Healthy Creative Ministry

Matt Curtis

Lunchtime Heroes is on a quest to help your church build a healthy creative ministry. The Healthy Creative Ministry podcast will help you learn what it takes to bridge the gap between a creative mindset and a ministry mindset, navigate common tensions creative ministries face, and build a creative ministry that won't burn you out. If you believe having a healthy creative ministry is possible, this podcast will help you get there. 

  1. MAR 16

    3 ways to end the chaos in church communications

    What’s your question about communications? If you've ever felt like you're running from one last-minute project to the next, you're not alone. Church communications is genuinely chaotic for a lot of teams. In this episode, I'm sharing three practical things you can do to change that. But first, I want to be upfront about something: these aren't problems you can solve on your own. I know that's not what some of you want to hear, but I tried the solo approach for years and it just leads to frustration and burnout. These solutions require leadership buy-in. The 3 Systems That Reduce Chaos in Healthy Creative Ministry 1. A Standard Event Planning Timeline Here's something I realized after a few years in ministry: we do the same events every year. The fall kickoff, the volunteer party, the graduation event… over and over. None of these events should surprise us. Yet almost without fail, they do. When you define how to plan events at your church and put it in a document, every team knows what they need and when they need it.  2. A Standard Promotional Plan A promotional plan answers the question: *what are we promoting over the next 90 days?* Not everything can get the same level of promotion. A promotional plan helps you elevate the events that are most connected to the mission of the church right now. 3. A Standard for Event Promotion This one is different from the promotional plan. The promotional plan answers what gets promoted. The standard for event promotion answers how promotion happens. Instead of reinventing the wheel every time someone asks for help with their event, you build tiered packages. Tier one events get the full treatment. Tier two events get a defined, smaller package. Everyone knows what they're getting before they even ask. A Word to Leadership If a creative on your team sent you this episode, I'm glad you're here. Your communications staff needs structure and systems, but they don't always have the authority to implement them on their own. This is an invitation to partner with them. Resources Mentioned - 7 Ways You Need to Grow Your Leadership as a Creative in the Church - Episode 101: Why Is Church Communications So Lonely? - Event Planning Timeline Template - Promotional Plan Case Study: See the case study - Healthy Communications Ministry Blueprint Course - Book: Watch Your Language | (Affiliate link) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lunchtime Heroes exists to help you build a healthy creative ministry. Here's how: Join the Christian Creative group on Skool Learn how to bridge the gap between creatives and leadership with the book, Watch Your Language! Get in-the-trenches help for critical seasons with Interim Communications Leadership.

    31 min
  2. 08/04/2025

    What it means to be a Christian creative

    What’s your question about communications? If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to grow as a Christian creative, this episode will give you some clarity. In episode 100 (!), I share why I’m merging my two communities (church staff creatives and freelance creatives) into one: The Christian Creative. After expanding my coaching to include more than creative ministry, I’ve realized that Christian creatives are having the same conversations. The challenges we face aren’t just about our job titles... they’re about the tension between faith and creativity. Here’s what you’ll take away: A new way to see your creativity as a vehicle for spiritual growthWhy your frustrations might come from being a creative, not just your roleHow spiritual and creative development often get separated and what happens when they’re brought back togetherWhat I’m building next, and how you can be part of itIf you’re trying to grow in your craft and your faith but keep running into roadblocks, the Christian creative group is a great next step for you. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lunchtime Heroes exists to help you build a healthy creative ministry. Here's how: Join the Christian Creative group on Skool Learn how to bridge the gap between creatives and leadership with the book, Watch Your Language! Get in-the-trenches help for critical seasons with Interim Communications Leadership.

    24 min
  3. 12/16/2024

    The 7 Types of Rest Every Church Creative Needs This Christmas

    What’s your question about communications? As a church creative, I’ve been through my share of Christmas chaos: long hours, last-minute changes, and the overwhelming pressure to get everything done perfectly. But what I’ve learned through seasons like this is that not all rest is created equal. In this episode, I share what I’ve learned about the seven areas of rest and how they’ve helped me stay healthy and effective in ministry. This isn’t about a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s about recognizing the areas where you need rest the most. Whether it’s stepping back from sensory overload or finding ways to restore your creative well, understanding how to rest intelligently is one way you can maintain health through Christmas. This conversation is part of what I teach in the Healthy Creative Ministry Cohort, designed to help church creatives like you find ways to love what you do and last in ministry. If you’re feeling overwhelmed this Christmas, this episode is for you. 7 types of rest—physical, creative, spiritual, emotional, sensory, social, and mental. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Lunchtime Heroes exists to help you build a healthy creative ministry. Here's how: Join the Christian Creative group on Skool Learn how to bridge the gap between creatives and leadership with the book, Watch Your Language! Get in-the-trenches help for critical seasons with Interim Communications Leadership.

    22 min
5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Lunchtime Heroes is on a quest to help your church build a healthy creative ministry. The Healthy Creative Ministry podcast will help you learn what it takes to bridge the gap between a creative mindset and a ministry mindset, navigate common tensions creative ministries face, and build a creative ministry that won't burn you out. If you believe having a healthy creative ministry is possible, this podcast will help you get there.