The Unstuck Church Podcast with Amy Anderson

Amy Anderson
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  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
The Unstuck Church Podcast with Amy Anderson

With THE UNSTUCK CHURCH PODCAST, we invite you into the real-time conversations our team is having about church leadership every week. Hosted by Amy Anderson, this podcast explores common challenges in ministry and practical steps for tackling them. It’s like getting to be a fly on the wall of our staff meetings. Tune in weekly for: Insights, observations and trends for church leaders from the Unstuck team. Benchmarks in church growth and health from The Unstuck Group’s work serving hundreds churches across North America each year. Practical advice to help you lead your church towards sustained health. We think that after listening to The Unstuck Church Podcast, you’ll want to start these discussions with your own team at your next staff meeting. Add your thoughts to the conversation on social media using #unstuckchurch.

  1. 1D AGO

    How to Not Hate Preaching About Money (feat. Jason Anderson) - Episode 392

    Talking about money in church can feel like walking on eggshells while juggling chainsaws. (Okay, that may be a bit dramatic, but are we wrong?) What if it didn’t have to be that way? In this episode, Pastor Jason Anderson (yes, that Anderson—he’s Amy’s husband and somehow still agreed to be on our podcast!) from Crossroads Church shares how he turned potentially awkward “money talks” into powerful moments of discipleship and life change. From personal stories that build trust to practical strategies that won’t send your congregation running for the exit, Jason breaks down how to tackle one of ministry’s most challenging topics.  Whether you’re a pastor who dreads the annual giving message or a church leader looking to build a culture of generosity, this conversation will help you find your voice on the topic of money. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about what we want from people—it’s about what we want for them.   This Episode is Brought to You By Planning Center: Are you struggling to keep your church organized and connected?   Planning Center is the all-in-one church management software that solves your administrative challenges. You can effortlessly track first-time guests, manage volunteer schedules, and create easy ways for your congregation to get involved—all from a single platform. Whether you need a check-in system, event signups, or an online giving solution, Planning Center helps you nurture your community and keep people connected.   Visit planningcenter.com to get started for free.     Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.

    29 min

  2. APR 9

    Designing a Vision-Minded Funding Plan - Episode 391

    Feeling uneasy when it comes to church finances? You’re not alone. In this week’s episode, Sean and Amy dive deep into something that’s close to their hearts—creating a funding plan that actually supports your church’s vision. We’re not just talking spreadsheets and budgets here (though those are important!). We’re talking about aligning your resources with God’s mission for your church. We’ll explore practical ways to evaluate your current budget, identify gaps between your financial reality and ministry strategies and make meaningful adjustments, even mid-fiscal year. If you’re wrestling with questions about church finances or feeling stuck in your current funding approach, this episode offers the guidance you need to move forward with confidence. Plus, we’ve included a helpful tool for subscribers to put these principles into practice right away.   This Episode is Brought to You By Planning Center: Are you struggling to keep your church organized and connected?   Planning Center is the all-in-one church management software that solves your administrative challenges. You can effortlessly track first-time guests, manage volunteer schedules, and create easy ways for your congregation to get involved—all from a single platform. Whether you need a check-in system, event signups, or an online giving solution, Planning Center helps you nurture your community and keep people connected.   Visit planningcenter.com to get started for free.     Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.

    15 min

  3. APR 2

    Wise and Foolish Church Budgeting - Episode 390

    Budgeting. Giving. Financial health. Money is often a taboo topic in churches. But what if we flipped the script? Money shouldn't be a source of anxiety—it should be a tool for mission. In this new series, Amy and Sean and some special guests will help church leaders develop a healthier relationship with church finances. From practical budgeting strategies to creating a culture of biblical generosity, we'll walk through how to align your financial practices with your ministry vision without the awkwardness that typically accompanies "money talks" in church. In the first episode, Sean and Amy don’t hold back: They make a clear case for the wise way, explaining how churches can budget according to biblical principles instead of the foolish approach many churches take.   This Episode is Brought to You By Planning Center: Are you struggling to keep your church organized and connected? Planning Center is the all-in-one church management software that solves your administrative challenges. You can effortlessly track first-time guests, manage volunteer schedules, and create easy ways for your congregation to get involved—all from a single platform. Whether you need a check-in system, event signups, or an online giving solution, Planning Center helps you nurture your community and keep people connected. Visit planningcenter.com to get started for free.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.

    17 min

  4. MAR 26

    Engaging New People in Their Calling - Episode 389

    It's an oft-overlooked but crucial aspect of retention: engaging people in their calling. In this final episode of our series called "Reach & Retain Strategies," Amy interviews Noah Herrin, lead pastor of Way Church in Nashville, who shares insights from the remarkable journey of growing a church plant to 800 people in just 16 months while primarily reaching Gen Z and Millennials. Noah shares how Way Church is addressing the crisis of meaning and purpose among younger generations through intentional community building and helping people discover their unique contributions to the church's mission.  Listen in to discover: How to create an environment where people can easily discover and use their spiritual gifts Practical strategies for engaging Gen Z and Millennials in church ministry The importance of intentional community building in retention Fresh approaches to digital ministry and social media engagement Ways to remove barriers and create flexible opportunities for service This Episode Is Brought to You by The Church Lawyers: The Church Lawyers’ Client Member program was created for organizations just like yours. Their team of Christian legal professionals are personally called to empower and protect churches, ministries and their leaders to fulfill their mission by providing biblically informed and ministry-focused legal solutions. Whether governance, employment, litigation or other matters, let The Church Lawyers walk alongside you as you navigate legal issues facing your ministry.   Sign up for the The Church Lawyers’ Client Member program today at thechurchlawyers.com. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.

    31 min

  5. MAR 19

    Crafting the Right Next Steps - Episode 388

    In this episode of The Unstuck Church Podcast, Sean and Amy continue their series on reach and retain strategies, featuring a compelling conversation with Doug Dameron from Orchard Church in Brighton, CO, about crafting effective next steps for new attendees. Doug shares how his team transformed their follow-up process, leading to dramatic improvements in engagement—from just 5% of new believers becoming known to over 40% today. This episode also unpacks how the church used their data to drive strategic changes, resulting in a 600% increase in next steps engagement and a 300% growth in people taking action through baptism, community and serving. Listen in to discover:  Why traditional connection methods might be failing your church How small “renovations” to your process can lead to exponential results Practical ways to remove barriers and increase engagement The power of digital follow-ups in discipleship   This Episode Is Brought to You by The Church Lawyers: The Church Lawyers’ Client Member program was created for organizations just like yours. Their team of Christian legal professionals are personally called to empower and protect churches, ministries and their leaders to fulfill their mission by providing biblically informed and ministry-focused legal solutions. Whether governance, employment, litigation or other matters, let The Church Lawyers walk alongside you as you navigate legal issues facing your ministry.     Sign up for the The Church Lawyers’ Client Member program today at thechurchlaywers.com.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.

    30 min

  6. MAR 12

    Leveraging Your Biggest Front Door - Episode 387

    In this episode of The Unstuck Church Podcast, Amy and Sean dive into part two of our conversation on reach and retain strategies, focusing on how churches can leverage their weekend services as effective “front doors” for connecting with new people. From common misses like poor signage and untrained volunteers to practical solutions that create excellent guest experiences, Amy and Sean unpack what’s working (and what isn’t) in churches today. They share insights on creating a clear guest services presence, developing intentional follow-up processes and ensuring weekend experiences connect with both churched and unchurched people. Listen in to learn how your church can create more effective entry points through your weekend services and establish systems that help new people take their next steps toward Christ. Join us for a free webinar on March 13th where we'll dive deeper into proven strategies for reaching and retaining new people in your church. This Episode is Brought to You By The Church Lawyers: The Church Lawyers’ Client Member program was created for organizations just like yours. Their team of Christian legal professionals are personally called to empower and protect churches, ministries and their leaders to fulfill their mission by providing biblically informed and ministry-focused legal solutions. Whether governance, employment, litigation or other matters, let The Church Lawyers walk alongside you as you navigate legal issues facing your ministry.     Sign up for the The Church Lawyers’ Client Member program today at thechurchlaywers.com.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.

    28 min

  7. MAR 5

    Equipping Your Church for the Mission Field - Episode 386

    Frustrated by the persistent tug between pleasing your core people and reaching new guests? In this episode, Sean and Amy explore why reaching new people requires focus and how lack of clarity about who you’re trying to reach leads to ineffective ministry. We’re discussing how churches get stuck trying to be everything to everyone, what Scripture teaches us about having a clear mission field and practical ways to lead your church toward greater effectiveness in reaching the unchurched in your community. If you’re sensing tension between maintaining what’s working for your core and making changes to reach new people, this conversation will give you practical next steps for leading your congregation forward. This Episode is Brought to You By The Church Lawyers: The Church Lawyers’ Client Member program was created for organizations just like yours. Their team of Christian legal professionals are personally called to empower and protect churches, ministries and their leaders to fulfill their mission by providing biblically informed and ministry-focused legal solutions. Whether governance, employment, litigation or other matters, let The Church Lawyers walk alongside you as you navigate legal issues facing your ministry.     Sign up for the The Church Lawyers’ Client Member program today at thechurchlaywers.com.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.

    17 min

  8. FEB 26

    New Data - Q1 2025 Unstuck Church Report - Episode 385

    In this quarter’s edition of The Unstuck Church Report, Amy Anderson unpacks the latest trends showing both encouraging growth and engagement challenges in churches across America. While attendance numbers are increasing, the data reveals churches are grappling with engagement metrics that aren’t keeping pace. From small group participation to per capita giving, the numbers tell a story of churches needing to strengthen their connection systems. Join Sean and Amy as they break down the Q1 2025 data, examining multisite momentum, staffing ratios, financial health indicators and practical steps churches can take to build sustainable growth. Listen below for insights that will help you evaluate your church’s health and chart a course for greater impact. This quarter’s report was sponsored by StudioC: If discipleship is your church’s ultimate Why, engagement is your How. The problem is most churches struggle to extract meaningful insights from their database, leaving leadership teams without the clear picture they need. Most church communication is simply a flood of every message to every person across every channel, leaving your people frustrated and overwhelmed with information. With a deep understanding of ministry needs, StudioC brings the science of personalized engagement to the Church, enabling you to create personalized discipleship journeys at scale. Their two flagship software solutions – ChurchIQ and Member Engagement Solution – help your church unlock the full potential of combining rich data-driven analytics with highly targeted messaging. With StudioC’s software, you can: - Know the macro- and micro-level movements of your people - Match them to their relevant next steps - Tell them through your existing church app See for yourself at thestudioc.org Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.

    28 min
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4.7
out of 5
150 Ratings

About

With THE UNSTUCK CHURCH PODCAST, we invite you into the real-time conversations our team is having about church leadership every week. Hosted by Amy Anderson, this podcast explores common challenges in ministry and practical steps for tackling them. It’s like getting to be a fly on the wall of our staff meetings. Tune in weekly for: Insights, observations and trends for church leaders from the Unstuck team. Benchmarks in church growth and health from The Unstuck Group’s work serving hundreds churches across North America each year. Practical advice to help you lead your church towards sustained health. We think that after listening to The Unstuck Church Podcast, you’ll want to start these discussions with your own team at your next staff meeting. Add your thoughts to the conversation on social media using #unstuckchurch.

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