Church Tips – Growth Strategies for Pastors &

Church Fuel CEO, Ryan Wakefield, and Leaders.Church Co-Founder, Dick Hardy, dialogue on what pastors and church leaders should focus on as they head into the holidays. Their major focus is not only on Christmas invites but even MORE on getting those December guests to return for whatever you have planned for January.   Ryan is also giving away three high-value Church Fuel resources to any podcast viewer or listener who wants them. This is one of the best podcasts we’ve ever done with a theme of how we can make heaven more crowded. Show Notes: https://leaders.church/podcast/ep-149-getting-December-guests-back-in-January Start a free Test Drive with Church Fuel to get access to the New Beginning Kit: https://churchfuel.com/drive Get help with planning Christmas with our Ultimate Christmas Kit: https://churchfuel.com/christmas Here are 10 Ideas to get your people to fill out your Connect Card: https://churchfuel.com/resource/connect-card-tips

Every church will eventually encounter conflict. It’s a tough but essential challenge for growth and unity. In today’s podcast, we have the privilege of speaking with Pastor Tim Barker, the South Texas Network Superintendent, who oversees more than 300 churches and nearly 1,000 pastors. With decades of experience, he understands how to lead through difficult times and handle conflict in a way that honors God. Pastor Barker shares practical, biblical steps to effectively resolve disputes, remove bitterness, and move forward in unity.  Show Notes: https://leaders.church/podcast/ep-147-dealing-with-conflict

In this podcast, we talk with Leaders.Church member pastor Bobby Gourley, on the topic of Deconstruction in the Church. This discussion will clarify for many, what is good and what is bad about deconstruction. Pastor Bobby challenges all of us to seek God in the leadership of our churches. In doing so, we need to always separate what has become accepted practice (some good, some not so good) from what Jesus really says in His Gospel. Show Notes: https://leaders.church/podcast/ep-148-deconstruction-in-the-church

In this podcast, we talk with Erie, PA lead pastor, Nichole Schreiber, about change. We talk about things that seem simple to us yet are not. You must hear her story of removing a couple of pews in an 80s-style church. Wow! Did that hit the fan! A pastor needs to factor in God’s will in making change, possibly doing changes in seasons, and then really identifying what the desired end result should be.  Kudos to Pastor Nichole for a great podcast! Show Notes: https://leaders.church/podcast/ep-146-lead-church-through-change

In today’s podcast, we speak with denominational leader, Darryl Wootton on the great topic of Sermon Preparation.  In the pastorate, we all know Sundays keep coming at us. Darryl talks very openly about the system he used over the years to bring order and structure to his sermon prep time.  His family knows it, and his team knows it.  In all cases, everything else around his time in leading the church takes a back seat to being ready to step into the pulpit on Sunday morning. Show Notes: https://leaders.church/podcast/ep-145-how-to-prepare-sermons Sermon Starters PDF: https://leaders.church/ss

Join us today in conversation with Wisconsin pastor Walter Harvey. The Lord has led Pastor Walter to unleash the Big C church from the small c church. And in doing so, their church has seen community transformation and engagement. We clearly understand that Sundays keep coming at us every week.  We know of our need to care for the Body. This podcast helps us broaden our perspective of “who is our neighbor?” and see community and life change!  Show Notes: https://leaders.church/podcast/ep-143-difference-community-engagement-makes

Authors David Lindell and Brandon Lindell sit down with Leaders.Church Co-Founder, Dick Hardy to talk about the genesis of their newly released book, Lionhearted: A Man's Guide to Living Focused, Fulfilled & Fearless. They talk about what it means to live a life as a full devoted man of God, modeling what God intended in His creation of the male of the species. They pull no punches in this interview about their potentially game-changing book for men. Show Notes: https://leaders.church/podcast/ep-144-lionhearted/ Lionhearted Leader Resources - https://lionhearted.com/leader-resources/

In today’s episode, we talk with Pastor John Dougherty as he gives guidance to 190 churches, their pastors, and constituencies in Georgia.  He encourages pastors to be open to how the Lord might be working on the heart of a volunteer to think of going into ministry. We can facilitate that when we build farm teams of leading volunteers who could begin to be considered to fill ministry positions in the church as those might materialize.  Show Notes: https://leaders.church/podcast/ep-142-staffing-in-the-local-church/

In this episode, we talk with Refresh LED Founder, Josh Dominquez, about the uses for LED walls in churches of all sizes.  His intent is to help draw people to greater engagement in the church.  He uses the term “Digital Legos”. Josh references that LED walls are all designed to augment the movement of the Holy Spirit in the church. To the pastor, “Your whole building is an opportunity to reach people. It is not just the auditorium."  Show Notes: https://leaders.church/podcast/ep-141-build-church-engagement/ How to Utilize Visuals to Increase Engagement: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G6JNuFvjkVK2zun0_0SnMsAace_hnb6Z/view

Join us as we spend time in conversation with denominational executive Gene Roncone, who leads 160 churches, 525 ministers, and 44,000 constituents in Colorado and Utah. He discusses a crisis need among pastors and that is their isolation from others, including other pastors.  Pastor Gene uses the phrase that “too many pastors are locking the door from the inside” when they most desperately need others to help them live whole and healthy ministry lives.  Show Notes: https://leaders.church/podcast/ep-140-isolation-in-the-pastorate/ Counseling Resources: Emerge Ministries: https://emerge.org/ Mental Health Support: https://a.co/d/7SADgGx

In this episode, we sit down with Jeremiah Grube, CEO of OnSong, to explore how the OnSong app is transforming the way worship leaders and pastors manage their worship ministries. By streamlining the organization of worship music, OnSong frees up valuable time for worship leaders and pastors to focus on leading worship and connecting with their teams. Say goodbye to the old ways of planning Sunday sets—OnSong allows you to store, sort, and customize your music effortlessly. Lead pastors appreciate how this tool helps worship pastors create a seamless flow that sets the stage for the preaching of the Word. Show Notes: https://leaders.church/podcast/ep-139-taking-worship-to-a-new-level/ 

Even the best leaders don’t have the keys today for tomorrow’s growth. The answers you need to grow your church are out there—in the minds and hearts of leaders who are already where you want to be. And if you could fly yourself to their churches, sit down with them over a cup of coffee, you’d be set. But that’s tough. You might not have the resources to hop on a plane and travel around the country to take ministry experts out for coffee. But what if the experts came to you? That’s why we created Leaders.Church. Designed by ministry leaders like you who wanted access to the best church leadership training without shelling out lots of money and time to attend the best conferences, Leaders.Church brings the best church leadership training in the world to you. Get 47% off before Saturday, March 1, 2025. https://leaders.church/breakthrough-system

Artificial Intelligence (AI) – You can be afraid of AI, or you can use it to further the Gospel.  That’s a major piece of the conversation we had with Alabama pastor, Bobby Gourley. AI should never diminish your time digging into the word to prepare Spirit-anointed sermons. However, it can do so much to streamline your everyday tasks in the leadership of the local church and in some cases save the church money. Show Notes: https://leaders.church/podcast/ep-138-ai-pastors/

Have you ever felt criticism while serving in ministry?  Welcome to the club!  In today's Church Tips Podcast Pastor Nichole Schreiber and Jonathan Hardy do a deep dive into how to deal with criticism in the church. You want everyone to love everything you do as a pastor, but that never happens. As a lead pastor for the last 7 years, Pastor Nichole provides great perspective on navigating critics and moving the church forward. She challenges us to encourage everyone, even the critics!

Pastors are uniquely position to greatly influence their community, not only in the church building, but also the local regulations, laws, and procedures. Alex Bryant and Richard Hardy talk about the importance of Pastors being involved in local, and national, politics. Alex Bryant is a disciple, husband, father, author, speaker, pastor, professor, and radio host.   Read the full transcript, watch the video version, and discover more great resources here: https://leaders.church/podcast/ep-136-pastors-politics

Leading your church and team without a specified goal will lead to exhaustion, burnout, and frustration. Join Dr. R. Timothy Jones and Dick Hardy as they discuss pitfalls in casting vision, why your church needs a direction to move towards. Pastor Timothy Jones is a disciple, husband, father, author, and professor. Read the full transcript, watch the video version, and discover more great resources here: https://leaders.church/podcast/ep-135-timothy-jones-casting-vision

There comes a time in the life of a pastor when you may be at your wits' end to know what to do to grow the church. And then the Lord drops such a God-Thing right out of nowhere to say to you, "I have you right where I want you." That was the case for Iowa Pastor Johnny Helton. Community service to Sioux City, Iowa launched with countless pastors pulling together to become "The Church of Sioux City" ministering to people at their points of need. Pastor Johnny walks us through how any pastor in any community can reach out beyond the walls of their church and reach people who would never darken the door of their church. Community outreach at its best! Read the full transcript, watch the video version, and discover more great resources here: https://leaders.church/podcast/ep-134-johnny-helton-quit-my-church/

Get your copy of "The Third Option": https://amzn.to/3UIjBav Join Dick Hardy and Lead Pastor and author, Miles McPherson as they sit down together to talk about his newest book, The Third Option: Hope for a Racially Divided Nation. Read the full transcript, watch the video version, and discover more great resources here: https://leaders.church/podcast/133-the-third-option-hope-for-a-racially-divided-nation/

Join Dick Hardy and Lead Pastor Jamie Austin as they sit down together to address the aging out of Boomer pastors and the crisis it is creating in churches and denominations all over the world. Read the full transcript, watch the video version, and discover more great resources here: https://leaders.church/132-millennials-and-gen-zs-cant-replace-boomers

Join Dick Hardy as he sits down with Dr. Mike Rakes to discuss his book, Surrendered and Unafraid. Read the full transcript, watch the video version, and discover more great resources here: https://leaders.church/podcast/131-mike-rakes-surrendered-and-unafraid