Fly on the Wall Podcast With Chris Sonksen

How do you structure your board and staff for success? In this week’s episode of the Fly on the Wall podcast, Pastor Chris sits down with Pastor Alan of Bloomfield Assembly to discuss structuring your board and staff. Here's a sneak peek of what you can expect from this episode: 👉 Exploring Diverse Leadership Roles: Discover the array of leadership roles that play a pivotal part in fostering...

How do you grow your church as a bi-vocational pastor? There's nothing tougher than growing a church with limited hours and resources — but it's possible! Tune in to episode 77 of the Fly on the Wall podcast with Chris Sonksen as this week he coaches Pastor Alex and you on: 👉 Streamlining your church in order to find traction 👉 Shifting mindsets to break through growth barriers 👉 Craf...

How do you plan an entire year of sermons in just a few days? In Episode 76, our host, Chris Sonksen, sits down with Pastor Alex Williams from Summit Church to discuss the Ultimate Sermon Calendar Guide.  Tune in as we coach you on planning an entire year's worth of sermons in just a few days! In this episode you will learn: ✅ How to hold annual sermon planning retreat. ✅ Practical framewor...

What does it take to grow a church today? On episode 75 of Church Boom's Fly on the Wall podcast, Pastor Chris Sonksen coaches Pastor David Duffy of Deming First Assembly. During this coaching call, they discuss various topics related to the growth of a church. In this episode, Pastor Chris will coach you on how to: 👉 Prepare your church for a capital campaign (see the link below for the con...

Many churches believe that if they can get the husband to attend church, the rest of the family will follow. But how can churches effectively reach out to men? In episode 74 of the Fly on the Wall podcast, Pastor Chris coaches Pastor Darryl of Destiny Ministries Columbus on strategies to reach men in his congregation. During their conversation, they discuss how other churches have successfully cre...

This week’s episode is all about building a team that will take your church to the next level. Tune in as Pastor Chris Sonksen sits down with Pastor Ed @edcarlson of Apple Valley First church to discuss the keys to building a high performing team. In this episode, you’ll discover the secrets to effectively managing a hybrid team, comprising both full-time and part-time staff, without impeding the...

Consistency with church attendance is a major challenge for many churches. Although attendance is increasing, getting members to commit beyond Sunday mornings is difficult.  In episode 72 of the Fly on the Wall podcast, Pastor Chris coaches Pastor Joshua from Banner church on ways to create greater consistency and engagement in their congregation. During the coaching call, Pastor Chris emphasizes...

What do you growing churches do to retain their guests?  Tune in to Episode 71 of the Fly on the Wall podcast and hear from Pastor Chris and Pastor Tim of Cross Point Church as they discuss breaking church growth barriers by retaining more guests. During the coaching conversation, Pastor Chris shares an evaluation framework that will help you assess your church's readiness to welcome and enga...

Are you facing challenges in keeping your church engaged and motivated? Join us on the Fly on the Wall podcast as Pastor Chris guides Pastor Mitch, @huskerivey, on fostering a sense of ownership within your church community. In this episode, Chris will provide invaluable coaching on empowering your staff to fulfill their responsibilities and expanding your leadership potential through delegation....

Welcome to Episode 69 of the Fly on the Wall Podcast! In this episode, join Pastor Chris as he sits down with Pastor Michael @mpsndrs of Village Meadows Church. Together, they dive deep into the topic of "Simple Steps to Change the Culture of Your Church." Whether you're part of a newer congregation or have been in the church community for years, you know that culture is king. It sh...

Have you made a bad hire before? If so, you understand the pain a bad hire can bring for years to come. In this episode of the Fly on the Wall Podcast, join Pastor Chris Sonksen and Pastor Shawn Amburgey @Shamburgey7 as they discuss the best strategies for successful church hiring. Chris and Shawn explore the advantages and disadvantages of both internal and external hiring, revealing how to ident...

As pastors, we often prioritize seeing results over the systems and processes required to achieve them. However, many of us may find ourselves stuck after experiencing initial growth and struggling to move forward. In episode 67 of the Fly on the Wall podcast, Pastor Chris engages in a conversation with Pastor TW about how pastors can adopt a process-oriented mindset to promote church growth. Alon...

For many churches, they have to operate on a slim staff. This may look like having a number of part-time staff or even volunteer staff. So as a pastor, how do you manage a team made up of mostly part-time staff? In this episode of the Fly on the Wall podcast, Pastor Chris Sonksen coaches Pastor Jason of Harvest Church on how to effectively lead part-time staff. During this coaching call, Pastor Ch...

When should you be vulnerable with your team? Sometimes it's hard for pastors to be vulnerable and open with their team.   As the leader, you may feel the pressure to remain strong, but you could miss out on a powerful moment to create a culture of honesty and transparency with your team. On episode 65 of the Fly on the Wall podcast, Pastor Chris coaches Pastor Konan of C3 Church in Columbus,...

How do you maintain healthy relationships with those on your ministry team? Tune in to episode 64 of the Fly on the Wall podcast as Pastor Chris sits down with Chris Dale to talk all things management and leadership as a pastor. In this episode, they discuss: signs that you're leading well, balancing management and leadership, and knowing the state of your team. Tune in until the end to hear...

There is a delicate balance between friendship and leadership in pastoral relationships with congregants. As pastors, it's essential to understand when to be a friend and when to be a pastor, and in this episode, we delve into practical strategies for maintaining this balance.  In this episode, we discuss how to balance the line of friendship and leadership with those you are close with in yo...

Why do smaller churches stay small? In episode 62 of the Fly on the Wall Podcast, Pastor Chris Sonksen joins Pastor Mike Pecina of Trinity Church to discuss the common challenges leaders of smaller churches face. Together, they explore how to overcome a scarcity mindset and stop blaming external circumstances for lack of growth.  Also in this coaching call, you'll discover practical strategie...

How do you manage discouragement as a pastor? How do you navigate the challenges that ministry brings without giving up? In episode 61 of the Fly on the Wall podcast, Pastor Chris and Pastor Richard of Eaglepoint church in Texas discuss how pastors can manage discouragement and overcome challenges in ministry. With heavy responsibilities and potential criticism, it can be tough for pastors to pers...

What are the questions pastors should be asking right now? In episode 60 of the Fly on the Wall podcast, Pastor Chris coaches Pastor Rob on a variety of topics and shares the one question that all pastors should be asking. They begin by discussing how to coach your team effectively when they are easily offended, a common issue many leaders face. Pastor Chris shares practical tips on how to navigat...

How do you know when something is a good idea or the right idea? As a pastor, you’re brought hundreds of decisions to make, so you have to have a framework to make decisions.  In episode 59 of the Fly on the Wall podcast, Pastor Chris coaches Pastor Kellen, lead pastor of Relentless Church in Texas, on making better decisions. As you listen in, you will learn how to use specific frameworks to make...

As a pastor, it can be challenging to balance personal struggles with the demands of ministry. In episode 58 of the Fly on the Wall Podcast, Pastor Chris shares valuable coaching advice with Pastor Alex on how to navigate personal crises while working in ministry. Tune in to gain some practical tips on how to prioritize your family and personal well-being during difficult times. This episode is a...

Looking for ways to make your Easter service meaningful without breaking the bank?  On episode 57 of the Fly on the Wall podcast, Pastor Chris and Pastor Dave discuss their plans for Easter and offer valuable insights. Pastor Chris shares his tips for creating a memorable experience for your congregation by taking a simple approach. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on the weeks following E...

In episode 56, Pastor Chris Sonksen is joined by Pastor Charles as they delve into the topic of creating clear next steps for the members of your church. If you're looking to help your church members move from being just guests to fully engaged participants, having simple and clear steps for them to take is crucial.  Listen in as Pastor Chris coaches Pastor Charles and shares his expertise on...

Over the past few years, the world has experienced unprecedented changes, and the church has not been exempt from the impact of these changes. However, many churches have found renewed growth by focusing on leadership and engagement. In this episode, Pastor Chris is joined by Pastor Joe Hunt of Compass North Church, as they discuss gaining momentum as a church post-pandemic. They discuss the impor...

In episode 54 of the Fly on the Wall podcast, Pastor Chris provides valuable insights to Pastor Brandon on what to avoid when considering multisite expansion.  Discipleship and leadership cannot be left to chance, especially when looking to grow your church. Pastor Chris emphasizes the need for a well-defined system to lead and grow people in their faith, and shares essential questions to ask befo...