Rainer on Leadership Thom Rainer

https://youtu.be/-oeOYpOiAiU



Don't finish summer without a plan to engage your church and community with a big fall programming launch. Thom and Sam discuss some ways to lift fall attendance in your church through simple communication channels. Any size church can have a great start to the fall season!







Play into the natural cultural rhythms of the back-to-school emphasis.

Align all ministries for a specific invite launch day on Wednesday and Sunday.

Provide extra hospitality on these days with an expectation of more guests.

Have a big promotion Sunday push (even adults!).

Create a text-to-church communication channel.

Send a special digital newsletter to everyone.

Use short links and landing pages on the website.







Resources:



* Upward Sports





* California Baptist University





* Church Answers Central





The Everything Church Resource Directory





* The Hope Initiative





* Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector



Episode Sponsors:



Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.  Upward Sports offers basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball and softball through league and camp offerings.



At Upward Sports, we want to help your church make a difference, and give you increased opportunities to share the gospel. By the way, it's not too early to start thinking about winter sports leagues at your church. Learn more today at Upward.org/ChurchAnswers.



**As a partner of Rainer on Leadership, Upward Sports is offering a $500 sports start up grant to listeners. Head over to Upward.org/ChurchAnswers and schedule a call… tell them we sent you! Your sports grant will assist you in a 2024 LEAGUE!









Does your church staff have the skills needed to ensure the church succeeds? Have you thought about who in your church is prepared to step into leadership? Do you have staff members who would benefit from furthering their education?

California Baptist University is an option for you and your staff! CBU offers more than three dozen undergraduate and graduate degrees online – all of which can be completed from anywhere in the world.

One of these programs is Organizational Leadership. This program helps develop the managerial skills necessary to lead effectively and broaden professional horizons.

 This online program is designed with the working professional in mind. It will equip you with sought-after leadership skills that are essential to the success of you and your staff.

Classes for the Organizational Leadership bachelor’s degree include the topics of exercising influence, complex problem solving, teamwork, decision making and conflict management.

You’ll learn to excel and manage in the workplace while integrating ethical principles and integrity to strengthen the foundation of your company.

Professors bring practical, applicable working knowledge into the classroom, while incorporating biblical principles of leadership.

Classes start every eight weeks,

https://youtu.be/OTcIKyOPfuc



A time existed when both Thom and Sam wondered if the mid-size church would dwindle as people transferred into megachurches and planted new churches. Today, mid-size churches have distinct advantages. The co-hosts cover several reasons why mid-size churches have new opportunities to thrive.







The megachurch movement is waning with the aging of the Baby Boomer generation.

Smaller churches will always have an appeal and a place in God's kingdom.

What size is a "mid-size" church? Around 150-300 people on at least 3-7 acres with a campus large enough to accommodate everyone.

Mid-size church campuses are large enough to accommodate growth but small enough not to be overcome by deferred maintenance.

Mid-size churches have enough people to build momentum with full programming for all ages.

Mid-size churches typically have enough funds to afford one or two full-time staff members.

Mid-size churches with good children's programs are appealing to Millennials.

Mid-size churches can focus on the immediate neighborhood in ways a large, regional church cannot.







Resources:



* California Baptist University





* Upward Sports





* Brown Church Development Group





Get your FREE eBook, Deferred Maintenance





* “The Surprising Return of the Neighborhood Church” by Sam Rainer





* Church Answers Central





The Everything Church Resource Directory





* The Hope Initiative





* Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector



Episode Sponsors:









Does your church staff have the skills needed to ensure the church succeeds? Have you thought about who in your church is prepared to step into leadership? Do you have staff members who would benefit from furthering their education?

California Baptist University is an option for you and your staff! CBU offers more than three dozen undergraduate and graduate degrees online – all of which can be completed from anywhere in the world.

One of these programs is Organizational Leadership. This program helps develop the managerial skills necessary to lead effectively and broaden professional horizons.

 This online program is designed with the working professional in mind. It will equip you with sought-after leadership skills that are essential to the success of you and your staff.

Classes for the Organizational Leadership bachelor’s degree include the topics of exercising influence, complex problem solving, teamwork, decision making and conflict management.

You’ll learn to excel and manage in the workplace while integrating ethical principles and integrity to strengthen the foundation of your company.

Professors bring practical, applicable working knowledge into the classroom, while incorporating biblical principles of leadership.

Classes start every eight weeks, so students can get started any time.

* Visit calbaptist.edu to learn more.

https://youtu.be/8tGfeL89C9k



Thom and Sam welcome Marc Estes, co-founder of VisitorReach. Marc has a passion for equipping leaders, strengthening churches, and empowering outreach through kingdom innovation. They talk about new trends and opportunities to get people to visit churches in a post-pandemic world.







Receptivity to the church since the pandemic.

Reluctancy for people to visit an in-person church service?

One of the most effective places for churches reaching people?

Rapid shifts in technology for churches to reach people.

The innovation called VisitorReach.







Resources:



* Upward Sports





* California Baptist University





VisitorReach





* Church Answers Central





The Everything Church Resource Directory





* The Hope Initiative





* Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector



Episode Sponsors:



Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.  Upward Sports offers basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball and softball through league and camp offerings.



At Upward Sports, we want to help your church make a difference, and give you increased opportunities to share the gospel. By the way, it's not too early to start thinking about winter sports leagues at your church. Learn more today at Upward.org/ChurchAnswers.



**As a partner of Rainer on Leadership, Upward Sports is offering a $500 sports start up grant to listeners. Head over to Upward.org/ChurchAnswers and schedule a call… tell them we sent you! Your sports grant will assist you in a 2024 LEAGUE!









Did you know that fewer than 20% of Southern Baptists have a bachelor’s degree? That is according to a past Pew Research study. How can this be combated and how can we prepare our churches for the future? California Baptist University has a solution. CBU offers a full breadth of courses through its online degree programs.

Whether you’re looking to start your degree, finish your degree, or prepare leaders in your church for advancement opportunities, CBU’s degree programs provide a flexible, online learning environment. Classes start every eight weeks, so you can begin any time.

An online degree can:



Help you gain a better understanding of your life’s purpose;

Symbolize competence and integrity in your career; and

Provide you with the skills and knowledge to make a difference in the lives of others.





Your team may benefit from a degree in business, leadership, finance, communications or Christian studies. There are dozens of online degrees available to you! The online Bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministries develops servant leaders with the tools for understanding and communicating biblical truths. This degree prepares students for active leadership roles in the church, parachurch and Christian organizations.

Financial aid is available, and thanks to CBU donors, online undergraduate degrees in Christian Ministries and Christian St...

https://youtu.be/G4TY1mcLBh0



Presidential election years can be especially contentious, and this year will be no exception. Thom and Sam discuss how church leaders can manage the tension in ways that are helpful to the church body.



Four prevailing views of politics and the church:







Churches should embrace politics.

Churches should use politics.

Churches should avoid politics.

Churches should condemn politics.







You likely have a wide spectrum of views in your church. Remember, you always represent your church.







* Avoid endorsing individual candidates from the pulpit.

* Avoid debates on social media.

* Avoid being co-opted into polarizing political movements.

* Don’t fear being patriotic and using political examples in sermons.

* Use cultural events like July 4th to unite rather than divide.

* Use biblical language rather than political rhetoric.

* People can tell when you are genuinely convicted and sincere.







Resources:



* California Baptist University





* Upward Sports





Know My Community Politics Report - Coming soon!





* Church Answers Central





The Everything Church Resource Directory





* The Hope Initiative





* Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector



Episode Sponsors:









Did you know that fewer than 20% of Southern Baptists have a bachelor’s degree? That is according to a past Pew Research study. How can this be combated and how can we prepare our churches for the future? California Baptist University has a solution. CBU offers a full breadth of courses through its online degree programs.

Whether you’re looking to start your degree, finish your degree, or prepare leaders in your church for advancement opportunities, CBU’s degree programs provide a flexible, online learning environment. Classes start every eight weeks, so you can begin any time.

An online degree can:



Help you gain a better understanding of your life’s purpose;

Symbolize competence and integrity in your career; and

Provide you with the skills and knowledge to make a difference in the lives of others.





Your team may benefit from a degree in business, leadership, finance, communications or Christian studies. There are dozens of online degrees available to you! The online Bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministries develops servant leaders with the tools for understanding and communicating biblical truths. This degree prepares students for active leadership roles in the church, parachurch and Christian organizations.

Financial aid is available, and thanks to CBU donors, online undergraduate degrees in Christian Ministries and Christian Studies may qualify for additional scholarship, making earning your degree more affordable.

Visit calbaptist.edu to learn more.









Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.

https://youtu.be/ahajr1DNchc



More churches are stunned when confronted with a major facility cost. They did not take care of the need, and they set aside funds for the need. Thom discusses this issue with Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group. They are “The Church Facility Experts.”







When the roof comes down.

HVAC is more than an acronym.

Drainage and water issues are foundational problems.

Plumbing and electrical systems: a shocking problem.

Flooring lifespan.

Parking lots.







Resources:



* Brown Church Development Group





* How Do You Build a Church Facility Design for Ministry?





* Church Health Scorecard





* Calvary Church (Muscatine)





* Why the Exterior of Your Church Facility Is Important for Growth With Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group





* Is Your Church Facility Really Safe? With Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group



Episode Sponsor:

https://youtu.be/0QFhhBQzhv8



Many church leaders do not think much about the safety of their church facilities. Safety issues are essential to protecting those who come to our churches. Thom discusses this issue with Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.”







Overall strategic safety concerns.

Safety for children.

Accessibility concerns.

Asbestos and lead paint concerns.

Mold growth concerns.

Fire safety systems concerns.







Resources:



* Brown Church Development Group





* How Do You Build a Church Facility Design for Ministry?





* “Make My Church Safe” by Sam Rainer





* Why the Exterior of Your Church Facility Is Important for Growth With Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group





* The Big Things That Can Go Wrong with Your Church Facilities With Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group



Episode Sponsor: