The MxU Podcast

In this episode, Spencer, Dillan, and Jeff open with a line that's going to make some people close the tab — churches should stop hiring so many people. They pull that statement apart for forty minutes: why hiring is almost always the easier path instead of the better one, what gets stolen from a church when leaders pay people instead of recruiting and developing them, and the leadership disconnect that treats the tech team like janitors ("we pay people to clean toilets, we pay people to mix audio") while expecting kids ministry and guest services to run on volunteers. Jeff makes the case that serving on a production team is fulfilling a priestly role — preparing the place of God for the people of God — and that pastors who offload that role to paid contractors are robbing their people of the discipleship that comes from sacrificing time and gifts. They get honest about front-of-house mixing being a real outlier (it's a long-game skill that takes reps), and Dillan offers a middle ground: take your annual contract budget and use a chunk of it to fly in a high-level coach once a quarter to pour into your volunteers, instead of paying someone to mix every weekend. They close on the harder truth underneath all of this — the church isn't a business, the people in the seats aren't customers, and the moment a leader treats the weekend like a transactional experience instead of a body of believers stewarding their gifts, something has been stolen.

Check out our FREE Team Night Guide:
https://getmxu.com/resources/team-night-guide/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=stop-hiring

FREE RESOURCES 🆓 Take advantage of all the free resources for worship and tech teams that MxU has to offer (growing weekly):
https://getmxu.com/resources/?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=stop-hiring&utm_medium=social

IMPROVE YOUR SUNDAY SERVICES 🎓 1,000+ Training Videos:
https://getmxu.com/training?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=stop-hiring&utm_medium=social

🖥️ Volunteer Training Tool: https://getmxu.com/learning-management-system?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=stop-hiring&utm_medium=social

🚀 Personalized Coaching:
https://getmxu.com/coaching?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=stop-hiring&utm_medium=social

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MxUrocks

WHAT IS MxU? MxU is an online training platform for church leaders to train and equip their worship and tech volunteers:
https://getmxu.com?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=stop-hiring&utm_medium=social

In this episode, Spencer, Dillan, and Jeff dig into a stat that should reframe how we talk about church on this podcast — the median church size in America is 70 people, and it just ticked up for the first time in two decades. We get into why the podcast (and most worship/tech conversations online) tends to revolve around large multi-service, multi-campus churches when the vast majority of churches don't have a staff, a budget, or a building. We unpack a listener comment that called us out on using "the church" when we really mean "church organizations," and whether that distinction actually matters. Dillan brings up the conversation he had this morning with a church that's drowning in sound complaint emails and asks the question that sits at the center of this episode: when did we become a customer service business instead of a ministry? We walk through the real-time example of a worship team debating who should have the hard conversation with a struggling bass player, what Jesus would actually do in that room, and why ministry gets lost the moment skill and experience become the metrics. We talk about why megachurches catch disproportionate heat (and why some of that criticism is unfair), why a 200-person church shouldn't be looking up to a 2,000-person church, the difference between learning from a leader and trying to mimic them, and the trap of aspiration turning into expectation turning into disappointment. Jeff shares the honest tension of being a leader who has tasted recognition and the addictive pull of likes, comments, and crowd validation — and what it looks like to drown that noise out. We close on the kind of leader we actually want to follow: the one who, when asked what they're working on, says "still trying to be a good dad."

Check out our FREE Team Night Guide:
https://getmxu.com/resources/team-night-guide/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=customerservice

FREE RESOURCES 🆓 Take advantage of all the free resources for worship and tech teams that MxU has to offer (growing weekly):
https://getmxu.com/resources/?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=customerservice&utm_medium=social

IMPROVE YOUR SUNDAY SERVICES 🎓 1,000+ Training Videos:
https://getmxu.com/training?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=customerservice&utm_medium=social

🖥️ Volunteer Training Tool:
https://getmxu.com/learning-management-system?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=customerservice&utm_medium=social

🚀 Personalized Coaching:
https://getmxu.com/coaching?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=customerservice&utm_medium=social

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MxUrocks

WHAT IS MxU? MxU is an online training platform for church leaders to train and equip their worship and tech volunteers:
https://getmxu.com?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=customerservice&utm_medium=social

In this episode, Spencer and Dillan are joined by Jeff Sandstrom for a follow-up to "Can You Be Too Young for Ministry?" — but flipped. When is it time for older worship and tech leaders to step aside? Or is that even the right question? Jeff brings decades of perspective from working alongside Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman, and others, and the conversation gets honest fast. We dig into why churches deplatform people too soon based on age, the difference between someone aging out and someone refusing to stay coachable, why the church's "if it ain't broke" attitude toward worship and production lets segregation between ministries grow, and Jeff's own honest admission about the tech he resisted learning. We also cover why "closed fists" disqualify you faster than any number on a birthday cake, the real reason a lot of older leaders are leaving ministry (hint: it's not age — it's burnout, frustration, and the friend who told them they could make $200k working 15 hours a week), and what it actually takes to keep getting better in your craft instead of coasting on what used to work.

Check out our FREE Team Night Guide: https://getmxu.com/resources/team-night-guide/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ageout

FREE RESOURCES 🆓 Take advantage of all the free resources for worship and tech teams that MxU has to offer (growing weekly): https://getmxu.com/resources/?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=ageout&utm_medium=social

IMPROVE YOUR SUNDAY SERVICES 🎓 1,000+ Training Videos: https://getmxu.com/training?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=ageout&utm_medium=social 🖥️ Volunteer Training Tool: https://getmxu.com/learning-management-system?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=ageout&utm_medium=social 🚀 Personalized Coaching: https://getmxu.com/coaching?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=ageout&utm_medium=social

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
🤝 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MxUrocks

WHAT IS MxU? MxU is an online training platform for church leaders to train and equip their worship and tech volunteers: https://getmxu.com?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=ageout&utm_medium=social

This week, we're tackling the conversation everyone in church tech is dancing around — what happens when AI starts running Sunday morning. Spencer and Dillan dig into where AI actually fits in worship and production ministry, why the under-resourced church might win this era, and the real cost of replacing volunteer roles with automation. 
It's not a hot take or a doom prediction — it's an honest look at what's coming and how to think about it without fear or hype.

Check out our FREE Team Night Guide:
https://getmxu.com/resources/team-night-guide/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=facebook

FREE RESOURCES 🆓
Take advantage of all the free resources for worship and tech teams that MxU has to offer (growing weekly): https://getmxu.com/resources/?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=facebook&utm_medium=social

IMPROVE YOUR SUNDAY SERVICES 🎓 1,000+
Training Videos:
https://getmxu.com/training?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=facebook&utm_medium=social

🖥️ Volunteer Training Tool:
https://getmxu.com/learning-management-system?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=facebook&utm_medium=social

🚀 Personalized Coaching:
https://getmxu.com/coaching?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=facebook&utm_medium=social

JOIN THE COMMUNITY 📸
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mxurocks/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MxUrocks

WHAT IS MxU?
MxU is an online training platform for church leaders to train and equip their worship and tech volunteers:
https://getmxu.com?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=facebook&utm_medium=social

This week, a text exchange between a pastor and a livestream provider went public — and the church production community lit up. We walk through what happened, why it's bigger than one bad situation, and what it reveals about how we treat people in this industry.

Check out our FREE Team Night Guide: https://getmxu.com/resources/team-night-guide/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=facebook

FREE RESOURCES 🆓 Take advantage of all the free resources for worship and tech teams that MxU has to offer (growing weekly): https://getmxu.com/resources/?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=facebook&utm_medium=social

IMPROVE YOUR SUNDAY SERVICES

🎓 1,000+ Training Videos: https://getmxu.com/training?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=facebook&utm_medium=social 

🖥️ Volunteer Training Tool: https://getmxu.com/learning-management-system?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=facebook&utm_medium=social 

🚀 Personalized Coaching: https://getmxu.com/coaching?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=facebook&utm_medium=social

JOIN THE COMMUNITY 
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mxurocks/
🤝 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MxUrocks

WHAT IS MxU? MxU is an online training platform for church leaders to train and equip their worship and tech volunteers: https://getmxu.com?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=facebook&utm_medium=social

Dillan and Spencer get honest about church hiring practices — why churches often fill positions with low-risk, low-talent people instead of investing in the pros who could actually raise the bar.

In this episode:
⛪ Is the church full of incompetent people? — the loaded question nobody wants to answer
💰 Low-risk vs. high-risk hires — why churches default to "Kelvin" over the $120K pro
🎚️ Over-investing in gear, under-investing in people — the pillar MxU won't stop preaching
🙅 Sons & daughters of the house — when personal relationships make firing impossible
🔥 "Let's fire some people" — what if being let go was actually a sign of a healthy culture?
✅ Why great volunteer teams beat mediocre paid staff every time

Check out our FREE Team Night Guide: https://getmxu.com/resources/team-night-guide/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=incompetence

FREE RESOURCES 🆓 Take advantage of all the free resources for worship and tech teams that MxU has to offer (growing weekly): https://getmxu.com/resources/?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=incompetence&utm_medium=social
I
MPROVE YOUR SUNDAY SERVICES 🎓 1,000+ Training Videos: https://getmxu.com/training?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=incompetence&utm_medium=social 

🖥️ Volunteer Training Tool: https://getmxu.com/learning-management-system?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=incompetence&utm_medium=social 

🚀 Personalized Coaching: https://getmxu.com/coaching?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=incompetence&utm_medium=social

JOIN THE COMMUNITY 
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mxurocks/
🤝 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MxUrocks

WHAT IS MxU? MxU is an online training platform for church leaders to train and equip their worship and tech volunteers: https://getmxu.com?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=incompetence&utm_medium=social

Is your church pulling out all the stops for Easter... only to go back to normal the very next week? Dillan and Spencer get honest about the Easter "Super Bowl Sunday" mentality — and whether treating one Sunday as the big event is actually doing more harm than good.

In this episode:
⛪ Easter as "Super Bowl Sunday" — should every weekend get that energy?
👔 Why church stage wardrobes are becoming a distraction (and what it communicates)
🎻 String quartets, guest worship leaders & freelancers on big weekends — is it clickbait?
🙏 The power of praying over seats — why not every weekend?
✅ What to carry from Easter into EVERY Sunday going forward

Check out our FREE Team Night Guide: https://getmxu.com/resources/team-night-guide/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=easter

FREE RESOURCES
🆓 Take advantage of all the free resources for worship and tech teams that MxU has to offer (growing weekly): https://getmxu.com/resources/?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=easter&utm_medium=social

IMPROVE YOUR SUNDAY SERVICES
🎓 1,000+ Training Videos: https://getmxu.com/training?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=easter&utm_medium=social
🖥️ Volunteer Training Tool: https://getmxu.com/learning-management-system?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=easter&utm_medium=social
🚀 Personalized Coaching: https://getmxu.com/coaching?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=easter&utm_medium=social

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mxurocks/
🤝 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MxUrocks

WHAT IS MxU?
MxU is an online training platform for church leaders to train and equip their worship and tech volunteers: https://getmxu.com?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=easter&utm_medium=social

If you’re asking “can you be too young for ministry?”… you’re not alone.

The church often pushes people into leadership too early—or holds them back for the wrong reasons.

So where’s the line between calling and readiness? And how do you know if you’re actually equipped?

Check out our FREE Team Night Guide: https://getmxu.com/resources/team-night-guide/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=too_young_ministry

FREE RESOURCES

🆓 Take advantage of all the free resources for worship and tech teams that MxU has to offer (growing weekly): https://getmxu.com/resources/?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=too_young_ministry&utm_medium=social

IMPROVE YOUR SUNDAY SERVICES

🎓 1,000+ Training Videos: https://getmxu.com/training?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=too_young_ministry&utm_medium=social

🖥️ Volunteer Training Tool: https://getmxu.com/learning-management-system?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=too_young_ministry&utm_medium=social

🚀 Personalized Coaching: https://getmxu.com/coaching?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=too_young_ministry&utm_medium=social

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mxurocks/

🤝 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MxUrocks

WHAT IS MxU?

MxU is an online training platform for church leaders to train and equip their worship and tech volunteers: https://getmxu.com?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=too_young_ministry&utm_medium=social

If your auditions feel awkward, intimidating, or ineffective… you’re probably doing them wrong.

Here’s how to build auditions that actually grow your team.

Check out our FREE Team Night Guide: https://getmxu.com/resources/team-night-guide/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=audition

FREE RESOURCES
🆓 Take advantage of all the free resources for worship and tech teams that MxU has to offer (growing weekly):  https://getmxu.com/resources/?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=audition&utm_medium=social

IMPROVE YOUR SUNDAY SERVICES
🎓 1,000+ Training Videos:  https://getmxu.com/training?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=audition&utm_medium=social
🖥️ Volunteer Training Tool:  https://getmxu.com/learning-management-system?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=overproduced&utm_medium=social
🚀 Personalized Coaching:  https://getmxu.com/coaching?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=audition&utm_medium=social

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
📸 Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mxurocks/
🤝 Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MxUrocks

WHAT IS MxU?
MxU is an online training platform for church leaders to train and equip their worship and tech volunteers:  https://getmxu.com?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=audition&utm_medium=social

Most churches don’t have a content problem… they have a flow problem.

In this episode, we break down the tension between underproducing what matters (transitions) and overproducing what doesn’t (unnecessary moments, videos, and noise).

Check out our FREE Team Night Guide: https://getmxu.com/resources/team-night-guide/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=overproduced

FREE RESOURCES
🆓 Take advantage of all the free resources for worship and tech teams that MxU has to offer (growing weekly):  https://getmxu.com/resources/?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=overproduced&utm_medium=social

IMPROVE YOUR SUNDAY SERVICES
🎓 1,000+ Training Videos:  https://getmxu.com/training?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=overproduced&utm_medium=social
🖥️ Volunteer Training Tool:  https://getmxu.com/learning-management-system?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=overproduced&utm_medium=social
🚀 Personalized Coaching:  https://getmxu.com/coaching?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=overproduced&utm_medium=social

JOIN THE COMMUNITY
📸 Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mxurocks/
🤝 Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MxUrocks

WHAT IS MxU?
MxU is an online training platform for church leaders to train and equip their worship and tech volunteers:  https://getmxu.com?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=overproduced&utm_medium=social