Pro Church Podcast With Brady Shearer

For many, Mother's Day is joyful. For others, it's deeply painful. The best church services recognize both - celebrating motherhood while gently holding space for grief. Today, we're sharing practical ideas to help your church do both well.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - IDEA 1: The Honest Acknowledgment From Stage 6:59 - IDEA 2: The Mother's Day Letter Writing Station 9:45 - IDEA 3: The Mom Report (Comedic) 13:27 - IDEA 4: The Outward Focus 15:36 - IDEA 5: The "What Mom Actually Wants" Survey 17:59 - IDEA 6: The Mom Panel   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Every email, caption, and announcement is copywriting - and it shapes your church's culture more than you think. Today, we'll show you how a simple Brand Voice Document can make all your communication more intentional.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 6:23 - Voice Markers 14:36 - Writing *To* Specific People 22:29 - The Start Again Stories Framework   IMPORTANT LINKS - Why Your Church Only Attracts One Type Of Person: https://youtu.be/k7ZZD_F9dn4   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Baptism is a defining moment in someone's faith - public, meaningful, and unforgettable. Today we're sharing seven ideas to help your next baptism Sunday feel deeply memorable, not just for those being baptized, but for your entire church community.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:37 - The Importance Of Baptism 2:13 - IDEA 1: The Video Testimony 5:57 - IDEA 2: The Family Participation Moment 9:16 - IDEA 3: The Live Photo Moment 12:35 - IDEA 4: The Outdoor / Off-Site Baptism 18:00 - IDEA 5: The Spontaneous Baptism Opportunity 21:32 - IDEA 6: The Baptism Anniversary Recognition 22:20 - IDEA 7: The Baptism Party / Celebration Lunch   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Search free creative resources and you'll find endless options - most of them terrible. We tested hundreds of sites, downloaded the assets, and built a curated list of free stock photos, fonts, and music that are actually reliable and high quality.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:08 - Kaboompics 8:31 - New Old Stock 13:30 - Sunday Screens 14:22 - Wonderhunt 16:03 - Iconify 20:34 - Zapsplat 26:15 - DrawKit 28:49 - QR Code Generator   IMPORTANT LINKS - Kaboompics: https://kaboompics.com/ - New Old Stock: https://nos.twnsnd.co/ - Sunday Screens: https://sundayscreens.com/samplepack - Wonderhunt: https://www.wonderhunt.co/films - Iconify: https://iconify.design/ - Zapsplat: https://www.zapsplat.com/ - DrawKit: https://www.drawkit.com/ - QR Code Generator: https://www.qr-code-generator.com/   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Sermon starters - those mini movies before a message - set tone and create transitions. But producing a new trailer for every series is exhausting. Today, we're sharing alternatives that are simpler to execute and often more spiritually meaningful.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 4:42 - ALTERNATIVE 1: The Standing Scripture Reading 15:10 - ALTERNATIVE 2: The Responsive Scripture Reading 20:10 - ALTERNATIVE 3: Sermon Inspired Confession Or Affirmation 24:50 - ALTERNATIVE 4: Testimony Transition 28:16 - ALTERNATIVE 5: Silence   IMPORTANT LINKS - Luke Simmons: https://x.com/lukedsimmons - 5 Small Changes Most Churches Should Consider Making: https://youtu.be/0GHmMNeMz-Y   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Easter is church's biggest opportunity of the year. You'll likely see more first-time guests than any other Sunday, yet most churches repeat the same playbook. Here are 10 fresh ideas - no eggs or helicopters.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:49 - IDEA #1: The "Bring One" Challenge 4:46 - IDEA #2: The Good Friday Experience 6:39 - IDEA #3: The Pre-Service Photo Moment 9:25 - IDEA #4: The Parking Lot Party 11:45 - IDEA #5: The "Not Your Normal Easter Service" Service 13:12 - IDEA #6: The 60-Second Testimony Video 17:14 - IDEA #7: The Take-Home Gift 19:20 - IDEA #8: The Post-Easter Follow-Up Sprint 21:07 - IDEA #9: The "Resurrection Moment" in Service 22:36 - IDEA #10: Volunteer as the Product   IMPORTANT LINKS - Church Lobby Design Idea: Stunning Signs!: https://youtu.be/48z8rAMvoZg - Your Pastor Says "I Don't Like It" But Can't Say Why: https://youtu.be/yTjjJpw32_c - The 76-Word Church Welcome Email That Works: https://youtu.be/4uaUWA7WsE4   THE 1

Church podcasting has evolved from simply uploading sermons to producing interviews, devotionals, leadership content, and more. If you're exploring podcasting for your church, we're sharing our recommended gear for 2026. From mics to interfaces and accessories, we'll cover options for every budget from two podcasters who've been hosting since 2014.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 3:11 - Microphones 9:22 - Interfaces & Recorders 17:30 - Headphones 19:40 - Accessories 21:06 - Software 22:32 - Full Setups   IMPORTANT LINKS - Micro Church Podcast Studio [Tour]: https://youtu.be/aCrpic5rugc - Shure SM7B: https://bit.ly/3Ob9s5x - Rode PodMic: https://rode.com/en-ca/products/podmic - Shure MV7+: https://bit.ly/40abh5b - Audio-Technica AT2040: https://bit.ly/4raD5Cl - DJI Mic 2: https://www.dji.com/mic-2 - Rodecaster Pro II: https://rode.com/en-int/products/rodecaster-pro-ii - Rodecaster Duo: https://rode.com/en-ca/products/rodecaster-duo - Focusrite S

I've been part of growing churches most of my adult life - as a volunteer, on staff, and in the pews. What I've noticed is this: the difference between growing and stagnant churches isn't what you'd expect. But when you see a healthy church up close, clear patterns emerge - and after fifteen years, I want to share what growing churches consistently do differently.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:38 - Inspiration Beats Information Every Time 7:22 - Sunday Can't Fix Everything 14:58 - Right Invitation, Right Moment 20:23 - Build Systems Before Chaos 23:32 - Scrappy, Regardless Of Budget   IMPORTANT LINKS - Ryan Burge: https://x.com/ryanburge   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

The most frustrating loop in church creative is pouring hours into a design or video, only to hear "something's off" or "I don't like it" with no explanation. It's usually not stubbornness - most pastors just don't have the language to explain what they're reacting to - and today, we're going to fix that.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 3:06 - "I Don't Like It" Is A Symptom, Not The Problem 4:26 - Most Churches Have Never Defined Their Voice 8:02 - The Solution Is 8 Words 12:35 - Now You Have A Measuring Stick 20:58 - This Also Solves The "Conflicting Feedback" Problem 22:16 - Share It With Everyone   IMPORTANT LINKS - Why Your Church Only Attracts One Type of Person: https://youtu.be/k7ZZD_F9dn4 - WordHippo: https://www.wordhippo.com/   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Hundreds of new AI tools launch every day, and most of them cost money. We've tracked down the ones that are actually free - beyond just ChatGPT - including tools most churches haven't heard of that could save your team dozens of hours every week.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:36 - Tool #1: TurboScribe 1:55 - Tool #2: tl;dv 3:00 - Tool #3: Claude Cowork 8:45 - Claude Cowork Church Uses   IMPORTANT LINKS - TurboScribe: https://turboscribe.ai/ - tl;dv: https://tldv.io/ - Claude Cowork: https://claude.com/product/cowork   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Social media used to be predictable - now it's chaos, even when the averages are higher. This episode is about surviving the new game, with the metrics and mindset that actually keep you sane.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:35 - The Volatility Problem 7:45 - The Three Audiences Framework 10:11 - Content Equals Credibility 12:30 - The No Weeks Off Approach (Reframed) 14:26 - How To Stay Sane   IMPORTANT LINKS - Church Social Media Trends 2026: https://youtu.be/354IpgzSIEU   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

The most important email you'll ever send someone in your church is the very first one. So we're going to help you get it right. Today, we're sharing a 76-word church welcome email that works for churches of any size. It hits every goal a great welcome email should. Feel free to steal it word-for-word.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:50 - Big Idea #1: The First Email You Send Is The Most Important 5:53 - Big Idea #2: Send It From The Pastor 7:25 - Big Idea #3: Choose Your Focus - Connect Elsewhere Or Important Next Steps 9:46 - Big Idea #4: The P.S. Reply 15:04 - Big Idea #5: You Reply Back   IMPORTANT LINKS - The 76-Word Church Welcome Email Cheatsheet: https://prochur.ch/49vyftg - This Church Guest Follow-Up System Is…Unusual: https://youtu.be/pd6b7eRzmg4 - Pro Church Certified: https://prochurchcertified.com/   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

The world is changing fast. AI is reshaping economies, industries, and even how we relate to one another. So what does that mean for the church and its future? In one of our most important episodes yet, we're breaking down four changes every church should seriously consider making before 2030.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 10:18 - Canon vs. Content 18:00 - Formation vs. Information 26:15 - Communal vs. Individual 31:45 - Cost vs. Convenience   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

The language you use shapes the culture you build. And when that language goes stale, it quietly starts holding things back. So today, we're sharing our list of church lingo to retire in 2026 - and what to consider saying instead.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:30 - Why Does This Matter? 4:25 - Do Life Together 7:25 - Season Of Singleness 9:20 - Wow 12:03 - Circles Not Rows 13:03 - Welcome Home 16:22 - Don't Miss It 18:20 - Loving On 19:56 - Turn To Your Neighbor 21:17 - Daddy God   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

When it comes to church shirts, most of us default to tossing a logo on the front and calling it done. But with a few thoughtful changes, you can turn simple merch into something people genuinely love to wear outside of Sunday morning. So today, we've invited our friend Karl Nilsson onto the podcast to walk us through his practical workflows and share the wisdom he's picked up creating merch that actually gets worn.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:10 - Design Process 5:50 - Karl's Style 8:56 - Design Process Cont'd 13:20 - Overcoming Communication Issues 18:54 - Balancing Aesthetics With Audience Needs 22:42 - Garment Selection And Print Production   IMPORTANT LINKS - Karl Nilsson | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sigvardnilsson/ - Karl Nilsson | Dribble: https://dribbble.com/KarlNilsson - LA Apparel: https://losangelesapparel.net/ - AS Colour: https://ascolour.com/   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

When you serve at church, there are always going to be ideas, projects, or ministries you're unsure about. Sometimes your instincts are right. Sometimes they're not. Today, we're sharing real stories from churches that pushed past their initial resistance, took the risk anyway, and saw incredible results.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:55 - Building A Human Claw Machine 5:26 - Hiring A Full Time Creative 10:02 - Live Stream 15:32 - Getting Away From "Professional" Video Announcements 19:02 - Youth Group Instagram Account 20:13 - Letting The Holy Spirit Lead. 10/10 Recommend 20:51 - Planning Events Months Ahead And Not A Month Before   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Skills alone can't compensate for a broken culture. If the team is unhealthy, the ministry will always feel stuck. Today, we're laying out a reset plan — a practical roadmap to start rebuilding trust, clarity, and a healthy team culture. Let's get to work.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:12 - Why This Matters 7:53 - Value 1: Bring Heaven to Earth 11:52 - Value 2: Say the Quiet Part Out Loud 17:48 - Value 3: Yes Be Yes, No Be No 21:48 - Value 4: Disagreement Is Not Disrespect 27:06 - Value 5: Solutions First 33:05 - How to Use Values to Shape Culture   IMPORTANT LINKS - The Creative Team Culture Cheatsheet DOWNLOAD: https://prochur.ch/4az1JXQ - Pro Church Certified: https://prochurchcertified.com/   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Level up your church's social without spending a cent. From scheduling and analytics to project management and planning, today's episode is all about the best $0 tools churches can use to streamline their work and improve results. Let's upgrade your workflow and keep costs at zero.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:36 - Instagram Insights 10:44 - Buffer 14:00 - Trello 15:09 - Linktree 16:16 - The Launcher by Nucleus 17:54 - Coschedule Headline Analyzer 19:58 - Auphonic 21:41 - Canva   IMPORTANT LINKS - Buffer: https://buffer.com/ - Trello: https://trello.com/ - Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ - The Launcher by Nucleus: https://www.nucleus.church/the-launcher - Coschedule Headline Analyzer: https://coschedule.com/headline-analyzer - Auphonic: https://auphonic.com/ - Canva: https://www.canva.com/ - PNAS NEXUS Article: https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/4/11/pgaf327/8285703   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

I asked you all, "What's one thing that frustrates you about church comms?" Today, we're unpacking your top answers — counting down from the least to the most common. And as we go, we'll share practical advice from real church experiences on how to fix these frustrations for good.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:43 - Lack Of Risk Taking 7:30 - Doing Over Being Effective 12:11 - Too Many Events To Talk About 20:06 - Not Understanding How Long Stuff Takes 24:00 - Complain There Isn't Enough/Too Much Info 27:44 - People Thinking They Know Best 30:12 - Last Minute Requests   IMPORTANT LINKS - DOWNLOAD Project Request Timelines [Example]: https://prochur.ch/4oAKjhN - Pro Church Certified: https://prochurchcertified.com/ - The Church Website Masterclass: https://youtu.be/0IfuwIa3qjw - Nucleus Makeovers: https://www.nucleus.church/makeovers   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

The next era of social media is arriving - and recent court filings from Meta give us a glimpse of what's coming. These revelations reveal a major shift in how platforms will operate moving forward. In this episode, we're breaking down what it means for your church and how to prepare.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:58 - Social Is Television 8:18 - Podcasts Are Television 10:10 - The Algorithm Is Television   IMPORTANT LINKS - Everything Is Television - Derek Thompson: https://bit.ly/4nEXqgD - YouTube Plans to Win Over Spotify's Audio-First Podcasters With AI - Business Insider: https://bit.ly/4hNCClZ   THE 167 NEWSLETTER