Reggie Joiner's Blog, page 26

3 Things Your Volunteers Need This Year

So here we are, sorta kinda emerging from a global pandemic. Some churches are working with a fraction of the volunteers they used to have; some have an influx of people who are creating their “new normal” and wanting to get back to old routines and rhythms. But wherever you find yourself, having a strategy for recruiting and retaining volunteers is vital to your ministry.

Let’s get back to the basics: what makes a volunteer want to come back and serve, week after week? What makes someone feel s...

Top 5 Tech Tools for Your Church in 2021

Running your ministry is like running a tech startup. Your ministry is often challenged by a bootstrapped budget, low resources, and only a few (highly talented) people. Combine these circumstances with a mission to change the world for good, and the church looks a lot like a Silicon Valley team. 

What is the X factor for success? It’s your software and tools. 

The software you use makes your team 10X better, faster, and more efficient at solving any challenge. What re-opening your church is pro...

How to Build A Church for the Future

When we look at history, there have always been seasons of significant change or dislocation. We are used to cycles of recessions, economic growth, and real estate disruption, but usually these cycles happen slowly over time. However, in the last year, everything has been disrupted so quickly, and the future is unknown. 

What if you and I are moving into a sustained period of unpredictability and dislocation moving forward? And what does that mean for us as leaders in the church? 

Here’s what is...

Innovating Your Church Around What Never Changes

So, I (Reggie) grew up playing baseball, and I was a second baseman. My dad was my coach, and I remember one day he took me out to the baseball field and had a bucket of baseballs. He put me actually on second base and he made me practice over and over and over again, turning a double play. I’d have to catch on second and then pivot and throw to first. 

After a while, I got extremely tired of the process and said, “Dad, I know how to do this.” 

He said, “Nope, you don’t yet.” 

Then he made this ...

Changing Your Ministry so Parents and Volunteers Win

Chances are you signed up to be in ministry because you wanted to help kids and teenagers. Maybe you didn’t even like adults, but at some point, you realized that in order to actually influence a generation of kids and teenagers, you had to influence the adults who influence kids and teenagers.

Because here’s what we know to be true:

An effective ministry has less to do with how you influence kids and teenagers, and more to do with how you influence those who influence kids and teenagers.

So, ou...

The One Question Every Leader Should Ask Their Volunteers

Years ago, I (Reggie) read a story about a conductor of the Boston symphony orchestra who had become somewhat famous. You can imagine that being on a stage in front of a large gathering in a prominent city in front of some of the most elite people in the community—receiving standing ovations, invitations, and popularity—can fuel an ego that can become unhealthy. 

This particular symphony leader developed a reputation as a somewhat arrogant, self-centered, and impatient conductor. He actually dro...

An Organizing Idea that Changes Everything

All ideas are not created equal.

Some ideas have the potential to be, what we call, “organizing ideas.”

An organizing idea is so big, if you make it a primary message and make sure that everybody understands it, it can change everything in your organization.

It can become the answer to the reason behind everything you do.

If you get this idea right, it’ll reorganize . . .

–       How you grow as a LEADER and increase your potential to learn–       How your VOLUNTEERS view the kids in your mini...

One Organizing Idea that Changes Everything

All ideas are not created equal.

Some ideas have the potential to be, what we call, “organizing ideas.”

An organizing idea is so big, if you make it a primary message and make sure that everybody understands it, it can change everything in your organization.

It can become the answer to the reason behind everything you do.

If you get this idea right, it’ll reorganize . . .

–       How you grow as a LEADER and increase your potential...

Are Academics Overrated in a YouTube World?

As I scroll through my various feeds, I often see and resonate with the popular sentiment that anyone can learn anything, anytime, anywhere. And I totally agree! I’m not sure a day goes by when I don’t Google how to complete a task, do a repair, or fine-tune a process. At this point, it’s a habit for me. I’m guessing it’s one for you too. 

It isn’t a stretch to say that we have a world of knowledge at our literal fingertips. So what does that mean in regards to formalized education for adult lea...

Standing in the COVID-19 Gap Year

COVID-19 has changed everything. We all have stories of the difficulties this pandemic has created for us, and we long for a return to what we’ve known to be normal. But there is another untold, heartbreaking story playing out across the developing world.

For the children and families who were already living in extreme poverty before COVID-19 hit — for those whose lives have never been “normal” — the challenges are immense. A new and devastating reality has taken root.

The virus itself is undoub...