Intentional Churches Podcast

Welcome to season 4! This season is all about helping you prepare for your church's next big push!  In this fist episode Erin & Doug talk with Bart Rendel on the concept of the relational reach zone of churches and how it impacts strategic planning for the next season. Bart stresses the importance of knowing who the church is trying to reach and being aware of the potential impact they can have within their relational networks. They suggest practical steps such as identifying the people connected to the church, evaluating the frequency of their attendance, and multiplying the average attendance to estimate the size of the relational footprint. They also highlight the need for individual awareness of personal relational reach zones and the importance of mobilizing and training church members to reach people within their own networks.

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com         
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C       
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/ 
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches       
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches       
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/       
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches       
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches     

Chapters:
00:18 Introduction and Season 4 Focus
02:23 Defining the Relational Reach Zone
04:04 Identifying the Church's Relational Reach Zone
08:03 Guiding Teams with Relational Reach Zone
10:43 Paradigm Shift: Institutional vs. Relational Evangelism
12:57 Community Impact through Relational Reach Zone
14:00 3D Chess: Overlapping Church Footprints
16:06 Planning Next Season with Relational Reach Zone
18:25 Practical Steps for Raising One Awareness
20:44 Annual One Where Audit for Strategy
21:43 Summary of Relational Reach Zone Concept
22:59 Evaluating Programmatic Schedule and Great Commission
24:01 Personal Relational Reach Zone Importance
26:17 Next Steps for Church Leaders and Volunteers
28:16 Evaluating Ministry Programs with Great Commission Questions
29:14 Encouragement for Planning and Reflection

In this last episode of Season 3 Erin and Doug are joined by Mitch Harrison to discuss church leadership challenges, focusing on the critical issue of burnout. Mitch shares his personal journey of experiencing and overcoming burnout, and the need for intentional replenishment. The conversation highlights the importance of balancing stress with restorative practices and offers a framework involving rest, emotional release, renewed purpose, recreation, and meaningful relationships.

This episode encourages leaders to create a sustainable plan for personal replenishment and to foster a supportive culture within their organizations to prevent burnout and maintain effective ministry.

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com       
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C     
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube:www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches   
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches       
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/     
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches     
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches     

Mitch Harrison:
Website: www.refillcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-harrison-3653b539

Chapters:
00:23 Podcast Introduction
01:28 Mitch Harrison's Background
02:19 Question: Managing Ministry Demands
03:03 Mitch's Personal Burnout Journey
05:15 Doug Parks on Burnout in Ministry
06:29 Defining Replenishment
08:45 The Five R's Framework
12:45 Doug Parks on Escapism vs. Replenishment
16:04 Personal Application for Leaders
17:04 Creating a Replenishment Plan
19:10 Doug's Current Challenges with Replenishment
21:04 Mitch on Church Staff Replenishment
22:20 Generational Differences in Work Ethic
24:29 Millennials' Perspective on Work and Burnout
26:43 Organizational Replenishment Practices
28:14 Applying the Framework Corporately

In this episode Erin and Doug discuss strategic alignment in church leadership with guest Allie Bryant. Allie, a Strategic Alignment Executive at Trader's Point Christian Church, explains her role in bridging the gap between strategy and execution. The conversation focuses on common challenges church leaders face, such as project prioritization, resource allocation, and maintaining clear communication of vision and strategy. Allie shares insights into effective project management, the importance of regular strategic planning, and the need for clarity and consistency in defining and communicating mission, vision, and strategy within church organizations.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com         
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C       
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/       
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches         
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches         
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/       
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches       
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches   

Chapters:
00:20 Welcome and Introductions
01:00 Allie Bryant's Background
03:00 Defining Strategic Alignment
04:27 Importance of Clarity in Vision and Strategy
06:03 Challenges in Defining Strategy and Vision
08:44 Translating Vision to Execution
10:04 Coordinating Vision with Team Members
13:09 Prioritization and Sequencing in Strategy
17:06 Misalignment as a Major Challenge in Churches
18:46 Evaluating Strategy Regularly
19:43 Coordination of Day-to-Day Strategy
21:08 Example of Misalignment from Mother's Day
25:33 Developing Project Management Skills
29:42 Training Next Generation of Leaders
30:23 Practical Steps for Greater Strategic Alignment

Bishop Derrick McRae, Senior Pastor at The Experience Christian Center in Orlando, Florida sits down with Erin and Doug to share insights on how churches can better integrate with their communities and meet their needs. He touches on the importance of approaching community integration with a humble posture. Bishop McCrae also highlights the need for churches to develop relationships and partnerships with government officials and other organizations to effectively meet community needs. He encourages churches to have a clear vision and value proposition for their outreach efforts and to actively involve their congregation in outreach activities. Additionally, he stresses the importance of trusting in God rather than political outcomes.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com       
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C     
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/       
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches       
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches       
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/       
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches     
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches   

Bishop Derrick McRae:
Website: https://www.eccorlando.com/our-pastor

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and the Church's Role in Communities
02:13 Integrating with the Community: Approaching with Humility and Listening
05:02 Developing Relationships and Partnerships for Effective Outreach
08:24 Creating a Clear Vision and Value Proposition for Outreach
22:43 Navigating Politics in the Church: Trusting in God

Erin and Doug talk through the topic of church growth and how to navigate it without losing sight of the church's vision and mission. They discuss the importance of not being afraid of growth and the need to innovate and focus on relational ministry. They caution against reverting to old strategies and highlight the need for personal mission statements aligned with the Great Commission. The epsiode is all about the challenges of growth, the importance of evaluation and pruning, and the need for an aligned true north for the church.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com       
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C     
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/     
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches     
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches       
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/     
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches     
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Setting the Context
01:42 Observations on Church Growth
09:26 Avoiding Mission Drift
14:42 Fighting the Inward Pull and Getting Back to Basics
21:24 Inviting Others for Evaluation and Reflection
24:01 Embracing the Dynamic Nature of God's Work
25:56 Celebrating Growth and Listening to God's Direction

This week Erin & Doug are joined by their good friend Dano and they talk about the importance of collaboration and working well together across teams in church leadership. They discuss the challenges of silos within teams and the need to eliminate them for effective decision-making and creating breakthroughs. They also introduce the concept of co-creation, which is involving everyone in the organization and unlocking their contributions. Their conversation highlights the importance of cross-functionality and prioritization in achieving collaboration.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com     
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C   
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/     
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches     
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches     
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/     
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches   
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches   

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and the Importance of Collaboration
02:13 Silos and the Need for Cross-Functionality
07:07 Co-Creation: Inviting People to the Kitchen
10:26 Prioritization and Sequencing in Collaboration
13:46 True Collaboration vs Telling and Selling
26:20 Conclusion and Encouragement 

In this episode, Erin and Doug talk through the challenges of being short-staffed in churches and how to navigate this issue. They discuss the importance of having a developmental mindset and raising up leaders from within the church. They also highlight the concept of agency, where individuals have the freedom and permission to act and contribute. They share examples from churches in Brazil that thrive with minimal staff and discuss the need to challenge assumptions about the necessity of staff positions. They also provide practical tactics for church leaders to address staffing shortages.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com     
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C   
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/   
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches   
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches   
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/   
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches   
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches   

Chapters:
00:00 Navigating the Challenges of Being Short-Staffed
06:24 Developing a Mindset of Raising Up Leaders
11:04 The Importance of Agency in Creating a Culture of Engagement
13:27 Learning from Thriving Churches in Brazil
15:46 Challenging Assumptions about Staffing Needs

This week we were live at the Intentional Churches Conference in Orlando! Erin and Doug gathered with Allie Bryant, Bishop McCrae, and Mike Hickerson at the Intentional Churches Conference. They discuss critical topics for church leaders, focusing on aligning team members with church culture, addressing misalignment, and effectively handling team members who may hinder progress. The conversation explores practical strategies for fostering a cohesive team spirit and aligning individual actions with broader church missions. Through dynamic discussions and sharing of personal experiences, the panel provides insightful guidance on nurturing a productive and harmonious church environment.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Sign up for next year's conference here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com/iccon-25

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches
Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/

Allie Bryant is the Strategic Alignment Executive at Traders Point Christian Church in Indianapolis, IN.
https://tpcc.org/

Bishop Derrick L. McRae is the Senior Pastor of The Experience Christian Center in Orlando, FL.
https://www.eccorlando.com/our-pastor

Mike Hickerson is the Lead Pastor of Mission Church in Ventura, CA.
https://www.missionventura.com/

Chapters:
00:00 Podcast Introduction
00:13 Panelist Introductions
01:03 Overview of Season Three Focus
03:06 Discussion on Building Culture
10:11 Utilizing Digital Honor Boards
11:16 Sharing Practical Examples and Experiences
17:05 Defining and Developing Outreach Strategies
25:34 Integrating Outreach into Church Strategy
29:18 Shift from Institutional to Relational Approach Post-COVID
38:33 Final Reflections and Questions

Chris VandeLinde, pastor of Cornerstone Christian Church, shares his church's journey leading up to Easter and the strategies they implemented to engage and activate new attendees. They focused on personal relational evangelism, providing tools and resources for their members to reach out to their 'ones' (people they are praying for). They also emphasized the importance of early entrance opportunities to serve and avoiding cul-de-sacs by keeping new attendees spiritually moving. The conversation concludes with practical next steps for church leaders, including thinking like a church planter and starting small with a core group of members to invest in relationships.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches
Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/

Cornerstone Christian Church:
Website: https://onecornerstone.org/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OneCornerstoneOnline
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onecornerstone
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onecornerstone/
Blog: https://onecornerstone.org/blog

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Overview of Church Goals
00:37 Chris Vandelinde's Background and Church Experience
01:09 Current Challenges and Approaches in Church Leadership
02:31 The Role of Big Events in Church Engagement
07:04 Strategies for Post-Event / Easter Engagement
13:21 The Importance of Relational Evangelism
19:09 Integrating Newcomers Post-Easter / Events
24:08 Concluding Thoughts and Practical Steps for Church Leaders

Erin & Doug talk with Jeff Bennett from Stadia about developing future church leaders. They emphasize the importance of looking within the church for potential leaders and investing in their development. They discuss the need for a shift in mindset from hiring specialists to becoming people developers. Their conversation also touches on the current shortage of church leaders and the importance of creating a culture of discipleship and development. Practical advice is given, such as asking questions about who you are developing and investing time in raising up the next generation of leaders.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Stadia:
Website: https://stadia.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stadiachurchplanting
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stadiachurchplanting/
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/stadia
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stadiachurchplanting
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StadiaChurchPlanting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stadiachurchplanting

Chapters:
(00:00) Finding Future Church Leaders Within Your Church
(07:51) Shifting from Hiring Specialists to Becoming People Developers
(13:45) Investing in the Development of Future Leaders for Church Multiplication
(27:31) Practical Steps for Developing Future Church Leaders