Pro Church Podcast With Brady Shearer

Ministry is shifting, and Millennials are stepping into leadership like never before. But without awareness, we risk repeating the mistakes of those before us. Let’s talk about what’s changing and how to navigate it wisely.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 5:20 - Big Idea #1: Creative Culture Vs. Capitalist Culture 10:10 - Big Idea #2: Millennials No Longer Shape Pop Culture 13:15 - Big Idea #3: Millennials Will Repeat Past Leaders’ Mistakes—But Excuse Themselves 17:15 - Big Idea #4: Some Values To Help Us Navigate This New Era 23:53 - Big Idea #5: Mission Over Method   IMPORTANT LINKS - Dupe Photos: https://dupephotos.com - Eden Church: https://www.instagram.com/edenchurchhouston   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

What do you do when your pastor won’t listen? This is a common challenge in churches, and today, we’re sharing five practical approaches to communicate effectively—without being manipulative. These strategies work in churches of all sizes.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 3:02 - The Principle Of Congruency 10:17 - The Middle Option 16:58 - The Historical Analogy 22:45 - The 'Church Across The Street' Example 30:15 - The Testimony   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

It’s time to check in on the state of religion and Christianity. We’ve gathered key data-backed trends shaping this decade, including the one denomination that’s growing, the strongest force in American religion, and the most common words in new church names. Let’s dive in.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:30 - Trend #1: Church Names 9:40 - Trend #2: The One Denomination That's Growing 16:07 - Trend #3: Young Men Are Now As Religious As Young Women 27:19 - Trend #4: The Strongest Force In American Religion   IMPORTANT LINKS - Ryan Burge: https://www.drburge.com/ - Ryan Burge | Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ryanburge - Graphs about Religion: https://www.graphsaboutreligion.com/ - What's In a Name? Trends in Non-Denominational Church Branding: https://bit.ly/4iJfQL9 - The Assemblies of God: A Denomination That May Be Growing: https://bit.ly/43JmYD1 - Are Young Women Leaving Religion Faster than Young Men?: https://bit.ly/4iLkk3N - Non-Denominationa

RIP to these social media strategies—they didn’t make it in 2025. If your church is still using them, it’s time to move on. The good news? Dropping outdated tactics frees you up to focus on what truly works. Let’s break it down.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:53 - Followers 10:25 - Publishing Posts To Stories 15:00 - Choosing Quantity Over Quality 23:14 - Ignoring The Value Of The Re-Post 29:25 - Ignoring Consistent Branding   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Our 2025 church camera buying guide is here, featuring the best new options of the year. We’ll break down top picks across mirrorless, cinema, studio, PTZ, and camcorders—plus, grab our downloadable camera catalog.   2025 CAMERA CATALOG HERE: https://prochurchtools.com/best-church-cameras-buying-guide    ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:25 - The Best Budget Mirrorless Camera: Panasonic G7 ($497 USD) 6:33 - The Best Overall Mirrorless Camera: Sony A7C II ($2,198 USD) 12:20 - The Best PTZ Camera Money Can Buy: Sony BRC-AM7 ($12,000 USD) 16:23 - The Best Cinematic PTZ Camera: Sony FR7 ($9,699 USD) 21:30 - The Best Camcorder Money Can Buy: Sony PXW-Z200 ($3,988 USD) 27:40 - The Best Overall Cinema Camera: Sony FX30 ($1,598 USD) 30:45 - The Budget Cinema Camera: Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K ($995 USD)   IMPORTANT LINKS - Joel W Smith: https://www.joelwsmith.com - The Church iPhone Filmmaking Masterclass: https://youtu.be/6OWGVAuYSEk - Panasonic G7:

Recently, I made a social media discovery I never saw coming. We're calling it a hack, but that doesn't quite capture it. This isn't a shortcut—it actually makes social media more human. And for churches, it's a game changer.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:50 - DM Automation 5:18 - Pushback on DM Automation 10:54 - My Recent Comment On A Post 14:40 - My Test 25:25 - Church Application   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Here’s what’s working for youth groups on social media in 2025. We’re breaking down strategy, post ideas, and the best youth group accounts to follow for inspiration. Let’s dive in.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:17 - Guiding Principle #1: Student Driven 9:19 - Guiding Principle #2: Show Don't Tell 14:39 - Post Idea #1: Mic Up Kid 17:42 - Post Idea #2: Disposable 19:55 - Post Idea #3: Broadcast Channels 23:30 - Post Idea #4: Live Performance 29:35 - Post Idea #5: Bible Trivia   IMPORTANT LINKS - Pro Church Certified: https://certified.prochurchtools.com/ - How Churches Are Really Reaching Young People with Dr. Kara Powell: https://youtu.be/v6O0USRnwbY - cravegeneration: https://www.instagram.com/cravegeneration/ - weareamplifyyouth:https://www.instagram.com/weareamplifyyouth/ - Try This Church Photo Trend ASAP: https://youtu.be/ox4FQ3VKrj0   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Strong teams are the backbone of every thriving church. But let’s be honest—building them isn’t always easy. Today, we’re sharing underrated strategies and practical exercises that can help your church cultivate competent, healthy teams that last.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:45 - Guiding Principle #1: Churches Thrive By Developing Talent, Not Just Discovering It. 7:13 - Guiding Principle #2: You Need Both Soft Skills And Hard Skills 9:18 - Hard Skill #1: Complex Made Simple 13:20 - Hard Skill #2: Get A Quick Win ASAP 16:22 - Hard Skill #3: Long Obedience In The Same Direction 19:20 - Soft Skill #1: Known & Needed 23:35 - Soft Skill #2: People Will Do Almost Anything To Not Feel Pain 29:30 - Soft Skill #3: Expanding Your Language Expands Your World. 32:33 - Pro Church Certified Deep Dive   IMPORTANT LINKS - Pro Church Certified: https://certified.prochurchtools.com/ - An Honest Conversation about recruiting volunteers: https://youtu.be/Fiy

Got tough church social media questions? Today, we're tackling the most obscure, specific, and church-centric challenges you won’t find answers to in search engines. Let’s bring clarity to your social strategy!   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:30 - Tips for creating a modular, welcoming, pinned profile banner? 7:02 - How to boost engagement on new church Instagram pages? 9:22 - How frequently should you be posting? 13:32 - Planting a church soon, what should be doing in the lead up on social? 17:30 - Who should be in front of the camera staff-wise? 20:00 - Why did our Facebook engagement drop suddenly? 22:28 - What do we do with bad comments on our church Instagram page?   IMPORTANT LINKS - Try This Church Photo Trend ASAP: https://youtu.be/ox4FQ3VKrj0 - SocialSermons: https://www.socialsermons.com/ - Exposing Church Social Media Myths!: https://youtu.be/pLOhaisGwTA - Church Social Media Trends For 2025: https://youtu.be/_lFcU5cL42w - Nucleus Insi

Church leadership can be challenging, especially when negativity creeps into your team. Whether it’s one disruptive member or a broader cultural issue, it’s tough to navigate. Today, we’re sharing a practical framework for both preventing and addressing these challenges, based on our combined experiences in ministry and serving churches.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:58 - Set the standard yourself 11:30 - Set the standard for communication 17:24 - Align Behavior And Attitude Issues With Your Church's Core Values And Mission 22:15 - Earn Equity 26:24 - Clarify Expectations   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

03It’s a new year, so let’s dive into the top social media trends for 2025! We’re tracking six key trends that could shape how your church engages online. And trust us, the first one is a game-changer you’re probably not expecting.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:45 - The Anti-Trend 3:25 - The Period Of Stagnation 11:06 - The TikTok Ban15:55 - Social For Search 25:05 - Social For Market Research 32:30 - AI Memes   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Today, we sit down with Jay Kranda, the online pastor of Saddleback Church since 2013. As one of the pioneers of online ministry since the early 2000s, Saddleback has developed unconventional approaches to online church—challenging the conventional wisdom in fascinating ways.   IMPORTANT LINKS - Jay Kranda: https://www.jaykranda.com/ - Alpha Omega Digital Tool To Help Your Church: https://bit.ly/3DdCyLX - Online Church Is Not the Answer by Jay Kranda: https://www.jaykranda.com/mybook   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Let’s address some unpopular truths about church online—conversations many avoid but need to have. By confronting these realities, we can better focus our church's efforts and resources for greater impact.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:37 - Aesthetic Mismatch 8:08 - Social Media Is A Marathon, Not A Sprint 10:22 - Reaching Locally By Going Broadly 13:15 - Criticism Comes With Social Media 16:15 - You Can’t Outgrow Your Growth 19:04 - Tracking Posts to Guest Visits Is Impossible 24:24 - Boring Posts Often Perform The Best   IMPORTANT LINKS - Social Media Hate: How Churches Should Respond!: https://youtu.be/mznF4GqFKJI   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Smaller churches can grow without a big budget—using just seven essential tools! These zero-cost marketing strategies are designed to help you reach more people effectively. Sound too good to be true? Let us show you how it’s done.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 3:55 - Annual Bridge Events 9:53 - Viral For Me Clips On Social 11:30 - Get More People In Your Building Beyond Sunday Service 18:19 - Google Ad Grants & SEO 20:25 - Follow-back On Social & Like Their Content  22:15 - Build An Invite Culture   IMPORTANT LINKS - Google Gives Churches $10K in Free Ads: No Catch?: https://youtu.be/cdWrWtTgxkM - Google Business Profile for Church [Master Guide]: https://youtu.be/TEo6tDNYt5g   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Some of the world's best creative tools are deeply discounted - and sometimes even free - for churches and non-profits. But how do you access these discounts and what are the eligibility requirements? Today, we've compiled a list of the top 20 free and discounted software platforms and creative tools for churches and non-profits.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:46 - Resolve 3:39 - Nucleus Free Website Makeovers 5:29 - Canva For Non-Profits 8:04 - Blackmagic Camera App 9:23 - iPhone Camera App 10:17 - Adobe Creative Cloud 13:50 - Quickbooks 14:30 - Microsoft Office 14:56 - Zoom 15:49 - Google Ad Grant 16:13 - Google Workspace 17:20 - Calendly 18:11 - Buffer 18:40 - Vista Social & Bonfire 19:15 - Miro 19:32 - 1Password 22:35 - Trello 23:00 - ClickUp 24:08 - Notion 24:20 - Dropbox 24:42 - Auphonic   IMPORTANT LINKS - Resolve: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/ca/products/davinciresolve - Nucleus Free Website Makeovers: https://www.nucleus.church/

Church announcements often go unnoticed—but there's a proven formula for making them memorable and impactful. Many churches miss the mark, so today, we're here to help! We’ll craft announcements for ten real church events, demonstrating exactly how it’s done.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:17 - Youth Summer Beach Bonfire 7:42 - Praise In The Park 13:23 - First Steps Class 19:37 - VBS Theme 25:17 - Serve Day 26:47 - Summer Discipleship Groups 27:56 - Monthly Worship Night   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Handling negative comments online has evolved—especially for churches, where religious topics can spark intense reactions. So, should you delete, engage, or ignore? Today, we're sharing the best practices to help you manage these situations effectively.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:42 - The Two Eras Of Social 12:45 - Your Options 13:03 - When To Delete 14:33 - Your Options [Continued] 17:00 - The Pin & Respond Strategy 30:40 - Responding To Negative Reviews On Google   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Stage nerves are something we all face, whether it's during a sermon, an announcement, or even a prayer. Today, we’re sharing our top tips, principles, and techniques to help you speak with confidence on stage at church.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:41 - Proximity Principle 6:00 - Pitch, Pace, & Pause 13:00 - The Power Of Storytelling   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

More churches in America are closing each year than opening. Today, we're sitting down with our friend Ryan Burge whose church, after over 150 years, made the difficult decision to close its doors earlier this year. We’ll hear their story firsthand and explore the broader implications of this growing trend for the future of Christianity in America.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:30 - Ryan’s Church Story 7:40 - Changing Religious Demographic Trends 14:29 - Culpability vs Innocence 22:00 - Process Of Closing A Church 28:40 - Where Are You Finding Hope Right Now   IMPORTANT LINKS - As a pastor I pray my flock comes back… | Religion News: https://bit.ly/48c9Rub - An Illinois church closes its doors as religion declines in the US | AP News: https://bit.ly/4dOuqhx - In small-town Illinois, a little church says goodbye | Religion News: https://bit.ly/4hapdDw - How do you close a church? Ryan Burge learned firsthand | Deseret News: https://bit.ly/4harxd

Looking for fresh social media ideas for your church? Today, we've got over 20 unique post ideas your church probably hasn’t tried yet! Even better, these ideas can be repeated every year. Just imagine—set the dates, and the planning is done! Trust us, you haven’t used these before.    ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 3:23 - Alex’s Audible 6:41 - First Day Of Spring, Summer, Fall, And Winter 9:38 - National Coffee Day 12:04 - Famous Food For Your Church 15:26 - National Technology Day 17:58 - National Sons/Daughters/Parents Day 19:27 - National Father Daughter Take A Walk Day 22:13 - National Plant A Flower Day 23:25 - Black History Month 24:59 - National Awkward Moments Day 26:29 - National Day Of Prayer 29:39 - National Tweed Day 30:48 - National Vitamin C Day 32:07 - National Pet Day 33:09 - National Foster Care Month 34:29 - National Candy Corn Day 36:23 - National Buy Nothing Day 39:31 - National Grammar/Punctuation Day 40:34 - National Thesaurus