The Unstuck Church Podcast

Latest Episodes:

NEW Data on How Churches Are Responding to the Pandemic Today - Episode 148 Jun 26, 2020

Show notes

We're back from our brief podcast hiatus! And we've got lots of NEW data and stories to share.

We recently partnered with Blackbaud for a special edition of our quarterly research report, The Unstuck Church Report. More than 550 churches shared with us how they're continuing to respond to the coronavirus crisis.

There was some good news:

Churches seem to be finding themselves in a better financial position than they previously anticipated.
Online engagement remains strong compared to pre-pandemic in-person attendance.
And, though most churches have not re-opened for in person services, many are planning on reopening their buildings for weekend services soon.

But there were also a number of things we found alarming, particularly as we consider the long-term ramifications of what we're experiencing right now.

In this episode, Tony and Amy discuss the findings of the survey—along with anecdotal findings from our work helping 50+ churches navigate ministry strategy in the last couple of months—and we share our take on what all of it is telling us about what's coming and how we should be preparing.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode148.

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If you're listening on Wednesday, when the episode first releases, join the live conversation The Unstuck Group's team will be having on social media about this week's topic. We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on Twitter. Or you can join in on Facebook.

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode 148] in your post for reference.

Building Alignment: Action - Episode 147 May 27, 2020

Show notes

Alignment within your church won't happen on accident.

You have to maintain it on an ongoing basis, but if your alignment doesn't lead to clearer ministry priorities and more focused action from your team, it's unlikely you'll see the results you're praying for. In this final and third episode in our Strategic Alignment Pyramid series, Tony and Amy dive into the Action level of the pyramid with a conversation about how organizational goals align to ministry and individual priorities for healthy, strategic action.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode147.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode 147] in your post for reference.

Building Alignment: Direction - Episode 146 May 20, 2020

Show notes

Busy—Everyone's working hard, but the work isn't organized. It's not focused. And honestly—the church isn't seeing the results you are hoping to see.

Sound familiar? Common symptoms of unclear vision, goals and strategies.

In Part 2 of our series about the Strategic Alignment Pyramid, we examine how it's possible for your church to do the work of God without doing the work God called youto do—and how to clarify the Directional levels of the pyramid that must be revisited and changed as seasons change.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode146.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode 146] in your post for reference.

Building Alignment: The Foundation - Episode 145 May 13, 2020

Show notes

Times of crisis shine a spotlight on issues like lack of vision clarity and team misalignment.

If you sense the future for your church feels unclear and that your team is not pulling in the same direction, you're not alone.

In this episode, we kick off a series about a tool—the Strategic Alignment Pyramid—that can help you learn how to reinvent your ministry methods in a way that will unify your entire team around a clear mission and the right priorities.

In Part 1, Tony and Amy discuss the things that stay the same even in times of rapid change—the foundational layers. They need to be defined, but they don't ever really change.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode145.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode 145] in your post for reference.

Clarifying Digital Engagement - Episode 144 May 06, 2020

Show notes

Overwhelming and confusing—the words pastors have been using when they talk to us about measuring online engagement.

It feels like everyone has been talking about what to measure for the last few weeks, and somehow, it's not getting clearer.

Here's our take: Churches should give the most attention to tracking things that help them make decisions and lead to wins with the bigger picture ministry goals.

Not sure how to do that?

In this episode, Tony and Amy interview Tiffany Deluccia, The Unstuck Group's director of sales and marketing, to shed some light on how to reframe—and simplify—the wins for measuring engagement.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode144.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode 144] in your post for reference.

Pastors: 4 Roles to Prioritize Right Now - Episode 143 Apr 29, 2020

Show notes

There's a lot of change happening in our world right now, and likely a lot more to come.

As leaders, we have to be ready to change our ministry strategy, while holding true to our responsibilities as leaders.

In this episode, Tony Morgan and Amy Anderson are diving into the 4 roles a senior pastor can't delegate (ever), and why you need to bring them back into focus TODAY, given what our churches have experienced during recent weeks.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode143.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode 143] in your post for reference.

7 Shifts Churches Need to Make Because of the Coronavirus - Episode 142 Apr 22, 2020

Show notes

What can you do TODAY?

Many pastors are asking us, "When do you think we'll be able to reopen our churches?" But that's the wrong question. The question we need to be asking is, "How must the church change for a new normal?"

It will be too easy to go back to doing church the way we've always done church when we're safe to gather again. But if we do, we will have missed the opportunity of capitalizing on what God's teaching us during this interruption. And—this present crisis is accelerating trends related to attendance, giving and engagement we saw emerging before it started.

In this episode, Tony and Amy share seven shifts we think pastors will need to begin leading now for their churches to thrive in the future.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode142.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode 142] in your post for reference.

How Churches Responded & Where We Go Next - Episode 141 Apr 15, 2020

Show notes

Response-Mode. That's where churches have been for the last several weeks.

We surveyed more than 500 churches—ranging from under 100 in attendance to more than 20,000—between April 2 and 6. Generally, the data shows that larger churches were better prepared for this crisis than smaller churches. That's probably not a surprise.

However, it's encouraging to see how quickly churches of all sizes have responded. Based on the survey, it looks like the vast majority of churches have settled into a new way of doing church. In this episode, Tony and Amy share some of the data from our survey, as well as their insights into what it's telling us about how we prepare for the future.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode141.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode 141] in your post for reference.

Finances & Giving Considerations During COVID-19 - Episode 140 Apr 08, 2020

Show notes

Money. If it was a challenging topic for church leaders before, it feels all-out tricky right now.

The coronavirus crisis quickly brought many financial challenges to churches, and talking about and managing money has gotten increasingly difficult.

In this episode, Tony and Amy host a conversation with Rick Holliday from North Point Ministries (Alpharetta, GA), David Vaughan from Whitewater Crossing Church (Cleves, OH) and Scott Moore from Eastridge Church (Covington, GA)—three church leaders who are navigating this crisis in their local churches.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode140.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode 140] in your post for reference.

Re-Imagine Easter Gatherings - Episode 139 Apr 01, 2020

Show notes

First ever. How often do we get the chance to do something in a way it's never been done before?

There's no doubt this Easter season will be the first time in our history so many churches will gather online for their celebrations. We have a great opportunity to share the message of Jesus, but is there a risk to relying on the ways we've always done Easter in a moment when nothing is as usual?

In this episode, Tony and Amy, share a conversation on how we need to reimagine Easter in our communication, planning and programming.

For the full episode transcript, links mentioned during the show, and to download the Leader Conversation Guide, visit this episode's Show Notes at theunstuckgroup.com/episode139.

Join the Live Conversation on Social Media

Ask your questions and add your comments about the topic.

If you're catching this episode later, you can still join in! Just tag us @unstuckgroup or use #unstuckchurch, and include [episode 139] in your post for reference.

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