Enduring Churches Podcast with Alan and Trent

Episode 199: The Meeting Before the Meeting

 

Many times pastors and church leaders bring on themselves and on their church undo stress - because they have not had the meeting before the meeting.

 

Questions to ask yourself

1. who is most invested in the topic we will be discussing?
   1. ask them to explain why this is important to them.
   2. what are the non negotiables - things they won't give in on
2. who among the member is most highly regarded and trusted?
   1. answer all questions this person may have about the upcoming meeting.b
   2. ask if they would support the item being voted on  - if not why not. 
   3. ask them what potential problems they see.
3. who is most likely to stir the pot?
   1. ask what info they would need
   2. ask what questions they could see coming up during the meeting

 

These are the folks that you might want to have a meeting before the meeting with.

 

If you have these meetings you will accomplish these things:

1. 1. you will avoid most conflict
   2. as a leader you will be able to guide the conversation by sharing the most important info or leading others to share that info.
   3. You will have the opportunity to have the answers ahead of time to questions that will probably come up during the actual meeting!

Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com

Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com

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Episode 198: Preparing for a Storm

 

Here are some thoughts on how to be weather aware and prepare your facility and people.

 

Checking roads

• who does this?
• how long before the service?
• Leadership who decides if service is cancelled?

Communicating closure

What places do you communicate

• • Social media/texting
  • Local TV
  • Local Radio
  • Send out robo call
  • Website
• designate one person to do communication

 

Cancelled if School cancels

 

in case of snow do this:

• clearing sidewalks
• greeters and helpers
• mop to dry up water on the floor

 

in case of rain do this:

• have umbrellas handy for greeters to help people from cars
• mop to dry up water on the floor

 

In case of tornado do this:

• does the church have a designated shelter?
• do teachers and leaders know where?
• Communicate to families that everyone is ok

 

For wind do this:

some places have high winds from time to time and need people stationed at doors to hold on to the door.

We all work differently, but some of the things I have done:     1. A Word for the year     In October, I begin praying God would give me a "word" for the coming year. For instance this year was "design." I knew God was leading our association in a new direction. Just as God designed the world with intentional purpose, we need to set up our association with a deliberate design. In the past, the word has been "discipleship" or "trust." The word sets the tone for the year. For me this year is "construct." We are in the process of building a new associational model based on our new design.     2. A vision series     As a senior pastor January was a month where I would always take a Sunday to lay out a visionary message for the church. From the time I sensed I had my "word" from God, I had opportunity to examine the Scripture more closely. Since the word usually arose from my own study, that process was typically natural, but sometimes the word would lead me down a pathway of study that challenged me and surprised me. The most important part in preaching a vision series is that you can share what the church should look like at the end of the year. A vision sermon might be one week, but most of mine ended up being two to four weeks.     3. Personal Development     What are you going to do to grow yourself over the next year? Many pastors don't have an intentional plan of growth. One example I can remember is a sense where I needed to grow a bigger desire for international missions. I registered for a February conference across the country held by a church passionate about missions. By Easter, I had taken a trip to Lebanon, and my church was joining me in developing a greater passion for missions. Books, Conferences, accountability groups or cohorts, seminary or certifications...what are you going to do to develop your skills? (As the churches of DTBA, we are here to help you in this.)     4. A Challenge to be addressed     In ministry, we all grow frustrated with the infrequent attendance issues of our congregation. One year, I challenged our church to address this issue. I asked them to consider their attendance patterns and challenged them to see if greater faithfulness made a difference in their lives. For many it did. We reaped the benefits, we also felt the challenge as it was a year the enemy really attacked our church. That year I saw the benefit of addressing challenges directly. Because we were learning to face obstacles, we were able to overcome them more easily.      Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com Facebook Website

Episode196: How Things Will Be Different in 2023   Outside forces   Economy Political pressures Growing secularism Trent's Plan Evaluate the past year What went right and what did God Bless? What was frustrating? Take the temperature of the congregation - are they hot or cold overall in their desire to serve Jesus? Plan a sermon skeleton  - episode 193 Do you have a vision for your church?  If yes - then share it again If no then - pray and seek God for His vision Did your church do any mission trips in the past year? If yes - then remind them of those and plan more for 23 If no - why not?  Ask your church why they have not Did your church do any major efforts to serve the community? If yes - celebrate that and ask the church to pray about the next  effort. If no - share the needs of the community with the church and ask them to pray for God's compassion! Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com Facebook Website

Episode 195: 8 Momentum Makers

Want to build momentum?

1. Baptisms
2. Community Engagement
3. A guest speaker
4. Host a conference
5. A special emphasis
6. Mission trips
7. Paying off a debt/ sometimes building a facility
8. People Called to ministry

Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com

Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com

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Episode 194: Guard the Trust

Some Things A Pastor Must Protect

1. What is taught in the church
   1. Guest speaker
   2. Sunday school classes or small groups
   3. shadow pastor
   4. doctrinal alignment...our own theology
2. How your people are treated and treat one another
3. Vision
4. Momentum
5. Thermostat - maybe the one on the wall, but you create an atmosphere

 

Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com

Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com

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Episode 193: Planning Your Sermon Retreat

 

Beforehand: know yourself and your preaching style short series vs long series vs books vs mixed build up your resources do you need to order some resources? Do you have enough resources find your place for a retreat - 2-3 days Christian camp/retreat center hotel house rental Enlist prayer partners   Supplies: Calendars; holidays, school calendar, special events study resources plenty of paper and/or computer templates plans for a physical activity a walk a sport   The retreat: Spend time in prayer Set blocks of time to do your work (2- hour blocks) Read the texts or series of texts Refer to study materials complete outlines or  cross references take your breaks Begin to write down notations regarding your passages   Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com Facebook Website

Episode 192: Paint By Number: The Metrics that Matter

 

Pastors get together from time to time - and we would encourage you to do that.  But when church people get together - they start comparing.
This is not healthy.  We get hung up on the numbers

Context determines what your metrics need to be

We compare
attendance #
Pastors
Music program
Youth and children program

So lets change the numbers.  Here are some numbers you should start comparing.
Paint these numbers
- People called out to ministry
- new volunteers
- new teachers
- hours spent serving the community

 

Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com

Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com

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Episode 191: Membership Matters

 

Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com

Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com

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Episode 190: Communicating Well   Pastors and leaders in local churches are now in a time where they are forced to use multiple lines of communication What is the goal of your communication?  The goal will sometimes determine the channel.   What is the speed of communication needed?   know your people and how they communicate Communication by age group Communication by interest group become familiar with multiple platforms for communication. Social Media Facebook Twitter Snapchat You Tube Podcasts/videocasts Print bulletin newsletter newspaper Web page Radio Phone calls Texting/email Movie Theater Suggestions for communication   Short and direct Answer the question "how does this benefit me?" Communicate often, but don't wear out your welcome. Contact Alan: alan@dtbatogether.com Contact Trent: gasconadevalleybaptist@gmail.com Facebook Website