The Church Revitalization Podcast

We've all heard news of a church merger - or maybe we've even been involved in one. But do church mergers really work? Should you peek below the surface, you would probably find that blending smaller struggling churches often results in one larger struggling church, not necessarily a spiritually healthy church. In this episode, we cover 3 reasons church mergers often DON'T work, and 5 things you c...

You can't become a high-impact leader overnight. It's not an achievement you can earn in a moment. Mastering leadership requires practicing leadership. And practicing leadership well requires leveraging certain habits. In this episode, we cover five habits that high-impact leaders use to help them perfect their practice of leadership. Practice these habits to improve your leadership skills and bec...

In this episode, we collected the Top 5 Church Revitalization topics of 2021. Learn what was on the minds of pastors and church leaders this year, how to apply these trends and ideas to see new growth, and how to set your church up to thrive in 2022. To read today's show notes, visit: https://malphursgroup.com/120 Want free church leadership resources to help your church thrive in 2022? Visit: htt...

Do you feel discouraged? Tired? Weary? Confused? Struck down? It's no secret that the last couple of years of ministry have been hard. From logistics to livestreams, from illness to injustice, leading a church in this world is hard. Going into next year, it's important to be intentional about viewing our world through our hope in Jesus and the certain future God gives us. To read today's show note...

So - you had a visitor to your church. They made the first move, showing up at a new, unfamiliar place. They're looking for answers and hope. What's next? Every church should have an intentional process to assimilate newcomers. You need to be intentional about the things you say and the actions you ask visitors to take. But where to start? In this episode, we'll cover the essentials of assimilatin...

Wait... create an incompetent team? Who wants that? Today, we'll be looking at volunteer team management from the OPPOSITE perspective. What would you have to do to decrease the competence of your team? And how can you avoid doing those things? Leading a healthy ministry requires working with people and helping them to be their best. Understanding which factors can most influence a person's behavi...

Losing a volunteer is the worst. Retaining volunteers is important for the health and impact of your church. But did you know - one of the biggest reasons people will quit a volunteer role is a lack of clear communication? A significant percentage of volunteers could be retained (even if on a modified schedule) if you improve key communication skills. In this episode, we'll cover three simple habi...

We can all agree - it's been a tough year and a half of ministry. Whether you're stepping away to rest, or still leading the charge, we're thankful for you. ⭐ Limited Time Offer ⭐ The journey towards church health starts with a clear understanding of where you are right now, and what you need to do to grow. The Church Ministry Analysis is a custom report that empowers your church with the inform...

Healthy, sustainable church growth requires focusing your energy on the right things. Church growth isn't about nickels and noses. It's not about fog machines and cool lights. Church growth isn't about fueling your ego. But God is calling every church to grow because every church is called to go and make disciples. In this episode, you'll learn five key strategies your church can use to sustain he...

A lot of pastors leave the ministry because they claim to despise church politics. But church politics are a necessary aspect of leading in the church. The politics, in and of themselves, are not good or bad, healthy or unhealthy. They're merely a reality that must be navigated. In this episode, we'll discuss five key action points that empower church leaders to manage church politics in a healthy...

It's easy to retreat into a myopic view of our local church and forget that there's a whole global Church (and a lost world) out there needing the human resources that we've been gifted with. How can we move people from the church to the Kingdom? Learn more in this episode of The Church Revitalization Podcast. To read today's show notes, visit: https://malphursgroup.com/113

⭐ FREE DOWNLOAD in show notes: 10 Christmas Church Outreach Ideas To read today's show notes, visit: https://malphursgroup.com/112 Your church has a nearly unparalleled opportunity to reach your community during the holiday season. In this episode, we'll explore six key questions you should be asking in order to implement creative Christmas outreach ideas. To jumpstart your planning and brainstor...

The problem is not that we use technology, the problem is that we use technology poorly. At the end of the day, the goal of the Church remains one of relationship building. First, person to person, and then person to Christ. Would we not use every opportunity to do so? In this episode, we discuss how to use technology to become more relational. To read today's show notes, visit: https://malphursgr...

Men are at a crisis point in our society, and your church's men's ministry can stand in the gap. If the church builds up men, everyone benefits. Likewise, building up women and kids to thrive helps the whole of the family and society. In this week's podcast, explore five ways the church has failed men, and what your church and men's ministry can do about it. To read today's show notes, visit: http...

"Why don't people volunteer at our church?" "How can our church get more volunteers?" Have you ever asked these questions? Most church leaders have - you're not alone. Many leaders think people simply don't want to volunteer, but that's usually not the case. The good news? This is a situation you can fix. In this episode, we'll cover 6 common problems that lead to a lack of volunteers, and what yo...

Don't make these 10 deadly church planting mistakes! Church planting is difficult, treacherous, and not guaranteed to succeed.  However, you can be aware of the ten deadly church planting mistakes. By being intentional about navigating around these church planting mistakes, you can see your church plant beat the statistics and reach more people with the Gospel! To read today's show notes, visit: h...

Every church operates out of what it values.  The problem is that most churches never take the time to consider what those core values truly are. Do you know what your church's actual core values are? Could you defend those values by your actions? In this week's episode, we discuss 5 ways to leverage your core values for greater church health. To read today's show notes, visit: https://malphursgro...

"Is Church Marketing Biblical?" The Short Answer: Absolutely. In this week's episode of The Church Revitalization Podcast, special guest Ryan Wakefield from Church Marketing University joins us to discuss this question. We'll discuss marketing in the Bible, how to use marketing to build relationships, and more. To get your ticket to the Church Marketing Conference (and get access to all of Church...

What does it take to be a successful church consultant? Having a successful church consulting ministry depends on certain skills, abilities, and commitments. You'll need to invest time, energy, and resources into networking with churches and serving them well. In this episode, we'll cover five realities of church consulting that you should keep in mind if you want to start a church consulting mini...

Take a look at 3 ways to increase giving in your church. Spoiler alert: there is no magic, but there are strategies. We've worked with a lot of churches, and some are blessed with an abundance of finances, and some struggle all the time. Of course, there are many factors that may predispose a church to greater financial resources such as location, size, and demographics of the congregation. If eve...

No pastor got into ministry because he wanted to make a budget, but the budget season is an excellent time to think strategically. Ministry cannot happen without resources.  In this episode, we'll cover three church budget strategies that can go overlooked. As your church builds the budget for next year, keep these three strategies in mind. To read today's show notes, visit: https://malphursgroup....

Let's be honest with each other. Your church's outreach strategy probably isn't working particularly well. The vast majority of churches in the United States are in decline, and of those that are growing, only a fraction of them are reaching the unchurched. The failure to create a winning outreach strategy is usually rooted in the inability to conceive of anything different from what has already b...

Why is strategic planning important? Is strategic planning Biblical? Strategic planning is critical for churches that want to make a kingdom impact. Indeed, churches that fail to plan are likely to suffer. However, strategic planning in the church isn't an easy task. Leveraging a proven process and tools tailored to the ministry context can help your church immeasurably. In this episode, we'll dis...

Good leaders are born and made.  Regardless of how easily good leadership comes to you, you can improve your skills, and should seek that improvement out.  The Church is in dire need of quality leaders who will constantly point people back to Christ, and model well for them the traits of the Savior. In this episode, we'll cover 5 areas of development you can lean into to grow as a high-impact lead...

Have you felt frustrated that many in your congregation aren't involved in any groups, but other members attend two or three classes or Bible studies? What's happening? Why is it so difficult - especially for new families - to get plugged into the fellowship? There are several common mistakes churches make in small group ministries. In this episode, we'll explore the five problems that plague smal...