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This conversation takes place on July 28, 2019. I had my friend and disciple maker, Jeff McDaniel, come and join me at New Life Linton Hall. Our goal was to give clarity to what it actually means to “make disciples.”We discuss very practically, some opportunities for everyone to take next steps in being a disciple who makes disciples. In many ways it boils down to these things:Experience Jesus personally!Abide in Christ daily through Scripture reading and prayer!Share your experience with Jesus with someone you know who doesn’t know Christ!We discuss very practical next steps that you can take within any 24-hour period to become a disciple who makes disciples.

This sermon was recorded during New Life’s “Made” series. The big idea is simply, “You were made to be covered in the dust of your Rabbi.” The premise flows from a writing in Avot 1:4 in the Mishna. When we read the Bible with Western eyes, we miss the absolute beauty and brilliance of what God is up to and how it all fits together. Following Jesus is about far more than learning a few facts in a Bible study. It is about being completely covered in the dust from His feet because we are following Him so closely.Follower of Jesus - Church - my prayer for you is that you will be covered in the dust of your Rabbi, Jesus!

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This conversation is sure to inspire, challenge and convict many of us in our current ministry areas. I am so excited to have Jon Ralls on this episode. He is a former college professor, soccer coach and now a friend in ministry. I love what he is doing and what God is up to through him. He is going to lay out for you in this episode what God is up to.Jon shares about his work with "Media 2 Movement" and the "Zume Project." Through those ministries, God is bringing about a disciple-making movement through Jon and his teams around the globe. But it's not just anywhere. Disciples makers are being made and simple churches are starting in some of the hardest to reach areas in the world. Nations that we can't name for security reasons. Nations that are anti-Christian. Nations where persecution is real and Christians are called to die for their faith. And in the middle of all of this amazing work, he is also fighting cancer. He is a warrior on so many levels. Not only his military experience, but also his work for Christ and fighting cancer. His story is truly inspiring and encouraging.Highlights |My passion is to see that there are no unreached or unengaged people groups with the Gospel.There are going to be millions of people who are born, get married and live life but never once hear the name Jesus. That's unacceptable to me.Our teams are working in countries that are sending people to ISIS and because of disciple making movements we are seeing tens of people every month baptized in these places.We spent $26 on Facebook ads and 30 people wanted to learn about Jesus and were passionate about getting Bibles.Discipleship and evangelism aren't separate. You can do both at the same time.We are training people to be the church and to reach people in other groups in their relational sphere of influence (oikos).If we're going to plant, we must plant in our weakness. God, only you can do this.Our current systems in the church create dependency not disciples.We need to go on the offensive. Do a prayer walk around and get to know your neighborhood.Make a list of 100 people you know who don't know Jesus. Then list 5 you want to talk to about Him.The people who have the hardest time listing lost people they know are pastors.The Holy Spirit is pretty good at what He does.What struck me about the early church and its growth to millions was not what they had, but what they did not have and yet they flourished.We utilize generational mapping that can see disciples out to the 8th generation.There are movements here in the States that are happening. Generational, simple gatherings of believers that consider themselves the church.That is what's so attractive about the church. It is Jesus in our midst and the Spirit working in our lives.I truly believe that we could see the fulfillment of seeing the Gospel in all places in our lifetime. We could finish the task.I love the church. I love it in every form and place. I love those who love the Bride of Christ.Links |Disciple Tools - https://disciple.toolsKingdom Training - https://kingdom.trainingZume Project - https://zumeproject.comThe Rise of Christianity - by Rodney Stark - https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Christianity-Marginal-Religious-Centuries/dp/0060677015/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521843083&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=Lies+of+Christianity+Rodney+StarkSimple Church - by Thom Rainer - https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Church-Returning-Process-Disciples/dp/0805447997/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521850866&sr=8-1&keywords=simple+church&dpID=41jF-8jr4pL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srchWeekly Email | I send a weekly email called "Stan's Field Notes" on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."

Sean Cronin joins me for episode 058 of the show. He works for our church planting organization called "Passion 4 Planting." The heart of P4P is to see churches multiply with the purpose of making disciples who make disciples. They come alongside churches with project management, free resources, templates, planter residencies, assessments and more. If you have ever felt the tug toward church planting, I can't recommend touching base with P4P enough.Even if you aren't a church planter in waiting, your church can still connect with P4P. Maybe you have a dream for going multi-site or launching churches. P4P comes alongside those churches and leaders to help with training, preparation and strategies to get there. So P4P isn't just for brand new startups. Their mindset is a Kingdom mindset to help churches multiply and make disciples.Highlights | We developed our system partly to come alongside churches to help them multiply and make disciples.We have a vision to multiply, but how do we do it?We are helping church planter residents ask the right questions about how to plant a church.Let's be intentional and strategic about leadership development with our church plants.The smartest thing Dave Ferguson has ever done was connecting NewThing to Passion 4 Planting.Bootcamp breaks down strategies and plans for your church plant into a week long intensive training.We partner with local churches to help them with strategies by giving away free tools and templates.If you have questioned if God is calling you to plant a church, take part of Passion 4 Planting's assessment to find discernment.Many planters are vision drunk on their own vision.The wells of resources for church planting are drying up and church planters are going to have to be more creative when it comes to funding their plants.Links | Website - http://church-planting.netTwitter - https://twitter.com/4plantingFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/passion4planting/NewThing Network - http://newthing.org Phil Ling Book - The Generosity TsunamiWeekly Email | I send a weekly email called "Stan's Field Notes" on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks." 

I recently got back home after attending the Exponential Conference in Orlando, Florida. And all I can say is that if you're missing out on the resources and content from Exponential, you need to change that. This podcast episode focuses on some of my lessons learned while at Exponential. I was fortunate enough to be able to serve as the social media guy during the week. Running Twitter and Facebook for a conference this size had me a little nervous, but it ended up being a fantastic week.In this episode I share 4 lessons learned at main sessions. All of those lessons learned I tweeted live while they were happening. I also share 1 lesson learned while walking through the different workshops. I share that in this episode and in the highlights below. Highlights |"You can spend 20 years in ministry doing the right thing and miss the greater thing God is doing." Albert Tate"What percentage of what you know do you actually obey?" Jossy Chacko"You don't have a church. You've been entrusted to steward what belongs to the living God." Leonce Crump"I'm asking you to make a commitment today to be someone who will give your life away for the Kingdom so that it can be on earth as it is in heaven." Danielle Strickland"Husbands, pray over your wives. Don't just pray for them. Wrap them in your arms and pray a simple prayer over them." Geoff SurrattLinks |Exponential Conference - http://exponential.orgDigital Access Pass - https://exponential.net/digital-access-pass/Exponential Events - https://register.exponential.orgWeekly Email |I send a weekly email called "Stan's Field Notes" on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."

A topic on everyone's minds after the recent school shooting in Florida, along with the church shooting in Texas, is simply that of safety. While it's not a topic we enjoy or want to think about, with our society devolving into chaos, it's one that must be discussed. My friend, Travis Ludvigsen, a fire marshal from Loudoun County is my guest to discuss safety and training in a church setting. Travis is passionate about ministry and is a disciple maker at our church. He is as genuine as they come. He shares practically some things you need to be thinking through when it comes to keeping your people, families and kids safe at your church.Highlights |Top priority should be safety for your families and kids.Your team leaders and volunteers need to know the safety plan. We must plan and train for "What if" situations.Look for someone in your church with public safety experience already to help build a plan and help with training.Deescalation (verbal judo) is one of the first priorities you need in place. Not every situation needs a "hammer."Talk to the school or theater you meet in to ask what current safety procedures are already in place. Buy high quality, walkie-talkies, so that you can communicate between concrete walls and long hallways.Use of force is the absolute last resort.The ultimate goal in an active shooter situation is simply to save lives.David didn't use other people's armor or equipment to take down Goliath. He used what he knew and had trained with. Your safety plans must be contextualized to your setting!You must know the current laws in your area regarding safety procedures so that you are operating inside the law and are protected in case something does happen.Travis isn't big into social media, but if you want to follow him on Twitter, you can do that right here. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to him.Weekly EmailI send a weekly email called "Stan's Field Notes" on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."

Like a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden, Christians are called to be the light of the world. But in recent years, that has become far more than just the real world. It's more than where we interact with neighbors and co-workers or even the person checking us out at the grocery store. The world has gone digital and we are called to be a light of the cyber world.In this episode my guest, Haley Bodine, shares 4 practical things that Christians need to think through before posting online. Whether that be a status update, a comment on a post or a retweet on Twitter. This is a great conversation that every believer needs to pay careful attention to. I also share in this episode a recent mistake I made on Facebook to try and give some context to the conversation. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Haley Bodine and her family now call metro Detroit “home.” She currently serves as the North American Relationship Catalyst and Communications Director for NewThing Network. She has a background in small group ministry, nonprofit communications, and content development. Her work has been published by Relevant Magazine, World Vision International, Neue Magazine, and more.HighlightsHaley's worst nightmare is showing up to a band concert only to discover her instrument's reed is broken."We must remember that even though we cannot see actual people on the other side of our screens, we are interacting with real people who have real, God-given souls."Four things to consider before posting: will it build others up, is it truthful, does it reflect the character of Jesus and does it honor the image of God imprinted on others."We are the Light of the Cyber World!" -http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2018/january/we-are-light-of-cyber-world-lets-act-like-it.htmlConnect with Haley BodineTwitter - https://twitter.com/hmbodineFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/haley.bodine.9Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/haleybodine/Blog - http://haleymbodine.wordpress.comWeekly EmailI send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."

Easter is barely over a month away. We are nearly down to crunch time. One thing that surely is left to do is to communicate to your regular attenders as well as those outside of your church, about what it is that you have going on. You will want to invite them to an event potentially. You also have special stuff planned for Easter Sunday. Maybe new service times. You also have multiple ministries and opportunities for next steps. Whatever it is, you have to communicate it all effectively or run the risk of not being heard at all.In this episode, I talk with Jeanette Yates, a Communications Director from Jacksonville, FL. She has a heart and passion for ministry and people coming to know Jesus. She helps make that happen through communicating church events and happenings effectively in a variety of ways. In this episode she shares great tools for communicating Easter effectively.Highlights |Churches, stay away from Psalm 53:1 this Easter.Your audience at Easter is slightly different than at other times of year.Keep in mind that for those not familiar with faith, the resurrection story can be complex to understand in one sitting.Have a clear call to action on Easter Sunday.Tool #1: Facebook Live! Use it to pray for people or have some fun by sharing a quiz to help engage your audience.Tool #2: Facebook Groups! This tools allows people to follow your devotions or Easter preparations in a more private place.Don't be afraid to create a Facebook ad to share with your community.Using Instagram Stories is a great way to share the behind the scenes of what is happening at your church Easter morning.Tool #3: Text in Church! Create keywords and automated follow up through email, texts or reminders to place a phone call to your guests.Easter is a way to help people get to the on ramp that helps them find life and hope in Christ.Connecting people to Jesus is the Super Bowl. Easter is the start of the playoffs. Don't miss this opportunity with people.Links |Jeanette Yates - http://twitter.com/jnetteyatesPrevious Episodes with Jeanette - http://www.stanrodda.com/podcast/2017/9/25/043-storytelling-and-the-generation-gapTwo Church Girls and a Microphone - http://twochurchgirls.comText in Church - http://textinchurch.comEaster Ad Pack - https://www.easteradpack.com/easteradpackWeekly EmailI send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."

Misty Rodda makes her way back onto the show this time to share some of the lessons we have learned over 18 years of marriage. She was last on the podcast in episode 005 to share lessons for 20-something, pastor's wives. That was a great episode and one of the most popular. We have a lot of fun in this episode and probably ramble a little too much, but it was still fun. This is a great episode as we approach Valentine's Day 2018.Highlights |Lesson numero uno gentleman is that she is better than you.Lesson #1: Your differences are a positive, not a negative.Lesson #2: Marriage actually requires sacrifice and commitment. You actually can't think about yourself all the time and expect it to work.Lesson #3: Clear expectations are vitally important.There are seasons in life when one spouse will have to carry more of the load than the other spouse. Realize it's a season and offer grace when your spouse can't offer 100%.Lesson #4: Your marriage is not expendable. Stop basing it on your feelings.It is pure arrogance to say you know better than God how your marriage should work.When you're not "feeling it" in marriage, it's time to: get over yourself, admit you don't have it all together, get some counseling, water the grass in your own backyard and go home and love your spouse.Lesson #5: Don't overcomplicate the idea of dating your spouse.Ask the questions: how can I pray for you and what's one thing I can do for you today?Your spouse is NOT the enemy. You are in a spiritual battle for your marriage.Links |Voddie Baucham - Go home and love your wifeEnneagram - Explore your typeThe 5 Love Languages - https://www.amazon.com/Love-Languages-Secret-that-Lasts/dp/080241270X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1517501481&sr=8-3&keywords=5+love+languagesMisty Rodda - TwitterMisty Rodda - FacebookMisty Rodda Photography - WebsiteWeekly EmailI send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks." 

In this conversation, I talk with Shawn Lovejoy about his coaching ministry, Courage to Lead. He is having the time of his life pastoring pastors. Shawn has seen some of the great successes of the mega church. He is a church planter. He has great insight and practical wisdom when it comes to ministry. We talk specifically about Courage to Lead, but then also touch on systems, teams and culture. Every tension in ministry can be boiled down to these three growth gears; right system, right team and right culture. Shawn breaks this down for us in this episode.HighlightsSome of us are great players, others of us are better coaches.We coach leaders through what keeps us up at night.The three growth gears of ministry: right system, teams and cultureEvery church is perfectly structured for the results they're getting now.We wait on God to grow our ministry, but God is waiting on us to structure for growth.If the only way someone can be saved is to meet with me (the pastor), then I'm the bottleneck on our ability to grow.A system is a bridge that moves things and people from where they are to where they need to be.The majority of people are introverts. Rise introverts!We assimilated 500 people into small groups in a 2-week period of time because we utilized the power of a simple step.It's lazier to sit around and check my inbox to see if someone needs me than to be intentional about creating systems.ResourcesCourage to Lead - http://www.couragetolead.comShawn Lovejoy - http://twitter.com/shawnlovejoyWeekly EmailI send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."

All pastors should be in the business of leadership development. If you aren't developing leaders around you and preparing people to lead in ministry areas, then you are probably building your ministry around you and limiting your church to whatever you can accomplish. The most important part of leadership development is deciding to develop leaders. After that, it's all about putting it together.Matt Adair joins me from Athens, Georgia. He is a former National Director for the Acts 29 Church Planting Network. He is currently a lead pastor and coaches leaders through 5 Factors Leadership. In this episode he shares practical insights into how to go about developing leaders.HighlightsLeadership development is taking someone who is a leader or potential to be a leader and helping them maximize their potential.Leaders are all around you. You probably call them volunteers.One thing that connects all leaders is a sense of competence.Three development questions: 1. How are you? 2. What are you working on? 3. How can I help you?To find leaders, clarify what leadership is and what opportunities for leadership there are.Links5 Factors Podcast - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/five-factors-a-podcast-about-leadership/id1280143273?mt=25 Factors Leadership - https://fivefactors.net/welcomePipeline Academy - https://fivefactors.net/sales-page15679704Follow Matt on Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattadairWeekly EmailI send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."

I invited Daniel Im to come and speak with me on the topic of vision, strategy and values. He recently shared a 90-second video with Lifeway Leadership on these three things. I asked him to come and break it down a little further and to spend time getting practical on how we develop these three areas in ministry.Highlights:Bi-vocational Ministry - Lifeway is developing a pathway for bi-vocational pastors at new churches.com.90-second Video - distinguishing vision, strategy and values. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm2j-UgXFIAYour strategy can be broken down into two strands: leadership pipeline and discipleship pathway.Four categories to discover vision through a "Vision Audit": community history, community context, church people and church leadership context.Prepare for strategic trade-offs in your ministry. You must be as prepared for what you say "No" to as what you say "Yes" to.If everyone can say "Yes" to your values, they aren't clear enough.Daniel Im's website - danielim.comFollow him on Twitter - http://twitter.com/danielsangiHis book "No Silver Bullets" - https://www.amazon.com/No-Silver-Bullets-Transform-Ministry/dp/1433651548/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1514651460&sr=8-1&keywords=no+silver+bulletsWeekly EmailI send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."

It's no secret that every year we set new resolutions and goals for the New Year. By the end of January some 80-90% of people will have given up on their goals already. Less than 10% will actually accomplish their goals over the course of the year. Join Tom Pounder and I as we discuss approaching your goals in a sustainable way. Quick shout out to Jon Acuff for his book, "Finish." Some of my thoughts were founded in his work in that book.Highlights:Set realistic goals - not running once in 2017 and setting a goal to run a marathon in February 2018 is not realistic.Learn from others - what are other churches or ministries who are just ahead of you doing?Manageable chunks - break your goals down into small steps I call "manageable chunks." Inspiring people - surround yourself with people who will inspire you toward your goals.Find the right tool - find a productivity tool that helps you the most. I use the "Week Dominator" at neuyear.net. It allows you to break down your yearly goal into quarters, months, weeks and days. I love this tool.Write it down - writing things down can help you to remember what you're after and to keep you focused on it.Use automated tools - there are tools out there that can help you put certain systems into place that will happen automatically behind the scenes.You are not Carey Nieuwhof!Weekly EmailI send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."

Welcome to 2018!! Happy New Year to all of you. And welcome to BONUS episode 002. On this episode, I simply wish you all a Happy New Year and update everyone on what's to come. Highlights include: upcoming episodes with Tom Pounder, Daniel Im, Matt Adair and Shawn Lovejoy.You can also subscribe to my email newsletter I send out every Friday morning. It's a simple email with great ministry content from around social media. If you don't like looking for content, but don't mind having it delivered to your inbox for FREE, you should subscribe. I'll also include a free copy of my eBook, "The Art of Self-Leadership," as my way of saying "Thanks" for subscribing.Head over to stanrodda.com to subscribe to the email.It's going to be a great 2018 season on the show. We'll chat soon on Monday, January 15th!Weekly EmailI send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks." 

Thanks for being a faithful listener to the podcast. It truly means a lot to me. As we near the holidays, I am going to take a break from the weekly show. I will post a few updates along the way over the next couple of months to stay connected, but the weekly show is going to catch its breath.That said, I am lining up some great stuff for 2018. I am working on new seasons with great content that will bring value to you, your leadership and your ministry. One of the ways I am doing that is through a short survey. My goal is to hear from you and a little of your ministry story. I also want to know what ministry questions you might have that we haven't addressed on the show. One of the ways I can add value to your ministry is by talking about the things that mean something to each of you. I want to build your questions and topics into the 2018 season of the show.The survey will only take about 2 minutes to complete. It's short and sweet. I'm really hoping to hear from as many of you as possible. If you want to be a part of making the podcast even better in the coming year, I hope you'll take a moment of your time to fill out the survey.I look forward to hearing your Thanksgiving and Christmas stories. May God grant you hope and peace in this season. And may God's name receive glory as you point people toward Him.Peace.Survey link - http://bit.ly/2yTjmAeWeekly EmailI send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."

Don't let the onslaught of digital changes in the world be the things that prevents your church or ministry from moving forward. While everything in our world is changing at a very fast pace, there are opportunities out there to learn and grow with it.In this episode, Tom Pounder shares about Digital Bootcamp, an online group that is helping pastors, church leaders and volunteers to grow in their knowledge and application of the digital world. You don't want to miss this episode or what's going on at Digital Bootcamp.Some of our conversation boils down to:Learning the digital and online world is a constant learning experience. You never arrive.There is no shortage of resources available online to learn.Digital Bootcamp is for anyone with a desire to learn digital tools to expand their reach and to help people come to know Christ.Digital ministry is an opportunity to disciple someone to serve in this area.Digital Bootcamp is FREE training for a digital and online world.Links |Digital BootcampTom PounderYM SidekickChurch Marketing SucksSocial Media ExaminerProChurch ToolsJay KrandaSocial Media Church PodcastChurch Communications GroupWeekly EmailI send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."

It isn't just a cultural idea that the church has to be great at first impressions or guest services. It's more than that. It's biblical. We are called to be great hosts and to love people as strangers. When someone walks into our churches for the very first time, they are likely a stranger. What are you doing to welcome them and help them feel at ease? In this episode, listen in on my conversation with Dave Hileman of Waypoint Church Partners. Dave shares great insight and wisdom when it comes to creating a great first impression. Churches can and must do better in this area. With so few people returning after a first visit for a second visit, we need to remove every barrier we can so that they can come and hear from God. This conversation is a great starting point for you and your team.Our conversation boils down to...Only 22% of first-time guests will become second-time guests.Hospitality is a sacred responsibility in the Old and New Testaments.There's no excuse to not have great signage for people to know where to go next.A first rate first impression will require training and accountability.Gather your first impressions team 30 minutes before church to regroup, pray for newcomers and to get pumped up for the day.Don't lead to not lose volunteers. Lead to find the right volunteers for the role.Waypoint Church Partners - http://www.waypointchurchpartners.comDave Hileman - dhileman@waypointchurchpartners.comWeekly EmailI send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."

I love the Exponential Conference. It's one of the greatest weeks of my year. The networking and friendships that develop are life-changing. The focus of Exponential is simply multiplication. How does the church have an "Exponential" impact on the world? We do that through disciples making disciples who plant churches that will plant churches. Think of a guy like Ralph Moore who has planted more than 2500 churches. That's the kind of multiplication that Exponential is all about. If you have ever thought or dreamed of planting a church, you simply can't miss Exponential. You can find out more on their website at exponential.org.Follow Exponential on...Twitter - https://twitter.com/churchplantingFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/churchplantingInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/church_planting/In this episode I spend time talking to some of the sponsors who help make Exponential happen. They share what it is that they do and where you can learn more. They also share what they love about Exponential. You are not going to want to miss all the great and FREE resources that are linked in this episode. You can see them all below. Exponential Sponsors & Resources |Portable Church - https://www.portablechurch.comPassion 4 Planting - http://church-planting.netGospel Project - https://www.gospelproject.comActs 29 - http://www.acts29.comDisciples Path - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Disciples-PathDisciple Xchange - http://www.disciplexchange.comLiving as One - https://resi.ioRegal Theater Church - https://corporateboxoffice.com/theatre-churchDiscipleship.org - http://discipleship.orgRadiant Printing - http://www.radiantprinting.comChurch on Wheels - http://churchonwheels.comRight Now Media - https://www.rightnowmedia.orgCDF Capital - https://www.cdfcapital.orgSend Network - https://www.namb.net/send-networkNew Thing Network - http://www.newthing.orgWave - http://wave.usWeekly EmailI send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."

Pastors and church leaders are all in on conversations about leadership, vision casting, discipleship, multiplication and church growth. But for some reason the rooms go silent and the conversation dies down when the topic of physical fitness is brought up. If the body is the temple of the living God and we are called to be stewards of all things, pastors need to take a fresh look at taking care of themselves physically.In this episode of the podcast my friend, Greg Oraham, from Pastor Fit comes on the show to share his story. A journey that included a scare with four blocked valves in his heart that lead him to take better care of his body. Now his passion has boiled over for other pastors as he seeks to help them get healthy also. If you are going to lead a healthy church from a healthy place, you need to be healthy yourself. Don't miss this episode. It could, quite literally, save your life.Some of our conversation boils down to:Physical fitness should be viewed as a part of your spiritual disciplines.You need to be healthy to be the best church leader you can be.Go on an evening walk after dinner. If you're married, walk with your spouse.Give up sugar. It's probably the worst thing you put in your body.Take a listen here to episode 044 of the podcast.Pastor Fit on Twitter. Pastor Fit website.Pastor Fit on Instagram.Weekly EmailI send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."