Seeds and Sprouts in Ministry Innovation

Summer Outreach Ideas

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2459679/fan_mail/new] It's summer in Minnesota and our patterns change as we take advantage of the warm temps.  How do these shifts effect your congregation?  How are you staying connected as members travel?  Summer is also a great time to meet new people as people are out and about.  How are you inviting people in to what you have going on?  How are you reaching out into the community?  How are you working with partners in your community to care for those who may be housing or food insecure?  By the end of this episode, you should have an idea or two that you can lean into to make this a great summer of outreach and connection!

Generosity and Stewardship with Rev. Dan Wetterstrom

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2459679/fan_mail/new] Rev. Dan Wetterstrom brings a rich wisdom to this conversation around generosity and stewardship in our churches today.  Beginning from a place of discipleship, Dan and Erica discuss the ways deep spirituality and roots grounded in our Wesleyan theology help shape our generosity and stewardship practices.  With over 40 years of ministry experience in the local church, Dan shares from a place of deep knowledge and keen observation and shares where he sees churches thriving.  Touching on buildings, congregational assets, community needs, leadership support, and more, this conversation is timely, practical, and hopeful!

Go, Sow, and Grow; a Framework for New Minsitry

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2459679/fan_mail/new]  Are you trying to figure out how to reach new people?  Are you wondering how to ground your ministry development in our faith story?  Join Erica (and her dogs!) for a conversation about how we go, sow and grow new ministry.  Leaning into the lessons we learn from gardening and from the ways Jesus lived out his ministry, we will explore some ideas about how you GO, what kinds of seeds you might think about SOWing and the importance of slow, steady GROWth.   We will also explore 5 current resources that you might want to tap into to your context.  This episode serves as a good follow up to the last episode.

Is it Ministry or is it Busy?

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2459679/fan_mail/new] We are celebrating 1 year of the Seeds and Sprouts podcast with this episode!  Thanks to everyone who has listened over the last year.  We are excited to launch our second season.  As Erica has worked with a variety of churches in the last year, a question she continues to ask is "Is this ministry or is this busy?" Churches can feel like they are doing all the things but sometimes a closer look reveals that they are simply busy with activity that is not truly bearing fruit.  Join the conversation in this episode as we explore ways to assess your ministries and lean in to doing less for more impact.  Learn some practical ways to engage a time of evaluation and think about ways to grow for impact not for busy-ness!

Urban and Suburban Ministry with Conference Connector Erin Lorenz

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2459679/fan_mail/new] You don't want to miss this episode as Erica and Erin discuss ministry for urban and suburban congregations in these changing times.  From social justice initiatives to connecting congregations doing great things, Erica and Erin explore what is possible for this connector role and how the office of strategy and innovation can walk with congregations in these interesting times.  It's also fair to say that that we didn't take ourselves too seriously and the episode should bring you a laugh or two!