Podcast
unSeminary
Hosted by Rich Birch · EN
stuff you wish they taught in seminary
20episodes
Episodes
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Faster Connections, Lasting Community: Effective Church Assimilation with Greg Curtis
Jan 2, 202500:44:00Tap to summarizeWelcome back to the unSeminary podcast. To kick off the new year, we’re focusing on key “Unpredictions”—timeless topics that are consistent and crucial for church growth in 2025 and beyond. In this episode, we’re joined by Greg Curtis, the Director of First Steps and Content Development at Eastside Christian Church and founder of Climbing the Assimilayas. Today we’re talking about how gathering together will still matter. Wondering how to effectively connect with newcomers in both online and in-person settings? Curious about how assimilation strategies are evolving in this digital age? Tune in as Greg offers valuable insights on successful assimilation strategies following changes in church attendance patterns, and the critical first step of volunteer involvement. From the screen to the seat. // Physically gathering together will still matter in the future, however Greg reframes the traditional model of “from the street to the seat” to “from the screen to the seat.” Most people have vetted your church by attending services online before they will ever set foot in the building. Your front porch is now digital. // Online platforms are now a critical “front porch” for churches, with websites and live streams shaping first impressions. A user-friendly, guest-oriented website with visuals that reflect the church’s diversity will help visitors understand what to expect at the church. Take time to evaluate what people are seeing on the digital side of your church and make sure it accurately reflects your church and its culture. Engage virtual attendees. // Because of your website, social media, and online services, first time guests are also pre-vetted before they visit in-person. They will be warmer leads and more ready to connect when they do attend a physical location. Offer personalized engagement during online worship services, such as addressing virtual attendees directly and offering incentives to encourage physical attendance. Offer them welcome gifts that you can mail to their home. Volunteerism over small groups. // In most churches, new attendees are opting for volunteerism now as a primary first step instead of small groups. There are two things that make volunteerism a great first connection point. The first is that belonging is a two sided coin—people want to feel both needed and wanted. The second is that there is a safety zone shift since COVID and people aren’t as willing to go into homes of people they don’t know well. They are willing to serve where they are needed around the church on rotation instead. Increase the speed of connection. // To address declining attendance frequencies, churches need to increase the speed of connection. Committed church members now attend less frequently and so assimilation programs must adapt. Greg advocates for streamlining multi-week programs into a single-session experience that encourages the next step of volunteer involvement. This approach accommodates modern schedules while maintaining a focus on connection. Three checklists for building experiences. // To support churches in their connection efforts, Greg and his team have developed checklists designed to optimize guest experiences during high-attendance events like Easter. The resource includes checklists for first impressions, guest follow-up, and volunteer recruitment, tailored to maximize connection opportunities on big days. Complete Easter Engagement GuideLooking to make the most of Easter at your church this year? Check out Greg Curtis’s Complete Easter Engagement Guide! This resource is specifically designed to help churches connect with their Easter guests through practical tools like first impressions checklists, guest follow-up strategies, and volunteer recruitment plans. It’s tailored to make a lasting impact during one of the most important weekends of the year. Get your copy today for just $15 at this link. You can also connect with Greg via email. Plus download the unPredictions Team Playbook for this podcast episode here. View this post on Instagram <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px...
Transcribe →Rebuilding and Relaunching: Lessons in Church Renewal with James Griffin
Dec 19, 202400:32:19Tap to summarizeWelcome back to the unSeminary podcast. We’re talking with James Griffin, the lead pastor at Crosspoint City Church in Georgia. Is your church working through a difficult season and struggling to see fruit? Wondering how a church can overcome significant challenges and emerge stronger than ever? In this episode of the unSeminary Podcast James shares about the church’s growth following a difficult replanting phase, the hurdles they faced—such as rebuilding trust inside and outside the church—and the effective strategies they used to enhance community engagement. God isn’t done. // Crosspoint City Church was planted in 2006 but an event within the church rocked it to the core early on, causing a mass exodus of people. James took over as lead pastor during this time of recovery, inheriting a wounded congregation and a challenging staff environment. He knew he had to stop the bleeding in the church and earn the trust of its members while also being a positive force in the community and letting them know that God isn’t done with them yet. Build relationships. // People can’t know if you’re a man or woman of character unless you spend time with them. From the start, James made it a priority to be present and accessible, engaging with congregants through conversations, lunches, and community events. By building relationships, he wanted people to see that he is a man of character, hoping it would lead to trust sooner than later. Honor the past. // Things may not have ended well in the church with the people who came before you, but acknowledge the accomplishments and positive impacts made. Don’t dishonor your predecessors. Be honest about the current reality and the challenges being faced without ignoring the good that has been done. Work with other churches. // James also actively sought to establish relationships with local pastors, attending meetings and reaching out for one-on-one conversations. He firmly believes that God puts churches in their communities to be a blessing to them. If you want to have a Great Commission church, you need to think about the impact God is calling you to make on your city. Work in partnership with the other churches in your community to be more effective in your mission. Create a culture of care. // As your church grows, the pastoral care can’t fall entirely on the senior leader. Everyone needs to feel loved, but you can’t worry about everyone feeling loved specifically by the lead pastor. Instead build a culture of care by pouring into your leadership team and empowering them to offer pastoral care to the rest of the congregation. One leader can’t carry all the weight of that burden on their own. Service and compassion. // One of the most significant ways Crosspoint City Church has sought to serve its communities is through the establishment of their Compassion Center, which aims to address various community needs. The Compassion Center includes a counseling center, educational programs for kids and adults, resources for the homeless, support for women escaping sex trafficking, and a mobile medical clinic. This multifaceted approach demonstrates the church’s commitment to not only proclaiming the gospel but also actively demonstrating it through service and compassion. Focus on what each city needs. // Contextualize ministry based on your locale. Before planting a church or launching a campus, go into those communities and identify partnerships with local pastors, churches and community leaders. Start with service. How can you go in and bless the city based on what it needs before you even begin gathering? To learn more about Crosspoint City Church, visit www.crosspointcity.com, or follow James on Instagram. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I’m grateful for that. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they’re extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast! So glad that you’ve decided to tune in. I’m really looking forward to today’s conversation. A fun chance to deep dive with a great church! If you’ve never heard of Crosspoint City Church, it’s a multi-site church with three, I think, soon to be four campuses in Georgia, and has repeatedly been one of the fastest growing churches in the country. Rich Birch — Today it’s our honor to have James Griffin with us. He’s the lead pastor, and it also serves as a church planting network leader in metro Atlanta with NewThing and Engage Churches. He’s passionate about seeing the Great Commission fulfilled, the church engage in a number of global and community outreaches. Super excited to have you on the show today, James. Welcome. James Griffin — Thanks, Rich. I appreciate you having me. Rich Birch — Oh, it’s going to be great. Kind of fill in the picture. Tell us a little bit more about Crosspoint City. Kind of give us a, you know, the thumbnail people arrive this weekend, but what they experience that sort of thing. James Griffin — Yeah, yeah. Well, a brief history of the church. We are a replant. So I’ve been pastoring the church now for a little over a decade. Rich Birch —That’s amazing. James Griffin — Inherited somewhat of a difficult situation. And then we just took the resources and people who were left and we started over. And so, you know, if somebody showed up this weekend, I think what they’d experienced is, a deep commitment to the word of God. I think they would experience a church that is sold out to the Great Commission, the mission of God, and a great openness and dependency upon the Spirit of God. And so we’re just trying to press into to the work that God’s called us to do in the world. And and it’s a joy and an honor to be a part of it, for sure. Rich Birch — Love it. Well, you have multiple locations, and we love to talk multi-site here at at unSeminary. Maybe give us a thumbnail about the kind of various, you know, what does that look like? The kind of different locations. Tell us a bit of those stories. James Griffin — Yeah. So, original location is in a city called Cartersville, Georgia. So this is where it all began back in 2006. And then in 2011, things here, they went off the rails. And so I was actually on staff at the church that planted our church. Rich Birch — Okay. James Griffin — And in the season where things blew up, my wife and I were, were praying about going to plant a church. And then my pastor asked me if I’d come here and do this instead. And my original answer was absolutely not. Like, I don’t know I don’t know what idiot’s going to do that, but it’s not going to be this one, you know? And then here we are over a decade later. Rich Birch — Yes. James Griffin — But started in Cartersville and from about 2013 to 2018, I mean, things were just going really well, better than expected, which led to conversations about, hey, we need to think beyond just Cartersville. If we’re going to continue reaching people with a gospel, it can’t just be us trying to get people to one spot. And so we planted another location in the fall of 2019, in a city called a Adairsville, which is in the north part of our county, just about five months before the pandemic. So that was great timing. Rich Birch — Perfect timing. James Griffin — Yeah. So we joke and we said we did that one twice. You know, we launched it five months before… Rich Birch — Yes. James Griffin — …and then shut it down and reopen. And it’s going great. And then in 2022 launched a third location in a city called Rome, Georgia. Just had a great group of people driving about 45 minutes to Cartersville to come to church and asked us if we do something there. So we’ve been doing that for a couple of years, going really well. We just launched, about three weeks ago, our fourth location… Rich Birch — Okay. James Griffin — …i...
Transcribe →Power of a Map, Not a Menu: Transforming Ministry Strategy with Mariners Church’s Jared Kirkwood
Dec 12, 202400:37:41Tap to summarizeThanks for joining us at the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re talking with Jared Kirkwood, the Executive Pastor of Ministries and Lead Pastor at the Irvine location of Mariners Church in California. A church’s mission isn’t much without a strategy. How are you aligning, training, and equipping people at your church to take their next steps to move the mission forward? Tune in as Jared unpacks Mariners’ “transformational loop”—a four-part discipleship strategy through which they align all ministries and campuses to increase the church’s impact. A mission and strategy // The transformational loop, Mariners’ strategy for achieving their mission, is pivotal to discipleship at the church. The transformational loop has four parts, each with their own ministries, programs, events, and teams. The parts of the loop are Follow Jesus (weekend experiences), Grow Together (life groups, care and recovery, and discipleship courses), Serve One Another (volunteer ministry teams), and Change the World (local and global outreach ministries). Have a map for the strategy// Mariners wants to disciple people through a “map” rather than a “menu.” By acting as “tour guides” and getting to know people, the team can pastor people through a process, inviting them to join in groups or teams within the church. Identify how your church’s initiatives are connected to your mission and fit into your strategy. A year’s worth of planning // Everything Mariners Church does aligns with the mission and connects with the transformational loop. For example, the Senior Pastor maps out the teaching series and key scriptures about a year in advance. The team then uses the teaching to create cohesive planning and alignment for events or programs. By harnessing energy from and building upon the teaching, they create greater momentum to move the mission forward. Three tiers of events // Once they see the teaching calendar for the upcoming year, Jared and his leadership team can identify more easily what to say yes to and what to say no to. Their ministry roadmap has three tiers. Tier A are all-church events and are put on the calendar first. An example of Tier A is Rooted. Tier B are all-church but are contextualized at different congregations. These include life groups or deep dive discipleship courses that are open to everyone. Tier C are congregation-specific events and require approval from central ministry leaders to ensure alignment with the church’s overall strategy and effective use of resources. Evaluate programs // Evaluate your ministry programs and events as often as you feel necessary. Jared and his team use a framework that categorizes initiatives into four quadrants. The bottom left of the quadrant are the things that are Weeds and need to be pulled. The upper left are Problem Trees, things that have potential but aren’t performing well. The upper right are Flourishing Trees, the high potential and high performance items that are feeding the whole garden. Finally, the bottom right are high performance but low potential. These are Nice Plants that you don’t want to get rid of though they aren’t nourishing to the entire church. Address Weeds and Problem Trees // Weeds drain resources from the church, are outside of your strategy, and need to be removed. However, there will still be people who love them. As a leader it’s your job to help people see a more beautiful future and move them there. Similarly, Problem Trees need to be addressed so they can be made more fruitful. Identify what’s not working and take steps to help them become Flourishing Trees. Visit marinerschurch.org and explore their social channels to see everything they are up to. Plus listen to this podcast episode with Erin Kerr to get the scoop on Rooted. EXTRA CREDIT // Cultivate a Thriving Ministry with the Ministry Program Evaluation Toolkit In this week’s episode, we unpack practical strategies for refining your ministry programs to maximize impact and align with your church’s mission. But what if you had a hands-on tool to guide this process? Enter the Ministry Program Evaluation Toolkit: A Garden-Inspired Framework to Assess and Refine Your Ministry Programs—your ultimate resource for evaluating, nurturing, and realigning your church’s efforts. This toolkit uses the garden metaphor to help you categorize your programs as Weeds, Problem Trees, Flourishing Trees, or Nice Plants. From identifying programs to phase out, to cultivating the ones that are thriving, this resource provides clear steps and worksheets to help you confidently lead. Take what you learned from this episode to the next level by accessing the Ministry Program Evaluation Toolkit as part of unSeminary Extra Credit. Start transforming your ministry programs today by downloading it here. Don’t miss this chance to create a thriving ministry strategy! Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I’m grateful for that. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they’re extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Risepointe Do you feel like your church’s facility could be preventing growth, and are you frustrated or maybe even overwhelmed at the thought of a complicated or costly building project? Are the limitations of your church building becoming obstacles in the path of expanding your ministry? Have you ever felt that your church could reach more people if only the facility was better suited to the community’s needs? Well, the team over at Risepointe has been there. As former ministry staff and church leaders, they understand how to prioritize and help lead your church to a place where the building is a ministry multiplier. Licensed all over North America, their team of architects, interior designers and project managers have the professional experience to help move YOUR mission forward. Check them out at Risepointe.com/unseminary and while you’re there get their FREE resource “10 Things to Get Right Before You Build”. Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. Really excited for today’s conversation. Been looking forward to it for quite a while. Excited to have Jared Kirkwood with us. He’s a part of Mariners Church. If you’re not familiar with Mariners, they have seven locations in California, if I’m counting correctly, and they’re on the brink of launching a couple more, plus an online community. They’re one of the fastest growing churches in the country for the last number of years. Jared is the lead pastor of Mariners Irvine and the discipleship pastors…he…or pa...
Transcribe →Building Leaders for the Next Generation: Insights on Developing Residency Programs with Pat Gillen
Dec 5, 202400:33:20Tap to summarizeWelcome back to the unSeminary podcast. We’re talking with Pat Gillen, the Executive Pastor of Families and a teaching pastor from First Baptist Simpsonville / Upstate Church in South Carolina. How are you cultivating leaders at your church? Are you trying to figure out your next step for developing Gen Z? Tune in as Pat unpacks his church’s innovative strategy for nurturing young leaders through their comprehensive residency program. The need for more leaders. // As one of the fastest growing churches in the country, First Baptist Simpsonville / Upstate Church is currently operating eight campuses, with plans to add a ninth. A distinguishing feature of their approach is the commitment to live teaching at each campus, rather than relying on video sermons. However, as the church has grown, so has the need for effective leaders who can embody the church’s vision and mission. This need for leadership development led to the establishment of a residency program aimed at nurturing young leaders who can step into various roles within the church. A two-year program. // The residency program is designed for recent college graduates and spans two years. During that time, residents are integrated into a ministry team, working closely with ministry leaders who act as mentors. This structure allows residents to invest around 30 hours a week in various ministry roles, gaining practical experience and exploring their calling while contributing to the church’s mission. At the end of that two-year timeframe, residents have the opportunity to apply for a position within the church, or take what they’ve learned and use it elsewhere. Look within your church. // Sourcing residents can be a challenge, but Pat suggests starting by building and nurturing the leaders you have growing in your church. Begin by developing students in your youth ministry who are looking for opportunities to lead and serve. By investing in and nurturing their leadership potential, you can create a pipeline of future leaders who are already familiar with your church’s culture and mission. Set expectations. // Pat explains that working in the residency program at the church won’t necessarily guarantee residents a job there. The focus is on personal and professional development, helping residents discover their calling and equipping them for future ministry roles. Pat recommends that after the first year of residency, mentors should have a conversation with their resident about their next steps and how the church can best equip them moving forward. Assign a mentor. // During their time learning from the church, assign the resident a ministry leader to mentor them. Residents should be integrated into the church’s ministry teams, where they participate in discussions, discipleship, and practical training. Mentors are responsible for guiding residents, helping them identify their goals, and providing the necessary support to achieve those objectives. Offer expert sessions. // First Baptist Simpsonville / Upstate Church also has equipping sessions for their residents. Some of the church’s best leaders will spend two hours on Wednesday mornings sharing their expertise on a variety of topics, such as counseling, budgeting or other real-world ministry challenges. These sessions gives residents the benefit of the entire staff and not only the ministry leader they work alongside. Developing leaders takes time. // Pat warns against viewing a resident as free labor to help out with menial tasks, rather than a chance to invest in future leaders. It’s a time commitment to develop leaders effectively. This investment not only benefits the residents but also multiplies the church’s capacity for ministry. Invest in future leaders. // Prioritize investing in the next generation, starting with your kids’ ministry and youth ministry. By identifying and nurturing potential leaders early on, your church can create a pipeline of talent that will sustain your ministries for years to come. Visit upstatechurch.org to connect with Pat and follow along with what First Baptist Simpsonville / Upstate Church is doing. You can also find our interview with Brian Owens, the Executive Pastor of Operations here. EXTRA CREDIT // Get the Leadership Residency Program Progress Tracker Templates! If you’re serious about developing the next generation of church leaders, the Leadership Residency Program Progress Tracker Templates is an invaluable resource. This fillable PDF includes: Monthly Progress Check-In Tool – Help residents reflect on their growth and stay focused on their goals. Reflection & Goal-Setting Prompts for Residents – Encourage deeper thinking and alignment with the church’s mission. Quarterly Performance Review Template – A structured way to review progress and set actionable plans for future growth. Perfect for churches looking to support their leadership residents, this tool streamlines progress tracking and goal-setting in a practical, easy-to-use format. Available exclusively through unSeminary Extra Credit. Download the Leadership Residency Program Progress Tracker Templates here and take your leadership development efforts to the next level! Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I’m grateful for that. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they’re extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Portable Church Your church is doing really well right now, and your leadership team is looking for solutions to keep momentum going! It could be time to start a new location. Maybe you have hesitated in the past few years, but you know it’s time to step out in faith again and launch that next location. Portable Church has assembled a bundle of resources to help you leverage your growing momentum into a new location by sending a part of your congregation back to their neighborhood on Mission. This bundle of resources will give you a step-by-step plan to launch that new or next location, and a 5 minute readiness tool that will help you know your church is ready to do it! Click here to watch the free webinar “Launch a New Location in 150 Days or Less” and grab the bundle of resources for your church! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary Podcast. Wow, I’m so excited for today’s conversation. Really looking forward to this because two reasons. One, ah it’s another leader from a church that we had on a few months ago and it’s always good to keep leaning in and learning from churches that are prevailing, making a difference. And then the second, what w...
Transcribe →Staying Aligned as a Staff Team in a Growing Church: Insights from Andy Hill
Nov 28, 202400:32:25Tap to summarizeThanks for joining the unSeminary podcast. Today we’re talking with Andy Hill, the Executive Pastor at Mobberly Baptist Church in Texas. How do you keep your church’s staff aligned? The more your church grows, the more challenging it is to keep everyone connected and moving in the same direction. In this episode of the unSeminary Podcast, Andy delves into practical strategies for communication, unity and relationship-building on staff, and encouraging self-care. Gather staff to stay aligned. // Mobberly Baptist Church, which is located in East Texas on an 140-acre campus, may seem big at first glance. However, the church strives to maintain a smaller, more personal feel, desiring for both attendees and staff to feel seen and connected. While leading a large staff team can be beneficial, there can be practical challenges as well. At Mobberly the staff can’t be housed in one office building and so are scattered throughout the campus. As a result, staff members have to be intentional about time together. Mobberly holds a Ministry Leadership Team meeting once a week where 20-25 leaders gather to discuss key issues, worship, pray and laugh together, and develop their leadership. Connection and planning. // The weekly Ministry Leadership Team meeting is held on Tuesday mornings for about two hours. The first half is facilitated by the lead pastor and includes prayer, a devotional and other activities that foster personal connection. The second half of the meeting is the tactical part and led by Andy. Send out an agenda ahead of time. // In addition to personal connection, communication plays a critical role in keeping staff aligned. Every Monday, Andy meets with the lead pastor to talk about what needs to be discussed in the Ministry Leadership Team meeting the next day. They then send out an agenda to the leaders so everyone knows what will be covered. Have fun and get to know each other. // Andy believes a staff team shouldn’t just do ministry together but get to know each other and build friendships. You don’t always have to see eye to eye and get along, but you should know more about your team and care about them. One of the unique aspects of Mobberly’s Tuesday meeting is the “hot seat” segment, where a staff member is put in the spotlight to answer a series of fun and light-hearted questions. This practice is designed to build a sense of camaraderie among the team members. Questions can range from: “How did you get your first name?” to “What is your favorite movie?” or “What is a quirk you have?” Communication is key. // You can communicate in a lot of different ways and preferences often vary across generations, with some staff preferring emails while others respond better to texts or phone calls. Be mindful in the way you communicate with your staff team, understanding and catering to the communication preferences of different team members. Communicate value. // How and when we communicate, or our lack of communication, will then communicate value to someone. If we don’t relay information to our staff in the right order or right way, they can feel frustrated, disempowered, and conclude that they don’t matter in the ministry. The foundation for effective ministry. // Self-care is critical for all church staff. A healthy relationship with God and personal well-being are foundational for effective ministry. Andy encourages staff to prioritize their spiritual growth by setting aside time for personal devotions and prayer, separate from their responsibilities to prepare for sermons or lead Bible studies. Without caring for the different aspects of their being, church leaders’ capacity for life and ministry will be diminished. To learn more about Mobberly Baptist Church and connect with Andy Hill, visit mobberly.org. NEXT STEPS // Looking for a way to keep your church leadership team aligned and effective? Check out our free Weekly Leadership Team Meeting Template, inspired by insights from Andy Hill’s podcast episode. This template breaks down Andy’s approach to balancing personal growth with tactical planning in a two-hour weekly meeting. It’s packed with practical tips to help your team stay spiritually grounded while navigating the complexities of church leadership. Download it now and start implementing these strategies in your next team meeting! Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I’m grateful for that. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they’re extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. Man, I am so glad that you have decided to tune in. ah You’ve got lots of things you can do, but the fact that you’re listening for this next half an hour, you’re going to be rewarded. Today’s conversation, I know is going to be the thing, one of those things that we all think about, kind of regardless of our church size, what’s going on, how do we, um it’s one of these problems that we often are all thinking about. And so excited to have Andy Hill with us. He is the executive director at a fantastic church, multi-site church in from Texas, Mobberly Baptist Church. It was founded in 1938. It’s one of the fastest growing churches in the country. And on on top of having, you know, the in-person services and online, they also serve ah the local Hispanic and Vietnamese population. This is a fantastic church. If you’re not tracking with them, you should. Andy, welcome to the show. So glad you’re here. Andy Hill — Thanks for having me, Rich. Excited to be with you this morning. Rich Birch — Yeah, this is going to be great. Why don’t you tell us a bit more, kind of fill out the picture about the church. If people were to arrive this weekend, what would they experience? Kind of give us the flavor of the church, help us kind of place us there a little bit more. Andy Hill — Yeah, so ah we sit nestled in the piney woods of East Texas. Rich Birch — Love it. Andy Hill — We’re kind of deep into East Texas and ah The church itself is a pretty large campus. We actually have a lot of ah property, a lot of facility. And so we have a lot of people who, when they first see it, they say, man, this is big. But they tell us all the time that once they kind of get in the doors and they step into a service or start interacting, engaging with people, ah that it doesn’t feel big. It feels still like a ah little smaller church. Andy Hill — And we’re pretty intentional about that. We we definitely try to do things to ah continue to help people feel connected, engaged, seen, right? We want people to feel seen because a lot of people come to ah a larger church to try to disappear, right? Rich Birch — Right. Andy Hill — And we we want to help them ah grow in their relationship with Christ. And so and We believe that happens life on life. We believe that happens when when they’re seen, when they’re known, and when they know someone else. And so and when someone steps in the door, they’re going to be greeted by someone. There’s going to be multiple ministers and pastors standing there who are going to talk to them and ah try to connect them to one of our small groups, try to help their kids, if they have them, get connected to whether it’s youth or kids ministry or some of the different things we’ve got going on. Andy Hill — So um we’re just very intentional about trying to keep a little bit of that ah smaller, more personal feel towards what happens here. And I think it’s making a difference. I think it’s having an impact. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s cool. I know in the coaching I do with churches, you know, a lot of churches that are, say, above 1000 trying to push 2000, you know, I’ll often say that are a real quote unquote competition, although we don’t have any competition, but our, you know, that when if people were to leave our church and go somewhere else, oftentimes, if you were to do exit interview type conversations, trying to learn from those experiences, they will typically leave, people wi...
Transcribe →Embracing Digital for Church Growth: Insights from Saddleback’s Online Pastor Jay Kranda
Nov 21, 202400:35:36Tap to summarizeWelcome back to the unSeminary podcast. We’re talking with Jay Kranda this week, the online campus pastor at Saddleback Church in California. What are you doing with online church? How does it fit in with your digital strategy? How can digital tools strengthen in-person community? Tune in as Jay discusses a team-based approach to digital integration, how to align digital initiatives with your church’s mission, and avoiding the pitfalls of over-reliance on technology. Be strategic with digital ministry. // Be wise and strategic about how you use the online aspect of your ministry. Streaming services have become a staple in many churches, but Jay advises leaders to consider the purpose behind it. Digital elements should complement rather than replace in-person interactions. Ask your team what they are trying to accomplish and explore how digital can help achieve those objectives. Enhance the church experience. // Jay uses the Alpha Omega tool, a resource for church teams to identify and focus on one digital integration over the next 6 to 12 months. This tool helps in tracking progress and encourages digital involvement from all ministry areas, not just the online pastor. Talk with all your leaders about one way they can use digital to enhance what they’re doing in their ministry areas. It could be as simple as sending parents a text about what their children learned in kids ministry in order to foster family engagement at home. The idea is to enhance the church experience through digital with the goal of helping people produce more fruit in their lives. What is the role of digital in your larger strategy? // One of the significant advantages of digital tools is the ability to engage with newcomers immediately. Instead of relying solely on large events, Saddleback also uses a podcast strategy for connection and support in certain contexts. Determine where your line is when examining what could be done digitally versus in-person. Bring together everyone with influence in your church and discus what you believe needs to happen in the room versus what can be decentralized. Don’t be distracted by trends. // It’s easy to get distracted by all the new digital trends out there. Be aware of the allure of “silver bullet” tech solutions where a single app or tool is seen as the answer to all ministry problems. Focus on tools that align with your church’s overall strategy and objectives. Avoid replicating what others are doing without considering its fit for your specific community. Enhancing discipleship. // Jay’s book, Online Church is Not the Answer: Beyond Just Streaming Church to Hybrid Disciple Making, delves deeper into these concepts, urging church leaders to move beyond merely streaming services and instead use digital platforms to enhance discipleship. Pick up copies for your team and discuss how to embrace digital in your various areas and determine how it fits with your church’s objectives. Visit jaykranda.com for a hybrid disciple making starter guide, information on his book Online Church is Not the Answer: Beyond Just Streaming Church to Hybrid Disciple Making, and more helpful resources. EXTRA CREDIT // Level Up Your Church’s Digital Ministry: Exclusive Resource! Are you ready to transform your church’s digital presence? In this episode, we’ve tapped into the wisdom of Jay Kranda, Saddleback’s Online Pastor, to help you expand your reach and engage your congregation online. But listening alone won’t get you there. We’ve crafted a downloadable guide to take this learning further and turn it into action. Introducing the 10 Essential Tools for Church Digital Ministry, a resource designed to give you the step-by-step tools to engage, grow, and serve your community more effectively online. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to fine-tune your digital strategy, this guide will help you make the shift and keep your church moving forward. Don’t miss out—unlock your church’s digital potential today by downloading this resource through unSeminary Extra Credit. Grab it here. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I’m grateful for that. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they’re extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. So glad that you have decided to tune in. Really looking forward to today’s conversation. We have a repeat guest today, which if you’re a longtime listener, you know, that just does not happen that often. And the reason why is because you are going to want to lean in and listen to ah this conversation. And I think it’s going to just have huge impact on you and your ministry. It’s asking one of those questions that literally I get all the time. This is not theoretical. This is this is like a real conversation that’s impacting churches today.Rich Birch — Excited to have Jay Kranda with us. He is a part of a church you may have heard before, Saddleback Church, ah which was planted by Rick and Kay Warren. Their first public service was in 1980. They have 14 locations in California, Spanish locations, five locations internationally, and a robust online community. This is why we’re talking with Jay today. He is the online campus pastor, has helped build an online community of thousands viewers thousands of viewers weekly, hundreds of online groups in small to mid-size in-person gatherings who are just connected with Saddleback. This is really incredible. He has a website, jkranda.com. Jay, welcome to the show. So glad you’re here.Jay Kranda — Thanks for having me on. I’m, I’m excited to be back. I’m, I’m excited that I’m one of the few repeat. So I’ll put that on my trophy case.Rich Birch — Yeah, it does not happen that often. So I knew, ah you know, I wanted to get you back on. So I’m honored that you’re you’re here. Let’s kind of catch people up before we, well, first of all, what did I miss on the just bio? What was it, you know, what did I miss about you or about, ah you know, Saddleback that we need to make sure people are aware of?Jay Kranda — Yeah, I I would just say at a high level, you know, we are a, um you know, obviously a very big church, but we’re all also very practical in the sense that we’re always trying to be, um you know, even big organizations have limited resources in the sense we have to be super narrow and focused.Jay Kranda — So one thing that I think most people don’t understand is When we’re doing something, we’re trying to align it with our objectives pretty clearly. So even online has been this, and because I’ve been, you you know, the online pastor full time since 2013… Rich Birch — That’s old school. Jay Kranda — …um, there’s been waves of what does that look like pre COVID, during COVID, now post COVID. Rich Birch — Yep. Jay Kranda — And so I would probably add that we’re pretty practical and dogmatic with like how we think about digital. And, uh, it’s been fun. And a lot has changed even as we’ve transitioned from our founding pastor to our our new pastor, Pastor Andy, and it’s it’s been a fun fun journey. Rich Birch — Yeah, I love it. I’d actually love to start there. You were on ah before the transition to Andy, who we’ve also had on the podcast. Love him. He’s a great leader. And it’s been, I’ve said to him and other members of your team, I I love as an outsider cheering for you guys in that transition. And it’s like, man, so much of what ah he and Rick, you know, not surprising, world-class leaders have done such a good job in the handoff. But what about in your area? What is your diagnosis on like, here’s a few things that have changed or shifted in our approach under Andy rather than under Rick....
Transcribe →Stability in Transition: Insights on Church Succession from Drake Farmer
Nov 14, 202400:47:00Tap to summarizeThanks for joining in for the unSeminary podcast. Today I’m looking forward to talking with Drake Farmer, the Executive Pastor of Ministries from Beulah Alliance Church in Alberta, Canada. Are you curious about how churches manage leadership transitions smoothly? Learn about the strategic and intentional planning behind the leadership transition as Daniel Im (interviewed here) succeeded Keith Taylor as Beulah’s lead pastor. Tune in as Drake highlights the critical role of proactive succession planning, building trust, and maintaining a mission-focused mindset to ensure successful transitions. Get ready ahead of time. // Keith Taylor initiated the succession conversation at Beulah Alliance six years before Daniel Im stepped into the role. This foresight and intentionality were crucial in preparing the church for a smooth transition. Think not only about the immediate future, but about the next 30 years of leadership for the church. Start preparing five to ten years before the lead pastor might be ready to leave. Be intentional about talking about succession in your church’s growth stage in order to set it up for future success. Remember the mission and plan. // Focus on the mission during this time of preparation and searching for a new pastor. Remember it’s not about the departing pastor’s accolades or personal legacy, it’s about Jesus, the church and spreading the gospel. Have a plan in place and foster trust so that when the time comes you won’t be scrambling to get through it. Cultivate a mindset of readiness, always being prepared for the possibility of being called to a different role. Gradual transition. // There was a strategic overlap between Keith Taylor and Daniel Im, allowing for a gradual handover of responsibilities. Clear communication and collaboration between the outgoing and incoming leaders were essential in building trust and ensuring a smooth transition. If possible, identify when various responsibilities of the previous lead pastor will be transitioned during the succession process. Strategically roll out the announcement. // Daniel had previously worked at Beulah in adult ministry, but when he returned as the Senior Associate, the succession process wasn’t immediately revealed. Because the transition between Keith and Daniel was a 24-month process, Beulah’s leadership had to discern when to make the announcement. Strategically invite your staff, your key leaders, and your congregation into the transition at the right time so they can process the change without the runway being too long. Role clarity. // Clearly defining roles and responsibilities during leadership transitions is crucial. Key areas such as preaching, staff leadership, and strategic vision need to be addressed to ensure a smooth handover. Identify who is leading the meetings. Who is laying out the org charts and who is reporting to whom? Role clarity behind the scenes aids in a seamless leadership transition. Don’t be afraid to ask. // As you consider pastoral succession, who would you like to see step into that transitioning role? Don’t assume “no” from a person before asking. Identify who would be at the top of your list. Don’t be afraid to approach them and ask if they would consider coming to your church and leading. Finally, churches may benefit from partnering with organizations that specialize in consulting and coaching for succession planning. External support can provide valuable guidance and resources during transitions. Visit drakefarmer.com to learn about Beulah Alliance Church, The Unstuck Group and connect with Drake. NEXT STEPS // Are you navigating a leadership transition in your church? Download our 2-Year Succession Timeline Template, inspired by insights from the episode Stability in Transition: Insights on Church Succession from Drake Farmer. This free resource offers a step-by-step guide to planning a smooth, strategic transition over 24 months. With clear phases, actionable steps, and tips directly from Drake’s experience, this template is perfect for church leaders looking to make their next leadership handover stress-free and successful. Get your copy today and ensure a confident path forward for your church! Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I’m grateful for that. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they’re extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Risepointe Do you feel like your church’s facility could be preventing growth, and are you frustrated or maybe even overwhelmed at the thought of a complicated or costly building project? Are the limitations of your church building becoming obstacles in the path of expanding your ministry? Have you ever felt that your church could reach more people if only the facility was better suited to the community’s needs? Well, the team over at Risepointe has been there. As former ministry staff and church leaders, they understand how to prioritize and help lead your church to a place where the building is a ministry multiplier. Licensed all over North America, their team of architects, interior designers and project managers have the professional experience to help move YOUR mission forward. Check them out at Risepointe.com/unseminary and while you’re there get their FREE resource “10 Things to Get Right Before You Build”. Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary Podcast. Man, I am so looking forward to today’s conversation. This is one of those conversations that I know that there are leaders in the midst of this situation that we’re talking about, or on the brink of this situation that we’re talking about that are gonna lean in and get so much value out of this, not only because the leader that we’re having on today is is ah has living through this, is working through this, but he’s a repeat guest, which you know when we have repeat guests, that means I think they’re great. Rich Birch — And so super excited to have Drake Farmer with us. ah Drake is at a church called Beulah Alliance Church. It’s a multi-site church with three locations as well as a Spanish campus in Alberta, Canada, was founded in 1907 in the growing city of Edmonton, has become a multi-ethnic and multi-generational church experienced rapid growth in these last few years. Drake sits in the seat of executive pastor of ministries. ah Plus, he’s also a friend. He’s a great guy. Super excited to have you on the show today, Drake. Thanks for being here. Drake Farmer — Awesome, I’m happy to be here. Rich Birch — Yeah, the other Canadian Drake. That’s what I like to say. You know, there’s there are two in Canada that that we know of. You’re one of them. Drake Farmer — Yeah, but before nobody would ever get my name right when I introduced...
Transcribe →Leadership People Will Trust: Insights from Jenni Field’s Nobody Believes You
Nov 13, 202400:38:06Tap to summarizeIn this deep dive episode of the unSeminary podcast, we explore Jenni Field’s insightful book Nobody Believes You: Become a Leader People Will Follow. This conversation delves into practical strategies and timeless leadership principles tailored especially for those guiding teams in a church context. Field’s book offers a fresh perspective on becoming a credible leader that people genuinely want to follow. Here’s a look at some key takeaways from the episode: The Credibility Conundrum Many leaders struggle with what Jenni Field calls the “credibility conundrum”—doing all the right things but still failing to earn the trust and buy-in of their teams. This issue is especially pronounced in church environments, where leaders face high expectations and complex dynamics. It’s not just about authenticity but about blending several core leadership practices to connect and lead effectively. The Eight Practices of Credible Leadership Jenni Field outlines eight essential practices that leaders must embody to build credibility: Empathy: Understanding and valuing the diverse experiences of your team members. Field emphasizes the importance of recognizing others’ experiences as truthful, even if they differ from your own. Trustworthiness: Built on honesty, reliability, and transparency. Especially in church leadership, trust is foundational, and it’s eroded when leaders become overly focused on external tasks at the expense of their team. Vision: Clearly communicate the ‘why’ behind your plans. Field highlights the power of storytelling and visual imagery in casting a vision that resonates and motivates the team. Support: Balancing guidance with autonomy. Creating an environment of psychological safety allows team members to share ideas, admit mistakes, and feel valued. Vulnerability: Being real without oversharing. Vulnerability is about acknowledging your limitations and showing your humanity, which fosters a culture of authenticity and openness. Likeability: It’s not about being everyone’s friend but about being approachable and having a sense of humor. Field stresses the importance of creating an environment where people enjoy working together while still respecting the leader. Integrity: The cornerstone of credible leadership. Integrity involves aligning your actions with your values and being consistent, even in challenging situations. It’s about being transparent, accountable, and building a foundation of trust. Capability: Demonstrating competence without needing to be the expert in everything. Effective leaders know when to delegate, seek outside expertise, and focus on continuous learning and growth. Applying the Principles in Church Leadership The conversation emphasizes how these practices are interconnected. For church leaders, embodying these qualities not only builds effective teams but also reflects Christ-like leadership. Integrity, in particular, is highlighted as the foundation upon which all other practices are built. Without trust, no amount of empathy, vision, or support can truly connect with the team. Practical Takeaways for Leaders It’s a Journey, Not a Destination: Leadership is a continuous process of growth. Focus on blending these eight practices authentically into your unique context. Seek Support and Accountability: Don’t be afraid to ask for help, whether from a mentor, colleague, or therapist. Building a network of support is crucial for sustainable leadership. Prioritize Self-Care: Leading a church can be demanding. Set healthy boundaries and take time for rest and renewal, recognizing that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Reflecting Christ in Leadership Ultimately, this episode encourages leaders to see these practices as strategies for effective leadership and ways to reflect Christ in their roles. By building on the foundation of integrity and continually seeking to grow in empathy, trustworthiness, and vision, church leaders can foster a culture where their teams thrive, and their ministries flourish. Want to dive deeper? Check out Jenni Field’s book Nobody Believes You: Become a Leader People Will Follow here to explore these principles further.
Transcribe →Grow More, Send More: Building a Sending Church with Andrew Hopper
Nov 7, 202400:34:24Tap to summarizeWelcome back to the unSeminary podcast. This week we’re talking with Andrew Hopper, the founding and lead pastor of Mercy Hill Church in North Carolina. Andrew has also started Breaking Barriers, which provides pastors and churches with biblical strategies to help them grow in order to go. Are you curious about how to effectively grow your church while maintaining a strong focus on discipleship and outreach? Don’t miss this insightful discussion as Andrew reveals the correlation between invite culture, discipleship and sending members out on mission. Plus discover how the multisite model is the best tool you can use for leadership development at your church. Connect crowds to mission. // Andrew observed a clear ratio in his church’s data correlating the number of sent ones, baptisms, and first-time guests, which he believes is consistent in churches focused on both evangelism and sending. Over ten years, his church saw approximately 150 individuals committed to long-term missions, 1,500 baptisms, and 15,000 first-time guests, aligning in a 10:1 ratio at each level. This means that for every one sent one, there were ten baptisms, and for each baptism, there were ten first-time guests. Focus on the lead measure. // Effective church growth relies on focusing on the lead measure rather than the lag measure. This approach helps connect the church’s larger attendance numbers to its mission goals, showing how initial engagement leads to disciples being sent out. Crowd-based evangelism. // Based on the examples shown throughout the New Testament, Mercy Hill Church believes that most life change happens when there is a preacher in front of a crowd. While both one-on-one encounters and larger gatherings can lead to conversions, the latter is more effective in reaching larger number and so the congregation is encouraged to invite friends. Andrew believes that when congregants see the church service as the most impactful time for both evangelism and discipleship, they are more likely to embrace inviting others, making the process of reaching new people feel natural and significant. Multisite and church planting. // Andrew argues that the multisite model complements church planting rather than competing with it. In multisite contexts, there is a continuous need to cultivate new leaders for multiplying groups, services, and campuses, which naturally prepares individuals for the challenge of church planting. At Mercy Hill most leaders who have joined their church plants come from the satellite campuses rather than the main broadcast campus. These members have already shown commitment to the mission by adjusting their lives, and this willingness to adapt primes them to take the larger step of moving to a new area to support a church plant. Develop communicators. // The multisite model allows the pastors on your team to grow and do more preaching than they’d get the chance to do at just one location. Mercy Hill has had numerous leaders—27 in the past year alone—preach, demonstrating that multisite structures can facilitate the growth of multiple communicators. To develop other teachers, church leaders should create opportunities for different leaders to preach and lead services, which can be done through multiple services and campuses. Breaking growth barriers. // Breaking Barriers helps churches break through barriers that hinder mission success. It celebrates church growth and doesn’t disconnect it from going after the lead measure. Visit their website to listen to their podcast, check out events and connect with other like-minded leaders. Follow what’s happening at Mercy Hill Church and visit Breaking Barriers for resources that will help your church grow to go. NEXT STEPS // Unlock the Power of Public Proclamation! Dive deeper into the Book of Acts with our Preachers in Front of a Crowd: A 16-Day Study on the Power of Public Proclamation in the Expansion of God’s Work. Inspired by Andrew Hopper’s insights on the unSeminary podcast, this guide is designed for church leaders and communicators looking to explore how public preaching has transformed lives and built the early church. Each day includes scripture, practical reflections, and thought-provoking questions to help you uncover the timeless power of sharing the gospel boldly. Download today and discover how you can grow more, so you can send more! Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I’m grateful for that. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they’re extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Portable Church Your church is doing really well right now, and your leadership team is looking for solutions to keep momentum going! It could be time to start a new location. Maybe you have hesitated in the past few years, but you know it’s time to step out in faith again and launch that next location. Portable Church has assembled a bundle of resources to help you leverage your growing momentum into a new location by sending a part of your congregation back to their neighborhood on Mission. This bundle of resources will give you a step-by-step plan to launch that new or next location, and a 5 minute readiness tool that will help you know your church is ready to do it! Click here to watch the free webinar “Launch a New Location in 150 Days or Less” and grab the bundle of resources for your church! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, Rich here from unSeminary. So glad that you decided to tune in. Really looking forward to today’s conversation. You know, sometimes I get a chance to talk to people that I’ve interacted with in real life and today’s one of those days. Super excited to have Andrew Hopper with us. He is, if you don’t know Andrew, first of all, you should know him. He’s the founding and lead pastor of a great church ah in North Carolina called Mercy Hill Church. They’re they’re constantly on the one of the fastest growing churches list in the in the country. They’re really a gospel-centered church. They have five locations. Rich Birch — This is an incredible church because they’re not only growing in North Carolina, but they’re encouraging church planting ah in a bunch of different places. And he’s recently started, or in the last little bit, has launched ah Breaking Barriers, which is is on mission to guide churches to lead with biblical strategies to help churches grow ah so that ultimately they can go. So Andrew, welcome to the show. So glad you’re here. Andrew Hopper — Thanks, man. Excited to be here, man. We’ve ah we’ve really learned a lot from you and gotten some of our foundational stuff from you around growth years and years ago. So this is fun, man. Rich Birch — Yeah, nice to get a chance to connect. Well, why don’t you fill in the picture there a little bit. Give me the Mercy Hill story, the Andrew ...
Transcribe →Kids Ministry in a Changing World: Building a Thriving Children’s Ministry with Justyn Smith
Oct 31, 202400:36:25Tap to summarizeWelcome to the unSeminary podcast! This week we have with us Justyn Smith, Executive Kids Pastor at Cornerstone Church in Arizona and a story catalyst at Plain Joe. What does an effective children’s ministry look like? What does kids’ ministry at your church look like when you put yourself in the shoes of a child, or their parents? Tune in as Justyn shares how to transform your kids’ ministry into a thriving ministry that serves the families at your church with vision and intentionality. Challenges in ministry. // Kids’ ministry is an interesting place in today’s church because of growing challenges that church leaders are facing. Navigating societal divisions and strong political opinions, changes in technology that have affected both ministry and parenting, and a lack of clear vision or understanding of what effective kids’ ministry looks like lead to a reactive approach. Questions to ask. // Effective children’s ministry is about much more than simply the curriculum or administrative duties. What does it look like when you put yourself in the shoes of a child at your church. What does it look like when you put yourself in the shoes of a mom or a dad? What could that partnership look like? What questions are parents asking when they drop their child off and they pick their child up? All of these things help shape and inform what an effective children’s ministry should look like at your church. Engage with parents. // Meeting a practical need is a part of what makes an effective kids’ ministry. Strike up a conversation with a visiting parent, asking them to observe and provide honest feedback on their child’s drop-off experience. Reach out to long-time attenders and inquire if kids’ ministry is partnering well with them and meeting the needs of their children. Organize roundtable discussions with parents to gather their thoughts and experiences. Opening yourself up to honest feedback can help shape the direction of the ministry. Listen to children. // You can put yourself in a child’s shoes by literally bringing yourself down to their level. Justyn suggests getting on your knees and walking through your kids’ experience. Observe what you see, hear and feel. Engage with children to understand their preferences and interests. Ask kids what they enjoy and what would draw their friends to the church. This feedback can help shape programming and events that resonate with the target audience. Justyn believes that using “hooks” to attract kids is acceptable as long as there is substance behind those efforts. The ministry should remain focused on effective discipleship while creating engaging and memorable experiences for children. Welcome neurodiversity. // Children’s ministries need to be inclusive of diverse learning abilities and styles. This trend is not going away and churches must be proactive in creating environments that welcome all children. Your church doesn’t need to do everything, but every church can do something. Begin where you can and develop a long-term plan. Engage with families who have children affected by special needs and have open conversations about how to make the ministry more accessible. Invest in kids’ ministry. // Many churches are beginning to recognize the importance of investing in children’s ministry, moving away from the notion that it is a lesser priority. Executive pastors need to conduct an honest assessment of their funding priorities. If children’s ministry is consistently underfunded compared to other ministries, it can lead to unrealistic expectations for performance. Investing appropriately in children’s ministry is essential for its success. Email Justyn with any questions and find him on social media @pastorjustyn. He also invites listeners to download this interview with Theron Skees from his book, Kidmin, Trust and Pixie Dust: Unlocking the Magic of Children’s Ministry. NEXT STEPS // Is Your Children’s Ministry Thriving? Whether you’re a seasoned children’s pastor or just getting started, it’s essential to regularly assess the health of your ministry. Is your volunteer team engaged? Are kids excited to return each week? Are parents feeling connected? Download our Children’s Ministry Health Assessment Checklist and take a deep dive into key areas like volunteer engagement, parent involvement, spiritual growth, and more! This practical tool will help you identify strengths and opportunities for growth, setting your ministry on a path to long-term success. Get the checklist today and build a thriving, impactful children’s ministry! Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I’m grateful for that. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they’re extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey everybody, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. Super excited for you to listen in today. You know, I’ve said in other environments that I think some of the most creative people in the local church are kids’ ministry people. They just do incredible things. And today we’ve got not just a kids’ ministry person, but really a person who’s an expert in this whole area. Rich Birch — We’ve got Justyn Smith with smith with with us. He really carries a couple different hats. One, he’s a story catalyst at Plain Joe. This is Storyland Studio. Plain Joe partners with churches, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and educational places to create unbelievable ah strategic, digital, and spatial stories that ultimately lift the spirit. We’ve had a number of folks from Storyland on in the past. We just love these guys. They do such a good job. But he is also the Executive Kids Pastor at Cornerstone Church in Chandler, Arizona. So not only is he an expert, he’s also a practitioner. Super glad to have you on the show today, Justyn – welcome. Justyn Smith — Rich, thank you so much. It’s an honor to be here. I mean that, and I’m looking forward to our conversation for sure. Rich Birch — Yeah, why don’t you fill in the picture a little bit? Tell me a little bit about ah what the last couple decades of kids’ ministry has looked like and, ah you know, before you joined Storyland, but but talk to us about kind of your background and and all that. Justyn Smith — Yeah, so for sure. Well, one, I mean, I’ve I’ve been married for over 24 years. I’ve got seven children myself. Rich Birch — Wow. Justyn Smith — So all the way from young adults, all the way to ah five years old. Rich Birch — Love it. Justyn Smith — So I feel like I have a children’s and student ministry built into my own home, which is which is phenomenal. Ask them, we’ve experimented on them many times, which has been fun. And we’ve been all over the country. So we’ve been ah in places like Las Vegas, Southern California, Minneapolis, Tampa Bay, in Phoenix, Seattle. I’m just all over the U.S. ah ministering in churches in all those places, really been in next-gen ministries.Justyn Smith — So I’ve been serving the church either in children’s ministry, student ministry, ah both, parenting, all those types of things. So I’ve got but really over 22 years of experience ah working with ah churches from start-up churches to mega churches of 10,000 people. So I feel like I’ve just I’ve just been blessed to have just a a broad ah stroke of just what what church looks like across the board. And ah one thing I’ve learned over the years is no matter if you’re a startup and you have a budget of whatever you made...
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