Think you need to be a natural visionary to cast compelling vision for your church? Think again. This episode breaks down vision casting into practical, repeatable steps any pastor can implement. Discover how to develop a clear vision, why "God's will is something you do, not something you find," and how to make your vision sticky enough that a teenager could explain it to their friends. From Moses painting the picture of the Promised Land to modern church growth strategies, learn proven frameworks for telling people who you are and where you're going. Whether you're leading 50 or 5,000, these tools will help you break through growth barriers and inspire your congregation toward meaningful kingdom impact. Practical wisdom for church leaders who want to grow so they can go.

Discover how personality assessments like StrengthsFinder and Working Genius help church leaders hire the right staff and build stronger teams. Learn practical ways to use personality profiles for team development, understand your staff's wiring, and create a healthy church culture. Perfect for pastors and ministry leaders looking to improve hiring, reduce staff conflict, and maximize team strengths. Topics include: when to use assessments, how to apply them in hiring, team communication strategies, and balancing pragmatic leadership tools with Biblical principles.

Here's a few that we've used:

- Clifton Strengths: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx

- DISC: https://www.discprofile.com/what-is-disc

- APEST: https://www.alanhirsch.org/tests

- Working Genius: https://www.workinggenius.com/

Discover the 5 key components of effective strategic planning for churches and nonprofits. Pastors Bobby, Andrew, and Randy share insights from their 3-day strategic planning retreat, covering accountability systems, SWOT analysis, 3-year vision planning, yearly goal setting, and 90-day rocks. Learn how to move from long-term vision to weekly execution using proven frameworks like EOS. Perfect for church leaders and nonprofit executives looking to create alignment, build trust, and execute their mission with clarity.

Learn how to execute successful big days at your church with practical project management strategies. In this episode of Breaking Barriers, we dive deep into the execution side of church event planning—from clarifying vision and setting goals to using RACI charts, building accountability culture, and managing teams effectively. Whether you're planning Christmas services, Easter celebrations, or other major church events, discover proven systems for keeping everyone aligned, avoiding common pitfalls, and creating momentum through strong execution.

What happens when a pastor and his wife adopt a child with Down syndrome—and it transforms their entire church? Andrew and Anna Hopper share their adoption journey with daughter Faith Anne, the challenges of special needs parenting, and how Mercy Hill Church built a foster care and adoption ministry that mobilized 200+ families. But here's the key insight: they discuss how churches need to find the community ministry lane that resonates with their unique heart and calling—not just copy what others are doing. For Mercy Hill, it was adoption and foster care. For your church, it might be veterans, addiction recovery, or another form of caring for the vulnerable. This honest conversation offers biblical wisdom on orphan care, practical guidance for finding your church's ministry sweet spot, and an inspiring vision for how authentic passion creates lasting kingdom impact. Discover why adoption is more than adding to your family—it's a powerful testimony of the gospel to a watching world.

Chosen Book: www.andrewphopper.com/chosen

What if you could plan baptisms in a way that actually creates momentum in your church? In this episode, we talk about the "big days" strategy: identifying your church's highest attendance weekends (Easter, Christmas, back-to-school) and scheduling baptisms around those moments. You'll see why putting baptisms on display during peak attendance builds a culture of obedience, inspires life change, and shows that your church growth isn't just about filling seats but making real disciples.

Struggling to talk about money and generosity with your church? In this episode of Breaking Barriers, we explore five essential principles that help pastors authentically lead their congregation in biblical giving. Learn why generosity is one of the most powerful discipleship tools available, how to shift from wanting something FROM people to FOR people, and practical ways to teach tithing and first fruits giving. Whether you're preparing for end-of-year giving campaigns or building a year-round culture of generosity, this conversation covers the heart issues, theological foundations, and leadership practices that make discussing money feel natural and transformational.

Many churches struggle with community ministry that feels disconnected from making disciples. In this episode, we break down how adoption and foster care ministry serves as a powerful evangelistic tool—not just a "feel good" initiative. From reaching biological parents to discipling children in Christian homes, Pastor Andrew and Pastor Landon share practical insights from helping 200+ families engage in foster care and adoption. Plus: why knowing your church's unique gifts matters more than copying another church's model. Perfect for pastors wanting mission-aligned community impact.

Chosen Book: andrewphopper.com/chosen