More and more teens are turning to AI chatbots for connection, advice, and answers. What could go wrong? If you’re in youth ministry, you may have already seen the dark side of this trend. In this video, we explore why this shift could be more damaging to Gen Z than social media was for Millennials—and what your ministry can do about it. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 3:00 - Takeaway #1: Delegation Becomes Dependency (Dr. Caroline Leaf...
Jul 23, 2025•35 min
The future of creativity is shifting—fast. And for the first time, humans aren’t the only ones leading the way. New studies from Stanford and MIT reveal how AI is already transforming creative work. In this video, we break down the top 3 takeaways every creative needs to know to stay ahead. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - Takeaway #1: The AI Revolution Is Backwards 13:06 - Takeaway #2: Trust Is The Biggest Roadblock 20:27 - Takea...
Jul 16, 2025•30 min
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 ...
Jul 09, 2025•36 min
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 - ...
Jun 25, 2025•26 min
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:...
Jun 18, 2025•39 min
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 - ADVAN...
Jun 11, 2025•43 min
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 Fr...
Jun 04, 2025•28 min
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 Duri...
May 28, 2025•31 min
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 ...
May 21, 2025•38 min
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:...
May 14, 2025•32 min
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...
May 07, 2025•31 min
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 Ot...
Apr 30, 2025•49 min
This is Church Branding 101. Learn the difference between brand and branding, exercises to define your church’s identity, and whether branding even belongs in ministry. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:02 - The Simplest Way To Understand Branding 3:52 - Brand vs. Branding 5:38 - All Church's Practice Perception Design, Most Just Do It Unintentionally 10:14 - Is Intentionally Practicing Perception Design 'Manipulative?’ 12:50 - Your Chu...
Apr 16, 2025•33 min
Ministry is shifting, and Millennials are stepping into leadership like never before. But without awareness, we risk repeating the mistakes of those before us. Let’s talk about what’s changing and how to navigate it wisely. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 5:20 - Big Idea #1: Creative Culture Vs. Capitalist Culture 10:10 - Big Idea #2: Millennials No Longer Shape Pop Culture 13:15 - Big Idea #3: Millennials Will Repeat Past Leaders’ Mist...
Apr 09, 2025•30 min
What do you do when your pastor won’t listen? This is a common challenge in churches, and today, we’re sharing five practical approaches to communicate effectively—without being manipulative. These strategies work in churches of all sizes. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 3:02 - The Principle Of Congruency 10:17 - The Middle Option 16:58 - The Historical Analogy 22:45 - The 'Church Across The Street' Example 30:15 - The Testimony THE 167...
Apr 02, 2025•34 min
It’s time to check in on the state of religion and Christianity. We’ve gathered key data-backed trends shaping this decade, including the one denomination that’s growing, the strongest force in American religion, and the most common words in new church names. Let’s dive in. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:30 - Trend #1: Church Names 9:40 - Trend #2: The One Denomination That's Growing 16:07 - Trend #3: Young Men Are Now As Religious A...
Mar 19, 2025•33 min
RIP to these social media strategies—they didn’t make it in 2025. If your church is still using them, it’s time to move on. The good news? Dropping outdated tactics frees you up to focus on what truly works. Let’s break it down. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:53 - Followers 10:25 - Publishing Posts To Stories 15:00 - Choosing Quantity Over Quality 23:14 - Ignoring The Value Of The Re-Post 29:25 - Ignoring Consistent Branding THE 167 ...
Mar 12, 2025•37 min
Our 2025 church camera buying guide is here, featuring the best new options of the year. We’ll break down top picks across mirrorless, cinema, studio, PTZ, and camcorders—plus, grab our downloadable camera catalog. 2025 CAMERA CATALOG HERE: https://prochurchtools.com/best-church-cameras-buying-guide ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:25 - The Best Budget Mirrorless Camera: Panasonic G7 ($497 USD) 6:33 - The Best Overall Mirrorless Camera...
Mar 05, 2025•34 min
Recently, I made a social media discovery I never saw coming. We're calling it a hack, but that doesn't quite capture it. This isn't a shortcut—it actually makes social media more human. And for churches, it's a game changer. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:50 - DM Automation 5:18 - Pushback on DM Automation 10:54 - My Recent Comment On A Post 14:40 - My Test 25:25 - Church Application THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 56,108+ churches read our f...
Feb 19, 2025•33 min
Here’s what’s working for youth groups on social media in 2025. We’re breaking down strategy, post ideas, and the best youth group accounts to follow for inspiration. Let’s dive in. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:17 - Guiding Principle #1: Student Driven 9:19 - Guiding Principle #2: Show Don't Tell 14:39 - Post Idea #1: Mic Up Kid 17:42 - Post Idea #2: Disposable 19:55 - Post Idea #3: Broadcast Channels 23:30 - Post Idea #4: Live Per...
Feb 12, 2025•31 min
Strong teams are the backbone of every thriving church. But let’s be honest—building them isn’t always easy. Today, we’re sharing underrated strategies and practical exercises that can help your church cultivate competent, healthy teams that last. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:45 - Guiding Principle #1: Churches Thrive By Developing Talent, Not Just Discovering It. 7:13 - Guiding Principle #2: You Need Both Soft Skills And Hard Skil...
Feb 05, 2025•44 min
Got tough church social media questions? Today, we're tackling the most obscure, specific, and church-centric challenges you won’t find answers to in search engines. Let’s bring clarity to your social strategy! ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:30 - Tips for creating a modular, welcoming, pinned profile banner? 7:02 - How to boost engagement on new church Instagram pages? 9:22 - How frequently should you be posting? 13:32 - Planting a c...
Jan 29, 2025•25 min
Church leadership can be challenging, especially when negativity creeps into your team. Whether it’s one disruptive member or a broader cultural issue, it’s tough to navigate. Today, we’re sharing a practical framework for both preventing and addressing these challenges, based on our combined experiences in ministry and serving churches. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:58 - Set the standard yourself 11:30 - Set the standard for commun...
Jan 22, 2025•33 min
03It’s a new year, so let’s dive into the top social media trends for 2025! We’re tracking six key trends that could shape how your church engages online. And trust us, the first one is a game-changer you’re probably not expecting. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:45 - The Anti-Trend 3:25 - The Period Of Stagnation 11:06 - The TikTok Ban15:55 - Social For Search 25:05 - Social For Market Research 32:30 - AI Memes THE 167 NEWSLETTER 📫 ...
Jan 15, 2025•35 min
Today, we sit down with Jay Kranda, the online pastor of Saddleback Church since 2013. As one of the pioneers of online ministry since the early 2000s, Saddleback has developed unconventional approaches to online church—challenging the conventional wisdom in fascinating ways. IMPORTANT LINKS - Jay Kranda: https://www.jaykranda.com/ - Alpha Omega Digital Tool To Help Your Church: https://bit.ly/3DdCyLX - Online Church Is Not the Answer by Jay Kranda: https://www.jaykranda.com/mybook THE 167 NEWSL...
Dec 18, 2024•37 min
Let’s address some unpopular truths about church online—conversations many avoid but need to have. By confronting these realities, we can better focus our church's efforts and resources for greater impact. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:37 - Aesthetic Mismatch 8:08 - Social Media Is A Marathon, Not A Sprint 10:22 - Reaching Locally By Going Broadly 13:15 - Criticism Comes With Social Media 16:15 - You Can’t Outgrow Your Growth 19:04 ...
Dec 04, 2024•37 min
Smaller churches can grow without a big budget—using just seven essential tools! These zero-cost marketing strategies are designed to help you reach more people effectively. Sound too good to be true? Let us show you how it’s done. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 3:55 - Annual Bridge Events 9:53 - Viral For Me Clips On Social 11:30 - Get More People In Your Building Beyond Sunday Service 18:19 - Google Ad Grants & SEO 20:25 - Follow...
Nov 27, 2024•27 min
Some of the world's best creative tools are deeply discounted - and sometimes even free - for churches and non-profits. But how do you access these discounts and what are the eligibility requirements? Today, we've compiled a list of the top 20 free and discounted software platforms and creative tools for churches and non-profits. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:46 - Resolve 3:39 - Nucleus Free Website Makeovers 5:29 - Canva For Non-Pr...
Nov 21, 2024•28 min
Church announcements often go unnoticed—but there's a proven formula for making them memorable and impactful. Many churches miss the mark, so today, we're here to help! We’ll craft announcements for ten real church events, demonstrating exactly how it’s done. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:17 - Youth Summer Beach Bonfire 7:42 - Praise In The Park 13:23 - First Steps Class 19:37 - VBS Theme 25:17 - Serve Day 26:47 - Summer Discipleshi...
Nov 13, 2024•37 min
Handling negative comments online has evolved—especially for churches, where religious topics can spark intense reactions. So, should you delete, engage, or ignore? Today, we're sharing the best practices to help you manage these situations effectively. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:42 - The Two Eras Of Social 12:45 - Your Options 13:03 - When To Delete 14:33 - Your Options [Continued] 17:00 - The Pin & Respond Strategy 30:40 - ...
Nov 06, 2024•33 min
