SwebbCast by Ai

Todd Mears is the Kids Pastor of Celebration Church in the Austin area. This is where we attend church and have really been blessed to know Todd and his team. He discusses some of the typical tensions many face in that ministry. And has some solid portable one-liners too. Send this to your Kids Pastor. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to...

Welcome to the new crew! This short video is your quick orientation to Swebbstack — how I write, where the content comes from, and what’s coming next (including a 9-part free series on how I use AI). If you’ve ever thought, “This is exactly what I needed,” it’s probably because someone just like you asked for it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get...

This episode is built from a coaching session with a traveling evangelist looking to scale his business as well as get better at focusing and communicating his value. Swebb unpacks how ministry leaders can move beyond just "preaching the gospel" and start clearly articulating their unique value. He challenges leaders to set financial minimums, stop waiting for random opportunities, and proactively...

A pastor in the midwest sits down with Swebb for a sharp, practical conversation on church leadership and growth strategy. They tackle topics like calendar planning, maximizing seasonal attendance, using real data to understand congregant behavior, and rethinking assimilation models. Swebb pushes back on trend-chasing and challenges leaders to lead with clarity, intention, and a deep understanding...

This episode comes from a coaching call transcript between a church executive and Swebb, where they discuss structural and operational improvements for a church. They focus on the need for clear standards and measurable practices , particularly regarding stage hosting and overall service flow , to ensure consistency and effectiveness. A significant point of discussion is the importance of intentio...

This episode comes from a webinar focused on church planting . Swebb shares insights and advice based on his own experiences and observations. He emphasizes the importance of defining key aspects like the reason for planting, what kind of church is being started, and what is truly needed for success. He also stresses the necessity of being decisive in making choices and having discipline in areas...

This is a bonus episode with our real voices and organic content. Greg Basch and I discussed “Calling” on a recent IG Live. This topic has been both a trigger and a workout for us over the years working together and working in the same general space of leadership coaching. You can also watch the full conversation on YouTube here. Connect with Swebb at www.swebb.fyi Connect with Greg at www.gregbas...

This episode argues for the significant financial and missional returns that churches can achieve by strategically investing in coaching, particularly for expansion and overall church health. It contrasts poorly executed, costly independent efforts with successful, sustainable growth resulting from expert guidance. Swebb presents a case study demonstrating a substantial increase in tithes and salv...

This episode examines the challenging yet vital nature of pioneering, particularly in the context of faith and church planting. It emphasizes that taking new ground and creating lasting impact necessitates enduring hardship and embracing uncertainty, much like the experiences of historical pioneers. It outlines six common pains of pioneering and offers solutions for them. The included story of a s...

Swebb acknowledges the common experience of self-doubt but advocates for action over perfectionism. He suggests focusing on one's own motivations and values when creating content, rather than worrying excessively about potential negative reactions. He emphasizes the idea that even seemingly insignificant contributions can resonate with someone. Swebb draws a parallel to other areas of life, like f...

Swebb argues against the pervasive need to constantly engage and "feed" audiences, whether in churches or businesses, asserting it creates dependency and unnecessary effort. Swebb contends that consistent over-communication through announcements, events, and frequent contact is often ineffective and stems from a fear of being forgotten. Instead, he advocates for a simpler approach rooted in genuin...

Swebb's essay-turned-ebook (and course) offers a critical look at church compensation practices, challenging conventional wisdom and addressing common problems. Swebb argues that churches often chase nonexistent pay standards, struggle with budgeting, overstaff, and lack the desire to see their teams financially succeed. Swebb advocates for determining a real living wage in the area, budgeting by...

This is from a series of talks about church budgets. He emphasizes the importance of incorporating four key budgetary, but often overlooked, line items: savings (at least 5%), outreach/missions (at least 3%), guest preachers/coaching (at least $10,000 annually for church plants), and leadership development ($50/month per staff member minimum). Swebb encourages proactive, systematic financial plann...

This year, I hired a personal trainer. Not because I was out of shape, but because I wanted to push myself, try something new, and experience the same growth (and discomfort) I challenge my clients to embrace. At 46, I know good intentions won’t cut it—real change requires accountability and pressure. Here’s what I’ve learned so far, and it applies to more than just fitness. For custom solutions f...

This is a short overview of some budgeting thoughts. It emphasizes that budgets are tools for managing resources, not guarantees of funding, and encourages collaborative planning among staff. The process prioritizes vision-based allocation, eliminating historical spending as the sole justification for future budgets. Improved accounting practices, including digital receipt input and more frequent...

This is from a coaching call transcript with a a pastor overseeing multiple church locations. They discuss the an model of rapidly expanding his ministry across several cities. Swebb advises a more sustainable approach emphasizing discipleship and community building in a central location rather than relying solely on preaching charisma. The conversation also covers practical issues like staffing,...

This is from a coaching call with a campus pastor at a massive church facing challenges of rebuilding the campus after some rough waters. The CP describes experiencing a significant decline in attendance and low morale. Swebb emphasizes the importance of building personal connections rather than relying solely on large-scale programs. As always, source content is Swebb’s but the interpretation and...

This episode discusses a coaching call Swebb had with a guy who is considering entering the church consulting field. Swebb emphasizes the lack of standardized rules in the church world, making the client’s corporate operations experience potentially very valuable as he seeks to help churches improve their operations and decision-making processes. This episode, then, also provide insights into how...

This episode is from a coaching call transcript between Swebb and a church leader in Europe, focusing on revitalizing a stagnant 50-year-old church. Swebb emphasizes the importance of clearly defining expectations and standards for leadership development, drawing parallels with Jesus's mentorship of his disciples. Furthermore, Swebb introduces "momentum mapping," a strategic approach to aligning c...

This episode is from a coaching call transcript that records a meeting planning a large all-volunteer event. The team brainstorms themes and activities, settling on a "pioneering" or "claim-jumping" motif inspired by the 1883 TV series. They discuss speakers, sessions, and a potential commitment ceremony where attendees symbolically claim territory for a new church campus. Logistical details, such...

AI Summary: From the popular ongoing series of posts called 5 THINGS , this list argues that churches should outsource five specific roles instead of hiring staff: graphic design, sound, marketing/social media strategy, bookkeeping/finance, and development. The author contends that contracting these services is more cost-effective, provides access to greater expertise and diverse perspectives, and...

The content comes from another of the popular 5 THINGS lists Swebb writes on Instagram. Swebb contends that consistent tardiness reflects a lack of respect for others' time, building a negative reputation. Ultimately, the piece advocates for taking responsibility for one's punctuality and cultivating a reliable reputation through consistent on-time arrival. Building a good reputation through timel...

This post offers five key principles for teaching children about money. First , it emphasizes that financial literacy doesn't require actual money; everyday resources can be used to illustrate concepts. Second , parental actions and attitudes significantly shape a child's financial philosophy. Third , the importance of introducing investing principles early is stressed. Fourth , the text highlight...

This is an Ai-driven podcast from a post I made about making meetings great again. I spend a lot of effort helping churches make meetings better. And it’s more than just talking about it - having another meeting about bad meetings. I actually give actionable lists like these 5 D’s of meetings. And this AI summary hits it pretty good for those who are auditory learners. :) Original post is here. As...

This episode describes a surprisingly lucrative strategy: simply advocating for others . Swebb claims this effortless act of recommending friends or colleagues for opportunities, like preaching gigs or consulting jobs, has unexpectedly generated significant income, sometimes covering bills or even rent. This "easy money," Swebb emphasizes, stems from genuine belief in others' abilities and isn't a...