Rainer on Leadership

Thom interviews Sam about safe churches. This podcast has vital information about your church. You need to find out if your church is really a safe place. What was your motivation for writing Make My Church Safe? How is church safety a spiritual issue? How can we mitigate the risks of ministry? How do you secure the church’s physical campus? Why do we hear more about child abuse in churches than in the past? Resources: Rooted Upward Running Brown Church Development Group Safe Church Training “Make My Church Safe: A Guide to the Best Practices to Protect Children and Secure Your Congregation from Harm” by Sam Rainer (affiliate link) Church Answers Platinum Membership FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights The Hope Initiative Episode Sponsors: The Rooted experience can help you create a discipleship culture that connects your people and leads to ongoing life change in Jesus. Rooted is… A proven plan for helping people connect to God, their church, and their purpose A sustainable way to launch groups An approach to discipleship that helps people step out of their comfort zones and experience life-changing rhythms of discipleship An opportunity to change the culture of your church Visit experiencerooted.com/churchanswers for free resources to help you learn more, including the What is Rooted? video and a free download of the Rooted experience framework and Rooted Workbook sample.   Introducing Upward Running! We’re excited to bring you Upward Running for adults—the newest addition to the Upward Sports family. Offer a 5K Challenge: Inspire your congregation and engage your community with a meaningful running ministry. Upward provides training plans, access to the new RunClub app for run tracking and community building, and a fully customizable package to fit your timeline—led by your dedicated run coach. Simple to Start: All you need is one passionate leader. No facility required—your church parking lot is all it takes to launch this impactful program. Build Stronger Connections: Use running as a way to foster relationships, promote healthy habits, grow spiritually, and expand your church’s outreach. Upward is Here for You: Ready to bring Upward Running to your church? Visit Upward.org/Runcoach to get started today! The post Why Some of Our Churches Are Not Safe Places appeared first on Church Answers.

Many Christian denominations and networks believe that divorce can affect a person’s eligibility for ministry, particularly key roles such as lead pastor. This perspective is rooted in passages such as 1 Timothy 3:2, which states that an overseer must be “above reproach” and “the husband of one wife.” Some interpret this as disqualifying individuals with prior divorces. Josh and Sam discuss their views. Divorce is not an unforgivable sin and should not be treated as such. Important factors include the recency of the divorce and the backstory of the divorce. Other issues include the ministry position, level of authority, and level of visibility. How should we take into consideration biblical exceptions for divorce, like adultery, abandonment, and abuse? Every divorce situation will need to be examined on a case-by-case basis. Universal rules and sweeping generalities are difficult to create with divorce.  Resources: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Churchteams FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Hope Initiative Episode Sponsors: Pastors and ministry leaders are invited to apply now to be accepted into a new– fully online–PhD program at Southern Seminary. The Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Studies at Southern is not a series of recorded lectures. Scholars in this program will experience live interactions with the same professors who teach at Southern Seminary’s Louisville campus. This program provides the opportunity for ministry leaders to engage in rigorous theological study while continuing to serve in their current ministry. The PhD in Christian Studies includes seminars in New Testament and Old Testament exposition, historical theology, biblical theology, ethics, leadership, and discipleship. Come join the long line of ministry faithfulness that dates back to 1892 when The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary launched the first seminary-based doctoral degree in North America.  That degree became the PhD, and it has grown into one of the most respected in higher education. Learn more at SBTS.edu/rainer   You see the need for systems to follow up on guests, volunteers, pastoral care; but right now that is really sporadic and siloed. Each person doing their own thing and people falling through the cracks. Churchteams will help you build and implement the system you need. Tired of not being able to get the help you need for your software? Churchteams support staff have all served on Church staff. They know the software and they know how churches work. Call, text, set up free support appointments. Integrated. How many different software systems are you using that require sharing people’s data? If 2 or more, you know the challenge and limitations of data in different systems that don’t play well together. Churchteams has all your people data in one place, including your communication data (email, texts, workflows). Ease of use. Do you feel like you should be getting more from your church software, but just can’t get people to use it? Churchteams makes it easy for guests, members, volunteers, and leaders to do everything they need to do including giving without having to create an account. Check it out to learn how. Reports. Are you getting the feedback on your ministry that you need from your database when you need it? Churchteams reports are extremely customizable. Let each staff save the ones they use on their dashboard. Or, schedule it to show up in their inbox. Learn more at Churchteams. The post Does Divorce Disqualify a Pastor from Ministry? appeared first on Church Answers.

Social capital refers to the unseen connections that unite individuals within a local community. It inspires people to support the local school system even if they don’t have children or to volunteer for a city park cleanup even if they rarely visit it. It’s the cohesive force that strengthens society and sustains a thriving democracy. Ryan Burge joins the show to discuss the connection between social capital and church attendance and how being active in church makes you a better person for your community and nation. In the early 2000s, houses of worship were considered one of the last remaining engines of social capital in the United States. What happened? Trust is at an all-time low. In the most recent data collected in 2022, the share of Americans who said other people could be trusted reached an all-time low of just 26%. Why are evangelicals a skeptical group? And does church attendance help or hurt this skepticism? What does the future hold for social capital and the church? Resources: Upward Sports Filament Bible Collection Tyndale House Publishers Ryan Burge “How the Rise Of Evangelical Distrust Is Making Evangelism Harder” by Ryan Burge “Bowling Alone” by Robert Putnam (affiliate link) FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Hope Initiative Episode Sponsors:         We are excited to be partnering with Upward Sports in 2025. Upward Sports is the world’s largest Christian youth sports organization, partnering with local churches to use sports as a powerful outreach tool to engage the community. To remind our listeners, Upward offers a variety of league options, including basketball, cheerleading, soccer, flag football, volleyball, baseball… and now running for adults. Partnering with Upward Sports helps your church reach the community, attract young families, and share the Gospel in a meaningful way. At Upward, they will customize your sports outreach strategy to fit your church’s budget, and community needs because we know one size doesn’t fit all. Kick off 2025 with purpose—use sports to fuel your outreach ministry! Are you looking to engage new families, bless your community, or mobilize your congregation to serve? Whether you have a gym, field space, or access to a facility, Upward Sports can help. We’re here to support your church in creating a first-class, organized, and intentional outreach ministry that tells families, “You are welcome here!” Whether you’re building on an existing sports ministry or starting fresh, check out Upward Sports. Schedule your call today – www.Upward.org/ChurchAnswers           Dive into a deeper, more enriching Bible study experience with the Filament Bible app. Seamlessly connect every page of your Filament-enabled Bible to a treasure trove of resources. Unlock 25,000 study notes, 350 videos, 40 interactive maps and infographics, 400 profiles and articles, 1,500 devotionals, various audio Bible options, reading plans, worship music, and so much more—right at your fingertips! Discover more ways to interact with God’s Word with the Filament Bible Collection. Learn more at FilamentBibles.com. The post The Burge Report: How Church Attendance Makes You a Better American appeared first on Church Answers.

What is the proper protocol for celebrating staff birthdays, work anniversaries, and major milestones? Josh and Sam discuss some ideas on encouraging church staff without going overboard. The co-hosts give guidelines on best practices and what is reasonable. You don’t have to do both birthdays and work anniversaries, but you should pick one to highlight. Churchwide recognition for work anniversaries should be reserved for ten or twenty-five-year increments, not every year or every five years. A bonus of $100 per year is reasonable. Consistency: Acknowledge everyone equally to avoid favoritism. Public vs. Private: Balance public acknowledgment with private gestures based on the staff member’s comfort level. Spiritual Encouragement: Incorporate scripture or prayer to align with the church’s mission and values. If you choose to acknowledge birthdays, they can be done during weekly staff meetings. Small gift cards and a handwritten note are a good way to acknowledge annual work anniversaries. Other milestones include weddings, the birth of children, graduations, or the loss of a loved one. These can be acknowledged through a time of prayer with your team. Resources: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Churchteams FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Hope Initiative Episode Sponsors: Pastors and ministry leaders are invited to apply now to be accepted into a new– fully online–PhD program at Southern Seminary. The Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Studies at Southern is not a series of recorded lectures. Scholars in this program will experience live interactions with the same professors who teach at Southern Seminary’s Louisville campus. This program provides the opportunity for ministry leaders to engage in rigorous theological study while continuing to serve in their current ministry. The PhD in Christian Studies includes seminars in New Testament and Old Testament exposition, historical theology, biblical theology, ethics, leadership, and discipleship. Come join the long line of ministry faithfulness that dates back to 1892 when The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary launched the first seminary-based doctoral degree in North America.  That degree became the PhD, and it has grown into one of the most respected in higher education. Learn more at SBTS.edu/rainer   You see the need for systems to follow up on guests, volunteers, pastoral care; but right now that is really sporadic and siloed. Each person doing their own thing and people falling through the cracks. Churchteams will help you build and implement the system you need. Tired of not being able to get the help you need for your software? Churchteams support staff have all served on Church staff. They know the software and they know how churches work. Call, text, set up free support appointments. Integrated. How many different software systems are you using that require sharing people’s data? If 2 or more, you know the challenge and limitations of data in different systems that don’t play well together. Churchteams has all your people data in one place, including your communication data (email, texts, workflows). Ease of use. Do you feel like you should be getting more from your church software, but just can’t get people to use it? Churchteams makes it easy for guests, members, volunteers, and leaders to do everything they need to do including giving without having to create an account. Check it out to learn how. Reports. Are you getting the feedback on your ministry that you need from your database when you need it? Churchteams reports are extremely customizable. Let each staff save the ones they use on their dashboard. Or, schedule it to show up in their inbox. Learn more at Churchteams. The post How to Celebrate Church Staff Birthdays, Work Anniversaries, and Major Milestones appeared first on Church Answers.

It’s an exciting thought to have a friend serve alongside you. Ministry is challenging, but it also can be fun, especially if we enjoy the people with whom we work. But hiring a friend does not often end well. In fact, we hear from pastors regularly about the downside of hiring a friend. In this episode, Thom and Sam look at the causes of this failure. It can work, but it’s rare. The relationship has been redefined. Most leaders do not vet friends well for their new role. The friend often expects concessions because of the relationship. You don’t really know someone until you work together. P. S. The friendship often ends. Resources: Filament Bible Collection Tyndale House Publishers Upward Sports FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Hope Initiative Episode Sponsors:         Dive into a deeper, more enriching Bible study experience with the Filament Bible app. Seamlessly connect every page of your Filament-enabled Bible to a treasure trove of resources. Unlock 25,000 study notes, 350 videos, 40 interactive maps and infographics, 400 profiles and articles, 1,500 devotionals, various audio Bible options, reading plans, worship music, and so much more—right at your fingertips! Discover more ways to interact with God’s Word with the Filament Bible Collection. Learn more at FilamentBibles.com.           We are excited to be partnering with Upward Sports in 2025. Upward Sports is the world’s largest Christian youth sports organization, partnering with local churches to use sports as a powerful outreach tool to engage the community. To remind our listeners, Upward offers a variety of league options, including basketball, cheerleading, soccer, flag football, volleyball, baseball… and now running for adults. Partnering with Upward Sports helps your church reach the community, attract young families, and share the Gospel in a meaningful way. At Upward, they will customize your sports outreach strategy to fit your church’s budget, and community needs because we know one size doesn’t fit all. Kick off 2025 with purpose—use sports to fuel your outreach ministry! Are you looking to engage new families, bless your community, or mobilize your congregation to serve? Whether you have a gym, field space, or access to a facility, Upward Sports can help. We’re here to support your church in creating a first-class, organized, and intentional outreach ministry that tells families, “You are welcome here!” Whether you’re building on an existing sports ministry or starting fresh, check out Upward Sports. Schedule your call today – www.Upward.org/ChurchAnswers The post Why Hiring Friends Usually Ends in Disaster appeared first on Church Answers.

Churches are not typically early adopters of technology. Boyd Pelley from Church Teams joins Josh and Sam to discuss why churches should embrace new technology sooner. The co-hosts talk about how pastors can become more proficient in the technology space. Why do churches lag behind with technology? How does Churchteams balance being cutting edge as a company with the reality of late-adopting churches? What are the biggest hurdles for churches when adopting new technology? How can pastors lead low-tech churches to do more with technology? What excites you the most about the future of AI and other big-data resources? Resources: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Churchteams FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Hope Initiative Episode Sponsors: Pastors and ministry leaders are invited to apply now to be accepted into a new– fully online–PhD program at Southern Seminary. The Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Studies at Southern is not a series of recorded lectures. Scholars in this program will experience live interactions with the same professors who teach at Southern Seminary’s Louisville campus. This program provides the opportunity for ministry leaders to engage in rigorous theological study while continuing to serve in their current ministry. The PhD in Christian Studies includes seminars in New Testament and Old Testament exposition, historical theology, biblical theology, ethics, leadership, and discipleship. Come join the long line of ministry faithfulness that dates back to 1892 when The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary launched the first seminary-based doctoral degree in North America.  That degree became the PhD, and it has grown into one of the most respected in higher education. Learn more at SBTS.edu/rainer   You see the need for systems to follow up on guests, volunteers, pastoral care; but right now that is really sporadic and siloed. Each person doing their own thing and people falling through the cracks. Churchteams will help you build and implement the system you need. Tired of not being able to get the help you need for your software? Churchteams support staff have all served on Church staff. They know the software and they know how churches work. Call, text, set up free support appointments. Integrated. How many different software systems are you using that require sharing people’s data? If 2 or more, you know the challenge and limitations of data in different systems that don’t play well together. Churchteams has all your people data in one place, including your communication data (email, texts, workflows). Ease of use. Do you feel like you should be getting more from your church software, but just can’t get people to use it? Churchteams makes it easy for guests, members, volunteers, and leaders to do everything they need to do including giving without having to create an account. Check it out to learn how. Reports. Are you getting the feedback on your ministry that you need from your database when you need it? Churchteams reports are extremely customizable. Let each staff save the ones they use on their dashboard. Or, schedule it to show up in their inbox. Learn more at Churchteams. The post Why Churches Are Not Early Adopters of Technology appeared first on Church Answers.

Does your church have clear expectations of church leaders? What positions are considered leadership positions in the church? What areas are your leaders held accountable? Thom and Sam discuss this important but often neglected issue in churches. With increasing authority in the church comes an increasing expectation of accountability. Attendance accountability. Stewardship accountability. Moral example accountability. Unity accountability. Resources: Upward Sports Filament Bible Collection Tyndale House Publishers Church Growth Services: Get your free campaign capacity analysis! FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Hope Initiative Episode Sponsors:         We are excited to be partnering with Upward Sports in 2025. Upward Sports is the world’s largest Christian youth sports organization, partnering with local churches to use sports as a powerful outreach tool to engage the community. To remind our listeners, Upward offers a variety of league options, including basketball, cheerleading, soccer, flag football, volleyball, baseball… and now running for adults. Partnering with Upward Sports helps your church reach the community, attract young families, and share the Gospel in a meaningful way. At Upward, they will customize your sports outreach strategy to fit your church’s budget, and community needs because we know one size doesn’t fit all. Kick off 2025 with purpose—use sports to fuel your outreach ministry! Are you looking to engage new families, bless your community, or mobilize your congregation to serve? Whether you have a gym, field space, or access to a facility, Upward Sports can help. We’re here to support your church in creating a first-class, organized, and intentional outreach ministry that tells families, “You are welcome here!” Whether you’re building on an existing sports ministry or starting fresh, check out Upward Sports. Schedule your call today – www.Upward.org/ChurchAnswers           Dive into a deeper, more enriching Bible study experience with the Filament Bible app. Seamlessly connect every page of your Filament-enabled Bible to a treasure trove of resources. Unlock 25,000 study notes, 350 videos, 40 interactive maps and infographics, 400 profiles and articles, 1,500 devotionals, various audio Bible options, reading plans, worship music, and so much more—right at your fingertips! Discover more ways to interact with God’s Word with the Filament Bible Collection. Learn more at FilamentBibles.com. The post The Right Expectations Churches Should Have of Pastors appeared first on Church Answers.

Josh and Sam must deal with the reality of being both pastors and dads. We’ve all heard horror stories about pastors’ kids. Are they true? Are pastors’ kids different now than in the past? The co-hosts give their take on the current environment of raising children while also leading a church. There are far fewer young families in ministry. The average age of a pastor is 60. There are far more dual-income families in ministry now, so the traditional pastor’s wife role is less common. The fishbowl still exists, but the pressure to conform to preconceived standards is less intense. At the same time, there are far more eyeballs on the pastor’s kids because of social media. Given the biblical mandate to pastors concerning the management of their homes, should pastor’s kids be held to a higher standard? If so, to what degree? Resources: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Churchteams FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Hope Initiative Episode Sponsors: Pastors and ministry leaders are invited to apply now to be accepted into a new– fully online–PhD program at Southern Seminary. The Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Studies at Southern is not a series of recorded lectures. Scholars in this program will experience live interactions with the same professors who teach at Southern Seminary’s Louisville campus. This program provides the opportunity for ministry leaders to engage in rigorous theological study while continuing to serve in their current ministry. The PhD in Christian Studies includes seminars in New Testament and Old Testament exposition, historical theology, biblical theology, ethics, leadership, and discipleship. Come join the long line of ministry faithfulness that dates back to 1892 when The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary launched the first seminary-based doctoral degree in North America.  That degree became the PhD, and it has grown into one of the most respected in higher education. Learn more at SBTS.edu/rainer   You see the need for systems to follow up on guests, volunteers, pastoral care; but right now that is really sporadic and siloed. Each person doing their own thing and people falling through the cracks. Churchteams will help you build and implement the system you need. Tired of not being able to get the help you need for your software? Churchteams support staff have all served on Church staff. They know the software and they know how churches work. Call, text, set up free support appointments. Integrated. How many different software systems are you using that require sharing people’s data? If 2 or more, you know the challenge and limitations of data in different systems that don’t play well together. Churchteams has all your people data in one place, including your communication data (email, texts, workflows). Ease of use. Do you feel like you should be getting more from your church software, but just can’t get people to use it? Churchteams makes it easy for guests, members, volunteers, and leaders to do everything they need to do including giving without having to create an account. Check it out to learn how. Reports. Are you getting the feedback on your ministry that you need from your database when you need it? Churchteams reports are extremely customizable. Let each staff save the ones they use on their dashboard. Or, schedule it to show up in their inbox. Learn more at Churchteams. The post What’s Different about Pastor’s Kids These Days? appeared first on Church Answers.

Typically, the first step in making necessary changes is acceptance of the current reality. A church cannot change unless its members and leaders know that the status quo will lead to death. Sam and Thom review five situations where dying churches get stuck and, as a consequence, continue on the path toward death. The strange oxymoron of the “recognized denial”: intellectual acceptance and emotional denial The silver bullet is on the way As long as they can pay the bills Not changing because they think they are standing firm As long as I get my preferences met Resources: Filament Bible Collection Tyndale House Publishers Upward Sports Brown Church Development Group “Autopsy of a Deceased Church: 12 Ways to Keep Yours Alive” by Thom S. Rainer (affiliate link) “Where Have All the Church Members Gone?” by Thom S. Rainer (affiliate link) FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Hope Initiative Episode Sponsors:         Dive into a deeper, more enriching Bible study experience with the Filament Bible app. Seamlessly connect every page of your Filament-enabled Bible to a treasure trove of resources. Unlock 25,000 study notes, 350 videos, 40 interactive maps and infographics, 400 profiles and articles, 1,500 devotionals, various audio Bible options, reading plans, worship music, and so much more—right at your fingertips! Discover more ways to interact with God’s Word with the Filament Bible Collection. Learn more at FilamentBibles.com.           We are excited to be partnering with Upward Sports in 2025. Upward Sports is the world’s largest Christian youth sports organization, partnering with local churches to use sports as a powerful outreach tool to engage the community. To remind our listeners, Upward offers a variety of league options, including basketball, cheerleading, soccer, flag football, volleyball, baseball… and now running for adults. Partnering with Upward Sports helps your church reach the community, attract young families, and share the Gospel in a meaningful way. At Upward, they will customize your sports outreach strategy to fit your church’s budget, and community needs because we know one size doesn’t fit all. Kick off 2025 with purpose—use sports to fuel your outreach ministry! Are you looking to engage new families, bless your community, or mobilize your congregation to serve? Whether you have a gym, field space, or access to a facility, Upward Sports can help. We’re here to support your church in creating a first-class, organized, and intentional outreach ministry that tells families, “You are welcome here!” Whether you’re building on an existing sports ministry or starting fresh, check out Upward Sports. Schedule your call today – www.Upward.org/ChurchAnswers The post Do Dying Churches Really Know They Are Dying? appeared first on Church Answers.

Serving a church is not a 9-to-5 kind of job. Ministry comes with odd hours. Josh and Sam discuss their typical workweek and how they keep a rhythm going. Very few pastors work less than 40 hours per week, but how do they allocate those hours? One study a few years ago revealed 84% of pastors work 40 or more hours per week on average. Additionally, 35% of pastors are working 60 or more hours every week. How do some of these hours break down? Two studies give us some ideas. 15-20 hours in sermon preparation 10-20 hours in pastoral care (e.g., counseling, weddings, hospital visits) 8 hours of custodial duties (e.g., opening facilities, cleaning) 5 hours in prayer 5 hours of evangelism (in growing churches), none for non-growing churches 4 hours in meetings 3 hours in electronic communication (e.g., email) Resources: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Churchteams FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Hope Initiative Episode Sponsors: Pastors and ministry leaders are invited to apply now to be accepted into a new– fully online–PhD program at Southern Seminary. The Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Studies at Southern is not a series of recorded lectures. Scholars in this program will experience live interactions with the same professors who teach at Southern Seminary’s Louisville campus. This program provides the opportunity for ministry leaders to engage in rigorous theological study while continuing to serve in their current ministry. The PhD in Christian Studies includes seminars in New Testament and Old Testament exposition, historical theology, biblical theology, ethics, leadership, and discipleship. Come join the long line of ministry faithfulness that dates back to 1892 when The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary launched the first seminary-based doctoral degree in North America.  That degree became the PhD, and it has grown into one of the most respected in higher education. Learn more at SBTS.edu/rainer   You see the need for systems to follow up on guests, volunteers, pastoral care; but right now that is really sporadic and siloed. Each person doing their own thing and people falling through the cracks. Churchteams will help you build and implement the system you need. Tired of not being able to get the help you need for your software? Churchteams support staff have all served on Church staff. They know the software and they know how churches work. Call, text, set up free support appointments. Integrated. How many different software systems are you using that require sharing people’s data? If 2 or more, you know the challenge and limitations of data in different systems that don’t play well together. Churchteams has all your people data in one place, including your communication data (email, texts, workflows). Ease of use. Do you feel like you should be getting more from your church software, but just can’t get people to use it? Churchteams makes it easy for guests, members, volunteers, and leaders to do everything they need to do including giving without having to create an account. Check it out to learn how. Reports. Are you getting the feedback on your ministry that you need from your database when you need it? Churchteams reports are extremely customizable. Let each staff save the ones they use on their dashboard. Or, schedule it to show up in their inbox. Learn more at Churchteams. The post How Pastors Spend Their Time During the Workweek (Any Surprises?) appeared first on Church Answers.