Quick Tips For Christian Ministry

Stan Belyshev is an entrepreneur, author and a life coach. Having served as a youth pastor for more than ten years has allowed Stan to understand the hearts and potential of the younger generation.  He speaks about his book "Generation Gap: Raising the Next Generation of Leaders" and calls for the elder generation to step up to disciple the future generation of Christian leaders. Stan Belyshev can be reached at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanbelyshev https://www.facebook.com/groups/nexgenleaders/ https://www.youtube.com/c/stanbelyshev https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BPwgJaUt0E   The QT4CM podcast is a peer knowledge sharing initiative for personal and professional development of Christian ministry workers.   Quick Tips for Christian Ministry is produced with the support of The Great Commission Foundation… to benefit those who serve in the Name of Christ.    Want to contribute your thoughts? Click here to suggest a topic for a future episode. Or, click here to send us your proposal to be interviewed.   Wan

Author Patrick Day explores this question in his latest novel: "How does a Christian worker stay tuned to the Holy Spirit amidst the mundane things we have to do in our ministry work; that is, those things that don’t have an overt spiritual objective?"   From time to time we will be bringing you these special episodes with "Christian Creatives", such as musicians, authors, poets, and other artists who create as a ministry. The QT4CM podcast is a peer knowledge sharing initiative for personal and professional development of Christian ministry workers.   Quick Tips for Christian Ministry is produced with the support of The Great Commission Foundation… to benefit those who serve in the Name of Christ.    Want to contribute your thoughts? Click here to suggest a topic for a future episode. Or, click here to send us your proposal to be interviewed.   Want more information? The Show Notes can be accessed by clicking here.   --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refresh-ministries/message

Anna Burns talks about the number one question you should be asking your new donors. That question is — "What moved you to give for the first time?" Do you know what moved your donors to donate to you? Why did they give? Did they give because they support the ministry that you're doing or because they support you personally and whether you were working at this ministry or another ministry they would continue to support you? Knowing the answer to this question is one of the most powerful insights that you can ever gain from a donor. Anna outlines three reasons why you should ask this question as soon as possible.   The QT4CM podcast is a peer knowledge sharing initiative for personal and professional development of Christian ministry workers.   Quick Tips for Christian Ministry is produced with the support of The Great Commission Foundation… to benefit those who serve in the Name of Christ.    Want to contribute your thoughts? Click here to suggest a topic for a future episode. Or, click here to send us your p

Organizational Coach Dr. Ken Thiessen outlines five common ways that anxiety manifests itself in congregations and Christian ministries. It is important to understand how anxiety dominates much of the unhealthy decision making processes and broken relationships within faith-based ministries and congregations. Dr. Thiessen identifies these five unhealthy ways anxiety hampers good communication and conflict resolution within Christian ministries: Triangulation — people talk about people rather than to people Self-differentiation —  relationship is contingent on agreement Blaming and Scapegoating — Who's the one who made this mess? Multigenerational transmission process — an endless cycle of looking to replace  "the problem person" Over-functioning and Under-functioning — People who take on the burdens of responsibility for everything, and those who avoid responsibility for anything.   The QT4CM podcast is a peer knowledge sharing initiative for personal and professional development of Christian ministry worke

Two experts respond to these questions on security and longer term engagement we received from a ministry leader in Brazil: I’d like to hear about good resources with advice about safety and security for groups coming out on short term mission trips. Oh…and another thing I’d like to hear on your podcast — what are some advice on how do we engage these short term mission tourists to become long term donors? They take a lot of our time and most we never hear from again after.   The QT4CM podcast is a peer knowledge sharing initiative for personal and professional development of Christian ministry workers.   Quick Tips for Christian Ministry is produced with the support of The Great Commission Foundation… to benefit those who serve in the Name of Christ.     Want to contribute your thoughts? Click here to suggest a topic for a future episode. Or, click here to send us your proposal to be interviewed.   Want more information? The Show Notes can be accessed by clicking here.   Christ, Christian, church, clergy, e

Dr. Lyndon Wall of Refresh Ministries points out that burn-out is often predicated by a loss of hope.   He prescribes six remedies to recover your hope and prevent burn-out.   The QT4CM podcast is a peer knowledge sharing initiative for personal and professional development of Christian ministry workers.   Quick Tips for Christian Ministry is produced with the support of The Great Commission Foundation… to benefit those who serve in the Name of Christ.     Want to contribute your thoughts? Click here to suggest a topic for a future episode. Or, click here to send us your proposal to be interviewed.   Want more information? The Show Notes can be accessed by clicking here.         --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refresh-ministries/message

Anna Burns has a recommendation: Reach out to your donors in a personal way by sending them a Christmas card.  This is a simple way to say, "Hey, I'm thinking of you and wanted to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas." Anna Burns is with The Great Commission Foundation.   Click here for the InCourage Journal for Christian Service Workers.            The QT4CM podcast is a peer knowledge sharing initiative for personal and professional development of Christian ministry workers.   Quick Tips for Christian Ministry is produced with the support of The Great Commission Foundation… to benefit those who serve in the Name of Christ.     Want to contribute your thoughts? Click here to suggest a topic for a future episode. Or, click here to send us your proposal to be interviewed.   Want more information? The Show Notes can be accessed by clicking here.         --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refresh-ministries/message

Dr. Joel Thiessen continues his synopsis on the reasons people go "post-church". The thesis he advances is that most of the reasons for why people diminish their involvement in church attendance has virtually nothing to do with what churches do or don't do. Most of these things have to do with broad cultural changes within society. Dr. Thiessen identifies these eight reasons:   Rejection of exclusivity  Life transitions Teenage choice Too busy Scandals and hypocrisy Intellectual disagreement Interpersonal tension Social ties     Dr. Joel Thiessen continues his synopsis on the reasons people go "post-church". The thesis he advances is that most of the reasons for why people diminish their involvement in church attendance has virtually nothing to do with what churches do or don't do. Most of these things have to do with broad cultural changes within society. Dr. Thiessen identifies these eight reasons:   Rejection of exclusivity  Life transitions Teenage choice Too busy Scandals and hypocrisy Intellectual di

Anna Burns answers this week's question — "It's so hard to get donors on board and then keep them interested in supporting my project. I seem to be losing supporters. How can I keep them donating?" Anna Burns is with The Great Commission Foundation.   Click here for the InCourage Journal for Christian Service Workers.            The QT4CM podcast is a peer knowledge sharing initiative for personal and professional development of Christian ministry workers.   Quick Tips for Christian Ministry is produced with the support of The Great Commission Foundation… to benefit those who serve in the Name of Christ.   The background music featured on this podcast is by Christian musician Steve Bell and his producer and recording engineer Dave Zeglinski. It's called “Jesus My Glory“ and is from their Landscape disc in the Pilgrimage boxed set. Check him out at http://stevebell.com/.   Want to contribute your thoughts? Click here to suggest a topic for a future episode. Or, click here to send us your proposal to be intervi

Dr. Joel Thiessen talks about people who claim to be Christian... but only show up in church for religious holidays and rites of  passage. Between 40 and 50% of those who identify as Christian attend religious services mainly for religious holidays and rites of passage. They show up every Christmas. They show up every Easter. They baptize their children. They want to get married in a church, but they don't attend any other time of the year. Dr. Thiessen identifies three reasons they do show up occasionally in church: Tradition — Tradition is a powerful anchor that guides our behavior. Family — Much like sitting around the dinner table, attending a religious service brings back the family memories. Sacred Space — feeling closer to God in a church.   Joel is the Director of the Flourishing Congregations Institute at Ambrose University in Calgary. Follow Dr. Joel Thiessen on Twitter, his website, or The Flourishing Congregations Institute.   And read his intriguing book: "The Meaning of Sunday"    The QT4CM podc

Organizational Coach Dr. Ken Thiessen responds to a ministry worker in Southern Africa about team conflict. She asks: We have some communication and conflict problems on our ministry team. I feel very isolated and don’t know how to deal with this. Please… could you have your podcast give some regular tips for team conflict resolution. And how to deal with a team leader who doesn’t bring out the best in us? Dr. Ken Thiessen has a 30 year track record of leading, consulting, and coaching organizations to realize their imagined future. Church leadership teams will benefit from the resources on his Anxious Congregations website.     The QT4CM podcast is a peer knowledge sharing initiative for personal and professional development of Christian ministry workers.   Quick Tips for Christian Ministry is produced with the support of The Great Commission Foundation… to benefit those who serve in the Name of Christ.    Want to contribute your thoughts? Click here to suggest a topic for a future episode. Or, click here

Dr. Joel Thiessen shares his insights about people in Canada who claim to have no religious affiliation.   Joel is the Director of the Flourishing Congregations Institute at Ambrose University in Calgary. Follow Dr. Joel Thiessen on Twitter, his website, or The Flourishing Congregations Institute.   And read his intriguing book: "The Meaning of Sunday"    The QT4CM podcast is a peer knowledge sharing initiative for personal and professional development of Christian ministry workers.   Quick Tips for Christian Ministry is produced with the support of The Great Commission Foundation… to benefit those who serve in the Name of Christ.    Want to contribute your thoughts? Click here to suggest a topic for a future episode. Or, click here to send us your proposal to be interviewed.   Want more information? The Show Notes can be accessed by clicking here. Or, subscribe to receive the Show Notes each Friday.       --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refresh-ministries/message

Anna Burns answers this week's question — "What works best when asking for donations, sending out a fundraising letter or meeting with the potential donor face-to-face?" Anna Burns is with The Great Commission Foundation.   Click here for the InCourage Journal for Christian Service Workers.            The QT4CM podcast is a peer knowledge sharing initiative for personal and professional development of Christian ministry workers.   Quick Tips for Christian Ministry is produced with the support of The Great Commission Foundation… to benefit those who serve in the Name of Christ.   The background music featured on this podcast is by Christian musician Steve Bell and his producer and recording engineer Dave Zeglinski. It's called “O Love“ and is from their Landscape disc in the Pilgrimage boxed set. Check him out at http://stevebell.com/.   Want to contribute your thoughts? Click here to suggest a topic for a future episode. Or, click here to send us your proposal to be interviewed.   Want more information? The S

Dr. Joel Thiessen again shares insights on the dominant trends of religion in North America. Europe and North America are moving in a progressive and increasingly secular direction. Secularization is a dominant narrative.  The rise of people who say they have no religion represents one in three teenagers, one in four  adults. It's the fastest growing "religious" group in the modern western world. For example in Canada: ...one in two Canadian teenagers never attend religious services today. One in three Canadian teenagers say they have no religion. If you want to know where a religious group is going, you look to your young people. It is very rare that people convert later on in life. It doesn't mean it's impossible and we would all think of anecdotal stories where that's happened. On the whole, you look to your young people. Another trend pertains to Christian identification. Christianity is the lead religion in Canada. When you ask Canadians, "What religion do you identify with?" 67% of Canadians say, "Chri

In this special episode you will learn some YouTube worship music video creation tips. David Wesley of Basement Praise and YouTube fame shares with us the story of how he got started making his music videos and his process for creating his multi harmony praise and worship music tracks. From time to time we will be bringing you these special episodes with Christian Creatives, such as musicians, authors, and other artists who create as a ministry. David is a Canadian musician who describes himself as a "self-producing artist creating multi-track magic in my basement to share the gospel and have a little fun on the side :)...." And he brings a lot of enjoyment to us! In this podcast episode he tells the story of how he started making his music videos. And, he explains how he put three songs together in his "Amazing Grace" medley. You can enjoy the full version of David Wesley’s "Amazing Grace" medley by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8plSomxS5Yo. This piece is a "Mash-up" of 3 modern adapt

  In this fourth episode we hear insights on Short Term Missions. Are they worth the cost and effort? Mark Crocker is Executive Director of STMleader.com   Mark shares with us his insights on Short Term Missions, having trained tens of thousands of volunteers to head overseas and make a difference. Mark served as the chair for short term missions at the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada’s Global Mission round table. He now consults and trains for faith-based and secular NGOs. He heads of STMleader.com and Stopover.ca.  His training courses are practically geared for  STM beginners and masters level college courses. Mark leverages his extensive experience in the field, which includes leading multi-million dollar development projects in Congo and Haiti. You can read about Mark’s STM leadership training and certification at the website STMleader.com.  He can also be reached through Stopover.ca where he provides diversity training and benevolence coaching. He and his team specialize in delivering customized train

Dr. Joel Thiessen shares his insights about what makes congregations thrive.   Joel is the Director of the Flourishing Congregations Institute at Ambrose University in Calgary. In this episode Dr. Joel Thiessen points to five things that are emerging as starting points for entering this study of "flourishing congregations". Congregations that have a clear self-identity. They know who they are, they know what it is they're trying to do, and where they're going. They have a committed leadership. They equip and empower leaders, they have leaders who stick around for the long haul, and leadership is a central part of how and why congregations flourish. They have a desire to grow numerically, but they also desire to grow spiritually and organizationally. They measure. They count. They are accountable in various ways for the kinds of things they're doing at a congregational level. They are a hospitable community. These are places that receive people well, that are warm places that people feel connected to,

In this second QT4CM episode we are benefiting from the insights shared by Anna Burns on how to get your newsletters and emails read by supporters. Jenny, a ministry worker in Québec, sent us this voicemail: My question is: “how do I get people to read my ministry reporting emails and requests for donations?   It seems that my donors don’t often open my emails. What do I do?"  Anna Burns is with The Great Commission Foundation. Anna asks "Would you want to read your own newsletter?" She gives us tips for getting supporters to open and engage with our communications. Click here for the "Ask Anna" article she referred to in this episode. Click here for the InCourage Journal for Christian Service Workers.            The QT4CM podcast is a peer knowledge sharing initiative for personal and professional development of Christian ministry workers.   Quick Tips for Christian Ministry is produced with the support of The Great Commission Foundation… to benefit those who serve in the Name of Christ.   The background m

This first episode describes the background and intent of the Quick Tips for Christian Ministry podcast. The QT4CM podcast is a peer knowledge sharing initiative for personal and professional development of Christian ministry workers.   Quick Tips for Christian Ministry is produced with the support of The Great Commission Foundation… to benefit those who serve in the Name of Christ. Are you serving in any Christian ministry? Are you on a church leadership team or board? Maybe you are a pastor, worship leader, chaplain, or a missionary or evangelist. You may be a Christian serving in humanitarian aid. Or maybe you are thinking about Christian ministry as a vocation in your future. Well this podcast series is for you. Want to contribute your thoughts? Click here to suggest a topic for a future episode. Or, click here to send us your proposal to be interviewed.   Want more information? The Show Notes can be accessed by clicking here. Or, subscribe to receive the Show Notes each Friday.       --- Send in a voi