Rainer on Leadership

Motivation is what prompts someone to act or behave in a certain way. A church must have the right motivation to do outreach. On this week’s episode, Thom and Sam talk about the outreach motivators that have staying power in churches. Guilt is a terrible motivator and only works in the short term. An outreach culture is contagious. Systems help sustain culture. The inspiration of one person can motivate several others. Stories convict people to act. Positive stories encourage the church. Motivation is often a top-down effort from church leaders. Tangible reminders like gifts for guests can help spur motivation. The Holy Spirit and prayer are the best motivators of all! Resources: California Baptist University Upward Sports Good News Neighbors Toolkit Now Go Network Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Does your church staff have the skills needed to ensure the church succeeds? Have you thought about who in your church is prepared to step into leadership? Do you have staff members who would benefit from furthering their education? California Baptist University is an option for you and your staff! CBU offers more than three dozen undergraduate and graduate degrees online – all of which can be completed from anywhere in the world. One of these programs is Organizational Leadership. This program helps develop the managerial skills necessary to lead effectively and broaden professional horizons.  This online program is designed with the working professional in mind. It will equip you with sought-after leadership skills that are essential to the success of you and your staff. Classes for the Organizational Leadership bachelor’s degree include the topics of exercising influence, complex problem solving, teamwork, decision making and conflict management. You’ll learn to excel and manage in the workplace while integrating ethical principles and integrity to strengthen the foundation of your company. Professors bring practical, applicable working knowledge into the classroom, while incorporating biblical principles of leadership. Classes start every eight weeks, so students can get started any time. Visit calbaptist.edu to learn more. Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.  Upward Sports offers basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball and softball through league and camp offerings. At Upward Sports, we want to help your church make a difference, and give you increased opportunities to share the gospel. By the way, it’s not too early to start thinking about winter sports leagues at your church. Learn more today at Upward.org/ChurchAnswers. **As a partner of Rainer on Leadership, Upward Sports is offering a $500 sports start up grant to listeners. Head over to Upward.org/ChurchAnswers and schedule a call… tell them we sent you! Your sports grant will assist you in a 2024 LEAGUE! The post What Really Motivates a Church to Do More Outreach appeared first on Church Answers.

Don’t finish summer without a plan to engage your church and community with a big fall programming launch. Thom and Sam discuss some ways to lift fall attendance in your church through simple communication channels. Any size church can have a great start to the fall season! Play into the natural cultural rhythms of the back-to-school emphasis. Align all ministries for a specific invite launch day on Wednesday and Sunday. Provide extra hospitality on these days with an expectation of more guests. Have a big promotion Sunday push (even adults!). Create a text-to-church communication channel. Send a special digital newsletter to everyone. Use short links and landing pages on the website. Resources: Upward Sports California Baptist University Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.  Upward Sports offers basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball and softball through league and camp offerings. At Upward Sports, we want to help your church make a difference, and give you increased opportunities to share the gospel. By the way, it’s not too early to start thinking about winter sports leagues at your church. Learn more today at Upward.org/ChurchAnswers. **As a partner of Rainer on Leadership, Upward Sports is offering a $500 sports start up grant to listeners. Head over to Upward.org/ChurchAnswers and schedule a call… tell them we sent you! Your sports grant will assist you in a 2024 LEAGUE! Does your church staff have the skills needed to ensure the church succeeds? Have you thought about who in your church is prepared to step into leadership? Do you have staff members who would benefit from furthering their education? California Baptist University is an option for you and your staff! CBU offers more than three dozen undergraduate and graduate degrees online – all of which can be completed from anywhere in the world. One of these programs is Organizational Leadership. This program helps develop the managerial skills necessary to lead effectively and broaden professional horizons.  This online program is designed with the working professional in mind. It will equip you with sought-after leadership skills that are essential to the success of you and your staff. Classes for the Organizational Leadership bachelor’s degree include the topics of exercising influence, complex problem solving, teamwork, decision making and conflict management. You’ll learn to excel and manage in the workplace while integrating ethical principles and integrity to strengthen the foundation of your company. Professors bring practical, applicable working knowledge into the classroom, while incorporating biblical principles of leadership. Classes start every eight weeks, so students can get started any time. Visit calbaptist.edu to learn more. The post Give Your Fall Programming Launch Extra Boost! appeared first on Church Answers.

A time existed when both Thom and Sam wondered if the mid-size church would dwindle as people transferred into megachurches and planted new churches. Today, mid-size churches have distinct advantages. The co-hosts cover several reasons why mid-size churches have new opportunities to thrive. The megachurch movement is waning with the aging of the Baby Boomer generation. Smaller churches will always have an appeal and a place in God’s kingdom. What size is a “mid-size” church? Around 150-300 people on at least 3-7 acres with a campus large enough to accommodate everyone. Mid-size church campuses are large enough to accommodate growth but small enough not to be overcome by deferred maintenance. Mid-size churches have enough people to build momentum with full programming for all ages. Mid-size churches typically have enough funds to afford one or two full-time staff members. Mid-size churches with good children’s programs are appealing to Millennials. Mid-size churches can focus on the immediate neighborhood in ways a large, regional church cannot. Resources: California Baptist University Upward Sports Brown Church Development Group Get your FREE eBook, Deferred Maintenance “The Surprising Return of the Neighborhood Church” by Sam Rainer Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Does your church staff have the skills needed to ensure the church succeeds? Have you thought about who in your church is prepared to step into leadership? Do you have staff members who would benefit from furthering their education? California Baptist University is an option for you and your staff! CBU offers more than three dozen undergraduate and graduate degrees online – all of which can be completed from anywhere in the world. One of these programs is Organizational Leadership. This program helps develop the managerial skills necessary to lead effectively and broaden professional horizons.  This online program is designed with the working professional in mind. It will equip you with sought-after leadership skills that are essential to the success of you and your staff. Classes for the Organizational Leadership bachelor’s degree include the topics of exercising influence, complex problem solving, teamwork, decision making and conflict management. You’ll learn to excel and manage in the workplace while integrating ethical principles and integrity to strengthen the foundation of your company. Professors bring practical, applicable working knowledge into the classroom, while incorporating biblical principles of leadership. Classes start every eight weeks, so students can get started any time. Visit calbaptist.edu to learn more. Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.  Upward Sports offers basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball and softball through league and camp offerings. At Upward Sports, we want to help your church make a difference, and give you increased opportunities to share the gospel. By the way, it’s not too early to start thinking about winter sports leagues at your church. Learn more today at Upward.org/ChurchAnswers. **As a partner of Rainer on Leadership, Upward Sports is offering a $500 sports start up grant to listeners. Head over to Upward.org/ChurchAnswers and schedule a call… tell them we sent you! Your sports grant will assist you in a 2024 LEAGUE! The post Why Mid-Size Churches Have a Growing Advantage in Reaching People appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Sam welcome Marc Estes, co-founder of VisitorReach. Marc has a passion for equipping leaders, strengthening churches, and empowering outreach through kingdom innovation. They talk about new trends and opportunities to get people to visit churches in a post-pandemic world. Receptivity to the church since the pandemic. Reluctancy for people to visit an in-person church service? One of the most effective places for churches reaching people? Rapid shifts in technology for churches to reach people. The innovation called VisitorReach. Resources: Upward Sports California Baptist University VisitorReach Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.  Upward Sports offers basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball and softball through league and camp offerings. At Upward Sports, we want to help your church make a difference, and give you increased opportunities to share the gospel. By the way, it’s not too early to start thinking about winter sports leagues at your church. Learn more today at Upward.org/ChurchAnswers. **As a partner of Rainer on Leadership, Upward Sports is offering a $500 sports start up grant to listeners. Head over to Upward.org/ChurchAnswers and schedule a call… tell them we sent you! Your sports grant will assist you in a 2024 LEAGUE! Did you know that fewer than 20% of Southern Baptists have a bachelor’s degree? That is according to a past Pew Research study. How can this be combated and how can we prepare our churches for the future? California Baptist University has a solution. CBU offers a full breadth of courses through its online degree programs. Whether you’re looking to start your degree, finish your degree, or prepare leaders in your church for advancement opportunities, CBU’s degree programs provide a flexible, online learning environment. Classes start every eight weeks, so you can begin any time. An online degree can: Help you gain a better understanding of your life’s purpose; Symbolize competence and integrity in your career; and Provide you with the skills and knowledge to make a difference in the lives of others. Your team may benefit from a degree in business, leadership, finance, communications or Christian studies. There are dozens of online degrees available to you! The online Bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministries develops servant leaders with the tools for understanding and communicating biblical truths. This degree prepares students for active leadership roles in the church, parachurch and Christian organizations. Financial aid is available, and thanks to CBU donors, online undergraduate degrees in Christian Ministries and Christian Studies may qualify for additional scholarship, making earning your degree more affordable. Visit calbaptist.edu to learn more. The post A Gamechanger to Get Visitors to Your Churches: An Interview with Marc Estes appeared first on Church Answers.

Presidential election years can be especially contentious, and this year will be no exception. Thom and Sam discuss how church leaders can manage the tension in ways that are helpful to the church body. Four prevailing views of politics and the church: Churches should embrace politics. Churches should use politics. Churches should avoid politics. Churches should condemn politics. You likely have a wide spectrum of views in your church. Remember, you always represent your church. Avoid endorsing individual candidates from the pulpit. Avoid debates on social media. Avoid being co-opted into polarizing political movements. Don’t fear being patriotic and using political examples in sermons. Use cultural events like July 4th to unite rather than divide. Use biblical language rather than political rhetoric. People can tell when you are genuinely convicted and sincere. Resources: California Baptist University Upward Sports Know My Community Politics Report – Coming soon! Church Answers Central The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Did you know that fewer than 20% of Southern Baptists have a bachelor’s degree? That is according to a past Pew Research study. How can this be combated and how can we prepare our churches for the future? California Baptist University has a solution. CBU offers a full breadth of courses through its online degree programs. Whether you’re looking to start your degree, finish your degree, or prepare leaders in your church for advancement opportunities, CBU’s degree programs provide a flexible, online learning environment. Classes start every eight weeks, so you can begin any time. An online degree can: Help you gain a better understanding of your life’s purpose; Symbolize competence and integrity in your career; and Provide you with the skills and knowledge to make a difference in the lives of others. Your team may benefit from a degree in business, leadership, finance, communications or Christian studies. There are dozens of online degrees available to you! The online Bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministries develops servant leaders with the tools for understanding and communicating biblical truths. This degree prepares students for active leadership roles in the church, parachurch and Christian organizations. Financial aid is available, and thanks to CBU donors, online undergraduate degrees in Christian Ministries and Christian Studies may qualify for additional scholarship, making earning your degree more affordable. Visit calbaptist.edu to learn more. Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.  Upward Sports offers basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball and softball through league and camp offerings. At Upward Sports, we want to help your church make a difference, and give you increased opportunities to share the gospel. By the way, it’s not too early to start thinking about winter sports leagues at your church. Learn more today at Upward.org/ChurchAnswers. **As a partner of Rainer on Leadership, Upward Sports is offering a $500 sports start up grant to listeners. Head over to Upward.org/ChurchAnswers and schedule a call… tell them we sent you! Your sports grant will assist you in a 2024 LEAGUE! The post How to Guide Your Church through the Coming Election Season without Losing Your Mind appeared first on Church Answers.

More churches are stunned when confronted with a major facility cost. They did not take care of the need, and they set aside funds for the need. Thom discusses this issue with Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group. They are “The Church Facility Experts.” When the roof comes down. HVAC is more than an acronym. Drainage and water issues are foundational problems. Plumbing and electrical systems: a shocking problem. Flooring lifespan. Parking lots. Resources: Brown Church Development Group How Do You Build a Church Facility Design for Ministry? Church Health Scorecard Calvary Church (Muscatine) Why the Exterior of Your Church Facility Is Important for Growth With Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group Is Your Church Facility Really Safe? With Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group Episode Sponsor: The post The Big Things That Can Go Wrong with Your Church Facilities With Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group appeared first on Church Answers.

Many church leaders do not think much about the safety of their church facilities. Safety issues are essential to protecting those who come to our churches. Thom discusses this issue with Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.” Overall strategic safety concerns. Safety for children. Accessibility concerns. Asbestos and lead paint concerns. Mold growth concerns. Fire safety systems concerns. Resources: Brown Church Development Group How Do You Build a Church Facility Design for Ministry? “Make My Church Safe” by Sam Rainer Why the Exterior of Your Church Facility Is Important for Growth With Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group The Big Things That Can Go Wrong with Your Church Facilities With Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group Episode Sponsor: The post Is Your Church Facility Really Safe? With Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group appeared first on Church Answers.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of cars pass your church every day. What is their first impression of your facilities when they see them only from the outside? Thom discusses this issue with Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group, who are “The Church Facility Experts.” Facility first impressions are more important than you think. What does the signage say to passersby? What does the exterior appearance say? What does your parking lot say? What does the landscaping say? You will also learn about the door to nowhere. Resources: Brown Church Development Group How Do You Build a Church Facility Design for Ministry? Is Your Church Facility Really Safe? With Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group The Big Things That Can Go Wrong with Your Church Facilities With Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group Episode Sponsor: The post Why the Exterior of Your Church Facility Is Important for Growth With Todd Brown and Isaac Brown of Brown Church Development Group appeared first on Church Answers.

In this week’s episode, Sam asks Thom about some of the biggest shifts in the American church in the last thirty years. They discuss what has changed and why the shifts occurred. Some things changed for the better, and others changed for the worse. Cultural Christianity died. Transfer growth increased rapidly. Evangelism programs disappeared. Modern worship became predominant. Megachurches peaked and declined. Multisite churches proliferated. Median church size dropped by half. Denominational decline increased. Institutional loyalty and trust eroded. Resources: Upward Sports Filament Bible Collection Tyndale House Publishers “The Surprising Return of the Neighborhood Church” by Sam Rainer Get your FREE eBook, Deferred Maintenance The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.  Upward Sports offers basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball and softball through league and camp offerings. At Upward Sports, we want to help your church make a difference, and give you increased opportunities to share the gospel. By the way, it’s not too early to start thinking about winter sports leagues at your church. Learn more today at Upward.org/ChurchAnswers. **As a partner of Rainer on Leadership, Upward Sports is offering a $500 sports start up grant to listeners. Head over to Upward.org/ChurchAnswers and schedule a call… tell them we sent you! Your sports grant will assist you in a 2024 LEAGUE! Discover more ways to interact with God’s Word with the Filament Bible Collection The Filament Bible app is your gateway to a deeper, more enriching Bible-study experience. Seamlessly connect every page of your Bible to a treasure trove of resources, including: 25,000+ study notes for understanding 350+ videos for insight 40+ maps and infographics for context 400+ profiles and articles for enrichment 1,500+ devotions for daily inspiration audio Bibles for immersion a library of worship music for personal reflection Start your enhanced Bible journey today! Find your Filament Bible at FilamentBibles.com. The post A Thirty-Year Look-Back at the Biggest Changes in the American Church appeared first on Church Answers.

How many people are really leaving their childhood faith? Ryan Burge joins Thom and Sam on this special episode to unpack important data for churches. Retention rates are a good indicator of how well a church disciples people. Keeping people is a major part of church health. The hosts discuss the data concerning national trends with church retention. A retention rate is the percentage of people who were raised in a certain faith tradition that still affiliate with that same tradition as adults. Mainline Protestants struggle with retention. The rate was 76% in the 1970s. Today it is 58%. Conservative Evangelicals fare better. Retention rates in the 1970s were 78%. Today it is 73%. When a mainline Protestant leaves their tradition, they are almost as likely to become an evangelical as a none (14% vs 20%). When evangelicals leave, the most likely landing spot is nones at 13%. But that’s that many folks at the end of the day. The exvangelical movement is really not that big. The mainline to evangelical pipeline is actually larger. What might the future hold? The aging of congregations and “leaky boats” with more holes. Resources: Tithe.ly 2023 State of Church Giving “How Many People Leave Their Childhood Religion?” by Ryan Burge Ryan Burge Know Your Community Church Health Scorecard “The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church” by Sarah McCammon (affiliate link) The Everything Church Resource Directory The Hope Initiative Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Tithely provides churches around the world with software tools to help them and their ministries thrive. Nearly 40,000 churches use Tithely for online and text giving, managing their people’s information, volunteer management, child check in, church apps and websites, and communicating through email and text messaging. Made up of a team of ministry-minded people, Tithely’s heart is to see the local church empowered with the tools to fulfill their mission. You can sign up for free at Tithely.com – yes that’s right, it’s free! Tithely’s giving platform comes with no monthly fees and no contracts. Get started taking donations in just 5 minutes at Tithely.com. Also, right now Tithely is offering a free report called “2023 State of Church Giving Report.” You can access that report free by clicking on the link in the show notes. The post The Burge Report: Retention Rates in Churches Are Not What They Used to Be (Here’s Why) appeared first on Church Answers.