Advertise on podcast: The Church Revitalization Podcast

January feels like go time, but if you wait until the new year to decide your church's priorities, you are already behind. In this solo episode, Scott explains why your 2027 priorities need to be settled before December, how to keep your budget from quietly starving your vision, and why a sluggish January start can cost you the whole year. You will walk away with three simple steps your team can take in the next few weeks so you hit the ground running on January 1. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the co-hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast and serve as practitioners with the Malphurs Group, a nonprofit ministry dedicated to helping churches thrive through strategic coaching and revitalization. Each week they bring practical, actionable insight drawn from years of working directly with pastors and church leaders across the country. A.J. returns next week. [1:52] Why Your Budget and Your Vision Are Probably Misaligned [6:05] The Hidden Cost of a Sluggish January Start [12:38] Three to Five Strategy Projects Aligned with Your Discipleship Pathway [16:18] Every Priority Needs a Point Person and a Clear Target [19:13] Three Steps to Finalize Your 2027 Priorities Before Christmas Free 7-Day Trial: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com Episode Article: https://malphursgroup.com/363 Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup X: https://x.com/malphursgroup

Your attendance number might look steady, but is your church actually growing, or are you just churning people? In this episode, Scott and A.J. show how to look beneath the top line by following one group of people over three years, so you can see exactly where folks are slipping away: at the front door, in discipleship, or before they ever start serving. You will walk away with four simple numbers that tell you far more than average attendance ever could. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the co-hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast and serve as practitioners with the Malphurs Group, a nonprofit ministry dedicated to helping churches thrive through strategic coaching and revitalization. Each week they bring practical, actionable insight drawn from years of working directly with pastors and church leaders across the country. [3:17] Two Prerequisites: Attendance Tracking and a Church Database [7:37] Why You Need a Truly Random Three-Year Cohort [12:47] Stay, Grow, Lead: Finding Where People Drop Off [17:31] Four Numbers to Track Instead of Average Attendance [22:18] Static Plateau or Active Plateau? Free 7-Day Trial: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com Episode Article: https://malphursgroup.com/362 Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup X: https://x.com/malphursgroup

What does it actually look like to partner with a church consultant, and why would it benefit your congregation? In this episode, Scott and A.J. walk through three compelling reasons every church leader should consider working with an outside guide: objectivity, a proven framework, and accountability. Whether your church is stuck, stagnant, or simply ready for the next season, this conversation will help you see what outside partnership can unlock. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the co-hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast and serve as practitioners with the Malphurs Group, a nonprofit ministry dedicated to helping churches thrive through strategic coaching and revitalization. Each week they bring practical, actionable insight drawn from years of working directly with pastors and church leaders across the country. [4:11] Reason 1: The Value of Objectivity from an Outside Perspective [9:07] Why a Consultant Has No Hidden Agenda in Your Church [10:11] Reason 2: Working Within a Proven, Biblical Framework [16:46] Reason 3: Accountability Throughout the Process [24:13] Recap of All Three Reasons and Next Steps for Your Church Free 7-Day Trial: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com Episode Article: https://malphursgroup.com/361 Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup X: https://x.com/malphursgroup

Church politics is an unavoidable reality in any community of people, and learning to navigate it well can mean the difference between a thriving church and a fractured one. In this episode, Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu unpack three layers of church politics, from competing visions to power dynamics to practical de-escalation, and offer honest, grounded guidance for church leaders who want to lead well through relational friction. Whether you are a pastor, elder, or ministry leader, this conversation will help you understand the dynamics at play and move forward with wisdom and clarity. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast, produced by the Malphurs Group, a church consulting and coaching organization that has helped hundreds of churches across the country navigate change and pursue health. Scott serves as a lead consultant and brings years of hands-on experience working directly with church leaders in the trenches of revitalization. A.J. is a consultant and coach who, among other things, brings a background in local politics to the table, giving him a unique perspective on how people and organizations navigate competing ideas and interests. [3:50] Layer 1: The Visionary Layer, how competing visions create political tension in the church [9:01] Layer 2: The Power Layer, positional authority and how governance structures shape conflict [15:28] Layer 3: De-escalation, practical approaches for cooling tensions and moving forward [22:25] Outdated governing documents and how vague or aging bylaws create unnecessary friction [26:34] Understanding the person behind the politics, how to read the motivation beneath a conflict Free 7-Day Trial: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com Episode Article: https://malphursgroup.com/360 Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup X: https://x.com/malphursgroup

Many churches struggle to move men from the seats to meaningful service, and this episode tackles that challenge head-on. Scott and A.J. dig into the mismatch between what men bring to the table professionally and what churches typically ask of them, offering practical ways to close that gap. If your church has untapped male talent sitting in the pews, this conversation is for you. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the co-hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast, produced by the Malphurs Group, a ministry consulting organization dedicated to helping churches thrive. Scott and A.J. work as church consultants and coaches, bringing a mix of practical wisdom and theological grounding to topics that matter most to pastors and church leaders navigating the challenges of revitalization. [3:15] Why men volunteer less and where the real gap is in middle-aged men [4:27] The communication mismatch between a man's professional identity and church service [5:34] Low-leverage versus high-leverage volunteer roles and why both matter [14:36] Identifying and personally inviting the right men into meaningful roles [19:14] The toolbox framework: knowing what skills and gifts your people actually have Free 7-Day Trial of the Healthy Churches Toolkit: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com Episode Article: https://malphursgroup.com/361 Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup X: https://x.com/malphursgroup

If your church has hit a plateau, this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast gives you a practical, no-nonsense framework to get things moving again. Scott and A.J. walk through four key questions every church leader should honestly answer, covering community presence, follow-up systems, barrier removal, and mobilizing your people to serve. Whether you have been plateaued for a while or just feel like you need a kick in the right direction, this episode is packed with actionable next steps you can start on this week. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the co-hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast and consultants with the Malphurs Group, a ministry dedicated to helping churches develop healthy strategy, leadership, and discipleship culture. Each week they bring honest, practical conversations designed to help pastors and church leaders move their congregations forward with clarity and confidence. [4:52] Question 1: Are we aggressively present in our community? [7:48] Question 2: Are we aggressively following up with new contacts? [11:07] Question 3: Are we removing barriers to the next step? [16:23] Question 4: Are we aggressively asking our people to serve? [22:24] Getting started this week: picking one thing to work on Free 7-Day Trial: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com Episode Article: https://malphursgroup.com/358 Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup X: https://x.com/malphursgroup

Have you ever wondered if you have what it takes to be a church consultant? In this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, Scott and A.J. walk through a 10-question quiz designed to help you honestly assess your readiness for church consulting work. Whether you are exploring certification or just curious about what good consulting looks like, this episode gives you a practical, candid look at the skills, mindset, and motivations that matter most. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are church consultants and the hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast, produced by the Malphurs Group. Each week they tackle practical topics to help church leaders move their congregations toward health and growth. Scott brings deep experience in pastoral ministry and strategic planning, while A.J. brings a background rooted in business and church leadership development, and together they serve churches across the country through consulting and certification training. [2:31] Question 1: The number one skill a church consultant needs [8:14] Question 3: What a consultant's job actually is (and is not) [11:16] Question 4: Why a repeatable framework matters more than raw talent [19:57] Question 6: The authority (or lack of it) a consultant actually holds [30:09] Question 9: The biggest reason new consultants fail Guide Certification Information: https://malphursgroup.com/certification Episode Article: https://malphursgroup.com/357 Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup X: https://x.com/malphursgroup

Many churches abandon strategies too quickly, assuming an idea simply "didn't work" when the real problem may be in how the strategy was implemented. In this episode, Scott and A.J. walk through three key diagnostic questions to ask before scrapping a ministry initiative, helping church leaders check their work rather than just look it over. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are church revitalization consultants with the Malphurs Group, a firm dedicated to helping churches develop healthy, sustainable ministry strategies. Each week on the Church Revitalization Podcast, they bring practical, field-tested insights drawn from years of consulting with churches of all sizes across the country. [9:13] Fix 1: Check for a lack of leadership or training among those responsible for executing the strategy [14:28] Fix 2: Evaluate whether the strategy had the resources and focus it actually needed to succeed [27:29] Fix 3: Examine how success was being measured and whether the timeline was realistic [22:08] The long-term perception damage that comes from repeatedly launching and abandoning initiatives [26:36] Asking the foundational question: was there actually a clear, shared plan to begin with   Leadership Pipeline Cohort: https://malphursgroup.com/pipeline-cohort/ Free 7-Day Trial: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com Episode Article: https://malphursgroup.com/356 Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup X: https://x.com/malphursgroup

Most churches skip formal review processes entirely, leaving staff, board members, and volunteers without the feedback they need to grow. In this episode, Scott and A.J. walk through three distinct areas where intentional reviews can strengthen your church: staff performance, board accountability, and volunteer development. Whether you are a solo pastor or leading a multi-staff church, this conversation gives you a practical starting point for building a culture of healthy, consistent evaluation. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are church consultants with the Malphurs Group, a ministry dedicated to helping churches revitalize and grow through practical strategy and leadership development. Each week on the Church Revitalization Podcast, they bring candid, actionable conversations designed to help pastors and church leaders move their congregations forward with clarity and confidence. [1:09] Why churches avoid reviews and why that needs to change [6:14] People are more likely to quit because of a lack of feedback than too much of it [12:44] Reviewing church staff: moving beyond a simple performance checklist [15:15] Reviewing the pastor and the board: a shift most churches have never considered [24:30] Reviewing volunteers: what they actually want from the process Free 7-Day Trial: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com Episode Article: https://malphursgroup.com/355 Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup X: https://x.com/malphursgroup

Every church knows the panic of scrambling for volunteers at the last minute, but reactive recruiting is just one of the mistakes that keeps your bench thin and your team burned out. In this episode, Scott and A.J. walk through three of the most common volunteer recruitment mistakes churches make and, more importantly, how to fix them with practical systems you can put in place right away. If your church is tired of guilt-tripping people from the pulpit, this conversation is for you. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the co-hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast, produced by the Malphurs Group, a ministry dedicated to helping churches develop healthy strategies for growth and renewal. Together, Scott and A.J. bring practical, field-tested insight to church leaders each week, covering topics from leadership development to volunteer management to organizational health. Whether you are a senior pastor or a ministry director, their goal is to give you tools you can actually use. [4:47] Mistake 1: Recruiting Reactively Instead of Proactively [6:42] Building a Volunteer Pipeline to Replace Last-Minute Scrambling [8:54] Mistake 2: Relying on Gut Instinct Instead of Objective Information [16:13] Mistake 3: No Follow-Up After a Volunteer Says Yes [20:41] Using the Healthy Churches Toolkit to Systematize Your Pipeline Free 7-Day Trial of the Healthy Churches Toolkit: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com Episode Article: https://malphursgroup.com/354 Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup X (Twitter): https://x.com/malphursgroup

Many churches are facing a quiet crisis: the average age of senior pastors in America is rising into the mid-50s, and the problem runs deeper than the pulpit. In this episode, Scott and A.J. walk through the signs that church leaders may be unintentionally holding back the next generation, and they offer practical moves to start reversing that trend. Whether you lead a congregation in the U.S. or an international church with a transient membership, this conversation will challenge you to think honestly about who you are developing and empowering right now. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the co-hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast, produced by the Malphurs Group, a ministry dedicated to helping churches move toward health and effectiveness. Scott serves as a lead consultant and trainer, and A.J. brings a global perspective shaped by years of working with international churches. Together they offer a warm, practical, and biblically grounded approach to the real challenges facing church leaders today. [7:32] Sign 1: You consult next gen leaders but never really include them in decisions [11:23] Sign 2: You celebrate next gen wins but struggle to tolerate their failures [16:42] Sign 3: The vision of the church is entirely dependent on one person [19:56] Practical Move 1: Give real ownership with real budget in a ministry area [22:53] Practical Move 3: Have their back publicly when things go sideways Free 7-Day Trial of the Healthy Churches Toolkit: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com Episode Article: https://malphursgroup.com/353 Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup X: https://x.com/malphursgroup

Most church leaders trust their gut more than they realize, and that instinct can quietly steer a congregation in the wrong direction. In this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, Scott and A.J. walk through the most common pitfalls of gut-driven decision making, explain why anecdotal information is not the same as real data, and offer practical questions leaders can ask to start making better, more informed choices for their churches. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the co-hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast, produced by the Malphurs Group, a consulting firm that helps churches develop healthy strategies for growth and ministry effectiveness. Scott and A.J. bring a blend of theological grounding and practical church leadership experience to every conversation, making the show a trusted resource for pastors and ministry leaders who want their churches to thrive. [1:08] Why gut feelings can be confirmation bias dressed up as Spirit-led discernment [5:02] Problem 1: Treating anecdotes as data and confusing what is loud with what is true [9:15] Problem 2: Silence in your church is not the same as satisfaction or health [13:59] Questions to test your assumptions about ministry programming and strategy [16:49] Who in your church holds a different view, and have you actually listened to them? Free 7-Day Trial: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com Episode Article: https://malphursgroup.com/352 Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup X: https://x.com/malphursgroup

What if you could see church growth coming before it actually arrives? In this episode of the Church Revitalization Podcast, Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu walk through three leading indicators that can predict future church health and growth, rather than simply reviewing what has already happened. They explain the difference between lag measures (like attendance) and lead measures, and show how tracking the right numbers gives church leaders real leverage to make smarter decisions. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the co-hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast, produced by the Malphurs Group, a church consulting and coaching organization. Scott serves as a Vice President at the Malphurs Group and works closely with churches navigating revitalization, while A.J. brings a background in church health strategy and practical leadership coaching. Together they make complex ministry concepts accessible and actionable for pastors and church leaders at every stage. [5:11] Lead vs. Lag Measures: The Odometer vs. Speedometer Analogy [7:55] Introduction to the Three Leading Indicators [9:08] Indicator 1: Connection Cards and First-Time Guest Engagement [15:16] Indicator 2: Moving People from Large Gatherings to Small Groups [17:46] Indicator 3: Volunteer Engagement as a Predictor of Church Health Free 7-Day Trial of the Healthy Churches Toolkit: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com Episode Article: https://malphursgroup.com/351 Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup X: https://x.com/malphursgroup

Is your church full of attendees but short on disciples? In episode 350 of the Church Revitalization Podcast, Scott and A.J. dig into one of the most common and quietly damaging patterns in church life: the consumerism cycle. They walk through three concrete red flags that signal your congregation may be consuming church rather than contributing to it, and then offer a practical framework for shifting the culture toward ownership and discipleship. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the co-hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast, produced by the Malphurs Group, a nonprofit ministry dedicated to helping churches across North America thrive. Scott and A.J. bring a mix of pastoral insight and practical strategy to each episode, making the show a go-to resource for pastors and church leaders navigating real challenges in ministry today. [4:04] Red Flag 1: Preference-driven complaints as a sign of a consumer mindset [7:02] Red Flag 2: Low volunteerism and the gap between attendance and participation [9:36] Red Flag 3: Giving culture and what it reveals about congregational ownership [15:43] Culture shift framework: Reframing belonging, language, and what your church asks of people [19:20] Leveraging low-bar entry points to build high commitment over time Free 7-Day Trial of the Healthy Churches Toolkit: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com Episode Article (Ep. 350): https://malphursgroup.com/350 Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup X: https://x.com/malphursgroup

Is your church full of attendees but short on disciples? In episode 350 of the Church Revitalization Podcast, Scott and A.J. dig into one of the most common and quietly damaging patterns in church life: the consumerism cycle. They walk through three concrete red flags that signal your congregation may be consuming church rather than contributing to it, and then offer a practical framework for shifting the culture toward ownership and discipleship. Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu are the co-hosts of the Church Revitalization Podcast, produced by the Malphurs Group, a nonprofit ministry dedicated to helping churches across North America thrive. Scott and A.J. bring a mix of pastoral insight and practical strategy to each episode, making the show a go-to resource for pastors and church leaders navigating real challenges in ministry today. [4:04] Red Flag 1: Preference-driven complaints as a sign of a consumer mindset [7:02] Red Flag 2: Low volunteerism and the gap between attendance and participation [9:36] Red Flag 3: Giving culture and what it reveals about congregational ownership [15:43] Culture shift framework: Reframing belonging, language, and what your church asks of people [19:20] Leveraging low-bar entry points to build high commitment over time Free 7-Day Trial of the Healthy Churches Toolkit: https://healthychurchestoolkit.com Episode Article (Ep. 350): https://malphursgroup.com/350 Facebook: https://facebook.com/malphursgroup Instagram: https://instagram.com/malphursgroup YouTube: https://youtube.com/themalphursgroup X: https://x.com/malphursgroup