Rainer On Leadership

Even with the best of motives, we all make decisions we later realize are not God's will. What should a pastor do when facing this dilemma? Thom and Sam discuss some strategies for unwinding bad decisions. They offer some helpful tips on the best approaches to guide a church back to the starting line. The post Walking Back a Decision After You Realize It’s Not God’s Will appeared first on Church Answers.

Long tenure is usually better for churches and their pastors. But there are occasions when you know it's time to make a transition. For example, many pastors are ready for something new when the nest is empty. Thom and Sam discuss what you can do when you are certain about a transition. The post Finding Another Church to Pastor (When You Know It’s Time) appeared first on Church Answers.

The fastest-growing churches are often located in prime areas for growth. In a recent Church Answers Research article, Ryan Burge took a deep dive into how churches located in growing communities generally find it easier to add new members. Thom and Sam discuss the implications of these findings. The post Why Location Matters for the Fastest-Growing Churches appeared first on Church Answers.

Based on a recent article Thom wrote, Sam and Thom dig deeper into the issue of church members' ages. Their thoughts might surprise you. The post Are Our Church Members Too Old? appeared first on Church Answers.

Church Answers does two major types of evaluation of music in church worship services. The first approach uses a secret guest to get their first impressions. In the second approach, Church Answers uses a trained and highly competent church musician to evaluate the music from both a philosophical and technical aspect. Sam and Thom look at five common issues in these technical evaluations. The post Five Reasons Your Worship Music May Not Be Clicking appeared first on Church Answers.

There are between 350,000 and 400,000 churches in the United States. Is there really a church on every street corner? Ryan Burge joins Thom and Sam on this special episode to discuss the optimal number of churches in a community. The answer will likely surprise you. The post The Burge Report: Are There Too Many Churches in the United States? appeared first on Church Answers.

Proverbs 22:1 makes clear, "Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold." (NLT) How can a church recover after a scandal? What are some ways a congregation can begin to rebuild a reputation? Thom and Sam discuss some steps forward for these churches. The post Rebuilding Your Reputation after a Church Scandal appeared first on Church Answers.

There are good examples of growing churches reaching young families. What are they doing differently than others? Thom and Sam answer this question. There is more to this issue than being a large church in a growing suburb. Churches reaching young families come in a variety of sizes and locations. The post How Do Growing Churches Reach Young Families? appeared first on Church Answers.

One of the signs of a healthy church is people asking tough questions. These questions may be theological, or they may involve life issues. When people are comfortable asking about difficult subjects, it shows trust in leadership. Thom and Sam discuss the importance of having a church culture that encourages asking hard questions. The post Why People Don’t Ask Tough Questions in Church appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Sam are delighted to welcome Brady Shearer to the Rainer on Leadership podcast. Brady is the CEO of Pro Church Tools. His work helps churches navigate what he calls "the single biggest communication shift we've seen in the last 500 years." The post Three Major Future Shifts for Churches You May Not Expect: An Interview with Brady Shearer appeared first on Church Answers.

The Southern Baptist Convention is experiencing a decline in the scope and scale that is unprecedented in American church history. As the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S., the declines in the SBC are noteworthy for many reasons. Ryan Burge joins Thom and Sam on this special episode to discuss what's happening and what the future may hold for the SBC. The post The Burge Report: A Deep Dive into the Decline of the Southern Baptist Convention appeared first on Church Answers.

It is fascinating to engage church leaders and members about their understanding of discipleship. Frankly, it means different things to different people. Sam and Thom discuss the importance of getting clarity about discipleship in a local church. The post The Confusion about the Word “Discipleship” appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom welcomes Dr. Naomi Cramer Overton and Misty Arterburn. The Every Woman’s Bible by Tyndale House Publishers is a study Bible for the heart and mind. The relevant and timely features in this Bible focus on what hundreds of women say they desire from a Bible. Over one hundred scholars, writers, and contributors—all women—from around the world invite readers into serious study and deep reflection through this Bible and to connection in the global community. The post Why Every Woman in Your Church Needs This Bible: An Interview with Naomi Cramer Overton and Misty Arterburn appeared first on Church Answers.

As the median size of a church gets smaller, more are in the predicament of being supported by a handful of key donors. Mike Stadelmayer of Church Growth Services joins Thom and Sam to discuss what these churches can do. Not every case is dire, but the long-term viability of a congregation is at stake when one or two key donors are responsible for most of the budget. The post A Special Three-Part Series with Church Growth Services: Episode #3 – What Should You Do When a Handful of Key Donors Support the Church – An Interview with Mike Stadelmayer appeared first on Church Answers.

Most gifts to churches are given without designating how the funds should be spent. However, there are cases when donors restrict their donations or give to a designated account. While every donation helps kingdom work, designated gifts can be tricky. Mike Stadelmayer of Church Growth Services joins Thom and Sam, and they discuss some of the nuances around restricted giving. The post A Special Three-Part Series with Church Growth Services: Episode #2 – The Upside and Downside of Designated Giving in Churches – An Interview with Mike Stadelmayer appeared first on Church Answers.

Talking to key givers in the church does not have to be awkward. Mike Stadelmayer of Church Growth Services joins Thom and Sam to discuss how pastors can make the ask without feeling icky. They discuss some best practices that any pastor can follow. The post A Special Three-Part Series with Church Growth Services: Episode #1 – Making the Ask: How Pastors Should Approach Key Church Donors – An Interview with Mike Stadelmayer appeared first on Church Answers.

There have been steady but subtle shifts in how churches hire staff and call ministers for years. Many of those shifts have accelerated since COVID. Sam and Thom look at four of the most significant shifts. The post Four Major Shifts in Church Staffing appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom welcomes Scott Beck, co-founder and CEO of Gloo, a technology platform that releases the collective might of the faith ecosystem. After starting and scaling successful businesses including Blockbuster Video, Einstein's Bagel, Boston Market, and Angie’s List (now Angi), Scott turned his expertise to helping ministry leaders scale their impact through tech. Gloo helps 60,000 church leaders in using tech to engage their people and reach local communities. The post Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Overcoming Failure: An Interview with Scott Beck appeared first on Church Answers.

Thom and Sam examine long-term trends in corporate worship services. Some of the data surprised them. You might be surprised too. The post Speaking in Tongues and Other Trending Worship Issues appeared first on Church Answers.

America is not yet a godless nation, but we are becoming a less churched nation. While people say they believe in God, fewer are attending a house of worship. Ryan Burge joins the show with Thom and Sam to discuss the data driving these trends. But not all the trends are negative. In fact, one group is seeing more people attend church now than in the past: conservative evangelicals. The post Who Is Attending Church MORE Frequently Now Than in the Past? appeared first on Church Answers.