Evangelism isn’t a program—it’s a culture rooted in identity. In this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, we explore how churches can move from sporadic outreach events to fostering a deep, church-wide culture of evangelism that flows naturally from who we are in Christ.

Hosts Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu from The Malphurs Group bring their practical experience working with hundreds of churches to help you reframe evangelism as a core component of your church’s DNA, not just a once-a-year effort.

In this episode:

[00:42] Why evangelism is more about identity than activity

[12:16] How to equip people to share their faith with confidence

[20:58] Prioritizing local outreach while still supporting global missions

[25:18] Why you should celebrate effort—not just results—in evangelism

[27:27] The importance of sowing seeds and trusting God with the harvest

Resources & Links:

• 🎯 Read the companion article

• 🧰 Explore the Healthy Churches Toolkit

• 📘 Learn more about the Church Ministry Analysis

Follow us on social media:

• Facebook: facebook.com/malphursgroup

• Instagram: instagram.com/malphursgroup

• YouTube: youtube.com/themalphursgroup

• X (formerly Twitter): x.com/malphursgroup

Many churches struggle with senior leaders who are stuck doing ministry instead of leading others to do it. In this episode, we break down how to make the shift—biblically and practically—from being hands-on doers to high-leverage leaders who equip others for lasting impact.

Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu, church consultants with The Malphurs Group, co-host the Church Revitalization Podcast. With decades of combined experience helping churches thrive, they share real-world insights for leaders looking to lead more effectively and build healthier teams.

In this episode:

• (00:45) Why equipping others is a biblical imperative (Ephesians 4)

• (06:20) What it really means to lead instead of do

• (13:00) Why you need more tolerance for failure and less for mediocrity

• (19:40) How to build a culture that rewards leadership, not just busyness

• (23:45) Practical steps for managing the transition from doing to leading

🔗 Links & Resources

→ Healthy Churches Toolkit — Try it free for 7 days

→ Episode article & transcript

→ Facebook

→ Instagram

→ YouTube

→ X (Twitter)

People don’t join small groups because of catchy announcements—they join because they’re hungry for connection. In this episode, we explore how to communicate the real value of groups: not as a program, but as a path to deeper spiritual and relational health. If your small groups ministry feels stuck, this conversation will help you reframe the message and reengage your people.

Hosted by church consultants Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu of The Malphurs Group, this episode offers practical strategies grounded in theology and real-world experience from helping hundreds of churches.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

→ [00:03:56] Why small groups meet a deep emotional and spiritual need

→ [00:10:24] How to teach the theology of fellowship without guilt-tripping

→ [00:15:54] Why showing (not telling) is key to group engagement

→ [00:19:04] How to keep momentum without falling into false starts

→ [00:22:47] A powerful tool that auto-generates small group guides and more

LINKS

→ Article: https://malphursgroup.com/303

→ Toolkit: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com

→ Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup

→ Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup

→ YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup

→ X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/malphursgroup

Building a Healthy Multi-Site Leadership Culture

Many churches dream of going multi-site, but few consider what it takes to cultivate a unified, thriving leadership culture across campuses. In this episode, we outline the five essential elements your church needs to lead well in a multi-site model.

Your hosts Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu from The Malphurs Group bring decades of church consulting experience. They share insights from working with churches of all sizes to build healthy systems and sustainable leadership models.

In this episode, we cover:

→ [00:05:36] Why your church needs clearly defined leadership teams across campuses

→ [00:10:32] The importance of meeting structure and clarifying purpose

→ [00:14:41] How to empower campus autonomy while maintaining alignment

→ [00:20:53] Creating consistent communication rhythms to avoid silos

→ [00:21:35] Why celebrating shared wins strengthens cross-campus unity

LINKS

→ Article: https://malphursgroup.com/302

→ Toolkit: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com

→ Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup

→ Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup

→ YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup

→ X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/malphursgroup

Is your church aging and struggling to attract younger families? In this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, we explore practical strategies to breathe new life into your children's ministry and effectively connect with young families.

Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are experienced church consultants with The Malphurs Group. They specialize in church revitalization, strategic planning, and leadership development, helping churches become healthy, growing communities.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why heart change and brutal honesty are essential first steps (4:13)

• How improving your physical space can attract young families (7:00)

• Tips for staffing children's ministries, even with limited resources (14:34)

• Effective outreach strategies to meet families in your community (19:36)

• Internal ministry ideas that build lasting connections with parents (25:33)

LINKS:

• Healthy Churches Toolkit

• Related Article

Follow us on Social Media:

• Facebook

• Instagram

• YouTube

• X (Twitter)

It's the 300th episode 🎉 of the Church Revitalization Podcast, and we're celebrating by answering some of your most pressing questions. From making tough ministry decisions to cultivating leadership in your church, Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu provide practical, actionable advice to help your church thrive.

Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are experienced church revitalization consultants dedicated to equipping church leaders. Each week, they tackle important topics to strengthen your church's health and mission.

In this episode:

• [05:07] Q1: How to make decisions about continuing, improving, or ending ministries.

• [08:26] Q2: The value of hiring an outside church consultant.

• [13:39] Q3: What to do when your church needs revitalization but doesn't realize it.

• [17:38] Q4: How to help people see themselves as leaders in your church.

• [21:07] Q5: Staying strategic and visionary as a solo pastor despite day-to-day demands.

• [26:10] Q6: The role of spiritual formation in revitalization.

• [32:00] Q7: Preparing strategically for church growth before it happens.

• [37:26] Q8: Should church strategy implementation always lead to numerical growth?

Links: 🌐 Healthy Churches Toolkit 🌐 Full Episode Article

Connect with us: 📷 Instagram 📘 Facebook 𝕏 X (Twitter) ▶️ YouTube

Thanks for joining us for 300 episodes of strengthening churches together!

Ready for a thriving fall ministry launch? In this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, we break down the three must-do steps that will set your ministry up for a successful new season—whether your summer’s winding down or you’re just starting to plan ahead.

Your hosts, Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu, are passionate church consultants with years of experience helping leaders revitalize and grow healthy congregations. If you’re new to the show, you’ll hear practical insights and real-world strategies you can apply right away.

Here’s what we cover in today’s episode:

• [02:00] Why now is the perfect time to set your sermon calendar for the fall

• [07:24] Proven tips for recruiting and organizing your volunteer teams

• [11:09] How to refresh and refocus your church’s strategic ministry projects

• [15:29] Bonus tip: How to actually make time for planning (and stick to it!)

Relevant Links & Resources:

• Explore the Healthy Churches Toolkit: healthychurchestoolkit.com

• Dive deeper with the companion article: malphursgroup.com/299

• Connect with us for more tips and resources: The Malphurs Group on Facebook | Twitter

Ready to lead boldly into the new ministry season? Hit play and let’s get started!

This week on The Church Revitalization Podcast, Scott Ball and AJ Mathieu dive deep into one of church leadership’s most sensitive questions: Can you—should you—ever fire a volunteer? From ethical violations to mismatched roles, we break down why letting a volunteer go may be necessary (and how you can do it well, with grace and clarity). Discover proactive strategies to avoid these tough situations in the first place and learn how to create a thriving, healthy volunteer culture in your church.

Hosted by Scott Ball and AJ Mathieu of the Malphurs Group, The Church Revitalization Podcast tackles real-world leadership challenges to help churches grow stronger and healthier. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or new to ministry, Scott and AJ offer practical advice, proven tools, and plenty of encouragement for every church context.

In this episode, we cover:

• The ethical, spiritual, and practical reasons you might need to let a volunteer go

• How to prevent most firings with good systems and culture

• Steps for having hard conversations with struggling volunteers

• Healthy onboarding and offboarding practices to support your teams

• What to do in extreme cases, including legal and church discipline scenarios

Links & Resources:

• Get access to the Healthy Churches Toolkit: healthychurchestoolkit.com – Free 7-day trial!

• Connect with us: malphursgroup.com, Facebook, Twitter

• Dive into more episodes and resources on church volunteer management

Got stories or questions about managing volunteers? Comment below or message us—your wins and horror stories help us serve church leaders even better!

Many churches are stuck with outdated or overly complex bylaws that limit their effectiveness and create unnecessary conflict. In this episode, we unpack the top five issues with church constitutions and bylaws—and how your church can fix them.

Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu of The Malphurs Group bring practical insights from years of helping churches navigate governance and leadership challenges. If you’re new to the podcast, we help churches get healthy and grow through strategic planning and leadership development.

In this episode, we cover: → [00:02:34] Why relying on bylaws instead of policies leads to dysfunction → [00:07:17] How complexity makes compliance nearly impossible → [00:11:26] What happens when bylaws are designed for the wrong church size → [00:14:03] The risks of outdated or unbiblical governance structures → [00:20:54] How vague or conflicting authority erodes trust and accountability

Resources & Links: → 🧰 HealthyChurchesToolkit.com – Start your free 7-day trial and access our course on building a biblical board, plus sample policy manuals → 📘 Read the full article: malphursgroup.com/297→ 👥 Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram→ 🌐 Learn more about our work: malphursgroup.com

Looking to level up volunteer engagement in your church? In this episode of The Church Revitalization Podcast, we break down the best times and strategies for recruiting volunteers, drawing from current trends and real-world ministry experience. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or new to church revitalization, these insights will help you build a strong, servant-hearted volunteer team.

Hosts Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu—church consultants and revitalization experts—unpack practical principles and share firsthand stories to help you effectively connect people to their calling in your church community.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The top 5 moments to recruit volunteers (and which one you’re probably missing)

• Why getting people serving early matters for church “stickiness”

• How to leverage membership classes and spiritual gifts for team-building

• The strengths and pitfalls of ministry fairs and seasonal “pushes”

• Why recruiting is everyone’s job, not just the staff’s

🔗 Resources & Links:

• Try the Healthy Churches Toolkit free: healthychurchestoolkit.com

• Free access for international listeners: healthychurchesglobal.com

• Read the full episode article: malphursgroup.com/296

Connect with us on social & discover more revitalization resources at malphursgroup.com.

Ready to transform your volunteer culture? Hit play and let’s get started!