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Why You Should Leave Your Church (A Pastor's Perspective)
Episode 980
Most of the time, church hopping for convenience (better music, cooler programs, or a coffee bar) reveals more about our consumer culture than about spiritual growth. But Sam and Josh explain that th…
Published on 1 month ago
The Burge Report: How Do Pastors Actually End Up in Ministry?
Episode 979
In this episode, Sam and Ryan Burge discuss how pastors become pastors. Using data from the National Survey of Religious Leaders, the cohosts reveal that clergy often come to ministry through winding…
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago
The Top Reasons Why It's Painful for Pastors to Lose Church Members
Episode 978
One of the more painful aspects of ministry is losing church members. Sometimes these departures are for good reasons, like moving to another town or planting a church. More often than not, pastors s…
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago
An Entrepreneurial-Minded Pastor in an Established Church: The Unique Story of a Baltimore Congregation
Episode 977
In this episode, Sam interviews Tim Byer, pastor of FAITH in Glen Burnie, MD, to hear how his congregation is making a real impact in their community. Pastor Tim shares the story of how his church be…
Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Three Things Every Church Small Group Leader Should Be Doing
Episode 976
In this episode, Sam interviews Michael Kelley of the Rooted Network. They discuss three essentials that every great small group leader should consistently practice. These simple but powerful habits …
Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago
How to Grow Generosity in Your Church (Without Making It Complicated)
Episode 975
The reality is that growing generosity doesn’t require a big program or complex strategy. It requires simplicity. Specifically, one simple principle: communicate, communicate, communicate, communicat…
Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago
The Unchurched Are Not Angry with You (But They Are Indifferent)
Episode 974
Why don’t unchurched people attend church? It’s not because they’re mad or too busy. The top reason is simple: they just don’t see the point. Indifference is the enemy of engagement. In today’s episo…
Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago
The Church Number: From 137 to 60 The Shrinking Median Church in America (2000–2023)
Episode 973
Since 2000, one of the most reliable sources of data on congregations in America has been the Faith Communities Today study, often referred to as FACT. It’s been conducted every five years, with the …
Published on 2 months ago
Many Churches Face Future Sticker Shock with Deferred Maintenance
Episode 972
Sam Rainer interviews Tim Cool of Smart Church Solutions to dig into a hidden but pressing crisis facing many North American churches: deferred maintenance. Too often, churches delay costly but neces…
Published on 2 months ago
The Burge Report: The Biggest Little Denomination: The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)
Episode 971
Sam and Ryan Burge take a deep dive into the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), unpacking the denomination’s unique growth patterns, size distribution, and robust recordkeeping. They explore surpr…
Published on 2 months ago