The Ministry Architects Podcast

Can you believe we've done a hundred of these? We can't either, and it's time to celebrate what God has been doing! On this week's episode, Bryant is joined by voices from all over the Ministry Architects world, sharing stories about our successes and failures, to celebrate this amazing milestone. 

We've been doing the Sustainable Ministry Show for 99 full episodes, and we'd love you to join us as we record number 100 live. On this special bonus episode, Bryant has a special message for what's in store at our live recording. Join us at the Ministry Architects Facebook page on Thursday, December 19th, at 2:10 pm to help us celebrate!

What is it like to be passionate about growing a youth ministry from the ground up? On this week's episode, the team is joined by Lawrence Coles, youth minister and owner of Speek Lyfe Entertainment, who shares wisdom on growing thriving youth ministries through the lens of his own personal story.

We all believe our congregations to be unique, but we often have more in common with other churches than we realize - and figuring that out can open us up to new possibilities. On this week's episode, the team welcomes Trey Wince, Director of New Disciples for the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, to share about a new resource to help your congregations understan...

Sometimes the tools we need to cultivate thriving ministries aren't just spreadsheets and notebooks. Sometimes, it can be as simple as living with a thankful heart. On this week's episode, the team talks about cultivating expressions of gratitude, acknowledgments of abundance, and acts of generosity, all of which can shape not just how you perceive your ministry but how your ministry itself develo...

When your ministry is in charge of multiple major programs and events, how do you keep track of all of the little things that need to get done? On this week's episode, the team lays out one of the most important tools you can have in your ministry tool belt that will help you both with short-term tasks and long-term planning: the Preventative Maintenance Calendar.

What can your church do to be more inclusive of families of kids with special needs? On this week's episode, the team welcomes special guest Julie Hornok, author of "United in Autism: Finding Strength Inside the Spectrum" and mother of a daughter with autism, to talk about how churches, leaders, and parents can work together to welcome kids with autism and their families fully into the life of the...

You just pulled off a major event - congratulations! What happens next? On this week's episode, the team talks about the ins and outs of debriefing after a major event, and how a good process can make that event even better next year.

On this week's episode, the team talks about the big events that every church expects staff to run, and how recruiting and equipping a major events coordinator can help make those events more successful and sustainable.

How do we keep volunteers enthusiastic and engaged in our ministries? On this week's episode, the team talks about how to equip your volunteer team for serving in the ministry - not just in one training session, but throughout your program year.

It's almost time for the start of another program year, and you want to start it off right! On this week's episode, the team talks about starting your program year with enthusiasm and excitement by building an amazing Leaders Launch and a fantastic Ministry Kickoff.

Spring is a time to get rid of the old and bring in the new - and that applies to your ministry's staffing structure, too! On this week's episode, the team discusses renovating your ministry's staff structure to make sure there's clarity among three important roles: the Architect, the Contractor, and the Laborers.

What do you do with the needle in the haystack once you've found it? On this week's episode, the team finishes up their two-part conversation about bringing in the right candidate for your open ministry position, including how to make them feel like part of the team right away.

Finding the next person to fill your open ministry position might seem like finding a needle in a haystack, but with the right processes in place, you'll be finding that needle in no time. In this week's episode, the team starts a two-part conversation about hiring for ministry positions, focusing first on the importance of an excellent search process.

Communication and marketing are two sides of the same coin: both essential to your ministry, but very different in focus and execution. What kind of story are you telling about your ministry? In this week's episode, the team talks about the differences between communication and marketing, and how a plan of intentional marketing can draw in people who are outside your ministry.

Successful communication with your congregation is vital if you want your ministry to thrive, so how can you be sure you're being heard when you're shouting down from the mountain? In the week's episode, the team discusses the do's and don'ts of ministry communication, and how an intentional plan could be key to getting more buy-in from your congregation.

Knowing that you need to start volunteer recruitment early in order to be successful, how can you set yourself up for maximum success? In this week's episode, the team talks about a powerful recruitment tool called the Volunteer Fishing Pond that gives you a framework to find the volunteers you need for your ministry to thrive.

The Sustainable Ministry Show Episode 084 Getting a Volunteer's Best YES! - Is it crazy to start recruiting for your Fall programs in the previous February? It'd be crazy not to! In this episode, the team discusses starting volunteer recruitment early and how it leads to getting the best "Yes!" you can from your volunteers.

The Sustainable Ministry Show Episode 083 The Secret Sauce of Benchmarks - Now that you have your Big Hairy Audacious Goals, how do you evaluate them? In this episode, the team discusses evaluating your three-year goals using benchmarks and how those benchmarks are key to building sustainable processes.

BHAGs: Big Hairy Audacious Goals - what are they, and how can they drive success in your church? In this episode, the team talks the importance of crafting BHAGs for keeping your ministry from just maintaining the status quo.

How can ministry calendars tell a story? In this episode, the team talks the nuts and bolts of calendaring for your ministry, and how that calendar can drive innovation and conversation about the future.

What is Sabbath, what is it not, and what can it do for your ministry? In this episode, the team talks about the importance of making room for Sabbath in your calendar by sharing stories about how Sabbath has changed our ministry.

How soon is too soon to start planning your major ministry events? In this episode, we talk about tools for getting planning started early and for activating your team to do their best work together.

If you have not started yet, it's time to get the needed head start on your summer calendar. This week we discuss helpful ways to get the calendar complete. 

More tips for partnering with parents and an interview with Shawn Howell of PrayerLights.