Podcasts about Attendance

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. We're talking with Sarah Hooley, Executive Pastor at City Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Founded in 2016 by Lead Pastor Chris Freeman, City Church is a young, rapidly growing, intentionally multi-ethnic, multi-economic, and multi-generational church. Since moving from a setup/teardown environment into their renovated 60,000-square-foot facility, the church has experienced explosive growth—reaching 2,500–2,600 weekly attendees, baptizing nearly 500 people this year, and engaging a high percentage of unchurched and new-to-faith individuals. Is your church reaching people far from Jesus but struggling to disciple them well? Are you navigating the complexities that come with rapid growth? Tune in as Sarah shares how City Church reaches, welcomes, disciples, and mobilizes people who often arrive with little to no church background. Reaching the unchurched at scale. // From the beginning, City Church planted itself intentionally in one of Fort Wayne's most racially diverse neighborhoods. Many guests arrive with no church vocabulary. Many don't know the difference between the Old and New Testament or famous biblical characters. Teaching, therefore, is designed with zero assumptions, helping newcomers feel included while still deeply challenging long-time believers. Worship reflects the church's diversity, blending musical styles in a way that unites cultures rather than centering one preference. Many first-time attendees hear about the church through friends who aren't yet believers themselves—evidence that transformation is visibly taking root. Welcoming culture built by transformed people. // One of the most powerful forces shaping City Church is its culture of warmth and belonging. Their Connections Director, Victoria, came to Christ through City Church herself—giving her deep empathy for the unchurched experience and a passion for noticing people. Her team is trained not just to greet but to see people, engage them meaningfully, and make church feel safe and familiar. Serve teams are intentionally open to nonbelievers as a front door for community and spiritual curiosity—allowing people to “belong before they believe.” This relational warmth is often the defining difference-maker for guests who have never experienced church before. Discipleship for people with no foundation. // Rapid growth and a high percentage of new believers revealed a critical discipleship gap. In response, Pastor Chris launched Act Like Men, a 15-week, high-accountability discipleship course for young men covering identity, integrity, purity, humility, servanthood, and spiritual discipline. Women quickly asked for something similar, prompting the launch of Be Bold Women, a complementary course that includes teaching, mentoring, small groups, a women's conference, and topics like emotional health, community, and living as a godly woman. A volunteer-driven church with a tiny staff. // One of the most stunning aspects of City Church is how much ministry happens through volunteers rather than staff. With only seven full-time staff and roughly 2,600 attendees, their ratio is radically outside national norms. Staff serve as equippers, not doers. High-level volunteer leaders oversee major portions of ministry: shadowing, training, leading teams, scheduling people, and pastoring others. Leadership development is an essential form of discipleship, not an operational necessity. Leading from abundance, not scarcity. // Sarah encourages leaders to adopt a “loaves and fishes” mindset – the question is not what the church lacks but what God can do with what it has. Simplicity, clarity, and focus keep the team aligned. Staff calibrate constantly, coaching one another to resist the pull toward doing everything themselves. Sarah also stresses the importance of relational support systems for leaders—cohorts, mentors, and peers who remind pastors that faithfulness, not outcomes, is the goal. To learn more about City Church, visit forthecity.com, or follow them on social media at @citychurchfw. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Risepointe Do you feel like your church’s or school's facility could be preventing growth? Are you frustrated or possibly overwhelmed at the thought of a complicated or costly building project? Are the limitations of your building becoming obstacles in the path of expanding your ministry? Have you ever felt that you could reach more people if only the facility was better suited to the community’s needs? Well, the team over at Risepointe can help! As former ministry staff and church leaders, they understand how to prioritize and help lead you to a place where the building is a ministry multiplier. Your mission should not be held back by your building. Their team of architects, interior designers and project managers have the professional experience to incorporate creative design solutions to help move YOUR mission forward. Check them out at risepointe.com/unseminary and while you’re there, schedule a FREE call to explore possibilities for your needs, vision and future…Risepointe believes that God still uses spaces…and they're here to help. Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. So glad that you’ve decided to tune in today. This is going to be a jam-packed episode. You’re going to want to buckle up. We’re talking about a lot of stuff today that applies to your church that I know will be super helpful. I’m excited to be talking to Sarah Hooley. She is the executive pastor at a church called City Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This is a church you should be tracking with. If you’re not, they were founded in 2016 by lead pastor Chris Freeman. It’s a diverse church in a city that is for the city with multi-ethnic, multi-economic, multi-generational community. It’s really, God’s doing some incredible things here, and you’re going to want to track along with that. And we’ve got Sarah on the show to help us. Sarah, welcome to the show. Sarah Hooley — Thank you so much for having me. It is a privilege to be joining you today. Rich Birch — Oh, this is going to be wonderful. I’m really looking forward to learning from you. Why don’t you tell us a little bit of the City Church story, kind of set up. Tell us a little bit about it. What’s going on Give us a sense of what’s happening at City Church. Sarah Hooley — Yeah, so we are a nine-year-old church plant. We were a set-up, teardown church for the last eight or so years ah seven and a half. We’ve move we bought a grocery store in 2020. Rich Birch — Good year. Sarah Hooley — Great time to buy a building, and and it was being used as a warehouse. And so we bought it and then the pandemic happened and we’re like, well, we still have a warehouse occupying the space. Maybe at some point it’ll become a church. We don’t know. And then it was just about a couple years ago that we then started a capital campaign and went to develop the the space. It’s 60,000 square feet. We developed about 40,000 square feet of it for our church. Rich Birch — Wow. Sarah Hooley — I’m thinking, man, that’s going to, we’ll be set for a good long time. And we are out of space already. Rich Birch — Yes. Sarah Hooley — And so and we moved from two services to three. And now we’re just, excuse me, trying to figure out what do we do? um God has just been moving in incredible ways. Like we have from the from the start been very intentional about wanting to be a multi-ethnic, multi-economic, multi-generational church. And where we planted has been very intentional. Sarah Hooley — So even where we were for set up and tear down, and we were right in the heart of the city where it was the most ethnically diverse within Fort Wayne. So Fort Wayne is roughly about 66% white in the city as a whole, but in our neighborhood specifically, it’s more 40% African-American, 20% white, 20-ish percent Hispanic. And so it is a much more racially diverse area. Rich Birch — So good. Sarah Hooley — And that is has been very intentional from the beginning. And so our location now, is it’s just been beautiful to see how God has really drawn people from every background. And, you know anyone who’s been a part of a multi-ethnic church knows that that that’s a messy process. It’s It is incredible to see, though, the the beauty and of what God can do when we are are not just attending a church together, but really in community with one another, and with people who come from radically different backgrounds um and and how that can really bring about a lot of healing in our stories and in our in our relationships. Rich Birch — So good. Sarah Hooley — And so um we have grown since moving into the building, we were about 800 people um when we were set-up/teardown. And then once we moved into the building, it has just been um exponential growth. So we we have grown very quickly and just tried to keep up with all of it. Sarah Hooley — One of the things that I’ve i’ve just loved about City Church is it’s very intentional about um reaching those who don’t know Jesus. And so the that really comes from our our lead pastor, from Pastor Chris Freeman, his heart for the lost. So a lot of our growth has not been transfer growth. It’s not just people moving from church to church, but really those who’ve never set foot in a church, those who are, or who ah are really far from Jesus. It’s been a long time. Sarah Hooley — And the greatest evidence of that, that we’ve seen is we are on track to have 500 baptisms this year. Rich Birch — Wow. Oh my goodness. Sarah Hooley — That has just blown our minds. Rich Birch — That’s incredible. Sarah Hooley — Like we, We had to move up ah the frequency of our baptisms to every six weeks because we just could not keep up with all of the people who wanted to get baptized. Rich Birch — We’re not baptizing enough. That’s amazing. Wow. That’s incredible. Sarah Hooley — But we we’re about 430 right now, and I have over 70 people registered for this next upcoming one in December. Sarah Hooley — So it has just it has been a wild ride… Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great. Sarah Hooley — …of um seeing God move in such phenomenal ways, and and just try to be faithful along the way. How do we steward these people well? Rich Birch — So good. Sarah Hooley — How do we continue to point them to Jesus? How do we encourage them to grow in their faith and to take those next steps of what it looks like to follow him? So it’s… Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. There’s a ton we could we could unpack there, and maybe we’ll have you on in the future to talk. I um, you know, we’ve said it in the past on the podcast, every zip code in the country is more diverse today than it was 10 years ago, and 10 years from now, it will be more diverse, and our churches need to continue to progress towards reflecting the kingdom of God and being, as you’re saying, multi-ethnic. Rich Birch — And so there’s a ton we could we could learn from you on that. Maybe we’ll have you back in the future to talk about that. Cause I, that is definitely a thing I think we all can, can learn from, but I’d love to kind of key in on what you were talking there about. Hey, your church has a heart for, which I think lots of churches do have a heart for reaching people, who don’t know Jesus, but it’s like actually happening at your church, ah which is incredible. Rich Birch — So what were some early signs, you know, that you realize, or what are some of the signs that you realize, oh, this is actually happening. Like we’re actually reaching people. Baptism is one of them. Can you think of any other signs that were like, oh, we we’re reaching people who, who this is a brand new thing for them? Sarah Hooley — Yeah. So I mean, baptism was definitely a big sign of like, wow, these are, these are people who are, are new to following Jesus and taking that, that first step. And in our conversations with people who are preparing to be baptized, um, that, that was a part. It’s so funny, just, just this last week, uh, somebody posted on their Facebook page, uh, City Church choir is better than the club for real. Rich Birch — I love it. Love it. That’s great. Sarah Hooley — And they didn’t, like we don’t have, we didn’t have a choir. It’s our worship team, but like they don’t even know the words for what that worship team is. Rich Birch — Yes. Yes. Yeah. They don’t know the words yet. Sarah Hooley — And, and the comments after that, like it, it truly was showing that we, we are drawing and attracting people who, who like, they’ve they’ve never really considered going to church. And then in our conversations with people, as they’ve realized, like, man, I do want this. I want to follow this Jesus. Like, this makes sense. This is incredible. But you just can’t assume anything. Rich Birch — No. Sarah Hooley — Like, they there’s no foundational understanding of what that looks like. There’s no, and and I think even just, there’s no understanding of even like what some sins are. Like, there’s just not like, oh, I didn’t even, not even realizing that like, that’s not a good idea to continue. So we’ve had, we have people who are like, yes, I want to follow Jesus. And then they’re still sleeping with their girlfriend. They’re still, you know, like it’s and it’s like… Rich Birch — Yes. Yeah. 100%. Sarah Hooley — …oh, I didn’t, I didn’t even know… Rich Birch — The thing. Sarah Hooley — …that that was something that you shouldn’t do. Rich Birch — Yes. Sarah Hooley — And so really being able to, to come alongside and say, okay, man, we have to go back to the basics. We can’t assume anything. It’s gonna… Rich Birch — That’s good. Sarah Hooley — And it really has set the tone, even in just the way that Chris preaches and and all of our our pastors preach that we don’t make assumptions when we’re talking about scripture. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Sarah Hooley — So allowing um there not to be any barriers or or anything that would create a place where people would feel like, man, like everybody else knows what he’s talking about, but I don’t. And so like just the way that you set things up and explain things and introduce people. So you don’t don’t just assume that everybody knows who Joseph is from the Old Testament. Rich Birch — 100%. Right. Sarah Hooley — Like you have to be like, Hey, this is this guy. And so I think that that has led us to like, Chris does such a great job on Sunday mornings, but man, there’s, there’s so much more that we need to do as far as for people to truly learn what it means to follow Jesus when they don’t have much of a background. Like it’s going to take some more intentional discipleship that, um that we do. So that that has been really a process of of recognition that we even people who are coming on a Sunday… Rich Birch — Right. Sarah Hooley — …they’re excited about Jesus, there’s still some gaps there. Rich Birch — Sure. I’d love to talk. We’re going to get into the discipleship question, but I just want to pause just before we get there. And so um what do you think God’s using to help your church engaged? You know, in different circles of the Christian world, it’s called different things. Unchurched people, seekers, people who follow Jesus, people new to the faith, you know. So the teaching, I agree. That’s like a best practice around, um ah you know, taking time to explain. It takes three sentences to explain instead of just saying, well, you all know Joseph. Sarah Hooley — Yeah. Rich Birch — He’s an example, which is just lazy preaching. You should take a few sentences, explain it. But what else is God using you think to, ah you know, to help your church reach so many unchurched people? Sarah Hooley — Yeah, you know, so we we really have, the the teaching is significant. Rich Birch — Yep. Sarah Hooley — And that’s one of the things that I have just been blown away. So I grew up as a pastor’s kid, went to Bible college, went to seminary, like… Rich Birch — Yep. Sarah Hooley — …biblical, like good, solid biblical teaching is such a huge priority for me. Rich Birch — Yep. Sarah Hooley — And the thing that I think has been unique is that Chris has a way of communicating with those who have never been in church and and helping them to to see a clear picture of who Jesus is and challenging the deep disciples. Those who’ve been following Jesus their whole life. And yet, man… Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s so good. Sarah Hooley — …the way that he brings light to scripture and, and even just like points out some, like, this is what it means to live this out. Rich Birch — That’s good. Sarah Hooley — That has made such a big difference. And then, so we really have had this, this drawing of, of those who have been followers… Rich Birch — So good. Sarah Hooley — …who then can invest in those who are new believers. But also we have, and it and it is beautiful, like a really dynamic worship time that is incredible. And one of the things that’s unique about it is it’s because we’re multi-ethnic, you can’t just go in one kind of genre of music, like it really is a blend. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s so good. Sarah Hooley — And so there’s something about it that um it it’s not all of anyone’s preferences, but you’re like, oh man, like I love this part of it. And then, well, this part’s new and different, but okay, I can I can get on board with it. And so I think those that combination, um but there’s there’s another factor and that’s, that really is in the culture that’s been set in how we are a welcoming church. Sarah Hooley — And so our connections director is somebody who came to faith in our church. So she she started following Jesus, like she had no church background whatsoever, started following Jesus, um started really growing in her discipleship. Her name is Victoria. And it it has been such a beautiful thing to see how she has has such a heart for Jesus and heart for others. And so she’s continued to invest in her team… Rich Birch — It’s great. Sarah Hooley — …in like, how do we make people feel welcome from the beginning? How do we not just say hello and let them walk by, but like really see people? Sarah Hooley — And she has really invested in her connection team on like, how is that an opportunity for discipleship? And so one of the things is you can you can join our greet team. You can join our parking lot team. You can join our coffee team and not be a believer. But the heart behind it is like, is you’re still investigating who Jesus is. Like we hope that you’re rubbing shoulders with someone who is following after him. Rich Birch — Yeah, make some friends, right? Yeah, absolutely. Sarah Hooley — And you have those conversations and that relationship has grown um through that. And you’re you get a picture of of who Jesus is. Rich Birch — So good. Sarah Hooley — And so um like there there it’s just this multifaceted thing that has happened um that really is like when you come, you’re like man, I want to be a part of this. And so we have like, that’s the crazy thing. We have people who are not followers of Jesus inviting their friends, Rich Birch — Yeah, 100%. That’s great. Sarah Hooley — …like new church is better than the club for real. Rich Birch — Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that’s great. Sarah Hooley — Like they’re inviting their friends to come and… Rich Birch — So good. Sarah Hooley — …and be a part of this because there’s just something happening here. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Okay, let’s talk about the discipleship issue. So ah you didn’t say this, I said it, but one of the problems with the church in general is a lot of our discipleship systems assume a fairly high level of actually understanding of scripture. And our church shares a similar heartbeat. We’ll normally see, one of the things a new year guest come through in our church. We don’t ask them a lot, but one of the questions we do ask is for them to describe their kind of faith background before they came. And we’re consistently above 50%. It’s usually 60, 75% of people would describe themselves as something that we would label as unchurched. Rich Birch — And so I understand the discipleship problem. In lots of churches it just you just assume people know stuff and they grow closer to Jesus, but that’s not the case. So how are you helping move people towards being fully discipled followers of Jesus? What does that look like for City Church? Sarah Hooley — Yeah, so we we do, we have loved using Alpha for for those who really still are in that questioning phase and like they’re not even sure. And like they may not, they might may not feel comfortable coming to City Church, but they would come to somebody’s house and walk through Alpha. So that’s been really great for those who are kind of trying to still discover who Jesus is. Sarah Hooley — But for specific discipleship, because we were realizing, man, there’s just some some gaps here, Chris decided to launch a 15-week discipleship course for young men specifically. Rich Birch — Love it. Sarah Hooley — And we really saw, like we are we are a pretty young church. I mean, always have been, but that there was some some pretty serious gaps in and not only like, what does it mean to follow Jesus, but even what does it mean like what does it mean to be a godly man? And so wanting to have, to bring alongside some intentional mentors and people who can invest in these young men. Sarah Hooley — So um he invited people, but it was a very high accountability, high expectation sort of class. They meet at 6 a.m. on Thursday mornings. Rich Birch — Yeah. Wow. Sarah Hooley — That is not something everybody wants to sign up for. It was… Rich Birch — Yeah, no, not every guy wants to do that. I can say that. Sarah Hooley — No, it is it is a huge sacrifice. Rich Birch — Yep. Sarah Hooley — And he said, this is going to require a lot of you. Rich Birch — Right. Sarah Hooley — And they actually have a crazy. Like if you are, if anyone is late, any single person is late, even five seconds, the whole group does pushups together… Rich Birch — Oh, no. Yeah. Okay, that’s cool. Sarah Hooley — …and not in a shaming way, but in a like, Hey, we’re inviting you to something great. Rich Birch — Right. Sarah Hooley — And part of, part of following Jesus is is it’s going to need incorporate discipline in your life. And so we have, we are called to have discipline. And so we’re going to really keep you accountable to this. Sarah Hooley — And so he does um he he talks through, like what does it mean to be a godly man? Talks about identity, talks about discipline, talks about integrity, purity, humility, servanthood. So he’ll do a ah teaching, and then they break off into groups with two leaders. So each group usually has about six six guys who are participants and two leaders who are older men in the church who have um that Chris has identified and recruited. And then they have a small group time. Sarah Hooley — So It has been so incredible to see how God is working, not only through his teaching, but really through that accountability… Rich Birch — That’s good. Sarah Hooley — …and like digging into what does this look like in our lives? And, and then those leaders are, are following up with them and encouraging them throughout the week. They, they do, they, they challenge, they come up with their own challenges. And as like, okay, we’re going to memorize this passage of scripture. And then they, then they like, all right, how did you, did you memorize this? Most of these guys have never memorized scripture in their lives. Rich Birch — Right. Right. Sarah Hooley — And so, even though some of those practices have been really incredible. And he he calls the class Act Like Men. And it really is so, and he makes it very clear, this is not about talking about what what is the difference between a man and a woman. This is talking about what’s the man and a boy. Sarah Hooley — Like we are calling you to be godly men and intentionally calling you up to to live out as godly men, not selfish boys. And so that, that has been beautiful. There was about, um, I think he had about 60 participants the first time he he ran it… Rich Birch — Wow. Sarah Hooley — …with 25 leaders. And then this next, um, this heat currently they’re they’re walking through it right now and there’s 100 guys and 30 leaders. Rich Birch — Wow. Sarah Hooley — It also requires, and they have to pay $100 and that goes right back into them. Like it’s for some resources that they are given. But again, it gives that like, hey, this is a high threshold. This isn’t just a casual thing. Rich Birch — Right. Sarah Hooley — They also cannot miss more than three sessions. If they do, they are asked to step away and if they can join again in a future time. Rich Birch — Take it again or whatever. Yeah. Sarah Hooley — So super high high high… Rich Birch — And is it the idea that it’s going to rotate like kind of a couple seasons a year or something like that? How what what’s the thinking on that? Sarah Hooley — Yeah. Rich Birch — Like how often are you going to run it or what’s that? What’s that look like? Sarah Hooley — Yeah. So, so what we’ve done so far is, um, the men’s course is in the fall. And then, um, after last, last fall, the first time that, that Chris did it, there was such an out, like lot of the wives and the girlfriends and the people who were just connected with these guys, they were like, man, this has been so incredible. Like, what do you have for women? Like, when are we going to have our, our course? Sarah Hooley — And so that really sparked. And I was like, I’m too busy to do this right now, but like, I can’t not do it. So, um my kids, pastor, and I developed Be Bold Women’s, which was a complimentary course for women. And so the men is in the fall and the women starts in January. And we go through the spring and do kind of a similar, we follow a lot of the same topics, although we did choose some different ones, a couple of specific one… Rich Birch — Sure. Sarah Hooley — …that we felt really convicted that, like we do one of our lessons is on emotions and like, what is a healthy, godly way to approach and process, and how are emotions a part of our life? We also talk about community. So there’s just a couple of different topics that we walk through with the women. Sarah Hooley — We also incorporated women’s conference as a part of it that we then opened up to the rest of the church. So everyone in the church could come to the conference. We had our own people speaking at it, our own worship team leading worship. And we had about 300 women at this conference. Rich Birch — Wow. That’s great. Sarah Hooley — And it was just, it was a great start, like jumpstart to our time together in the course, but then also with our larger community. Rich Birch — There’s a lot there I’d love to ask questions about. So my impression of City Church just looking in, don’t know your church well, but follow online. And, you know, I don’t get the vibe from you guys that there’s like, I don’t know, like an overly machismo kind of like, you know, ah like in a negative way. Like, you know, you know you know what I mean? There’s some churches out there. You’re like, okay, they’re like a little too much into the man/woman thing. Sarah Hooley — Uh-huh. Rich Birch — And, and I don’t know how to say that nicely and not like step on people’s toes. I don’t get that vibe from you guys, but this, but you’ve, you’ve obviously taken, taken a gendered approach. Can you unpack that a little bit? Help me understand how is that it’s obviously been super helpful. So, but just kind of talk through that issue. Help me understand that. What’s that look like for you guys? Sarah Hooley — Yeah, we really saw their there just was a need to have those intentional conversations um really of older men investing in younger men, and older women investing in younger women. Rich Birch — Oh, that’s good. Yeah, that’s good. Sarah Hooley — And so um there are things that, there are conversations that you can have when it’s just men, that you add one woman into that mix and it’s gonna change some of those conversations. Rich Birch — Sure. Sarah Hooley — And some of the things that, especially when it comes to kind of the harder accountability parts of of those conversations, it’s going it’s just gonna look differently. If if somebody’s trying to impress somebody else, like that’s going to be an issue. Sarah Hooley — But I think, I think really, even though we’re not a overly like machismo, there’s, that’s still a part of our culture. Rich Birch — Sure. Sarah Hooley — And so I think Chris really wanted to be sure that he, he tackled that kind of toxic masculinity approach. Rich Birch — Yep. Sarah Hooley — And, and like, that is not biblical masculinity. Rich Birch — No. Sarah Hooley — Like this, this idea of, you know, I’m the man. And we’re, but like, that’s not what, and and so really continuing to call them back to that, that being a true man is not the world’s version of, of power and money and having the beautiful wife or girlfriend. It really is about following Jesus’ example. He is the greatest example of what a godly man looks like. Rich Birch — Yeah. Sarah Hooley — So what does that look like? Rich Birch — Yeah. What’s that look like? Sarah Hooley — So that means humility and servanthood and sacrifice and laying down your life for others. And so how do we live that out? Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s good. Sarah Hooley — And then for our women, it it it has been so powerful to be able to have those those deep conversations and um and challenging them to live this out. Sarah Hooley — And you know when you have people who are coming from, like they they don’t have um maybe those older women or men in their lives who have been investing in them and showing them what it looks like to follow Jesus or to live this out. It’s still brand new. And so there’s still, there’s some some space to have those questions be brought. Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s good. Sarah Hooley — And um like, why shouldn’t I return to this abusive boyfriend? Rich Birch — Right. Yep. Sarah Hooley — Why shouldn’t I like, so like being able to deal with some of those really hard conversations in a really healthy way that that comes back to scripture and comes back to like, this is what God wants for you. Rich Birch — Yeah. Sarah Hooley — And um and it’s and it’s hard, like following Jesus is hard. Like there is nothing easy about that… Rich Birch — Yes, yes. Yeah. Sarah Hooley — But it’s so worth it. Rich Birch — Yeah. Sarah Hooley — And I think that being able to put that in front of people. But you know, those are two courses that we have. We have lots of small groups and mid-sized groups and groups that are that are mixed gender. And like there’s some beautiful things from that, too. These two courses specifically are just a little bit unique in in their approach. Rich Birch — That’s good. So as you’ve kind of watched this roll through as an XP, you know, go people go through these experiences, what what kind of changes have you seen in the broader church culture? Like, has there, you know, what have you seen that like, oh, hey, there’s something happening here that that seems to be having a positive impact or negative, I’m assuming there’s positive, that’s been kind of impacting the church culture. Talk to me about that. Sarah Hooley — Yeah, I I you really start to see um just that that growth, the idea that this is, you know, that that view of discipleship that’s a long obedience in the same direction. That is what we are are experiencing. You know, with so many people who are new believers, there are some great breakthrough moments and that is worth celebrating, but it is a long process. And so um I think really being able to come alongside and and watch watch those who are like, they were, they’re excited about Jesus. They’re pumped. They’re going lift their hands and worship. They’re going to be like, join the team. But to go beyond that to, okay, what does this actually look like in my life? And to see them begin to make changes in how they actually live that out. um That they’re not just, okay, this is my Sunday thing. And then I go and I do my weekly thing, um but truly changing. And that like that’s profound. It’s profound to see God work in such powerful ways. Sarah Hooley — And again, it’s not it’s never overnight, like there’s overnight breakthroughs, but it’s always a process. And I think that that like watching the the development of these courses is like there’s gonna be things you’re confronting in week one. And then you might still be confronting in week 10. You might still be confronting in week 15. But there’s there’s growth. And there’s um it doesn’t mean that they’ve been able to overcome everything, but you you can see that that change in them. And that draws people. Sarah Hooley — And so I think that we we’ve been able so to so clearly see even just the growth in the number of guys who who joined the course the first time and then the growth in the second second time through that people are hearing about it and being like, I want to be a part of this. Sarah Hooley — Like I saw what it did in my friend’s life. And like, that’s like, I know it’s 6am, but it’s worth it. I’m going to make the sacrifice. I’m going to be a part of it. And so I think that that that kind of invitation to discipleship where you see what the effect it’s having. And then that brings others in. And they’re like, I want what he has. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s great. Sarah Hooley — Like, I, I’ve, I know who Jesus is, but I, Idon’t want it just to be a yeah, I know who Jesus is. I want to actually know Jesus. Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s fantastic. Friends that are listening in. I one of the one of the changes I for sure have seen in people who are arriving at our churches is, this is a problem when you’ve been at this long enough, like decades ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago, people did kind of just stumble into church. Like that actually did happen, but that’s not happening today. Rich Birch — People, when they arrive, they’re they’re arriving with real questions and are looking for, they’re not looking for us, they’re not looking for our ideas, they want Jesus and they wanna know what that looks like. So I love this this idea of calling people to something That is a little more, you know, that’s, it’s not just the like, well, we’re going to to make it super easy. That’s not what it’s about. Sarah Hooley — Yeah. Right. Yeah. Rich Birch — I think makes a lot of sense. Well, I want to pivot to it just a totally different conversation. As we were getting ready for this, one of the things that caught my attention, and you’re a humble leader, Jesus has formed your life. So like you didn’t lead off with like your attendance numbers and all that. You talked about growth, but you didn’t really go there. What what are you averaging right now? Attendance wise, where are you at? Sarah Hooley — Yeah, we’re about 2,500 to 2,600 right now. Rich Birch — Okay. And how many full-time staff do you have as as a team? Sarah Hooley — Oh, we have seven full-time staff. Now, we do have some part-time roles that are high level… Rich Birch — Sure. Sarah Hooley — …but we are a skeleton staff. Rich Birch — Yes. Okay. So to put that in context, like, I, this is why want to hear more about this. How, how are you doing that? So to put make some context that people are listening in, um there’s a kind of a well kind of oiled benchmark out there that says churches should really shoot for 1 to 75 attendees and staff. And, you know, ah really great churches are maybe one to a hundred. Like that would be amazing if you could get that. I think the math on you guys is one to like 350 or something like that. Sarah Hooley — Yep. Rich Birch — Even if it’s like, okay, those those other equivalents, even if they end up being say you have another three full-time people in all those part-time. So you’re 10 full-time equivalents. That’s still like one to 250. So like, this is a significant lesson, friends. We need to learn from. Rich Birch — So it’s like, I really just want to say, talk. Like what systems and philosophies make that happen? Sarah Hooley — Yeah. Rich Birch — How do you, you know, how are you able to make that happen? Talk us through that. Sarah Hooley — Yeah. Well, we are trying to hire. So there are some roles that we definitely know that we need. Rich Birch — Yes. You got a long ways to go though. Even if you doubled your staff, you still would be like one to 125, which is still very high. You know, that’s great. Sarah Hooley — Yeah. And this has been one of the unique things about being a multi-ethnic church and a multi-ethnic church that’s reaching new believers. The the the financial support, it takes longer. Like financial discipleship, it’s a process. And and in a um you know within our community, there’s a significant like where we our church specifically is, there’s a significant number of people who are below the poverty line. And so that just means that where our budget is not going to be as large. Sarah Hooley — But so like we have always, and I think part of it is going from that church plant model to even having an established church. Like we’ve always had to be scrappy. Like you always have had to, like I started as a volunteer and I wanted to do a women’s conference. And then someone came and said, I heard that you’re leading the women’s ministry. And I was like, what? Like I didn’t, I just wanted to lead this women’s conference. Sarah Hooley — But just the the way that, um you know, we have continued to to philosophically want to equip the body to be the ministers. That it’s not just, oh, we can just hire somebody to do that. But for every staff person being so intentional about choosing staff members who can be equippers, who are not looking to just do ministry, but who are looking to equip others to do the ministry. And so those who can develop and be leaders of leaders. And that that really has been a part of our heart um in the beginning out of necessity. But also as we’ve continued to grow, um we’ve found there’s just been incredible fruit, because it calls the whole church body into being a part of what’s going on. Sarah Hooley — And so there is nothing more powerful and significant than saying like, yeah, I am I am a significant like participant, I am leading within this church in in a significant way that creates such buy-in. And so like that has really made a difference in in, I think, our church culture and and in just people so staying with us and saying like, man, there’s there’s there’s something happening here. I wanna be a part of it. And um being identified in like, given the opportunity to lead in those ways. And so um we are very, we are slow to hire because we’re kind of a unique, um we have a unique church culture and unique church body… Rich Birch — For sure. Sarah Hooley — …and we want our staff to reflect our church body and to to have buy-in. So I would, so the majority of our staff really are people who have come from the church body itself. So we we only have had very few outside hires um because we know that they understand who we are, they they understand kind of what we’ve been called to do. Sarah Hooley — And so that has been the most, like we have one full-time kids pastor… Rich Birch — Wow. Sarah Hooley — …for 400 children. And she has an associate who’s also very high level and she’s incredible too. Um, but they have done such an incredible job of identifying, okay, within our kids ministry, within our volunteers, who are those people who, who can lead others and who have a heart for developing others. Sarah Hooley — And so, um, so they’ve broken down the different areas and they have leads over each of those individual areas where they’re doing some of the scheduling. So like identifying those administrative skills, like people who have people skills as well as administrative skills. Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Sarah Hooley — But so the role of our of our kids pastor is to you know set the vision and invest in our leaders. And then they are then the ones who are are working through some of those logistics of what it looks like when it comes to staffing or when it comes to volunteers um and being fully like, oh, it’s a whole lot of children. We have a lot of kids. Rich Birch — Yes, that’s amazing. I’d I’d love to double click on some of that there. So this idea of leaders of leaders does not surprise me that, um you know, I it’s like one of these when I heard this, I’m like, I don’t even know anything about this. But I know that you the only way you get to that kind of ratio is you’ve empowered volunteers to actually lead things. Rich Birch — There’s a humbling thing you could do. Church leaders that are listening in do it. Do a giant org chart. Spend two hours and do a giant org chart on a whiteboard. Like literally draw out who is who leads who all the way down to every role in the church and then circle the people that are staff. And oftentimes what you find is there are no leaders of leaders that are volunteers. And they’re just that that’s a that’s a key distinction. How do we get and and how do we keep our staff being Ephesians 4 leaders, people who equip the saints to do the work? Sarah Hooley — Yes. Rich Birch — So give me some of the telltale signs that you that you see in volunteers that, hey, this person is could lead at a high level. And what does the equipping look like? How are you helping them step into that? Sarah Hooley — Yeah, we really do view leadership as discipleship. And so, um, so even for our volunteers, we want to identify people, for them to step into a leadership role like that, that relationship with Jesus, that that’s strong connection to to him is is key. Sarah Hooley — So like that is first and for foremost across across all of our leadership teams. So even though I mentioned earlier that we have some of our serve teams that you can join the team and not be a believer, but for the people who are leading those people, we want them to be following Jesus. Sarah Hooley — And then just looking for those who also love people and have that heart for like, I want to have the conversations that, you know, something is is going on in someone’s life and they’re having a hard time, I’m going to follow up with them during the week. And so um so that love for Jesus, that love for people in some of these roles, it it is some administrative ability. Like, can you handle scheduling people? Like there’s there’s just like, are you able to complete some of those things, some of the doing aspects of ministry? Sarah Hooley — But even within our within our high level leader volunteer leaders, like they’re actually then finding other volunteers who are are doing some of those roles as well. So I think that that has been a process. So it’s looking at who who do we have in front of us? Like who are the people who are like bought in? They see the mission. They’re they’re passionate about what we’re doing. They care about what we’re doing. um And then inviting them into that next step of leadership. Sarah Hooley — A lot of times it’s we kind of give them a chance to kind of test it out first before just throwing them to the wolves so that they can kind of see like like shadowing somebody who already is currently doing something like that to get their feet wet, to kind of understand the the scope of the role. We don’t ever want to ask somebody to to step into a role that they aren’t, that they’re like, I don’t have the capacity for this. And so, but there’s there’s lots of development still along the way of like conversations of like, of of our actual staff members, checking in with them and helping them to like navigate problems and helping them to to think through like how to process, um you know, that they even are invited to bring feedback of like, hey, here are some things that we’re seeing, like what’s a way that we can then approach that together? So like really they they have a great voice into into how things are being run. Rich Birch — That’s good. One of the tensions that happens in a lot of churches is staff, our staff start to think like the kind of important people are people who have full-time staff that report to them. There’s like this insidious pull towards, I’m going to build my little kingdom. And like this is really common, like lots of churches struggle with that. It can be difficult. Rich Birch — How are you developing your, particularly the the culture with your staff team to ensure that they stay focused on leading volunteers rather than, you know, just hiring people? Like, let’s just hire somebody. How do we, how do how are you what are you doing there? Beyond the like, well, we can’t afford it. There’s got to be something else you’re doing to try to help them, you know, develop that. Sarah Hooley — Yeah, feeling missed out on the budget is really helpful. Rich Birch — Well, because, well, and yeah, but the but my pushback would be friendly pushback as as one leader to another is like that resource things are going to get sorted out. And it’s going to come to a time where you have resources to be able to do that. And it could be very tempting to say, let’s just go quadruple the size of our staff. So how are you ensuring that the culture isn’t going to do that? Sarah Hooley — Yeah. And so much of that is through through our coaching, through the way that we talk about this. This is something like we have these calibrating conversations all the time of of this is who we are and this is what we’re about. And this is what it looks like to lead here. That we um and and that And to be totally candid, like that has been a challenge where we had a staff person and as we grew, um could not make that transition of from doing to leading others and and delegating. Sarah Hooley — And so like that that is a challenge of, and and just thinking like, oh man, all we need to do is just add more staff and then I would be okay. And instead of really recognizing like, no, our our heart behind this is inviting the church to be the church. That that, Letting them know that that priesthood of all believers, like we are all called um to do ministry. Sarah Hooley — Ministry is not just for those who have a degree or those who have a title. Like we are called into ministry. And so keeping that before our our leaders and our staff so that they are keeping it before the the people that they’re calling into these volunteer leader roles. Sarah Hooley — And I will say like those who are the volunteers, like they, they’re excited. They’re excited about like, man, like you just invited me into this position. Like you’ve asked, you’ve seen, you saw something in me and asked me to, um to lead in this way and to serve in this way. And it’s, it’s a privilege to do that. But it is also like continuing to put that before us. Like we we are investing in our people. Sarah Hooley — Now, some of our future staff members might come from those who are volunteer leaders. And like and like that’s a beautiful thing because we’re like, man, I already know, I can see how you would operate in this role and how you would fit on our team and how you would keep how you you do get the culture and what what we’re trying to do. And I think that that’s that’s really a beautiful thing. Sarah Hooley — But it is it is a lot of conversation, a lot of coaching, and just a reminder of like, and I think part of it too is is realizing like, we can’t do everything. And so being very intentional to not be overly programmed. To be very clear about, we’re going do these things, like these very simple. Rich Birch — Right. Sarah Hooley — And so that’s where it’s like, it seems so simple. It seems so basic, but we’re going do these simple, basic things and do them faithfully. And um and then, yeah, see what God does. Rich Birch — Trust God for the results. Yeah, that’s fantastic. Yeah. And listen, you know it makes sense that you’ll end up hiring some people because it’s like that’s a little bit of a crazy ah you know ratio. And you know I think that’ll be that’ll be a challenge ahead to keep that focused as you add those people. And it’s not unreasonable to say to your team like, oh, yeah, like we probably should add a few people. Rich Birch — But to still champion at the end of the day, I think that’s like there’s a key piece there that you mentioned. It’s like this idea of championing the people who have been able to make that transition. And I’ve like, I got us like hey, ah it’s about developing leaders and I want to make that happen. And I know that might be messy and there’s other problems with that, but that’s you know that’s good. Rich Birch — It’s been a fantastic conversation. For people who are listening in today who might feel that kind of like, oh my goodness, we’re under-resourced, we’re you know are outnumbered, we don’t have enough people. Help us think through, kind of talk to us a little bit from an even mindset or how we lead point of view to kind of lead from abundance rather than from scarcity. Because a part of what I don’t hear you saying is like, oh, woe is me. Rich Birch — Like you’re like, no, this is just what God’s called us to in this season. We’re going to make it happen. And God’s doing a great thing. So try to encourage us, yeah help us think that through. Sarah Hooley — Yeah. Well, I would, I mean, I would first of all say you’re not alone. So if you feel, if you do feel overwhelmed and outnumbered and under-resourced, like you’re not alone. And so I think that that is is helpful to be like, man, I’m not. And I think that’s where like even having podcasts like this, where you’re able to hear from others, we’re like, oh, man, OK, we’re in this together. We are all doing the mission that God has called us to. And there are challenges that come with that. And and that can be really discouraging and hard. And yet, like, I think when we can have that kind of. loaves and fishes mindset of like the disciples, they could not feed those people. Like they could not fit fill all the needs that were before them. But Jesus could. Sarah Hooley — And so if we can be faithful to say, okay, God, what do we have? What do we have? Like, what do we have in front of us? And how do we use that for your glory? And what what does that look like? What what are the things that we need to like have that laser focus on um so that we can then continue to see what you are going to do with with what we bring. Sarah Hooley — And and I think that there is that reliance on God to um to say like, you’re the one who does the work. Like this is not, and I think that helps us to like, it takes away that that pride and also that just overwhelming feeling feeling of sometimes failure when it’s, it’s not, when we realize that it’s not all on me… Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s good. Sarah Hooley — …like this is not like my responsibility is to be faithful and continuing to be faithful, to follow what God has called me to do. And that means, I mean, that means working hard. That means best practices. That means learning from others, but I am not responsible for the the end result. So how do I just be intentional and faithful with what God has given me? Sarah Hooley — And, and, and I think too, I think it’s really important to, to find others who are also in the journey with you. Rich Birch — That’s good. Sarah Hooley — That you can, that not that you just get together and complain, but that you can really come alongside each other and encourage one another. And that, That has been one of the most significant things that I have found in in stepping into this role. I got connected with a women executive pastor cohort of women all over the country who are leading in this in similar roles. Sarah Hooley — And being able to just ask questions of other church leaders, being able to say, will you pray for me? Like, I’m going through something really difficult right now. Will pray for me? That has encouraged me personally to be able to keep pressing on when it does feel overwhelming or it does feel like, man, the the task is too great for me. To be reminded and to have other pastors in like my corner and in my ear saying, remember who God is and remember what he’s called you to. Rich Birch — That’s good. Sarah Hooley — And so I think that that is just, it’s, if we can keep that in view and that in, in that mindset in view, that that God is so much greater than the most difficult person at your church who is louder than all of the others. And, um and God is greater than the the greatest problems that you are facing and the, the difficulties that you’re walking through. And, and so like, I think just looking for those, those things. Rich Birch — So good. Sarah, this has been such a helpful conversation. I really appreciate you being here today and investing in us. And it’s fantastic, super encouraging and lots of good nuggets in there. I got pages of notes here. If people want to track with you or with the church, where do we want to send them online? Sarah Hooley — Yeah. We I mean we’re on um Instagram and Facebook. We’re forthecity.com is our church website. We are not on TikTok yet. We’re not that cool. I don’t know. Someday we’ll we’ll get there. Rich Birch — Nice. That’s fun. Sarah Hooley — But yeah, that’s that’s the primary way. Rich Birch — That’s great. Thanks so much. Thanks for being here today. Sarah Hooley — Thank you so much.

Terry Mattingly of Rational Sheep Rational Sheep Pop Goes Religion: Faith in Popular Culture GetReligion.orgThe post Media Coverage of Two Pew Research Center Surveys on Religious Attendance – Terry Mattingly, 12/10/25 (3441) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

We'll get to all the news of the weekend in coaching and football games and more throughout the show---but the city was on fire yesterday as Creighton came to Lincoln to try and knock off 8-0 NebrasketballIt was the Huskers' first game in a full week…did they show rust? And how did it look without Connor Essegian in terms of depth off the bench? How electric was the atmosphere? What do we assess for this game going forward, good or bad?Show Sponsored by SANDHILLS GLOBALOur Sponsors:* Check out Hims: https://hims.com/EARLYBREAK* Check out Infinite Epigenetics: https://infiniteepigenetics.com/EARLYBREAK* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/EARLYBREAK* Check out Washington Red Raspberries: https://redrazz.orgAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

RFP - 'The Straight Mind' by Monique Wittig, discussed by Susan Hawthorne. A live webinar recorded on 7th December 2025 at 10am UK time.On Sundays (10am UK time), our webinar series Radical Feminist Perspectives offers a chance to hear leading feminists discuss radical feminist theory and politics.Attendance of our live webinars is women-only, register at https://bit.ly/registerRFP

Today our guest is Leandra Torra, Social Emotional Learning and Trauma Informed Care Manager at Jefferson County Public Schools. We talk with Leandra about an innovative approach to Tier 2 support that solves capacity issues by partnering elementary schools with neighboring high school student mentors. She shares how this student-led model helped younger students "graduate" from support groups while significantly improving attendance and belonging. She highlights the necessity of a strong Tier 1 foundation and why leaders must prioritize connection before students are truly ready to learn. Learn More About CharacterStrong:  Access FREE MTSS Curriculum Samples Request a Quote Today! Learn more about CharacterStrong Implementation Support Visit the CharacterStrong Website

The church is in a moment of honest reckoning. Attendance is shrinking, institutions are thinning, and many who once belonged now stand on the outside looking in. In this conversation with author and priest Stephanie Spellers, we explore what the “nones” and “dones” are teaching us about faith, community, and the way of Jesus. Stephanie invites us to look directly at decline, name the shame we carry, and listen to the prophetic longings rising from a generation hungry for authenticity, belonging, and spiritual depth. We talk about Christian nationalism, idolized structures, meeting God outside our buildings, the table as a site of renewal, and the possibility of becoming a true Jesus movement again. If you care about where the church is headed, or whether new life can emerge from the dry bones, this episode offers clarity, courage, and hope.Rev. Stephanie Spellers is a renowned author, Episcopal priest and change agent. Her newest book, "Church Tomorrow?: What the Nones and Dones Teach Us About the Future of Faith," explores the stories of nonreligious young Americans and their prophetic charge to traditional, declining religion. She recently completed nearly a decade leading The Episcopal Church's work on evangelism, racial reconciliation and environmental justice. Today she serves as canon in residence at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in New York City.Stephanie's Book:Church Tomorrow?Connect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link belowGet Your Sidekick Support the show

Memphis won easily on Tuesday night against New Orleans but hardly anybody was there. Why has Tiger Basketball attendance fallen this much??? Is there a way to fix it???? (3:00) + Ryan Silverfield is winning over Arkansas fans one day at a time. We'll talk about how he fired up fans on Tuesday night at the Arkansas/Louisville basketball game (35:00) + the latest of the Memphis Football Head Coaching Search w/ thoughts on Charles Huff, Jerry Mack, Tyson Helton, Dan Mullen + what's going on at Penn State (42:13) + Ole Miss AD Keith Carter gave an interview to Richard Cross on Supertalk Mississippi (57:33) + Jessica Benson joins the show in-studio to give us her games of the week including Indiana/Ohio State, Duke/Virginia, Texas Tech/BYU, Alabama/Georgia and Kennesaw St/Jacksonville St (1:16:50).Host: Chris VernonCo-Hosts/Contributors: Jon Roser, Devin WalkerGuest: Jessica BensonTechnical Director: Jacob StopcotteAssociate Producer: Jena Broyles

Hour 2--J&J Show Thursday 12/4/25--Drew Hill continued... then Memphis beat NOLA but there's serious hoops attendance problems at Memphi

J&J Show --- Memphis covers vs. NOLA - but attendance is low - more on 92.9 FM ESPN

Thom and Jess continue the “Future Church” series with an episode focused on one of the most important—and most misunderstood—topics in today's congregations: evangelism. The way people come to faith is changing, and so are the methods churches use to share the gospel. Attendance patterns are different. Communities are more skeptical of institutions. And more often than not, the first place someone encounters the church is online, not in person. In this conversation, the Rainers look at how evangelism is evolving, why it still matters deeply, and four major trends shaping how local churches reach people today. The post Future Church Series – Episode 3: Trends in Evangelism in the Local Church appeared first on Church Answers.

Listen as Pastor Stephen Martin and Pastor Nate Brown answer the questions Christians are asking about church commitment and leadership.In this candid Q&A episode, they tackle why physical church attendance matters more than ever in the age of online sermons, how believers should respond when leaders fall, the biblical balance between grace and truth, and practical wisdom for anyone sensing a call to ministry.You'll Learn:✅ Why the church is a family you belong to—not content you consume✅ How "failure porn" and scandal-hunting damages the body of Christ✅ The real process of restoration versus permanent disqualification✅ Where to start when you feel called to ministryPastor Nate also shares his raw personal story of walking away from ministry and the moment he punched his own Bible in frustration—and how God brought him back.Perfect for your morning commute or workout. Subscribe now and start every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with biblical truth that equips you for real life.

Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors.Promotive can help you find your dream job. Touch HERE to see open jobs.Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERERegister for Tektonic HERE!In this episode, Jeff Compton is joined by Check Engine Chuck and Brian Gauthier. Chuck and Jeff talk about the importance of investing in service information and ongoing education. They also speak on how sharpening diagnostic skills can change a technician's role and reputation. Brian also shares his experience transitioning from routine mechanical work to more advanced diagnostics. He also opens up about the challenges of working in a small-town shop with limited resources.Timestamps:00:00 "Chuck's Impact on Attendance"08:13 "Better Than the Dealer"12:00 "Cost Differences in Workplaces"19:05 "Learning Effective Car Repairs"23:23 Shifting Perspectives Shape Outcomes29:01 "Chuck's Generosity and Frustrations"32:11 Gatekeeping for Change38:37 "Growth Through Focused Free Time"45:06 "No Sleep, Still Driving"47:48 "Transforming Through Mindset Shift"54:52 Car Conversion Issues Explained01:02:01 Daily Learning with Eric O.01:04:52 Struggles with Subaru Diagnostics01:12:35 "No Communication, Programming Risk"01:17:23 Bridging Technician and Management Gaps01:21:43 "Unexpected Generosity and Change"01:24:50 "Tech Confusion and Programming Chat"01:34:17 "Refining a Diagnostic Process"01:35:04 "Industry Impact" Follow/Subscribe to the show on social media! TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffcompton7YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheJadedMechanicFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091347564232

On this episode of The AIE Podcast… We have floor tanking and other WoW noobs… um, news Happy Lifeday, AIE December, where the attendance is optional and the fun is mandatory LOTRO brings YULE Kingdoms of Harad And, join us for our last show of the year All that and more coming up right now… Podcast Audio Raw Video http://youtu.be/TZ8A0NVJjUM Open Welcome to episode #440 of the podcast celebrating you, the Alea Iacta Est gaming community, the die has been podcast. This is Tetsemi: To my left is Mewkow: – (catch phrase here). And to my right is Mkallah: (hey guys, there is leftover caramel apple pie in the guild kitchen). This week, we have a wrap up of what is going on for December in AIE and gaming in general. Ok, we'll be digging into what we have been up to shortly, but first, let's cover this week's news… AIE News Community Mandatory Fun Nights Where the fun is mandatory but the attendance is not. Sunday – Destiny 2 8:30 pm Eastern Monday – GW2 9:30 pm Eastern Monday – STO 10:00 pm Eastern Tuesday – SWTOR 9:00 pm Eastern Wednesday – HFO Mythic+ Mayhem (WoW) 8:00 pm Eastern Friday – ESO 9:00 pm Eastern Saturday – LotRO 8:30 pm Eastern Saturday – FFXIV (Maps) 9:30 pm Eastern Saturday – Noob Raid (WoW) 11:00 pm Eastern Streaming and Guild Podcast News We have a ton of AIE member podcasts! Want to know where to find them? Look no further than here- New Overlords Podcast (Max and Sema) https://www.newoverlords.com Boards and Swords (Chris and Philip) https://boardsandswords.com/blog?category=Boards%20%26%20Swords Dr. Gameology ( Dr. Daniel Kaufmann ) https://drgameology.com/ STO – Fleet Action Report (Grebog and Nikodas) https://www.youtube.com/@fleetactionreport A Podcast Reborn: A FFXIV Community Podcast (Brandon aka Old Man Franks, Meagan, and Rho) – NSFL https://www.bonusroll.gg/directory/a-podcast-reborn/ WoW Noob Raid is on winter break until January 3, 2026 so Dankinia can get a bit of relief from the horrible jokes the group likes to torment her with. During 2025, Dankinia demonstrated her floor tanking abilities 172 times. While she is out, Celindre will be leading Noob Raid – After Dark during the normal 11pm EST time slot each Saturday. In WoW, Midnight – the next expansion – has a release date of March 2nd with the pre-patch release on Jan 13. Anyone with an Epic Edition pre-order will have early access – expected Feb 27 according to WoWHead. Players with early access will also be able to use the new Player Housing feature as of Dec 2. This will be a bit complicated for AIE and our co-guilds, which are one of several ways to join “neighborhoods” for player housing. Every player’s Warband gets two houses – one Horde and one Alliance, but any alt can access either home. There will be open neighborhoods that are server wide, and Guilds can create private neighborhoods open to anyone in that guild. Groups of friends (such as Raid Teams) can also create charters for their own neighborhoods. We will have neighb orhoods for all the co-guilds (probably) but haven’t assigned which officer will be assigned to which yet. Currently, in addition to the Legion Remix event (speed leveling/transmog/mounts etc), the WoW Anniversary is active in Retail WoW, with a rep & xp boost. Visiting the Anniversary Celebration at the Caverns of Time will provide an additional buff. Rep is good – because it’s one of the ways to obtain decor for Player Housing. SWTOR SWTOR will see a holiday release of update 7.8 entitled “Pursuit of Ruin”. It will include a new story chapter, a new type of Dynamic Encounter, and a new stronghold (player housing). That’s not to mention Life Day festivities, with the snow balls and the wookiee hugging. Also, for the first year ever, we will be trying out a new guild event during the evenings between Christmas and New Years. Stay tuned to discord for more info on that! ESO MFN in ESO generally takes the month of December off, but expect to find a couple of people hanging out at the normal time on Friday nights though the holidays. Attendance will be sporadic but feel free to reach out if anyone would like company while running the holiday events in game. FFXIV Patch 7.4 comes December 16th. Main Scenario – Into the Mist Raid Dungeon – The Arcadion: Heavyweight Division Variant Dungeon – The Merchant’s Tale New Dungeon – Mistwake New Trial – Hell on Rails New Unreal Trial – Tsukuyomi’s Pain (Unreal) New Frontline Campaign – Worqor Chirteh Weapon Enhancement Quests – Phantom Weapons Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures Manderville Gold Saucer GATE – Air Force One (The Cieldalaes) Cosmic Exploration: Oizys and Tool Enhancement Quests – Cosmic Tools Strategy Board – Raid explanations but better Glamour Update – Unlocked all types! New Theme Settings – Clear Green and Clear White Mac support (Ventura ends Jan 27, Tahoe now supported) Save 50% on Collector's Edition Digital Upgrades Until December 7 New ridiculous hotpot mount (It flies) And irregular tomestones are active now until 7.4 is live. Fanfest is happening where Blizzcon is normally, April 24/25th. Cookbook #2 is out! LOTRO New expansion “Kingdoms of Harad” as of right now is scheduled to be released on December 3rd. The instance cluster for the expansion is expected to be delayed, which means this gives a chance to level up to the new level cap and get a group together and look at it as a kinship. Also looking forward to the Yule Festival that starts on December 11th. Join us as we look to have fun in Frostbluff as well as protecting it in “The Battle of Frostbluff”. STO Yes, it’s true, Cryptic studios has once again been sold. However, this is not a time for doom and gloom. The new owners have no intentions of sunsetting STO. In fact, STO has simply returned to its original owners who want to see the game succeed. There are ongoing sales in both the Zen Store and Mudd’s Market. Some of these are as high as 50% off! Lifetime Subscriptions are 33% off until Dec 14th Q’s Winter Wonderland will be returning on Dec 9th. While we don’t have any specific details on what the rewards will be this year, it’s sure to be something you don’t want to miss! And with that, let's get to what we have been doing in and out of the game! And, Mkallah has a question for everyone! GAME NEWS Okay, friends! What geeky thing are you planning to give for the holidays, and are there any geeky gifts you hope to receive? CLOSE And that's our show for tonight. While the chatroom begins suggesting show titles, we want to thank us, for joining us. If you have a question or comment about our show, you can email us at podcast@aie-guild.org You can find us on the AIE Discord and BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/aiepodcast.bsky.social. We record live with video once a month on Sunday at 8pm Eastern/5pm Pacific. You can join the chatroom and play along with us on our website at https://aie-guild.org/podcast-live-stream/ and look for the link to our discord server at https://aie-guild.org. And for past episodes, you can see them on our Youtube channel, https://www.youtube.com/c/TheAIEPodcast ! Our theme was composed by the amazing Andrew Allen, follow him at @keyswithsoul! And now it's time to play all of the great AIE member segments we received this week, including… We will see you all in January of 2026!. So until then, AIE… – This is Tetsemi – This is Mewkow – This is Mkallah And this has been… The AIE Podcast.

Even though the San Jose Sharks only won one of three games this week, it does not diminish one of the best months of Sharks hockey that we have been treated to in quite some time. The San Jose Barracuda showed that they should be taken seriously, and it's definitely time to jump on the bandwagon! Other topics on deck: Attendance up at SAP Center A look around the Pacific Division to see what's what at the Thanksgiving Day mark. The 9 Defensemen issue and more. Teal Town USA - A San Jose Sharks' post-game podcast, for the fans, by the fans! Subscribe to catch us after every Sharks game and our weekly wrap-up show, The Pucknologists! Check us out on YouTube and remember to Like, Subscribe, and hit that Notification bell to be alerted every time we go live!

RFP - ‘Kiss Daddy Goodnight' and ‘Rocking the Cradle of Sexual Politics: What happened when women said incest' by Louise Armstrong, discussed by Sheila Jeffreys & Dorothea Annison.A live webinar recorded on 30 November 2025 at 10am UK time.On Sundays (10am UK time), our webinar series Radical Feminist Perspectives offers a chance to hear leading feminists discuss radical feminist theory and politics.Attendance of our live webinars is women-only, register at https://bit.ly/registerRFP

Adeline Atlas 11 X Published AUTHOR Digital Twin: Create Your AI Clone: https://www.soulreno.com/digital-twinSOS: School of Soul Vault: Full Access ALL SERIES⁠https://www.soulreno.com/joinus-202f0461-ba1e-4ff8-8111-9dee8c726340Instagram:⁠https://www.instagram.com/soulrenovation/Soul Renovation - BooksSoul Game - https://tinyurl.com/vay2xdcpWhy Play: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/2eh584jfHow To Play: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/2ad4msf3Digital Soul: https://tinyurl.com/3hk29s9xEvery Word: ⁠⁠http://tiny.cc/ihrs001Drain Me: ⁠https://tinyurl.com/bde5fnf4The Rabbit Hole: https://tinyurl.com/3swnmxfjDestiny Swapping: https://tinyurl.com/35dzpvssSpanish Editions:Every Word: https://tinyurl.com/ytec7cvcDrain Me: https://tinyurl.com/3jv4fc5n

Hello Model Clubbers! Back to the old ways for this episode, a recorded episode. Dave Bennett joins us to give us the Kit-Con debrief. How did it go? How was the contest? Attendance? The future? Stay tuned to find out! Kit-Con - https://www.kit-con.com/ Dave Bennett - https://www.facebook.com/david.bennett.58367 Model Madhouse - https://www.facebook.com/modelmadhouse We have a couple giveaways this episode along with a special 3rd giveaway. Thank you Thrust Resin for the She-Hulk! Find Thrust Resin here - https://bit.ly/4iuiq94 Thank you Paul Gill and Jeff Yagher for the Hyde head! Get your replacement heads here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/256216365673881 Thank you Vlad! Click here for the Ymir unboxing - https://youtu.be/gmiuQUDH35U   It is a short episode this time around. A few new things, some emails and the usual jank you know and love. Links for the episode - Gaahleri Airbrush - https://www.gaahleri.com/?ref=ploubojc Coupon Code for 10% off - ModelClubTV Coupon Coder for Amazon - MODELA36 Gaahleri on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/stores/GAAHLERI/page/8AF7539A-BE49-4399-9963-0B56B9AC0C4E?lp_asin=B0D261NDPV&ref_=ast_bln&store_ref=bl_ast_dp_brandLogo_sto StannArts - https://www.stannarts.com/ Terrors From The Vault - https://www.terrorsfromthevault.com/ Uel Winner - https://bit.ly/3Zsf8eE Monsters From The Woods - https://www.facebook.com/groups/monstersfromthewoods Gillman - https://www.facebook.com/groups/704188619991060 Resin Realities - https://www.facebook.com/figuremodels Hengs Model Kits - https://www.facebook.com/groups/414656067101022 Sci-Fi Models and Stuff - https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=scifi_models_and_stuff Just Paint It! - https://www.justpaintit.org/   Air Duster - https://amzn.to/44FU3zl Resin Vacuum - https://www.ufmdesign.com/pages/swiftbuilder email - modelclubtv@gmail.com voicemail - 708-816-4299 discord - https://discord.gg/SE7PXusNyH  

Welcome back to The Church Answers Podcast and to our ongoing series called “The Future Church.” In each episode, Thom and Jess unpack the shifts shaping tomorrow's congregations—and how pastors and leaders can prepare today. In this episode, we're looking at a subject every church feels: money. The financial landscape of ministry is changing rapidly. Attendance patterns have shifted, giving habits have evolved, and the next generation is thinking about generosity in completely new ways. So, what will funding look like for the future church? Thom and Jess explore four emerging models that are helping churches stay healthy and mission-focused in a changing economy. The post Future Church Series – Episode 2: The Economics of the Future Church appeared first on Church Answers.

Should we attend church on Sabbath, or is staying home and watching sermons enough? Jesus' custom was to go to the synagogue every Sabbath (Luke 4:16). Should we follow His example by attending to the church on Sabbath?In this episode, we will explore Jesus' practice of assembling with other people on Sabbath, following God's injunction in Leviticus 23:3 for a Holy Convocation (Heb. miqra) on that day.Together, we'll examine why Sabbath attendance matters for spiritual growth, mission, and community life.Scriptures referenced in this message:Luke 4:16Leviticus 23:3Ezekiel 46:3Hebrews 10:24-25Isaiah 56:7-8Ellen G. White quotation mentioned:"Every believer should be wholehearted in his attachment to the church. Its prosperity should be his first interest, and unless he feels under sacred obligations to make his connection with the church a benefit to it in preference to himself, it can do far better without him. It is in the power of all to do something for the cause of God. There are those who spend a large amount for needless luxuries; they gratify their appetites, but feel it a great tax to contribute means to sustain the church. They are willing to receive all the benefit of its privileges, but prefer to leave others to pay the bills. Those who really feel a deep interest in the advancement of the cause, will not hesitate to invest money in the enterprise whenever and wherever it is needed.—Testimonies for the Church 4:18 (also in Counsels on Stewardship, page 42).The book Counsels on Stewardship is available here: https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/22/infoThis message was originally presented during the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries, Women's Ministries, and Stewardship Ministries departmental worship on November 19, 2025.

Educators often assume that clubs, activities, and school culture must happen in person—that building belonging in virtual learning is limited or even impossible. Many imagine distance learners as isolated kids behind screens, missing the social experiences that shape identity, leadership, and community.But what if that assumption is simply wrong?In this conversation, Cindy Carbajal, a 20-year veteran of Pearson Virtual Schools, shows us how vibrant, student-driven communities thrive online through thoughtful structure, flexible engagement pathways, and opportunities for real agency.Cindy oversees a global clubs and activities program serving 11,000+ students across time zones, grade levels, and cultural backgrounds. Her work demonstrates that:1. Student-Centered Design Fuels Real BelongingClubs are built with a goal that at least 50% of live time is student talk time—not passive listening.Students share, present, lead, and create—driving engagement and ownership.Broad-topic clubs (like Art Club instead of Crochet Club) help students discover unexpected interests and communities.2. Flexible Models Match Virtual Students' Real LivesEvery offering includes both synchronous and asynchronous pathways, ensuring access regardless of schedules, time zones, or family obligations.Live sessions build community; asynchronous challenges deepen skills and allow for self-paced exploration.3. Clubs Quietly Reinforce Academic & Durable SkillsCindy calls it “stealth learning”:Math skills reinforced in esports strategies.Reading skills strengthened through participation logistics and peer review.Executive functioning, digital communication, and leadership built through planning, presenting, and collaborating.4. Data Drives Program EvolutionHer team measures:Enrollment and attendanceStudent and caregiver satisfactionWithdrawal trendsOverlap between global clubs and local school clubs These insights help fine-tune offerings and spark new opportunities—like peer tutoring, reading buddies, and esports leagues.How Educators Can Apply These Insights Today1. Start with the student experience—not the content.Ask: Where can students lead? Where can they share? How can this be theirs?2. Build broad entry points.Instead of a niche club for each interest, create umbrellas where kids can explore together.3. Don't replicate in-person school—capitalize on what's uniquely possible online.Global reach, time-zone diversity, virtual volunteer opportunities, and student leadership that scales across schools—these are advantages brick-and-mortar can't match.4. Teach students how to interact online.Cindy's programs explicitly teach:How to give feedback in writing and art clubsHow to share space respectfullyHow to show kindness online (Kindness Club!)5. Track what matters.Attendance, satisfaction, enrollment, and student stories help shape future offerings.Episode LinksPearson Virtual Schools — Learn more about their virtual school network and programs, including Cindy's Global Clubs.Host LinksDiscover more virtual learning opportunities at CILC.org with hosts Tami Moehring and Allyson Mitchell.Seth Fleischauer's Banyan Global Learning provides meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.

The FAA will award $10,000 bonuses to 776 air traffic controllers and technicians who maintained perfect attendance during the 43-day government shutdown. This incentive recognizes their commitment to safety and reliability under challenging conditions. Payments are scheduled to be distributed by December 9, according to federal officials. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Broeske & Musson' on all platforms: --- The ‘Broeske & Musson Podcast’ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you listen to podcasts. --- ‘Broeske & Musson' Weekdays 9-11 AM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Facebook | Podcast| X | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Only 776 air traffic controllers and technicians who had perfect attendance during the government shutdown will receive $10,000 bonuses while nearly 20,000 other workers will be left out, the Federal Aviation Administration announced Thursday. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Only 776 air traffic controllers and technicians who had perfect attendance during the government shutdown will receive $10,000 bonuses while nearly 20,000 other workers will be left out, the Federal Aviation Administration announced Thursday. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The unions for air traffic controllers and technicians want to know why all of their members aren't getting bonuses for working during the government shutdown. AP correspondent Donna Warder reports.

We're joined by Monsignor Jason Gray, executive director of the Fulton Sheen Foundation, joins us to provide details on the Sheen Experience. Terry Poplava, general manager of ACST Catholic, talks about a recent survey that examines people's beliefs in Jesus and church attendance. Suzie Andres, author, blogger at Miss Marcel's Musings, and friend of St Therese, talks about the book by Camille Burette called A Shower of Roses: The Most Beautiful Miracles of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.

Chris Lee and Luke Wyatt talk about Vanderbilt's No. 14 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings, what they think of that and what stands out about the rankings and what Vanderbilt needs to do. Plus, some talk on Clark Lea's contract, hoops talk and more. What games should Vanderbilt fans pay attention to that impact the Playoff race? How much will a bye week help? What do we think is going on with Clark Lea's contract? Attendance talk. And more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Griff Jenkins, Washington based Correspondent for Fox News Channel joins to talk Jasmine Crockett, funeral for former Vice President Dick Cheney. JD Vance and more.

The Education Brief: Wednesday 19 November 2025 - Top stories include:Teacher wellbeing has hit a new low, according to Education Support's latest Wellbeing Index.The government's new AI-generated attendance reports have been pulled just days after launch.The DfE have named 36 new attendance and behaviour hub lead schools.Councils say the high-needs funding system is on the brink of “total collapse”, while some primaries now have six times as many pupils with EHCPs as others.Teachers and leaders say extra enrichment is impossible.HEP Updates:Book sessions on the https://hepbookinghub.co.uk/ https://register-national-professional-qualifications.education.gov.uk/https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hep-inclusion-send-conference-2026-neurodiversity-in-the-classroom-tickets-1758147629889https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-to-use-Multimedia-in-the-Classroom-A-design-guide-based-on-evidence-.pdfWatching - https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ng-interactive/2025/oct/21/why-the-manosphere-clicked-for-young-men-a-visual-deep-diveListening - https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/podcastsReading - https://demos.co.uk/research/inside-the-mind-of-a-16-year-old-from-andrew-tate-to-bonnie-blue-to-nigel-farage-what-do-first-time-voters-think-about-social-media-politics-the-state-of-britain-and-their-futures/AI Tool - https://www.thinglink.com/⁠Music by Slo Pony⁠

Torey Van Oot from Axios Joins Jordana.

'Radical Reckonings' by Renate Klein, discussed by Renate Klein and Sheila Jeffreys.A live webinar recorded on 16th November 2025 at 10am UK time.On Sundays (10am UK time), our webinar series Radical Feminist Perspectives offers a chance to hear leading feminists discuss radical feminist theory and politics.Attendance of our live webinars is women-only, register at https://bit.ly/registerRFP

learn how to use the word 'attendance' in English

im and Todd sit down for their annual "Bourbon on the Banks" wrap-up show, joined by two key figures behind the successful event, Diane Strong and Renee True. As longtime listeners and friends of the show, Diane and Renee dive deep into a "postmortem" of the 2025 festival, discussing its record-breaking successes, logistical challenges, and plans for the future, all while tasting a couple of the event's exclusive barrel picks. The tasting kicks off with the Pursuit United Bourbon on the Banks Pick, a 108-proof bourbon finished with a unique tobacco stave. Todd, Diane, and Renee, who were all part of the large selection team, reflect on their choice, noting that the crowd-pleasing "sweet" and "smooth" profile made it a winner. The pour is rich with notes of sweet pipe tobacco, caramel, and a distinct chocolaty, candy-like quality. The group discusses the massive success of the festival's single-barrel pick program, which featured 11 or 12 different selections this year. Many, like the Bluegrass and Chicken Cock picks, sold out quickly. They also highlight the "rock star" quality of the picking teams, which often included a mix of industry professionals and highly knowledgeable consumers, ensuring a high standard across the board. Diane and Renee share insights into the festival's record-breaking year. The Friday night VIP event, which celebrated "Women in Bourbon," was a huge success. The event's auction was a standout, raising over $22,000 for local charities. Attendance for the main festival hit a new high, selling out a full month in advance and welcoming over 300 more attendees than the previous year. The tiered ticket structure (Special Access, Early Access, General Admission, and Twilight) was successful, and due to positive feedback, the event may be extended by an hour in 2026. The second pour comes with a fantastic backstory: the Dark Arts Bourbon on the Banks 2024 Pick. Due to a distributor mix-up, this 7.5-year-old bourbon, finished in Tokai wine casks, was mistakenly absent from the 2024 festival. The bottles were held in a warehouse for a year and finally made their debut at the 2025 event. Jim, Todd, and Renee—who also selected this barrel—revisit their 113.24-proof pick, praising it as "dessert in a glass" with decadent notes of fig, sweet caramel, and deep, rich oak. The conversation covers the entire weekend, from the positive feedback on the Thursday night "Whiskey Thieves Kickoff" and "Bourbon Street on Broadway" to the packed after-party. A major logistical victory for 2025 was the permanent relocation of the local farmer's market, which previously conflicted with setup. This new freedom will allow the festival to start earlier next year. They also discuss attendee feedback, such as requests for lanyards and a mobile app, and the great community response to inviting more social media influencers and YouTubers to cover the event, which Diane notes helps shine a light on the smaller, craft distilleries that make the festival unique. Be sure to check out our private Facebook group, "The Bourbon Roadies" for a great group of bourbon loving people. You will be welcomed with open arms!

Episode 429: The December Retention Crisis: Keeping Students Through the Holidays Podcast Description It's mid-November, and you can feel it coming. Families are getting busier. Attendance is starting to drop. Parents are distracted. And you know what's around the corner—the December retention crisis. Every year, it's the same story. December hits, families disappear, and then January rolls around and half of them don't come back. But it doesn't have to be that way. In this timely episode, Duane and Allie break down exactly how to keep your students engaged, motivated, and committed through the holidays—and how to set yourself up so January isn't a rebuild month. Duane and Allie cover: Why December is so dangerous for retention (and what's really happening) Early warning signs to identify at-risk families before they disappear Proactive retention strategies you can implement right now How to handle the "break" conversation when parents ask to pause Setting up January success in December (pre-selling enrollment, reconnecting with former students) Common mistakes to avoid (and what to do instead) Whether you've been in business for 30+ years like Duane and Allie (combined 60 years of martial arts experience!) or you're newer to school ownership, this episode will give you a clear action plan to finish 2025 strong and start 2026 even stronger. The work you do in November and December determines your January numbers. Don't wait—start now. Key Takeaways 1. December Is a Retention Battleground—Not a Throw-Away Month Families are overwhelmed with school concerts, holiday parties, family travel, shopping, cooking, and hosting. Kids are exhausted from end-of-semester exams, school projects, and holiday events. Parents mentally check out, thinking, "We'll get back to normal in January." The hidden danger: Families who skip 2-3 weeks in December often don't return in January. They were already on the fence—the holidays just gave them permission to quit. The mindset shift: December isn't a "throw-away month." The work you do in November and December determines your January numbers. 2. People Are Creatures of Habit—Don't Let Them Break the Training Habit Allie's "drink analogy": When the refrigerator at his school is full, people constantly buy drinks. The minute it goes empty for a few days, people go to 7-Eleven instead and form a new habit. When he refills the fridge, drink sales drop to zero—he has to ramp them back up again. The lesson: The longer you're closed (or the longer students skip class), the harder it is to get them back into the habit of training. 3. Identify At-Risk Families Early—Don't Wait Until January Red flags to watch for: Attendance drops in November (coming 1x/week instead of 2-3x) Parents stop engaging (no eye contact, quick drop-offs, don't respond to texts) Students seem disengaged (low energy, not participating, sitting out) Families mention "busy schedules" repeatedly They ask about "pausing" or "taking a break" Billing issues (failed payments, late payments, asking about payment plans) Action step: This week, make a list of your at-risk families. Don't wait until they're gone. 4. Overcommunicate in November—Set Expectations for December Send a "Holiday Schedule & Expectations" email or letter in mid-November. Set the expectation: "We know the holidays are busy, but staying consistent is key to your child's progress." Remind families: "Students who train through December start January ahead of the game." Duane's multi-channel approach: Create a video about the holiday schedule and expectations. Post it on YouTube, Facebook, your parent group, send a push notification through the app with the link, and send an email. Get that information out so everybody knows. 5. Create December Incentives to Drive Attendance Perfect Attendance Challenge: Students who attend all December classes (or 80%+ of cl...

Benefits you earned shouldn't be out of reach just because the rulebook is complex. We sit down on Veterans Day to map a practical path to VA Aid and Attendance—a pension that can help pay for in‑home care, assisted living, or nursing home care—without draining a lifetime of savings. Drawing on years of elder law practice, we unpack the real asset limits, the home and acreage rules, and the underused Veterans Asset Protection Trust that can shield excess resources and still keep you in control.Across the conversation, we focus on preserving dignity and choice. You'll hear how to balance everyday access to funds while sheltering the rest, how to select a trusted third‑party trustee, and why a well‑timed trust can be Medicaid‑compliant so you can stack Aid and Attendance with Medicaid when health needs escalate. We also lay out the essential foundation: a general durable power of attorney, a health care power of attorney, and a living will—documents that prevent guardianship and keep decision‑making with the people you choose. For the home, we explain probate‑avoidance strategies like a Lady Bird deed to protect equity and ensure it passes cleanly to your heirs.Whether you're a veteran, a spouse, or a surviving spouse, the goal is clear: protect what you've built, activate the benefits you deserve, and keep control over where you live and how you're treated. If you've wondered how to qualify for VA Aid and Attendance, avoid unnecessary spend‑downs, and steer clear of probate, this guide offers the steps and the reasoning behind them. Subscribe for more elder law insights, share this with a veteran who could use it, and leave a review to help others find trustworthy planning advice.

The Star's Justin Spears and Michael Lev discuss all the latest topics surrounding Arizona football, including the Wildcats clinching a bowl berth after beating the Kansas Jayhawks, attendance at Arizona Stadium and more! 

~Chat opens 1 hour before stream~Here is the link to the Williams Waiver https://www.hillandponton.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Waiver-example.pdfVA Disability Calculator is here https://www.hillandponton.com/va-disability-calculator/Struggling to get the benefits you know you deserve? Get a free case evaluation now! - https://www.hillandponton.com/free-case-evaluation?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organic-video&utm_campaign=description&utm_id=Livestream+ShowJoin in our Live VA Disability Q&A Session in which we answer your questions live. We can't get to every single question so we will answer them as they come in. If you have any questions about the VA Disability Benefits process you can ask the question in the comment section when we go live and a little earlier. We are nationwide VA Accredited Disability Lawyers. We can't wait to answer your questions!For a FREE Case Evaluation go here: https://www.hillandponton.com/free-ca...Visit our website at https://www.hillandponton.com/?utm_so...Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HillandPontonFor questions please email us at Info@hillandponton.comSpeakers: TBAThe content of this YouTube channel is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute legal advice. You should not rely upon any information contained on this YouTube channel for legal advice. Viewing this YouTube channel is not intended to and shall not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Hill and Ponton, PA. Messages or other forms of communication that you transmit to this YouTube channel will not create an attorney-client relationship and thus information contained in such communications may not be protected as privileged. Hill and Ponton, PA does not make any representation, warranty, or guarantee about the accuracy of the information contained in this YouTube channel or in links to other YouTube channels or websites. This YouTube channel is provided "as is," does not represent that any outcome or result from the viewing of this channel. Your use viewing of this YouTube channel is at your own risk. You enjoy this YouTube channel and its contents only for personal, non-commercial purposes. Neither Hill and Ponton, PA, nor anyone acting on their behalf, will be liable under any circumstances for damages of any kind.

Brad and Tyler discuss the latest professional wrestling and pop culture headlines. They begin by forecasting what they want to see from an Aleister Black versus Cody Rhodes feud and Kelani Jordan's heel turn. Later, the guys react to The Babes of Wrath's upset victory and the latest storyline developments ahead of AEW Full Gear. The Arizona Wildcats are bowl-eligible, Stephanie Vaquer and Nikki Bella are still friends, and winter break is getting closer. There's a lot to be grateful for this week.Other topics include:Gratitude: Art with a Cause'The Golden Bachelor' Finale Preview, Pt. IIZohran Mamdani's VictoryFollow the show for exclusive updates.Social: @gipod19 Web: gimmickinfringementpod.com, 19mediagroup.comGoods: https://19-media-group.myspreadshop.com0:00 Intro  8:13 Hot Take Ty — Brent Brennan and Arizona Football15:49 Steph Watch — An L, A Friend, and No Challenger20:41 WWE — Punk's Coronation, Aleister's Ascension, and Kelani's Turn40:55 Gratitude — Art with a Cause52:30 AEW — The Babes of Wrath and Building to Full Gear1:04:17 A Rose — Finale Talk and Gerry's Memoir1:15:07 WDWM — Mamdani's Victory, Outkast's Recognition, and Tiger Pride1:21:00 ClosingFollow 19 Media Group:Twitter: @19MGroupInstagram: 19mediagrouphttps://www.19MediaGroup.comDiscover our favorite podcast gear and support the show—shop our studio must-haves on our Amazon Affiliate page! https://www.amazon.com/shop/19mediagroupWant to join the conversation or invite us to your platform? Connect with us and share your vision (budget-friendly collaborations welcome)!  https://bit.ly/19Guest

We discuss the current state of the movie industry, focusing on the disappointing box office results of October, the impact of economic factors on movie-going habits, and the phenomenon of celebrity fatigue. They explore the dynamics of upcoming films, the competition they face, and the expectations audiences have for sequels and franchises. The discussion also touches on the high costs of big-budget films and the anticipated box office performance of major releases like Wicked and Avatar.

Chronic absenteeism can feel both overwhelming and annoying because we understand there is SO much more to the story. But what if I told you there are some silly and significant things we can do to combat it? In this weeks episode of This Teacher Life, we’re showing you how something as simple as a potato can have a BIG impact on your school's attendance! Tune in as we explore 9 creative and fun ways to boost attendance that don't require fancy resources—just a little imagination and a whole lot of enthusiasm. From quirky potato-themed incentives to engaging activities that motivate students to show up every day, you’ll get practical ideas that are easy to implement and guaranteed to bring excitement to your school. If you're looking for fresh ways to keep students engaged and present, this episode is packed with inspiration that can change the game at your school. Episode Notes:  The Rooted Classroom Course Filled with TONS of Ideas for Relationship Building with Staff & Students: monicagenta.com/courses Want some Awesome PD or Consulting at Your School? Let’s Make it Happen:  monicagenta.com/PD Get a free PDF copy of Monica's Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed

RFP - 'Sexual Liberals and the Attack on Feminism' edited by Dorhen Leidholdt and Janice Raymond, discussed by Karla Mantilla & Marian Rutigliano. A live webinar recorded on 9th November 2025 at 10am UK time.You can download a PDF of the book here: https://frauenkultur.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/The-Sexual-Liberals-and-the-Attack-on-Feminism.pdfand listen to recordings of speeches from the conference here: https://www.catwa.org.au/historical-rrecordings/On Sundays (10am UK time), our webinar series Radical Feminist Perspectives offers a chance to hear leading feminists discuss radical feminist theory and politics.Attendance of our live webinars is women-only, register at https://bit.ly/registerRFP

In this hour Ryan and Scott talk about bad attendance in St. Louis public schools. Ryan has a friend he wants to brag about because he was named the Chicago Bears fan of the year. Dr. Bob Onder, US Congressman for Missouri's 3rd District joins to talk about drug prices slashed on drugs that help lose weight plus the topic of transgender. In Scott on the Spot we look at how we remember things.

Today's word of the day is ‘slap' as in Will Smith as in Miguel Rojas as in Yoshinobu Yamamoto as in the Dodgers are back-to-back World Series champions. What a series. The Toronto Blue Jays were two outs away from being champions and then it all went wrong in Game 7. Let's break it all down. (11:30) Yoshinobu Yamamoto did one of the rarest things ever. He picked up three wins in the World Series. Game 2 winner. Game 6 winner. Game 7 winner on no rest! (19:00) We had benches clearing in the World Series! We had heroics from players you'd never think of! Was the IKF lead large enough in the bottom of the 9th? How about the Will Smith home run? (38:15) Baseball is in such a great place after that World Series. Viewership up. Fans up. Attendance up. (42:30) What do the Blue Jays do now? What is going to happen to the league? (49:30) Wait to see updates! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today's word of the day is ‘slap' as in Will Smith as in Miguel Rojas as in Yoshinobu Yamamoto as in the Dodgers are back-to-back World Series champions. What a series. The Toronto Blue Jays were two outs away from being champions and then it all went wrong in Game 7. Let's break it all down. (11:30) Yoshinobu Yamamoto did one of the rarest things ever. He picked up three wins in the World Series. Game 2 winner. Game 6 winner. Game 7 winner on no rest! (19:00) We had benches clearing in the World Series! We had heroics from players you'd never think of! Was the IKF lead large enough in the bottom of the 9th? How about the Will Smith home run? (38:15) Baseball is in such a great place after that World Series. Viewership up. Fans up. Attendance up. (42:30) What do the Blue Jays do now? What is going to happen to the league? (49:30) Wait to see updates! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Want to boost student achievement data, but it feels way to huge to actually move the needle? What if I told you there was an easy way to boost learning data and it’s by focusing on something totally separate? In this week’s episode of This Teacher Life podcast, we're bringing some fun and friendly competition to your school with an unexpected twist—a potato! Discover how something as simple as a spud can completely transform your school's attendance game. We're diving into creative attendance competitions that will get students excited to come to school and actively participate. From toy-themed incentives to exciting challenges that keep students motivated, this episode is packed with unique, hands-on ideas to make attendance more engaging and enjoyable. Whether you’re looking to reward consistency or encourage team spirit, you'll walk away with a treasure trove of strategies to spice up your school. Get ready for tons of inspiration and practical ideas that will make showing up to school an adventure! Episode Notes:  Get TONS of Relationship Building Ideas in Rooted Classroom Course: monicagenta.com/courses Get a free PDF copy of Monica's Book Crushing It For Kids Here: http://bit.ly/MonicaGenta Connect with Monica on social media: Instagram: instagram.com/monicagentaed/ TikTok: tiktok.com/@monicagentaed Facebook: facebook.com/MonicaGentaEd Twiiter: twitter.com/monicagentaed

This week, Jim Hill and Len Testa discuss Disney's newest attraction update — Soarin' Across America, debuting at EPCOT and Disney California Adventure in 2026 — and what it means for the company's strategy ahead of the U.S. 250th anniversary. They also break down the just-released TEA Global Attendance Report and what the latest theme park numbers reveal about Disney, Universal, and the post-pandemic recovery. The new Soarin' Across America film and why Disney's betting on nostalgia over novelty Key takeaways from the 2024 TEA Global Attendance Report — who's up, who's down, and why Disney Cruise Line's new discount strategy and survey data collection The surprising link between Disney tech and U.S. military innovations The unbuilt Legend of Sleepy Hollow attraction that could have haunted the Magic Kingdom From ride refreshes to record books, Jim and Len explore how attendance trends, patriotic tie-ins, and spooky forgotten projects all shape Disney's next chapter. SHOW NOTES Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in ticket sales, use Unlocked Magic to get the BIGGEST SAVINGS. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn More⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Jim Hill and Len Testa discuss Disney's newest attraction update — Soarin' Across America, debuting at EPCOT and Disney California Adventure in 2026 — and what it means for the company's strategy ahead of the U.S. 250th anniversary. They also break down the just-released TEA Global Attendance Report and what the latest theme park numbers reveal about Disney, Universal, and the post-pandemic recovery. The new Soarin' Across America film and why Disney's betting on nostalgia over novelty Key takeaways from the 2024 TEA Global Attendance Report — who's up, who's down, and why Disney Cruise Line's new discount strategy and survey data collection The surprising link between Disney tech and U.S. military innovations The unbuilt Legend of Sleepy Hollow attraction that could have haunted the Magic Kingdom From ride refreshes to record books, Jim and Len explore how attendance trends, patriotic tie-ins, and spooky forgotten projects all shape Disney's next chapter. SHOW NOTES Unlocked Magic Unlocked Magic, powered by DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, offers exclusive Disney & Universal ticket savings with TRUSTED service and authenticity. With over $10 MILLION in ticket sales, use Unlocked Magic to get the BIGGEST SAVINGS. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn More⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices