Gourds and Pomegranates - Comms Advice for UK churches

Gourds and Pomegranates
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Christianity
  • Updated weekly

Common Sense for Church Comms — Joe and Hannah discuss how churches can reach people, sharing the Gospel via all the communication methods at our disposal. Our 'from the ground up' approach is accessible to even the most technophobic of church leaders/volunteers!

  1. 11/11/2025

    Episode 65 — Taking inspiration — Who's doing it well?

    In this episode, we wanted to shout out some of the churches and Christian organisations that are doing comms well, highlighting specific aspects of what they do so we can draw inspiration for our own church comms. Huge thanks to our series sponsor, Stewardship - https://stwdshp.org/gap Mentioned in this episode: - Holy Trinity Boar Lane - https://boarlane.church/ - ⁠G&P Episode 44 including interview with Josh from Boar Lane — Comms and Vision – 3 ‘short’ interviews! - https://gppodcast.uk/episode/episode-44-comms-and-vision-3-short-interviews/ - Kingdom Business Champions - https://kingdombusiness.uk/ - Otford Church - https://www.otfordchurch.com/ - St Marks Herston - https://swanageteam.com/st-marks-church/ - Elevation Church - https://www.elevationchurch.org/ - Moorlands Bible College - https://www.moorlands.ac.uk/ - Bristol Diocese - https://www.bristol.anglican.org/ - G&P Episode 61 - Talking Church Growth with Richard Coekin - Dundonald Church - https://www.dundonald.org/ - Lansdowne Church - https://www.lansdownechurch.uk/ Find out more about the show - ⁠⁠GPpodcast.uk⁠⁠ Like and follow us on Facebook - ⁠⁠facebook.com/GPPodcast.uk 00:00 Finding Inspiration in Creativity 02:24 Innovative Approaches to Church Engagement 06:49 Adapting to Change: The Importance of Modernization 10:11 Community Connection: The Role of Small Churches 15:44 Leveraging Technology for Engagement 18:52 Creating Next Steps for Online Viewers 19:46 Creating Connection in Online Worship 21:16 Leveraging Social Media for Engagement 22:10 Innovative Content Creation on TikTok 25:25 Understanding Church Language and Culture 27:21 The Importance of Welcoming Church Spaces 30:12 Enhancing Atmosphere in Church Buildings 32:29 Practical Tips for Church Improvement 33:35 Series Wrap Up

    37 min

  2. 04/11/2025

    Episode 64 — Talking church management systems with Gavin from ChurchSuite

    In this episode, Joe and Hannah chat to Gavin Courtney, the founder of ChurchSuite, a church management tool that can help you get organised with managing your church's data and internal communications. Huge thanks to our series sponsor, Stewardship - https://stwdshp.org/gap Mentioned in this episode: - Churchsuite - https://churchsuite.com/ - Podcast - Working Genius - https://www.workinggenius.com/wg-podcast-post - Podcast - Craigg Roeschel Leadership Podcast - https://www.craiggroeschel.com/leadershippodcast - Podcast - Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast - https://andystanley.com/podcast/ - The Church Office - https://www.thechurchoffice.co.uk/ Find out more about the show - ⁠⁠GPpodcast.uk⁠⁠ Like and follow us on Facebook - ⁠⁠facebook.com/GPPodcast.uk 00:00 Introduction and Icebreakers 04:19 Gavin's Journey into Tech and Church Management 09:03 Understanding ChurchSuite: Features and Benefits 14:04 Adoption of Technology in Churches 19:07 Modules and Daily Use of ChurchSuite 19:22 Enhancing Member Engagement 22:43 Improving Internal Communication 23:54 Consistency in Church Messaging 29:51 The Future of Church Communication 37:47 Innovations in ChurchSuite

    44 min

  3. 28/10/2025

    Episode 63 — Helping churches to talk about money

    Why is it that pastors find it so hard to talk about money? In this episode, we're joined by Steve Matthews (Stewardship) and Naomi Buckler (Cheerful Giving, FICO) as we explore what a healthy giving culture looks like, and what steps we can take towards it. Mentioned in this episode: Stewardship - https://stwdshp.org/gapCheerful Giving - https://naomibuckler0.wixsite.com/cheerfulgivingFICO - Fundraisers in Christian Organisations - https://ciof.org.uk/about-us/regional-and-special-interest-groups/ficoGivingTraining - https://givingtraining.org/Stewardship Generosity Report - https://www.stewardship.org.uk/generosity-reportJourney of Generosity - https://generousgiving.org/events/jog/The Generosity Project - https://matthiasmedia.com.au/pages/the-generosity-projectSt John’s Hayden Wick - https://www.stjohnshaydonwick.org.uk/Podcast - Not Another One (Politics) - https://shows.acast.com/not-another-onePodcast - This is History - https://open.spotify.com/show/2OwTnxm4YpB6mH0tLVYc2s Huge thanks to Stewardship for sponsoring this series - https://stwdshp.org/gap Find out more about the show - ⁠⁠GPpodcast.uk⁠⁠ Like and follow us on Facebook - ⁠⁠facebook.com/GPPodcast.uk 00:00 Introduction and Icebreakers 03:28 Guest Introductions and Backgrounds 06:21 Challenges in Church Finances 12:19 The Role of Money in Church Mission 16:12 Examples of Successful Church Giving Practices 20:01 Generational Trends in Giving 24:31 Transforming Attitudes Towards Money 29:35 Practical Resources for Churches 33:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    38 min

  4. 21/10/2025

    Episode 62 — Welcoming well — How do we help people to feel welcome at our church?

    In this episode, we explore the idea of welcoming people in to church, and the impact it can make to the experience of our visitors. We think through the who's and how's and offer some practical tips to help us all to welcome better. Huge thanks to our series sponsor, Stewardship - https://stwdshp.org/gap Mentioned in this episode: - ⁠G&P Episode 34 — Through the eyes of a newcomer - https://gppodcast.uk/episode/episode-34-through-the-eyes-of-a-newcomer/ - Churchsuite - https://churchsuite.com/ Find out more about the show - ⁠⁠GPpodcast.uk⁠⁠ Like and follow us on Facebook - ⁠⁠facebook.com/GPPodcast.uk 00:00 The Importance of Welcoming in Church 00:59 Creating a Warm Atmosphere 06:30 Systems for Effective Welcoming 09:19 Visibility of Welcomeers During Service 12:09 Asking the Right Questions 16:01 Welcoming Beyond the Door 18:25 Cultivating a Culture of Welcoming

    20 min

  5. 14/10/2025

    Episode 61 — Talking church growth with Richard Coekin

    In this episode, we meet with Richard Coekin from Reach Ministries to talk all things church growth and planting - even down to designing your church building. Huge thanks to our series sponsor, Stewardship - https://stwdshp.org/gap Mentioned in this episode: - Reach Ministries - https://reachministries.uk/ - Podcast - The Rest is History - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0d0mj5v - The Church Office - https://www.thechurchoffice.co.uk/ - CPAS - https://www.cpas.org.uk/ - Reach Australia - https://reachaustralia.com.au/ Find out more about the show - ⁠⁠GPpodcast.uk⁠⁠ Like and follow us on Facebook - ⁠⁠facebook.com/GPPodcast.uk 00:00 Introduction and Icebreakers 01:16 Getting to Know Richard Coekin 02:57 Richard's Journey: From Law to Ministry 06:25 The Growth of Dundonald Church 09:47 Planting Churches and the Reach Initiative 14:57 The Vision of Reach Ministries 19:39 Practical Ministry: Addressing Real Needs 21:40 Acts 6 Agenda: Learning and Delegation 25:59 Building Teams for Effective Ministry 27:31 The Importance of Communication in Church 33:06 Designing Church Spaces for Outreach 36:26 Vision and Future Planning for Growth 39:37 The Role of Technology in Church Communication

    45 min

  6. Season 7 Trailer

    Back next week! Series 7 Trailer

    We're back next week with more church comms tips for UK churches and even a new sponsor! Find out more about the show  - https://gppodcast.uk/ Like and follow us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GPPodcast.uk

    1 min

  7. 06/05/2025

    Episode 60 — Comms & worship - beyond the music! With Alex from Worship Ministry Training

    In this episode, Joe and Hannah are joined by founder of WMT and host of the Worship Ministry Training Podcast, Alex Enfiedjian. The episode covers the significance of worship in church communications: critically, that worship is more than just music and a vital part of church life! We also think about the role of worship leaders, the challenges they face, and the importance of training and equipping them for effective ministry, beyond just skilled musicianship. Free worship essentials course: https://www.worshipministrytraining.com/essentials About Alex: https://www.worshipministrytraining.com/https://www.facebook.com/WorshipMinistryTraining Mentioned in this episode: The Bible Recap Podcast - https://www.thebiblerecap.com/aboutAmen Podcast - https://amenpodcast.com/WMT Episode - Why Skill Matters in Worship https://www.worshipministrytraining.com/why-skill-matters-in-worship/ Find out more about the show - ⁠GPpodcast.uk⁠ Like and follow us on Facebook - ⁠facebook.com/GPPodcast.uk

    36 min

  8. 29/04/2025

    Episode 59 — Should churches be on tiktok? Why vertical video matters

    In this episode, Hannah and Joe discuss the importance of video content in modern church communication, particularly focusing on the rise of vertical video formats and how platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shorts can be leveraged to engage audiences with your church’s content. The chat covers various types of content that can be created, the significance of understanding algorithms for better reach, and the need for churches to align their content strategies with their mission and vision. They also provide practical tips for getting started with video content creation, encouraging churches to embrace this medium to connect with their communities. Mentioned in this episode: G&P Ep 33: Repurposing your content the easy way - https://gppodcast.uk/episode/episode-33-repurposing-your-content-the-easy-way/G&P Ep 40: The power of storytelling - https://gppodcast.uk/episode/episode-40-the-power-of-storytelling/Talking about LinkedIn with Josh in G&P Ep 44: Comms and Vision – 3 ‘short’ interviews! - https://gppodcast.uk/episode/episode-44-comms-and-vision-3-short-interviews/Capcut - https://www.capcut.com/Canva - https://www.canva.com/en_gb/Opus Clip - https://www.opus.pro/ Find out more about the show - GPpodcast.uk Like and follow us on Facebook - facebook.com/GPPodcast.uk

    29 min
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Common Sense for Church Comms — Joe and Hannah discuss how churches can reach people, sharing the Gospel via all the communication methods at our disposal. Our 'from the ground up' approach is accessible to even the most technophobic of church leaders/volunteers!

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