10 Ways Churches Scare Off Newcomers

Recruiting church volunteers often feels desperate, leaving people feeling guilted into serving. But to do it right, there are three key stages: recruit, train, and celebrate. Today, we'll cover proven techniques that any church can use to make the process smoother—and even do much of the heavy lifting for you.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:40 - How To Recruit 12:40 - How To Train 21:57 - How To Celebrate   THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 52,481+ churches read our free newsletter to figure out the 167 hours beyond Sunday service every week. Sign up: https://167.prochurchtools.com   GET IN TOUCH 🌍 The Company: https://prochurchtools.com 🖥️ Nucleus, The Church Website Builder:  https://www.nucleus.church 📱 SocialSermons, The Social Media Agency For Churches: https://socialsermons.com    JOIN THE COMMUNITY 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bradyshearer 🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/bradyshearer

Today, we're sharing some sermon series ideas we believe every church should consider for 2025—with a unique twist in how they were generated. These ideas are Biblically based, timely, and versatile, making them perfect for any ministry, regardless of size or denomination.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 4:22 - More Singles 11:48 - Fewer Parents 18:09 - The Gender War Within Gen Z 25:02 - The Nones Have Hit A Ceiling 31:01 - Fewer Close Friends Than Ever   IMPORTANT LINKS - Share of 40-year-olds in US who have never married reaches new high | Pew Research Center: https://pewrsr.ch/3ZcvisN - Millennials aren’t having kids. Here’s why. | The Washington Post: https://wapo.st/3XEYO9y - Many Gen Z Men Feel Left Behind. Some See Trump as an Answer. | The New York Times: https://nyti.ms/4e18P6v - The Nones Have Hit a Ceiling | Ryan Burge: https://bit.ly/4ehZ1Vm - Disconnected: The Growing Class Divide in American Civic Life | The Survey Center on American Life: https://bit.ly/3AVVcqx   THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 52,481+ churches read our free newsletter to figure out the 167 hours beyond Sunday service every week. Sign up: https://167.prochurchtools.com   GET IN TOUCH 🌍 The Company: https://prochurchtools.com 🖥️ Nucleus, The Church Website Builder:  https://www.nucleus.church 📱 SocialSermons, The Social Media Agency For Churches: https://socialsermons.com    JOIN THE COMMUNITY 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bradyshearer 🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/bradyshearer

Every week, we send photographers to churches worldwide with a detailed shot list, etiquette guidelines, and gear recommendations. Today, we’re sharing all of that with you, along with example galleries from real churches to show what a successful church photoshoot looks like. Welcome to The Definitive Church Photography Shot List!   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:50 - Definition Of A Successful Church Photoshoot 7:00 - What To Bring 12:30 - Shot List 19:24 - Rules & Etiquette   IMPORTANT LINKS - Makeovers: https://www.nucleus.church/makeovers - Photo Gallery #1: https://prochur.ch/3Zay2qq - Photo Gallery #2: https://prochur.ch/4dOO3XB - Photo Gallery #3: https://prochur.ch/4dQPsNn   THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 52,481+ churches read our free newsletter to figure out the 167 hours beyond Sunday service every week. Sign up: https://167.prochurchtools.com   GET IN TOUCH 🌍 The Company: https://prochurchtools.com 🖥️ Nucleus, The Church Website Builder:  https://www.nucleus.church 📱 SocialSermons, The Social Media Agency For Churches: https://socialsermons.com    JOIN THE COMMUNITY 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bradyshearer 🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/bradyshearer

If you're a pastor or church leader juggling social media duties, this video is for you! We’re sharing five repeatable Instagram Stories frameworks that you can use every week. These tried-and-true methods are highly engaging and have stood the test of time for over five years. Plus, we’re offering step-by-step downloadable guides to make it even easier.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:44 - The Slider Select 7:18 - The Irresistible Question 12:15 - The Poll Precursor 17:24 - Tuesday Trivia 22:38 - The Alley-Oop   IMPORTANT LINKS - The Busy Pastor's Guide to Instagram Stories DOWNLOAD: https://prochur.ch/4cCiEGp   THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 52,481+ churches read our free newsletter to figure out the 167 hours beyond Sunday service every week. Sign up: https://167.prochurchtools.com   GET IN TOUCH 🌍 The Company: https://prochurchtools.com 🖥️ Nucleus, The Church Website Builder:  https://www.nucleus.church 📱 SocialSermons, The Social Media Agency For Churches: https://socialsermons.com    JOIN THE COMMUNITY 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bradyshearer 🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/bradyshearer

Noticed a drop in your church's Instagram Story views? You're not alone, and we know why. It’s not a mystery, and better yet, we can fix it! In this video, we’ll cover eight reasons your church’s Instagram Stories are flopping—and how to turn it around.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:41 - Instagram Has Different Algorithms 4:02 - What Should We Prioritize On Stories? 8:09 - Viewing History 15:27 - Engagement History 21:03 - Closeness 26:50 - What Are Best Practices For Links In Stories? 31:42 - Best Practice In The Previous Era Is Worst Practice In The Current Era 37:43 - How Can We Take Advantage Of The Fact That Stories Expire?   IMPORTANT LINKS - The 3 Rules for Church Social Media Managers: https://youtu.be/XQCQkucazGg - “Add to Favorites” DOWNLOAD: https://prochur.ch/3Mc9963   THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 52,481+ churches read our free newsletter to figure out the 167 hours beyond Sunday service every week. Sign up: https://167.prochurchtools.com   GET IN TOUCH 🌍 The Company: https://prochurchtools.com 🖥️ Nucleus, The Church Website Builder:  https://www.nucleus.church 📱 SocialSermons, The Social Media Agency For Churches: https://socialsermons.com    JOIN THE COMMUNITY 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bradyshearer 🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/bradyshearer

Your church’s website isn’t always the first stop for online visitors. Often, they’ll see your Google Business Profile first—the widget in Google search and maps with photos, contact info, and reviews. If this isn’t optimized, visitors might never reach your site. In this video, we dive into the essentials of Google Business Profiles for churches.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:12 - How Do Churches Claim Their Google Business Profil 4:00 - Filling Out Your Basic Info 6:28 - Crucial Steps For A Great First Impression: Photos 16:45 - Crucial Steps For A Great First Impression: Reviews 22:33 - Questions & Answers 26:00 - Special Considerations   IMPORTANT LINKS - Makeovers: https://www.nucleus.church/makeovers   THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 52,481+ churches read our free newsletter to figure out the 167 hours beyond Sunday service every week. Sign up: https://167.prochurchtools.com   GET IN TOUCH 🌍 The Company: https://prochurchtools.com 🖥️ Nucleus, The Church Website Builder:  https://www.nucleus.church 📱 SocialSermons, The Social Media Agency For Churches: https://socialsermons.com    JOIN THE COMMUNITY 📸 Instagram:   / bradyshearer   🎵 TikTok:   / bradyshearer    🐦 Twitter:   / bradyshearer

Having a host is one of the best ways to truly elevate a church service. But what exactly is a host and what do they do? In this video, we'll break down the 7 essential things every church needs to know about hosting. Plus, if you're hesitant, we've got word-for-word script options for you to use.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:37 - What Is A Host? 1:20 - What Is The Goal Of A Host? Why Does "Fluidity" Matter? 7:26 - Connecting Pieces Behind The Scenes 12:59 - Pushback: Is This Not Just A Modern Church Invention Coming From The Secular World? 15:49 - Scripting Options 21:10 - Host Behaviour   THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 52,481+ churches read our free newsletter to figure out the 167 hours beyond Sunday service every week. Sign up: https://167.prochurchtools.com   GET IN TOUCH 🌍 The Company: https://prochurchtools.com 🖥️ Nucleus, The Church Website Builder:  https://www.nucleus.church 📱 SocialSermons, The Social Media Agency For Churches: https://socialsermons.com    JOIN THE COMMUNITY 📸 Instagram:   / bradyshearer   🎵 TikTok:   / bradyshearer    🐦 Twitter:   / bradyshearer

03Is your church guilty of these 10 visitor-repelling behaviors? We've compiled real reports from church visitors detailing what scares them off. Because you only get to make one first impression. So let's make it a good one. Let's dive in.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:40 - The New Visitor Spotlight 4:30 - Insider Jargon OR Traditions 9:43 - Forced Small Talk & Mingling 13:05 - Inauthentic Or Incomplete Online Footprint 15:50 - Unfriendly 21:15 - Lack Of Structure 24:22 - Too Much Recruitment In Service 25:47 - Inaccessible Biblical Teaching 27:58 - Nowhere To Sit 33:02 - Singles Feel Left Out   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - Start your 30-day free trial (no credit card required) of Nucleus here: https://www.nucleus.church/   ============================= Connect With Brady: ============================= Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

Today, we list 15 supposed essentials for church websites. Some are unnecessary! We'll categorize them: necessary, nice to have, or nonsense. By the end, you'll know what truly matters for your site. Let's dive in.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:03 - Speed 10:08 - Live Stream Primary CTA 14:22 - Pop-Ups 20:37 - Sermon Archive 24:22 - Beliefs 30:29 - Links To Social 32:01 - 5-Star Domain Name 35:48 - Sliders 44:55 - Responsive Design4 8:02 - App CTAs 52:30 - Service Times, Address, & Contact Info 55:55 - Staff Page 59:56 - Scroll Animation 01:03:18 - Photography 01:06:42 - SEO   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - Pingdom Website Speed Test: https://bit.ly/4fi7ut3 - Makeovers: https://www.nucleus.church/makeovers - Holy Trinity Brompton: https://htb.org/   ============================= Connect With Brady: ============================= Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast

Does online church negatively impact in-person attendance? It's a debate we've been having for years, and now we finally have some great data to shed light on it. Join us as Ryan Burge from Graphs About Religion helps us untangle the insights and implications.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:54 - Who Is Attending Online Church? 17:53 - Does Going To Church Keep Youth From Drinking And Smoking? 38:04 - Are Women More Spiritual and Men More Religious?   ============================= Show Notes: ============================= - Who is Attending Online Church?: https://bit.ly/4fceCHe - Does Going to Church Keep High School Students from Drinking and Smoking?: https://bit.ly/4bJzPWc - Are Women More Spiritual and Men More Religious?: https://bit.ly/4bPoxQl - Generations by Jean M. Twenge: https://bit.ly/4d9PleX - Ryan Burge: https://www.drburge.com/ - Ryan Burge | Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ryanburge - Graphs about Religion: https://www.graphsaboutreligion.com/   ============================= Connect With Brady: ============================= Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyshearer/ TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/pfArcS/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradyShearer The Pro Church Tools Show: https://prochurchtools.com/podcast