Intentional Churches Podcast

On this week’s episode of The Intentional Churches podcast, we’re continuing to talk about how we prepare well for that next big “push” in ministry—specifically how to prioritize our own mental, spiritual, and emotional health as leaders. Licensed professional counselor and Gallup Strengths Coach, Stefanie Rowe, joins Erin and Doug, outlining the crisis many pastors and church leaders are facing when it comes to the state of their mental health. Throughout their conversation, Stefanie shares stats that might surprise you, including: 1 in 5 pastors are struggling with addiction, 50% struggle with depression, 1 in 3 with burnout, and 60% feel lonely. Additionally, only 1 out of 6 pastors are getting the help they need. So, what can those of us in ministry do to make sure we’re prioritizing our own mental health? Stefanie draws on her years of experience and background as a teaching pastor to outline some best practices for pastors (or anyone!) struggling. Erin and Doug add their own insights, talking about taking intentional time off during slower seasons of ministry, putting relationships first, refusing to neglect your own time with God, and being off social media. Whatever season of life or ministry you find yourself in, this conversation is full of practical tips to help us all practice what we preach and work to prioritize our own mental health! Learn more about Stefanie and her work on her website:https://www.stefanierowe.com/ Two helpful resources Stefanie recommends for pastors and church leaders struggling in any of the areas mentioned in this episode include The State of Pastors volumes 1 and 2:https://shop.barna.com/products/the-state-of-pastors-vol-2 The Resilient Pastor:https://a.co/d/08YrszjG Intentional Churches: Website: https://intentionalchurches.com            The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C         The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/    YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches         Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches          LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/         Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches          X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches        Chapters: 00:00 | Introduction and Overview03:10 | The State of Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health of Church Leaders12:22 | Prioritizing Self-Care: Practicing What You Preach22:46 | Taking Breaks from Social Media: Reducing Stress and Improving Well-Being25:31 | Taking Inventory: Reflecting on What Went Well and What Didn't26:59 | Setting Boundaries: Prioritizing Self-Care for Long-Term Health

In this episode, Erin and Doug welcome Holly Gillespie to discuss the importance of designing church systems and processes with the one in mind. They spotlight the need to shift from a buffet-style approach to a more intentional and targeted strategy that focuses on those who are far from God. They talk through the importance of mindset shifts, such as considering what it's like on the other side of the church experience and overcoming the fear of neglecting the 99. They also discuss the need for prayer, team conversations, and small steps to begin implementing these changes.Intentional Churches: Website: https://intentionalchurches.com             The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C         The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog   YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches         Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches          LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany       Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches         X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches   Chapters:00:00 Designing Church Systems and Processes with the One in Mind06:33 The Evolution and Transition in Church10:43 Shifting from a Buffet-Style Approach to Intentional Targeting14:07 Mindset Shifts and Overcoming Fear

Just a quick break for July 4th. We hope you have a wonderful week and we can't wait to jump back into Season 4 with you next Tuesday. See you soon!

In this episode, Erin and Doug discuss the evolution of church leadership and the shift in mindset between different generations. They specifically focus on the pros and cons of small group models and the need for integration between church life and everyday life. They talk through the importance of disappointing people at a rate they can tolerate and shifting the mindset from providing answers to equipping and empowering individuals to be the answer. They discuss the priority of building relational fabric in the church and the need for ongoing coaching and training for leaders. They also share practical ideas for weaving relational fabric, such as using gatherings and events as key relational moments and encouraging people to linger longer in Sunday services.Intentional Churches: Website: https://intentionalchurches.com           The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C        The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/   YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches        Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches         LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/        Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches         X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches       Chapters:00:00 The Evolution of Church Leadership and the Generational Shift03:53 The Pros and Cons of Small Group Models13:04 Disappointing People at a Rate They Can Tolerate16:31 Equipping and Empowering Leaders26:25 The Importance of Ongoing Coaching and Training29:43 Practical Ideas for Weaving Relational Fabric

Welcome to season 4! This season is all about helping you prepare for your church's next big push!  In this fist episode Erin & Doug talk with Bart Rendel on the concept of the relational reach zone of churches and how it impacts strategic planning for the next season. Bart stresses the importance of knowing who the church is trying to reach and being aware of the potential impact they can have within their relational networks. They suggest practical steps such as identifying the people connected to the church, evaluating the frequency of their attendance, and multiplying the average attendance to estimate the size of the relational footprint. They also highlight the need for individual awareness of personal relational reach zones and the importance of mobilizing and training church members to reach people within their own networks.Intentional Churches: Website: https://intentionalchurches.com         The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C       The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/  YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches       Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/       Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches        X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches      Chapters:00:18 Introduction and Season 4 Focus02:23 Defining the Relational Reach Zone04:04 Identifying the Church's Relational Reach Zone08:03 Guiding Teams with Relational Reach Zone10:43 Paradigm Shift: Institutional vs. Relational Evangelism12:57 Community Impact through Relational Reach Zone14:00 3D Chess: Overlapping Church Footprints16:06 Planning Next Season with Relational Reach Zone18:25 Practical Steps for Raising One Awareness20:44 Annual One Where Audit for Strategy21:43 Summary of Relational Reach Zone Concept22:59 Evaluating Programmatic Schedule and Great Commission24:01 Personal Relational Reach Zone Importance26:17 Next Steps for Church Leaders and Volunteers28:16 Evaluating Ministry Programs with Great Commission Questions29:14 Encouragement for Planning and Reflection

In this last episode of Season 3 Erin and Doug are joined by Mitch Harrison to discuss church leadership challenges, focusing on the critical issue of burnout. Mitch shares his personal journey of experiencing and overcoming burnout, and the need for intentional replenishment. The conversation highlights the importance of balancing stress with restorative practices and offers a framework involving rest, emotional release, renewed purpose, recreation, and meaningful relationships. This episode encourages leaders to create a sustainable plan for personal replenishment and to foster a supportive culture within their organizations to prevent burnout and maintain effective ministry.Intentional Churches: Website: https://intentionalchurches.com        The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C      The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/ YouTube:www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches    Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches       LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/      Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches      X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches     Mitch Harrison:Website: www.refillcoaching.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-harrison-3653b539 Chapters:00:23 Podcast Introduction01:28 Mitch Harrison's Background02:19 Question: Managing Ministry Demands03:03 Mitch's Personal Burnout Journey05:15 Doug Parks on Burnout in Ministry06:29 Defining Replenishment08:45 The Five R's Framework12:45 Doug Parks on Escapism vs. Replenishment16:04 Personal Application for Leaders17:04 Creating a Replenishment Plan19:10 Doug's Current Challenges with Replenishment21:04 Mitch on Church Staff Replenishment22:20 Generational Differences in Work Ethic24:29 Millennials' Perspective on Work and Burnout26:43 Organizational Replenishment Practices28:14 Applying the Framework Corporately

In this episode Erin and Doug discuss strategic alignment in church leadership with guest Allie Bryant. Allie, a Strategic Alignment Executive at Trader's Point Christian Church, explains her role in bridging the gap between strategy and execution. The conversation focuses on common challenges church leaders face, such as project prioritization, resource allocation, and maintaining clear communication of vision and strategy. Allie shares insights into effective project management, the importance of regular strategic planning, and the need for clarity and consistency in defining and communicating mission, vision, and strategy within church organizations.Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!Intentional Churches: Website: https://intentionalchurches.com         The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C       The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/        YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches          Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches         LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/        Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches       X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches    Chapters:00:20 Welcome and Introductions01:00 Allie Bryant's Background03:00 Defining Strategic Alignment04:27 Importance of Clarity in Vision and Strategy06:03 Challenges in Defining Strategy and Vision08:44 Translating Vision to Execution10:04 Coordinating Vision with Team Members13:09 Prioritization and Sequencing in Strategy17:06 Misalignment as a Major Challenge in Churches18:46 Evaluating Strategy Regularly19:43 Coordination of Day-to-Day Strategy21:08 Example of Misalignment from Mother's Day25:33 Developing Project Management Skills29:42 Training Next Generation of Leaders30:23 Practical Steps for Greater Strategic Alignment

Bishop Derrick McRae, Senior Pastor at The Experience Christian Center in Orlando, Florida sits down with Erin and Doug to share insights on how churches can better integrate with their communities and meet their needs. He touches on the importance of approaching community integration with a humble posture. Bishop McCrae also highlights the need for churches to develop relationships and partnerships with government officials and other organizations to effectively meet community needs. He encourages churches to have a clear vision and value proposition for their outreach efforts and to actively involve their congregation in outreach activities. Additionally, he stresses the importance of trusting in God rather than political outcomes.Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!Intentional Churches: Website: https://intentionalchurches.com        The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C      The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/       YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches       Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/       Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches      X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches   Bishop Derrick McRae:Website: https://www.eccorlando.com/our-pastor Chapters:00:00 Introduction and the Church's Role in Communities02:13 Integrating with the Community: Approaching with Humility and Listening05:02 Developing Relationships and Partnerships for Effective Outreach08:24 Creating a Clear Vision and Value Proposition for Outreach22:43 Navigating Politics in the Church: Trusting in God

Erin and Doug talk through the topic of church growth and how to navigate it without losing sight of the church's vision and mission. They discuss the importance of not being afraid of growth and the need to innovate and focus on relational ministry. They caution against reverting to old strategies and highlight the need for personal mission statements aligned with the Great Commission. The epsiode is all about the challenges of growth, the importance of evaluation and pruning, and the need for an aligned true north for the church.Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!Intentional Churches: Website: https://intentionalchurches.com       The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C     The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/      YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches      Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches       LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/      Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches     X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurchesChapters:00:00 Introduction and Setting the Context01:42 Observations on Church Growth09:26 Avoiding Mission Drift14:42 Fighting the Inward Pull and Getting Back to Basics21:24 Inviting Others for Evaluation and Reflection24:01 Embracing the Dynamic Nature of God's Work25:56 Celebrating Growth and Listening to God's Direction

This week Erin & Doug are joined by their good friend Dano and they talk about the importance of collaboration and working well together across teams in church leadership. They discuss the challenges of silos within teams and the need to eliminate them for effective decision-making and creating breakthroughs. They also introduce the concept of co-creation, which is involving everyone in the organization and unlocking their contributions. Their conversation highlights the importance of cross-functionality and prioritization in achieving collaboration. Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!Intentional Churches: Website: https://intentionalchurches.com      The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C    The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/     YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches     Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches      LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/     Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches    X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches    Chapters:00:00 Introduction and the Importance of Collaboration02:13 Silos and the Need for Cross-Functionality07:07 Co-Creation: Inviting People to the Kitchen10:26 Prioritization and Sequencing in Collaboration13:46 True Collaboration vs Telling and Selling26:20 Conclusion and Encouragement