Podcast

NEXT SUNDAY

Shaping the Churches of Tomorrow, Today

Welcome to Next Sunday, more than just a podcast—it's your vibrant community of forward-thinking church leaders. Our episodes are crafted to serve as a dynamic field guide for bridging generations, cultivating generosity, and inspiring transformation within the church. Together, we will tackle challenges head-on, celebrate our victories, and possibly ruffle a few feathers because what happens next Sunday could change everything.

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BI-WEEKLY EPISODES: A NEW EPISODE IS RELEASED EVERY OTHER TUESDAY

MOST RECENT EPISODE

Dealing with Broken Trust in Your Church

Trust in the Church is at an all-time low – how did we get here, and what can we do about it?

Frank and Jim share the concerning truth of the decline of trust in the American church, discussing the staggering drop in public confidence and leadership challenges that arise from it.

In this Episode:
Why trust is like a bank account, and how leaders often make inadvertent withdrawals
The alarming drop in trust towards the church – from 60% in the 70’s to 32% today
The cost of hiding the truth, and the power of an apology in rebuilding trust

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The Massive Gap in Young Adult Ministry

Posted 8/20/24

In 1968, 55% of people ages 18-24 lived with their parents. In 2023, that number has grown to 71%.

This week, Jim and Frank discuss the critical issue of staying connected with young adults as societal changes and shifts in the timing of traditional life milestones leave them isolated in ministry. They delve into the alarming statistics and share practical strategies for maintaining relationships with students to ensure they stay engaged with their faith and community.

We'll explore how to balance the practical and spiritual aspects of nurturing young adults, including:

- The shift in young adult life stages, and its impact on ministry
- Importance of consistent communication and relationship building with college students
- A strategy that bridges the gap between youth and adult ministry

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Avoiding Moral Failures Through Leader Accountability

Posted 8/6/24

Since February, we've seen four high-profile pastoral moral failures that are impacting countless lives.

When moral failure happens, it's like a bomb drops and there's endless collateral damage that all the shrapnel hits, leaving innocent individuals to pick up the pieces.

What can we learn from these moral failures and how can we, as leaders, finish well?

This week, Jim and Frank discuss the challenges leaders and pastors face, the burdens they carry, and the critical need for guardrails and accountability. By looking at biblical principles, we aim to guide and inspire leaders to stay grounded and maintain a pure heart before God.

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The TRUE End Goal of Reading the Bible

Posted 7/23/24

54% of Christians report reading the Bible less than once a month, if at all.

This week, Jim and Frank discuss how to approach and interpret the Bible, especially when understanding finances, giving, and generosity. It should be more than just finding convenient answers to our own preconceived ideas. By looking at biblical principles, we aim to inspire more meaningful engagement with scripture and, through that, a deeper relationship with God.

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Frank Bealer

Frank is a distinguished leader and innovator in organizational leadership, church ministry, and family-centered development. As the Co-Founder of Phase Franchise Partners, Frank has demonstrated a profound commitment to creating environments that support family growth and community engagement.

He also serves as an advisor and Chief Strategy Officer at Generis. Frank leverages his diverse background to serve churches and non-profit organizations to help maximize their potential through effective stewardship and generosity strategies.

Frank is a devoted husband and father to six children with many other notable professional endeavors that have informed his extensive leadership. His family is at the heart of everything he does, inspiring his work and his dedication to creating positive change in the lives of others.

Jim Sheppard

Jim Sheppard is CEO & Principal of Generis, a consulting firm passionate about helping churches inspire and cultivate generosity through giving development, coaching, and strategy.

Jim is a student of generosity and is passionate about spreading it throughout the Church. For the last 30+ years, he has devoted his life to coaching pastors especially in navigating the resource limitations that restrict their ministry potential. Jim understands the financial challenges that churches face today; annual giving, debt, capital projects, and planned giving. He is a positive force in bridging these needs with the power of spiritually motivated stewardship. Cumulatively, Jim has partnered with his clients to raise over $2 billion for local church ministry. Jim is a frequent writer and speaker on generosity and ministry funding. He is co-author of Contagious Generosity: Creating A Culture Of Giving In Your Church.

Jim and his wife, Nancy, live in the Atlanta, GA area and they have two married daughters. He is actively involved in his church where he serves as an elder and provides guidance to the Generosity Ministry Team.

NEXT SUNDAY

Dealing with Broken Trust in Your Church

The Massive Gap in Young Adult Ministry

Avoiding Moral Failures Through Leader Accountability

The TRUE End Goal of Reading the Bible

FRANK BEALER &

JIM SHEPARD

Frank Bealer

Jim Sheppard

Accelerating Generosity Towards God-Inspired Vision