The One Thing

Everyone is talking about hitting a 5% conversion rate but who's actually doing it? Our latest survey of 85 churches across 10 denominations shows the numbers are better than expected. This episode breaks down what’s working, what’s stalling, and what churches are missing in their mission efforts.Church plants are punching above their weight and why they lead in conversionsGrowth stalls between 200–400 people and how to break through itMore small groups and serving won’t fix your mission problemWhy size of your church, not age, might be dragging your evangelism downReal stories behind the stats: who’s walking into church and finding faithTOOL BOX:Reach Australia National ConferenceEp 391 10 Denominations, 60 Churches, 1 Report: Key TakeawaysSlidesLeadership Development ProgramCREDITS:This episode was brought to you by TrellisThe One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠Support Reach Australia's online library

Church Management Software (CMS) has become an essential tool for church ministry and it can do far more than store data, so the real question is how to choose one that best strengthens your ministry?Toby Neal shows how the right platform can shape workflows to help move your church forward, what you should be looking for in a church management system, how to make your choice, and what to avoid if you’re switching.Key pointsHow Toby tested whether a platform actually supported ministry or simply stored dataThe deal breaker features that ruled systems in or outsThe hard parts of changing platforms, and what to expect in the first three monthsHow aesthetics matterTOOLBOX:Ep 405 Church database nightmares and how to avoid themRejoice and Tremble by Michael ReevesChurch Management Systems mentioned:Planning CentreFluroTithe.lyChurchSuiteToby's list of checks:Name tags and checkin processAutomated workflows (care, connect, explore, serve) from forms, from attendance, from tagAll in one Robust registrations for eventsGroups that remind leaders to mark attendanceMetrics and dashboardsWorkflowsAutomationsGiving integrated with database rather than tithely and xero. tax statements that can be sent and can integrate bank info from xero.Robust system, apps work, online, speed, bugsCalendar for managing room bookings, venue hireFormsClean easy to use aestheticBig company, unlikely to be sold or close down.Manages duplicates wellSecureCREDITS:This episode was brought to you by EA InsuranceThe One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠Support Reach Australia's online library

Nobody signs up for ministry to get excited about governance but ignore it, and you'll end up running in circles. In this episode we dive into the practical side of governance in ministry, why it matters for healthy church growth, and how to navigate common roadblocks.How governance and ecclesiology interact, and why your church DNA matters from the startWhen decision-making structures hinder ministry rather than support itLitmus tests for spotting governance issues, including meetings, budget allocation, and leadership capacityHow to decentralise responsibility effectively while staying faithful to your theological convictionsPractical strategies for legal compliance, staffing, and resource management to support growthTOOLBOX:The Elder-Led Church by Murray CapillA Church Consult -> (Reach Australia's Church Consult)CREDITS:This episode was brought to you by Lending Hands Mortgage BrokersThe One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠Support Reach Australia's online library

If the emotional side of ministry keeps catching you off guard, it’s worth paying attention to what that might reveal about your own emotional intelligence. Scott Sanders and Jo Gibbs look at the practical side of emotional intelligence, why it matters for everyday ministry, and what gets in the way of developing it.What low EQ looks like in normal, everyday interactionsHow a leader’s reactions influence the tone of a teamWhy some ministry cultures downplay emotions and how that limits growthWays to spot your own physical and behavioural cues under pressureA simple framework for restoring a relationship after you’ve handled something poorlyTOOLBOX:Ep 330 Why EQ is the Edge Every Leader Needs (Part 1) by Pete StedmanEp 331 Why EQ is the Edge Every Leader Needs (Part 2) by Pete StedmanEmotional Intelligence by Daniel GolemanEmotional Intelligence 2.0 by Dr. Travis Bradberry and Dr. Jean GreavesCREDITS:This episode was brought to you by QuizworxThe One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠Support Reach Australia's online library

When your senior pastor isn’t leading — or at least, not leading well — what should you actually do? Today we drill into that tension without sugarcoating it. It’s not just about calling someone out, but about understanding yourself, your role, and how to navigate tricky dynamics without blowing things up or burning out.How your own wiring shapes the frustration you feelClear signs of an actual leadership gap, not just normal frictionWhy senior leaders may stall under pressureThe unavoidable paradoxes built into second-chair rolesHow to challenge a call without turning it personalWhen and how to raise concerns so the conversation stays productiveTOOLBOX:Leading from the Second Chair by Mike Bonem and Roger PattersonHow to Lead When You’re Not in Charge by Clay ScrogginsPaul Harrington’s talk on Humility in Team Ministry Part 1Paul Harrington’s talk on Humility in Team Ministry Part 2Team Development ProgramCREDITS:This episode was brought to you by Safe Ministry CheckThe One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠Support Reach Australia's online library

Public prayer often gets treated like a warm-up act in church. But what if it’s one of the most spiritually potent moments in the whole service? Natalie Ray wants us to stop coasting and start leading prayers that actually lead.Why public prayer is often flat — and how to fix itWhat changes when we treat prayer as intercession, not narrationThe real reason your church probably struggles with prayerHow the Lord’s Prayer can reshape more than just the words we sayNatalie leads the Magnification and Maturity ministries at Toongabbie Anglican ChurchTOOL BOX:Prayerfulness by Peter AdamPreparing to Lead Intercessions in Church by Peter AdamBe Thou My Vision by Jonathan GibsonOperation WorldEvery Moment HolyCREDITS:This episode was brought to you by YouthworksThe One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠Support Reach Australia's online library

Acronyms might save time, but are they costing us people? Dominic Steele wants pastors to rethink their acronym addiction — not just because it’s annoying, but because it is anti-gospel.Why church leaders cling to acronyms that no one understandBiblical principles that challenge coded languageHow acronyms can quietly push people away from churchThe hidden arrogance behind insider shorthandPractical ways to audit your church’s insider languageDominic is the senior pastor of Village Church in Annandale and the host of The Pastors Heart.TOOL BOX:Reach Australia DigitalThe Pastors HeartDo an audit of your ministry today!CREDITS:This episode was brought to you by TrellisThe One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠Support Reach Australia's online library

Most ministry teams don’t fall apart because of conflict. They often drift because people stop showing up — in body, heart, or prayer.In this episode, Dave Moore talks about what helps teams become healthy, dependable, and deeply Christian. He unpacks the four things that make a team worth being part of — the kind that actually helps people follow Jesus together.In this episode:The four things every team needs to get rightThe quiet crisis of people in ministry who’ve stopped showing upWhat happens when Christians act like Christians in conflict and frustrationWhy your team needs a prayer, not just a vision statementHow one personality tool helped a team move from endless “I wonder…” meetings to real progressDave Moore became a Christian through SRE at primary school. Dave is the Executive Pastor at Hunter Bible Church in Newcastle. He is also an author and the Founding Director of Safe Ministry Check online.TOOL BOX:The Team Member’s Handbook by Dave MooreThe Team Leader’s Handbook by Dave MooreEpisode 393 Handing Volunteer Team Leaders Responsibility with Dave MooreCREDITS:This episode was brought to you by Safe Ministry CheckThe One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠Support Reach Australia's online library

Young men are trickling back into churches, but are they here to stay — and are we ready for them? Steve McAlpine joins to unpack the subtle but significant shifts in cultural currents and what churches must rethink to disciple a new kind of Christian convert.Key points:Why Google searches for “Bible” and “Christianity” are spiking — and what it might mean.The end of nominalism and the rise of “full-fat” faith.What young men are really looking for when they show up at church.Why Sunday attendance and midweek group aren’t enough.The critical role of Christian households in modeling a different life.Why tone, not just truth, matters more than ever.Stephen McAlpine worked as a National Communicator for City Bible Forum, and was also pastoring a church in Perth. He has degrees in journalism and theology and enjoys combining the two through writing and blogging, especially on matters of church planting and cultural negotiation for Christians in the increasingly complex West.TOOL BOX:Disruptive Witness by Alan NobleYou Are Not Your Own by Alan NobleFirst Things – journal of religion and public life“Full Fat Faith” article by James Marriott (The Times, UK)Wes Huff – Christian apologist (his YouTube channel)Questioning Christianity by Dan PatersonStephen's Substack  – a great place to start working through a platform for cultural commentary and analysisCREDITS:This episode was brought to you by TrellisThe One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠Support Reach Australia's online library

AI is knocking at the church door. Do we let it in? We debate that topic today with Emma Wilkins and Paul Matthews as they wrestle with how pastors and gospel workers can engage with AI.AI is knocking at the church door. Do we let it in? We debate that topic right here today, hear arguments from both Emma Wilkins and Paul Matthews as they wrestle with how pastors and gospel workers can engage with AI.Highlights:Healthy debate on AI’s benefits and risksConcerns about replacing human creativity and relationshipsAI as a tool for translation, accessibility, and teachingThe importance of pastoral transparency and trustCalling churches to keep teaching what it means to be humanPaul Matthews is a teacher, AI tech founder and consultant. He is a regular keynote speaker for education conferences, Ed Tech festivals, and spoke at TEDxHobart in 2024.Emma Wilkins is Tasmanian journalist and freelance writer. Emma is also an Associate for the Centre for Public Christianity, and serves on the AFES (Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students) board of directors. She attends Crossroads Presbyterian Church.TOOL BOX:Five Lies of the AI World by Paul MatthewsMade in Our Image by Stephen DriscollTOT Ep 398 on Sunflower AI technologyArticles on managing AI change and discipleshipPaul’s TEDx talkCREDITS:This episode was brought to you by Stanton DahlThe One Thing is brought to you by ⁠⁠Reach Australia⁠⁠To pray for Reach Australia, join our ⁠⁠WhatsApp Group⁠⁠For ideas or questions please email ⁠⁠resources@reachaustralia.com.au⁠⁠Support Reach Australia's online library