The Stan Rodda Podcast: Recent Episodes
Stan Rodda
The Stan Rodda Podcast is a resource for today's ministry leaders. Featured guests talk about any number of topics related to ministry and leading a church. This podcast helps to equip and develop you for all the things you will encounter in today's ministry world.
This conversation takes place on July 28, 2019. I had my friend and disciple maker, Jeff McDaniel, come and join me at New Life Linton Hall. Our goal was to give clarity to what it actually means to “make disciples.”
We discuss very practically, some opportunities for everyone to take next steps in being a disciple who makes disciples. In many ways it boils down to these things:
- Experience Jesus personally!
- Abide in Christ daily through Scripture reading and prayer!
- Share your experience with Jesus with someone you know who doesn’t know Christ!
We discuss very practical next steps that you can take within any 24-hour period to become a disciple who makes disciples.
This sermon was recorded during New Life’s “Made” series. The big idea is simply, “You were made to be covered in the dust of your Rabbi.”
The premise flows from a writing in Avot 1:4 in the Mishna. When we read the Bible with Western eyes, we miss the absolute beauty and brilliance of what God is up to and how it all fits together. Following Jesus is about far more than learning a few facts in a Bible study. It is about being completely covered in the dust from His feet because we are following Him so closely.
Follower of Jesus - Church - my prayer for you is that you will be covered in the dust of your Rabbi, Jesus!
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This conversation is sure to inspire, challenge and convict many of us in our current ministry areas. I am so excited to have Jon Ralls on this episode. He is a former college professor, soccer coach and now a friend in ministry. I love what he is doing and what God is up to through him. He is going to lay out for you in this episode what God is up to.
Jon shares about his work with "Media 2 Movement" and the "Zume Project." Through those ministries, God is bringing about a disciple-making movement through Jon and his teams around the globe. But it's not just anywhere. Disciples makers are being made and simple churches are starting in some of the hardest to reach areas in the world. Nations that we can't name for security reasons. Nations that are anti-Christian. Nations where persecution is real and Christians are called to die for their faith.
And in the middle of all of this amazing work, he is also fighting cancer. He is a warrior on so many levels. Not only his military experience, but also his work for Christ and fighting cancer. His story is truly inspiring and encouraging.
Highlights |
- My passion is to see that there are no unreached or unengaged people groups with the Gospel.
- There are going to be millions of people who are born, get married and live life but never once hear the name Jesus. That's unacceptable to me.
- Our teams are working in countries that are sending people to ISIS and because of disciple making movements we are seeing tens of people every month baptized in these places.
- We spent $26 on Facebook ads and 30 people wanted to learn about Jesus and were passionate about getting Bibles.
- Discipleship and evangelism aren't separate. You can do both at the same time.
- We are training people to be the church and to reach people in other groups in their relational sphere of influence (oikos).
- If we're going to plant, we must plant in our weakness. God, only you can do this.
- Our current systems in the church create dependency not disciples.
- We need to go on the offensive. Do a prayer walk around and get to know your neighborhood.
- Make a list of 100 people you know who don't know Jesus. Then list 5 you want to talk to about Him.
- The people who have the hardest time listing lost people they know are pastors.
- The Holy Spirit is pretty good at what He does.
- What struck me about the early church and its growth to millions was not what they had, but what they did not have and yet they flourished.
- We utilize generational mapping that can see disciples out to the 8th generation.
- There are movements here in the States that are happening. Generational, simple gatherings of believers that consider themselves the church.
- That is what's so attractive about the church. It is Jesus in our midst and the Spirit working in our lives.
- I truly believe that we could see the fulfillment of seeing the Gospel in all places in our lifetime. We could finish the task.
- I love the church. I love it in every form and place. I love those who love the Bride of Christ.
Links |
Disciple Tools - https://disciple.tools
Kingdom Training - https://kingdom.training
Zume Project - https://zumeproject.com
The Rise of Christianity - by Rodney Stark - https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Christianity-Marginal-Religious-Centuries/dp/0060677015/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521843083&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=Lies+of+Christianity+Rodney+Stark
Simple Church - by Thom Rainer - https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Church-Returning-Process-Disciples/dp/0805447997/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521850866&sr=8-1&keywords=simple+church&dpID=41jF-8jr4pL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch
Weekly Email |
I send a weekly email called "Stan's Field Notes" on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
Sean Cronin joins me for episode 058 of the show. He works for our church planting organization called "Passion 4 Planting." The heart of P4P is to see churches multiply with the purpose of making disciples who make disciples. They come alongside churches with project management, free resources, templates, planter residencies, assessments and more. If you have ever felt the tug toward church planting, I can't recommend touching base with P4P enough.
Even if you aren't a church planter in waiting, your church can still connect with P4P. Maybe you have a dream for going multi-site or launching churches. P4P comes alongside those churches and leaders to help with training, preparation and strategies to get there. So P4P isn't just for brand new startups. Their mindset is a Kingdom mindset to help churches multiply and make disciples.
Highlights |
- We developed our system partly to come alongside churches to help them multiply and make disciples.
- We have a vision to multiply, but how do we do it?
- We are helping church planter residents ask the right questions about how to plant a church.
- Let's be intentional and strategic about leadership development with our church plants.
- The smartest thing Dave Ferguson has ever done was connecting NewThing to Passion 4 Planting.
- Bootcamp breaks down strategies and plans for your church plant into a week long intensive training.
- We partner with local churches to help them with strategies by giving away free tools and templates.
- If you have questioned if God is calling you to plant a church, take part of Passion 4 Planting's assessment to find discernment.
- Many planters are vision drunk on their own vision.
- The wells of resources for church planting are drying up and church planters are going to have to be more creative when it comes to funding their plants.
Links |
Website - http://church-planting.net
Twitter - https://twitter.com/4planting
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/passion4planting/
NewThing Network - http://newthing.org
Phil Ling Book - The Generosity Tsunami
Weekly Email |
I send a weekly email called "Stan's Field Notes" on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
I recently got back home after attending the Exponential Conference in Orlando, Florida. And all I can say is that if you're missing out on the resources and content from Exponential, you need to change that. This podcast episode focuses on some of my lessons learned while at Exponential. I was fortunate enough to be able to serve as the social media guy during the week. Running Twitter and Facebook for a conference this size had me a little nervous, but it ended up being a fantastic week.
In this episode I share 4 lessons learned at main sessions. All of those lessons learned I tweeted live while they were happening. I also share 1 lesson learned while walking through the different workshops. I share that in this episode and in the highlights below.
Highlights |
- "You can spend 20 years in ministry doing the right thing and miss the greater thing God is doing." Albert Tate
- "What percentage of what you know do you actually obey?" Jossy Chacko
- "You don't have a church. You've been entrusted to steward what belongs to the living God." Leonce Crump
- "I'm asking you to make a commitment today to be someone who will give your life away for the Kingdom so that it can be on earth as it is in heaven." Danielle Strickland
- "Husbands, pray over your wives. Don't just pray for them. Wrap them in your arms and pray a simple prayer over them." Geoff Surratt
Links |
Exponential Conference - http://exponential.org
Digital Access Pass - https://exponential.net/digital-access-pass/
Exponential Events - https://register.exponential.org
Weekly Email |
I send a weekly email called "Stan's Field Notes" on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
A topic on everyone's minds after the recent school shooting in Florida, along with the church shooting in Texas, is simply that of safety. While it's not a topic we enjoy or want to think about, with our society devolving into chaos, it's one that must be discussed. My friend, Travis Ludvigsen, a fire marshal from Loudoun County is my guest to discuss safety and training in a church setting. Travis is passionate about ministry and is a disciple maker at our church. He is as genuine as they come. He shares practically some things you need to be thinking through when it comes to keeping your people, families and kids safe at your church.
Highlights |
- Top priority should be safety for your families and kids.
- Your team leaders and volunteers need to know the safety plan.
- We must plan and train for "What if" situations.
- Look for someone in your church with public safety experience already to help build a plan and help with training.
- Deescalation (verbal judo) is one of the first priorities you need in place. Not every situation needs a "hammer."
- Talk to the school or theater you meet in to ask what current safety procedures are already in place.
- Buy high quality, walkie-talkies, so that you can communicate between concrete walls and long hallways.
- Use of force is the absolute last resort.
- The ultimate goal in an active shooter situation is simply to save lives.
- David didn't use other people's armor or equipment to take down Goliath. He used what he knew and had trained with. Your safety plans must be contextualized to your setting!
- You must know the current laws in your area regarding safety procedures so that you are operating inside the law and are protected in case something does happen.
Travis isn't big into social media, but if you want to follow him on Twitter, you can do that right here. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to him.
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email called "Stan's Field Notes" on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
Like a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden, Christians are called to be the light of the world. But in recent years, that has become far more than just the real world. It's more than where we interact with neighbors and co-workers or even the person checking us out at the grocery store. The world has gone digital and we are called to be a light of the cyber world.
In this episode my guest, Haley Bodine, shares 4 practical things that Christians need to think through before posting online. Whether that be a status update, a comment on a post or a retweet on Twitter. This is a great conversation that every believer needs to pay careful attention to. I also share in this episode a recent mistake I made on Facebook to try and give some context to the conversation.
Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Haley Bodine and her family now call metro Detroit “home.” She currently serves as the North American Relationship Catalyst and Communications Director for NewThing Network. She has a background in small group ministry, nonprofit communications, and content development. Her work has been published by Relevant Magazine, World Vision International, Neue Magazine, and more.
Highlights
- Haley's worst nightmare is showing up to a band concert only to discover her instrument's reed is broken.
- "We must remember that even though we cannot see actual people on the other side of our screens, we are interacting with real people who have real, God-given souls."
- Four things to consider before posting: will it build others up, is it truthful, does it reflect the character of Jesus and does it honor the image of God imprinted on others.
"We are the Light of the Cyber World!" -http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2018/january/we-are-light-of-cyber-world-lets-act-like-it.html
Connect with Haley Bodine
Twitter - https://twitter.com/hmbodine
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/haley.bodine.9
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/haleybodine/
Blog - http://haleymbodine.wordpress.com
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
Easter is barely over a month away. We are nearly down to crunch time. One thing that surely is left to do is to communicate to your regular attenders as well as those outside of your church, about what it is that you have going on. You will want to invite them to an event potentially. You also have special stuff planned for Easter Sunday. Maybe new service times. You also have multiple ministries and opportunities for next steps. Whatever it is, you have to communicate it all effectively or run the risk of not being heard at all.
In this episode, I talk with Jeanette Yates, a Communications Director from Jacksonville, FL. She has a heart and passion for ministry and people coming to know Jesus. She helps make that happen through communicating church events and happenings effectively in a variety of ways. In this episode she shares great tools for communicating Easter effectively.
Highlights |
- Churches, stay away from Psalm 53:1 this Easter.
- Your audience at Easter is slightly different than at other times of year.
- Keep in mind that for those not familiar with faith, the resurrection story can be complex to understand in one sitting.
- Have a clear call to action on Easter Sunday.
- Tool #1: Facebook Live! Use it to pray for people or have some fun by sharing a quiz to help engage your audience.
- Tool #2: Facebook Groups! This tools allows people to follow your devotions or Easter preparations in a more private place.
- Don't be afraid to create a Facebook ad to share with your community.
- Using Instagram Stories is a great way to share the behind the scenes of what is happening at your church Easter morning.
- Tool #3: Text in Church! Create keywords and automated follow up through email, texts or reminders to place a phone call to your guests.
- Easter is a way to help people get to the on ramp that helps them find life and hope in Christ.
- Connecting people to Jesus is the Super Bowl. Easter is the start of the playoffs. Don't miss this opportunity with people.
Links |
- Jeanette Yates - http://twitter.com/jnetteyates
- Previous Episodes with Jeanette - http://www.stanrodda.com/podcast/2017/9/25/043-storytelling-and-the-generation-gap
- Two Church Girls and a Microphone - http://twochurchgirls.com
- Text in Church - http://textinchurch.com
- Easter Ad Pack - https://www.easteradpack.com/easteradpack
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
Misty Rodda makes her way back onto the show this time to share some of the lessons we have learned over 18 years of marriage. She was last on the podcast in episode 005 to share lessons for 20-something, pastor's wives. That was a great episode and one of the most popular. We have a lot of fun in this episode and probably ramble a little too much, but it was still fun. This is a great episode as we approach Valentine's Day 2018.
Highlights |
- Lesson numero uno gentleman is that she is better than you.
- Lesson #1: Your differences are a positive, not a negative.
- Lesson #2: Marriage actually requires sacrifice and commitment. You actually can't think about yourself all the time and expect it to work.
- Lesson #3: Clear expectations are vitally important.
- There are seasons in life when one spouse will have to carry more of the load than the other spouse. Realize it's a season and offer grace when your spouse can't offer 100%.
- Lesson #4: Your marriage is not expendable. Stop basing it on your feelings.
- It is pure arrogance to say you know better than God how your marriage should work.
- When you're not "feeling it" in marriage, it's time to: get over yourself, admit you don't have it all together, get some counseling, water the grass in your own backyard and go home and love your spouse.
- Lesson #5: Don't overcomplicate the idea of dating your spouse.
- Ask the questions: how can I pray for you and what's one thing I can do for you today?
- Your spouse is NOT the enemy. You are in a spiritual battle for your marriage.
Links |
- Voddie Baucham - Go home and love your wife
- Enneagram - Explore your type
- The 5 Love Languages - https://www.amazon.com/Love-Languages-Secret-that-Lasts/dp/080241270X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1517501481&sr=8-3&keywords=5+love+languages
- Misty Rodda - Twitter
- Misty Rodda - Facebook
- Misty Rodda Photography - Website
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
In this conversation, I talk with Shawn Lovejoy about his coaching ministry, Courage to Lead. He is having the time of his life pastoring pastors. Shawn has seen some of the great successes of the mega church. He is a church planter. He has great insight and practical wisdom when it comes to ministry.
We talk specifically about Courage to Lead, but then also touch on systems, teams and culture. Every tension in ministry can be boiled down to these three growth gears; right system, right team and right culture. Shawn breaks this down for us in this episode.
Highlights
- Some of us are great players, others of us are better coaches.
- We coach leaders through what keeps us up at night.
- The three growth gears of ministry: right system, teams and culture
- Every church is perfectly structured for the results they're getting now.
- We wait on God to grow our ministry, but God is waiting on us to structure for growth.
- If the only way someone can be saved is to meet with me (the pastor), then I'm the bottleneck on our ability to grow.
- A system is a bridge that moves things and people from where they are to where they need to be.
- The majority of people are introverts. Rise introverts!
- We assimilated 500 people into small groups in a 2-week period of time because we utilized the power of a simple step.
- It's lazier to sit around and check my inbox to see if someone needs me than to be intentional about creating systems.
Resources
Courage to Lead - http://www.couragetolead.com
Shawn Lovejoy - http://twitter.com/shawnlovejoy
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
All pastors should be in the business of leadership development. If you aren't developing leaders around you and preparing people to lead in ministry areas, then you are probably building your ministry around you and limiting your church to whatever you can accomplish. The most important part of leadership development is deciding to develop leaders. After that, it's all about putting it together.
Matt Adair joins me from Athens, Georgia. He is a former National Director for the Acts 29 Church Planting Network. He is currently a lead pastor and coaches leaders through 5 Factors Leadership. In this episode he shares practical insights into how to go about developing leaders.
Highlights
- Leadership development is taking someone who is a leader or potential to be a leader and helping them maximize their potential.
- Leaders are all around you. You probably call them volunteers.
- One thing that connects all leaders is a sense of competence.
- Three development questions: 1. How are you? 2. What are you working on? 3. How can I help you?
- To find leaders, clarify what leadership is and what opportunities for leadership there are.
Links
5 Factors Podcast - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/five-factors-a-podcast-about-leadership/id1280143273?mt=2
5 Factors Leadership - https://fivefactors.net/welcome
Pipeline Academy - https://fivefactors.net/sales-page15679704
Follow Matt on Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattadair
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
I invited Daniel Im to come and speak with me on the topic of vision, strategy and values. He recently shared a 90-second video with Lifeway Leadership on these three things. I asked him to come and break it down a little further and to spend time getting practical on how we develop these three areas in ministry.
Highlights:
- Bi-vocational Ministry - Lifeway is developing a pathway for bi-vocational pastors at new churches.com.
- 90-second Video - distinguishing vision, strategy and values. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm2j-UgXFIA
- Your strategy can be broken down into two strands: leadership pipeline and discipleship pathway.
- Four categories to discover vision through a "Vision Audit": community history, community context, church people and church leadership context.
- Prepare for strategic trade-offs in your ministry. You must be as prepared for what you say "No" to as what you say "Yes" to.
- If everyone can say "Yes" to your values, they aren't clear enough.
Daniel Im's website - danielim.com
Follow him on Twitter - http://twitter.com/danielsangi
His book "No Silver Bullets" - https://www.amazon.com/No-Silver-Bullets-Transform-Ministry/dp/1433651548/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1514651460&sr=8-1&keywords=no+silver+bullets
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
It's no secret that every year we set new resolutions and goals for the New Year. By the end of January some 80-90% of people will have given up on their goals already. Less than 10% will actually accomplish their goals over the course of the year. Join Tom Pounder and I as we discuss approaching your goals in a sustainable way. Quick shout out to Jon Acuff for his book, "Finish." Some of my thoughts were founded in his work in that book.
Highlights:
- Set realistic goals - not running once in 2017 and setting a goal to run a marathon in February 2018 is not realistic.
- Learn from others - what are other churches or ministries who are just ahead of you doing?
- Manageable chunks - break your goals down into small steps I call "manageable chunks."
- Inspiring people - surround yourself with people who will inspire you toward your goals.
- Find the right tool - find a productivity tool that helps you the most. I use the "Week Dominator" at neuyear.net. It allows you to break down your yearly goal into quarters, months, weeks and days. I love this tool.
- Write it down - writing things down can help you to remember what you're after and to keep you focused on it.
- Use automated tools - there are tools out there that can help you put certain systems into place that will happen automatically behind the scenes.
- You are not Carey Nieuwhof!
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
Welcome to 2018!! Happy New Year to all of you. And welcome to BONUS episode 002. On this episode, I simply wish you all a Happy New Year and update everyone on what's to come. Highlights include: upcoming episodes with Tom Pounder, Daniel Im, Matt Adair and Shawn Lovejoy.
You can also subscribe to my email newsletter I send out every Friday morning. It's a simple email with great ministry content from around social media. If you don't like looking for content, but don't mind having it delivered to your inbox for FREE, you should subscribe. I'll also include a free copy of my eBook, "The Art of Self-Leadership," as my way of saying "Thanks" for subscribing.
Head over to stanrodda.com to subscribe to the email.
It's going to be a great 2018 season on the show. We'll chat soon on Monday, January 15th!
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
Thanks for being a faithful listener to the podcast. It truly means a lot to me. As we near the holidays, I am going to take a break from the weekly show. I will post a few updates along the way over the next couple of months to stay connected, but the weekly show is going to catch its breath.
That said, I am lining up some great stuff for 2018. I am working on new seasons with great content that will bring value to you, your leadership and your ministry. One of the ways I am doing that is through a short survey. My goal is to hear from you and a little of your ministry story. I also want to know what ministry questions you might have that we haven't addressed on the show. One of the ways I can add value to your ministry is by talking about the things that mean something to each of you. I want to build your questions and topics into the 2018 season of the show.
The survey will only take about 2 minutes to complete. It's short and sweet. I'm really hoping to hear from as many of you as possible. If you want to be a part of making the podcast even better in the coming year, I hope you'll take a moment of your time to fill out the survey.
I look forward to hearing your Thanksgiving and Christmas stories. May God grant you hope and peace in this season. And may God's name receive glory as you point people toward Him.
Peace.
Survey link - http://bit.ly/2yTjmAe
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
Don't let the onslaught of digital changes in the world be the things that prevents your church or ministry from moving forward. While everything in our world is changing at a very fast pace, there are opportunities out there to learn and grow with it.
In this episode, Tom Pounder shares about Digital Bootcamp, an online group that is helping pastors, church leaders and volunteers to grow in their knowledge and application of the digital world. You don't want to miss this episode or what's going on at Digital Bootcamp.
Some of our conversation boils down to:
- Learning the digital and online world is a constant learning experience. You never arrive.
- There is no shortage of resources available online to learn.
- Digital Bootcamp is for anyone with a desire to learn digital tools to expand their reach and to help people come to know Christ.
- Digital ministry is an opportunity to disciple someone to serve in this area.
- Digital Bootcamp is FREE training for a digital and online world.
Links |
Digital Bootcamp
Tom Pounder
YM Sidekick
Church Marketing Sucks
Social Media Examiner
ProChurch Tools
Jay Kranda
Social Media Church Podcast
Church Communications Group
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
It isn't just a cultural idea that the church has to be great at first impressions or guest services. It's more than that. It's biblical. We are called to be great hosts and to love people as strangers. When someone walks into our churches for the very first time, they are likely a stranger. What are you doing to welcome them and help them feel at ease?
In this episode, listen in on my conversation with Dave Hileman of Waypoint Church Partners. Dave shares great insight and wisdom when it comes to creating a great first impression. Churches can and must do better in this area. With so few people returning after a first visit for a second visit, we need to remove every barrier we can so that they can come and hear from God. This conversation is a great starting point for you and your team.
Our conversation boils down to...
- Only 22% of first-time guests will become second-time guests.
- Hospitality is a sacred responsibility in the Old and New Testaments.
- There's no excuse to not have great signage for people to know where to go next.
- A first rate first impression will require training and accountability.
- Gather your first impressions team 30 minutes before church to regroup, pray for newcomers and to get pumped up for the day.
- Don't lead to not lose volunteers. Lead to find the right volunteers for the role.
Waypoint Church Partners - http://www.waypointchurchpartners.com
Dave Hileman - dhileman@waypointchurchpartners.com
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
I love the Exponential Conference. It's one of the greatest weeks of my year. The networking and friendships that develop are life-changing. The focus of Exponential is simply multiplication. How does the church have an "Exponential" impact on the world? We do that through disciples making disciples who plant churches that will plant churches. Think of a guy like Ralph Moore who has planted more than 2500 churches. That's the kind of multiplication that Exponential is all about. If you have ever thought or dreamed of planting a church, you simply can't miss Exponential. You can find out more on their website at exponential.org.
Follow Exponential on...
Twitter - https://twitter.com/churchplanting
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/churchplanting
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/church_planting/
In this episode I spend time talking to some of the sponsors who help make Exponential happen. They share what it is that they do and where you can learn more. They also share what they love about Exponential. You are not going to want to miss all the great and FREE resources that are linked in this episode. You can see them all below.
Exponential Sponsors & Resources |
Portable Church - https://www.portablechurch.com
Passion 4 Planting - http://church-planting.net
Gospel Project - https://www.gospelproject.com
Acts 29 - http://www.acts29.com
Disciples Path - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Disciples-Path
Disciple Xchange - http://www.disciplexchange.com
Living as One - https://resi.io
Regal Theater Church - https://corporateboxoffice.com/theatre-church
Discipleship.org - http://discipleship.org
Radiant Printing - http://www.radiantprinting.com
Church on Wheels - http://churchonwheels.com
Right Now Media - https://www.rightnowmedia.org
CDF Capital - https://www.cdfcapital.org
Send Network - https://www.namb.net/send-network
New Thing Network - http://www.newthing.org
Wave - http://wave.us
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
Pastors and church leaders are all in on conversations about leadership, vision casting, discipleship, multiplication and church growth. But for some reason the rooms go silent and the conversation dies down when the topic of physical fitness is brought up. If the body is the temple of the living God and we are called to be stewards of all things, pastors need to take a fresh look at taking care of themselves physically.
In this episode of the podcast my friend, Greg Oraham, from Pastor Fit comes on the show to share his story. A journey that included a scare with four blocked valves in his heart that lead him to take better care of his body. Now his passion has boiled over for other pastors as he seeks to help them get healthy also. If you are going to lead a healthy church from a healthy place, you need to be healthy yourself. Don't miss this episode. It could, quite literally, save your life.
Some of our conversation boils down to:
- Physical fitness should be viewed as a part of your spiritual disciplines.
- You need to be healthy to be the best church leader you can be.
- Go on an evening walk after dinner. If you're married, walk with your spouse.
- Give up sugar. It's probably the worst thing you put in your body.
Take a listen here to episode 044 of the podcast.
Pastor Fit on Twitter.
Pastor Fit website.
Pastor Fit on Instagram.
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
Welcome to BONUS Episode 001. In this episode, I simply want to share in a few minutes with all of you a couple of changes in my life recently that have increased my productivity and outlook. But before we get there, the Stan Rodda Podcast is growing!!! Woo hoo! Thanks to all of you for being an amazing community of listeners. We are up around 243 listeners every week on the show. I want to ask you to help me continue spreading the word about the podcast. You can do that in two ways: 1. Simply share the podcast with one friend in ministry who you think might benefit from the content. 2. Leave a 5-star review on iTunes. Helps make it more visible for others as they search ministry podcasts.
And again, "Thank you," to everyone who is joining me on this journey. It has been a lot of fun. Looking forward to the next 50 episodes of the show with you. Now, on to the content.
The two things I have changed boil down to this...
1) Beat The Sun!
I'm waking up at 5:00am every day. My previous schedule has been centered around working late, even until midnight. My work got very sloppy, I wasn't on top of my game, that decreases productivity and was increasing my anxiety as a result. Waking up at 5:00am has allowed me to prepare my day with God, to focus on my relationship with Him and to ask what He wants me to accomplish that day. I'm more prepared, productive and actually leading my day not the other way around.
2) Lose The Weight!
I am down 20lbs thanks to some great coaching from Greg Oraham. You will hear him in episode 044 of the podcast as he shares about fitness and the life of the pastor. I have more energy than I have in years. My outlook on life is way more positive. I feel more in control and honestly, I just feel better.
I want to encourage you in those two things. Give them a try and see if they don't help you transform your productivity levels and your outlook on life.
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
The world of church communications is a quickly changing world. Everything from email to social media, video and apps like SnapChat. How do you as a pastor or ministry leader make sense of it all? Not only do you have to navigate what feels like overwhelming information and learning new tools, you also have to consider everyone around you. How am I reaching the student population with this communication, but how is it also relevant to some of the older generation who are leading and guiding the church?
On episode 043 of the podcast, I have a great conversation with Jeanette Yates. She is going to help us make sense of it all. There are some simple opportunities for you out there to share stories of great things happening at your church, while also bridging each generation gap you may have at your church. In fact, it is the story that speaks to all generations equally. We are wired for stories. So don't miss this episode and how you can more effectively use storytelling in your context to share the great stuff that God is doing in the lives of people at your church.
Some of our conversation boils down to:
- Listen with your eyes and ears to find stories in your church.
- Look for opportunities to connect the younger generations with the older generations.
- Be intentional about asking your team, staff, life group leaders or volunteers about stories going on around you.
- Start. Simple step is video on Facebook to tell a story or post a live video. Not aiming for perfection, just starting.
Take a listen here to episode 043 of the podcast.
Follow Jeanette Yates on Twitter.
Coffee with Pastors - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/coffee-with-pastors-podcast/id1252818301?mt=2
Pro Church Podcast - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pro-church-podcast-with-brady-shearer/id848673237?mt=2
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
If you are a portable church, this is an episode you don't want to miss. My guest is my assistant, Barbara Martinez. She is an amazing servant and volunteer at our campus. In this episode I talk with her about how to honor our host location. In our case, it's an elementary school. For you it might be a theater, bowling alley, town hall, community center or other place.
If you aren't careful, it can be easy to have a "get in and get out" mentality. We have the building a certain number of hours. We're just going to do our thing and leave. But the opportunity to be a great guest in someone else's building, can lead to great things. Listen in for some great content on ideas for how to honor your host location.
Some of our conversation boils down to:
- Look for opportunities to praise, celebrate and give gifts to those who serve for you.
- Build the culture of leaving it better than you found it.
- The custodian can make or break your relationship. You better love them.
- God will open great doors if you genuinely love your host and care for them well.
Take a listen here to episode 042 of the podcast.
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
What does it look like to make baptism a celebration for your entire church or campus? Why not "go big or go home" when it comes to baptism? Recently I had Eric Metcalf on the podcast to talk about this very topic. He is a campus pastor at Community Christian Church in Chicago. They recently celebrated a huge Baptism Sunday called, "Beach, BBQ & Baptisms." I invited him onto the show to talk more about celebrating these great decisions in the lives of people.
Some of our conversation boils down to:
- Celebrate big because a prodigal is coming home and the father is running to them.
- Celebrate because if heaven is, then we should be.
- Make baptism accessible and simple for people to take that step.
- Share stories of life transformation.
Eric Metcalf - https://twitter.com/ericmetcalf
NewThing Network - http://www.newthing.org
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
Recently it seems the topic of volunteers has been coming up a lot in my area. I decided to sit down and discuss the topic of caring for volunteers a little bit more with New Life's Online Campus Pastor, Tom Pounder. He shares some of his insight into leading volunteers for more than just an outcome, but also because we care for them as image bearers of God. Leaders want the best for their volunteers, not because it's good for the leader, but because by it we help volunteers live out the passions God has hard-wired into them.
Much of our conversation came down to these things:
- We are stewards of volunteers, not owners!
- Get to know volunteers outside of the "work environment!"
- Take time to train and disciple your volunteers!
- Celebrate the wins with them!
- Take responsibility when they don't win!
Take a listen here to episode 040 of the podcast.
Learn more and follow Tom Pounder here.
Weekly Email
I send a weekly email out on Friday mornings full of great content from around the web. I include a ministry leader you should be following on social media. And I throw in some other fun stuff along the way like Starbucks gift cards so you can get a cup of coffee in the morning. You can subscribe at stanrodda.com and I'll throw in my eBook for FREE as my way of saying, "Thanks."
I recently finished reading, "Extreme Ownership - How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win" by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. This was easily one of my favorite books that I have read. Both former Navy Seals, Jocko and Leif share incredible stories and moments from Navy Seal Operations, focusing many times on a very difficult city called Ramadi.
They not only share incredible stories, but they then share the leadership principle found within that operation. Then they follow it up with practical application in the business world. It was not a difficult leap to make the connections into ministry.
In this episode of the show I share my four, favorite extreme ownership principles from the book. I want to encourage you to read the book if you haven't. It's a fascinating look at leadership from a different perspective, but also simple to understand and very challenging. My four, favorite principles of Extreme Ownership are...
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Extreme Ownership - I am the commander. I am responsible.
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No Bad Teams, Only Bad Leaders - It's not what you preach, it's what you tolerate.
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Check the Ego - Often, the most difficult ego to deal with is your own.
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Prioritize and Execute - Relax, look around, make a call.
Extreme Ownership Book - https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_17?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=extreme+ownership&sprefix=extreme+ownership%2Caps%2C128&crid=1JWFO6B1JKS22
Leif Babin - https://twitter.com/LeifBabin
Jocko Willink - https://twitter.com/jockowillink
My friend, Tom Pounder, invited me to be a part of his Summer Ministry Vlog Week! I was honored and chose to share on a topic that is really important to me in this season of my ministry. Vlog post.
I would venture a guess and say that every leader wants to create a healthy culture in their environment. Whether they are in the ministry or church world, or they come from a business background. I don't know any leaders who say, "Yeah, I want an unhealthy culture in my organization." The reality is that we want a healthy culture, but sometimes we may not know exactly how to get there. In this episode, we explore five simple ways to begin creating a healthy church or ministry culture.
Resources |
Find more about Tom Pounder here...
http://ymsidekick.com
Podcast
Extreme Ownership - https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/B015TM0RM4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502056261&sr=8-1&keywords=extreme+ownership
Visionary leaders can see the big picture with relative ease. The challenge of leadership is answering the question, "How do we get there?"
Recently I went on a run and bit off a little more than I realized. The only way I was able to finish the run was by breaking the final mile up into chunks of about 100 yards. And sometimes leading toward a 5 year goal can feel like to big of a bite. And in order to achieve that goal of completing the 5 year plan and for the vision to become a reality, you have to break it up into 100 yards at a time. Or in this case, bite-sized chunks.
You may know where you're going in 5 years, but what does that mean for the next 30 days for you? What should your next month look like? What should dominate your calendar and time? What are the most important conversations you should be having? What things should you stop doing in the next 30 days for you to get a little closer to the finish line?
Breaking leadership up into bite-sized chunks can help manage some of the chaos and always gives a sense of progress.
I hate buying cars. It's the worst experience on the planet. I genuinely don't look forward to it. But when a car breaks down all the way, you have to make something work. So I went car shopping recently. And this is what I learned from one of the sales people.
She was extremely creative with her work. She did a great job trying to get me out of that building with a car. I didn't end up buying the car, but I learned some things from her. Some lessons that we can all learn from as leaders.
1 - Get creative with solutions to problems!
2 - Don't sacrifice long-term vision for short-term solutions!
Passion 4 Planting hosted a church planter assessment a couple weeks ago. This was one of the most intense things I have done in a while. Working with four couples to help discern God's call on their next step in life was not a small task. It was a huge task. The couples were fantastic and I know God will do great things through them. But before they will do those great things, God wrecked me with one of the questions we asked them.
Name 5 spaces where someone who doesn't know Jesus knows your name.This question wrecked me. I immediately began to think for myself what the answer to that question would be. I started writing down those spaces in life for myself to see where I land. I ended up with 4 of 5, but only 2 of them being intentional about actually getting to know people who don't know Jesus. How messed up are my priorities in ministry when that isn't the first thing on my list.
So I have gotten intentional. I am looking for my 5th space. I am getting intentional with my current 4 spaces. And I am challenging you in this question also. Maybe you are way ahead of me and have this one all figured out. I'm sure most of you do, but I was off for sure. Where are 5 spaces in your life where someone who doesn't know Jesus knows who you are and you are there intentionally to get to know them with the purpose and intent of introducing them to Jesus?
To learn more about church planting and to download FREE resources, visit us at church-planting.net.
Did you know that you can buy jeans that look muddy from Neiman Marcus starting at around $350. Perhaps you've seen them on your Facebook feed recently. They are everywhere. Our society is so desperate for authenticity that we will even fake it to try and make it look real.
And this trouble isn't isolated to our society. We are society and pastors, church leaders, ministers all fall prey to fake authenticity. Because we are leading people, we want to appear to be perfect. Our Instagram feed looks like a J. Crew catalog. Our Facebook stories are the best of us. We only publish the sharpest looking 140 characters on Twitter so that no one knows we're dying on the inside.
Pastor, I want to encourage you to find someone you can be real with. Yes, we can't walk around and drop all of the worst of our lives to every barista or bank teller we meet. But we need someone we can be real with. Someone who knows what really makes our jeans muddy. What really wears us down. You need someone in your corner. Let's stop pretending as if we have it all together.
How does this work for you? I would love to hear from you about how you handle this topic. What you find works best for authenticity or accountability for you.
It's a somewhat common story. A leader gets discouraged in a ministry. The thoughts occurs that it's time to move to another place. And they leave their ministry to try something new or in a different context. Leaving a ministry isn't always bad, there are definite times when that may be the step that is needed. But I wanted to talk to Dave Ferguson about staying in ministry for the long-haul.
Dave Ferguson celebrated 28 years at Community Christian Church in Chicago, IL this year. We have gotten to know each other through mutual connections and the Exponential Conference. Links for Exponential are below. If you are in a place wondering if leaving your current ministry is for you, take a minute and listen to this firs.t Join us for a conversation about ministry that last; how to stay in ministry long-term.
Resources |
Exponential Conference - http://exponential.org
New Thing Network - http://www.newthing.org
Dave Ferguson - daveferguson@communitychristian.org
Books |
Finding Your Way Back to God - https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Your-Way-Back-God/dp/1601426097/
Starting Over - https://www.amazon.com/Starting-Over-Your-Beyond-Regrets/dp/1601426119/
Practical Help |
Dave mentioned "RPMS," a journaling tool to help assess where you are as a leader. How are you doing Relationally, Physically, Mentally, Spiritually.
How are you in your relationships with family and friends? Are things good there or do you have some work to do?
How are you physically? Are you taking care of your body? Getting a workout in? Eating well?
How are you mentally? Are you taking time to stay up to date on the latest news. Are you current on what's happening in the world? Is your mind right for ministry?
How are you doing spiritually? Are you taking time for God? Have you allowed to-do lists to take over? Are you operating on empty?
Begin journaling RPMS to get a sense and gauge of your personal and ministry health.
Photo courtesy - Exponential Conference & Joshua Shank with Rocket Republic https://twitter.com/rocketrepublic
It's so easy to end up depressed after a weekend like Easter. We put so much pressure on ourselves as pastors and ministry leaders to perform and reach certain goals. Sometimes those goals don't happen and our temptation is to get down and beat ourselves up. I want to encourage you away from that this week.
God did great things at my church and I know He did them at yours as well. So let's talk about that and let's talk about how to capitalize on some of that momentum. I'm going to focus on three very simple things.
1) Share with your core some of the great stuff that God did. Share stories of people you met. Share stories of newcomers and people who invited their neighbors. Share all the good stuff you can think of with the people who are most crucial to your ministry success. This helps them to see that their effort and time wasn't wasted and that God did indeed use it to change lives. This gears them up for the next time you put on a full court press.
2) Focus on your relationship with God. You put a lot of pressure on yourself this weekend. And if we're really honest with ourselves, often times we believe the success of a weekend like Easter is more on us than it is God. This is a great time to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and focus on your relationship with Him. Remind yourself how much you rely on God for all that you have and do. Remind yourself of the cross and how much you need Jesus. Stop relying on yourself for power and strength, and engage your relationship with God!
3) Remind your people what's coming. Maybe another event is on its way. Maybe something is coming down the pike. Capitalize on the momentum you gained at Easter by continuing to focus forward. It's much easier to keep the flywheel moving at this point than it is to wait three month and then try to kick start it all over again. Pretty sure Jim Collins had a really great principle about that in Good To Great.
I would love to hear some of your Easter stories. How did God show up at your church or in your ministry? Where did you see God at work? Hit me up on Facebook or Twitter to share your story. You can also share with me on my Contact page. Links below for iTunes viewers.
https://www.facebook.com/stanrodda/
https://twitter.com/stanrodda
http://www.stanrodda.com/contact-me/
Can't wait to hear from you all. Hope you had a great Easter!
After two weeks off, we're back. Excited to finish up the All Things Easter series of podcasts. My friend, Tom Pounder, and I joined together to discuss some of those last minute things every pastor wrestles with right before Easter. We talk everything from the campus pastor perspective, student ministry, newcomers, online and tech stuff. If you're cramming any last minute details before Easter, this episode is for you.
Resources |
Lead From Second - https://www.facebook.com/groups/274954576253260/
Text In Church - http://textinchurch.com
YM Sidekick Podcast - http://ymsidekick.com
Apps |
Canva
Word Swag
We all know Easter is right around the corner. You want everyone to know what is going on at your church or ministry on Easter Sunday. So how do you spread the word? Join in on the conversation with Ben Osterhaus, owner of Brand Army, to talk about standing out from the crowd this Easter season.
Ben is the official branding guy for New Life Christian Church. You can learn more by listening to the podcast or by checking out some of the links below.
Best Quotes |
"Never assume you are the person you are trying to reach."
"Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing but nobody else does." - Steuart Henderson Britt
Resources |
Dollar Shave Club - https://www.dollarshaveclub.com
Vista Print - http://vistaprint.com
Brand Army - http://www.brandarmy.org
Email - ben@brandarmy.org
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/brandarmy/
14' flag banners Ben created for the Linton Hall Campus.
Easter is a little over a month away! If this is the first you're hearing about it and you're a ministry leader, you might want to sit down and take a deep breath. Then join the conversation to get some forward movement going toward Easter 2017.
Episode 029 is all about Easter events. You might be getting ready to host a fun event at your church. Maybe an Easter egg hunt. Maybe a photo op with the Easter bunny of some sort. Whatever your event is, there are three key factors to helping make sure your Easter event is a success.
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Visibility
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Momentum
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Next Steps
No matter how amazing your event is. No matter the amazing budget you have allotted for the coolest stuff. No matter the effort put in to making this the best Easter event ever. If you are missing these three things, your event won't produce what you want. If your goal is simply a cool event with no follow up and no one actually showing up, then by all means disregard this podcast. If your goal is to be in front of people, have people show up and connect them to a next step toward your church on Easter Sunday, then you will want to keep these three things in mind as you plan your event.
Word Swag App - http://wordswag.co
*Don't take graphics from other churches or from Google without permission. Use an app like Word Swag to get free stock images, royalty free, so you aren't doing something that at the least is shady and at the worst, illegal.
Don't miss episode 030 when we discuss promoting Easter Sunday. How do you rise above the noise so that people actually see what you are up to on Easter Sunday?
A great conversation with Matt Poronto from Portable Church about churches thriving in theaters. If you are a portable church, you can't afford to miss this conversation. We talk beyond theaters and into some great information for your portable needs.
Resources |
Portable Church E-books - http://www.portablechurch.com/resources/free-resources/
Church in a Box - http://www.churchinabox.com/
Testimonials - http://www.portablechurch.com/stories/testimonials/
Matt Poronto |
Email - Matthew@portablechurch.com
Twitter - @mattporonto
PC - @PortableChurch
Leading an organization or teams within it, requires the ability to discern the people and situations going on around you. In today's episode, I talk with my friend, Jody Corbet, about the 4 stages of adult development. This is great information to not only have, but also to implement in your ministry. While you apply it to yourself personally, it can help you to grow your influence with people if you are able to navigate them.
If this episode brings up new questions for you about specific situations, please contact me with your question. I am planning to have a follow-up conversation with Jody and he would like to answer your questions to help apply this information directly to your situation. You can write me on Facebook, Twitter or leave me a message at stanrodda.com.
Resources |
Leadership Agility - https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Agility-Mastery-Anticipating-Initiating/dp/0787979139/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1486570764&sr=1-1&keywords=leadership+agility
The Evolving Self - https://www.amazon.com/Evolving-Self-Problem-Process-Development/dp/0674272315/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1486571555&sr=1-1&keywords=The+evolving+self
In Over Our Heads - https://www.amazon.com/Over-Our-Heads-Mental-Demands/dp/0674445880/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1486571585&sr=1-1&keywords=In+Over+Our+Heads
Action Inquiry - https://www.amazon.com/Action-Inquiry-Secret-Transforming-Leadership/dp/157675264X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1486571612&sr=1-1&keywords=Action+Inquiry
Integral Psychology - https://www.amazon.com/Integral-Psychology-Consciousness-Spirit-Therapy/dp/1570625549/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1486571647&sr=1-1&keywords=integral+psychology
More - https://toddwilson.org
If you are looking for a great story on how to engage your community well, look no further! This is a conversation with a church planter from Winchester, VA. His name is Brandan Thomas and he planted Canvas Church in 2013. Their church is fully engaged in the community in some fascinating ways. If you are looking for fresh ideas or simply to be inspired to engage your community more, this is a great story for you.
Links |
Canvas Church - http://www.canvaschurch.co
I am partnering with my friend, Tom Pounder, from The YM Sidekick Podcast, to create a new resource for campus pastors. A Facebook group called Lead From Second. If you are in any leadership role in ministry that is not the lead person, this will be a great community for you. We are excited to partner with you in this community to help you impact eternity.
You can check out the group here, https://www.facebook.com/groups/274954576253260/
If we get to 150 members in the first week beginning Monday, February 6th, we are giving away an Amazon Fire TV Stick. If we get to 300 members in the first week, we will also give away a 24" TV. So come join us and then help us spread the word.
It's not a question of, "Should I delegate?" It's a question of, "How do I delegate effectively?"
When it comes to personal development, we all need to spend some time regaining control over our calendars. My conversation with Brennan Loveless focuses on just that. We talk priorities, planning, time management and productivity in this episode. Brennan shares some of the things he does to stay on top of his calendar and to-do list. Links to the tools referenced in the show are below.
Links |
Brennan Loveless Music - https://www.facebook.com/brennanlovelessmusic/?fref=ts
Action Method - http://www.theghostlystore.com/collections/behance-action-method
Action Journal - https://www.amazon.com/Behance-Action-Method-Journal-Orange/dp/B0080FX6NA
Weekly Dominator - http://www.neuyear.net/collections/time-domination-products/products/the-week-dominator
You might be tempted to think that leading yourself spiritually is as simple as prepping for a sermon or praying before a meal. It's a little deeper than that. In this conversation with Greg Jennings, we get into a great discussion about spiritual formation, spiritual development and more. If you are looking to take next steps in leading yourself spiritually, this is a great episode to help you get started.
Greg Jennings is the pastor at Common Ground Christian Church in Fredricksburg, VA. He is like a spiritual Master Jedi! And bearded gospel man!
http://commongroundva.com
Resource mentioned |
Sabbath as Resistance - https://www.amazon.com/Sabbath-Resistance-Saying-Culture-Now/dp/0664239285/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483560246&sr=8-1&keywords=sabbath+as+resistance
Did you know emotional intelligence trumps your intelligence quotient? In this episode of the podcast we learn more about emotional intelligence and awareness. Having a strong understanding of yourself is imperative in your role as an influencer. This episode will help you grow in this area and also give you tools and insight to take next steps toward growing in this key area.
My guest is Creed Branson. I am honored to have worked with him for the past seven years. He is moving into a new season as a thought leader, coach and mentor. Learn more about the resources Creed offers at his website listed below.
http://creedbranson.com
Want to lead more effectively. The truth is you have to take good care of your body. I have a conversation with my friend, Captain Matt Herrera to discuss physical fitness.
If you happen to be putting fitness goals into place for 2017, this is a great episode to listen to. Click to learn more about CrossFit. No matter how you choose to pursue physical fitness goals, this conversation with give you lots of ideas and tips moving forward.
Facebook - http://facebook.com/stanrodda
Twitter - http://twitter.com/stanrodda
Have you ever made a New Year's resolution and found that you couldn't make it through the year? Or maybe you couldn't even get out of the month of January without the resolution not surviving?
In this episode we simply tackle the topic of creating resolutions that stick. How do you put a resolution into action on January 1 so that it is still going strong by the end of the year? How do you put the resolution into action so that it succeeds? Here are five suggestions to help create a resolution that sticks.
- Accountability
- Develop a plan
- Set bit-sized goals
- Celebrate wins
- Focus on 1% improvements
Time's list of top 2016 resolutions. http://time.com/money/4163867/top-new-years-resolution-2016/
Are you confused when it comes to branding or marketing your church or ministry? Take a listen to this conversation with Patrick King, Owner and CEO of Imagine, a marketing and branding firm. In this conversation, he shares a few tips and tricks to getting started in branding your ministry or upcoming event.
http://imaginedc.net
https://www.facebook.com/WeFightUgly/
Apps discussed in this episode |
Canva
Word Swag
Tim Cole is a friend of mine and the Director of Waypoint Church Partners. They are doing some incredible Kingdom work as you will note in this episode. If you would like more information on Waypoint, you can check out their website below.
Fusion Groups are one of Waypoint's programs. They are used for ministers and pastors in similar stages of ministry, to connect with and encourage each other. There are opportunities to learn, grow and find great new friendships in ministry. If you aren't on the East Coast to be able to join in a Fusion Group, you should start one with some local pastors or other influencers in your area. Feel free to contact Waypoint to learn more about how they work and how you can get started today.
http://www.waypointchurchpartners.com
https://www.facebook.com/WaypointChurchPartners/
https://twitter.com/WaypointCP
It took the Chicago Cubs 108 years to win a World Series. Imagine working somewhere for 108 years and never seeing the big "win" in your team or organization. It's not hard to see why you would contemplate quitting or giving up and moving on to greener pasture.
In this episode my friend, Tom Pounder, and I talk about keeping your nose to the grindstone and digging ditches even if you can't see the fruit just yet. There may be many seasons where you never are able to enjoy the fruit of your work, but God is calling you to be faithful where you are planted. So keep digging ditches.
Meet Brad Barbour, Lead Pastor and Church Planter for Soul Church in Raleigh, NC. It was a pleasure to chat with him and to have known him over the last 5 years. He has a compelling vision and story. God is up to some great stuff through him and his family in Raleigh. If you're in the Raleigh area or looking for a church home there, check out what he is up to at Soul Church.
Website - http://www.soulchurchnc.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/soulchurchnc/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/soulchurchnc
Every influencer has a season of frustration, loneliness or burnout. A time when you consider giving up and quitting. I want to encourage you during those seasons with 5 simple wins that you can go after during a season of burnout.
Many leaders give up right before they achieve a big breakthrough. The pressure is too great. There is so much to lose. Those feelings of doubt and despair can empty even the most experienced leader. If you are in one of those seasons, please know this: you are not alone, many leaders have felt similar things to you and that ultimately there is not "easy fix." There are simple steps to take as you work through it, but the overall journey of overcoming burnout can sometimes be long and painful.
So if that's you, feel free to reach out. Contact me on my webpage. Find a trusted friend, colleague or mentor. Share with them what's going on. And get the encouragement and trusted guidance you need to take steps forward. But whatever you do, don't quit. At least not yet. God is teaching you something during this season.
There are some new things happening at Leadership Meets Life. Don't worry. Your podcast feed won't be affected in any way. I will be changing the name of the podcast to "The Stan Rodda Podcast." This allows anyone searching for the podcast by name to find it more easily. If you have been to stanrodda.com then you also know that my social media feeds are all under the name, "Stan Rodda." This will allow for a more streamlined look and feel to the show.
The content will remain the same as we talk about leadership, ministry, church planting, family and more. This podcast will continue to be practical for anyone looking to develop and grow to become the person God has created them to be. Please review this podcast on iTunes or Stitcher. Leave me a comment or a question for future episodes.
But don't go anywhere. More great stuff is on its way. Only this time with a new name. Thanks for listening.
Meet Joel Pazmino. An entrepreneur. A starter. A church planter in Columbia Heights, Washington DC. He recently finished a year long church planter residency with New Life and is now pursuing his church plant full-time. Take a few minutes and listen in to some really great stuff about church planting, the Columbia Heights area and more of Joel's story. You won't want to miss this episode. This is the first of many upcoming Church Planter Profile episodes.
Links
Columbia Heights Project Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/DCChurchPlant/
Joel on Twitter - https://twitter.com/joelec
"In the Plex" by Stephen Levy - https://www.amazon.com/Plex-Google-Thinks-Works-Shapes/dp/1416596585/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1475370199&sr=8-1&keywords=in+the+plex
It is very important for leaders to take time and celebrate wins along the way. Here are 6 reasons why I like to celebrate my volunteers and teams.
1) I want my team fired up and inspired.
2) I want my team to know I'm proud of them.
3) I want my team to recognize progress.
4) I want my team to catch their breath.
5) I want my team to know I enjoy them.
6) I want my team to trust God for the results.
What are some of your reasons for celebrating with your team?
Read the blog - http://www.stanrodda.com/blog/2016/9/26/6-reason-to-celebrate
The Exponential Conference is one of the best conferences I have ever attended. If you are thinking about planting a church, are a current ministry leader or a part of a church network and want to connect to more people, Exponential provides all of that and more. You can find them at exponential.org.
In this episode, I talk to some of the sponsors, volunteers, attendees and speakers at the Exponential Regional event. I hope it gives you a glimpse into what Exponential is like as well as some encouragement to reach out for some of the great resources they offer. You won't regret it.
Best quotes |
"I smile and wave all the time. I'm extremely friendly." Beth Spalding (volunteer)
"I loved it so much, I think I'm going to come back tomorrow." James Parker (attendee)
"We help churches bring their story to life through environmental storytelling." Josh (Wave)
"We are all about starting healthy churches." Dale Spaulding (Passion4Planting)
"It's not about conferences. It's not about learning communities. It's about moving the needle toward multiplication." Bill Couchenour (Exponential)
"I like finding ways to tell stories that haven't been told yet." Don Smith (Wave)
"We have a special program specifically for start up church and mobile churches." Bjorn (National Church Group)
"We come alongside church planters to help them do what God has called them to do." Tom Herrick (Titus Institute)
"I'm empowered to equip others around me." Merton Huff (Attendee)
"Church planting saved my life." Michael Bartlett (Church Planter)
"What I love about Exponential the most, is its a gathering of the church, capital C." Josh Burnett (Revolution Annapolis)
"Stay hungry. Stay humble. Honor people. Rest a lot." Ryan Kwon (Church Planter)
"I love interacting with people from all different backgrounds who all share the same heart for church planting." Neil Wheeler (Waypoint Church Partners)
Great links |
- Exponential Conference - exponential.org
- Wave - wave.us
- Passion4Planting - church-planting.net
- New Life Christian Church - newlife.church
- The nZone - thenZone.com
- Equip Studio - equipstudio.com
- National Church Group - ncginsurance.com
- Titus Institute for Church Planting - tituschurchplanting.org
- The Frederick Project - thefrederickproject.com
- Revolution Annapolis - revolutionannapolis.com
- Resonate Church - resonatemovement.org
- Waypoint Church Partners - waypointchurchpartners.com
You're a leader, an entrepreneur or ministry leader. You have big plans, but things aren't going the way you thought. Discouragement starts to set in. Maybe you start to doubt yourself. "I can't do this. Maybe this wasn't the right decision. Maybe I should quit before it gets worse." It's a dark time for you.
What can you do when difficult seasons roll in? Here are the four things I do.
- I get near supportive people.
- I read books that inspire me.
- I maintain a habit of taking a Sabbath.
- I don't trust my feelings.
Are you a leader that needs to talk with someone? Contact me. I'd love to chat with you.
Read the blog here. http://bit.ly/2bTA0X6
Books I found encouraging |
Seth Godin's book, "Poke the Box." https://www.amazon.com/Poke-Box-When-Something-First/dp/1591848253/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473123404&sr=8-1&keywords=poke+the+box
Hugh Halter's book, "BIVO." https://www.amazon.com/BiVO-Modern-Day-Guide-Bi-Vocational-Saints-ebook/dp/B00IEKB62Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473123422&sr=8-1&keywords=bivo#nav-subnav
Todd Wilson's book, "MORE." https://www.amazon.com/More-Personal-Calling-Fullest-Measure/dp/0310524253/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473123446&sr=8-1&keywords=MORE+todd+wilson
And "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass." https://www.amazon.com/Narrative-Life-Frederick-Douglass/dp/1537276018/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1473123466&sr=8-2&keywords=narrative+of+the+life+of+frederick+douglass
How do you lead effective meetings? Don't do these 9 things. We have a little fun in this episode. We have all been involved in meetings like this before. But we all want to lead meetings that are effective and get stuff accomplished. If you want to maximize your impact, then you have a limited amount of time to do that when you lead a meeting. Make sure you don't mess up the opportunity.
Here are the 9 methods for making sure your meetings suck...
- Make sure there is no clear communication before meetings.
- Make sure you don't start on time.
- Make sure there are no refreshments.
- Make sure you don't cast any vision.
- Make sure there are no wins identified for the meeting.
- Make sure there's no end in sight.
- Make sure you let them know where they failed.
- Make sure no one leaves with action steps.
- Make sure you don't follow up after the meeting.
So let's get to the solution side of things.
- Communicate with your team before the meeting so they know what to expect.
- Start on time regardless of who is there. You want to create a culture that honors people's time.
- Meet somewhere that your team can get lunch, dinner or snacks. If you're meeting in a home, provide something to munch on during the meeting.
- Let your team know how what you're about to discuss mixes with the vision of your organization. The death of many meetings happens when no one knows how what you're discussing has anything to do with the organization you are involved in.
- Communicate what a win looks like coming out of the meeting. Examples: Coming out of this meeting, we will have created new goals for our team. They have to know why they are meeting and what victory looks like.
- End on time. Otherwise your team, especially volunteers, will learn that you won't honor their time. If you can't end on time, don't be surprised when attendance, or attitudes at meetings, begins to decline.
- Share how your team has won in the past. Share recent victories. Make your people look good.
- Leave your team with specific actions to move toward. Everyone should be owning something from the meeting. Example: Jane Doe is calling "X" company to get prices. John Doe is editing the webpage with update info. Etc. They need to leave with action steps or else your meeting time will have been completely wasted.
- Communicate with your team after the meeting. Let them know where everything stands and what everyone is doing. This follow up also sets up your next meeting. Clear communication will help everyone be excited for your next meeting. Watch attitudes and attendance go up and to the right.
Maybe you have others that you would add to the list. Let me know what you've got. I look forward to hearing from you. Let me know where you're listening from and what topics you would like to hear discussed on the podcast.
Links referenced in the show...
http://www.stanrodda.com
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/leadership-meets-life-stan/id1135518754
http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/leadership-meets-life
https://www.facebook.com/stanrodda/
https://twitter.com/stanrodda
https://www.instagram.com/stanrodda/
If you're looking for some fall outreach ideas, this is a great episode to listen to. I'm excited to have my friend, Tom Pounder, on the show. He is on our staff team as our Online and Social Media Guy. In this episode he and I talk about some of the fall outreach events and ideas coming this fall to New Life.
New Life is a multi-site church. So at times you will hear us reference "Chantilly Campus" or the "nZone." See links below. I am the Campus Pastor at our Linton Hall location which is about 15 miles west of Chantilly, VA.
Fall Outreach Ideas discussed on this episode and beyond...
- Fall Family Fun Fest
- Halloween Havoc Event
- Trunk or Treat
- Thanksgiving Dinner Boxes
- Tailgate Sunday for the NFL season kickoff
- Local Food Truck Event
- Partner with local neighborhood event
- Partner with local corn maze or farm hosting fall events
- Dar-Knit (homemade, knit caps and gloves for homeless shelters)
- Backpack drive for local kids
- School supply drive for local schools
Links discussed in the show...
New Life
nZone
YMSidekick Podcast
YmSidekick Website
Tom Pounder on Twitter
Stan's wife, Misty Rodda, joins the show to talk to the 20-something, Pastor's wife. She offers encouragement as the 20-something, Pastor's wife begins finding her way in ministry. #dogmom
Misty Rodda Photography - mistyrodda.com
Contact Stan Rodda - stanrodda.com
Pastor's Retreat - Winshape Retreats
The Rodda family hits the beach in this vacation episode of the Leadership Meets Life podcast. In this episode I share a lesson that God taught me while at the beach.
Links referenced in the podcast |
http://twitter.com/stanrodda
http://facebook.com/leadfromsecond
http://instagram.com/stanrodda
Churches should be the best at customer service. Unfortunately, often times, we are not. We invest a lot in the Sunday morning performance; lights, bands, preaching, etc. We invest in kids stuff and weekly programs, facilities, etc. But all that can't compare with treating people better than they expect to be treated.
I had two great customer service experiences that I mention in the podcast. The church needs to be the place where people leave and say, "Wow! They really care about people." The Bible teaches that the cross of Christ is offensive. That Jesus Himself would be a stumbling block for people. In other words, the message that we are messed up humans and we need a savior should be the most offensive thing people hear on a Sunday morning. If the Gospel offends them, that's one thing. If you offend them because you simply don't care enough to try, that's an entirely different issue.
Will Mancini has some great stuff on guest services you can read about here. And here are some other ideas to get you started on having great customer service at your church.
- Build a parking lot team to greet and guide new people
- Train a volunteer host to act as a tour guide for newcomers
- Have your friendliest people at the door
- Set aside a specific space for newcomers to get started at your church
- Give away a great gift (not a plastic cross with "F.R.O.G." on it from Oriental Trading)
- Brew the best coffee (stop with the Folgers already)
- Have the best snacks available (we serve Dunkin' Donuts)
- Have clear signage that has the guest in mind
Best quote |
"The Gospel might be offensive. You shouldn't be."
You might be a seasoned leader, with years of experience under your belt. Or you might be a brand new leader, embarking on a brand new adventure. No matter what level you are, it's always smart to go back to the fundamentals. With that said, we are going to dip down to the foundation of leadership and look at three essentials to becoming a successful leader.
Identify The Path!Every church leader must know where they are going, what their ministries preferred future looks like and develop a plan to get there. You can't lead anyone to a destination if you don't know what that destination is. When you aim at nothing, you'll hit it. So pray about what God wants your church or ministry to look like.
Once you have a destination in mind, now you must discover how to get there. This requires developing a plan and identifying the steps required. Want to serve the community? Establish steps that will plug you in. Join the local HOA Board, volunteer at local community events, etc. Want to be known for hospitality? Put a plan in place to create the best customer service in your area, give away free coffee, welcome people at the door with happy people.
These are very simple examples, but the principle is the same. Identify the path and implement the plan to get there.
Align People To The Path!Now you know where you're going and how to get there, it's time to align your volunteers to that same path. In the absence of your leadership, someone will try and fill that void. In other words, if you don't get your team going the same direction, they will chase ideas everywhere but in the direction you want to lead in.
When your car gets misaligned, it pulls itself in different directions. This causes your tires to wear unevenly and for you to have to constantly be fighting with your car's direction to keep it going forward. This plays out in the church also. If your teams aren't working together toward the same destination, you will find yourself constantly in tension with your teams. Because vision leaks and your team will forget which direction to go, you have to constantly be aligning your team back toward the path.
Our church has a vision frame that guides everything we do. Every time I have a team leader meeting or am casting vision, the vision frame is always a part of that discussion. It helps keep all of us aligned on the path as we move forward together.
Model The Correct Behavior!I can tell my kids to be nice to each other all day long. But if I am not nice to them, that's the behavior they will learn. If you are trying to create a culture at your church that is focused on serving your community, but you never show up or serve at community events, your people will learn from that behavior, not from what you say alone.
If you lead out only from the stage, but not from the boots on the ground space, you won't lead your people to what you believe God wants you to accomplish together. Your actions speak far louder than your words. This is why it's so important that your vision flows out of who you are. If you aren't willing to do the things that you are asking others to do, then you are only using people. You aren't a leader, you are a manipulator.
If you want to lead your church, ministry or organization successfully, you must identify the path, align your teams on that path and model the correct behavior!
On this episode of the podcast, my goal is to simply introduce myself. I share my story, where I currently serve and what I am passionate about.
I was born in 1980 to Stan and Donetta Rodda. I am a 4th generation pastor. My great-grandfather was a church planter on the west coast. My grandfathers, uncles and my father were all in ministry. My alma mater is Central Christian College of the Bible. It is located in Moberly, MO. Central is home for me on many levels. I experienced so much there. Met my wife, was married, received my degree and began my first full-time ministry in that area. My wife's name is Misty. I have three children and a goldendoodle named Gwenny.
I have been doing full-time ministry since graduating in 2002. I currently serve as a campus pastor at a multi-site church called New Life Christian Church outside of Washington, DC. We have three primary initiatives:
- Passion 4 Planting
- Passion 4 Community
- The nZone
We love church planting and being a safe place where people can discover God. These are the three primary initiatives we utilize to make that vision a reality.
I am passionate about developing people. I find more success when people around me are discovering a next step that God is calling them to. One of the things I get the most excited about is helping them take that next step so that they live a full life. Anything related to coaching and developing leaders, I want to be in the middle of.
If I can help you take a next step, feel free to contact me.