Fly on the Wall Podcast With Chris Sonksen

Church Boom
  • 5.0 (27)
  • Religion & Spirituality
  • Updated Weekly

Be a “Fly on the Wall” as Chris Sonksen takes you behind the scenes on a coaching call with a ministry leader. In each episode, you’ll get to hear how a coaching call happens, practical tips on how to grow your ministry, and what it takes to be a healthy leader in today's culture. You'll get to be a "fly on the wall" and listen to a live coaching session between Chris and a church leader like yourself. 

  1. 2d ago

    231 | You Only Get One Chance to Get Transition Right

    Episode 231 of Fly on the Wall is here. Every pastor is an interim pastor. No matter how long you lead, eventually someone else will carry the vision forward. The question is whether you’ve prepared yourself, your successor, and your church for that moment. In this episode, I sit down with my friend Dave McNeely to talk about navigating leadership transitions in a healthy way. Dave is thinking intentionally about his eventual transition from lead pastor and what it looks like to raise up a successor from within. One of the biggest mistakes pastors make is waiting until they’re ready to leave instead of recognizing when their successor is ready to lead. Sometimes the next leader is ready before we are. And that’s where transition becomes deeply personal. After decades of being known as the lead pastor, handing over the church isn’t simply a change in responsibility. It can feel like a change in identity. Here’s some of what we unpack: Why every transition comes with some level of painHow leadership transition can impact your identityWhy you shouldn’t wait until you’re ready if your successor already isHow to gradually transfer authority and responsibilityWhy passing the baton starts in smaller roomsWhen to begin publicly positioning a potential successorHow the outgoing pastor can remain involved without undermining the new leaderWhy loyalty and honor have to flow both waysThe importance of protecting relational equity during a transitionHealthy succession is about more than choosing the right person. You have to gradually give them opportunities to make decisions, lead meetings, carry authority, and earn the confidence of the people around them. And when the transition finally happens, the former leader has another responsibility: point people toward the new leader instead of allowing them to keep looking backward. You’ve spent years building what God entrusted to you. Make sure you prepare it to thrive beyond you. Because when it comes to a transition this significant, you get one chance to get it right. 👍🏼 Follow us on social media  + Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/church.boom + Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mychurchboom + Website: https://www.churchboom.org 👋 About Us Fly on the Wall Podcast, presented by Church Boom, takes pastors into a live coaching session with Chris Sonksen, CEO & Founder of Church Boom. Each episode features a pastor, just like you, as they share the challenges they face and get practical advice on how to overcome them.

  2. Sep 9

    230 | Are You Measuring the Wrong Things?

    Episode 230 of Fly on the Wall is here. When your church feels stuck, how do you know what’s actually causing it? Is it a church problem? A strategy problem? Or could the real issue be leadership? In this episode, I sit down with Dave Amsden to talk about how to identify the real problems holding a church back and what leaders should be paying attention to when growth stalls. One distinction can change the way you diagnose what’s happening: Church problems often show up in behavior. Strategy problems show up in data. When you know what to look for, you can stop guessing and start addressing the actual issue. We talk about evaluating everything from first-time guests and volunteer engagement to leadership development, generosity, and the pathway from the community to the crowd to the core. We also get personal about leadership. Are you someone high-level leaders want to follow? Can you build something from nothing? Develop other leaders? Handle conflict? Do you have the relational and emotional intelligence necessary to lead at the next level? Here’s some of what we unpack: How to distinguish a church problem from a strategy or pastor problemWhy blind spots require outside voicesWhat has changed about effective church leadership over the last 10–15 yearsWhy people increasingly want to belong before they believeThe importance of getting the right people around the tableWhy pastors can overestimate the leaders on their teamWhat churches should measure instead of obsessing over attendanceThat last one is huge. Too many pastors measure the result instead of the activity. Rather than allowing weekly attendance to determine how you feel about the health of your church, start measuring the things that actually produce healthy growth: leadership development, new volunteers, and speed of engagement. Focus on the right things, not just the busy things. 👍🏼 Follow us on social media  + Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/church.boom + Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mychurchboom + Website: https://www.churchboom.org 👋 About Us Fly on the Wall Podcast, presented by Church Boom, takes pastors into a live coaching session with Chris Sonksen, CEO & Founder of Church Boom. Each episode features a pastor, just like you, as they share the challenges they face and get practical advice on how to overcome them.

  3. Sep 2

    229 | How to Transition Leadership Without Losing What You Built

    Every pastor will eventually face transition. But when you’ve spent decades building a church, developing its culture, earning the trust of your people, and carrying the vision, handing leadership to someone else is about far more than changing a title. In this episode, I sit down with Pastor Tyrone, who is preparing for a five-year transition after 33 years of leading the church he founded. We talk through how to gradually transfer authority, build trust in a successor, and prepare both the incoming and outgoing leader for what’s ahead.  One of the most important principles we unpack is this: Responsibility should precede title. A healthy transition doesn’t happen overnight. The successor needs opportunities to lead initiatives, make strategic decisions, carry increasing authority, and eventually function as the lead pastor before officially receiving the title.  We also talk about how trust gets transferred from one leader to another. You can assign responsibility, but you can’t assign trust. Your people need to see you publicly affirm your successor, defer to them in important moments, and celebrate their wins.  Here’s some of what we unpack:  Why every transition involves some level of loss  How transition can impact a pastor’s identity  When a successor should begin carrying real authority  Why authority and responsibility have to increase together  How to transfer the congregation’s trust to the next leader  Five qualities to evaluate before deciding a successor is truly ready  Why the ability to handle criticism, pressure, and difficult decisions matters  How to lead with both courage and compassion If you’re preparing for a leadership transition now, or simply want to make sure your church is ready when that day comes, this is a conversation worth hearing. Because you don’t outlive your problems. You outgrow them.  👍🏼 Follow us on social media  + Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/church.boom + Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mychurchboom + Website: https://www.churchboom.org 👋 About Us Fly on the Wall Podcast, presented by Church Boom, takes pastors into a live coaching session with Chris Sonksen, CEO & Founder of Church Boom. Each episode features a pastor, just like you, as they share the challenges they face and get practical advice on how to overcome them.

  4. Aug 26

    228 | The Lead Goal That Actually Grows Your Church

    Most churches think attendance is the goal. But what if attendance is actually the result of something else? In Episode 228 of Fly on the Wall, I sat down with my friend Bobby from Missouri to talk about practical church growth strategies and how getting more people engaged can create sustainable growth. Bobby's church has experienced an incredible turnaround, growing from around 20 people to a couple hundred. But with that growth comes a new challenge: How do you move new people from simply attending to actually becoming part of the church? I believe one of the biggest mistakes churches make is treating attendance as the lead goal. It's not. Engagement is the lead goal. Attendance is the lag goal. When people begin serving, they build relationships. They experience discipleship. They develop a sense of ownership. And ultimately, they become more connected to the life and mission of the church. We also talked about something every church needs to take seriously: invite culture. Culture isn't changed by preaching about something once. It's built through the stories you tell, the heroes you make, and the things you celebrate. Here's some of what we unpack: Why engagement should be a primary goal for growing churchesHow to create a clear pathway from attendance to involvementWhy longtime volunteers can struggle to make room for new peopleHow 90-day engagement goals can create momentumWhy word of mouth remains such a powerful form of church marketingHow to test your marketing before investing more moneyWhy messages inspire, but systems change behaviorHow stories, heroes, and celebration shape your church's cultureWhy you should follow up with the person who brought the guest, not just the guestHow to know whether invite culture is actually becoming part of your churchIf you want sustainable church growth, don't just ask, "How do we get more people in the room?" Start asking, "How do we help the people already coming become part of the mission?" 👍🏼 Follow us on social media  + Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/church.boom + Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mychurchboom + Website: https://www.churchboom.org 👋 About Us Fly on the Wall Podcast, presented by Church Boom, takes pastors into a live coaching session with Chris Sonksen, CEO & Founder of Church Boom. Each episode features a pastor, just like you, as they share the challenges they face and get practical advice on how to overcome them.

  5. Aug 12

    226 | The Blind Spots Every Leader Needs to See

    Every leader has blind spots. The problem is, if you could see them yourself, they wouldn’t be blind spots. In Episode 226 of the Fly on the Wall Podcast, I sat down with my good friend Pastor T.W. Norman for a practical conversation about leadership, team development, and how to keep your church from drifting back into old patterns. Because healthy leadership requires more than making the right decisions. It requires surrounding yourself with people who are willing to tell you what you can’t see. T.W. and I talk about why pastors need coaches and trusted leaders who have permission to speak honestly into their lives. We also unpack how to recognize whether someone on your team is truly in the right seat and what it takes to create lasting change in your church. Here's some of what we unpack: -Why every leader has blind spots -How coaches and trusted leaders can help you see what you're missing -Why defensiveness can keep leaders from growing -How to know whether someone on your staff is in the right seat -The connection between effort, results, and passion -Why great leaders bring out the best in the people around them -How to keep your church from drifting back into old routines -Why cultural change requires more than a one-time conversation -How attaching a positive outcome to change helps people embrace it One of the most important reminders from our conversation was this: “Organizations don't rise to the occasion near as often as they fall back to their routines.” That’s why leadership requires intentionality. We have to keep inviting honest feedback. We have to keep evaluating whether our people are positioned to thrive. And when we make healthy changes, we have to keep reminding people why those changes mattered in the first place. Otherwise, drift happens. If you want to become a more self-aware leader, build a stronger team, and create a healthier culture that lasts, I believe this conversation will give you some practical tools to do it. 👍🏼 Follow us on social media  + Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/church.boom + Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mychurchboom + Website: https://www.churchboom.org 👋 About Us Fly on the Wall Podcast, presented by Church Boom, takes pastors into a live coaching session with Chris Sonksen, CEO & Founder of Church Boom. Each episode features a pastor, just like you, as they share the challenges they face and get practical advice on how to overcome them.

  6. Aug 5

    225 | Don't Let Critics Determine Your Direction

    Every leader will face criticism. The question isn't if it will happen. The question is whether you'll allow criticism to shape your leadership—or simply sharpen it. In Episode 225 of the Fly on the Wall Podcast, I sat down with Pastor Nick for an honest conversation about leading through criticism, building trust, creating healthy culture, and staying focused on what God has actually called your church to do. Because one of the greatest temptations for any leader is trying to keep everyone happy. And that's a battle you'll never win. Here's some of what we unpack: Why church planters often lose momentum by trying to do too much too soonHow to build critical mass by focusing on a few things and doing them exceptionally wellWhy clarity creates momentum while ambiguity creates tensionHow to lead without becoming addicted to approvalPractical ways to build trust with people who have been hurt by previous church experiencesWhy leadership should be earned through intentional development—not handed out too quicklyHow leadership circles and apprenticeships help build a healthy leadership pipelineThe importance of creating an invitation culture instead of relying on a few big SundaysHow stories and celebration shape the culture of your churchOne of the strongest reminders from our conversation was this: "You can't lead with authority if you're addicted to approval." Every pastor wants to care for people. But caring for people isn't the same as allowing every opinion to determine the direction of your church. Healthy leadership requires the courage to stay clear on the vision God has given you—even when not everyone agrees. If you've ever wrestled with criticism, struggled to stay focused, or wondered how to build a healthier culture in your church, I think this conversation will encourage you and give you practical leadership tools you can use immediately. 👍🏼 Follow us on social media  + Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/church.boom + Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mychurchboom + Website: https://www.churchboom.org 👋 About Us Fly on the Wall Podcast, presented by Church Boom, takes pastors into a live coaching session with Chris Sonksen, CEO & Founder of Church Boom. Each episode features a pastor, just like you, as they share the challenges they face and get practical advice on how to overcome them.

  7. Jul 29

    224 | What Has to Change Before Your Church Can Grow?

    Growth is exciting. But growth also asks something of us. The systems that supported yesterday's ministry often won't sustain tomorrow's. If we want to lead our churches to the next level, we have to be willing to grow before the church does. In Episode 224 of the Fly on the Wall Podcast, I sat down with Pastor Justin for a practical conversation about preparing your church for growth before growth arrives. Because every pastor eventually faces this question: "What needs to change in me and my church before God can trust us with more?" This conversation is full of practical leadership principles for pastors who are ready to move from one season of growth to the next. Here's some of what we unpack: Why every new season of growth requires new structuresThe difference between the nature of your church and the structure that supports itHow to identify the leadership "lids" that can hold your church backWhy the speed of engagement is one of the strongest predictors of healthy church growthHow a simple 90-Day Run can help more people get connected and stay engagedPractical ways to create accountability with your staff around measurable goalsWhy focusing on activities—not just results—produces lasting growthHow to use the 12-Week Year framework to keep your team moving forwardThe importance of surrounding yourself with high-capacity leaders as your church growsOne of the biggest takeaways from the conversation was this reminder: "Focus on the activity, not just the result." Attendance is the outcome. The real work is creating healthy systems that connect people, develop leaders, and move them into the life of the church. When those activities become your focus, healthy growth follows. If your church is growing—or you're believing God for the next season of growth—I think this episode will give you practical tools to help you prepare now for what God wants to do next. 👍🏼 Follow us on social media  + Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/church.boom + Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mychurchboom + Website: https://www.churchboom.org 👋 About Us Fly on the Wall Podcast, presented by Church Boom, takes pastors into a live coaching session with Chris Sonksen, CEO & Founder of Church Boom. Each episode features a pastor, just like you, as they share the challenges they face and get practical advice on how to overcome them.

  8. Jul 22

    223 | Hire for Progress, Not Relief

    One of the biggest leadership mistakes churches make isn't hiring too late. It's hiring for the wrong reason. When ministry gets busy, it's natural to want more help. But adding people simply to relieve pressure isn't the same as building a team that moves the mission forward. In Episode 223 of the Fly on the Wall Podcast, I sat down with Pastor Josh for a practical conversation about developing leaders, building healthy volunteer culture, and knowing when it's actually time to hire another staff member. Because every growing church eventually faces this question: "How do I know when it's time to add another leader?" The answer has less to do with workload and more to do with vision. Here's some of what we unpack: Why every hire should be made for progress—not just reliefHow to know if a new staff member will actually move the ministry forwardThe difference between a calculated risk and an acceptable loss when making hiring decisionsHealthy financial guardrails every growing church should consider before adding staffWhy volunteer appreciation events sometimes struggle with engagement—and how to change thatHow second- and third-level leaders shape the culture of your churchPractical ways to identify and develop future leaders through leadership circlesWhy task should come before team, and team before titleHow to build a leadership pipeline that creates long-term growthOne of the most practical moments in the conversation was this simple principle: "Don't hire for relief. Hire for progress." The real question isn't, "What will this person do for me?" It's, "What will our church be able to accomplish because they're here?" When you begin thinking that way, every staffing decision becomes far more strategic. If you're leading a growing church, developing volunteers, or trying to determine your next staffing move, I think this episode will give you practical tools you can apply immediately. 👍🏼 Follow us on social media  + Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/church.boom + Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mychurchboom + Website: https://www.churchboom.org 👋 About Us Fly on the Wall Podcast, presented by Church Boom, takes pastors into a live coaching session with Chris Sonksen, CEO & Founder of Church Boom. Each episode features a pastor, just like you, as they share the challenges they face and get practical advice on how to overcome them.

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Be a “Fly on the Wall” as Chris Sonksen takes you behind the scenes on a coaching call with a ministry leader. In each episode, you’ll get to hear how a coaching call happens, practical tips on how to grow your ministry, and what it takes to be a healthy leader in today's culture. You'll get to be a "fly on the wall" and listen to a live coaching session between Chris and a church leader like yourself. 

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