Ep 49 - Is Your Staff Busy or Truly Effective?

Ep 49 - Is Your Staff Busy or Truly Effective?

Darrel Girardier, Executive Director of Ministry Resources at Brentwood Baptist Church, joins the podcast for a candid conversation about one of the most uncomfortable questions in church leadership: how do you actually measure whether your staff is effective, not just busy? From leading indicators and lagging indicators to managing Gen Z employees who've never had to structure their own workday, Darrel brings hard-won wisdom from both the corporate world and 9-campus church leadership. If you lead a creative or ministry team and you've ever wondered how to hold people accountable without micromanaging, this episode is for you. 🔗 Show Notes * Darrel Girardier on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/girardier/] * Darrel Girardier on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/girardier/] * Brentwood Baptist Church [https://brentwoodbaptist.com/] * SMART Goals [https://www.ucop.edu/local-human-resources/_files/performance-appraisal/How+to+write+SMART+Goals+v2.pdf] guide 💡 More SALT JOIN THE COMMUNITY → http://SALTCommunity.com [http://saltcommunity.com/] SALT 2026 → https://www.salt2026.com [https://www.salt2026.com/] 🔗 Social Links Instagram: @salt_community [https://www.instagram.com/salt_community/] Facebook: facebook.com/theSALTCommunity [https://www.facebook.com/theSALTCommunity] X: @SALT_Community [https://twitter.com/SALT_Community] YouTube: youtube.com/@SALTCommunity_ [https://www.youtube.com/@SALTCommunity_]

Ep 48 - The Skill That Makes You Unstoppable in the Age of AI

AI is advancing faster than most of us can keep up with, but this episode makes the case that your creative instincts and eye for excellence are more valuable now than ever. Luke and Katelyn break down why the one thing AI can't replace is your ability to define and articulate quality, and how church creatives actually have a unique superpower in the age of AI. Whether you're a daily AI user or still figuring out where to start, this conversation will change how you think about the tools available to you. Show Notes * Book reference: Unreasonable Hospitality [https://www.amazon.com/Unreasonable-Hospitality-Remarkable-Giving-People/dp/0593418573/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SZCMQ8TSGKGO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.294_mCfIPZOoyGTQk1cvmrqJd7GGm4unJ1OLb7yHuGxSt-zpbi5KVrCcGhBppjGTJ2x1qELVWvArzPqfF9CcfY8HZbeLxJvzLKURBNcJPTmW6mWvBDtVYd0vbhoOY2BwV2J5mJDtp-WSuANQUGk0AKE4kJULFBkipCR37cwXgGZWDhkdKZC37uaNpe9XTNWtggSYJx4uGyNVpibyBUcEvTttqh8mPbOB2vCk2ElMTY0._e0qsAewAWBMOWjpiacVNLaNMOR-bThqIXbb1RUG5ac&dib_tag=se&keywords=unreasonable+hospitality&qid=1773691226&sprefix=unreasonable%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-1] by Will Guidara * ChatGPT [https://chatgpt.com/] * Claude [https://claude.ai/login?from=logout] / Anthropic [https://www.anthropic.com/] * Canva AI [https://www.canva.com/ai-assistant/] * Glue AI [https://glue.ai/] * Kenny Jang [https://www.instagram.com/kennyjahng] - see him at SALT 2026 and get your ticket to his masterclass: Leading with Vision in an AI-Driven World. 💡 More SALT JOIN THE COMMUNITY → http://SALTCommunity.com [http://saltcommunity.com/] SALT 2026 → https://www.salt2026.com [https://www.salt2026.com/] 🔗 Social Links Instagram: @salt_community [https://www.instagram.com/salt_community/] Facebook: facebook.com/theSALTCommunity [https://www.facebook.com/theSALTCommunity] X: @SALT_Community [https://twitter.com/SALT_Community] YouTube: youtube.com/@SALTCommunity_ [https://www.youtube.com/@SALTCommunity_]

Ep 47 - Are You a Download, Discipline, or Discovery Creative Type?

Australian singer and worship leader Bella Taylor Smith - who gained recognition on The Voice Australia and led worship at SALT 2025 - sits down to talk about what it's really like to write songs when you feel spiritually dry, how to navigate creative collaboration, and the 3 D's that shape her songwriting process. The conversation expands into a deeper discussion about why busyness is the greatest threat to creativity, what Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 hour rule means for church workers wearing too many hats, and why collaboration might be the most underrated spiritual discipline. If you create anything for the church - music, visuals, video, or otherwise - this one's for you. Show Notes * We Will See Miracles [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAJE8P-OR6E&list=RDCAJE8P-OR6E&start_radio=1] (Live from SALT Conference & recent release) * Forever & Amen [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVTPWS4JJJo] (Live from SALT Conference) * Who Else [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQy1IL_kNqo] (Live from SALT Conference) * When I Think About My Jesus [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muCEx3T4ZNc] (recent release) * For The Home full ep coming soon! 💡 More SALT JOIN THE COMMUNITY → http://SALTCommunity.com [http://saltcommunity.com/] SALT 2026 → https://www.salt2026.com [https://www.salt2026.com/] 🔗 Social Links Instagram: @salt_community [https://www.instagram.com/salt_community/] Facebook: facebook.com/theSALTCommunity [https://www.facebook.com/theSALTCommunity] X: @SALT_Community [https://twitter.com/SALT_Community] YouTube: youtube.com/@SALTCommunity_ [https://www.youtube.com/@SALTCommunity_]

Ep 46 - Should Your Church Hire Non-Christians? (ft. I Can Only Imagine 2 Director)

Andy Erwin, director of I Can Only Imagine 2, joins the podcast for a behind-the-scenes conversation about what it takes to make a sequel better than the original — including filming at Red Rocks with only 6 hours and 8,500 fans. But the conversation goes deeper than filmmaking: Andy shares why he intentionally casts non-Christians in his films and how both the product and the process can be vehicles for the gospel. If you lead a creative or technical ministry team, this episode will challenge how you think about who belongs on it. Show Notes * I Can Only Imagine 2 [https://icanonlyimagine.com/] * Andy & Tim Timmons SALT main stage interview [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avg9UwsZKg4&t=145s] * Bart Millard (Mercy Me) BTS reel [https://www.instagram.com/p/DVZVsQ9ERJw/] 💡 More SALT JOIN THE COMMUNITY → http://SALTCommunity.com [http://saltcommunity.com/] SALT 2026 → https://www.salt2026.com [https://www.salt2026.com/] 🔗 Social Links Instagram: @salt_community [https://www.instagram.com/salt_community/] Facebook: facebook.com/theSALTCommunity [https://www.facebook.com/theSALTCommunity] X: @SALT_Community [https://twitter.com/SALT_Community] YouTube: youtube.com/@SALTCommunity_ [https://www.youtube.com/@SALTCommunity_]

Ep 45 - You're the Problem: The Real Reason Your Sundays Fall Flat

In this behind-the-scenes episode, our host Luke McElroy sits down with SALT Conference's professional MC Joseph "Sojo" Sojourner (known from Dude Perfect) and producer Seth Bartlett to pull back the curtain on how one of the most creatively ambitious ministry conferences gets made. They dive deep into the value of creative risk-taking, why a safe brainstorming culture beats pressure-filled perfectionism, and how imperfect, unscripted moments on stage actually connect with audiences far more than a polished performance. Whether you plan a Sunday service, a special event, or anything with a live audience, this conversation is packed with timeless, practical wisdom. 💡 More SALT JOIN THE COMMUNITY → http://SALTCommunity.com [http://saltcommunity.com/] SALT 2026 conference → https://www.salt2026.com [https://www.salt2026.com/] 🔗 Social Links Instagram: @salt_community [https://www.instagram.com/salt_community/] Facebook: facebook.com/theSALTCommunity [https://www.facebook.com/theSALTCommunity] X: @SALT_Community [https://twitter.com/SALT_Community] YouTube: youtube.com/@SALTCommunity_ [https://www.youtube.com/@SALTCommunity_]