Who is Pitch Lab for?

How It Works

A well-led day creates a meaningful experience.

Pitch Lab Lead Team

Sean Cronin

TRAINING LEAD
Achiever | Context | Belief

I lead the Residency Cohort focused on helping church planters gain a clearer vision for the church God’s calling them to plant. I don’t focus on offering answers but asking questions to help them discern how Jesus wants to build His church through them. My goal is to help them develop a plan that guides their efforts to pursue the vision God’s giving them.

Patrick Bradley

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Ideation | Developer | Strategic

I equip church planting leaders by creating tools and systems that keep church planters focused on people. I want church planters to experience the confidence of having a contextual strategic plan and the enjoyment that comes from spending less time on the details.

Todd Wilson

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Futuristic | Strategic | Activator

I serve leaders and ministries who are pursuing multiplication, and help them develop vision and strategy for 100X impact. I’m an entrepreneurial engineer, passionate about creating pictures of future possibilities and strategies for turning them into reality.

Ready to join us? Register today.

Questions?

Reach out to Sean Cronin at (716) 547-2311 or email seanc@church-planting.net

The post Church Planter Pitch Lab appeared first on Passion for Planting.

By Russ Cantu: You spent $5000 and got nothing in return.

You heard it somewhere —a coach, mentor, pier, start up bro— that you needed a pitch deck. You were told to hire a designer, run a high quality print of their developed deck, and distribute it to prospective investors.

Fail. Whale.

And it’s not even your fault.

Pitch decks have been a thing for decades now, but how we think about them needs to significantly change. I’ve been developing decks for decades: from start-ups to church plants, investment decks for pharmaceuticals and medical device manufacturers, and even some dream decks for friends.

Pitch decks aren’t bad, but the process is fundamentally broken.

It’s time to fix it.

Meet Brandon Penn

Brandon is a church planter starting a church in Fontana, Ca. It’s in LA and has a population of 220,000 people and less than twenty churches. The system is broken and what’s there just isn’t working. Brandon came to me and asked if I could help him design and develop their church plant’s deck.

I told him no.

Well, I told him no… but only no because we needed to go about this differently. The way we raised money ten years ago is not the same today, so our tactics need to change to meet our context.

So I made him a deal.

I would help him design and develop his deck, under one condition: we make it free for everyone. We would knock this out for him and his church, but then we would make the Keynote file, PDF, and article walkthrough available to everyone, for free.

He agreed, and here we are.

Three Pitch Decks Problems

Like I said, pitch decks aren’t bad; the process is just broken. What we want to do is think through a few aspects of the process so we can wrap our head around the problem and push forward.

Pitch Deck Problems

No matter how good a designer is, they’re not you. While there are some world-class designers I could recommend to you, most designers design for design, not conversion. When you are designing a deck for investors, your target market cares more about substance than flash. They want to know you have a successful track record with market opportunity, not that your deck looked better than the other guy.

In addition to designer problems, you will most likely run into design problems. These two are not the same. Assume now that your designer is amazing, they can create a great initial pitch deck template (aka Slide Deck), and they truly understand you. Assume they get your story. But never assume they know how to lay it out properly for you, in alignment with your business plan. Again, they’re used to designing for design’s sake, not you. You need to design for conversions, and that’s a completely different ball game.

Principles to remember when designing your deck: 

Share your wins. Your last success will indicate future success.
Less is more. Don’t say too much and narrow your focus on achieving your goals.
Design to multiple learning styles: i.e. visual, logical, kinesthetic.
Everything has a next step. Every point has a natural onramp for potential investors.

Pitch Deck Development Problems

Now that you’ve designed your deck, how do you share your story? Inherently, this is the most difficult part of the equation. While we will get to a walk-through of an example shortly, I want to run down some development problems you may run into and what you can do to avoid letting them slow you down.

“It looks good, but it doesn’t feel good.”

While a designer will bring the heat, they can never bring the feels without you. You must permeate every aspect of your deck. What is the problem you are addressing with your church plant and how are you uniquely prepared to meet this moment? This is the question you must answer on every page. It’s on you, and while it is certainly daunting, it is not impossible.

Principles to remember when developing your deck: 

Address problems head on. Name names and have a solution ready.
Be your own hero. People will be sold on you before they’re sold on your church.
Elevate your key team leaders. The people you have are the people you are targeting.
Don’t compromise. Your church is your baby. It’s unique and not cookie-cutter.
Be specific and measurable. Know your business model and key metrics of success.
Own it. This isn’t a church planting organization’s start-up; it’s your company vision.
Remember: You’re called to be faithful, not plant a church.

Pitch Deck Distribution Problems

This is the one that kills me every time. You paid a designer, you spent weeks outlining your story, and now you need to pay to print… or do you? This is it; THIS is the thing that keeps me up at night. It honestly frustrates me to no end.

Can we talk about money for a moment?

When you hire a good designer, you can expect to pay around $1000 for them to design your pitch deck. Assume you hire a designer who knows the investment space, who can interpret your story well, and who will lay it for conversion; expect to pay around $3000. But design costs aren’t the only thing we are talking about here. What about your time and energy? When you hire a designer, you are feeding them daily for weeks. This thing takes time. Because time is money, let’s just put an equal amount on it and price your time at the same rate as your designer’s between $1000 and $3000. So far, we are talking about a $2000 to $6000 hit to your church plant, most likely before you have investors (and before you even considered hiring a pitch deck writer).

You’re six thousand into this thing, and now you need to print. Ugh. Seriously, who prints anything anymore? Someone somewhere told you that investors need this, so you have to do it, right? Not a chance. Investors don’t give a rip. They want to know you’ve been successful and will be successful now. If you can write your story and a plan on a napkin, transfer that to a single email, and break it down over the course of a fifteen page deck, then you’re solid. But if you’re sold on print, you’re dropping between $1000 – $2000 every run. Since your plan is a living document, you will need a few runs along the way. Now your total financial hit is coming in between $3000 and $8000, but likely more depending on market size and capital to be raised. Print is not dead, but it is not right for you. So what works? Well, here’s what we do every time for start-ups.

Principles we remember when distributing decks:

Pitch Deck developed in Keynote or PowerPoint. Makes it simple for users to edit.
PDF exports for potential investors. Easy to view online or send via email.
Tactical Cards for handouts. Glossy on top and matte on back, makes people want to turn it over. Slap an URL on there for downloads and brand it alongside your deck and you’re solid. It’s a cheap run and instantly effective. Plus, if people throw it in the garbage, you won’t be diving into the can to rescue that printed gold.

Ultimately, your distribution plan is 50% of your design plan. How you disseminate your story to potential users or investors will determine how you raise capital. If you can accomplish this part of the puzzle, your audience will see a clearer picture and you will have more money in your pocket for your plant. And if that doesn’t show investors how you are managing money, I don’t know what will. It’s a brave new world, and they’re already ahead of the game. They want to invest in you. They want to reach your addressable market. It’s your job to make it easy for them to do so.

How to Create a Great Investor Pitch Deck for Startups Seeking Financing

Like I said, pitch decks aren’t bad; the process is just broken. What we want to do is think differently about this, from the designer to the design, the process and financials, and how to make the most of your moment. So let’s bring Brandon back in, so we can walk through his deck, and you can see how it works for him, as well as a few presentation tips so you can walk away with valuable insight and actionable items.

Beyond Church and Their Pitch Deck Outline

Branded Cover Slide with logo.
Mission Statement
Reachable Market and Our Problem to Fix
Current Growth Metrics and Market Validation
Introduction of Opportunity
Introduction of Startup Founders
Introduction of Business Model – Values
Introduction of Target Users or User Testimonials
Continuation of Target Users or User Testimonials
Introduction of Team with Focus
A-Round Pitch Deck Financials with Financial Forecast
Stage Process and Financial Application
Contextualization of Current Crisis and Application
Investment Opportunities
How to Connect with Brandon and Beyond Church

Branded Cover Slide with Logo

Your first slide is not the time to pitch your product or sell your services. Potential investors care more about you than they do your “sell”, so start off your pitch by sharing who you are and why you are taking their time. This is an opportunity for you to make them a part of your team before they hear what you’re doing, so sell them on you and it will be easier to sell them on your plant.

Mission Statement 

Your mission is the framework that drives your business. From inception to implementation, your mission statement is how you will grow your team, how you attract your audience, and how you grow over time. Share how and why your mission statement is not only important to you, but instrumental to your success.

Reachable Market and Our Problem to Fix

While most cities lack enough church resources to meet the need, Brandon Penn and Fontana are unique. Fontana is an underserved and under-resourced population, so the fact that there are so few churches to adequately serve the city should be drawn out and made a central focus, not just here, but throughout the presentation.

Current Growth Metrics and Market Validation

Past is prologue, so Brandon is going to discuss how he’s been successful in the past and prove he will be successful here as Fontana is drowning without enough people to serve the city. This is where he will start discussing the implementation of the business model, his current audience, and the people that are currently on board (as team members and investors).

Introduction of Opportunity

Brandon is bent toward justice, not as a pocket passion, but as a guiding life principle. As Fontana has a clear and obvious need, and as his team is ready to meet the moment, he will lay the foundation here for the opportunity to be met by those in the room. For him, God’s salvation is not just a gift for him, but one for everyone. Because of that, he’s encouraging his audience to participate in immediately actionable items.

Introduction of Startup Founders

In the initial stage of development, the focus will ultimately be on the shoulders of those who lead the early church. This is one of the reasons why church plant coaches emphasize the need for the founding pastor to preach every weekend for the first six months. These initial months are all about attraction, so Brandon must sell you on him, as wella s his family. It’s a lot to handle, but it’s what needs to be done. No pressure.

Introduction of Business Model and Your Values

Brandon is now going to share the business model (in expanded terms) but also share the guide rails of his plan: values. One caveat here: you don’t determine your values, you discover them. While Brandon has three values here, he also understands that values are malleable and may need to flex over time as his audience morphs into who God needs them to be for their community.

Introduction of Target Users or User Testimonials

One of the fin discussion items I often have with clients is persona types, not because we want to have a “perfect person” we want to reach, but because we want to have multiple moving targets we seek to market to. People are fluid according to their in-the-moment context, so persona types must go deeper than the surface level of a single mother of three kids.

Continuation of Target Users or User Testimonials

Like before, we are laying out the persona types we are targeting our reach towards, but we are also sharing who we have already reached. This is where past success meets current users. Don’t just share your hope for people to reach; share who you have already reached and how you are making their lives better.

Introduction of Team with Focus

For Brandon, his new church startup is not about a new church for Fontana. Anyone can build a church, but Brandon is building a passion. Buildings and worship services will only get you so far. In today’s climate, passion outranks presentation (thank God). When all is said and done, Beyond Church’s end product will be a passionate people who just so happen to meet in a building every week.

A-Round Pitch Deck Financials with Financial Forecast

Part of the strategy here is to speak the language of everyone in the room. While some will be attracted to stories, others will be moved by finances. It’s your job to speak to everyone. Give a description of your need, where you are at, and forecast it a few years out. Just like you created a pitch deck outline for your designer, you need to create a financial overview for investors.

Stage Process and Financial Application

Every church and organization is different. While some angel investors may be moved by stories and financials, others may be moved by specific things you are spending money towards. Larry Osborne talks about this in his pockets presentation. While some may give their tithe out of one pocket and give to a need out of another, they normally only have one more pocket to give to: their individual passion.

Contextualization of Current Crisis and Application 

Covid sucks. Losing millions around the world and hundreds of thousands here at home has been an enormous loss. Churches that specifically address the wounds of Covid and assist in the recovery of our cities will be better positioned to serve their cities for generations, than those who chose to go back to business (and politics) as usual. Brandon has a plan, and it’s working.

Investment Opportunities

We’ve shared the problem, we’ve shared possible solutions, and Brandon has shared stories and user testimonials. You’ve seen the financials and our forecast, and maybe you’re sold on the vision. This is the time to give people their next right step. In this case, Beyond Church is specifically looking for three people: givers, prayers, and servers. They need money, they need people who will encourage them through prayer, and they need people with a passion who want to serve Fontana. All Brandon needs to do is make their next right step clear and simple.

How to Connect with Brandon and Beyond Church

The last step of your presentation is to continue the conversation. This is the beginning of a years-long relationship that requires trust and communication. Once you make the ask (and please, don’t forget to go for the big ask), you need to stay present in their lives. Investors are giving you their hard earned time, resources, and finances, but you must be the one to nurture the relationship.

Let’s put a bow on this pitch deck.

For those of you who have been wondering “what is a pitch deck” and “how to slide deck”, I hope this guide has provided you with clear next steps to accomplish your goal. This resource is free now and will continue to be well into the future. I have included individual slides of the presentation, as well as a working file for you in Keynote and PowerPoint, in addition to a smaller file size PDF (with active links). I would encourage you to save yourself some money and use this pitch deck template instead of hiring a designer and printing a full run of vision pieces. And if you need help along the way, reach out and I will do everything I can to help make you successful.

Download PDF Pitch Deck

Download Keynote Pitch Deck

Download PowerPoint

The post How to Effectively Share Your Church Story to Investors [Pitch Deck] appeared first on CATALYST CHURCH CREATIVE.

Source: How to Effectively Share Your Church Story to Investors [Pitch Deck]

The post How to Effectively Share Your Church Story to Investors [Pitch Deck] appeared first on Passion for Planting.

By NewChurches.org: In Episode 604 of the NewChurches Q&A Podcast, Daniel and Todd discuss what it looks like to build back better when it comes to staff.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

How do you lead out when it comes to staff
Why you need to rethink how to fill staff openings

 Shareable Quotes (#NewChurches):

“The higher you go in leadership, more often than not, the less people want to tell you where you are ugly.” – @toddadkins
“Have a me-first attitude when it comes to service and living out the vision.” – @toddadkins
“You can teach whatever you want as a pastor, but you reproduce what you are.” – @toddadkins
“When you think about the team side of things and the programming side of things, it is so often that we put the programs ahead of the people.” – @danielsangi
“When you think about your team, do you have the right people on the bus?” – @danielsangi
“Just because you have a staff opening, doesn’t mean you need to fill it the same way you would pre-COVID.” – @danielsangi
“What COVID revealed is that it is more important to have the right people over the right positions.” – @toddadkins

Recommended Resources:

Listen to Episode 602: Remote Work

Help us Multiply the Mission:

Please subscribe
Leave a rating and review on iTunes
Ask a question by clicking Send Voicemail on the right hand side of NewChurches.com
If you’re on a phone or a tablet, then go to www.speakpipe.com/newchurches to download the app and record your message
When you’re recording, introduce yourself and your context in about 15 seconds and then record your question for 30 seconds

This Episode’s Sponsor:

Downline Ministries’ mission is to encourage a restoration of biblical discipleship in and through the local church by equipping men and women to know God’s Word and make disciples. 

The primary way we partner with churches is through the Downline Institute, a 9 month biblical discipleship training program that walks students through the Bible (Genesis-Revelation), biblical manhood/womanhood, and key discipleship lessons. Listeners can receive $100 off tuition cost by using the code LIFEWAY when you apply at www.downlineministries.com.

The post Episode 604: Staffing appeared first on NewChurches.com – Church Planting, Multisite, and Multiplication.

Source: Episode 604: Staffing

The post Episode 604: Staffing appeared first on Passion for Planting.

By Carey Nieuwhof: Rick Warren opens up about the personal tragedy he’s experienced with the loss of his son, Matthew, the loss our culture has experienced and what he predicts will be a coming tsunami of grief as a result of everything people have been through.

Rick also explains how and why 2020 and 2021 have been the biggest and best years Saddleback has ever had and the opportunity the current moment presents to the church.

Note: Some of the details in this episode surrounding the death of Rick Warren’s son are deeply personal and listener discretion is advised with young audiences.

Welcome to Episode 409 of the podcast. Listen and access the show notes below or search for the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.

Plus, in this episode’s What I’m Thinking About segment, Carey talks about how you know when it’s time to leave.

Guest Links

Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Website

Episode Links

Pro Media Fire

Are you looking to grow your online campus?

You have two choices in 2021 when it comes to digital:

You or a team member can work day and night to keep up with social media strategy that constantly changes.
You can hire Pro Media Fire, and get an entire team of experts that keep up with the trends to help you grow online.

The choice is yours—bury yourself in social media work, or hire an entire team to help your online campus thrive.

With Pro Media Fire, you save time and grow online, while your digital team does all the work.

Complete social media management and digital growth is just a few clicks away.

As a listener of our podcast, you receive 10% off at promediafire.com/carey.

Barna Cities – with Barna Group and Gloo

I know many church leaders, like you, are navigating massive shifts in culture and technology. It’s exhausting, but there’s hope.

Our friends at Barna and Gloo have been working hard to support pastors and church leaders like you.

Last year, Barna and Gloo launched an effort to equip the Church through the “State of the Church” research and toolkits. Over 25,000 churches benefited.

This year, Barna and Gloo are launching Barna Cities. It’s a year-long journey, and it’s uniquely local. With Barna Cities, you will have access to new local research from Barna, monthly forums and the City Toolkit which includes a full membership to Barna Access Plus with on-demand reports, insights and tools.

And, you’ll get GlooConnect—cooperative, always on ads that run across your city and make it easier for more people to discover your church and programs.

Barna and Gloo want you to know and move every person you serve—to connect people with your church and program that provides help and transformation.

Learn more at BarnaCities.com.

Conversation Links

Books by Rick Warren

The ChurchPulse Weekly Podcast

A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis

Choose Joy by Kay Warren

Pastors.com

7 Signs It’s Time to Leave by Carey Nieuwhof

Carey’s Daily Email

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Insights From Rick

1. In America, Christians no longer get their primary identity from either Jesus or the church but, rather, through politics

The politicization of American Christians is a terrible problem. Rick points out, “If you know anything about church history, you know that every time the church has gotten in bed with government, it got pregnant. And it was a bad situation.”

Rick cautions pastors and churches against taking a partisan stance as a church. Just don’t do it.

2. If you’re afraid to talk about race in your church, start building trust with your congregation first

So many pastors have avoided the conversation about racism in America out of fear of the backlash that they will receive from the members of their church. It’s understandable, but Rick recommends you start by building trust with your people. Everything in leadership is built on trust, and if you have enough trust with those people, they will follow you into difficult spaces, even where they might initially disagree.

Once you build that trust, Rick recommends you start asking minorities to regularly share their stories of racism with your people.

3. Grief will be a huge door to evangelism over the next few years

Rick is convinced that we’re going to go through a tsunami of grief over the next couple of years.

Many people have lost many things—loved ones, the prom, their graduation, the birth of their first grandchild and many even missed important funerals. There’s so many things that people have lost that, when it finally catches up and they realize what they’ve lost, there will be a lot of grief.

This grief is going to be a front door for evangelism in the next few years, because so many people are dealing with this. As a pastor, you need to find a way to prepare your church to reach the grieving people around them.

Quotes from Episode 409

There is no success without growth. There is no growth without change. There is no change without loss. And there is no loss without pain. @RickWarrenClick To Tweet

Every time the church has gotten in bed with government, it got pregnant. And it was a bad situation. @RickWarrenClick To Tweet

Racism is a discipleship issue. Financial overspending is a discipleship issue. Political stereotyping bias is a discipleship issue. @RickWarrenClick To Tweet

In God’s garden of grace, even broken trees bear fruit. @RickWarrenClick To Tweet

Sometimes getting up and putting one foot in front of the other is a successful day for a pastor. @RickWarrenClick To Tweet

Ministry is received not achieved. @RickWarrenClick To Tweet

Before you can give people the truth, you’ve got to show them that you love them. @RickWarrenClick To Tweet

All leadership is built on trust. If people don’t trust you, they’re not going to follow you. @RickWarrenClick To Tweet

You don’t change people by laws. There’s no law that’s going to turn a bigot, a racist into a lover. @RickWarrenClick To Tweet

Many Christians started putting their faith in government to change society rather than the church. @RickWarrenClick To Tweet

You refill your cup by connecting with people you love. @RickWarrenClick To Tweet

You need to start treating yourself the way God does. @RickWarrenClick To Tweet

Routine develops resilience, and predictability creates stability. @RickWarrenClick To Tweet

The church has survived every dictator, every war, every pandemic. @RickWarrenClick To Tweet

We have to really remember that God has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that we are to be peacemakers. @RickWarrenClick To Tweet

A passionless leader is an ineffective leader.Click To Tweet

Read or Download the Transcript for Episode 409

Looking for a key quote? More of a reader?

Read or download a free PDF transcript of this episode here.

Watch Back Episodes of The Podcast on YouTube

Select episodes of this podcast are now on YouTube. Our YouTube Channel gives you a chance to watch some episodes, not just listen.

DIDN’T SEE IT COMING WILL HELP YOU SOLVE THE PROBLEMS MOST LEADERS MISS

If you want practical help overcoming some of the biggest challenges leaders face, my book Didn’t See It Coming: Overcoming the 7 Greatest Challenges That Nobody Expects and Everyone Experiences tackles the seven core issues that take people out: cynicism, compromise, disconnectedness, irrelevance, pride, burnout, and the emptiness of success and provides strategies on how to combat each.

I wrote the book because no 18 year old sets out to be cynical, jaded and disconnected by age 35. Yet it happens all the time.

The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Here’s what top leaders are saying about Didn’t See It Coming:

“Seriously, this may be the most important book you read this year.” Jud Wilhite, Lead Pastor, Central Church

“Powerful, personal, and highly readable. ” Brian Houston, Global Senior Pastor, Hillsong

“Whatever challenge you’re facing, whatever obstacle you’re hoping to overcome, whatever future you dream or imagine, there is something powerful for you here.” Andy Stanley, Founder, North Point Ministries

“Uncommonly perceptive and generous…You have to read this book.” Ann Voskamp, NYT bestselling author

“Masterful.” Reggie Joiner, CEO Orange

“Deep biblical insight, straightforward truth, and practical wisdom to help you grow.” Craig Groeschel, Pastor and NYT bestselling author

“This book is sure to help you.” Daniel H. Pink, NYT bestselling author

Over the years, one of the things I’ve enjoyed most about being a public speaker is having opportunities to hang out with Carey…It’s not a matter of if you’ll run into these challenges; it’s a matter of when. Be prepared by spending a little time with a leader who has already been there.” Jon Acuff, NYT best-selling author

“Nieuwhof’s book provides expert guidance…with an accuracy that pierces the heart.” Nancy Duarte, CEO Duarte Inc.

“A refreshingly transparent guide for all leaders in a wide variety of industries.” Bryan Miles, Co-Founder and CEO, BELAY

You can learn more and get your copy of Didn’t See It Coming here.

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The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave us a brief review! You can do the same on Stitcher and on TuneIn as well.

Your ratings and reviews help us place the podcast in front of new leaders and listeners. Your feedback also lets me know how I can better serve you.

Thank you for being so awesome.

Next Episode: John Ramstead

John Ramstead shares leadership skills drawn from flight school and from the cockpit of F-14A Tomcat fighter jet and shares principles that apply to all crisis leadership. After suffering three life-altering injuries, John also talks about how to be resilient in the face of suffering and setbacks.

Subscribe for free now so you won’t miss Episode 410.

The post CNLP 409: Rick Warren Opens Up About the Coming Tsunami of Grief, Handling Personal Tragedy, and How Saddleback Grew During the Pandemic appeared first on CareyNieuwhof.com.

Source: CNLP 409: Rick Warren Opens Up About the Coming Tsunami of Grief, Handling Personal Tragedy, and How Saddleback Grew During the Pandemic

The post CNLP 409: Rick Warren Opens Up About the Coming Tsunami of Grief, Handling Personal Tragedy, and How Saddleback Grew During the Pandemic appeared first on Passion for Planting.

By NewChurches.com: In Episode 583 of the NewChurches Q&A Podcast, Daniel and Ed reconsider the question posed in the very first podcast about pitfalls, landmines, and blind spots in church planting.

“As a young church planter, what are some blind spots that I need to be aware of?”

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

Why vision can cause tunnel blindness
How the tension of leadership is affecting pastors

 Shareable Quotes (#NewChurches):

“Church planters get drunk with the vision.” – @edstetzer
“A key blind spot is you get obsessed with the vision and then forget other things.” – @edstetzer
“It seems like today pastoral health and family health seems to be talked about so much more.” – @danielsangi
“A lot of church planters plant a church in their head, rather than in their community.” – @edstetzer
“I’m not sure there are more pastoral failures right now, I just think we see them more.” – @edstetzer
“The pandemic is killing pastors, and it’s wounding others.” – @danielsangi

Recommended Resources:

Listen to Episode 1: Pitfalls, Landmines, and Blind Spots in Church Planting
Learn more about Resilient Church Leadership

Help us Multiply the Mission:

Please subscribe
Leave a rating and review on iTunes
Ask a question by clicking Send Voicemail on the right hand side of NewChurches.com
If you’re on a phone or a tablet, then go to www.speakpipe.com/newchurches to download the app and record your message
When you’re recording, introduce yourself and your context in about 15 seconds and then record your question for 30 seconds

This Episode’s Sponsor:

No matter how many people you have on staff at your church, there’s only so much you can accomplish in a day, right? Your church exists to serve your community, so the mission of your church and its staff is to reach as many people as you can.

So BELAY, the innovative staffing solution with over 10 years of experience serving churches with virtual assistants, bookkeepers and social media strategists, is offering a free download of their resource, ‘Church Leaders: Essential Strategies to Unleash Productivity.’

Let BELAY help your church live its mission in your community by helping you juggle less and accomplish more. Visit belaysolutions.com/lifeway for your free download.

The post Episode 583: Reconsidering Pitfalls, Landmines, and Blind Spots in Church Planting appeared first on NewChurches.com – Church Planting, Multisite, and Multiplication.

Source: Episode 583: Reconsidering Pitfalls, Landmines, and Blind Spots in Church Planting

The post Episode 583: Reconsidering Pitfalls, Landmines, and Blind Spots in Church Planting appeared first on Passion for Planting.

Source: Have You Lost the Vision?

The post Have You Lost the Vision? appeared first on Passion for Planting.

By NewChurches.com: In Episode 559 of the NewChurches Q&A Podcast, Daniel and Ed discuss an outline for a sermon series on church planting

“If you had four Sundays at the very beginning of the year in January, what are four big things you would talk about to begin the visioning process to a group of people about church planting?”

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

What the Bible says about church planting
How you can tie in your church history

 Shareable Quotes (#NewChurches):

“Part of the challenge is there really is no church planting series of verses.” – @edstetzer
“Church planting is so present and evident, the Bible doesn’t describe it because that is literally what they are doing.” – @edestetzer
“If you want to be a good interpreter of the Bible, what you want to ask is what did the original hearers do with the original information, and upon receiving the four commissions of Jesus the disciples went out and planted churches.” – @edstetzer
“What is our coherent approach to church planting that we should take?” – @edstetzer
“Look to the history of your church.” – @danielsangi
“Look at the missionary journeys of Paul.” – @danielsangi

Recommended Resources:

Read Planting Reproducing Churches by Elmer Towns

Help us Multiply the Mission:

Please subscribe
Leave a rating and review on iTunes
Ask a question by clicking Send Voicemail on the right hand side of NewChurches.com
If you’re on a phone or a tablet, then go to www.speakpipe.com/newchurches to download the app and record your message
When you’re recording, introduce yourself and your context in about 15 seconds and then record your question for 30 seconds

The post Episode 559: Preaching on Church Planting appeared first on NewChurches.com – Church Planting, Multisite, and Multiplication.

Source: Episode 559: Preaching on Church Planting

The post Episode 559: Preaching on Church Planting appeared first on Passion for Planting.

By Carey Nieuwhof: Harris III traveled the world as a teenage illusionist, making a million dollars by age 21 and losing it all at age 22. His growing cynicism almost took him down, but around age 30, he learned to recapture wonder.

He explains how wonder can not only recapture your personal hope (and faith), but how it’s an essential ingredient to leadership and crafting a story that rallies people.

Welcome to Episode 387 of the podcast. Listen and access the show notes below or search for the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and listen for free.

Plus, in this episode’s What I’m Thinking About segment, Carey talks about how you can cultivate creativity.

Guest Links

 Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Website

Episode Links

Dwell App

Dwell is an audio Bible app with a simple mission: To help you get in the Word and stay in the Word! They have loads of inspiring voices, Bible translations, and original background music.

Some of Dwell App’s features include:

Listening Plans — Start a daily habit of engaging with God through one of Dwell’s many Bible listening plans.
Playlists — Dwell has tons of Scripture playlists, like ones based on mood.
Dwell Mode — Use Dwell mode to meditate, memorize and pray while listening to Scripture.
And, brand new, a sleep timer — You and your family can fall asleep to your favorite books and stories of the Bible without losing your spot or draining your battery!

Dwell App makes a great gift, so skip the wrapping and bless someone with the gift of Dwell this holiday season.

Get Dwell today by going to dwellapp.io/carey and get 20% off an annual or lifetime subscription.

Ministry Boost

My friends at Ministry Boost know you want your staff to be effective leaders, especially in leading their volunteers. The problem is, so much has changed, which makes staff feel stuck and discouraged.

Ministry Boost believes that church leaders should rethink our approach to leading volunteers in light of new opportunities online, volunteers who aren’t ready to serve, and the different needs for what ministry looks like currently.

They know what it’s like because they lead in local church ministry just like you, which is why they’re giving you free access to their brand new course, Volunteer Reboot. Volunteer Reboot includes 6 sessions on how to reboot your approach to volunteers so your ministry can thrive now.

Volunteer Reboot is free for listeners of this podcast, and you can get access at ministryboost.org/carey.

CONVERSATION LINKS

The Wonder Switch by Harris III

Story Gatherings

Istoria

Didn’t See It Coming by Carey Nieuwhof

5 Simple Changes That Can Make You a Better Thinker in the Next 7 Days by Carey Nieuwhof

Win Carey’s Leadership Bundle Giveaway!

Text CAREY to 33777 to join more than 78,000 subscribers to our leadership content

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

INSIGHTS FROM HARRIS

1. The rules of persuasion and illusion are universal

So, what actually is magic and illusion? And, what makes it work? According to Harris, there are a set of tactics and strategies that magicians use to persuade their audiences into amazement. Those same tactics can also be used by speakers, salespeople, marketers and pastors.

2. The more you know, the more you see, the more cynical you become

Many illusionists (and leaders in general) can become cynical because they “see how the magic is made,” and lose the ability to wonder or imagine for themselves. Knowledge and cynicism usually come hand-in-hand, and as a leader you need to protect yourself from it.

3. When telling stories, focus on connection not conversion

So many leaders (especially pastors) are looking to communicate a point, or get a conversion, when they tell a story to an audience. Harris has learned that a story is much more effective when you aim for connection with a story rather than conversion.

Quotes from Episode 387

A story’s greatest power is not in its ability to convert, it’s in its ability to connect. @HarrisIII

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Leadership is simply inviting someone into a story. @HarrisIII

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We came into the world with the wonder switch turned on, so wonder is our natural state of being. @HarrisIII

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Science links creativity and innovation to curiosity. @HarrisIII

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Worry and anxiety is a misuse of imagination. @HarrisIII

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Wonder is connected to innovation because wonder gives you permission to believe in that new story. @HarrisIII

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Those of us who are in leadership are in the power of persuasion. @cnieuwhof

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Magic tricks work so easily because human beings think that the truth is equal to what our senses perceive. @HarrisIII

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Facts that are absent of vulnerability, absent of illustration, absent of empathy, lessen the impact of all those facts. @HarrisIII

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The secret to being a great magician is the same thing that makes you a great communicator on stage; your ability to tell a story. @HarrisIII

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Smart phones have psychologically reconditioned an entire generation now to feel really uncomfortable with mystery, to the point where wonder feels disruptive. @HarrisIII

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To stimulate creativity, limit meetings and email. @cnieuwhof

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To stimulate creativity, schedule thinking and creative time. @cnieuwhof

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Better thinking leads to better leadership. @cnieuwhof

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Read or Download the Transcript for Episode 387

Looking for a key quote? More of a reader?

Read or download a free PDF transcript of this episode here.

Watch Back Episodes of The Podcast on YouTube

Select episodes of this podcast are now on YouTube. Our YouTube Channel gives you a chance to watch some episodes, not just listen.

Want To Get Ahead In 2021? 5 Skills You’ll Need.

What if 2021 could be a year of unprecedented growth for you and your church?

I know, that sounds crazy, but like most things, it’s crazy until it’s not.

2021 can be a great year for you and your team, and I’d love to help you make it happen.

That’s why I created the 2021 Church Leader Toolkit.

Inside, I cover:

How To Produce Content That Actually Gets Read & Watched
5 Keys To Better Digital Preaching
How To Keep You And Your Team Out Of Burnout
7 Strategies To Deepen Digital Engagement
3 Key Pivots For Every Organization In 2021

I’ll be releasing 5 parts of the toolkit throughout December. And it’s free.

You can get access and share these skills with your team here!

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Subscribe for free and never miss out on wisdom from world-class leaders like Brian Houston, Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Nancy Duarte, Henry Cloud, Patrick Lencioni, Francis Chan, Ann Voskamp, Erwin McManus and many others.

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Spread the Word. Leave a Rating and Review

Hopefully, this episode has helped you lead like never before. That’s my goal. If you appreciated it, could you share the love?

The best way to do that is to rate the podcast on Apple Podcasts and leave us a brief review! You can do the same on Stitcher and on TuneIn as well.

Your ratings and reviews help us place the podcast in front of new leaders and listeners. Your feedback also lets me know how I can better serve you.

Thank you for being so awesome.

Next Episode: Alli Worthington

Alli Worthington coached business leaders and ministry leaders through the crisis of 2020. She shares the mindset and actions the leaders who made progress in 2020 adopted and the mindset and action those who floundered embraced. She also talks about why you can have too many cheerleaders around you, and how to overcome negative thinking.

Subscribe for free now so you won’t miss Episode 388.

The post CNLP 387: Harris III on How to Recover from Cynicism, Recapturing Wonder as a Leader and the Power of Story appeared first on CareyNieuwhof.com.

Source: CNLP 387: Harris III on How to Recover from Cynicism, Recapturing Wonder as a Leader and the Power of Story

The post CNLP 387: Harris III on How to Recover from Cynicism, Recapturing Wonder as a Leader and the Power of Story appeared first on Passion for Planting.

By NewChurches.com: In Episode 554 of the NewChurches Q&A Podcast, Daniel and Todd discuss how the church should multiply in the midst of a culture continuing to grapple with COVID.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

Some of the challenges the church will continue to face in 2021
How you grow in micro-ways and a macro-way

 Shareable Quotes (#NewChurches):

“How in the midst of all of that should we multiply as a church?” – @danielsangi
“Jesus never said to go and make disciples until you have COVID.”  – @danielsangi
“Part of being a disciple is making other disciples.” – @toddadkins
“Perhaps in 2021, your vision for multiplication is actually a downward sort of root-focused based multiplication.” – @danielsangi
“Perhaps you need to grow in depth before you can be sent out and send others out.” – @danielsangi
“What does it look like for you as a church to be on the offense as it relates to multiplying and being a blessing?” – @danielsangi
“Your church is strategically positioned to bring the gospel to that subdivision, to that community through where people live, work, and play.” – @toddadkins

Recommended Resources:

Read Multiplication Today, Movements Tomorrow
Read 1,000 Churches

Help us Multiply the Mission:

Please subscribe
Leave a rating and review on iTunes
Ask a question by clicking Send Voicemail on the right hand side of NewChurches.com
If you’re on a phone or a tablet, then go to www.speakpipe.com/newchurches to download the app and record your message
When you’re recording, introduce yourself and your context in about 15 seconds and then record your question for 30 seconds

The post Episode 554: A 2021 Vision for Multiplication appeared first on NewChurches.com – Church Planting, Multisite, and Multiplication.

Source: Episode 554: A 2021 Vision for Multiplication

The post Episode 554: A 2021 Vision for Multiplication appeared first on Passion for Planting.

By NewChurches.com: In Episode 545 of the NewChurches Q&A Podcast, Daniel and Ed discuss planning out a one-year preaching calendar.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

A step-by-step guide to planning out a preaching calendar
How long a sermon series should be

 Shareable Quotes (#NewChurches):

“I do like to have a two-year broad 30,000 foot vision.” – @edstetzer
“I chose those books in part because of the need of the church.” – @edstetzer
“For me, Mother’s Day to Father’s Day is a great time to do a family series.” – @edstetzer
“I think 6 to 10 sermons in a series is doable.” – @edstetzer
“I don’t want people to get exhausted that we are always in this book of the Bible forever.” – @edstetzer
“I want it to be faithful to the text, biblically-delivered, and in ways that are easy for people to get their mind around.” – @edstetzer
“Doctrinal teaching is often better done in another setting, like a small group.” – @edstetzer

Recommended Resources:

Listen to Episode 543: Thematic, Topical, and Expository Preaching
Read The Big Idea by Dave Ferguson

Help us Multiply the Mission:

Please subscribe
Leave a rating and review on iTunes
Ask a question by clicking Send Voicemail on the right hand side of NewChurches.com
If you’re on a phone or a tablet, then go to www.speakpipe.com/newchurches to download the app and record your message
When you’re recording, introduce yourself and your context in about 15 seconds and then record your question for 30 seconds

The post Episode 545: How to Create a Preaching Calendar appeared first on NewChurches.com – Church Planting, Multisite, and Multiplication.

Source: Episode 545: How to Create a Preaching Calendar

The post Episode 545: How to Create a Preaching Calendar appeared first on Passion for Planting.