SCBA Leadership Podcast

Is VBS still relevant? What do parents look for in a children's ministry? How can you create trust with your pastor? In this episode Matt Singleton, Director of Missions for the South Central Baptist Area, visits with Cliff Cary. Cliff has served as the Minister to Children at FBC Amarillo for the past 17 years. In this conversation we discuss VBS, working with parents and volunteers, and navigati...

What is the history and the challenges of Baptists cooperation? How might Baptist find new approaches to cooperation at the national, state and local levels? In this episode Matt Singleton, Director of Missions for the South Central Baptist Area, visits with Dr. Ross Shelton, Senior Pastor of FBC Brenham. Listen in as they talk about national, state, and local cooperative work of Baptists.   A NOT...

How should worship leaders go about choosing songs for their congregations? Should churches utilize songs from groups like Hillsong, Bethel, or Elevation? Who are some other artists in the realm of worship music that leaders should check out?   In this episode Matt Singleton, Director of Missions for the South Central Baptist Area, visits with Kris Redus. Kris is the Minister of Worship at Second...

What do we get wrong when it comes to making announcements in the worship service? How many new songs should a worship leader introduce to their congregation annually? What makes for a good flow in the worship service? How can Texas Baptists help you in your worship ministry?   In this episode Matt Singleton, Director of Missions for the South Central Baptist Area, visits with Tom Tillman. Tom is...

What is the value of a long tenure in student ministry? How can student ministry be done through students, rather than just to students? What might a culture of mentorship look like in student ministry?   In this episode Matt Singleton, Director of Missions for the South Central Baptist Area, visits with Michael Murrie. Mike has 34 years of experience working with youth and for the last 17 years h...

How can children ministry leaders encourage and equip parents? What can be done to increase relational connections across generations?   In this episode DOM Matt Singleton talks with Mary Collier, Pre-School & Children’s Minister at North End Baptist Church in Beaumont. They discuss how children's ministry can avoid silos, connect with older adults, and minister to parents.

How should a church view their pastor as compared to other ministers, directors, etc.? How can the lead pastor help the congregation see other pastors on staff as pastors? What does the future of the SBC look like?   In this episode Matt Singleton (Director of Missions for the South Central Baptist Area) visits with Dr. Bart Barber, Pastor of FBC Farmersville for 26 years. Dr. Barber has also serv...

What is the best way to reach young adults in the church and community? What's different about GenZ and what is the best strategy for communicating with them? How has the church misunderstood joy? How can we increase joy in our lives?   In this episode DOM Matt Singleton and Young Adult Pastor Jared Mitzelfelt (Central Baptist, Round Rock) talk about how to reach young adults. We also discuss Jare...

How can you best handle the moment of conflict?  What's the difference beteen content and process? How does one get the bigger picture (balcony) and move back to handle the actual situation (dance floor) appropriately?   In this final episode DOM Matt Singleton and Pastor Scott Jones (FBC Rockport) talk about how leaders need to "get on the balcony" to see what is happening "on the dance floor" in...

  “It is the most difficult part of leading a family, personal or congregational.” -- Ed Friedman, Generation to Generation   What is "it"?  SELF-DIFFERENTIATION.   On this episode in the series "Surviving Change," Scott Jones leads the discussion on what self-differentiation looks like and the five ways we can increase this most important aspect of leadership.

Conviction in ministry can carry you though difficult decisions and challenging seasons. It can help you hang in there when you start to feel unsure of the vision. In this episode Matt Singleton interviews Maverick Malone, Student Pastor at Georgetown Baptist Church in Pottsboro, Texas. Maverick grew up in the church he now serves. He came back to GBC right before covid and in the midst of a pasto...

How can churches develop leaders among older children? What should you look for in a kids ministry volunteer? What are the causes and signs of ministry burnout?   In this episode Matt Singleton speaks with Amy Brand, the Children’s Minister at Coggin Ave BC in Brownwood, where she has served since 2023. She brings a wealth of experience and insight to the conversation. She is a graduate of Univers...

On The Ministry Minute, shorter episodes on the SCBA Leadership Podcast, we talk about sabbaticals -- what are they, why are they needed, how can you prepare yourself and the congregation, and what should you expect after you return from one.   For more resources on sabbaticals, please contact our DOM, Matt Singleton at matt@southcentralarea.net!

What is text-driven preaching and what are its alternatives? How important is rhetoric in our preaching? How can preachers use AI to help them prepare?   In this episode Matt Singleton and Joshua Fuentes interview Dr. David Norman, pastor of University Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas. David has served in ministry for over 20 years. His ministry experience ranges from music to youth to church...

Our family can push our buttons so easily because they helped install them!   But they aren't the only ones. Those same buttons get pushed when anxiety is high and leading change is most definitely a high anxiety season!   Understanding what those buttons are and why they are there can go a long ways in managing our own anxious reactions. In this episode in the series "Surviving Change," Matt Sing...

What is consensus leadership and how does it work in small church settings? What are the benefits of consensus leadership and what are its alternatives? What happens when consensus is reached, but some still don't want to follow?   In this episode of the South Central Baptist Area Leadership Podcast, DOM Matt Singleton speaks with pastor and author, Stephen Atkerson. Stephen is a graduate of Mid-A...

What do you do when people are unhappy with change? What about when they are unhappy with YOU? What about when you are unhappy with those you lead? In this episode DOM Matt Singleton and Dr. Scott Jones (pastor of FBC Rockport) continue a conversation about a missing piece of the change leadership puzzle -- how leaders handle the anxiety they necessarily must create when leading change.

What are some best practices for handling church finances? What do pastor's need to know about their unique financial situation? How should finance committees and personnel committees think about and put together pay packages for ministerial staff? What can Texas Baptist churches expect with the upcoming church insurance rollout?   On this episode of the SCBA Leadership Podcast Matt Singleton (DOM...

What are some healthy trends in ministerial leadership? What trends are worrisome? How can vocational ministers start well and end well? What are the four most common, self-reported struggles pastors are experiencing?   On this episode of the SCBA Leadership Podcast, Matt Singleton (DOM) speaks with Dr. Mark Dance. Dr. Dance is the Director of Pastoral Wellness for GuideStone Financial Resources (...

How can ministry leaders prayerfully support the good and godly work of political leaders? What are positive ways pastors can influence politicians? Is there Biblical reasons to even try to impact the political realm?   On this episode of the SCBA Leadership Podcast, Matt Singleton (DOM) speaks with Nino Gonzales, the Director of Church Engagement and Senior Director of South Texas for the Church...

What are the 5 stages of church health? What questions should DOM/AMS be asking their churches and her ministers? In this episode DOM Matt Singleton interviews Dr. Chris Reinolds, Associational Missions Strategist at  Northeast Florida Baptist Association .   

When should a search committee have the dreaded "salary package" conversation with a pastoral candidate? How many candidates should a search committee pursue at one time? What are some common mistakes candidates make when interviewing with a church? In this episode DOM Matt Singleton interviews Dr. Aaron Summers , Coordinator of Pastorless Churches for Texas Baptists (BGCT). Dr. Summers brings a w...

Who is effectively reaching inmates with the gospel in the state of Texas? Can someone with a life sentence be called to gospel ministry? How might prison inmates be a part of a church body? In this episode DOM Matt Singleton interviews Grove Norwood, founder and CEO of Heart of Texas Foundation College of Ministry, and Mark Dean, a board member for HOTFCOM. This unique ministry educates long-term...

In this episode DOM Matt Singleton and Dr. Scott Jones (pastor of FBC Rockport) continue a conversation about a missing piece of the change leadership puzzle -- how leaders handle the anxiety they necessarily must create when leading change.  Pastors should expect that those they lead will find change challenging. There will be pushback as some have a hard time accepting significant, meaningful, a...

In this episode DOM Matt Singleton and Dr. Scott Jones (pastor of FBC Rockport) talk about a missing piece of the change leadership puzzle -- Family Systems Theory. The theory explains how emotional systems (like a church) can react anxiously to change. Pastors who understand this and appropriately manage the anxiety they create and encounter will have the best chance of leading substantial, meani...