The One Thing

Reach Australia

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Christianity
Updated Weekly

One solid, practical tip for gospel-centred ministry every week. Reach Australia is a network of churches - working together to seeing thousands of healthy, evangelistic, multiplying churches across Australia.

Jun 3

453 The Case for Annual Reviews in Ministry

Is your church doing annual reviews right, or at all? In this episode, Scott Sanders and Jo Gibbs explore how annual reviews can move beyond corporate box-ticking to become a vital tool for encouraging, developing, and stewarding gospel workers well. We unpack how simple, structured conversations help teams pause, give thanks, reflect honestly, and plan intentionally for the year ahead. Why ongoing feedback alone isn’t enoughThe biblical foundation for caring for people in ministrySimple frameworks to run effective annual reviewsHow to handle hard conversations well and avoid surprisesWhy investing in people builds long-term ministry health Toolbox: Simple Framework of 3 questions to ask others and yourself: What’s a highlightWhat are you doing wellWhat could you do betterWhy Annual Reviews Matter - Substack Article by Jo GibbsMaking Ministry Leader Annual Reviews Sing - Gospel Coalition Article by Mikey LynchEpisode 336: How to Give Effective Feedback Episode 337: How to Receive Feedback as a Gospel WorkerEpisode 338: Enhancing Your Team’s Success With Rhythms of Feedback Episode 339: Personalising Feedback Credits: This episode was brought to you by Lending Hands Mortgage Brokers The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠ To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠ For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠ Support Reach Australia's online library

26 min
May 27

452 Your awareness nudge - making yourself more findable as a church (Phill Morrow)

If someone in your suburb wanted to find a church this Sunday… could they actually find yours? In this episode, Pete Hughes chats with Phill Morrow, from ChristLife Presbyterian in West Toowoomba, about how to ensure your church is findable. Sometimes it’s the simple things that actually really make a difference: clear websites, signage, Google listings and welcoming spaces are all key aspects churches can’t overlook. Why hospitality starts before someone walks through the doorThe hidden barriers that stop newcomers attending churchIdeas for churches who both own and don’t own their spacesHow small improvements can support evangelism and gospel growth Toolbox: Reach Digital The Great Dechurching by Jim Davis and Ryan P. Burge Episode 354: Making Your Church Accessible to People With Disabilities (Louise Gosbell) Episode 389: Welcoming In Action: Live from Kellyville Anglican Church Secret Shopper Checklist (DO WITH A CAMERA) Credits: This episode was brought to you by Exdia The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠ To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠ For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠ Support Reach Australia's online library

27 min
May 13

451 How your church space shapes welcome and connection

Church buildings and meeting spaces communicate long before anyone hears the sermon. A confusing entrance, poor signage, or awkward gathering areas create unnecessary barriers, while thoughtful spaces can help people feel more relaxed, welcomed, and ready to connect. In this episode: Why physical space matters for ministry and hospitalityCommon mistakes churches make with arrival, signage, and flowHow spaces can reduce friction and help newcomers feel at easeImproving connection before and after the serviceQuick wins churches can make without major renovations Toolbox: Build to Last Ebook How to Fund Your Church Building ChurchStarter Booklet Credits: This episode was brought to you by Safe Ministry Check The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠ To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠ For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠ Support Reach Australia's online library

22 min
May 6

450 What are your Sunday gathering debriefs actually achieving?

In this episode, Derek Hanna is joined by Paul Young (planter of Providence Church Bayswater, Perth) to think about how church teams reflect on Sundays, and whether those debrief conversations are actually helping the church grow in mission, or just recycling obvious feedback. They explore how different churches approach Sunday debriefs, what often goes wrong when they drift into planning or post-mortems, and how teams can use that time more effectively to focus on big-picture strategy, prayer, and gospel priorities. Rather than tweaking slides or reviewing logistics, Paul argues that this time is best used to step back, pray, and work on the larger questions of mission, growth, and where God is at work in the life of the church. In this episode: Why many Sunday debriefs don’t add much valueThe risk of turning debriefs into planning meetings or critique sessionsHow to shift from details to big-picture strategy and prayerQuestions that help teams focus on mission and gospel growthHow to use shared team time for decisions you can’t make aloneToolbox: Dangerous Calling by Paul David Tripp (Chapter on Glory) The Church by Edmund Clowney The Church on Mission by Craig Ott Planting the Word by Erin Crider Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni Credits: This episode was brought to you by Lending Hands Mortgage Brokers The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠ To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠ For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠ Support Reach Australia's online library

23 min
Apr 29

449 Mapping the mess: the difference an org chart makes for your church

Church life can get messy quickly. In this episode, Scott Sanders chats with Chris Rooleht about why having a simple serve chart can help bring clarity to ministry, showing who’s doing what, where responsibilities sit, and where people might be carrying too much. They discuss how serve charts can help churches care for people well, identify gaps in ministry, and plan for the future. In this episode: Why every church should have an serve chartHow to spot ministry overload and unclear responsibilitiesPractical tools to help you map your teamsUsing serve charts to plan for growth, staffing, and church plantingToolbox: ⁠Lucid Chart⁠ ⁠Miro Chart⁠ ⁠Guide to Church Staffing by The Unstack Group Blog Post⁠ ⁠Contact Us for More Resources⁠ Credits: This episode was brought to you by ⁠Exdia⁠ The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠⁠ To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠⁠ For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Support Reach Australia's online library⁠

28 min
Apr 22

448 Great Monday staff meetings: lessons in leading teams

Most staff meetings feel like a drain. Too long, unclear, and full of talk that changes nothing. But what if your weekly meeting could actually strengthen your team, sharpen your culture, and leave people encouraged? In this episode, Andrew Mitchell (Executive Pastor at EV Church on NSW's Central Coast) joins Pete Hughes to unpack why great staff meetings are one of the most overlooked leadership tools in ministry, and how to run them well. • Why the best staff meeting may not be about decisions at all• How healthy meetings shape culture across the whole church• A simple framework that creates energy, clarity, and momentum• The common mistakes that make meetings frustrating and ineffective• Practical ideas for small teams, not just large churches Key points: Why the main weekly meeting isn’t for making decisionsHow to structure a Monday meeting, from lunch to prayer to trainingThe hidden cost of mixing decision-making with culture-buildingWhy encouragement and shared stories aren’t optional extrasWhat smaller teams can actually apply without copying everythingToolbox: Andrew Mitchell’s terms of reference staff meeting document The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni Death By Meeting by Patrick Lencioni How Do I Create a Culture of Trust In My Team? | Ep 316 Three dysfunctional types of teams and how to fix them | Ep 404 The One Thing Episode 166 – Refresh Your Staff Meetings (Part 1) The One Thing Episode 167 – Refresh Your Staff Meetings (Part 2) Credits: This episode was brought to you by Safe Ministry Check The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠ To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠ For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠ Support Reach Australia's online library

17 min
Apr 15

447 From 5 to 37: how one church reworked their evangelism course invitation

The Point Community Church in Port Macquarie, NSW was growing at 10% a year, but barely anyone was actually becoming a Christian. When they benchmarked themselves against other churches, the gap was stark: other churches were seeing 5–7x more non-Christians come through their evangelistic courses. So they asked hard questions about what was actually happening, and made a series of deliberate changes, especially around how they invited people into their evangelism course. Registrations jumped from 5 to 37. Around seven people came to faith, with ten more still exploring. Derek Hanna talks with Steve Covetz (Lead Pastor) and Kate Stace (Director of Ministry Operations) about facing brutal facts, mobilising a whole church to invite, and what actually moved the needle. Toolbox: Discover Magnet used by Kate and Steve Mission ebook by Dave Jensen Evangelism in the Local Church by Dave Jensen and Paul Brennan Previous Reach Australia Conference Resources Mission Consults by Reach Australia Credits: This episode was brought to you by Safe Ministry Check The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠ To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠ For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠ Support Reach Australia's online library

27 min
Apr 7

446 When church can’t function without you: breaking the always-needed cycle

If you stepped away for a month, would your church stall? The hero complex in ministry rarely announces itself. It feels like diligence. Responsibility. Sacrifice. But underneath can sit something more dangerous — the quiet belief that everything depends on us. In this episode, we explore: What the hero complex really is and why it shows up in gospel ministry The warning signs, from micromanaging to confusing busyness with fruitfulness How our identity in Christ steadies us when things go well or poorly When to say no, and how to do it with clarity Why building teams and sharing responsibility is part of faithful leadership If you’ve ever felt indispensable, exhausted, or quietly resentful that others don’t carry what you carry, this conversation is for you. Toolbox: Steve Waugh’s Cricket Highlights Reach Australia’s Coaching Program Credits: This episode was brought to you by Exdia The One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠ To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠ For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠ Support Reach Australia's online library

18 min

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2025-02-06

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One solid, practical tip for gospel-centred ministry every week. Reach Australia is a network of churches - working together to seeing thousands of healthy, evangelistic, multiplying churches across Australia.