The One Thing

Matt Gorton and Scruff chat about common mistakes in kids' ministry: Assuming biblical knowledge Using Christian jargon without explanation Lack of visual engagement Trying to teach too much at once Neglecting dramatic conflict Matt Gorton is the Creative Director of Quiz Worx, an organisation focused on sharing Jesus with kids, primarily through live puppet shows in schools. Their approach de...

Kids' ministry burns out leaders faster than most church roles, and the trend is spiking. Sandy Galea shares her real-life struggle as a children's ministry director, as well as her observations as someone who oversees many people who work in this area. Why does it happen? The mismatch of expectations and the actual job description of a kids' minister The mismatch of the resources ne...

Perceptions shape a ministry’s effectiveness. For kids ministry, we’re exploring Bible-based views to reinforce it and tackling harmful misconceptions. What are some of the ministry pressures that kids ministry faces? How pressures effect the perception and effectiveness of kids ministry How it should be seen through a biblical lens Decisions that leaders can make that will help or sabotage the pe...

Raising issues with your leader or your team can be tough—too many ideas may overwhelm, confuse or burden them unnecessarily, or it might intimidate you. Russ Smidt from MTS created a tool to help you present problems to your leader or team effectively. What's  the issue? How do you get this down to a sentence What's the  options ? why are options important? What's your  recommendation...

As Christians, we want everyone to understand our message about God, but language barriers can hinder fellowship. Sunflower, an AI tool, helps churches bridge this gap by enabling non-native English speakers to follow services and conferences with ease. Chuhoa Liu is one of the co-founders of Sunflower. What does it do? How fast is it? What do you need to set it up? Dealing with theological and sp...

Lighthouse Church, located on the mid-central coast of NSW, has significantly increased its mission effectiveness. A key measure of this success is the ratio of individuals professing faith as a percentage of average weekly attendance. In just three years, Lighthouse has doubled this figure, rising from 4% to 8%. What are they measuring? What are they focussed on? How do they manage distractions?...

Building an effective church mission calendar is like conducting an orchestra—it requires careful coordination, intentional rhythm, and a deep understanding of both the individual instruments and the overall symphony of church life. The calendar is not just a logistical tool, but a strategic roadmap that keeps the main thing of mission the main thing. There are important points and principles you...

'A failure to plan is a plan to fail' – an adage that rings especially true when planning for mission. In this episode, Dave Jensen explores common pitfalls churches encounter when planning for mission. Why having a plan helps you with reactivity and commitment The importance of the right goals guiding the plan Knowing you really need two mission plans A plan to create and keep 'missio...

Lots of gospel workers intentionally don't use social media (often for wise reasons!). But lots of churches in our network are seeing more people through their doors and engaging with the gospel through their social media presence. Liz Fong is in charge of marketing at Reach Australia and runs the social media pages. She regularly has gospel workers asking what they should post on their church...

Healthy churches need teams with capable and skilled leaders. Like any ministry skill, leading a team takes growth and development. Dave Moore is the Executive Pastor from Hunter Bible Church, Newcastle and is responsible for overseeing over 550 volunteers. Do your teams not "work" because you don't have have trained leaders? Are volunteer team leaders the way Australian Christianity...

Term 2 isn’t just Term 1 on repeat - it brings new opportunities and challenges. It’s easy to lose focus and drift, both personally and in ministry, without being intentional. Taking time to reflect and adjust now can help set up the rest of the year well. In this episode, we’ll explore ways to stay engaged and focused, including: Keeping the main thing the main thing: making disciples Taking a mo...

The Reach Australia network needs to evaluate our own performance. Every year we survey the churches in our network to get a picture of our collective health. How are we progressing in reaching our goals? What's going well? What areas require improvement? What do we need to do differently? Churches in our network weren't great in mission, but now they're doing much better. Why did thin...

In the middle of Sydney’s Muslim Ramadan street party—where food trucks line the streets and thousands celebrate—there’s a surprising presence: The Peace Tent. A Christian outreach, this space invites seekers to discover the peace of Jesus in the heart of the festival. If you want to grow in confidence sharing Jesus across cultures, this episode is for you. TOOLBOX: Connecting Muslims: A Guide to...

What does good welcoming look like in church? Instead of just talking about it, we follow Nathan Brewer as he leads the welcoming team at Kellyville Anglican Church — seeing firsthand how Kellyville Anglican works to foster a genuinely warm and inviting church environment. TOOL BOX YouTube Version of the Episode Screenshots of Kellyville Connect Card and where it appears in the service Secret shop...

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First impressions matter, and churches often underestimate how much. Peter Blanch and Scott Sanders discuss how small changes can make a big impact in helping people feel seen, valued, and truly at home. The theological foundation for welcoming Mistakes from not even thinking about it to overvaluing the newcomer Mistakes of not thinking about what a new person needs to connect to church Mistakes o...

Are you suffering from death by meetings? Meetings can be soul-crushing or life-changing. Have you stopped to think about how to make yours truly effective so we can be using our resources effectively for the gospel? Scott Sanders and Derek Hanna talk about: Simple tools for making sure meetings work The importance of drama in meetings The importance of meaning and context in meetings Why you need...

At the start of the year, many of us may realise we spent the previous year caught in a cycle of constant activity—just doing, without much reflection or planning, and barely surviving. How can we break free from this endless seven-day grind? What's the cycle of survival from Sunday to Sunday and why is it so dangerous? Why is it rooted in selfishness and being unloving? Who is responsible whe...

Your calendar is not just the place where you put tasks to do and meetings to be had. It's about aligning your time with your values and integrity. Scott Sanders and Peter Blanch explore how to do this effectively: The importance of reflection and how to do it Your calendar will reflect your convictions, but you may not be aware you are living them out Where to put the harder things you do in...

Gary Millar dives into holding tension in the Christian life, embracing differences, and leaning into Christlike living. It’s about being missionally effective and reflecting Jesus in our character. It's challenging, yes, but necessary—because calling each other to godliness is the truest form of leadership. Gary's new book  Both And And  is out now — a book that’s part wake-up call, part guide fo...

There are some key phrases that leaders can use that create great gospel culture in your team. While they aren't always easy to say, they are an essential part of leadership. Why are they important: Leaders don't know everything Leaders aren't better at everything, it's important to be able to learn from others Leaders don't have all the answers, collaboration in a team is important Leaders someti...

Think Charles Dickens, but real life. For Steve McAlpine’s mother, Christmas wasn’t always merry: abandoned in foster care, kidnapped by her birth mother, left by her husband—then reconciled. Over 80 years, her extraordinary journey, shaped by the gospel, turned Christmas into something truly transformative. Steve has a background in journalism and three decades experience pastoring and planting c...

We continue our dive into the crucial role of emotional intelligence (EQ) in church leadership, specifically focusing on team dynamics with Pete Stedman from Norwest Anglican Church in Sydney. What happens if you neglect EQ in a team A framework for understanding EQ How to foster a positive team culture that values EQ How to equip church leaders to build strong, emotionally healthy teams TOOL BOX:...

While IQ is important, emotional intelligence (EQ) is crucial as pastors navigate the complexities, compromises, and conflicts inherent in church life.  Pete Stedman from Norwest Anglican Church, Sydney shares how EQ shapes his leadership style, transforms team dynamics, and helps him navigate the challenges of ministry. EQ for navigating team dynamics, managing conflict and fostering compromise V...

January can feel like a weird limbo—Australia practically shuts down, and people are in and out all month. Bur don’t just coast; use this time wisely: Capitalising on the post-Christmas momentum Welcoming new faces Preaching with purpose Using the downtime strategically Supporting the lonely Developing long-term plans Investing in leaders Reseting ministry teams Reading and reflecting January’s no...