388 Welcoming: Where Churches Get It Wrong (And How to Fix It)
First impressions matter, and churches often underestimate how much. Peter Blanch and Scott Sanders discuss how small changes can make a big impact in helping people feel seen, valued, and truly at home.
The theological foundation for welcoming
Mistakes from not even thinking about it to overvaluing the newcomer
Mistakes of not thinking about what a new person needs to connect to church
Mistakes of not thinking about the whole experience of welcoming
Welcoming has an important 2 way relationship with the rest of the church ecosystem, especially with the mission team
Thinking through the building and how it works
Thinking through the team and what you need
TOOL BOX
Secret shopper checklist
Gospel Growth and Christian Community ebook
Reach Australia Digital (Helping you with branding and website)
Community and Integration Workshop Part 1
Community and Integration Workshop Part 2
CREDITS:
This episode was brought to you by Kidswise
The One Thing is brought to you by Reach Australia
To pray for Reach Australia, join our WhatsApp Group.
For ideas or questions please email [email protected]
To support the Reach Australia Online Library head here.
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21:21
387 How to Run a Meeting
Are you suffering from death by meetings? Meetings can be soul-crushing or life-changing. Have you stopped to think about how to make yours truly effective so we can be using our resources effectively for the gospel?
Scott Sanders and Derek Hanna talk about:
Simple tools for making sure meetings work
The importance of drama in meetings
The importance of meaning and context in meetings
Why you need to identify different types of meetings
Which meetings need more discipline?
Which meetings are more important?
Which meetings do you need to be in (and not be in)?
TOOLBOX:
Death by Meeting by Patrick M. Lencioni
Getting Your Meeting Rhythms Down | Ep 15
Refresh Your Staff Meetings (Part 1) | Ep 166
Refresh Your Staff Meetings (Part 2) | Ep 167
CREDITS:
This episode was brought to you by the Reach Australia Leadership Development Program
The One Thing is brought to you by Reach Australia
To pray for Reach Australia, join our WhatsApp Group
For ideas or questions please email [email protected]
To support the Reach Australia Online Library head here.
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23:53
386 The Seven Day Cycle: What It Is and How To Avoid It
At the start of the year, many of us may realise we spent the previous year caught in a cycle of constant activity—just doing, without much reflection or planning, and barely surviving. How can we break free from this endless seven-day grind?
What's the cycle of survival from Sunday to Sunday and why is it so dangerous?
Why is it rooted in selfishness and being unloving?
Who is responsible when a team is stuck in a seven day cycle?
How does long term thinking and delegation help not just break but force us out of the cycle?
Some of the obstacles we need to address in developing leaders to get us out of the seven day cycle
TOOL BOX:
Reach Australia National Conference
Leadership Pipeline ebook
Team Development Program
Covey's Quadrant
CREDITS:
This episode was brought to you by Virtual Church Assist
The One Thing is brought to you by Reach Australia
To pray for Reach Australia, join our WhatsApp Group.
For ideas or questions please email [email protected]
To support the Reach Australia Online Library head here.
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20:41
385 Does Your Calendar Reflect Your Convictions?
Your calendar is not just the place where you put tasks to do and meetings to be had. It's about aligning your time with your values and integrity.
Scott Sanders and Peter Blanch explore how to do this effectively:
The importance of reflection and how to do it
Your calendar will reflect your convictions, but you may not be aware you are living them out
Where to put the harder things you do in your calendar and where to put the things you enjoy
Where the Reach Australia framework fits in here: Especially the ideas of clarify the big thing and then break it down
This is not merely an individual thing but a team thing. How is your team working on the calendar?
TOOLBOX:
The Reach Australia Framework ebook
Getting Things Done by David Allen
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
What's Best Next by Mat Perman
CREDITS:
This episode was brought to you by the Ministry Training Strategy
The One Thing is brought to you by Reach Australia
To pray for Reach Australia, join our WhatsApp Group.
For ideas or questions please email [email protected]
To support the Reach Australia Online Library head here.
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21:05
384 Why Christian Life Is Full of Tensions (And That’s Okay)
Gary Millar dives into holding tension in the Christian life, embracing differences, and leaning into Christlike living. It’s about being missionally effective and reflecting Jesus in our character. It's challenging, yes, but necessary—because calling each other to godliness is the truest form of leadership.
Gary's new book Both And And is out now — a book that’s part wake-up call, part guide for Christian leaders to walk the talk. Your personality? Important. But it doesn't exempt you from living under God’s rules. Leadership? It's about godliness first, not charisma or loopholes.
TOOLBOX:
Both And Ministry By Gary Millar
CREDITS:
This episode was brought to you by MTS
The One Thing is brought to you by Reach Australia
To pray for Reach Australia, join our WhatsApp Group.
For ideas or questions please email [email protected]
To support the Reach Australia Online Library head here.
New Zealand