Forget Attendance Goals - Track This Instead at Church

A church in Arizona has shared its goals for the year—and surprisingly, not one of them mentions attendance. So what are they focusing on instead? And should your church take a similar approach? In this episode, we break down their strategy and what it could mean for your ministry.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 4:36 - Reason #1: Process OVER Outcome 10:39 - Reason #2: Lead OVER Lag 19:18 - Bonus Goal #1: Young Leaders Coalition 23:44 - Bonus Goal #2: Amplify More Voices 30:35 - Bonus Goal #3: Staff Sabbatical Policy   IMPORTANT LINKS - Ironwood Church: https://www.ironwoodchurch.org/ - Luke Simmons Twitter | X: https://x.com/lukedsimmons - Makeovers: https://www.nucleus.church/makeovers - What Predicts Church Growth or Decline?: https://bit.ly/44o8pVk   THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 59,296+ 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

Church live streaming is one of the most misunderstood parts of modern ministry. Some see it as a threat, others as a lifeline—but most hold at least a few misconceptions. So in this episode, we’re unpacking the truth, challenging assumptions, and exploring what’s next for digital church.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 8:00 - In-Person vs. Online: What the Data Says 8:53 - Does In-Person Attendance Reduce Online Participation? 10:43 - Is Online Church "Replacing" In-Person Worship? 12:38 - Do People Prefer Online Church? 13:13 - Who Watches Online Church the Most? 14:52 - Key Takeaways 19:50 - Application   IMPORTANT LINKS - How AI & Social Media Are Changing You — Rich Wilkerson Jr. & Sean Cannell — Ep 55: https://youtu.be/SKT24eT9svE?feature=shared   THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 59,296+ 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

Almost every church says they preach the Bible, follow Jesus, and care about discipleship. Yet, we all know there’s a big difference between a healthy church and one that’s not. So what sets them apart? That’s what we’re unpacking today—10 key habits that define truly healthy churches.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:50 - Holy Character 4:43 - Hard Work 5:52 - Tender Hearts 9:22 - The Language You Use Becomes The Culture You Build 12:14 - Active Participants Over Passive Spectators 16:00 - Calculated Delusion 19:45 - Devotion Over Dogma 25:44 - Vocal About Values 29:22 - Accountable To The Mission 32:00 - Emphasizing Young People   IMPORTANT LINKS - How Churches Are Really Reaching Young People with Dr. Kara Powell: https://youtu.be/v6O0USRnwbY   THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 59,296+ 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

Sometimes it feels easier to just do the project yourself. But if you’re the only creative your church can rely on, you’re going to hit a ceiling. You need others—and a system to lead them well. That’s where our Rulebook for Leading Church Creative Departments comes in. Let’s walk through it together.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 3:12 - EMERGENCY MODE: Church Mission = Policy 9:56 - BASIC MODE: Ministry Mission = Policy 15:20 - ADVANCED MODE: Ministry Policy   THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 59,296+ 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

Father’s Day is almost here—so here are creative ways your church can celebrate and appreciate dads.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:32 - #1: Don't Make Dads a Caricature 3:27 - #2: Have Fathers Recognize Other Fathers 6:13 - #3: Dad Jokes In Pre-Service Slides 7:20 - #4: Create A Reason For Dad's To Spend Time With Their Families After Church 11:24 - #5: Free Coffee For All Dads 12:12 - #6: Supply Bar 14:18 - #7: Favorite Memories From People On Stage 16:55 - #8: Integrate Acknowledgements For Dads In Different Seasons 20:12 - #9: Incorporate Father's Day Elements, But Don't Design Your Entire Service Around It 21:26 - #10: Dedicate Portion Of Giving That Week To Father-Specific Org 22:12 - How To Approach All Of This On Social   THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 59,296+ 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

Need summer social media ideas for your church? These 15 proven posts work—no fancy gear required.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:18 - Kid POV 4:03 - Blown Away Promo 5:35 - Press This Button 7:48 - When You & Your Best Friend Serve On Different Teams 10:21 - Whisper In The Crowd 12:44 - Camera & Paper Prompt 14:46 - Finding Out If There's Youth This Friday 16:11 - What's Your Vision For This Room? 17:26 - What Not To Do During Worship 19:27 - Sorry, I Have Plans 20:24 - I Give Up. Going To Church. 22:15 - POV: You're Late To Service, But You're Favorite Praise Song Is Playing 23:25 - He Won't ☠️ 24:30 - Recharge 26:54 - Volunteer Commitment   IMPORTANT LINK - Kid POV: https://bit.ly/3SdwW8Y - Blown Away Promo: https://bit.ly/4ktHg8N - Press This Button: https://bit.ly/3HgRomN - When You & Your Best Friend Serve On Different Teams: https://bit.ly/3SJMvVX - Whisper In The Crowd: https://bit.ly/3F3gncR - Camera & Paper Prompt: https://bit.ly/3Sdhw4p - Finding Out If There's Youth This Friday: https://bit.ly/3ZmawGb - What's Your Vision For This Room?: https://bit.ly/436oONH - What Not To Do During Worship: https://bit.ly/4kr5fFB - Sorry, I Have Plans: https://bit.ly/45g8Sd6 - I Give Up. Going To Church: https://bit.ly/4k5Oi3O - POV. You're late to service, but your favorite praise song is playing: https://bit.ly/43uwCb1 - He Won't ☠️: https://bit.ly/4kdGxsz - Recharge: https://bit.ly/4dqqB3t - Volunteer Commitment: https://bit.ly/4dmPrBo   THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 59,296+ 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 I ran your church’s social media, this is the calendar I’d use. It works across platforms, adapts to your time, and scales with your team.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 8:50 - TUE & THUR: Sermon Clip #1 & #2 17:33 - MON: Quote Post 19:20 - WED: Carousel & Text Thread 23:00 - FRI: YouTube Video + Portrait Post #1 25:35 - SAT: Portrait Post #2 30:30 - EXTRA: Blog Post & Book   IMPORTANT LINKS - Churches keep neglecting *this* social media post: https://youtu.be/3DNs1YYvq2I - The Church Social Media Masterclass: https://youtu.be/t1g6iMRR_Tk - Subscribe to our newsletter [The 167]: https://167.prochurchtools.com/ - SocialSermons: https://www.socialsermons.com/   THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 59,296+ 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

For 15 years, the story’s been the same: belief is fading. But new data tells a different story. Not just in America—but across the West. Let’s unpack what’s changing and what the Church should do next.   IMPORTANT LINKS - Religion in 2024: The Plateau Is Real: https://bit.ly/4cYyCN7 - The Quiet Revival: Gen Z leads rise in church attendance: https://bit.ly/4jZ3G1j   THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 59,296+ 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

From blah to brilliant—5 quick, proven fixes to instantly level up your church announcements. No overhaul needed, just simple tweaks that make a big difference.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 4:15 - The Curveball 8:05 - The Callback 13:15 - The Interview 17:31 - The Interaction 22:18 - The Audible   THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 59,296+ 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 on the show: 15 things everyone says your church needs on social media. Spoiler — many don’t matter at all. We’re sorting each one: necessary, nice to have, or nonsense. Let’s cut through the noise.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:48 - Spring Promotions 5:46 - Facebook Group 7:04 - Consistency 8:51 - Photography Of Church Life 11:18 - DM Automation 13:12 - Skit Reels 18:50 - Meta Verified 20:26 - Following & Engaging With Others 23:30 - Sprinkle Promotions 28:40 - Hashtags 31:42 - Sermon Reels 38:24 - Social Accounts For Ministries 40:52 - Ideal Post Timing 43:15 - X Account 44:30 - TikTok/Threads Account   IMPORTANT LINKS - ManyChat: https://manychat.com/ - Stop Saying “Link In Bio”! Say This Instead… : https://youtu.be/wEMYlV4ZvPg   THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 59,296+ 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