The Church Office

Dan Steel is a former market researcher who transitioned into pastoral ministry and has been involved in church planting for over twenty-five years. In this podcast Dan and Gavin talk about his new book "Wise Church Planting: Twelve Pitfalls to Avoid in Starting New Churches," In the book Dan examines the common challenges that cause nearly a third of new churches to falter within four years. Drawing from interviews with 80 church planters across 27 countries, he identifies internal issues such as character flaws, disunity, and misaligned priorities, as well as external obstacles like opposition and unmet needs. Hope you enjoy the podcast.

In this podcast Gavin interviews Pete Greasley one of the founding Elders at Christchurch in Newport. Pete has served in Pastoral Ministry for 40 years and has a wealth of knowledge and experience. Gavin and Pete talk about enjoying the gospel, not taking your self too seriously and finish their discussion by talking about building teams and having a diversity of different gifting. We hope you enjoy the conversation. To find out more about Christchurch please check out their website: www.christchurchnewport.co.uk   To find out more about the church office please check out www.thechurchoffice.co.uk  

In this enlightening discussion, Pete Grizzly, a ministry veteran with 40 years of experience, sheds light on the often tricky topic of pastor compensation. He explores challenges pastors face in securing fair salaries, emphasizing the significance of transparency in salary negotiations. Pete highlights the need for structured benchmarks to eliminate bias and advocates for better financial support for pastors, including housing and retirement benefits. The conversation also dives into the often-overlooked contributions of pastors' spouses and the importance of budgeting for sustainable pastoral care.

"One of the things that struck me about Matt during our conversation was his wonderful heart to serve leaders in Christian Ministry." Gavin recently had the joy of sitting down with Matt Waldock, co-pastor of City Church Manchester and UK Gospel Coaching Director. If you have not heard of Gospel Coaching then this is a really good introduction into what it is and the benefits of having a gospel coach. https://www.cmmnet.org/pages/uk  

Join Gavin and John wright, the Operations Manager at Frinton Free Church, as they talk through the first part of the 2024 Check-in survey. They enjoyed talking through the results that related to the pressure points that admin and Ops roles faced this year and where people had experience grace at work in their churches. During the podcast John also shares a little bit about his experience of partnering with UCAN (UK Church Administrators Network). We hope you enjoy the podcast.

In this Episode Gavin talks to Lourens Du Plessis from Stewardship who leads the team that guide and strengthen churches and Christian charities with their governance and finances. It was great to talk to Lourens about the challenges that churches are facing in the area of good governance. It was also a joy to talk about the gift of administration and how effective it can be in a local church. We hope you enjoy todays podcast.  www.stewardship.org.uk  

This session dives into the most common pitfalls of church finances. It stresses the importance of having skilled individuals involved in budgeting. The conversation highlights the challenges of outdated financial systems and the need for modernized practices. Listeners discover how enhanced financial reporting can aid decision-making and transparency. The hosts also discuss simplifying financial processes to boost team engagement and the crucial role of treasurers in maintaining financial health.

In this podcast, Phil Swann, the Pastor at Llanelli Free Evangelical Church in West Wales, shares a little bit about his experience of buying a new church building in just three weeks! It's a wonderful story of adventurous faith and God's wonderful provision. We absolutely love having Phil on the podcast and enjoy his passion for the gospel and reaching the lost. To find out more about the church please check out their website: https://www.lfec.org/about/building-project  

Owen Gilham, the Operations Manager for Danbury Mission with a background in education and theatre, shares insights into the behind-the-scenes work of church management. He discusses the importance of policies and procedures for smoother operations. Owen highlights the challenges of adding a new Sunday service and the coordination it entails. The conversation also touches on the vital role of governance and the necessity of support structures for smaller congregations, emphasizing collaboration for effective ministry.

How do we make best use of our buildings for the gospel? Rich Spens has spent many years working behind the scenes at Kings Cross Church in London trying to think this through and put it into action. Listen in as he chats with Gavin about how he's managing and developing his church, including an idea to take the church roof off!