Modern Church Leader

Watch the Full Episode Here Join us in this episode of Modern Church Leader as Tithely COO, Frank Barry, discusses the future of church innovation and ministry start-ups with Stephen Mulder of Missional Labs. "We think the ministries that will shape the future of the Church haven’t been built yet. You have a passion for Jesus and his kingdom, but you’re vocationally on the edges - not exactly...

Balancing one job alongside your personal life can be challenging enough, but the life of a bi-vocational pastor requires much more time management than most realize. In this episode of Modern Church Leader, we sit down with bi-vocational pastor and Tithely employee Rob Nieves to discuss his way of finding and maintaining a work-life balance. “If you are not good about time management, then bi-voc...

Watch the full interview here -- https://youtu.be/tWxX5hyTwf4 The desire to be wealthy is natural. The desire to be Christlike takes a little more effort. Striking a balance between desiring wealth and being Christlike isn’t easy.  In today's episode, Stewardship Pastor at Brentwood Baptist Church, Ken Schafer, walks us through why Christians struggle to tithe (even pastors!) and how we can l...

Watch Full Episode -- https://youtu.be/v9ft2CYYDyI --- Welcome to Episode 1 of this season's Modern Church Leader with host Frank Barry! We wanted to start our season strong with two vibrant guests who have had an incredible ten-year journey to building a successful college ministry. Mac Bridges and Kenz Durham, founders of Delight Ministries, are here to share the good, the bad, and the craz...

The word “marketing” can be a tricky word in the church world. The idea of selling and marketing a church or ministry like a product can feel off or irreverent. On this episode of Modern Church leader, guest Alexa Acevedo is here to help reframe the way church leaders view marketing. We all have our favorite products, foods, sports teams, and albums that we share and promote to our friends and fam...

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/feXLcfwtdzk -- Every church leader wants to know the secret to making their church grow. Many churches put their efforts into finding a quotable preacher or investing thousands into the production quality of their services. Other churches start new ministries or expand their social media presence in hopes of reaching a new demographic. Today’s guest, Peter...

When it comes to hiring, every church, company, and organization has a different approach to finding the perfect candidate. While there are some similarities between hiring for a secular job and a job in ministry, the overall process typically looks and feels different in the church. As today’s guest describes, “It can be backward from hiring a secular position”. The process of hiring a pastoral p...

Watch the full interview: https://youtu.be/eCzm2yjRAyE ======= “Our lives speak loudly to those around us, especially the children in our home.” - Billy Graham Teaching our children well and building a strong faith foundation in the home has never been more important than it is right now. As parents, the magnitude and pressure of raising children can be daunting and overwhelming. How do I know I’m...

In the New Testament, Paul tells us about the constant challenges of the early church.  At the time, many Christians were oppressed and did not know the luxury of preference like we do now. Choosing a church based on music preference or preaching style did not exist. Simply put, Christians of the first church went to the local gathering in their neighborhood. Through the years, we have watched as...

Click here to view the full show notes and transcript for this episode. The church’s mission, vision, and values are the guiding principles that serve as a roadmap for the ministry’s future.  However, churches often find it difficult to express these three things in a clear, concise, and compelling way. The lack of clarity around these three aspects can lead to frustration and confusion among lead...

Click here to view the full show notes and transcript for this episode. Speaking across generations in the church is a challenge for many church leaders.  Different generations have different ways of communicating. In fact, it's not even just that they use different words or phrases—it's more about how they understand the world around them. So, how do you reach such a diverse audience? ...

Click here to view the full show notes and transcript for this episode. In today's world, it's not just a matter of keeping up with technology anymore—it's a matter of being relevant and connected with people in ways that matter to them.  All organizations—religious or secular—should consider how technology can help them connect with their communities.  Some companies have done a gr...

Click here to view the full show notes and transcript for this episode. Marketing is an art and a skill. It requires creativity, innovation, and an understanding of how to connect with people.  However, churches often overlook marketing as an important tool for the church’s success to reach people. That is why churches commit one of the biggest promotional mistakes by thinking that they're go...

Click here to view the full show notes and transcript for this episode. Finances and Christianity don't often go together in a statement.  Many Christians would say, 'there's no way you can talk about God when you also talk about money!' or 'Money is evil!' Worse, some would even go as far as exclaiming that mentioning God alongside money is blasphemous. As a church l...

Click here to view the full show notes and transcript for this episode. Stewardship is a biblical concept that's been around since the beginning of time. It's a way of thinking about how we make decisions and use our resources, and it's at the heart of what we believe as Christians. When it comes to churches, stewardship is crucial. A church can't survive if it doesn't hav...

Click here to view the full show notes and transcript for this episode. Meta is here—the virtual world, the immersive digital environment. This is where you can walk around, feel like you’re in a real place, and interact with other people. But is this an appropriate way to experience the church? Is it in the same category as attending church in a physical location?  And if so, what can the church...

Click here to view the full show notes and transcript for this episode. For many people, the idea of church growth sounds like a pipe dream. They think it's something that happens by chance or only when God allows it. But guess what? Church growth is actually quite simple: Reach more people and disciple them. The problem is that this formula doesn't just magically happen on its own—you h...

Click here to view the full show notes and transcript for this episode. One of the most critical factors in the success of a church is finding the right leaders. When a congregation has a leader who fits into their culture, they can grow and thrive.  And if a leader doesn’t fit into that culture, things can go south very quickly.  Having someone who fits in well with your congregation is crucial t...

Click here to view the full show notes and transcript for this episode. It's no secret that ministry is a demanding task with a lot of pressure on the shoulders. The hours are long, the expectations are high, and the emotional toll can be incredibly draining. If you are a pastor or a church leader, it is very important to recognize the signs of burnout and get help if needed. It is important...

Click here to view the full show notes and transcript for this episode. Church revitalization is one of the most common topics of conversation in religious circles, but there has been little agreement on how to revive declining churches.  It's not always easy to understand why some churches thrive while others struggle or what exactly it means for a church to be "revitalized." But t...

Click here to view the full show notes and transcript for this episode. Church leadership can be hard enough. Uniting different personalities and skillsets into a single vision is not easy.  But there is an even bigger mountain to climb when you factor in gender dynamics—and the need to create an inclusive culture that both embraces and nurtures female leaders When we talk about nurturing female l...

Click here to view the full show notes and transcript for this episode. Church leaders have long known the power of storytelling to communicate biblical truths, engage people’s hearts, and invite them into a relationship with God. But what is it about storytelling that makes it so effective?  The answer: stories don’t just communicate facts; they communicate truths. A fact can be disputed, but tru...

Click here to view the full show notes and transcript for this episode. Pastors have many important responsibilities in their role as spiritual leaders. One of the most important but often overlooked is that of a shepherd. This is an ancient metaphor that is still true and powerful today.  Shepherding is more than just preaching and leading church services. It's also about caring for the spir...

Click here to view the full show notes and transcript for this episode. The world is full of political disagreements, and those disagreements will inevitably find their way into the church.  But here's the thing—politics by itself doesn't cause division. Instead, it’s our reaction to differences in political opinions that can cause division. We need to remember that politics is not our i...

Click here to view the full show notes and transcript for this episode. The role of a Christian leader is both challenging and rewarding. Those in leadership positions are tasked with guiding others spiritually while upholding biblical principles. In order to be effective leaders, Christians must develop a servant’s heart and be willing to put the needs of others before their own. If you are a lea...