tylerramsbey Church Planting, Leadership, Ministry, Seminary Assignment

Three Ways to Shut the Backdoor of YOUR Church

backdoor

This post is the fourth of a series posts of my reflections on the Small Town, Big Church Roundtable event I attended at The Rescue Church. I encourage you to read the first three:
1. It Takes ALL Kinds of Churches…
2. Three Reasons Your Church is Struggling Financially
3. Hiring Church Staff with No Money

Every church seems to have a revolving backdoor. In other words, a small church may see 50+ guests every year with many of these people becoming permanent members while continuing at the same attendance. This happens because people who have been attending the church regularly leave.

Watching people leave your church, especially when the reason is unknown, is one of the most painful parts of being a pastor.

This backdoor was a major problem at The Rescue Church. After reading the book Sticky Church, we have begun to search for solutions to the problem. This was also a topic which was brought up at the roundtable; below are three ideas that resonated with me:

1. You need excellent small groups!
If you are like many pastors, you may have audibly groaned when you read those two words: small groups. As pastors we hate to talk about small group ministries because we aren’t very good at them (that’s saying it nicely!). This has also been brutally true of the church I help lead.

We are currently experimenting with sermon-based discussion groups. These meetings have been effective in connecting people to each other and to God. An average group for us looks like this:
(30 minutes) – We have a meal together.
(15 minutes) – We share what is REALLY going on in our lives and pray for each other.
(30 minutes) – We spend time going through the discussion questions from the bulletin.
(15 minutes) – We close with prayer.

It is a simple but effective format. If you are interested in this, you NEED to read Sticky Church!

2. You need to personally follow-up with visitors!
It’s terrifying to attend a new church for the first time. After the service, the person will have an internal (or external) debate on whether or not to attend the following week.

If you want visitors to return to your church, you NEED to follow up with them personally. This means you need to have a way of gathering their information. We have “Connection Cards” which people can fill out and have a welcome gift mailed to them.

If you have their phone number, I highly recommend giving them a call. Thank them for attending the service and answer any questions they might have. Explain that you would be honored to have them join you again the following week!

3. You need to have a relational church!
The primary concept which continued to come up in our discussion was relationships. People stay at a church because of the relationships they have forged there. If the people in your church have the mindset of a country club and refuse to welcome guests to the service, your church will not grow!

You need to cultivate a deep love for guests in your congregation. This is more than going to grandma’s house after church with the same people every week. The people in your church should intentionally look for ways to welcome guests!

We have a “First Impressions” team at The Rescue Church. These are our greeters, ushers, coffee bar severs, etc. Although we have an official team, we are clear that EVERYONE is on the First Impressions team. This is something that we embed into the DNA of every person who attends our church. One of the greatest compliments I hear from first time guests is how genuinely friendly everyone at the church is!

Have you noticed that your church has a backdoor? What are some things you have learned to help close it? Let me know by leaving a comment!

tylerramsbey Leadership, Seminary Assignment, Uncategorized

Three Qualities of a Go-Getter

fight

This post was inspired by the classic book Go-Getter by Peter Kyne.

Let’s be real. Many people in your organization, whether its a church or a business, are not go-getters. Everybody claims that they are… they just aren’t.

A go-getter is someone who will accomplish an objective in the face of impossible and discouraging obstacles.

Are YOU a go-getter? Below are some characteristics which should be evident in your life!

1. You make decisions!
So often we do not accomplish anything noteworthy in our lives because we are afraid to make decisions. Every time you say yes to something great you are saying no to a lot of good things. This tends to terrify rather than energize people.

It is better to make a wrong decision than do nothing at all. At times it is greater to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. If you are repeatedly consulting your supervisor on how to accomplish an objective, you are not a go-getter.

Go-getters understand what needs to be done and create their own strategy to reach the destination. If you are a go-getter, you will be offended if someone lays out a step-by-step plan on how to accomplish your job; this would be an insult on your intelligence!

2. Obstacles become opportunities!
When you are pursuing the objective, you can become paralyzed by obstacles. These obstacles loom like giants, ready to crush your aspirations. Unfortunately, this is the fate of many well-intended leaders who give up too quickly!

The larger the obstacle, the greater the victory!

In order to be a go-getter, you need to be scrappy. When an objective becomes “impossible”, you should immediately begin figuring out ways under it, around it, or over it. There is ALWAYS a way and you need to FIGHT to discover it!

3. You have an “It shall be done” attitude!
Anytime you are presented with a task or assignment, you should immediately say, “It shall be done.” Regardless of how difficult it seems, you need to rise to the challenge. Rather than listening to how other people have failed before you, you need to forge a new path through the rough terrain.

Ultimately, this comes from a place of faith. A true go-getter is someone whose faith is in the living God rather than themselves. A go-getter disconnected from the purposes of God becomes an arrogant, egotistical workaholic.

The ultimate goal of the go-getter is to hear these words…
“Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” – Matthew 25:21

What are some characteristics you would add to my list? Let me know by leaving a comment!

tylerramsbey Church Planting, Leadership, Seminary Assignment, Uncategorized

Hiring Church Staff with No Money

staffnomoney

This post is the third of a series posts of my reflections on the Small Town, Big Church Roundtable event I attended at The Rescue Church. I encourage you to read the first two:
It Takes ALL Kinds of Churches…
Three Reasons Your Church is Struggling Financially

The pastorate can be incredibly lonely. This feeling is multiplied by the pastor having no team around him to help lead the church. Many pastors are the “savior” of their congregation. The pastor is required to be at every hospital bed, preach every sermon, and fix every technology issue.

This is a toxic system of ministry which will bring death into your church.

Pastors in small churches tend to envy pastors who have multiple staff members. Many small church pastors dream of having a team of people around them helping propel the ministry forward. This is why many pastors see small, rural churches as a stepping stone to a larger ministry.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

Everything you need in order to take your church to the next level is already in your church!

One of the concepts that has revolutionized The Rescue Church is volunteer staff. Volunteer staff are church members empowered to help lead the mission of the church. There are many people in your church who would be honored to put their hands to the plow (for free!) but you need to call it out of them!

So how can you do this? I’m glad you asked!

1. Have a clear vision!
Everybody wants to be part of something bigger than themselves. Unfortunately, many churches are content with preserving the 1950s to the best of their ability. No one is going to want to serve for free under an organization that has no vision for the future and is stagnant in its growth.

If you want men and women to step into leadership at your church, you need to have a vision that is clear, compelling, and simple!

2. Call people to HIGH commitment!
Often we try to fill volunteer roles by convincing people of how easy it will be. This is bad leadership! If you do not hold a high standard for the people you place in leadership, they will only do enough to get by.

You need to find dynamic leaders who are willing to pry open doors and wrestle with the impossible.

At The Rescue Church, we call all of our volunteer staff leaders to commit to 5 hours a week outside of their weekend duties. This is a BIG commitment for people! If you recognize leadership in people, call them to a HIGH commitment so that they can grow in their faith and impact the community!

3. Show them the exit ramp!
No one wants to get signed on to a volunteer position which requires them to give up every Tuesday night until Jesus comes back. You need to understand that the people who are going to be leading in your church are probably leading outside of the church as well. They are BUSY people and you do not want to risk burning them out.

We require our volunteer staff members to sign a commitment which says they will serve for one year. At the end of the year, we always give our staff members the option of stepping down. We value our volunteer staff members greatly and want to be sure they are spiritually, emotionally, and physical healthy; this means rest is vital!

Have you ever hired volunteer staff members? What are some things you would add to this list? Let me know by leaving a comment!

 

tylerramsbey Christian Life, Leadership

The Art of Conversation… for Introverts!

crowd

I’m an introvert.

I’m also a pastor.

In my role as a pastor, I am forced out of my comfortable and solitary box to form genuine connections with people on a regular basis. Those of you that are introverts understand how seemingly impossible this is for us!

Being an introvert does NOT mean I’m shy.

Shyness is one of the characteristics introverts are given because we prefer to not be around a lot of people. Introverts are drained by people while extroverts get a boost of energy after having small talk with the 50th person in the room (that would be a nightmare for us!). On the other hand, introverts gain energy by being alone or with a very small group of trusted friends.

Most of the people who meet me automatically assume I’m an extrovert. Contrary to this belief, I am much more comfortable reading books written by dead guys about subjects most people aren’t interested in. I have been working on a paper all morning and feel incredibly energized and refreshed! On the other hand, every Sunday after church I am physically and mentally exhausted.

If you’re an introvert, I want to help you. Here are three things that will enable you to thrive in the midst of an extroverted world!

1. Play to your Strengths.
I can spend hours reading, writing, and doing research. Many introverts are known as “bookworms”. This is a GOOD thing! When it comes to thriving in conversation, use your research skills! I have spent hours reading about the art of conversation. Although it may not be natural to you, I would challenge you to attack it with the same tenacity as you would a research or writing project.

2. Write-Down Questions.
This may sound cheesy but I literally write down questions when I’m going out to eat with someone. I don’t bring my questions with and interview them (usually) but it enables me to lead the conversation and express a genuine interest in the other person. If you prepare before a planned conversation (which most introverts dread), you will earn the other person’s favor and they will think you are one of the most engaging people they have met!

This leads me to my third point…

3. Be Curious about People.
I’m a closet psychologist. I love to observe how people react in social situations, especially in large groups. I am also fascinated by the lives of people in general. I love to hear stories about what shaped each person to become who they are. In order to master the art of conversation, you need to have genuine interest in other people. This helps spark questions and earn favor from the people you speak with.

Excellent conversation skills boil down to one thing: asking questions.

As long as you can keep the person talking and express real interest in what they are saying, people will think you are incredibly outgoing. Just remember to read a book and sleep for a long time when you’re done so you don’t burn yourself out!

What are some things you would add to this list? Let me know by leaving a comment!

tylerramsbey Seminary Assignment, Uncategorized

Three Reasons YOUR Church Is Struggling Financially

money

This post is the second of a series posts of my reflections on the Small Town, Big Church Roundtable event I attended at The Rescue Church. I encourage you to read the first one:
It Takes ALL Kinds of Churches…

“If you have a God-sized vision your back will always be up against the wall.”

One of the pastors at the roundtable shared this quote and it hit home for many of the leaders there. It seems as if the kingdom of darkness has no problem funding its programs and organizations while the church is continually in need. Whether it is the need for another staff member or a permanent facility, finances play a vital role in the life of a church – especially a small church.

Jon Sanders, the lead pastor of The Rescue Church, shared multiple reasons your church may be struggling financially. Below are three that resonated with me:

1. You don’t preach about giving.
No one wants to be the pastor who seems obsessed with money. Due to the prevalence of television preachers who urge you to sow a seed into their ministry for a miracle, many pastors simply do not talk about money.

This is cowardly.

Money is the god that many people in your congregation worship. The people you pastor are in the process of sacrificing their families to this false god. The “American Dream” has become a cancer bringing a slow and painful death to those who have placed their trust in wealth.

You need to expose this false god by preaching about money. If Jesus is Lord, it should be reflected in the bank accounts of Christians. Don’t be ashamed to call this god out and expose its hideous effects in order to shepherd the souls of your people.

2. You don’t have a compelling vision.
No one wants to give their money to a church whose primary goal is to keep the lights on and fill a building. Far too many small churches have absolutely no vision for the ministry God has called them to do in the community. If you are looking at your church as a stepping stone to a larger ministry and are only there to pay your dues, you will not invest in the long-term health of the people God has entrusted to you.

Our vision at The Rescue Church is to impact our communities by helping people know Jesus, grow in faith, and go serve others. We summarize this as KNOW, GROW, GO. This is more than a cute catchphrase we can hang on our wall, we structure EVERYTHING around this vision. This encourages people to become part of something bigger than themselves – the church of Jesus Christ!

3. You don’t spend money wisely.
Why are casinos able to manage their finances better than a church? The church should have the most discernment and wisdom when it comes to structuring healthy budgets that ensure long-term success.

You don’t have the gift of faith simply because you are too ignorant to create a workable budget and expect God to come through last minute on your behalf every single time you do an event.

The money that God has entrusted to you must be stewarded with care. If you are faithful in the little that God has given your church, He will provide an abundance to be faithful with (Luke 16:10). On the other hand, if you cannot even manage the limited budget you are working with, why would God provide you with more of HIS finances to squander?

Jon Sanders did a whole podcast on this issue. If this is something that resonates with you, I would highly encourage you to check it out – 12 Reasons Your Church might be Struggling Financially.

tylerramsbey Church Planting, Ministry, Seminary Assignment

It Takes ALL Kinds of Churches…

smallchurch

This post is the first of a series posts of my reflections on the Small Town, Big Church Roundtable event I attended at The Rescue Church.

This past Wednesday, I had an incredible opportunity to connect with other pastors and leaders in small churches. This was both encouraging and challenging. One of the ways I was deeply refreshed by this roundtable was the variety of denominations and churches represented. Rather than hurling rocks at each others’ churches through jealousy and bitterness, we joined together as brothers and sisters in Christ united by the Gospel.

Leading a small church can be incredibly lonely. If you do not guard your heart, the toxic effects of discouragement and disillusionment will rob you of your joy and shipwreck your ministry. On top of this, many pastors struggle with forming friendships with other churches in their area due to minor arguments.

This reminds me of what Paul instructed the immature church in Corinth:
“For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by members of Chloe’s household, that there is rivalry among you. What I am saying is this: Each of you says, ‘I’m with Paul,’ or ‘I’m with Apollos,’ or “I’m with Cephas,’ or ‘I’m with Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul’s name?” – 1 Corinthians 1:11-13

Conflict and rivalry infiltrates our churches through secondary matters. Often when small church pastors begin to build a community with leaders from other denominations, their hope for friendship is crushed against a brick wall of secondary issues.

Let’s keep the main thing the main thing. Let’s set our eyes upon Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Let’s celebrate the Gospel and the beauty of God revealed in and through the person of Jesus Christ. Let’s stand side-by-side, laboring together to advance God’s message of love into the brokenness and darkness of our communities.

In essence, it takes all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people. We are on the same team!!

Have you ever experienced the pain of churches attacking each other over secondary matters? Why do YOU think this happens? Let me know by leaving a comment!

tylerramsbey Uncategorized

Do you want to record music?

studio

Do you write music and want to begin recording professionally? Are you a seasoned artist looking for a more affordable studio?

My goal is to offer high-quality recording, mixing, and mastering services at an affordable rate to add value to the lives of music artists. All vocals will be recorded on the Shure KSM44 – a studio microphone which retails at $999.

I have spent 11+ years writing, recording, and mixing music. I would love to work with you on your next project. I specialize in recording hip-hop and vocals. The recording rate is $35/hour. If you are a seasoned artist and are able to record your vocals quickly, you could easily record 2 – 3 songs in an hour.

If you are a new artist, I am more than happy to help structure your song and improve your delivery.

Below are some examples of my work (if you are reading this in your e-mail, you will need to go to the actual page to hear the music). If you are interested in working with me, head to the “Contact Me” page!

tylerramsbey Christian Life, Uncategorized

I had an incredible week!

Work

I spent this past week at Sioux Falls Seminary for the intensive week of the Kairos Project. This was a week of classes, study, fellowship and prayer. On top of that, I finally learned to enjoy coffee today (thanks to Annie’s Coffeehouse in Garretson!)

So… let’s have coffee together for the #weekendcoffeeshare! As I sip on my latte (I can’t drink ‘real’ coffee yet..) let me share with you some of the things I learned this week:

1. Ministry MUST happen in every sphere of life!
Sadly we have promoted a false dichotomy between secular and sacred work within the church. Almost everyone believes that formal, paid ministry is sacred work. On the other hand, other jobs (accountant, custodian, etc.) is secular or worldly work. As pastors, we expect people to use the small amount of leisure time they have in order to serve at the “sacred” church INSTEAD of empowering them to be witnesses in their work place.

THIS MUST STOP!

All of work is sacred if it is beneficial to mankind and honoring to God! We desperately need a new theology of work. All Christians are called to full-time ministry; whether that is in a church or a factory. God has strategically placed YOU in your specific sphere of influence in order to make Jesus known to those around you!

2. There is a difference between VOCATION and OCCUPATION!
To our own detriment, we have ruined a proper understanding of vocation. Vocation is best understood as a call on one’s life. An occupation is the specific way you are living out that call on your life.

For example, God has called me to be a pastor. This can be done in ANY occupation that God places me! Whether it is through paid ministry in a church or paid ministry as a custodian! In other words, our vocation supersedes our occupation.

Rather than becoming anxious over whether or not you are in the right occupation, focus on bringing the full value of your vocation (your calling) INTO your current job. Use your job as a mission field to love God and love people. Do your work to the absolute best of your ability in order to love your neighbor! THAT IS MINISTRY!

Do you agree or disagree with me? Let me know by leaving a comment and let’s continue the discussion!

tylerramsbey Christian Life, Ministry

Let’s Work Together.

Bible Picture

I desire to add value to the lives of people by teaching the Bible in a way that is understandable, truthful, and relevant. We live in the midst of a culture that is biblically malnourished. Even within the church, we have people who can quote Scripture but have no idea how to live it out in their daily lives.

I want to see that changed!

I would love to work with you in order to begin that change in your community. If you are part of a church, youth group, Bible study, or any other group that would find it beneficial for me to share from the Bible, let’s work together! I would encourage you to check out my Recent Messages to have an understanding of how I communicate.

Are you interested? Head on over and Contact Me so we can begin planning and praying together!

We will discuss rates & travel when you contact me. I desire to work with people on all budgets and am willing to be flexible on speaking fees. 

 

tylerramsbey Christian Life

Slavery to Freedom

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So often we find ourselves imprisoned to bondage, addiction, and hopelessness. The good news is we do not have to stay there! We serve a God who delivers his people through mighty acts of power. In this message I share how to break from the prison of sin you so often find yourself trapped in!

I pray this message encourages your faith and deepens your love for Jesus.

(If you are reading this in your e-mail, you will need to go to the actual page to see the video)

 

What did you find most encouraging or convicting from the message? Let me know by leaving a comment!