The Pro Church Tools Show with Brady Shearer

GET YOUR CHAOS SCORE: https://prochur.ch/4p2CGSk Sunday announcements drag. Too many events, too much competition for attention, ministries quietly fighting to be heard from the stage. But the problem isn't effort - it's the lack of a system underneath. This is The 7 Building Blocks, our summer blueprint for fixing church communications, and today we start with Block 1: assigning a level to every...

GET YOUR CHAOS SCORE: https://churchchaos.com/   Most church announcements are forgettable. In this episode, we take a real one and rebuild it live - showing what separates average from great, step by step.   Turn average church announcements into clear, compelling moments that actually move people to action.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - I...

GET YOUR CHAOS SCORE: https://churchchaos.com/   Church promotions can start to sound the same - repetitive, predictable, and easy to ignore. Today, we'll show you three better approaches - Sprint, Sprinkle, and Smuggle - so your announcements drive action without sounding like promotions.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:40 - The No P...

Get the AI Policy Template: https://prochur.ch/4cZowNq   30% of practicing Christians say AI is as trustworthy as a pastor for spiritual advice - closer to 40% among younger generations. And many are already using it for prayer and spiritual growth.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:56 - The Barna Data 4:47 - Why This Is (and Isn't) as...

In 1985, 67% of Americans rated pastors high in honesty and ethics. Today? Just 27% - and only 17% among those under 35. It's one of the steepest trust declines of any profession. The question isn't if this affects your church - it does. The question is what you do about it.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:15 - The Numbers Are Worse T...

Here's what's already happening - a family moves to a new city and asks ChatGPT for church recommendations instead of Googling. Seconds later, they get a curated list they trust.   So the question is - is your church on it? Today, we're giving you a simple 5-step checklist to make sure you show up in this new era of search.   ============================= Table of Contents: =======================...

Most Father's Day services fall into the same tired clichés. So in this episode, we share simple, fresh ideas your church can actually use - no stereotypes required.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 4:30 - Idea #1: First Father's Day 12:48 - Idea #2: Letters From Kids, Sealed For Next Year 14:46 - Idea #3: One Story, Multiple Parts 19:29...

Today we're unpacking a different approach to getting people into small groups - backed by national data so you can see where your church stands. We'll also walk through a simple exercise to identify who isn't joining and why.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:38 - THE BENCHMARK (Know Your Number) 6:45 - THE PHILOSOPHY (Groups as the Ul...

Today - 13 summer social media post ideas your church can actually use. Real formats you can copy, with examples ready to drop into your calendar. If you're stuck or repeating yourself, this will help.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:11 - Church Summer Bucket List 3:33 - Come With Me... 10:46 - B-Roll Inspo 16:23 - The 'Stance' Post 2...

Is it the worship? Politics? Programs? That's what we tend to blame. But new data from Pew and PRRI - covering 80,000+ respondents - points to a very different primary reason people leave. Today, we'll unpack what the data actually says, why common assumptions fall short, and what churches can do in response.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - I...

You've seen the headlines about Gen Z and church - but many popular stats are misleading or unverified. So we took the biggest claims and rated them by confidence - based on real studies and data.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 4:12 - Gen Z Churchgoers Attend More Frequently (But Read the Fine Print) 11:38 - The Gender Shift in Church...

Every church values its volunteers, but not every volunteer feels it. Today, we're sharing eight creative appreciation ideas - some free, some with a cost - that help you show genuine care.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:43 - IDEA 1: The Handwritten Note From Someone They Served 6:44 - IDEA 2: A "Day In The Life" Social Media Feature...

Get your FREE social media audit: https://auditmychurch.com/   Since 2023, I've worked with 500+ churches on social media, and one pattern kept showing up - across every size, style, and denomination. It wasn't better design, gear, or a younger team. Let's look at what the data actually reveals.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:14 - Th...

For many, Mother's Day is joyful. For others, it's deeply painful. The best church services recognize both - celebrating motherhood while gently holding space for grief. Today, we're sharing practical ideas to help your church do both well.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - IDEA 1: The Honest Acknowledgment From Stage 6:59 - IDEA 2...

Every email, caption, and announcement is copywriting - and it shapes your church's culture more than you think. Today, we'll show you how a simple Brand Voice Document can make all your communication more intentional.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 6:23 - Voice Markers 14:36 - Writing *To* Specific People 22:29 - The Start Again Stori...

Baptism is a defining moment in someone's faith - public, meaningful, and unforgettable. Today we're sharing seven ideas to help your next baptism Sunday feel deeply memorable, not just for those being baptized, but for your entire church community.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:37 - The Importance Of Baptism 2:13 - IDEA 1: The Vide...

Search free creative resources and you'll find endless options - most of them terrible. We tested hundreds of sites, downloaded the assets, and built a curated list of free stock photos, fonts, and music that are actually reliable and high quality.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:08 - Kaboompics 8:31 - New Old Stock 13:30 - Sunday Scr...

Sermon starters - those mini movies before a message - set tone and create transitions. But producing a new trailer for every series is exhausting. Today, we're sharing alternatives that are simpler to execute and often more spiritually meaningful.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 4:42 - ALTERNATIVE 1: The Standing Scripture Reading 15:1...

Easter is church's biggest opportunity of the year. You'll likely see more first-time guests than any other Sunday, yet most churches repeat the same playbook. Here are 10 fresh ideas - no eggs or helicopters.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:49 - IDEA #1: The "Bring One" Challenge 4:46 - IDEA #2: The Good Friday Experience 6:39 - IDEA...

Church podcasting has evolved from simply uploading sermons to producing interviews, devotionals, leadership content, and more. If you're exploring podcasting for your church, we're sharing our recommended gear for 2026. From mics to interfaces and accessories, we'll cover options for every budget from two podcasters who've been hosting since 2014.   ============================= Table of Contents...

I've been part of growing churches most of my adult life - as a volunteer, on staff, and in the pews. What I've noticed is this: the difference between growing and stagnant churches isn't what you'd expect. But when you see a healthy church up close, clear patterns emerge - and after fifteen years, I want to share what growing churches consistently do differently.   ============================= T...

The most frustrating loop in church creative is pouring hours into a design or video, only to hear "something's off" or "I don't like it" with no explanation. It's usually not stubbornness - most pastors just don't have the language to explain what they're reacting to - and today, we're going to fix that.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro...

Hundreds of new AI tools launch every day, and most of them cost money. We've tracked down the ones that are actually free - beyond just ChatGPT - including tools most churches haven't heard of that could save your team dozens of hours every week.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:36 - Tool #1: TurboScribe 1:55 - Tool #2: tl;dv 3:00 - T...

Social media used to be predictable - now it's chaos, even when the averages are higher. This episode is about surviving the new game, with the metrics and mindset that actually keep you sane.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:35 - The Volatility Problem 7:45 - The Three Audiences Framework 10:11 - Content Equals Credibility 12:30 - The...

The most important email you'll ever send someone in your church is the very first one. So we're going to help you get it right. Today, we're sharing a 76-word church welcome email that works for churches of any size. It hits every goal a great welcome email should. Feel free to steal it word-for-word.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:...