The Unstuck Church Podcast with Amy Anderson

Most churches start with the same mission: reach new people for Jesus. But over time, this mission shifts from reaching the people on the outside to appeasing the people on the inside. Once this shift occurs, the church is headed toward decline. This week, Tony sat down with Michael Moore, the Executive Pastor at Faith Chapel and consultant at The Unstuck Group, to discuss the ways his church has fought to overcome this internal-focus tendency, and how other church leaders can do the same. For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode202. Join the Live Conversation on Social Media If you're listening on Wednesday, when the episode first releases, join the live conversation The Unstuck Group's team will be having on social media about this week's topic. We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on Twitter. Or you can join in on Facebook.

In this podcast, Tony and Amy discuss the challenges faced by churches in the declining phase, with the majority self-assessing as being in the maintenance phase. They emphasize the importance of renewing the vision for the future and choosing to change before an emergency arises. The stages of the maintenance and preservation phases are explored, highlighting the decline in attendance and giving, and the need for significant change. They also discuss the challenges and options for churches in the life support phase, including reaching new people and making transformative changes. Knowing where a church sits in its life cycle is crucial, and they provide insights on how to determine its position using a free assessment and the next steps to take.

Today, we're celebrating, because our podcast is officially 200 episodes old. They grow up so fast! To celebrate this special occasion, Amy and I decided to take a quick pause from our current series and "pull back the curtain" of the podcast. You'll get to meet the full team of Unstuck rockstars that help us record, edit, publish, and share this podcast every single week. We'll also share our insights and takeaways for leaders who may be exploring all things digital ministry and content creation. Upcoming Subscriber Event  Are you a dedicated listener of our podcast? We'd love for you to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Then Tweet, DM, or email us (jordan@theunstuckgroup.com) a screenshot of your review. We'll grab your email address and invite you to our exclusive Podcast Coffee Hour event on August 13. For the full episode transcript, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode200.

Explore the importance of embracing change for healthy churches in sustained health. Discover multiplication strategies for expanding ministry impact. Learn about evaluating and taking action for effective church strategies using the Unstuck Church Assessment.

Explore the seven phases of the church lifecycle: launch, momentum growth, and strategic growth. Learn about reaching new people, creating an inviting culture, making room for attendees, implementing systems and strategies, and planning for permanent facilities. Discover the importance of systematizing and making things more efficient in a church.

When it comes to giving and stewardship, you need to remind people what you want for them rather than what you want from them. In the final part of our re-engagement series, Tony sat down with Bronson Crawford, the Stewardship Director at Athens Church in Athens, Georgia. Even before Covid, they were thinking intentionally and getting creative when it comes to engaging their congregation with the topic of stewardship. Bronson shared five strategies that he believes set their church up for sustained financial health before, during, and after the pandemic. There are two solid action steps and one key takeaway for churches that you won't want to miss. For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode197. Join the Live Conversation on Social Media If you're listening on Wednesday, when the episode first releases, join the live conversation The Unstuck Group's team will be having on social media about this week's topic. We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on Twitter. Or you can join in on Facebook. Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic. If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode 197] in your post for reference.

The days of us turning on the “We’re open” light and waiting for people to show up for church are behind us. Reopening and re-engaging your congregation has likely already been more challenging than expected. We need to engage our mission field and compel them to come (see Luke 14:23). There are no real experts in this season, but churches in some parts of the country are a month or two ahead of the learning curve. In Part 2, we share Crossroads Church’s story and a few practical takeaways to help you re-engage people in weekend services. For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode195. Join the Live Conversation on Social Media If you're listening on Wednesday, when the episode first releases, join the live conversation The Unstuck Group's team will be having on social media about this week's topic. We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on Twitter. Or you can join in on Facebook. Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic. If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode 195] in your post for reference.

On the other side... You’ve been waiting for this day for months. Instead of talking about how ministry strategy needs to shift because of the pandemic, you’re starting to talk about what ministry will look like on the other side of it. But if you’re like most of the pastors we’re talking to, reopening and re-engaging your congregation has already been more challenging than expected.  There are no real experts in this season, but churches in some parts of the country are a month or two ahead of the learning curve. So, in this NEW 4-PART SERIES, we’re sharing interviews with pastors who are leading the way in navigating the reopening challenges ahead of us all. In Part 1, we share Quest Church’s story and a few practical takeaways to help you re-engage people in serving roles. For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode194. Join the Live Conversation on Social Media If you're listening on Wednesday, when the episode first releases, join the live conversation The Unstuck Group's team will be having on social media about this week's topic. We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on Twitter. Or you can join in on Facebook. Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic. If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode 194] in your post for reference.

The podcast explores new benchmarks for evaluating church health beyond giving and attendance, focusing on the Vital Signs Assessment and Unstuck Church Report. They discuss trends, digital shifts, financial impact of COVID-19, and strategies for financial health post-pandemic.

No one TRIES to lead ineffective meetings, but any leader can get a bit lazy. The 9 key practices we share in this episode aren't rocket science, but they are things we see many church leaders just letting slip. When a team is clear on direction and wins, and puts these principles into practice in their meetings, people actually like meetings. They help us clarify our work and move things forward. They turn into a worthy investment of our time rather than an energy drain. In this episode, Tony and Amy wrap-up this series by sharing how you can corral one of the biggest time-wasters on any team. For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode192. Join the Live Conversation on Social Media If you're listening on Wednesday, when the episode first releases, join the live conversation The Unstuck Group's team will be having on social media about this week's topic. We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on Twitter. Or you can join in on Facebook. Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic. If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode 192] in your post for reference.