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    <title>FaithVenture Media</title>
    <link>https://faithventuremedia.com/media-center</link>
    <description>Articles, videos, and training resources for evangelical church growth.</description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <lastBuildDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 01:13:04 GMT</lastBuildDate>
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    <item>
      <title>Don’t Wait Until Monday to Follow Up - Ryan Wakefield, CEO of Church Fuel</title>
      <link>https://faithventuremedia.com/media/dont-wait-until-monday-to-follow-up-ryan-wakefield-ceo-of-church-fuel</link>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:06:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>Don&apos;t wait until Monday to reach out. Ryan Wakefield explains how proactive, pre-visit engagement helps churches turn first-time guests into connected members.</description>
      <content:encoded xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[In this insightful video from Church Marketing Conversations, Ryan Wakefield, CEO of Church Fuel, challenges the traditional church follow-up timeline. He argues that churches often wait too long to engage with new guests, missing the opportunity to build meaningful connections. Instead of waiting until the start of the week, Wakefield suggests initiating contact and gathering information before a guest even steps foot on campus.

By proactively learning about potential visitors beforehand, church leaders can curate a personalized experience. This includes preparing for families with children, making relevant introductions, and connecting guests with others in similar life stages. Ultimately, the goal is to shift the focus from simply increasing attendance numbers to fostering a genuine sense of belonging and community, ensuring guests feel known, welcomed, and valued from the moment they arrive.]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Visitor Follow-Up</category>
      <category>Church Communications</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>If Your Church Isn’t Measuring This, You’re Missing the Point - Ryan Wakefield, CEO of Church Fuel</title>
      <link>https://faithventuremedia.com/media/if-your-church-isnt-measuring-this-youre-missing-the-point-ryan-wakefield-ceo-of</link>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:00:21 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>Is your church confusing activity with growth? Ryan Wakefield explains why tracking your list of new contacts is the most important metric for effective outreach.</description>
      <content:encoded xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[In this insightful conversation from Church Marketing Conversations, Ryan Wakefield, CEO of Church Fuel, challenges church leaders to shift their focus from mere busyness to meaningful engagement. He argues that while churches often pour energy into social media and content production, these activities are only valuable if they lead to actual connections with new people. Wakefield introduces the 'Law of the List,' a strategy emphasizing the importance of tracking names, emails, and phone numbers of new visitors.

Wakefield stresses that a growing database is one of the most reliable indicators of a healthy outreach strategy. By treating every new contact as a potential relationship opportunity, churches can move beyond generic marketing and instead focus on building genuine, personal connections within their communities.]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Visitor Follow-Up</category>
      <category>Church Communications</category>
      <category>Marketing</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Surprising Church Growth Strategy That Actually Works - Ryan Wakefield, CEO of Church Fuel</title>
      <link>https://faithventuremedia.com/media/the-surprising-church-growth-strategy-that-actually-works-ryan-wakefield-ceo-of-</link>
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      <pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:56:18 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>Discover why consistent photography is a game-changing strategy for church growth and how visual storytelling helps reach new families in your community.</description>
      <content:encoded xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[In this video, Ryan Wakefield, CEO of Church Fuel, reveals a surprisingly overlooked yet highly effective church growth strategy: high-quality photography. After analyzing data from thousands of churches, the Church Fuel team discovered that thriving congregations consistently prioritize capturing and sharing authentic photos of their ministry life. This visual storytelling acts as a catalyst for growth by humanizing the church experience for prospective members.

Wakefield explains that a curated library of images is essential for modern church marketing. These photos play a pivotal role in optimizing your church's website, Google Business Profile, and social media presence. By showcasing the real people and community activities inside the church, leaders can bridge the gap for unchurched individuals, making the environment feel welcoming, accessible, and vibrant for families and younger generations.]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Church Communications</category>
      <category>Social Media</category>
      <category>Google Business Profile</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Missing System Behind Church Growth - Ryan Wakefield | Church Marketing Conversations, Episode 5</title>
      <link>https://faithventuremedia.com/media/the-missing-system-behind-church-growth-ryan-wakefield-church-marketing-conversa</link>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:31:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>Discover why relying on sporadic invitations isn&apos;t enough and how implementing repeatable systems can help your church reach and connect with more people.</description>
      <content:encoded xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[In this episode of Church Marketing Conversations, Ryan Wakefield, CEO of Church Fuel, joins the show to discuss why church growth relies more on sustainable systems than isolated marketing efforts. Instead of relying on pulpit invitations or sporadic social media posts, Wakefield argues that churches need a repeatable process to guide individuals from their first interaction to becoming fully connected members. The discussion explores the entire guest lifecycle, including outreach, preparation, follow-up, and integration.

Throughout the conversation, Wakefield shares insights gathered from working with thousands of churches, highlighting the difference between being merely friendly and helping people form meaningful relationships. The episode emphasizes that building a healthy growth system is not a substitute for prayer or preaching, but a way to act as better stewards of the opportunities God provides for reaching the community.]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Visitor Follow-Up</category>
      <category>Church Communications</category>
      <category>Marketing</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>What Churches Need - Craig Carlisle | Association Pulse Podcast,   Episode 1</title>
      <link>https://faithventuremedia.com/media/what-churches-need-craig-carlisle-association-pulse-podcast-episode-1</link>
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      <pubDate>Sun, 06 Sep 2026 23:57:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>Craig Carlisle joins the Association Pulse Podcast to discuss navigating the national pastoral shortage and supporting bivocational ministry.</description>
      <content:encoded xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[In this debut episode of the Association Pulse Podcast, host Jeremy G. Woods sits down with Craig Carlisle, Director of Missions for the Etowah Baptist Association and First Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention, to discuss the current state of pastoral leadership. Addressing the growing concern of a national pastoral shortage, Carlisle offers insights gleaned from nearly four decades of ministry experience. The conversation pivots away from traditional metrics of church growth, focusing instead on the essential pillars of church health, intentional discipleship, and the vital role of the associational leader in fostering a supportive environment for pastors.]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Church Communications</category>
      <category>Beginner</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Craig Carlisle on Bivocational Pastors</title>
      <link>https://faithventuremedia.com/media/craig-carlisle-on-bivocational-pastors</link>
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      <pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 21:19:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>Craig Carlisle details how the Etowah Baptist Association empowered bivocational pastors by providing essential theological tools and personalized support.</description>
      <content:encoded xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[In this insightful discussion, Craig Carlisle, Director of Missions for the Etowah Baptist Association, shares the story of how his association proactively supported bivocational ministers. By directly asking these pastors what they needed, Carlisle identified critical gaps in their ministry resources, ranging from flexible training schedules to the need for emotional and spiritual fellowship through retreats.]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Church Management</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Craig Carlisle - From Church Growth to Church Health</title>
      <link>https://faithventuremedia.com/media/craig-carlisle-from-church-growth-to-church-health</link>
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      <pubDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 18:12:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>Craig Carlisle, 1st VP of the SBC, discusses why church health is a more essential metric for modern ministry than numerical growth alone.</description>
      <content:encoded xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[In this insightful clip from Association Pulse, Craig Carlisle, Director of Missions for the Etowah Baptist Association and 1st Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention, challenges the long-standing emphasis on numerical church growth. While attendance, baptism, and membership metrics remain relevant, Carlisle argues that they fail to provide a complete picture of a congregation's vitality. Instead, he advocates for a shift toward prioritizing internal church health and the depth of congregational spiritual growth.

Carlisle emphasizes that true church health is best measured by the quality of discipleship, the ongoing spiritual maturation of believers, and the effectiveness of ministry activities in fostering faithful disciples. By refocusing on health, pastors can ensure that their churches are not only growing in numbers but are also robust, biblically sound communities. This perspective encourages a holistic approach where numerical success is a byproduct of a spiritually thriving church environment.]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Church Communications</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Day I Realized Why I Was a Director of Missions | Craig Carlisle, Etowah Baptist Association</title>
      <link>https://faithventuremedia.com/media/the-day-i-realized-why-i-was-a-director-of-missions-craig-carlisle-etowah-baptis</link>
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      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2026 23:20:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <description>Director of Missions Craig Carlisle shares the pivotal moment in his first week that helped him understand the true heart of his calling to support hurting pastors.</description>
      <content:encoded xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><![CDATA[In this moving reflection from the Association Pulse Podcast, Craig Carlisle shares a defining moment from the early days of his tenure as the Director of Missions for the Etowah Baptist Association. After transitioning from a long-term pastorate of 30 years, Carlisle initially grappled with the nuances of his new role. It was not until his fourth day on the job that he truly grasped his primary purpose through a providential encounter with a hurting, bivocational pastor who had just been forced out of his church of 14 years.

This brief but powerful story serves as a reminder of the emotional and pastoral support systems that associations provide to local ministers. By walking alongside a complete stranger in their darkest hour, Carlisle realized that his position was not just about administration, but about being a steady, empathetic presence for those on the front lines of ministry. The account underscores the vital role of the Director of Missions in fostering health and resilience within the pastoral community.]]></content:encoded>
      <category>Church Communications</category>
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