The Unstuck Church Podcast

Of all the relationships in your church, there's one relationship that determines whether everything else runs smoothly or grinds to a halt—the relationship between the senior pastor and the executive pastor.  When it's healthy, the whole organization feels it. And when it's not…the whole organization feels that too. And if this relationship isn't healthy, your staff is talking about it too. We invited Jimmy McLoud, lead pastor at First Christian Church in Canton, Ohio, and a consultant on our team, to speak into this topic. Jimmy has served in both the executive pastor role and the senior pastor role, so it's safe to say he's experienced when it comes to the relationship between these two roles. In this new series, Sean and Jimmy are going to dig into how to clarify these two roles and strengthen the partnership between them. And in this episode, they're starting at the foundation: why is this relationship so hard to get right? People-focused roles vs. task-focused roles Understanding each other's wiring  Doing the work only you can do   This Episode is Sponsored by PlainJoe Studios Unlock the power of story in your worship space. The creative, passionate team at PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio, works with churches to create beautiful, engaging spaces that connect with your community. They're a team of architectural, design, and branding experts who transform worship spaces into attractive, engaging hubs for the community. Reach out to their team at PlainJoe.net and dream up the bright future of your church.    Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

Fast-growing churches don't necessarily impress us. More often than not, growth reveals the areas where churches are actually stuck. But every once in a while, we run into a church that is both growing and healthy. City Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, has seen 51% year-over-year growth. But they've experienced more than a bump in attendance. They're seeing growth in groups, serve teams, discipleship, baptisms—you name it. And if you're leading a fast-growing church, you know how rare that is. In this episode, I sat down with Pastor Chris Freeman to talk about the remarkable growth story of City Church and how they managed to stay healthy through intentional decisions, leadership and strategic planning. The challenging reality of rapid growth Reaching the lost & discipling new believers The value of having leaders of leaders on your staff   This Episode is Sponsored by PlainJoe Studios Unlock the power of story in your worship space. The creative, passionate team at PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio, works with churches to create beautiful, engaging spaces that connect with your community. They're a team of architectural, design, and branding experts who transform worship spaces into attractive, engaging hubs for the community. Reach out to their team at PlainJoe.net and dream up the bright future of your church.    Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram. 

"Where do we find great staff leaders? We need them, and we need them now." If your only approach to finding staff leaders is to hire fully formed, fully capable leaders from the outside whenever you need them, you will always be reactive. So far in this series, we've talked about the importance of developing your volunteers and volunteer leaders. But all of that volunteer development work, as important as it is, only pays off long-term if you know how to develop your staff leaders well, too.  In this episode, Sean and Jonathan talk about developing and equipping your staff leaders to do the work God has called them to do. Identifying the leadership capacity of every person on your team Intentional development toward the highest level they're wired for Building a staff culture where leadership development isn't just a one-time event   This Episode is Sponsored by The Church Lawyers Every church needs trusted legal counsel, but finding attorneys who truly understand ministry can be challenging.  The Church Lawyers specialize in church and nonprofit law, serving thousands of organizations nationwide. From by-laws and governance, to IRS compliance and employment matters, The Church Lawyers provide the expertise you need with sound legal advice giving you peace of mind. Discover practical free resources and affordable membership options at TheChurchLawyers.com.   Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.