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*** Ever wondered what the events of Christmas looked like from the eyes of those who were there? Here is your opportunity. In the Christmas devotional experience, High Point of Grace you have the opportunity to journey for 25 days with those who witnessed the greatest moment in human history. You do not want to miss out on this incredible experience. Join in here: https://brandonpardekooper.com/highpoint Want to move from great intentions to accomplished goals? It is hard to live a fulfilling dream life without accomplishing your goals and making incredible progress toward that dream.  In this episode, Matt and I discuss the simple goal-achievement system that is designed to take you over the edge in your goal achievement. These simple steps are going to change your life and your ministry.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

Are you a visionary pastor struggling with overwhelm? Here is how you can change that: https://brandonpardekooper.com/mydreamlife Knowing the church life cycle is essential, but where the rubber meets the road is when we try to navigate change based on the life cycle. In the life cycle, there are two specific change points. One is much easier to navigate than the other, and I will show you the difference in this episode. Both require different skill sets because they deal with different issues and that is what I am going to reveal to you today.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

Are you a visionary pastor struggling with overwhelm? Here is how you can change that: https://brandonpardekooper.com/mydreamlife If you have a pastoral staff you lead, then you know that it is necessary to have staff meetings. But, what do you do when your staff complains about having to meet each week, they feel unengaged in your time together, and, maybe, you wish you could just stop having them?  In this episode, Matt and I discuss three things you as the pastor can do to boost the engagement of your staff meetings and make it a highlight of your team's week rather than the necessary evil staff meetings can become.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

Are you a visionary pastor struggling with overwhelm? Here is how you can change that: https://brandonpardekooper.com/mydreamlife We talk a lot about the growing shortage of pastors and ministry leaders throughout the country. It leads us to ask the question, what is happening at the Bible College and Ministry Training School level? Is ministry training struggling and what can pastors do when they identify someone with a call on their lives for ministry?  In this episode, I sit down with Kolby Kissinger, Director of Oaks College, and we discuss what they are doing on their end to train young people for a lifetime in ministry.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

Are you a visionary pastor struggling with overwhelm? Here is how you can change that: https://brandonpardekooper.com/mydreamlife So you have created content for your income stream, now what? In this episode, that is exactly what Matt and I are talking about. We discuss the next steps after your content is created including how to build an atmosphere where people love to be part of what you are doing and love purchasing your services and products.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

Are you a visionary pastor struggling with overwhelm? Here is how you can change that: https://brandonpardekooper.com/mydreamlife As we journey the Life Cycle of a Church, we will inevitably reach the other side of the bell curve and start moving toward the final stage of death. This is the stage where we close our doors for good. Luckily, we have some warning signs long before we get there in two earlier stages that allow us the opportunity to reinvent and restart the Life Cycle. In this episode, we are going to look at the final 2 stages of the Life Cycle of a Church between Prime and Death and how you can identify exactly where you are. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

Are you a visionary pastor struggling with overwhelm? Here is how you can change that: https://brandonpardekooper.com/mydreamlife You want to build an income stream out of your hobby, skill, or knowledge and you are beginning to find your way forward. You have identified your niche and have started creating content. Now, what do you do with that content and start making sales?  In this episode, Matt and I sit down and talk through the final four steps in creating a stream of income that supplements your ministry, your family goals, and your life dreams.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

Are you a visionary pastor struggling with overwhelm? Here is how you can change that: https://brandonpardekooper.com/mydreamlife Do you want an income stream to support you and your family as you serve in ministry? Well, this episode is for you. In this episode, Matt and I sit down and talk about turning a hobby into a side hustle. Both he and I have built side hustles while being in ministry and we have navigated through a lot of questions, issues, problems, and successes. We are going to begin to show you the process you will need to go through to take your interests and hobbies and turn them into income streams.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

Are you a visionary pastor struggling with overwhelm? Here is how you can change that: https://brandonpardekooper.com/mydreamlife The early stages of the church life cycle are challenging, but they can be a lot of fun. They are filled with curve balls, exciting moments, really high highs, and really low lows. In the midst of it all, the church is moving forward, growing, and people are having an encounter with God.  But, do you know where you should focus during each stage? Are you focusing on relationships when you should be focusing on connections? (These aren't the same thing)  In this episode, we will look at the first four stages of the church life cycle and identify precisely what you need to focus on. Plus, I am going to give you a couple of questions for each stage to help you identify where you are so you know how to move forward.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

Are you a visionary pastor struggling with overwhelm? Here is how you can change that: https://brandonpardekooper.com/mydreamlife Change is a normal part of church life...at least it should be. But, timing change can be challenging. It is difficult to know when a change will be accepted, when friction can be minimized, and when to hold off. Unless you understand the stage of the church life cycle you are in.  In this episode, we are going to begin a conversation about the Life Cycles of a Church and how it is related to navigating changes. We will lay the groundwork for upcoming episodes where we dive into the stages and give you some questions to identify whether or not you are in a given stage.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

Are you a visionary pastor struggling with overwhelm? Here is how you can change that: https://brandonpardekooper.com/mydreamlife   If you have wanted to see a SWOT analysis in action, this episode is for you. In this episode, Pastor Matt and I sit down and perform a SWOT analysis evaluating his prayer team. We walk step by step through the analysis and reveal what his next steps are to move his team to the next level.    For more insight into using SWOT for Church Effectiveness, check out these other two videos:  How to Use SWOT for Churches: https://youtu.be/bGW9V5-6V40  How to Assess Your Church Using SWOT: https://youtu.be/6bkWKf4SU2E   To get your own SWOT analysis template, visit https://modern-inklings.ck.page/6825fd9801 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

Your volunteers are the backbone of your ministry and the key to creating margin in your time to focus on the things only you can do. However, it is one of the hardest things to do in ministry: keeping volunteers.  In this episode, I want to show you 4 ways you can keep your volunteers by outserving them. Do these four things and you will see an increase in volunteer retention, an increase in volunteer recruitment, and a volunteer culture that is self-sustaining. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

Create your very own podcast in only 2 WEEKS with this step-by-step course ABSOLUTELY FREE!!! https://brandonpardekooper.com/podcastcourse Do you want your congregants to engage with your sermon more throughout the week? This helps them understand their Bibles more and grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus.  In this episode, I am going to talk about providing a devotional experience for your congregations and give you 4 ways to increase engagement with your sermon throughout the week. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

Create your very own podcast in only 2 WEEKS with this step-by-step course ABSOLUTELY FREE!!! https://brandonpardekooper.com/podcastcourse Should you shut down that ministry? Should you funnel more resources into it? Is there a new ministry opportunity you need to take advantage of and add it to your faith community?  This tool is a great way to know what the next step is...or isn't...to make sure you don't waste resources, and time, and serve your congregation more effectively.  MH111 How to Assess Your Church Using SWOT: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/Yjied8w1Ztb --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

Create your very own podcast in only 2 WEEKS with this step-by-step course ABSOLUTELY FREE!!! https://brandonpardekooper.com/podcastcourse Do you want to know what the future of the church looks like? Of course, you do...we all do. Which is why we have been talking lately about the future of the church and how you can get a better picture of where the church is headed.  You have done your horizon scan, you have identified trends, and you have analyzed them. Now what? How is all of this useful and what are you supposed to do with it now?  In this episode, we are going to look at scenario planning and how you can take your trend analysis from your horizon scan and start building probable futures that you can begin to act on and develop strategies for. It is simple and it can be a lot of fun as you create these scenarios.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

Create your very own podcast in only 2 WEEKS with this step-by-step course ABSOLUTELY FREE!!! https://brandonpardekooper.com/podcastcourse Do you wish your congregation received more from your sermons?  Do you wish your sermons grabbed attention more?  Do you just wish your congregants would stay awake and off their phones?  Well, in this episode, I want to show you 4 Upgrades to your sermon that will make it more engaging so your congregants will not only stay away, but will learn more about the scriptures and go deeper in their relationship with Jesus.  This episode is part of a series exploring the issue of Biblical Illiteracy. Find the other episodes here: MH156 4 Keys to Stronger Biblical Foundation in Church  Listen: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/WIIgZNxARtb Watch: https://youtu.be/e9zgE93uybU MH159 4 Reasons Expository Sermons Are Critical in Your Church  Listen: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/4hDbodEARtb Watch: https://youtu.be/WE6VOqDwsYE --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

Are small groups a viable ministry tool for discipleship?  Small groups are a widely used ministry tool in churches all across the country. Though they are an incredible choice to engage your community and build relationships, it has become clear in recent years that they are not the best option for discipleship. At least that is what I think. :)  In this episode, Matt takes issue with my stance and pushes back a bit that small groups can be a viable discipleship approach. Check out the debate and let's see where we land in the end.  Build your dream life as a pastor by using this step-by-step process: https://brandonpardekooper.com/moretimemoremoney --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

The future for your church is coming. Are you ready for it? Do you even know what you are looking for? If not, that's ok because most of us don't. Well, it is time to begin to look into the future and get a better understanding of what you are looking for.  In this episode, we are going to continue looking at how you can future-proof your church and get ready for whatever is coming. I want to show you how you can begin horizon scanning and identifying trends that are going to shape your church and the way you do ministry in 5, 10, 15 years.  Build your dream life as a pastor by using this step-by-step process: https://brandonpardekooper.com/moretimemoremoney --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

If your congregation is like most in this country, they lack a strong biblical foundation. There are lots of factors that have contributed to this decline in our faithful Christians sitting in our pews each week. Despite the many factors, there is one sermon secret that you can implement that will begin to turn this trend around and deepen the biblical foundation in your church community.  In this episode, we discuss four reasons why preaching expository sermons are the most effective approach to sermon preparation, and the impact it has on your congregation and their biblical foundation.  Build your dream life as a pastor by using this step-by-step process: https://brandonpardekooper.com/moretimemoremoney --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message

Do you want to boost team morale, foster a healthy staff culture, and refresh your ministry team? It may be time to plan a fantastic staff retreat. In this episode, Pastor Matt and I will talk through what you need to do to create a staff retreat that everyone will talk about and breathe new life into your staff culture. Building an effective team doesn't just happen; this may be the one piece of the puzzle you are missing.  Build your dream life as a pastor by using this step-by-step process: https://brandonpardekooper.com/moretimemoremoney --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ministryhackers/message