Center for Congregations Podcast

Melanie Preston joins JC and Matt to share her understanding of how congregations can be healthy organizations. The conversation includes how to define organizational health, the importance of paying attention to burnout, why it's important to develop boundaries and how manipulation can harm a congregation. Matt and JC talk about their experiences working with congregations and the idea of organizational health and share some resources on the topic.ResourcesThis House We Build: Lessons for Healthy Synagogues and the People Who Dwell There (book)5LQ Episode 324: The Advantage Book Breakdown (podcast)The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business (book)Matter of Focus Counseling (Melanie's company)

Dr. Carlos Perkins, Associate Director of Engagement for the Lake Institute on Faith Faith and Giving joins Dr. Terrance Bridges and Matt Burke to discuss generosity. The conversation contains helpful definitions of generosity, reframing faith and giving and some practical tips.Resourceshttps://lakeinstitute.org/https://events.iu.edu/philanthropy/https://lakeinstitute.org/resources/faithful-generosity-story-shelf/https://henrinouwen.org/read/a-spirituality-of-fundraising/https://litpress.org/Products/3766/Imagining-Abundancehttps://thecrg.org/resources/Rambam_s_Ladder_A_Meditation_on_Generosity_and_Why_It_is_Necessary_to_Givehttps://thecrg.org/resources/Local_Church_Planned_Giving_Manual

Dr. William Cooke, MD. was practicing in a small rural community when a health crisis broke out. He joins Abby and Matt to talk about how various community stakeholders, including congregations, stepped up to aid those in need.ResourcesSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (organization)Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (visual aid)Canary in the Coal Mine: A Forgotten Rural Community, a Hidden Epidemic, and a Lone Doctor Battling for the Life, Health, and Soul of the People (book)Canary in the Coal Mine Facebook GroupIndiana Community Foundations (website) National Community Foundation Locator (website)

Digital marketing consultant Tim Campbell-Smith and digital marketing trainer Kaeli Sweigard join Shellie and Matt to talk about social media and congregations. This dynamic conversation will help any congregation whether they are just getting started or are social media veterans.Find Tim on the socials @timcampbellsms.Find Kaeli on the socials @kaelisweigardResourceshttps://timcampbellstrategist.com (Tim's website)https://kaelisweigard.com/ (Kaeli's website)Discipls.io (organization)Social Media for Churches: 8 Best Strategies (article)16 Inspiring Ways to Build a Community on Social Media (article)

Rev. Dr. Quincy McGhee, Senior Pastor of Lifeway Bible Fellowship and Grants Administrator for Associated Churches of Allen County, joins Abby and Matt to talk about his experiences regarding fundraising. Rev. McGhee helps to redefine how we approach needs: both our own and those in the community around us.ResourcesThe Kaleidoscope Institute (organization)Indiana Community Foundations (webpage)Council on Foundations Community Foundation Locator (webpage)

Join Center for Congregations staff Dr. JC Campbell, Dr. Terrance Bridges, Rev. Shellie Riggs Jordan and Matt Burke as they discuss their work with congregations and what we can all learn from what's happening around the state of Indiana. Dr. Campbell and Dr. Bridges both share about recent situations with congregations from which we can take hope, learning and resources.ResourcesThe Congregational Resource Guide (The CRG; web resource)Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church by Mark DeYmaz (book)How to Plant a Church: A Guide to Successful Startups (article)Building God's Way (BGW; organization)

Rev. Lisa Cole Smith, Founding Pastor and Artistic Director of Convergence Church in Alexandria, Virginia, joins JC and Matt to talk about how her congregation weaves aesthetics and the arts into the life of their congregation and community. Rev. Smith discusses the origins of their congregation, the trajectory of their ministry, and how congregations can be more intentional about their aesthetics, facilities and creativity.ResourcesVisual Arts and Worship (web resource) For the Beauty of the Church: Casting a Vision for the Arts (book)Convergence (organization)Be, Make, Do (podcast)

Rev. Brad Thie, from Duke Divinity School, discusses thriving rural congregations. Topics include community ties, strengths of congregations, importance of pastor well-being, mental health resources, and prolonging pastor tenures for church growth.

Expert Jason Moore from Midnight Oil Productions discusses the integration of Artificial Intelligence in congregational settings, emphasizing the importance of caution and balance. Topics include AI's role in creative processes, music creation, ethical considerations, and the need for human oversight in AI applications.

Lenmarie Pascall, Director of Coaching at Urban Youth Workers Institute, joins Shellie Riggs Jordan and Matt Burke of the Center for Congregations for an insightful discussion on youth ministry. Lenmarie asserts that urban culture is increasingly shaping the broader youth culture landscape, emphasizing the importance for parents and leaders to grasp how to support youth in flourishing within these environments.ResourcesUrban Youth Workers Institute (organization) The Youth Cartel (organization) - Mark OestreicherThe Center for Parent/Youth Understanding (organization)