The Unstuck Church Podcast with Tony Morgan

It's easy to focus on what the church needs to change when growth slows—programs, strategies, systems. But often, the real breakthrough starts with the leader. A particularly challenging part of leading through the maintenance phase? Adjusting your leadership approach. In Part 3 of our “Just Maintaining” series, Sean and Amy discuss what churches need to be thinking about when it comes to their leadership team, key responsibilities senior pastors can't delegate (and what they should delegate) and specific adjustments to make to move forward again.   This Episode is Sponsored by Planning Center: Are you struggling to keep your church organized and connected? Planning Center is the all-in-one church management software that solves your administrative challenges. You can effortlessly track first-time guests, manage volunteer schedules, and create easy ways for your congregation to get involved—all from a single platform. Whether you need a check-in system, event signups, or an online giving solution, Planning Center helps you nurture your community and keep people connected. Visit planningcenter.com to get started for free.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

Your church isn't declining … but it's not growing either. You might be stuck in “maintenance mode.” Many aspects of ministry look healthy, but growth has slowed. You're not really reaching new guests, and fewer people are crossing the line of faith. What now?  In Part 2 of our "Just Maintaining" series, Sean and Amy talk about what you actually need to do to change course. They'll cover what it means to have a maintenance mindset, how to focus back on reaching new people and practical applications on how to break through the next growth barrier.   This Episode is Sponsored by Planning Center: Are you struggling to keep your church organized and connected? Planning Center is the all-in-one church management software that solves your administrative challenges. You can effortlessly track first-time guests, manage volunteer schedules, and create easy ways for your congregation to get involved—all from a single platform. Whether you need a check-in system, event signups, or an online giving solution, Planning Center helps you nurture your community and keep people connected. Visit planningcenter.com to get started for free.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.   

Has your church's growth slowed down or hit a plateau? Maybe you're financially stable, and everything seems fine on the surface, but something feels off from your perspective as the leader. There are telltale signs your church is drifting away from sustained health. In this candid series, we'll explore why churches unconsciously slip into “maintenance mode,” what it costs them and, most importantly, how to break free. In this episode, Amy and Sean discuss the warning signs of shifting into maintenance mode, the key metrics to pay attention to and the first steps to take toward getting unstuck. This Episode is Sponsored by Planning Center: Are you struggling to keep your church organized and connected? Planning Center is the all-in-one church management software that solves your administrative challenges. You can effortlessly track first-time guests, manage volunteer schedules, and create easy ways for your congregation to get involved—all from a single platform. Whether you need a check-in system, event signups, or an online giving solution, Planning Center helps you nurture your community and keep people connected. Visit planningcenter.com to get started for free.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

The newest edition of The Unstuck Church Report is here! Every quarter, The Unstuck Group compiles all the data we've collected to monitor trends in churches in the United States. Our Q2 report focuses on current staffing data and trends in North American churches. For this quarter's report, we received survey responses from 251 churches, giving us valuable insights into current church trends. These churches ranged from 100 to over 9,900 in physical attendance for worship gatherings. The average in-person attendance of churches that participated was 978 people. In this episode, Sean and Amy discuss findings from the Q2 2025 Unstuck Church Report and take a targeted look at key staffing data and metrics, the top staffing challenges churches are facing today and the future of church staffing. Plus, the report sponsor Vanderbloemen provides exclusive hiring insights.   This Episode is Sponsored by Vanderbloemen: You have enough to-do's on your plate—finding the right church executive shouldn't be one of them. When you let Vanderbloemen do the heavy lifting, you gain a trusted, experienced executive search team, allowing you to save time and feel confident hiring a leader who lasts. Ready to hire the right leader? Head to vanderbloemen.com/getstarted   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

Live teaching or video teaching? It's one of the most debated questions in any multisite conversation. Everyone seems to have a strong opinion, but the best choice isn't always the most obvious. In this episode, Sean and Amy answer this age-old question with proven data and real stories. They also outline what to consider when making this decision (including technology) and offer practical strategies to help you avoid missteps in your teaching model. If you're launching a campus—or just wondering if it's time to rethink your approach—this episode is for you. This Episode Is Brought to You by PlainJoe: Are you considering adding a second or third campus to your growing church? Need help telling your church's unique story across every location? PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio, has you covered. Their team of creative storytellers, talented designers and innovative architects are passionate about helping churches tell their stories through spatial, interactive and strategic storytelling.  Reach out to learn more at plainjoe.net.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.   

If you've ever tried to launch a second campus, you know the struggle is real. Turns out, most churches get their staffing and structure wrong from day one, but we're here to save you from those painful missteps. In this episode, Amy and Sean dive into the math behind multisite staffing (hint: your ratios probably need to change), why rushing to build a massive central team is a recipe for disaster, and how to avoid turning your campus pastor into a lonely island. We'll also tackle the ever-present challenge of who actually gets to make decisions in this whole multisite dance.  Whether you're thinking about going multisite or feeling “multi-stuck” right now, we discuss practical guidance you may need to build a structure that actually works.   This Episode Is Brought to You by PlainJoe: Are you considering adding a second or third campus to your growing church? Need help telling your church's unique story across every location? PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio, has you covered. Their team of creative storytellers, talented designers and innovative architects are passionate about helping churches tell their stories through spatial, interactive and strategic storytelling.  Reach out to learn more at plainjoe.net.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

If you've got multiple locations and your team feels divided, this episode is for you. The dreaded “us vs. them” mentality can creep into any multisite church, creating unhealthy competition and fractured relationships between campus and central teams. Amy, Sean and special guest Carlos Cardenas, from Christ Fellowship Church in Miami, share their battle-tested wisdom on preventing and addressing this division before it derails your mission. You'll learn practical steps to foster unity, establish clear decision-making frameworks and build the communication rhythms that keep everyone rowing in the same direction. Whether you're just starting your multisite journey or need to course-correct an existing divide, this conversation delivers the straight talk you need to build a healthy multisite culture.   This Episode is Brought to You By PlainJoe. Are you considering adding a second or third campus to your growing church? Need help telling your church's unique story across every location? PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio, has you covered. Their team of creative storytellers, talented designers and innovative architects are passionate about helping churches tell their stories through spatial, interactive and strategic storytelling.  Reach out to learn more at plainjoe.net.    

In this episode, Amy sits down with Doug Turner, President of GenerosityOS, to talk about how church giving strategies have evolved (spoiler alert: episodic capital campaigns are so 2004). Doug brings decades of experience from helping churches like Willow Creek and Redeemer Presbyterian fund their vision, and he's got some fresh insights on why year-round generosity and vision clarity are the new power couple in church finance. If you're tired of the same old “pass the plate and pray” approach, this conversation is for you. Doug unpacks why traditional capital campaigns are shifting, how to build a culture of generosity that doesn't feel like a permanent fundraiser, and why churches need to stop trying to fund unclear visions (seriously, stop it). Plus, he shares practical first steps for church leaders ready to level up their generosity game. Whether you're a pastor who breaks out in hives at the mention of money talks or a church leader looking to build a more sustainable funding model, this episode delivers the straight talk you need about modern church giving.   This Episode Is Brought to You by PlainJoe: Are you considering adding a second or third campus to your growing church? Need help telling your church's unique story across every location? PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio, has you covered. Their team of creative storytellers, talented designers and innovative architects are passionate about helping churches tell their stories through spatial, interactive and strategic storytelling.  Reach out to learn more at plainjoe.net.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

Do you wish your church could have more financial margin for ministry? Are your people struggling with debt and low giving? In this episode of The Unstuck Church Podcast, Sean interviews George Kamel from Ramsey Solutions about how Financial Peace University is helping churches break free from financial stress.  We're shooting straight with these questions. Why are so few churchgoers tithing regularly? How is debt truly impacting healthy church growth, and what are practical ways church leaders can start transforming their church's financial health today?  George shares some remarkable statistics about how FPU is increasing per-donor giving in churches while helping congregations get serious about biblical stewardship. If money was one of Jesus' most discussed topics, it should probably tell us something. If you're tired of avoiding money conversations in your church, this episode is for you.   This Episode is Brought to You By Planning Center: Are you struggling to keep your church organized and connected? Planning Center is the all-in-one church management software that solves your administrative challenges. You can effortlessly track first-time guests, manage volunteer schedules, and create easy ways for your congregation to get involved—all from a single platform. Whether you need a check-in system, event signups, or an online giving solution, Planning Center helps you nurture your community and keep people connected. Visit planningcenter.com to get started for free.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

Talking about money in church can feel like walking on eggshells while juggling chainsaws. (Okay, that may be a bit dramatic, but are we wrong?) What if it didn't have to be that way? In this episode, Pastor Jason Anderson (yes, that Anderson—he's Amy's husband and somehow still agreed to be on our podcast!) from Crossroads Church shares how he turned potentially awkward “money talks” into powerful moments of discipleship and life change. From personal stories that build trust to practical strategies that won't send your congregation running for the exit, Jason breaks down how to tackle one of ministry's most challenging topics.  Whether you're a pastor who dreads the annual giving message or a church leader looking to build a culture of generosity, this conversation will help you find your voice on the topic of money. Because at the end of the day, it's not about what we want from people—it's about what we want for them.   This Episode is Brought to You By Planning Center: Are you struggling to keep your church organized and connected?   Planning Center is the all-in-one church management software that solves your administrative challenges. You can effortlessly track first-time guests, manage volunteer schedules, and create easy ways for your congregation to get involved—all from a single platform. Whether you need a check-in system, event signups, or an online giving solution, Planning Center helps you nurture your community and keep people connected.   Visit planningcenter.com to get started for free.     Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

Feeling uneasy when it comes to church finances? You're not alone. In this week's episode, Sean and Amy dive deep into something that's close to their hearts—creating a funding plan that actually supports your church's vision. We're not just talking spreadsheets and budgets here (though those are important!). We're talking about aligning your resources with God's mission for your church. We'll explore practical ways to evaluate your current budget, identify gaps between your financial reality and ministry strategies and make meaningful adjustments, even mid-fiscal year. If you're wrestling with questions about church finances or feeling stuck in your current funding approach, this episode offers the guidance you need to move forward with confidence. Plus, we've included a helpful tool for subscribers to put these principles into practice right away.   This Episode is Brought to You By Planning Center: Are you struggling to keep your church organized and connected?   Planning Center is the all-in-one church management software that solves your administrative challenges. You can effortlessly track first-time guests, manage volunteer schedules, and create easy ways for your congregation to get involved—all from a single platform. Whether you need a check-in system, event signups, or an online giving solution, Planning Center helps you nurture your community and keep people connected.   Visit planningcenter.com to get started for free.     Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.   

Budgeting. Giving. Financial health. Money is often a taboo topic in churches. But what if we flipped the script? Money shouldn't be a source of anxiety—it should be a tool for mission. In this new series, Amy and Sean and some special guests will help church leaders develop a healthier relationship with church finances. From practical budgeting strategies to creating a culture of biblical generosity, we'll walk through how to align your financial practices with your ministry vision without the awkwardness that typically accompanies "money talks" in church. In the first episode, Sean and Amy don't hold back: They make a clear case for the wise way, explaining how churches can budget according to biblical principles instead of the foolish approach many churches take.   This Episode is Brought to You By Planning Center: Are you struggling to keep your church organized and connected? Planning Center is the all-in-one church management software that solves your administrative challenges. You can effortlessly track first-time guests, manage volunteer schedules, and create easy ways for your congregation to get involved—all from a single platform. Whether you need a check-in system, event signups, or an online giving solution, Planning Center helps you nurture your community and keep people connected. Visit planningcenter.com to get started for free.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.     

It's an oft-overlooked but crucial aspect of retention: engaging people in their calling. In this final episode of our series called "Reach & Retain Strategies," Amy interviews Noah Herrin, lead pastor of Way Church in Nashville, who shares insights from the remarkable journey of growing a church plant to 800 people in just 16 months while primarily reaching Gen Z and Millennials. Noah shares how Way Church is addressing the crisis of meaning and purpose among younger generations through intentional community building and helping people discover their unique contributions to the church's mission.  Listen in to discover: How to create an environment where people can easily discover and use their spiritual gifts Practical strategies for engaging Gen Z and Millennials in church ministry The importance of intentional community building in retention Fresh approaches to digital ministry and social media engagement Ways to remove barriers and create flexible opportunities for service This Episode Is Brought to You by The Church Lawyers: The Church Lawyers' Client Member program was created for organizations just like yours. Their team of Christian legal professionals are personally called to empower and protect churches, ministries and their leaders to fulfill their mission by providing biblically informed and ministry-focused legal solutions. Whether governance, employment, litigation or other matters, let The Church Lawyers walk alongside you as you navigate legal issues facing your ministry.   Sign up for the The Church Lawyers' Client Member program today at thechurchlawyers.com. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.

In this episode of The Unstuck Church Podcast, Sean and Amy continue their series on reach and retain strategies, featuring a compelling conversation with Doug Dameron from Orchard Church in Brighton, CO, about crafting effective next steps for new attendees. Doug shares how his team transformed their follow-up process, leading to dramatic improvements in engagement—from just 5% of new believers becoming known to over 40% today. This episode also unpacks how the church used their data to drive strategic changes, resulting in a 600% increase in next steps engagement and a 300% growth in people taking action through baptism, community and serving. Listen in to discover:  Why traditional connection methods might be failing your church How small “renovations” to your process can lead to exponential results Practical ways to remove barriers and increase engagement The power of digital follow-ups in discipleship   This Episode Is Brought to You by The Church Lawyers: The Church Lawyers' Client Member program was created for organizations just like yours. Their team of Christian legal professionals are personally called to empower and protect churches, ministries and their leaders to fulfill their mission by providing biblically informed and ministry-focused legal solutions. Whether governance, employment, litigation or other matters, let The Church Lawyers walk alongside you as you navigate legal issues facing your ministry.     Sign up for the The Church Lawyers' Client Member program today at thechurchlaywers.com.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.

In this episode of The Unstuck Church Podcast, Amy and Sean dive into part two of our conversation on reach and retain strategies, focusing on how churches can leverage their weekend services as effective “front doors” for connecting with new people. From common misses like poor signage and untrained volunteers to practical solutions that create excellent guest experiences, Amy and Sean unpack what's working (and what isn't) in churches today. They share insights on creating a clear guest services presence, developing intentional follow-up processes and ensuring weekend experiences connect with both churched and unchurched people. Listen in to learn how your church can create more effective entry points through your weekend services and establish systems that help new people take their next steps toward Christ. Join us for a free webinar on March 13th where we'll dive deeper into proven strategies for reaching and retaining new people in your church. This Episode is Brought to You By The Church Lawyers: The Church Lawyers' Client Member program was created for organizations just like yours. Their team of Christian legal professionals are personally called to empower and protect churches, ministries and their leaders to fulfill their mission by providing biblically informed and ministry-focused legal solutions. Whether governance, employment, litigation or other matters, let The Church Lawyers walk alongside you as you navigate legal issues facing your ministry.     Sign up for the The Church Lawyers' Client Member program today at thechurchlaywers.com.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

Frustrated by the persistent tug between pleasing your core people and reaching new guests? In this episode, Sean and Amy explore why reaching new people requires focus and how lack of clarity about who you're trying to reach leads to ineffective ministry. We're discussing how churches get stuck trying to be everything to everyone, what Scripture teaches us about having a clear mission field and practical ways to lead your church toward greater effectiveness in reaching the unchurched in your community. If you're sensing tension between maintaining what's working for your core and making changes to reach new people, this conversation will give you practical next steps for leading your congregation forward. This Episode is Brought to You By The Church Lawyers: The Church Lawyers' Client Member program was created for organizations just like yours. Their team of Christian legal professionals are personally called to empower and protect churches, ministries and their leaders to fulfill their mission by providing biblically informed and ministry-focused legal solutions. Whether governance, employment, litigation or other matters, let The Church Lawyers walk alongside you as you navigate legal issues facing your ministry.     Sign up for the The Church Lawyers' Client Member program today at thechurchlaywers.com.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

In this quarter's edition of The Unstuck Church Report, Amy Anderson unpacks the latest trends showing both encouraging growth and engagement challenges in churches across America. While attendance numbers are increasing, the data reveals churches are grappling with engagement metrics that aren't keeping pace. From small group participation to per capita giving, the numbers tell a story of churches needing to strengthen their connection systems. Join Sean and Amy as they break down the Q1 2025 data, examining multisite momentum, staffing ratios, financial health indicators and practical steps churches can take to build sustainable growth. Listen below for insights that will help you evaluate your church's health and chart a course for greater impact. This quarter's report was sponsored by StudioC: If discipleship is your church's ultimate Why, engagement is your How. The problem is most churches struggle to extract meaningful insights from their database, leaving leadership teams without the clear picture they need. Most church communication is simply a flood of every message to every person across every channel, leaving your people frustrated and overwhelmed with information. With a deep understanding of ministry needs, StudioC brings the science of personalized engagement to the Church, enabling you to create personalized discipleship journeys at scale. Their two flagship software solutions – ChurchIQ and Member Engagement Solution – help your church unlock the full potential of combining rich data-driven analytics with highly targeted messaging. With StudioC's software, you can: - Know the macro- and micro-level movements of your people - Match them to their relevant next steps - Tell them through your existing church app See for yourself at thestudioc.org Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.   

We're wrapping up our series on church staffing oxymorons by tackling perhaps the most challenging one yet: the perfect staff structure for never. Many churches find themselves caught in a structure that doesn't work for today's needs and definitely won't support tomorrow's vision. It's that nagging feeling that something's off—workloads are uneven, decision-making is unclear and leadership gaps are widening. In Part 3, Sean and Amy explore why churches get stuck in ineffective structures and, more importantly, how to build a staff model that works for the present and the future. Listen as they share practical metrics to assess your current situation and strategic steps to move toward a healthier organizational structure. This Episode is Brought to You By Planning Center: Planning Center is an all-in-one toolkit to organize and run your ministries. And what is a ministry without volunteers? Planning Center helps you build a sustainable and balanced volunteer schedule that aligns ministry needs with people's availability. Then, you can connect with your team using chat, where you can coordinate ministry details, make announcements, and engage in fun conversations with your teammates. Get started for free at planningcenter.com. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

In Part 2 of our church staffing series, Sean and Amy tackle another challenging oxymoron: having the right wrong people on your team. In this episode, we unpack: How to assess your current staff leaders beyond basic performance metrics Understanding the four levels of leadership capacity (10s, 50s, 100s, 1000s) The importance of evaluating roles separately from the people in them Tools and assessments for understanding staff wiring and capacity Plus, we discuss the value of outside perspective when making tough staffing decisions, share practical next steps for leaders and explain how to avoid creating the same challenges in future hiring. We also address the personal growth needed from senior leaders to build and maintain healthy staff structures. This Episode is Brought to You By Planning Center: Planning Center is an all-in-one toolkit to organize and run your ministries. And what is a ministry without volunteers? Planning Center helps you build a sustainable and balanced volunteer schedule that aligns ministry needs with people's availability. Then, you can connect with your team using chat, where you can coordinate ministry details, make announcements, and engage in fun conversations with your teammates. Get started for free at planningcenter.com.

In Part 1 of a new series we're calling "Church Staffing Oxymorons," Sean and Amy explore a common staffing oxymoron that all too many churches face: teams that are simultaneously understaffed and overstaffed. In this episode we unpack: Why churches often end up with misaligned staffing What this tension feels like for different ministry areas Common but ineffective solutions churches try How to properly assess your starting point The importance of having true leaders in leadership roles Practical next steps for evaluating and addressing staffing imbalances Plus, we share real church examples, discuss assessment tools that can provide objective data about your staffing reality and provide guidance for leaders who want to build healthy, sustainable team structures that support effective ministry. This Episode is Brought to You By Planning Center: Planning Center is an all-in-one toolkit to organize and run your ministries. And what is a ministry without volunteers?   Planning Center helps you build a sustainable and balanced volunteer schedule that aligns ministry needs with people's availability. Then, you can connect with your team using chat, where you can coordinate ministry details, make announcements, and engage in fun conversations with your teammates.   Get started for free at planningcenter.com.

The '90s called again, and they want their 3-ring binder back. In Part 4 of our series, Sean and Amy explore: Why documenting a strategy isn't the same as creating aligned action How churches sometimes use planning to avoid significant change The difference between treating symptoms vs. solving root problems What true organizational alignment looks like and why it matters Practical steps for moving from documentation to implementation Plus, they discuss how to assess whether your teams are truly aligned, share real examples of effective and ineffective alignment and provide guidance for leaders who want to create living, active ministry plans that drive results instead of static documents that collect dust.   This Episode is Brought to You By Planning Center: Planning Center is an all-in-one toolkit to organize and run your ministries. And what is a ministry without volunteers? Planning Center helps you build a sustainable and balanced volunteer schedule that aligns ministry needs with people's availability. Then, you can connect with your team using chat, where you can coordinate ministry details, make announcements, and engage in fun conversations with your teammates. Get started for free at planningcenter.com.

The '90s called, and they want their core values back. In Part 3 of our series, Sean and Amy discuss how churches can move beyond generic “permission to play” values to define authentic, culture-shaping behaviors that drive real organizational change. They cover: Why traditional church core values often end up as meaningless wall art The difference between “permission to play” values and true culture-shaping behaviors How to identify and define values that reflect who you actually are (not who you wish to be) Practical steps for embedding these behaviors into hiring, firing and performance management Why senior leaders must model the behaviors they want to see in their culture Plus, they explain why values should be tangible and observable, share real examples of effective culture-shaping behaviors and provide guidance for leaders who want to intentionally shape their organizational culture through clear behavioral expectations. This Episode Is Brought to You by PlainJoe: Unleash the power of your church's story with PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio! Their creative, fun-loving team of designers, architects, and specialists will come alongside your church to help you excel in your storytelling—and reach the people who need you most. PlainJoe has expertise in strategic, spatial, and digital storytelling, from brand development to architecture, website design, and beyond. Learn more at plainjoe.net. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

The ‘90s called again, and they want their 10-year visions back. In Part 2 of our series, Amy and Sean explore how churches can move beyond outdated vision-setting approaches to create more focused, time-bound visions that actually drive change. In this episode, we discuss: Why the 10-year vision approach from the ‘90s no longer works in today's fast-changing world How to start with identifying the core problem in your mission field before crafting a vision What makes a vision effective for the modern church (hint: it's specific and time-bound) Practical examples of bold moves from real churches Plus, they'll share key questions every church should ask when developing their vision and explain why getting crystal clear on the problem you're trying to solve is essential for rallying your entire church body around a common purpose. This Episode Is Brought to You By PlainJoe: Unleash the power of your church's story with PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio! Their creative, fun-loving team of designers, architects, and specialists will come alongside your church to help you excel in your storytelling—and reach the people who need you most. PlainJoe has expertise in strategic, spatial, and digital storytelling, from brand development to architecture, website design, and beyond. Learn more at plainjoe.net. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.   

The '90s called, and they want their strategic planning process back. That binder that's still on the shelf. The 10-year vision that has come and gone. So many churches are still doing vision, planning and strategy following an old playbook—a 30+ year-old playbook. Is there a more modern way to unify your church body around your vision? In this series, Amy and Sean will kick off 2025 by helping you learn a more nimble, actionable approach to planning and aligning your staff and church around a common purpose.  And in Part 1, they're picking on church mission statements and sharing what makes more sense. 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/episode378. This Episode Is Brought to You By PlainJoe: Unleash the power of your church's story with PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio! Their creative, fun-loving team of designers, architects, and specialists will come alongside your church to help you excel in your storytelling—and reach the people who need you most. PlainJoe has expertise in strategic, spatial, and digital storytelling, from brand development to architecture, website design, and beyond. Learn more at plainjoe.net. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.     

Wow, 2024, what a year of highs and lows. If there were ever a year to pause and look back, this is the one for us. In this episode, Sean and Amy are joined by Tiffany Deluccia, the third member of The Unstuck Group's leadership team. We reflect on God's faithfulness in 2024 and preview some of what's to come in 2025. For the full episode transcript, visit this episode's Show Notes at  theunstuckgroup.com/episode377. No Leader Conversation Guide this week! This Episode Is Brought to You By PlainJoe: Unleash the power of your church's story with PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio! Their creative, fun-loving team of designers, architects, and specialists will come alongside your church to help you excel in your storytelling—and reach the people who need you most. PlainJoe has expertise in strategic, spatial, and digital storytelling, from brand development to architecture, website design, and beyond. Learn more at plainjoe.net. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

We have covered the things that can start to feel like crises related to the people side of growth, and we've covered the challenges you can expect related to the emotional side of growth. But there's one more area that contains a lot of practical, preventable challenges in a growing church: the systems and structure side of growth.  In this episode, we're talking all about the logistics. The practical obstacles you start to run into as more and more people show up. The really obvious issues that have less obvious solutions. 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/episode376. This Episode is Sponsored by Planning Center: Planning Center is an all-in-one toolkit to organize and run your ministries. And what is a ministry without volunteers? Planning Center helps you build a sustainable and balanced volunteer schedule that aligns ministry needs with people's availability. Then, you can connect with your team using chat, where you can coordinate ministry details, make announcements, and engage in fun conversations with your teammates. Get started for free at planningcenter.com. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

Continued growth can feel like an engine.  As a leader, you're seeing results. You're running on the high of seeing the fruits of all the effort, intention and faithfulness. You and the team have been on mission, and you've sensed God's blessing and hand on the ministry. And then it all starts taking a toll, and if you're not careful, things can go sideways. In part two of our series “Predicable Challenges of Lead a Growing Church,” Sean and Amy talk about the emotional side of growth.  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/episode375. This Episode is Sponsored by Planning Center: Planning Center is an all-in-one toolkit to organize and run your ministries. And what is a ministry without volunteers? Planning Center helps you build a sustainable and balanced volunteer schedule that aligns ministry needs with people's availability. Then, you can connect with your team using chat, where you can coordinate ministry details, make announcements, and engage in fun conversations with your teammates. Get started for free at planningcenter.com. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

When your church is in a season of growth, there are certain challenges that you are bound to run into. The good news is these challenges are predictable. But just because they are predictable doesn't mean they are easy to navigate. In fact, some of the pastors going through a season of big momentum would tell you it's one of the hardest seasons they've led through, but it's also extremely rewarding. We're kicking off a new series called “Predictable Challenges of Leading a Growing Church,” where we will be discussing the tensions growing churches face and, most importantly, how to combat them. In this episode, Sean and Amy talk about what's most important in a growing church—people. 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/episode374. This Episode is Sponsored by Planning Center: Planning Center is an all-in-one toolkit to organize and run your ministries. And what is a ministry without volunteers? Planning Center helps you build a sustainable and balanced volunteer schedule that aligns ministry needs with people's availability. Then, you can connect with your team using chat, where you can coordinate ministry details, make announcements, and engage in fun conversations with your teammates. Get started for free at planningcenter.com. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.   

It's the most wonderful time of the year... time for The Unstuck Church Report! Every quarter, The Unstuck Group compiles all the data we've collected to monitor trends in churches in the United States. Our Q4 report focuses on current data and trends in multisite churches specifically. We received data from over 100 multisite churches ranging from fewer than 500 people in physical attendance to more than 20,000 people in attendance. These churches had as few as two locations to more than 20 locations, and the average attendance of the churches responding to the survey was 2,982 people. In this episode, Sean and Amy discuss findings from the Q4 2024 Unstuck Church Report and take a targeted look at trends and data for multisite churches.  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/episode373.   This episode is sponsored by Horizons Stewardship: Horizons Stewardship utilizes a collaborative and integrated ministry framework designed to fit each organization's unique culture and support church and faith-based nonprofit leaders in their mission to grow disciples and fund ministry through coaching, planning, technology, and analytics. Horizons has over three decades of experience and has developed a spiritually focused approach that consistently yields more funding for ministry and more effective disciplemaking strategies. With the support of seasoned ministry strategists, proven generosity guides, and ICF-trained coaches, ministries that partner with Horizons experience, on average, a double-digit increase in giving within the first year. Interested in learning more? Click here.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

In this series, we've talked about how to evaluate your in-person weekend experience. But there is another aspect to the weekend that we don't want to overlook—the online service experience. Evaluating your online service can be tricky; it's both part of the weekend and not. How do we measure the quality of it? In this episode, Sean and Amy close out our Weekend Quality Check series by discussing how to evaluate your online service experience. Aaron Bennett from Stonecreek Church in Milton, GA, also shares his insights in an interview with Amy. 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/episode372. This Episode is Sponsored by PlainJoe Studios Unleash the power of your church's story with PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio! Their creative, fun-loving team of designers, architects, and specialists will come alongside your church to help you excel in your storytelling—and reach the people who need you most. PlainJoe has expertise in strategic, spatial, and digital storytelling, from brand development to architecture, website design, and beyond. Learn more at plainjoe.net.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

You're ready for first-time guests. You've planned your sermon series. You've prepared your message. But how do you know if it's working? How do you evaluate your weekend experience? Throughout the “Weekend Quality Check” series, we've shared some practical ways you can increase the quality of your weekend planning, preparation and execution. Now, it's time to evaluate it.  In this episode, Sean and Amy talk through some ways to evaluate our weekends. Plus, we have another great interview to share with you from a very strategic Millennial pastor whom we love dearly: Jimmy McCloud at First Christian in Canton, Ohio. 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/episode371. This Episode is Sponsored by PlainJoe Studios Unleash the power of your church's story with PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio! Their creative, fun-loving team of designers, architects, and specialists will come alongside your church to help you excel in your storytelling—and reach the people who need you most. PlainJoe has expertise in strategic, spatial, and digital storytelling, from brand development to architecture, website design, and beyond. Learn more at plainjoe.net.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.   

How do you teach in a way that engages insiders without alienating the outsiders? How do you develop teachings that are relevant, relatable and truly transformational? Sean and Amy address these questions and more in Part 3 of the “Weekend Quality Check” series. In this episode, we dig into the core tensions pastors face in developing transformational messages that engage both insiders and outsiders, sharing practical solutions to navigate that tension while preparing messages. We also host Pastor Carlos Ortiz from Gateway Church in Austin, Texas, who shares insights about how he develops teachings that transform. 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/episode370. This Episode is Sponsored by PlainJoe Studios Unleash the power of your church's story with PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio! Their creative, fun-loving team of designers, architects, and specialists will come alongside your church to help you excel in your storytelling—and reach the people who need you most. PlainJoe has expertise in strategic, spatial, and digital storytelling, from brand development to architecture, website design, and beyond. Learn more at plainjoe.net.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

Weekend quality is about more than creative excellence. It's about how well you leverage that time to engage both insiders and outsiders—for people who know Jesus and people who don't. The sermon is a core component of any weekend experience. In this episode, Sean and Amy break down strategies for planning a sermon series that really connects with both church-goers and newcomers. Joel Thomas from North Point Ministries also joins us to share some insights and tips to help make your sermons even more impactful. 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/episode369. This Episode is Sponsored by Horizons Stewardship Did you know many capable households contribute more to their favorite charity than their local church? This trend is putting a significant financial strain on churches everywhere. That's why Horizons and The Unstuck Group have joined forces to create “The Financial Sustainability Crisis,” a guide designed to help you tackle these ongoing financial challenges. In this invaluable resource, you'll discover practical strategies to: Effectively budget and manage your financial resources Connect your giving to your discipleship journey Identify ways to ensure your ministry plan is fully funded Don't let financial challenges hold you back from realizing your God-inspired vision. Download "The Financial Sustainability Crisis" today at horizons.net/fundministry.   Join the 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 X. Or you can join in on Facebook.

Weekend Quality Check (Part 1) - We're hearing it from churches across the country: More and more people are showing up on the weekend, and it's really encouraging. When you have that kind of momentum, it's easy to start coasting. It's easy to stop noticing what needs attention, which is why now is a really good time for a quality check. Weekend quality is about more than creative excellence, though; it's about how well you leverage that time to engage both insiders and outsiders. So, in this series, we are going to share some practical ways you can up the quality of your weekend planning, preparation and execution—to steward the momentum if you have it or to spark it if you don't.  In the first episode, Amy and Sean talk about common issues we see with the way churches prepare (or don't prepare) for guests and share some solutions. We also interview Pastor Mark Johnson from The Journey in Delaware, a church we've served for years that sets a high bar in how they prepare for first-time guests. 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/episode368. This Episode is Sponsored by Horizons Stewardship Did you know many capable households contribute more to their favorite charity than their local church? This trend is putting a significant financial strain on churches everywhere. That's why Horizons and The Unstuck Group have joined forces to create “The Financial Sustainability Crisis,” a guide designed to help you tackle these ongoing financial challenges. In this invaluable resource, you'll discover practical strategies to: Effectively budget and manage your financial resources Connect your giving to your discipleship journey Identify ways to ensure your ministry plan is fully funded Don't let financial challenges hold you back from realizing your God-inspired vision. Download "The Financial Sustainability Crisis" today at horizons.net/fundministry.   Join the 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 X. Or you can join in on Facebook.

Is the leader of your family ministry included at the leadership table?  In the final episode of our series on "What It Really Takes To Reach Young Families," we had a conversation with Christie Penner Worden. Christie is a strategic leader, speaker, preacher and writer who is passionate about discipling children and equipping churches to raise this next generation with courageous faith.  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/episode367. This Episode is Sponsored by Horizons Stewardship Did you know many capable households contribute more to their favorite charity than their local church? This trend is putting a significant financial strain on churches everywhere. That's why Horizons and The Unstuck Group have joined forces to create “The Financial Sustainability Crisis,” a guide designed to help you tackle these ongoing financial challenges. In this invaluable resource, you'll discover practical strategies to: Effectively budget and manage your financial resources Connect your giving to your discipleship journey Identify ways to ensure your ministry plan is fully funded Don't let financial challenges hold you back from realizing your God-inspired vision. Download "The Financial Sustainability Crisis" today at horizons.net/fundministry.   Join the 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 X. Or you can join in on Facebook.

One thing is often overlooked when it comes to engaging kids and families—the environment. Creating compelling ministry spaces is crucial for reaching the next generation. Justyn Smith from PlainJoe Studios has 22 years of experience in kids' ministry. He works with some of the most innovative and creative churches in the country to develop compelling ministry spaces for children. In this episode, we invited Justyn to share what he's learned about reaching the next generation through dynamic environments.  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/episode366. This Episode is Sponsored by Horizons Stewardship Horizons Stewardship utilizes a collaborative and integrated ministry framework designed to fit each organization's unique culture and support church and faith-based nonprofit leaders in their mission to grow disciples and fund ministry through coaching, planning, technology, and analytics. Horizons has over three decades of experience and has developed a spiritually focused approach that consistently yields more funding for ministry and more effective disciple-making strategies. With the support of seasoned ministry strategists, proven generosity guides, and ICF-trained coaches, ministries that partner with Horizons experience, on average, a double-digit increase in giving within the first year.  Interested in learning more? Click here.   Join the 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 X. Or you can join in on Facebook.

Who is responsible? When kids' attendance numbers are down, senior leaders can tend to blame the kids' pastor. But the truth is that the children's pastor has very little control over creating the necessary environment for reaching young families. The church's leadership and vision are big factors. Before Tony Morgan's tragic passing in early September 2024, we had recorded the remaining podcast episodes in this series on “What It Really Takes To Reach Young Families.” Tony was passionate about this topic and had so much practical wisdom to offer. We've decided to release the remaining episodes of this series over the next few weeks. For Part 2, Tony and Amy had a conversation specifically about the aspects of ministry vision and leadership that are essential to the success or failure of kids' pastors in their 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/episode365. This Episode is Sponsored by Horizons Stewardship Horizons Stewardship utilizes a collaborative and integrated ministry framework designed to fit each organization's unique culture and support church and faith-based nonprofit leaders in their mission to grow disciples and fund ministry through coaching, planning, technology, and analytics. Horizons has over three decades of experience and has developed a spiritually focused approach that consistently yields more funding for ministry and more effective disciple-making strategies. With the support of seasoned ministry strategists, proven generosity guides, and ICF-trained coaches, ministries that partner with Horizons experience, on average, a double-digit increase in giving within the first year.  Interested in learning more? Click here.   Join the 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 X. Or you can join in on Facebook.

Many of you have already heard of Tony Morgan's passing on the morning of Wednesday, September 4, 2024, after suffering a heart attack two days before and battling with all his strength. But we wanted you to hear it from our voices. This is a tribute to the best boss we ever had, the leader who practiced what he preached, and the man who loved Jesus and His church. In this short episode, Sean, Tiffany, and Amy share the statement released by The Unstuck Group, along with some updates on the future of the podcast.  It's been an unspeakably difficult week. Thank you for all your kind words and prayers. Please continue to lift up Emily and all of Tony's kids in prayer, and the Unstuck team too.  The Morgan family has published Tony's obituary and asked us to share it with you.  We will be celebrating the life and the legacy that Tony lived on September 19th at 11:00 am Eastern at his church, North Point Community Church. If you choose to attend, please wear anything but black clothes, because this is a celebration—celebration of the life he lived and the impact that we will continue to carry throughout our lives. If you plan to attend the service, please bring a handwritten or typed note with a memory of Tony or a description of the impact he had on your life. Notes will be displayed on a memory board at the reception following the service, and treasured forever by the family. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that you make a donation in support of a cause close to Tony's heart: developing the next generation to lead unstuck churches. You can donate here to a fund established to provide scholarships for young pastors to participate in leadership training through The Unstuck Group.  

If a church is engaging young families, it's pretty easy to see. What's less obvious to the outside observer is all the decisions they have made to become a church that parents and kids want to attend—what it really takes. There's much more to it than curriculum, facilities or finding the right staff, and through this series, we are going to unpack all of what goes into it. In this first episode, we explore why reaching young families needs to be a priority and the tensions we know pastors are feeling around it. 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/episode364. This episode is brought to you by Planning Center: An all-in-one software to help you organize your ministries and care for your church. With an easy-to-use platform of products, you can bring people together with event signups, room and resource reservations, automatic volunteer scheduling, and much more. Start using it for free now at planningcenter.com.   Join the 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 X. Or you can join in on Facebook.

Every quarter, The Unstuck Group compiles all the data we've collected to monitor trends in churches in the United States.  In this episode, Amy and I discuss findings from the Q3 2024 Unstuck Church Report and take a targeted look at key differences between growing churches and churches that are plateauing or declining. You can subscribe to receive the quarterly report for free, or if you're subscribed to the podcast show notes, we'll send it out to you for free, as well. This Episode is Sponsored by Horizons Stewardship Horizons Stewardship utilizes a collaborative and integrated ministry framework designed to fit each organization's unique culture and support church and faith-based nonprofit leaders in their mission to grow disciples and fund ministry through coaching, planning, technology, and analytics. Horizons has over three decades of experience and has developed a spiritually focused approach that consistently yields more funding for ministry and more effective disciple-making strategies. With the support of seasoned ministry strategists, proven generosity guides, and ICF-trained coaches, ministries that partner with Horizons experience, on average, a double-digit increase in giving within the first year.  Interested in learning more? Click here. 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/episode363. 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/X. Or you can join in on Facebook.

Organizational health impacts the overall health of churches.  When there are gaps in strengths, trust and accountability in staff teams, stuckness soon follows. Here at The Unstuck Group, we've found an effective way for our team to identify their strengths and close gaps in their leadership through Working Genius by The Table Group.  In this BONUS episode, Tony Morgan interviews Beau Johnson from The Table Group about the importance of organizational health in churches and how Working Genius offers solutions.    This episode is brought to you by The Six Types of Working Genius: Working Genius is the fastest way to increase productivity, improve morale, and decrease turnover on your team. It takes ten minutes to discover the work that gives you joy and energy, and the work that is leading to staff burnout.  Take the assessment. Discuss your results. Engage the geniuses of the people around you.  Get started today: Use code UNSTUCKWG for 20% off at workinggenius.com.   Join the 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 X. Or you can join in on Facebook.

Our data consistently contradicts the broader trends of declining religious affiliation and church engagement in our country. In fact, we personally know many churches that are experiencing major momentum right now—in terms of attendance, engagement, professions of faith, giving and all kinds of metrics of church health. Clearly, there's something different about the churches that are part of our tribe. So, in the final episode of the series, we're going to share a few other things that make a church unstuck—more things those churches have in common. 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/episode362. This episode is brought to you by The Six Types of Working Genius: Working Genius is the fastest way to increase productivity, improve morale, and decrease turnover on your team. It takes ten minutes to discover the work that gives you joy and energy, and the work that is leading to staff burnout.  Take the assessment. Discuss your results. Engage the geniuses of the people around you.  Get started today: Use code UNSTUCKWG for 20% off at workinggenius.com.   Join the 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 X. Or you can join in on Facebook.

People are often surprised when they read our reports for the first time. Our data shows contradictory trends to much of what we read in general research. For example, in our most recent edition of The Unstuck Church Report, the average year-over-year attendance increase was 17%. There's clearly something different about the churches engaging with our surveys. Despite the headlines, we know 100s of churches that are NOT in decline. So, are U.S. churches stuck or unstuck? Over the next two episodes, we're going to try to explain what's so different about unstuck churches—based on real-life examples—and give you some practical ways to make sense of the things contributing to church growth or decline. 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/episode361. This episode is brought to you by The Six Types of Working Genius: Working Genius is the fastest way to increase productivity, improve morale, and decrease turnover on your team. It takes ten minutes to discover the work that gives you joy and energy, and the work that is leading to staff burnout.  Take the assessment. Discuss your results. Engage the geniuses of the people around you.  Get started today: Use code UNSTUCKWG for 20% off at workinggenius.com.   Join the 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 X. Or you can join in on Facebook.

New data, same headlines. The surveys and studies always seem to repeat the same refrain: Church attendance is in decline. Religious participation is phasing out of American life. Except…our data shows the opposite. In our most recent edition of The Unstuck Church Report, the average year-over-year attendance increase was 17% across churches of all sizes. There's clearly something different about the churches engaging with our surveys. In this series, we're going to try to explain what's so different about unstuck churches and give you some practical ways to make sense of the things contributing to church growth or decline. We have our own data and observations from the work we do that we will share in the next two episodes, but we wanted to start out with an exploration of recent data and trends from an authority on religion in American life. So, we invited Alan Cooperman from Pew Research Center to join us for a conversation about the broader trends happening in the U.S. 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/episode360. This episode is brought to you by The Six Types of Working Genius: Working Genius is the fastest way to increase productivity, improve morale, and decrease turnover on your team. It takes ten minutes to discover the work that gives you joy and energy, and the work that is leading to staff burnout.  Take the assessment. Discuss your results. Engage the geniuses of the people around you.  Get started today: Use code UNSTUCKWG for 20% off at workinggenius.com.   Join the 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 X. Or you can join in on Facebook.

When people discover their gifts, they begin to feel more connected and fulfilled. But few churches know how to help people discover the unique wiring God has given them—and fewer still have a plan to help people leverage those gifts once discovered. We wrap up this series on "Serving as Spiritual Formation" with an interview with Pastor Chris Hodges from Church of the Highlands to unpack the success they've had with "Growth Track," which has inspired thousands of churches across the country, and the overall importance of helping people serve with their gifts as part of their spiritual formation journey. 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/episode359. This episode is brought to you by Planning Center: An all-in-one software to help you organize your ministries and care for your church. With an easy-to-use platform of products, you can bring people together with event signups, room and resource reservations, automatic volunteer scheduling, and much more. Start using for free now at planningcenter.com.   Join the 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 X. Or you can join in on Facebook.

It is possible to integrate serving into your spiritual formation strategy in a practical and effective way. We're seeing churches all across the country do it. In recent years, churches we serve have been telling us they love The Rooted Experience. So, in part four of this series on Serving as Spiritual Formation, Tony interviews Pastor John Thomas from Mariners Church in California about The Rooted Experience. John shares how Rooted is helping people connect to faith and the church, why it is so effective and how Mariners Church encourages people to engage in serving opportunities as part of their spiritual formation. 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/episode358. This episode is brought to you by Planning Center: An all-in-one software to help you organize your ministries and care for your church. With an easy-to-use platform of products, you can bring people together with event signups, room and resource reservations, automatic volunteer scheduling, and much more. Start using for free now at planningcenter.com.   Join the 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 X. Or you can join in on Facebook.

Spiritual formation is less about what we ask people to do and more about who we're equipping people to become. In this episode, Tony interviews Pastor Daniel Im, author of The Discipleship Opportunity: Leading a Great-Commission Church in a Post-Everything World, about the role serving has in helping people grow closer to Jesus. This episode is brought to you by Planning Center: An all-in-one software to help you organize your ministries and care for your church. With an easy-to-use platform of products, you can bring people together with event signups, room and resource reservations, automatic volunteer scheduling, and much more. Start using for free now at planningcenter.com.   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/episode357.   Join the 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 X. Or you can join in on Facebook.

Before the pandemic, we typically saw 45% to 50% of all adults and students serving on a volunteer team at least monthly. Our most recent data shows churches reporting only 35% are serving today. In the first episode of this series on "Serving as Spiritual Formation," we talked about some of the most common mistakes churches make with their volunteer engagement strategy that are contributing to that shortage of volunteers. But in this second episode, we're going to look at the structural mistakes churches make that lead to low volunteer engagement. Tony and Amy talk about the structure of churches that engage the most volunteers in serving roles, and specifically, how this needs to be considered a spiritual formation issue.   This episode is brought to you by Planning Center: An all-in-one software to help you organize your ministries and care for your church. With an easy-to-use platform of products, you can bring people together with event signups, room and resource reservations, automatic volunteer scheduling, and much more. Start using for free now at planningcenter.com.   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/episode356.   Join the 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 X. Or you can join in on Facebook.

Most churches say they need more volunteers. But answer this honestly: What is your theology of serving? How well is your church discipling people to offer their spiritual gifts as part of the Great Commission? Many churches have gotten further away from viewing serving as an integral part of spiritual formation than they'd likely admit. In this series, Tony and Amy and special guests will share best practices on the strategy side of engaging people in serving, as well as critical elements of team-building and structure to engage more people using their gifts in the mission of your church.  In the first episode, they unpack the strategy mistakes churches are often making that inhibit a strong volunteer engagement culture.   This episode is brought to you by Planning Center: An all-in-one software to help you organize your ministries and care for your church. With an easy-to-use platform of products, you can bring people together with event signups, room and resource reservations, automatic volunteer scheduling, and much more. Start using for free now at planningcenter.com.   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/episode355.   Join the 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 X. Or you can join in on Facebook.

We know from our research and conversations with clients that finding great people for the ministry staff team is very challenging right now.  As an addedumn to our series on "Staffing Wisdom for Church Leaders," we bring you this bonus interview with Tim Foot of Slingshot Group for some timely insights into church staffing in 2024. In this conversation, Tony and Tim discuss topics like: The positions churches are having the hardest time filling Insights into how churches find great people for their staff teams on this side of the pandemic Distinctives about churches who are attracting and retaining younger people on their teams Best practices for raising up leaders from within Learn more about Slingshot Group Connect with Tim Foot  Planning a Restructure? People-problems are uniquely challenging on a ministry staff team. Leading your people through them is hard. Through our Staffing & Structure process, you can go from feeling overwhelmed by the weight of the people-problems to feeling confident in your ability to structure and lead your team for health and high performance. Learn more at theunstuckgroup.com. Join the 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 X. Or you can join in on Facebook.

Leaders know it's true: Not having the right people on the team hinders the impact of your church. So what do you do when it's clear you need to remove someone from the team—when it's clear they are not a fit? In the last episode of our series on "Staffing Wisdom for Church Leaders," Tony and Amy discuss the very real reasons why letting someone go is so hard for ministry leaders, the ways you need to be effectively evaluating performance as an organization (and specifically, managing people who are underperforming), and how you can approach it all with wisdom and grace. Planning a Restructure? People-problems are uniquely challenging on a ministry staff team. Leading your people through them is hard. Through our Staffing & Structure process, you can go from feeling overwhelmed by the weight of the people-problems to feeling confident in your ability to structure and lead your team for health and high performance. Learn more at theunstuckgroup.com. This Episode is Sponsored by The Church Lawyers The Church Lawyers' Client Member program was created for organizations just like yours. Their team of Christian legal professionals are personally called to empower and protect churches, ministries, and their leaders to fulfill their mission by providing biblically informed and ministry-focused legal solutions. Whether governance, employment, litigation, or other matters, let The Church Lawyers walk alongside you as you navigate legal issues facing your ministry.  Sign up for the The Church Lawyers' Client Member program today at thechurchlawyers.com. 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/episode354.   Join the 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 X. Or you can join in on Facebook.