How Do We Break The Next Growth Barrier? - Episode 400
Your church isn’t declining … but it’s not growing either. You might be stuck in “maintenance mode.” Many aspects of ministry look healthy, but growth has slowed. You’re not really reaching new guests, and fewer people are crossing the line of faith. What now? In Part 2 of our "Just Maintaining" series, Sean and Amy talk about what you actually need to do to change course. They’ll cover what it means to have a maintenance mindset, how to focus back on reaching new people and practical applications on how to break through the next growth barrier. This Episode is Sponsored by Planning Center: Are you struggling to keep your church organized and connected? Planning Center is the all-in-one church management software that solves your administrative challenges. You can effortlessly track first-time guests, manage volunteer schedules, and create easy ways for your congregation to get involved—all from a single platform. Whether you need a check-in system, event signups, or an online giving solution, Planning Center helps you nurture your community and keep people connected. Visit planningcenter.com to get started for free. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.
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23:18
Why Aren’t We Growing? - Episode 399
Has your church’s growth slowed down or hit a plateau? Maybe you're financially stable, and everything seems fine on the surface, but something feels off from your perspective as the leader. There are telltale signs your church is drifting away from sustained health. In this candid series, we'll explore why churches unconsciously slip into “maintenance mode,” what it costs them and, most importantly, how to break free. In Part 1 of our "Just Maintaining" series, Amy and Sean discuss the warning signs of shifting into maintenance mode, the key metrics to pay attention to and the first steps to take toward getting unstuck. This Episode is Sponsored by Planning Center: Are you struggling to keep your church organized and connected? Planning Center is the all-in-one church management software that solves your administrative challenges. You can effortlessly track first-time guests, manage volunteer schedules, and create easy ways for your congregation to get involved—all from a single platform. Whether you need a check-in system, event signups, or an online giving solution, Planning Center helps you nurture your community and keep people connected. Visit planningcenter.com to get started for free. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.
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23:33
Brand New Data on Church Staffing Trends: Q2 2025 Unstuck Church Report - Episode 398
The newest edition of The Unstuck Church Report is here! Every quarter, The Unstuck Group compiles all the data we’ve collected to monitor trends in churches in the United States. Our Q2 report focuses on current staffing data and trends in North American churches. For this quarter’s report, we received survey responses from 251 churches, giving us valuable insights into current church trends. These churches ranged from 100 to over 9,900 in physical attendance for worship gatherings. The average in-person attendance of churches that participated was 978 people. In this episode, Sean and Amy discuss findings from the Q2 2025 Unstuck Church Report and take a targeted look at key staffing data and metrics, the top staffing challenges churches are facing today and the future of church staffing. Plus, the report sponsor Vanderbloemen provides exclusive hiring insights. This Episode is Sponsored by Vanderbloemen: You have enough to-do’s on your plate—finding the right church executive shouldn’t be one of them. When you let Vanderbloemen do the heavy lifting, you gain a trusted, experienced executive search team, allowing you to save time and feel confident hiring a leader who lasts. Ready to hire the right leader? Head to vanderbloemen.com/getstarted Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.
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26:31
Teaching Model Regrets - Episode 397
Live teaching or video teaching? It’s one of the most debated questions in any multisite conversation. Everyone seems to have a strong opinion, but the best choice isn’t always the most obvious. In this episode, Sean and Amy answer this age-old question with proven data and real stories. They also outline what to consider when making this decision (including technology) and offer practical strategies to help you avoid missteps in your teaching model. If you’re launching a campus—or just wondering if it’s time to rethink your approach—this episode is for you. This Episode Is Brought to You by PlainJoe: Are you considering adding a second or third campus to your growing church? Need help telling your church’s unique story across every location? PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio, has you covered. Their team of creative storytellers, talented designers and innovative architects are passionate about helping churches tell their stories through spatial, interactive and strategic storytelling. Reach out to learn more at plainjoe.net. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.
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25:17
Multisite Structure & People Problems - Episode 396
If you’ve ever tried to launch a second campus, you know the struggle is real. Turns out, most churches get their staffing and structure wrong from day one, but we’re here to save you from those painful missteps. In this episode, Amy and Sean dive into the math behind multisite staffing (hint: your ratios probably need to change), why rushing to build a massive central team is a recipe for disaster, and how to avoid turning your campus pastor into a lonely island. We’ll also tackle the ever-present challenge of who actually gets to make decisions in this whole multisite dance. Whether you’re thinking about going multisite or feeling “multi-stuck” right now, we discuss practical guidance you may need to build a structure that actually works. This Episode Is Brought to You by PlainJoe: Are you considering adding a second or third campus to your growing church? Need help telling your church’s unique story across every location? PlainJoe, a Storyland Studio, has you covered. Their team of creative storytellers, talented designers and innovative architects are passionate about helping churches tell their stories through spatial, interactive and strategic storytelling. Reach out to learn more at plainjoe.net. Join the Conversation on Social Media We use hashtag #unstuckchurch on X and on Instagram.
About The Unstuck Church Podcast with Amy Anderson
With THE UNSTUCK CHURCH PODCAST, we invite you into the real-time conversations our team is having about church leadership every week.
Hosted by Amy Anderson, this podcast explores common challenges in ministry and practical steps for tackling them. It’s like getting to be a fly on the wall of our staff meetings.
Tune in weekly for:
Insights, observations and trends for church leaders from the Unstuck team.
Benchmarks in church growth and health from The Unstuck Group’s work serving hundreds churches across North America each year.
Practical advice to help you lead your church towards sustained health.
We think that after listening to The Unstuck Church Podcast, you’ll want to start these discussions with your own team at your next staff meeting.
Add your thoughts to the conversation on social media using #unstuckchurch.
Listen to The Unstuck Church Podcast with Amy Anderson, The Kirsty Gallagher Podcast and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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