Across the country church attendance has dwindled. There are practical reasons people have chosen to stay at home and worship. This episode revisits the projections made during the pandemic in episode 17 and updates the possible reasons people have still not returned to in-person worship. Previous episode referred to: https://www.buzzsprout.com/111…

The relationship between Pastor and church staff is one that is rarely mentioned and often overlooked. As a result, many leaders are unaware of what their staff experiences in the work space. Dr. Cobbs and Breakthrough Ministry Consulting is conducting research on church staff members to identify areas of strength and areas of growth to ensure high…

What makes the best leaders stand out? William Vanderbloemen, founder and CEO of staffing company Vanderbloemen Search Group, has conducted extensive research with the best of the best pastors, church leaders and the behaviors they exhibit. His new book, "Be the Unicorn: 12 Data-Driven Habits that Separate the Best Leaders From the Rest" offers ins…

What is all the hype about A.I. (artificial intelligence) and how should the church respond? I asked Nils Smith, Innovation Director for Dunham and Company to stop by and share the basics of AI and what pastors and church leaders should consider with this not so new technology. We discussed several things such as: • What is AI? • How can the church…

Graduation season inspires many to go back to school and earn a degree or add on another one. If you are ministry, or aspire to be, it is important to think about certain factors before spending time, money, and energy in school. But let's face it: all degrees are not worth the investment and frankly some are not even credible. This episode we disc…

What do you do when your heart is no longer in what you do? For too many leaders, even pastors and church leaders, this is a reality even while they continue to serve. Dr. Wanita Mercer is the CEO and founder of Lead My Heart consulting and coaching. She shares warning signs to look out for and encourages leaders to reclaim the passion they have fo…

Tragedy happens to us all. Ministers are usually the first people we call but who ministers to the minister when he or she is going through? Dr. Antoine works with pastors as the Director of Bi-Vocational Pastors at Baptist General Convention of Texas. He joined us on this episode to share his story and to offer tips on caring for the preacher duri…

Are you thinking about going on church staff? I surveyed church staff from across the country with the question, “If you could go back to your initial interview, what questions would you ask?” This episode shared ten of those questions such as: “What is the church vision and how is it implemented?” “Are there any past or potential scandals I need t…

It has been said the pandemic changed church forever. Maybe that declaration is somewhat exaggerated but there are trends and adjustments that definitely resulted. This episode looks at five positive trends that emerged from the pandemic. Online ministry Mental health awareness Young adults in leadership Pastoral succession Merging churches To book…

As church leaders seek to gain a sense of stability and plan for the future it is important to plan based upon data. This episode is a must hear for pastors and leaders who are planning programming and a calendar for their church. Contact Dr. Cobbs for Consulting info@breakthroughonline.orgBởi Anthony Cobbs

Dr. John Faison is the senior pastor of Watson Grove Baptist Church in Nashville. He is a scholar, social activist and one of the rising pastoral voices in the country today. In one of the most candid interviews in Church Unfiltered history, Dr. Faison describes how the enduring pandemic impacted him as a pastor and personally and steps he took to …

When is the last time you asked your young adults (ages 18-35) what they are dealing with and what questions they might have? I took the time to ask about 40 young adults from 3 different churches what topics they would want to discuss with their church leaders. In this episode I list 10 of the most common themes that arose and how pastors and chur…

Black history month allows us to commemorate the experience of the African-American. Returning guest, Dr. Carey Latimore, is a history professor and Christian preacher who understands the importance of highlighting the role faith in God had in the plight of the black American. In this episode, Dr. Cobbs and guest Dr. Latimore discuss several topics…

Setting goals at the beginning of a new year is typical. But how do you set goals in a season of uncertainty? This episode looks at classic ways to set S.M.A.R.T. goals and also how to identify key factors that will help you establish purposeful direction. To contact or book Dr. Cobbs: info@breakthroughonline.org…

The so-called great resignation is a phrase coined to describe the millions of American workers who are leaving their jobs and looking for new opportunities. Thus far more than 4.4 million people have resigned, retired, or flat out quit their jobs. How does this impact the church, church staff and pastors? HR Strategist and podcast host Krystal Spe…

The career choice of church consulting and coaching has taken off in recent years. What does it take to become a consultant to churches and what are some of the pitfalls one might bump into? This episode looks at the good and bad of the industry. Consulting businesses mentioned in this episode: The Unstuck Group The Malphurs Group Church Consulting…

The church has often used the arts to minister to people. Music, dance, dramatic presentations are all tools at our fingertips. How does one do this effectively? Danielle Gulley is the owner of Perpetual Innovations Entertainment LLC Entertainment and produces plays, productions, even a children’s online show. All while serving as the worship leade…

Friendship has been redefined through social media and other platforms. It has been minimized to those who follow us on social media. But true friendship is something to value and appreciate, especially when you are a pastor. Pastors, depending on how they respond to others, can be the best type of friend. But as with any of us, there are red flags…

Have you ever heard a great sermon ruined by a weak or random illustration? As a preacher, a writer for Our Daily Bread and having written for sermon helps companies, Dr. Cobbs has learned the importance of a great illustration. This episode looks at tips for creating effective sermon illustrations and how to make sure the word of God remains the f…

Traditional, older churches often struggle to reach the next generation. Our services are typically not designed for them, and our leadership usually doesn't reflect them either. In this episode we discuss five ways to reach emerging generations such as: * Asking the tough questions * Establishing a cause to support * Raising up a pastor to plant e…

Have you ever felt like you don't have enough time in the day? Has anyone ever made you feel guilty for not being accessible? Each of us have the same 24 hours. How we use that time is dependent upon our life balance and making sure we have set boundaries with the people pulling at us. This episode looks at six ways we can not only manage our time …

The call to serve on church staff is exciting, especially when the experience is filled with joy and growth. But just like any other area of work, sometimes it is necessary to move on from a staff or volunteer position. Dr. Cobbs solicited input from 25 current or former church staff workers and asked them to share how they concluded it was time to…

Katie Allred is known around the country as an expert on social media and digital discipleship. Her Facebook group, Church Communications has over 30,000 members and offers practical tips and best practices for churches. She is a professor at the University of Mobile and a consultant for church and business leaders to improve their communication ef…

Leadership coach Shawn Lovejoy is a former pastor and is the CEO and founder of Courage to Lead. He works with pastors and business leaders across the country. Shawn joined Dr. Cobbs for a discussion on topics in leadership and many of the challenges leaders face both personally and professionally. Connect with Shawn Lovejoy: https://www.couragetol…

Everyone has questions and we are here to answer if possible. This episode addresses three questions from across the country: 1. How do you handle people who hurt you? 2. What is the most disappointing thing about ministry? 3. As church reopens, what has changed or is it back to "busyness"? Dr. Cobbs answers these questions candidly and prayerfully…