The Church Office

Introducing.....James Lawrence!   Gavin had the joy of sitting down with James to talk about the work of the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS) and how we can support Church Leaders in their roles in our churches.   To find out more about CPAS, head to: https://www.cpas.org.uk/  

Gavin Smith, a seasoned church manager with over 21 years of experience and founder of The Church Office, shares his insights on church administration and management. He discusses his unexpected transition from a football career to ministry, highlighting how the pandemic inspired his mission to support church administrators. Gavin emphasizes the importance of aligning a church's vision with its resources and the vital role of practical administrative work in ministry. He also explores how AI can streamline church operations and introduces his new courses and services.

Scott Sanders, Executive Director at Reach Ministries Australia, shares his extensive experience in church planting and revitalization. He discusses the unique leadership challenges faced during church growth, emphasizing the importance of adaptive systems and team-based serving. Scott introduces his innovative 'wonder document' approach for articulating vision and planning growth with practical examples. He also highlights the necessity of fostering a supportive coaching culture and transforming leadership practices to ensure vibrant, multiplying churches.

In our latest episode Gavin sits down with a good friend of The Church Office, Dave Harvey, to discuss his new book 'The Clay Pot Conspiracy'. Listen in as Gavin and Dave talk through the clay pot conspiracy, the joys and struggles of working in ministry and how God uses us in our weakness. We thoroughly enjoyed the Clay Pot Conspiracy, you can grab your own copy now on Amazon, Eden and 10ofThose.

John Truscott, a data collection expert and friend of The Church Office, discusses the importance of using data for mission-driven decisions. He shares top tips for effective data collection and insights from the Quiet Revival report. The conversation explores church attendance metrics, data-driven growth strategies, and the impact of grassroots initiatives on community support. Truscott also highlights the significance of bridging generational gaps in congregations and evolving trends in church giving, emphasizing genuine discipleship and engagement.

Andy Geers is back! Gavin had the delight of chatting to Andy last year about PrayerMate and this time we invited him back to share about the exciting The Serpent & The Seed app that's just launched. With a real heart to reach people who don't know the Bible, here's how they would describe it: "Walk through the pages of scripture, take in the beautiful sights and sounds, and along the way you may just discover your own place in the universe and the only source of lasting hope." Listen in to find out more! You can find out more here:  

Join Gavin and Jon Wright, Operations Manager at Frinton Free Church, as they reflect on their experience at the recent UCAN National Conference. In this episode, they share highlights from the main teaching sessions, personal takeaways, and the encouragement they found in gathering with fellow church administrators and managers from across the UK. It was a real joy to connect with others in similar roles, share stories, and be reminded of the value and impact of church administration. Whether you attended the conference or not, this conversation offers insight, inspiration, and a glimpse into the heart behind church administration.

Gavin was thrilled to recently speak with Pelé Ling, Communications and Creative Director at All Souls, Langham Place. Listen in as Pelé talks about relaunching free English classes at their church a few years ago and shares the success this rebranding has had in creating opportunities to tell people about Jesus. (He also talked about their Christmas plans which Gavin LOVED- only 23 weeks to go!!)

Christian Safeguarding Services' Paul Harrison joins Gavin to talk through 5 common challenges with safeguarding in churches: 1. Poor governance 2. Low standards 3. Conflicts of interest 4. Not raising low level concerns 5. Lack of professional curiosity   We absolutely loved learning from Paul and are so grateful for his time and expertise. This is definitely an hour well spent! If you'd like to learn more about Christian Safeguarding Services, head to: https://thecss.co.uk/

Meet Emma Joseph, the Operations Manager at The Globe Church in London, who crafts sustainable rhythms of church life. The conversation dives into unexpected paths in church administration and the critical role of community connections. Emma shares her insights on the dynamics of working in a small church office, emphasizing teamwork and open communication. They tackle the challenges of fluctuating attendance and highlight the significance of embracing one’s gifts within the church community. It’s a vibrant discussion about fostering engagement and collaboration!