Pro Church Podcast With Brady Shearer

Small churches actually have a big advantage on social media — as long as they’re not trying to copy bigger ones. The secret is in what you measure. Forget likes and followers. There are two other metrics that matter far more, and they’re the key to thriving on social as a smaller church.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:50 - Abandoning the Old Metrics 7:25 - The 1st New Metric We Care About 13:50 - The 2nd New Metric We Care About 19:07 - What's The Point Of All This?   IMPORTANT LINKS - Buffer | How Often Should You Post on Instagram in 2025? What Data From 2 Million Posts Tells Us: https://buffer.com/resources/how-often-to-post-on-instagram/    THE 167 NEWSLETTER

We’ve put together the ultimate list of 49 free tools churches are using right now. And here’s the best part — these aren’t just our picks. Every single tool comes directly from churches like yours, already putting them to work in real ministry.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 3:17 - Communication 9:05 - Project Management 11:58 - Creative Resources 17:25 - Audio 20:43 - Production 24:50 - *Free, Not Free* 28:30 - Most Popular Tools   IMPORTANT LINKS - The Church Smartphone Photography Masterclass: https://youtu.be/KaUPT9o4Lus - WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/ - Slack: https://slack.com/ - Invite Everyone: https://inviteeveryoneapp.com/ - Messenger: https://www.messenger.com/ - Asana: https://asana.com/ - Trello: https://trello.com/ - Notion: https://www.notion.com/ - Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/ - ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/ - Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/ - Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ - VSCO: https://www.vsco.co/ - YouTube

What’s a popular church tech or creative trend that drives you crazy? We asked that on Instagram and got hundreds of replies. Some overlapped, some were surprising, and a few were just plain weird. Today, we’re breaking them all down.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:25 - No Vowels 4:26 - Fit Checks 8:50 - Design Icks 11:56 - Skit Reels 15:55 - Black Box 20:18 - Display Icks 24:05 - Copycat Syndrome 31:56 - Forrest Frank 33:26 - BONUS ROUND   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Instagram just rolled out some major changes – and yes, they affect everyone. So what now? We’ll walk you through what’s shifting in the algorithm and share practical adjustments your church can make to stay ahead.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:43 - Supply vs. Demand 7:45 - The Danger of Taking Breaks From Social 13:48 - More Quality vs More Volume 19:40 - Leverage Your Greatest Asset: An In-Person Audience, Not Just An Online Audience 26:04 - Plant Seeds 30:33 - Your Job Is Not To Be Good At Instagram 35:00 - Eventually, New Opportunities Arise   IMPORTANT LINKS - Mosseri Q&A: https://bit.ly/3HLgzi2 - Boujee potato: https://bit.ly/3UHkKhR - Alex Hormozi: https://www.instagram.com/hormozi/ - Russell Brunson: https://www.instagram.com/russellbrunson/ - Sean Cannell: https://www.instagram.com/seancannell/ - SocialSermons: https://www.socialsermons.com/ - Alex Hormozi Content Strategy: https://bit.ly/41RfsUM   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

03If your hook fails, your post fails – it’s that simple. We studied thousands of posts from 63 churches over the past year to uncover the hooks that performed best. The findings? Some were expected, others completely unexpected – and we’re sharing them all with you.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 4:13 - What is a “hook”? 6:10 - Inversion 10:40 - Meeting People In Their Pain 17:28 - Missing Info 21:04 - Questions About God 25:27 - Hows and Whys   IMPORTANT LINKS - DOWNLOAD The Church Promotions Formula Library: prochur.ch/promo - SocialSermons: https://www.socialsermons.com/   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

We put four of the top AI tools to the test — three made for churches and one mainstream option. Using real sermons, we measured editing experience, post quality, and time saved. The goal? To find out which tool, if any, is worth using for your church’s social media… or if it’s still better to do it yourself.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 5:14 - The Hook 29:23 - The Edit 35:39 - The Time   IMPORTANT LINKS - SocialSermons: https://www.socialsermons.com/ - Social Media Algorithm Secrets For Churches: https://youtu.be/duoWsi5MMao   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

You don’t have to stop promoting the same event at church – you just need to do it in a way that keeps people interested. That’s what today's episode is all about. We took a bunch of real promotions you submitted and we’re going to show you how to rework them into fresh, repeatable frameworks that actually get attention without wearing people out.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:27 - Recap of The Rules 5:44 - Category #1: Camp 12:25 - Category #2: Worship/Prayer Night 16:13 - Category #3: Groups 21:47 - Category #4: Fall Kickoff 23:10 - Category #5: Autumn Community Event 31:56 - Category #6: Retreat/Conference 35:40 - Category #7: Anniversary   IMPORTANT LINKS - DOWNLOAD the Library of Promotion Formulas: https://prochur.ch/promo - The New Rules For Church Promotions: https://youtu.be/oUJd07j4kE0 - SocialSermons: https://www.socialsermons.com/ - Skit Reel Example #1: https://bit.ly/44JWUI6 - Skit Reel Example #2: https://bit.ly/3IJ81bC - Skit Re

More and more teens are turning to AI chatbots for connection, advice, and answers. What could go wrong? If you’re in youth ministry, you may have already seen the dark side of this trend. In this video, we explore why this shift could be more damaging to Gen Z than social media was for Millennials—and what your ministry can do about it.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 3:00 - Takeaway #1: Delegation Becomes Dependency (Dr. Caroline Leaf) 6:57 - Takeaway #2: Formation Needs Friction 13:00 - Takeaway #3: AI Is Not A Friend 25:17 - The Theological Argument *For* AI In Ministry   IMPORTANT LINKS - Caroline Leaf: https://x.com/DrCarolineLeaf - Your Brain On Chatgpt: https://bit.ly/4nyRHKn - Hopeful Intelligence: A Framework for How Spiritual Wisdom Can Reimagine AI — David Kim [Talkingbird]: https://bit.ly/4nCb59z   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

The future of creativity is shifting—fast. And for the first time, humans aren’t the only ones leading the way. New studies from Stanford and MIT reveal how AI is already transforming creative work. In this video, we break down the top 3 takeaways every creative needs to know to stay ahead. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:00 - Takeaway #1: The AI Revolution Is Backwards 13:06 - Takeaway #2: Trust Is The Biggest Roadblock 20:27 - Takeaway #3: Creative Bankruptcy IMPORTANT LINKS - Future of Work with AI Agents: https://bit.ly/4lzlPnc - Your Brain On Chatgpt: https://bit.ly/4nyRHKn - Threads, Podcast Video Studio, & AI Policy For Churches: https://youtu.be/hngpsILIL8I THE 167 NEWSLETTER

A church in Arizona has shared its goals for the year—and surprisingly, not one of them mentions attendance. So what are they focusing on instead? And should your church take a similar approach? In this episode, we break down their strategy and what it could mean for your ministry.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 4:36 - Reason #1: Process OVER Outcome 10:39 - Reason #2: Lead OVER Lag 19:18 - Bonus Goal #1: Young Leaders Coalition 23:44 - Bonus Goal #2: Amplify More Voices 30:35 - Bonus Goal #3: Staff Sabbatical Policy   IMPORTANT LINKS - Ironwood Church: https://www.ironwoodchurch.org/ - Luke Simmons Twitter | X: https://x.com/lukedsimmons - Makeovers: https://www.nucleus.church/makeovers - What Predicts Church Growth or Decline?: https://bit.ly/44o8pVk   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Church live streaming is one of the most misunderstood parts of modern ministry. Some see it as a threat, others as a lifeline—but most hold at least a few misconceptions. So in this episode, we’re unpacking the truth, challenging assumptions, and exploring what’s next for digital church.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 8:00 - In-Person vs. Online: What the Data Says 8:53 - Does In-Person Attendance Reduce Online Participation? 10:43 - Is Online Church "Replacing" In-Person Worship? 12:38 - Do People Prefer Online Church? 13:13 - Who Watches Online Church the Most? 14:52 - Key Takeaways 19:50 - Application   IMPORTANT LINKS - How AI & Social Media Are Changing You — Rich Wilkerson Jr. & Sean Cannell — Ep 55: https://youtu.be/SKT24eT9svE?feature=shared   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Almost every church says they preach the Bible, follow Jesus, and care about discipleship. Yet, we all know there’s a big difference between a healthy church and one that’s not. So what sets them apart? That’s what we’re unpacking today—10 key habits that define truly healthy churches.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:50 - Holy Character 4:43 - Hard Work 5:52 - Tender Hearts 9:22 - The Language You Use Becomes The Culture You Build 12:14 - Active Participants Over Passive Spectators 16:00 - Calculated Delusion 19:45 - Devotion Over Dogma 25:44 - Vocal About Values 29:22 - Accountable To The Mission 32:00 - Emphasizing Young People   IMPORTANT LINKS - How Churches Are Really Reaching Young People with Dr. Kara Powell: https://youtu.be/v6O0USRnwbY   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Sometimes it feels easier to just do the project yourself. But if you’re the only creative your church can rely on, you’re going to hit a ceiling. You need others—and a system to lead them well. That’s where our Rulebook for Leading Church Creative Departments comes in. Let’s walk through it together.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 3:12 - EMERGENCY MODE: Church Mission = Policy 9:56 - BASIC MODE: Ministry Mission = Policy 15:20 - ADVANCED MODE: Ministry Policy   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Father’s Day is almost here—so here are creative ways your church can celebrate and appreciate dads.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:32 - #1: Don't Make Dads a Caricature 3:27 - #2: Have Fathers Recognize Other Fathers 6:13 - #3: Dad Jokes In Pre-Service Slides 7:20 - #4: Create A Reason For Dad's To Spend Time With Their Families After Church 11:24 - #5: Free Coffee For All Dads 12:12 - #6: Supply Bar 14:18 - #7: Favorite Memories From People On Stage 16:55 - #8: Integrate Acknowledgements For Dads In Different Seasons 20:12 - #9: Incorporate Father's Day Elements, But Don't Design Your Entire Service Around It 21:26 - #10: Dedicate Portion Of Giving That Week To Father-Specific Org 22:12 - How To Approach All Of This On Social   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Need summer social media ideas for your church? These 15 proven posts work—no fancy gear required.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:18 - Kid POV 4:03 - Blown Away Promo 5:35 - Press This Button 7:48 - When You & Your Best Friend Serve On Different Teams 10:21 - Whisper In The Crowd 12:44 - Camera & Paper Prompt 14:46 - Finding Out If There's Youth This Friday 16:11 - What's Your Vision For This Room? 17:26 - What Not To Do During Worship 19:27 - Sorry, I Have Plans 20:24 - I Give Up. Going To Church. 22:15 - POV: You're Late To Service, But You're Favorite Praise Song Is Playing 23:25 - He Won't ☠️ 24:30 - Recharge 26:54 - Volunteer Commitment   IMPORTANT LINK - Kid POV: https://bit.ly/3SdwW8Y - Blown Away Promo: https://bit.ly/4ktHg8N - Press This Button: https://bit.ly/3HgRomN - When You & Your Best Friend Serve On Different Teams: https://bit.ly/3SJMvVX - Whisper In The Crowd: https://bit.ly/3F3gncR - Camera & Paper Prompt: http

If I ran your church’s social media, this is the calendar I’d use. It works across platforms, adapts to your time, and scales with your team.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 8:50 - TUE & THUR: Sermon Clip #1 & #2 17:33 - MON: Quote Post 19:20 - WED: Carousel & Text Thread 23:00 - FRI: YouTube Video + Portrait Post #1 25:35 - SAT: Portrait Post #2 30:30 - EXTRA: Blog Post & Book   IMPORTANT LINKS - Churches keep neglecting *this* social media post: https://youtu.be/3DNs1YYvq2I - The Church Social Media Masterclass: https://youtu.be/t1g6iMRR_Tk - Subscribe to our newsletter [The 167]: https://167.prochurchtools.com/ - SocialSermons: https://www.socialsermons.com/   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

For 15 years, the story’s been the same: belief is fading. But new data tells a different story. Not just in America—but across the West. Let’s unpack what’s changing and what the Church should do next.   IMPORTANT LINKS - Religion in 2024: The Plateau Is Real: https://bit.ly/4cYyCN7 - The Quiet Revival: Gen Z leads rise in church attendance: https://bit.ly/4jZ3G1j   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

From blah to brilliant—5 quick, proven fixes to instantly level up your church announcements. No overhaul needed, just simple tweaks that make a big difference.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 4:15 - The Curveball 8:05 - The Callback 13:15 - The Interview 17:31 - The Interaction 22:18 - The Audible   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

Today on the show: 15 things everyone says your church needs on social media. Spoiler — many don’t matter at all. We’re sorting each one: necessary, nice to have, or nonsense. Let’s cut through the noise.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:48 - Spring Promotions 5:46 - Facebook Group 7:04 - Consistency 8:51 - Photography Of Church Life 11:18 - DM Automation 13:12 - Skit Reels 18:50 - Meta Verified 20:26 - Following & Engaging With Others 23:30 - Sprinkle Promotions 28:40 - Hashtags 31:42 - Sermon Reels 38:24 - Social Accounts For Ministries 40:52 - Ideal Post Timing 43:15 - X Account 44:30 - TikTok/Threads Account   IMPORTANT LINKS - ManyChat: https://manychat.com/ - Stop Saying “Link In Bio”! Say This Instead… : https://youtu.be/wEMYlV4ZvPg   THE 167 NEWSLETTER

This is Church Branding 101. Learn the difference between brand and branding, exercises to define your church’s identity, and whether branding even belongs in ministry.   ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 2:02 - The Simplest Way To Understand Branding 3:52 - Brand vs. Branding 5:38 - All Church's Practice Perception Design, Most Just Do It Unintentionally 10:14 - Is Intentionally Practicing Perception Design 'Manipulative?’ 12:50 - Your Church Branding Foundation: Purpose/Mission/Vision/Values   IMPORTANT LINKS - Pro Church Certified: https://prochurchcertified.com - Email us: hello@prochurchtools.com   THE 167 NEWSLETTER