Today, we sit down with Jay Kranda, the online pastor of Saddleback Church since 2013. As one of the pioneers of online ministry since the early 2000s, Saddleback has developed unconventional approaches to online church—challenging the conventional wisdom in fascinating ways. IMPORTANT LINKS - Jay Kranda: https://www.jaykranda.com/ - Alpha Omega Di…

Let’s address some unpopular truths about church online—conversations many avoid but need to have. By confronting these realities, we can better focus our church's efforts and resources for greater impact. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:37 - Aesthetic Mismatch 8:08 - Social Media Is A M…

Smaller churches can grow without a big budget—using just seven essential tools! These zero-cost marketing strategies are designed to help you reach more people effectively. Sound too good to be true? Let us show you how it’s done. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 3:55 - Annual Bridge Event…

Some of the world's best creative tools are deeply discounted - and sometimes even free - for churches and non-profits. But how do you access these discounts and what are the eligibility requirements? Today, we've compiled a list of the top 20 free and discounted software platforms and creative tools for churches and non-profits. ==================…

Church announcements often go unnoticed—but there's a proven formula for making them memorable and impactful. Many churches miss the mark, so today, we're here to help! We’ll craft announcements for ten real church events, demonstrating exactly how it’s done. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intr…

Handling negative comments online has evolved—especially for churches, where religious topics can spark intense reactions. So, should you delete, engage, or ignore? Today, we're sharing the best practices to help you manage these situations effectively. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:42…

Stage nerves are something we all face, whether it's during a sermon, an announcement, or even a prayer. Today, we’re sharing our top tips, principles, and techniques to help you speak with confidence on stage at church. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:41 - Proximity Principle 6:00 - Pit…

More churches in America are closing each year than opening. Today, we're sitting down with our friend Ryan Burge whose church, after over 150 years, made the difficult decision to close its doors earlier this year. We’ll hear their story firsthand and explore the broader implications of this growing trend for the future of Christianity in America.…

Looking for fresh social media ideas for your church? Today, we've got over 20 unique post ideas your church probably hasn’t tried yet! Even better, these ideas can be repeated every year. Just imagine—set the dates, and the planning is done! Trust us, you haven’t used these before. ============================= Table of Contents: =================…

Did you know Google offers non-profits, including churches, up to $10,000 in free monthly ad grants? That’s right—$10K to spend on ads for your church! But what’s the catch? Today, we’re joined by Brady Sticker from Church Candy, who manages these campaigns for churches, to break it all down. ============================= Table of Contents: =======…

October is Pastor Appreciation Month, and we’ve compiled a list of ways your church can show love to your pastor. Some ideas are free, others cost a little, and a few are out-of-the-box, but they’ll all make your pastor feel valued. Plus, we’ll dive into the surprising history and origins of Pastor Appreciation Month! ============================= …

Recruiting church volunteers often feels desperate, leaving people feeling guilted into serving. But to do it right, there are three key stages: recruit, train, and celebrate. Today, we'll cover proven techniques that any church can use to make the process smoother—and even do much of the heavy lifting for you. ============================= Table o…

Today, we're sharing some sermon series ideas we believe every church should consider for 2025—with a unique twist in how they were generated. These ideas are Biblically based, timely, and versatile, making them perfect for any ministry, regardless of size or denomination. ============================= Table of Contents: ===========================…

Every week, we send photographers to churches worldwide with a detailed shot list, etiquette guidelines, and gear recommendations. Today, we’re sharing all of that with you, along with example galleries from real churches to show what a successful church photoshoot looks like. Welcome to The Definitive Church Photography Shot List! ================…

If you're a pastor or church leader juggling social media duties, this video is for you! We’re sharing five repeatable Instagram Stories frameworks that you can use every week. These tried-and-true methods are highly engaging and have stood the test of time for over five years. Plus, we’re offering step-by-step downloadable guides to make it even e…

Noticed a drop in your church's Instagram Story views? You're not alone, and we know why. It’s not a mystery, and better yet, we can fix it! In this video, we’ll cover eight reasons your church’s Instagram Stories are flopping—and how to turn it around. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:41…

Your church’s website isn’t always the first stop for online visitors. Often, they’ll see your Google Business Profile first—the widget in Google search and maps with photos, contact info, and reviews. If this isn’t optimized, visitors might never reach your site. In this video, we dive into the essentials of Google Business Profiles for churches. …

Having a host is one of the best ways to truly elevate a church service. But what exactly is a host and what do they do? In this video, we'll break down the 7 essential things every church needs to know about hosting. Plus, if you're hesitant, we've got word-for-word script options for you to use. ============================= Table of Contents: ==…

03Is your church guilty of these 10 visitor-repelling behaviors? We've compiled real reports from church visitors detailing what scares them off. Because you only get to make one first impression. So let's make it a good one. Let's dive in. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:40 - The New Vi…

Today, we list 15 supposed essentials for church websites. Some are unnecessary! We'll categorize them: necessary, nice to have, or nonsense. By the end, you'll know what truly matters for your site. Let's dive in. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:03 - Speed 10:08 - Live Stream Primary CT…

Does online church negatively impact in-person attendance? It's a debate we've been having for years, and now we finally have some great data to shed light on it. Join us as Ryan Burge from Graphs About Religion helps us untangle the insights and implications. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Int…

Rohn Starling returns to the show for a section we’re called “Rohn’s Rankings”. We're discussing trending social media sounds and sharing five church post ideas. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 1:58 - Trend #5: Part of me feels bad, but not that bad 12:28 - Trend #4: Not my problem 28:23 -…

Today on the show we’re answering your questions. Questions about burn out, bilingual church social media strategies, and everything in between. Let’s dive in. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 0:36 - How should bilingual churches post on social media? 4:25 - Where did you get all the wisdom…

It's our quarterly social media review. Discover changes, constants, and their impact on your church. ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - Intro 3:10 - Assessing Our Previous Predictions 8:54 - Adult Content on X 17:40 - Church Invite Memes 23:22 - Reels Split Design 31:26 - YouTube Thumbnail A/B Tes…

On June 10th, the head of Instagram made a significant statement: "____ matters most across the board." So, what is it? Likes? Comments? Watch time? Saves? None of the above. Today on the show, we're diving into the most important metric on Instagram—a metric that's not easy to find and requires some digging. ============================= Table of …