What do we as ministry leaders do when our facilities begin to run out of space? Should we immediately begin a building campaign, or are there other creative ways to still serve our people in our current spaces? Too many people in too small a space is a good problem to have, but it can be a hard one to solve. Executive pastor Jeremy Thiessen joins Erin and Doug for this week’s episode of The Intentional Churches podcast to talk how to prepare for physical expansion without losing sight of your church’s vision for developing disciples.

Jeremy has served as the executive pastor for Shelter Cove in Modesto, California for five years, and from 2022 to 2024, saw their weekend attendance double in size. That fast growth prompted Jeremy and his team to start thinking about expansion, and the challenges and opportunities that come with that conversation. Throughout the episode Erin and Doug also share their own insights when it comes to building, creative solutions if a building campaign isn’t possible or isn’t the right way to serve your people, and how to always keep the Great Commission front of mind, rather than getting caught up in a building project.

Whether your church is running out of physical space, or you’re simply needing a word on how to continue discipling your people well—this episode is for you!

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://assessment.intentionalchurches.com/churchos

Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Personal Background
03:11 Preparing for the Next Season of Ministry
04:07 The Journey of Shelter Cove Community Church
06:01 Transition to an Attractional Model
07:23 Engaging with Intentional Churches
08:47 Experiencing Significant Growth
09:46 National Trends in Church Growth and Space Challenges
14:24 Space Challenges at Shelter Cove Community Church
16:20 Considering Capital Campaign and Building Plans
20:46 Creative Solutions for Space Challenges
23:17 Cautionary Thoughts on Building Projects
25:44 Aligning Vision and Addressing Space Needs
28:55 Practical Advice for Planning and Space Management
32:57 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

On this week’s episode of The Intentional Churches podcast, we’re continuing to talk about how we prepare well for that next big “push” in ministry—specifically how to prioritize our own mental, spiritual, and emotional health as leaders. Licensed professional counselor and Gallup Strengths Coach, Stefanie Rowe, joins Erin and Doug, outlining the crisis many pastors and church leaders are facing when it comes to the state of their mental health.

Throughout their conversation, Stefanie shares stats that might surprise you, including: 1 in 5 pastors are struggling with addiction, 50% struggle with depression, 1 in 3 with burnout, and 60% feel lonely. Additionally, only 1 out of 6 pastors are getting the help they need. So, what can those of us in ministry do to make sure we’re prioritizing our own mental health? Stefanie draws on her years of experience and background as a teaching pastor to outline some best practices for pastors (or anyone!) struggling. Erin and Doug add their own insights, talking about taking intentional time off during slower seasons of ministry, putting relationships first, refusing to neglect your own time with God, and being off social media.

Whatever season of life or ministry you find yourself in, this conversation is full of practical tips to help us all practice what we preach and work to prioritize our own mental health!

Learn more about Stefanie and her work on her website:
https://www.stefanierowe.com/

Two helpful resources Stefanie recommends for pastors and church leaders struggling in any of the areas mentioned in this episode include

The State of Pastors volumes 1 and 2:
https://shop.barna.com/products/the-state-of-pastors-vol-2

The Resilient Pastor:
https://a.co/d/08YrszjG

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Chapters:
00:00 | Introduction and Overview
03:10 | The State of Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health of Church Leaders
12:22 | Prioritizing Self-Care: Practicing What You Preach
22:46 | Taking Breaks from Social Media: Reducing Stress and Improving Well-Being
25:31 | Taking Inventory: Reflecting on What Went Well and What Didn't
26:59 | Setting Boundaries: Prioritizing Self-Care for Long-Term Health

In this episode, Erin and Doug welcome Holly Gillespie to discuss the importance of designing church systems and processes with the one in mind. They spotlight the need to shift from a buffet-style approach to a more intentional and targeted strategy that focuses on those who are far from God. They talk through the importance of mindset shifts, such as considering what it's like on the other side of the church experience and overcoming the fear of neglecting the 99. They also discuss the need for prayer, team conversations, and small steps to begin implementing these changes.

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Chapters:
00:00 Designing Church Systems and Processes with the One in Mind
06:33 The Evolution and Transition in Church
10:43 Shifting from a Buffet-Style Approach to Intentional Targeting
14:07 Mindset Shifts and Overcoming Fear

Just a quick break for July 4th. We hope you have a wonderful week and we can't wait to jump back into Season 4 with you next Tuesday.

See you soon!

In this episode, Erin and Doug discuss the evolution of church leadership and the shift in mindset between different generations. They specifically focus on the pros and cons of small group models and the need for integration between church life and everyday life. They talk through the importance of disappointing people at a rate they can tolerate and shifting the mindset from providing answers to equipping and empowering individuals to be the answer. They discuss the priority of building relational fabric in the church and the need for ongoing coaching and training for leaders. They also share practical ideas for weaving relational fabric, such as using gatherings and events as key relational moments and encouraging people to linger longer in Sunday services.

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Chapters:
00:00 The Evolution of Church Leadership and the Generational Shift
03:53 The Pros and Cons of Small Group Models
13:04 Disappointing People at a Rate They Can Tolerate
16:31 Equipping and Empowering Leaders
26:25 The Importance of Ongoing Coaching and Training
29:43 Practical Ideas for Weaving Relational Fabric

Welcome to season 4! This season is all about helping you prepare for your church's next big push! In this fist episode Erin & Doug talk with Bart Rendel on the concept of the relational reach zone of churches and how it impacts strategic planning for the next season. Bart stresses the importance of knowing who the church is trying to reach and being aware of the potential impact they can have within their relational networks. They suggest practical steps such as identifying the people connected to the church, evaluating the frequency of their attendance, and multiplying the average attendance to estimate the size of the relational footprint. They also highlight the need for individual awareness of personal relational reach zones and the importance of mobilizing and training church members to reach people within their own networks.

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Chapters:
00:18 Introduction and Season 4 Focus
02:23 Defining the Relational Reach Zone
04:04 Identifying the Church's Relational Reach Zone
08:03 Guiding Teams with Relational Reach Zone
10:43 Paradigm Shift: Institutional vs. Relational Evangelism
12:57 Community Impact through Relational Reach Zone
14:00 3D Chess: Overlapping Church Footprints
16:06 Planning Next Season with Relational Reach Zone
18:25 Practical Steps for Raising One Awareness
20:44 Annual One Where Audit for Strategy
21:43 Summary of Relational Reach Zone Concept
22:59 Evaluating Programmatic Schedule and Great Commission
24:01 Personal Relational Reach Zone Importance
26:17 Next Steps for Church Leaders and Volunteers
28:16 Evaluating Ministry Programs with Great Commission Questions
29:14 Encouragement for Planning and Reflection

In this last episode of Season 3 Erin and Doug are joined by Mitch Harrison to discuss church leadership challenges, focusing on the critical issue of burnout. Mitch shares his personal journey of experiencing and overcoming burnout, and the need for intentional replenishment. The conversation highlights the importance of balancing stress with restorative practices and offers a framework involving rest, emotional release, renewed purpose, recreation, and meaningful relationships.

This episode encourages leaders to create a sustainable plan for personal replenishment and to foster a supportive culture within their organizations to prevent burnout and maintain effective ministry.

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube:www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Mitch Harrison:
Website: www.refillcoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-harrison-3653b539

Chapters:
00:23 Podcast Introduction
01:28 Mitch Harrison's Background
02:19 Question: Managing Ministry Demands
03:03 Mitch's Personal Burnout Journey
05:15 Doug Parks on Burnout in Ministry
06:29 Defining Replenishment
08:45 The Five R's Framework
12:45 Doug Parks on Escapism vs. Replenishment
16:04 Personal Application for Leaders
17:04 Creating a Replenishment Plan
19:10 Doug's Current Challenges with Replenishment
21:04 Mitch on Church Staff Replenishment
22:20 Generational Differences in Work Ethic
24:29 Millennials' Perspective on Work and Burnout
26:43 Organizational Replenishment Practices
28:14 Applying the Framework Corporately

In this episode Erin and Doug discuss strategic alignment in church leadership with guest Allie Bryant. Allie, a Strategic Alignment Executive at Trader's Point Christian Church, explains her role in bridging the gap between strategy and execution. The conversation focuses on common challenges church leaders face, such as project prioritization, resource allocation, and maintaining clear communication of vision and strategy. Allie shares insights into effective project management, the importance of regular strategic planning, and the need for clarity and consistency in defining and communicating mission, vision, and strategy within church organizations.

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Intentional Churches podcast!

Intentional Churches:
Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Chapters:
00:20 Welcome and Introductions
01:00 Allie Bryant's Background
03:00 Defining Strategic Alignment
04:27 Importance of Clarity in Vision and Strategy
06:03 Challenges in Defining Strategy and Vision
08:44 Translating Vision to Execution
10:04 Coordinating Vision with Team Members
13:09 Prioritization and Sequencing in Strategy
17:06 Misalignment as a Major Challenge in Churches
18:46 Evaluating Strategy Regularly
19:43 Coordination of Day-to-Day Strategy
21:08 Example of Misalignment from Mother's Day
25:33 Developing Project Management Skills
29:42 Training Next Generation of Leaders
30:23 Practical Steps for Greater Strategic Alignment