Hosted by EnduringChurches
Episodes
100
Latest episode
Jun 2026
Language
EN
Alan and Trent are pastors helping churches and leaders make a difference and last.
Episode 376: That Crazy Little Thing Called EQ How you respond under pressure… > How you handle conflict… > How you process emotions… > How you communicate with people… We got this idea from leaders.church. The how you respond came from them. Everything else is Trent and II talking through them.
Episode 375 link to article
Episode 374: All About Traditions Trent and alan discuss the good and bad of traditions in the church.
Episode 373: 4 People You Need in Your Life
Episode 372: Do's and Don'ts of Leading a Staff 1. Do value each team member as a co-laborer in the mission; do not treat them as merely an employee. 2. Do provide intentional training and ongoing feedback; do not assume growth will occur without guidance. 3. Do affirm and support your staff publicly; do not undermine them through criticism or negative speech. 4. Do address concerns privately and directly; do not correct or criticize in front of others. 5. Do practice honest, consistent evaluation; do not allow negative feedback to come as a surprise. 6. Do regularly express appreciation; do not allow your staff’s contributions to go unrecognized. 7. Do handle dismissal with care, clarity, and compassion; do not act with arrogance or insensitivity.
371: How to Respond to Criticism A special thanks to Dana Young for this note on facing criticism. 1st admit that you are not perfect. Jesus was the only perfect human to walk the earth, and you are not Him. Take ownership and admit that you always have room for improvement. 2nd assess whether the criticism is constructive or destructive. Is it intended to help you improve or to tear you down? Take the constructive and ignore the destructive. If the criticism was meant to harm you, ignore it and move on. Do not dwell on it. (If the criticism is from an anonymous critic, do not waste your time.) 3rd take a breath. Do not respond immediately. Take time to ponder and consider how the criticism can make you better. 4th thank the person for caring enough to offer their opinion. If they didn’t think you could improve, they wouldn’t have come to you. They could have chosen to complain to other people about you instead of coming to you. 5th ask the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) (Proverbs 15) Seek direction from the Holy Spirit. See this as an opportunity to improve. Be teachable and humble. 6th make the improvement and move forward. Do not get stuck in a negative thought pattern regarding the criticism. Focus on the good. 1 Peter 5:1-10
Episode 370: 7 Keys for Moving People from Guests to Engaged Members Make sure you ask for contact information, remembering that less is more. You need a name and a contact method, preferably a phone number. If they put kids in your care, you can ask for more information for safety reasons. But don't overtask. Reach out quickly; the more quickly we reach out, the more powerful the statement. A quick text to say thank you, along with the promise of a phone call at a certain time later, makes a meaningful statement. Also, make sure it's more than just a pastor. Another layperson adds greatly to the conversation. When you do talk with them, ask questions, don't just give them information. Too often, we want to tell them about everything going on at the church. Let them ask you the questions. They will realize they matter to you. Be honest and unashamed about who you are. If they don't like your worship style, don't apologize for how you do it. If you don't have a large student ministry, don't apologize, but be enthusiastic about the type you would like to build. Be gracious if they are not sure; they will come back. Remind them of other churches in the area and encourage them to find the place God wants them to be. We are kingdom collaborators, not kingdom competitors. Offer a membership class. Churches with effective membership classes tend to attract more guests and see more people join. Work to connect people with a Sunday School or small group. People stick when we find ways to connect them with others.
Episode 369: Onboarding Onboarding Most churches don’t put much thought into onboarding new paid staff or new volunteers For all 1–Is there a written job description for the position? 2–What are the written expectations? 3–Are there any unwritten expectations- landmines For volunteers 1–Is there a time limit for this volunteer position- ie. is there an out or not. 2–Can you explain briefly what success looks like for this position? 3–Who does this person work with and who can this volunteer go to with problems 4–Will there be an evaluation to hold this person accountable? Who will do the evaluation and how often? For staff 1–How does this person line out or set up their benefits? 2–How is this person evaluated and how often? 3–Who can this person go to if there are problems? 4–Who is this person over? (Responsible for) 5–What is the real chain of authority in the church?
Episode 368 - 4 ways we might overestimate or underestimate our preaching 4 ways we overestimate 1. We overestimate preaching a discipleship tool. 2. We overestimate preaching as an evangelism tool. 3. We overestimate our performance. 4. We overestimate our influence. 4 ways we underestimate 1. We undervalue the importance of connection 2. We undervalue the power of the Spirit to change lives 3. We undervalue the importance of our preparation 4. We undervalue our influence...
Episode 367: Enduring Work of Pre-marital Guidance Resources: Marriage by Paul David Tripp Symbis by Les and Leslie Parrot Love and respect by Emerson Egritch Videos by Mark Gungor Focus on the family Marriage mentoring - seasoned with newlyweds Having couple-friends who esteem marriage - won’t let you talk bad about your spouse Marriage retreats- check up from the neck up Weekly calendaring - creating connection, date-time, and sabbath time
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