Rainer on Leadership

Art Rainer joins us to talk about church budgets, budgeting tools, and how churches can free up more money toward missions.

Art Rainer joins us to talk about church budgets, budgeting tools, and how churches can free up more money toward missions.

Pastors and church leaders are always asking about apps that can help their productivity. Today, we highlight 15 apps that can help you with productivity and your growth as a pastor.

Pastors and church leaders are always asking about apps that can help their productivity. Today, we highlight 15 apps that can help you with productivity and your growth as a pastor.

The ministers' housing allowance is an oft misunderstood benefit. Today, we discuss the future of the housing allowance and if/when it might go away.

Podcast Episode #421

The ministers' housing allowance is an oft misunderstood benefit. Today, we discuss the future of the housing allowance and if/when it might go away.

Some highlights from today's episode include:

* Churches have moved away from providing parsonages for pastors.

* Ultimately, I believe the ministers' housing allowance will be ruled on by the Supreme Court.

* If you're getting a minsters' housing allowance right now, I encourage you to live like you're not—because it will eventually go away.

* The housing allowance is the most amazing tax benefit ministers get.

The seven factors we cover are:

* Understanding the background of the housing allowance

* The status in the court system

* Incumbent upon the minister to be prepared

* Review of the package versus pay

* Most churches cannot or will not make up lost income

* Begin preparing now as if it goes away

* It's ultimately about trusting God, not the tax code

Episode Sponsors

The ministry landscape is changing, and the need for biblical training is more necessary than ever. It’s time to get your Master of Divinity degree. The M.Div --Midwestern Seminary's flagship degree program -- is the primary track for ministry preparation. At just 81 hours, the Midwestern M.Div offers a complete foundation for full-time ministry leaders, offering everything you need, and nothing you don’t. Join other students in vibrant Kansas City as you train in a unique collaborative environment focused on the local church or study online in your current ministry context. Midwestern Seminary is developing a discipleship culture devoted to the local church and committed to God’s unchanging Word. Why not start your training today?

Find out more at mbts.edu/mdiv.

Our friends at Vanderbloemen Search Group help churches and ministries build great teams by finding their key staff, but did you know they have a ton of resources around team building? Their newest addition is TheCultureTool.com, a free comprehensive staff engagement survey to help you build, run, and keep a great team. It's brand new and still in beta, so check out TheCultureTool.com to be on the cutting edge of this new tool that will help you improve your church staff culture.

Visit TheCultureTool.com to learn more.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here on Church Answers.

Resources Mentioned in Today's Podcast

* Becoming a Welcoming Church

* We Want You Here

I have been asked this question several hundred times in the course of my ministry. Today, we cover the answers for it—because it's not an easy answer.

Podcast Episode #420

I have been asked this question several hundred times in the course of my ministry. Today, we cover the answers for it—because it's not an easy answer.

Some highlights from today's episode include:

* No matter what metric you look at in churches, many of them are just not healthy.

* I don't like organ music because it reminds me of funerals.

* One of the greatest points of resistance to change is in church music.

* When you're in ministry, you shouldn't make any major ministry decision without praying with your spouse.

* Just because you go from a church to a secular job doesn't mean you're out of ministry—you just have a new mission field.

The six considerations we cover are:

* The reason for the increased frequency of the question

* Have you and your spouse really prayed about the question?

* Is the pressing issue something you can adjust?

* Where will you go?

* What is the degree of pressure?

* Understanding the push and the pull

Episode Sponsors

Our friends at Vanderbloemen Search Group help churches and ministries build great teams by finding their key staff, but did you know they have a ton of resources around team building? Their newest addition is The Culture Tool, a free comprehensive staff engagement survey to help you build, run, and keep a great team. It's brand new and still in beta, so check out TheCultureTool.com to be on the cutting edge of this new tool that will help you improve your church staff culture.

Visit TheCultureTool.com to learn more.

The ministry landscape is changing, and the need for biblical training is more necessary than ever. It’s time to get your Master of Divinity degree. The M.Div --Midwestern Seminary's flagship degree program -- is the primary track for ministry preparation. At just 81 hours, the Midwestern M.Div offers a complete foundation for full-time ministry leaders, offering everything you need, and nothing you don’t. Join other students in vibrant Kansas City as you train in a unique collaborative environment focused on the local church or study online in your current ministry context. Midwestern Seminary is developing a discipleship culture devoted to the local church and committed to God’s unchanging Word. Why not start your training today?

Find out more at mbts.edu/mdiv.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here on Church Answers.

Resources Mentioned in Today's Podcast

* Becoming a Welcoming Church

* We Want You Here

* Church Answers

If you want to close the back door of your church and keep members longer, these eight traits should be evident in your church.

If you want to close the back door of your church and keep members longer, these eight traits should be evident in your church.