children, creating a ripple effect of dignity and generosity.

    “We want the parents to be the hero in the story... and then the church becomes the hero to the parent.” — Chris Hodges [15:15]

• On-ramps for New Volunteers: Outreach events often become first serving experiences for regular churchgoers.

  "That's where a lot of people serve for the very first time, is helping feed people for Thanksgiving or helping wrap presents for Christmas." — Matt [16:48]

5. Casting Vision and Developing Givers

Timestamp: 17:58–25:59

• Define Vision:

  • Clearly identify where the church is heading and what opportunities are available for generosity.
  • Host internal discussions with leadership teams to clarify needs/gaps (missions, outreach, facilities, etc.).

    "You can't share something you’ve never defined in your own heart." — Chris Hodges [20:39]

• Year-End Generosity:

  • Communicate impact stories, articulate the "vision gap," and prep for a December special offering where 100% goes to outreach and missions causeways.

    "It's the best time to two things: define vision and develop your givers." — Chris Hodges [18:13]

  • Allow people plenty of time to consider giving intentionally, not impulsively.

    "When you prepare them way ahead of all these opportunities, then they can make an informed decision." — Chris Hodges [19:53]

• Legacy Team and Special Celebrations:

  • Hold a Legacy Christmas Party to thank givers, acknowledge their generosity, and deepen relational investment.

• Challenge for Pastors:

  • Be ready with answers for major donors or inquisitive members about where funds could make the most impact.

    "If someone walked up to you right now and said, 'Here's a million dollars, but you can't use it to build... I want to do something to impact our city.' What's your answer?" — Chris Hodges [22:41]

6. Maximizing the Christmas and New Year Seasons

Timestamp: 26:07–29:18

• Christmas Services:
  • Develop a beautiful, spiritual candlelight service; aim to double average attendance.
  • Every Christmas service should preview "what’s next"—e.g., inviting attendees to January’s "21 Days of Prayer."

    "At every Christmas service, I say, '...We're getting ready to have 21 days of prayer...Will you come back in two weeks after Christmas?'" — Chris Hodges [26:45]

• January Engagement:
  • Stack the dominoes by promoting a January series/initiative from the pulpit in December.
  • Resources are available: "Pray First" book, sermons, small group curriculum.
• Continuous Momentum:
  • Each season should set up the next (e.g., prayer focus in January, followed by relationship/marriage series in February):

    "We're talking about the marriage conference and relationships while we're praying and fasting, every domino knocking over the next one." — Chris Hodges [29:12]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you're going to be salt and light... you gotta have some places that taste bad and are dark.” — Matt [06:04]
• "Let all the flavors of the body of Christ, not beliefs, but flavors. I'm for it all." — Chris Hodges [07:38]
• "You can never share what you have not made clear in your own mind. I want to encourage every pastor to actually do that, to make it plain." — Chris Hodges [21:28]
• “There are opportunities to touch and impact our cities outside of our own facilities and buildings. And why shouldn't we be the vision carriers of those opportunities?” — Chris Hodges [22:49]

Key Timestamps

| Time | Topic | |------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | “Stacking Dominoes” principle for calendar planning | | 01:38–07:51| Navigating politics, elections, and grace in church leading | | 10:56 | Fall and year-end momentum: planning and strategy explained | | 14:17 | Thanksgiving & Christmas outreach initiatives | | 17:58 | Vision casting, year-end generosity, and intentional giving | | 20:39 | Clarifying and communicating vision with leadership/teams | | 22:41 | Challenging pastors: "What would you do with a million dollars?"| | 26:07 | Christmas/new year stacking: invitation to 21 Days of Prayer | | 29:02 | Momentum continues: planning for relationship series in Feb |

Resources Mentioned

• Jesus The High Road Leader (Hodges & Maxwell)
• Kingdom Builders Intensive (with Lee Domain)
• Pray First (Book, sermons, small group curriculum)
• Giving Hope Outreach Model
• Wesleyan Investment Foundation (WIF)
• Studio C – Custom church engagement/app platform
• GrowLeader Roundtables – Peer learning events for pastors

Final Takeaways

• Plan with purpose: Think of every event/content moment as launching the next.
• Stay true to your lane: Lead with your unique grace and don't compare.
• Prepare and inspire: Cast compelling vision—and do it early.
• Make generosity intentional: Equip your church to give with understanding and purpose.
• Leverage every season: Strategic outreach and programming can turn slow periods into momentum-building opportunities.
• Stack the dominoes: Each season’s win becomes the foundation for the next.

For more information, resources, or to connect with GrowLeader:
Visit the show notes, or email info@growleader.com.