Making Church Work

Have you or leaders at your church ever had a great idea that just seems to fall flat? Maybe it's a new community outreach initiative or a sermon series you think will really connect with new people. But when the day comes, you realize you haven't actually reached anyone outside your typical congregation -- you end up defaulting to prioritizing the people who are already part of your church.   We see this happen all of the time and we know how defeating it can feel. On today's episode, we'll give you a simple communications checklist you use to keep your church from defaulting to insider-communication. 

Today Leah Norton and Aimee Cottle are sharing how a church is using a marketing campaign to help their community become anti-racist. We'll outline the ins and outs of their strategy and explain why we're so passionate about churches using marketing as a ministry tool. Link Mentioned: antiracistindy.com

The top questions we're hearing from leaders of smaller churches. And our advice for how to keep making progress in communications, even when you feel like you don't have everything you need.

We're talking all things websites! Our Lead Web Developer, Ben, and one of our Partners, Shayla, dive into where we see churches winning, our recommendations for tools and tactics and the difference between a website that's functional vs. one that's built for ministry.   Resources Mentioned:  The Ultimate Guide to the Best Church Websites   

Do you ever feel paralyzed or overwhelmed by decisions? It seems like there are so many things to think about every day. And, when it comes to where our churches are headed, it can feel like we're making decisions in the dark. We have no clue what will happen tomorrow, let alone next month.  So, what can we do?    We believe that every church has a dynamic, untapped power. (Yes, the Holy Spirit.) But, also, your DNA - The unique pieces and parts that make up who you are and who you're called to reach. Join us as we talk through how to tap into that power to stay nimble yet focused. We'll share a few questions you can ask to help keep you focused on your mission, what you're communicating and stop you from throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks.   

Aaron Niequist is a husband dad, liturgist and writer who led worship at Mars Hill Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Willow Creek just outside of Chicago before, in recent years, evolving his career and way of life into what he calls a practice-based faith. In 2018, he released a book which we talk about in this conversation, called The Eternal Current: How a practice-based faith can save us from drowning. We recorded this conversation with Aaron in March of 2020, right at the beginning of the global pandemic becoming a daily reality in America. In this conversation, we talk about moving to a practice-based faith, the challenges of working in the church, and the intersection of race and the church. Learn more about Aaron at https://www.aaronniequist.com/

In recent weeks, protests have spread across the United States and even the world in response to the killing of George Floyd. As the message of racial injustice and a call for change has rang out, churches and pastors are trying to figure out what their place is in this conversation and what actions they need to take. Some churches aren’t new to direct conversations about racial injustice, like City of Lights church in Indianapolis where Jon Owens is the founding pastor. In this episode, Jon shares his own family’s history of experiencing racism, reflects on the string of events that lead to recent protests he has participated in and what gives him hope when it comes to discipling people out of racism. Note: this episode contains one instance of strong language that may be offensive to some. 

As stay-at-home orders stay in places, churches continue to adapt and rally to meet the needs of their community. In this episode, we talk with church staff from around the country to hear how they are doing, what ministry is like today and where they are finding hope. We also feature a conversation with two pastors from Eagle Church in Zionsville, Indiana.  Making Church Work is a Fishhook podcast.   

Today, we check in with the team to hear about the ups, downs and the bright spots giving us hope in the midst of life and ministry during the coronavirus season.  

In March, the reality of a global pandemic was beginning to settle in across the United States. In this initial episode of Making Church Work, we talk to two local pastors and how they're responding and adapting in the beginning of this strange, unexpected season.  Making Church Work is a Fishhook podcast. 

We have had so much fun walking through this series on Hybrid Church. And today is the final episode in that series!   You see, just because the how of church is shifting, the why remains the same. Your vision and purpose doesn't change. In fact, we believe these new methods actually enable you to accomplish your why in a more efficient and dynamic way.   So today, we just want to encourage you. We want to remind you that what you're doing matters SO much. And we want to reignite the passion you have for reaching your community.   Show Notes: https://www.fishhook.us/making-church-work/changing-how-without-changing-why

It's no secret that people interacted with "church" less in 2020 than ever before. They attended less services, groups didn't meet, they didn't feel pressure to attend events. BUT here's what may surprise you: As we've talked to many, many people, we've heard that their faith actually GREW during the pandemic. Why? Because they took it personally. They took responsibility. Because they had to. And they used digital tools to be fed and grow. So if we're honest, now the question becomes... If as the Church, we're asking people to "come back," what are we asking them to come back to? Why would people do this if their faith grew? What value is there now, today?  Today, join Leah Norton & Aimee Cottle for a conversation about the real shift that becoming a hybrid church requires. We are seeing more and more that there is a difference between churches who do hybrid ministry and ones who feel it deeply. Today we're talking all about that difference. Show Notes: https://www.fishhook.us/making-church-work/hybrid-church-weekday-church

Today we're talking CHURCH WEBSITES! 🥳 (cue the confetti, or the tears, but hopefully the confetti) Listen, we get that talking about your church's website can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. But the truth is that it's the backbone of your ministry efforts. And even more so in 2021 as we navigate a hybrid model of ministry. Your website can be an amazing tool for ministry, but it can also be a barrier... so today we're getting super practical! Join Shayla Kenworthy and Aimee Cottle as they unpack how being a hybrid church will shift the type of website you need and give practical examples of how we're helping churches in this area! Show Notes: https://www.fishhook.us/making-church-work/2021-church-website

Talking about guest experience is one of our favorite things here at Fishhook! We're always considering: How can our churches prepare for the guests we haven't met yet? How can we encourage our congregations to embrace hospitality as everyone’s privilege and responsibility? And now, in a hybrid church, how can we do this both in-person and online? At its core, we know the value of the guest experience is both simple and biblical. When genuine love is at the center of how you care for your community, your guests will experience it in practical ways and in how they feel as they interact with your ministry. Join Aimee Cottle and Shayla Kenworthy today for this conversation! Show Notes: https://www.fishhook.us/making-church-work/guest-experience-hybrid-church

You know one of the hardest parts of this last year? Engaging volunteers. Navigating changed expectations, removing staple serving opportunities, simplifying services, and moving more online all made it a little more confusing on how to build and engage effective volunteer teams.    So today, we're talking all about that, and we'd love for you to join in on the conversation! Join Jamie Shafer and Aimee Cottle as we discuss what finding, training, and equipping volunteers in a hybrid model (particularly on the digital side) should look like!

One of the most asked questions we get is about how churches need to revamp their staff structure or roles to accommodate the digital shift we're navigating.   What roles should be a priority and how do you know when to hire or restructure to support your church’s mission? Who should set the direction of your church's new strategy and who should be in charge of the execution?   We like to say that communications is the bridge between your ministry and the people you're trying to connect with. So today as we continue our Hybrid Church series on Making Church Work, Aimee Cottle and Leah Norton uncover how we continue to connect effectively with the people we want to reach when the channels we're using to communicate with them have changed.

You've likely heard the term hybrid church. In the constant shifts we've all had to make in the last year, this is one subject we've had to come face-to-face with, perhaps for the first time. But the hybrid model can feel pretty overwhelming, especially when it comes to communication. What does it really mean? How do you keep clarity across multiple channels? What are the opportunities? What pitfalls should you look out for? Join Shayla Kenworthy and Aimee Cottle as they walk through the foundations of effective ministry and communications within a hybrid model.

Often when churches ask us to help them with their digital ministry, however, what they are actually talking about is digital marketing. And there is a big difference ...  Join Leah and Aimee for a conversation about digital ministry. We'll share what we're learning (and how we're guiding churches) in this area. And give you the three key differences between a church that's focused on digital ministry vs. one that's focused on digital marketing. 

We have some quirky values at Fishhook. But one of our favorites is our value of "ta-da!" This value of celebration has permeated every aspect of our work and our culture.  And we believe that emphasizing gratitude and celebration can have a big impact on both your team and your ministry as well.  Join the Fishhook Party Planning Committee (yes, that's a real thing) for a conversation about celebrating. We'll share how we look for opportunities, what we do and the impact it can have on your ministry.  Resource Mentioned:  Celebrate! Ideas & Inspiration

Have you heard the prediction that 2021 is going to be the year for staff turnover? Maybe you've already felt that at your church. It can be scary to think about but it also means you have an opportunity to think about what roles your church really needs to  do the ministry you're called to do.  Join Shayla and Aimee for a conversation all about hiring. When should you add to your communications team? How do you decide what position you need filled? How can you pair hunches with facts to make the best decision?  Resources Referenced:  Carey Nieuwhof and Vanderbloemen podcast episode Sample interview questions Agency Planning Worksheet Communications Director Job Description