Simplify Church | Helping Everyday Pastors Simplify Life In Ministry
Welcome to Simplify Church, the podcast for everyday pastors who are tired of doing it all alone, and long to lead their church from a place of joy, not overwhelm and burnout.
Most churches in America have an average worship attendance of less than 350. This means for most pastors and church planters, you have to wear a lot of different hats. And what works for a large church, might not work for you.
It’s crazy to say, but it can be really hard to find community, encouragement and practical ideas for your congregation - especially if you’re not serving at a large church or part of a large network.
We’re here to help fill the void that exists for ”everyday” church planters, leaders and pastors.
Drawing on decades of experience from serving in various roles and types of churches, our hosts Mike Whittymore and Greg Braswell share actionable tips, honest conversations, and interviews with those in the trenches of doing life and ministry.
We discuss mental health for pastors, church growth strategies, and the practical challenges of leading a budget-strapped congregation and leading people to Christ.
We dive into topics like: How do you lead from a healthy place? How do you manage it all when you can’t afford to hire another staff member? How do you know when you’re approaching burnout…and what can you do about it? How do you grow a small, struggling church? How do you deal with discouragement?
Each week you will find encouragement, wisdom, and practical tools and support to equip and encourage you as you lead your church. More than that, you’ll find a weekly oasis from the burdens of ministry.
- Update frequency
- every 6 days
- Average duration
- 42 minutes
- Episodes
- 85
- Years Active
- 2022 - 2024
Ep 24. The Pastoral Round Table (A Raw Conversation About The Challenges Of Ministry)
This week's episode is POWERFUL! Mike & Greg sit down with 4 other Pastors from various backgrounds and traditions and dig into some very specific pain points that ministry creates. You do not want t…
Ep 23. What To Do When You’re Feeling Stuck (3 Solutions)
This week Greg & Mike get super practical about one of the biggest road blocks we experience in ministry, life, and our relationships. They dive into what to do when you’ve tried everything and nothi…
Ep 22. The Wounded Pastor (Part Two)
This week, Mike & Greg continue their conversation with Dr. Matthew Tanner about the life changing impact that Unjustifiable Termination and Forced Resignation can have on a Pastor and his family.
I…
Ep 21. The Wounded Pastor (Part One)
This week Greg and Mike are kicking off a powerful TWO PART conversation as they sit down with Dr. Matthew Tanner and discuss the life changing impact that Unjustifiable Termination and Forced Resign…
Ep 20. Finding Strength: 4 Encouraging Thoughts for Pastors This Easter Week
Easter week is a busy week, to say the least. Sometimes we just need to be encouraged and to laugh a little. This weeks episode is sure to hit the spot! Mike & Greg have 4 encouraging thoughts for Pa…
Ep 19. When The Pastor Needs A Pastor (The 3 Warning Signs)
The calling of ministry is an incredible blessing - there's no denying that. But with that blessing comes a heavy weight of responsibility. That burden can often create seasons where Pastors and Chur…
Ep 18. 3 Expert Tips for A Better Communication Strategy
Communication in your church can be overwhelming and often exhausting. On this week's episode, Mike & Greg break down 3 proven strategies for improving communication in and to your church.
FREE MI…
Ep 17. Making This The Best Easter Ever (Part Two)
PART 2!
On this week's episode, Mike & Greg break down the important steps you need to take to make planning for this Easter a huge success.
For this two part podcast, we are giving you our Simplif…
Ep 16. Making This The Best Easter Ever (2023 Checklist Part One)
Are you ready to make this the best Easter you've ever had? If you said yes, we got you! On this week's episode, Mike & Greg break down the important steps you need to take to make planning for this …
Ep 15. What To Do When The Pastor Leaves And The Church Is Grieving (Lessons from an Interim Pastor)
On this weeks episode, Greg and Mike sit down for a very important interview with Steve Neill. Steve is a Transitional Pastor for www.interimpastors.com and provides temporary leadership to help stre…
Ep 14. 5 Ways To Improve Ministry Planning At Your Church
This week, Mike & Greg get practical about how to be effective with ministry planning at your church. Regardless of the size of your congregation or what role you serve in, these 5 steps will radical…
Ep 13: 6 Steps to Building Life Giving Relationships outside of Ministry
On this week's episode, Mike and Greg break down the importance of developing life giving relationships that exist outside the scope of our personal ministries. They give 6 very practical and helpful…
Ep.12 How To Create A New Score Card For Success In Ministry
On this weeks show, Mike & Greg talk thru the importance of learning how to create a new metric for what success in ministry looks like. They explore the importance of becoming Gospel fueled.
With p…
Ep. 11 Rest For Tired Souls (How To Develop Rhythms of Grace)
This week Greg, Mike & Special Guest Josh Henry talk about the unique type of exhaustion that Pastors and Church Leaders deal with.
According to a study in 2022, 42-46% of Pastors are feeling burned…
Ep.10 Rethinking Hospitality: Practical Tips For Creating A Culture of Gospel Centered Hospitality.
In this weeks episode, Greg and Mike tackle the very nature of biblical hospitality and why churches need to rethink their approach to it.
They give practical and insightful tips as well as challeng…
Ep 9. Fighting Against The Status Quo (How Your Church Can Stay Relevant In The Modern Era)
On this weeks episode, Mike & Greg talk about the present challenges of pastoring in this modern era and the pressure that comes with needing to be relevant. They break down the impact of the last 50…
Ep 8. How To Avoid Failure & Burnout With Your Daily Devotional Time
This week Greg & Mike get real about the struggles and hangups that come with maintaining a consistent daily devotional time. They talk about the challenges of over packed schedules, the pressure of …
Ep 7. A Hot Take Christmas (A Hilarious Debate About the Best And Worst of Christmas PopCulture)
This week, Mike & Greg welcome Special Guest Josh Henry as they share their hot takes on the best Christmas movies and worst Christmas songs. They share some hilarious stories about Christmases long …
Ep 6. How To Finish the Year Well: A Year-End Ministry Checklist for Pastors
Be honest...which camp do you find yourself in? Do you secretly loathe December? Or do you love soaking up all the moments of joy and beauty this month?
This time of year, it's easy to get overwhelm…
Ep 5. Feeling Pulled in Too Many Directions? How to Thrive as a Pastor During the Christmas Season with Bivocational Pastor Jeff Smith
Is Christmas a busy time of year for you? Do you ever find yourself wondering how in the world you are supposed to cram everything onto your schedule? Do you sometimes find this month to be more drai…