Shows
The Church OfficeThe Trellis and the Vine with Graham DanielsAt The Church Office we love catching up with old friends and that's exactly what Gavin did when he spoke to Graham Daniels from Christian in Sport!
How many sports clubs are within a 5 mile radius of your church? Praying for people, playing with people and telling them about Jesus is how Christians in Sport roll. Listen in as Gavin and Graham talk about working as a team, the importance of administration but most of all the importance of keeping the gospel central.
2025-11-131h 01The Church OfficeBONUS EPISODE- I was a guest on the Assemblies of God PodcastIn this week's episode, Chris talks to Gavin Smith of the Church Office, where they discuss administration, church management, and how to set up your church to succeed.
www.aoggb.com
2025-10-0239 min
Profit and Cashflow MasteryFrom Profit to Payday: Mapping Your 5-Year ExitDreaming of selling your business for millions? Most owners underestimate what’s possible in five years. In this episode of The Profit Analyst, Gavin Smith breaks down the simple math and strategic roadmap behind creating a business that not only supports your lifestyle today but delivers a massive payout tomorrow.Whether you’re stuck in the trenches or running a successful company, you’ll learn why a 5-year exit plan can transform your motivation, profitability, and future freedom. Gavin reveals the two critical numbers that determine your exit value, how to de-risk your business to increase multiples, and th...
2025-09-1126 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryFrom Profit First to Profit Fast: Gavin’s Guide to Ditching Financial GuessworkIn Part 2 of last weeks Q&A, Gavin calls out the bad financial habits and outdated thinking holding founders back. With his signature mix of sharp insight and dry humour, he takes aim at cookie-cutter financial systems, the limitations of traditional accountants, and the anxiety-inducing trap of running a business by “watching the bank balance”.He shares why financial clarity is the ultimate growth tool, how removing cash flow stress changes everything (including your posture), and why visibility over your numbers is worth more than an MBA. Along the way, listeners get a peek into Gavin’s person...
2025-09-0429 minThe Church OfficeThe Clay Pot Conspiracy- NEW RESOURCEIn our latest episode Gavin sits down with a good friend of The Church Office, Dave Harvey, to discuss his new book 'The Clay Pot Conspiracy'.
Listen in as Gavin and Dave talk through the clay pot conspiracy, the joys and struggles of working in ministry and how God uses us in our weakness.
We thoroughly enjoyed the Clay Pot Conspiracy, you can grab your own copy now on Amazon, Eden and 10ofThose.
2025-09-0132 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryAsk the CFO: How to Scale SmarterIn this episode, Gavin trades places and becomes the guest, sharing the real story behind his latest milestone- achieving “Black Belt” status in business coaching and scaling his business to over $1M.Listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at Gavin’s approach to numbers, strategy, and decision-making, including the moment he went against his gut and made a move that paid off big. He breaks down the four core pillars every business owner needs, the ripple effect of building a truly profitable company, and why financial clarity is the ultimate growth hack.From Dom Perignon to kids’ m...
2025-08-2827 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryMaster Your Numbers, Double Your ProfitMost founders are accidentally leaking profit every single day because they’re “winging it” with their numbers. In this episode, Gavin Smith from The Profit Analyst breaks down how tiny, boring-sounding tweaks can add up to jaw-dropping gains over the next five years.We’re talking about practical, founder-friendly ways to use your numbers to make better decisions, stack great calls on top of each other, and harness the compounding effect in your business. Whether you’re at seven figures and stuck, or just sick of guessing, this is the roadmap to turn drift into growth....
2025-08-2112 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryWhy You Can’t Rely on Your Bookkeeper, Accountant or CFOThink your accountant is managing your business’s finances? Think again.In this eye-opening episode, Gavin Smith breaks down the real roles of a bookkeeper, an accountant, and a CFO. He explains why relying solely on any of them could be a massive mistake for your business. More importantly, Gavin shares what you actually need: a simple, plug-and-play CFO system that gives you financial clarity, cash flow confidence, and control without the huge overhead.He explains how you, as the business owner, must stop outsourcing critical financial understanding, and instead empower yourself with the tools an...
2025-08-1410 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryFrom $0 to 7 Figures: How the Profit Formula Built My Coaching BusinessWhat if you could map out your business’s profit before it even happens? In this episode, Gavin Smith from The Profit Analyst reveals the exact strategy he used to grow his coaching business from $0 to over $1 million in just four years.Gavin breaks down his simple yet powerful Profit Formula; A practical framework that helps business owners make sense of their numbers and use them to drive real, intentional growth. You’ll learn how to confidently manage income and expenses, identify bottlenecks, and make strategic decisions that scale your profits.🎧 You’ll learn:Why prof...
2025-08-0710 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryThe Simplest Way to Read Your Financials (and What to Do With Them)In this episode, Gavin breaks down P&L ratios. One of the easiest and most effective tools for understanding your business’s financial performance at a glance.Using a relatable pizza-slice analogy, Gavin explains how to measure the efficiency of your cost categories like wages, rent, marketing and cost of sales, and how to spot where profit is getting eaten up. You’ll learn how ratios simplify complex financial reports, help you benchmark against industry norms, and reveal where the fastest wins lie to grow your profit margin.🎧 You’ll learn:What a P&L ratio...
2025-07-3105 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryHow Fixed and Variable Costs Shape Your Profit MarginUnderstanding your numbers doesn’t have to be complex. In this episode, Gavin breaks down one of the most critical concepts in business finance: fixed and variable costs.You’ll discover how these two cost types directly impact your break-even point, scalability, and profit potential. With practical examples including a real-world turnaround from one of Gavin’s own beach bar businesses; You’ll learn how to use your cost structure to plan growth with clarity and confidence.🎧 You’ll learn:The clear difference between fixed and variable costs (with real-world examples)How to quickl...
2025-07-2410 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryThe Real Reason Your Business Isn’t More ProfitableIn this episode, Gavin unpacks the real-world strategies behind boosting profit in your business without the overwhelm. You'll learn why profit isn’t something you make directly, but rather the outcome of managing your income and expenses with precision.Gavin introduces a practical framework that takes you beyond the textbook formula and into actionable levers you can pull to improve pricing, reduce waste, optimise team performance, and make smarter financial decisions. Whether you’re running a growing small business or navigating tight margins, this episode offers clarity, direction, and tools you can apply straight away.🎧 You’ll l...
2025-07-1714 minThe Church OfficeFree English Classes at All Souls, Langham PlaceGavin was thrilled to recently speak with Pelé Ling, Communications and Creative Director at All Souls, Langham Place.
Listen in as Pelé talks about relaunching free English classes at their church a few years ago and shares the success this rebranding has had in creating opportunities to tell people about Jesus. (He also talked about their Christmas plans which Gavin LOVED- only 23 weeks to go!!)
2025-07-1438 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryIncrease Profit and Cashflow Using 7 Simple Business NumbersIn this episode, Gavin Smith unpacks the 7 numbers every business owner needs to track to unlock real, sustainable profit. These numbers highlight where you're stuck, where the growth lies, and what’s holding your business back.You’ll learn how to pinpoint key drivers like pricing, volume, team costs, and overheads — and how small changes in the right areas can lead to big improvements in profitability and cash flow.Whether you’re aiming to scale or simply want more clarity, mastering your 7 numbers is the game-changer.🎧 You’ll learn:- Why cash flow...
2025-07-0311 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryThe 4 Financial Tools Every Business Owner Needs to Grow ProfitablyWhat’s the difference between business owners who scale calmly and those who spin their wheels, stressed about cash?In this episode of Profit and Cashflow Mastery, Gavin Smith reveals the exact 4 tools that power his proven Profit & Cashflow Mastery™ system the same framework he’s used to grow multiple businesses to seven and eight figures, and teach hundreds of others to do the same.Whether you’re just getting serious about your numbers or ready to scale, this system gives you the clarity, control and confidence to grow profitably.🎧 You’ll learn:-The weekly tool that puts cashflow control back...
2025-06-2609 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryThe 4 Rules Every Business Owner Must Follow to Understand Their NumbersFeeling overwhelmed by your numbers or avoiding them altogether?Whether you’re just starting to learn your business financials or deep into spreadsheets and still feeling stuck, this episode of Profit and Cashflow Mastery will cut through the noise. Gavin Smith shares four powerful principles every business owner should adopt to finally gain clarity, make better decisions, and stop spinning their wheels.No jargon. No overwhelm. Just a clear way forward.🎧 You’ll learn:- Why getting caught in the details can keep you broke- What “materiality” really means and why it matters- Why 90% accuracy is usually enough to take action...
2025-06-1905 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryHow to Read Your Profit & Loss in 30 Seconds (No More Spreadsheets)Still staring at your P&L wondering what it all means? Drowning in a sea of numbers that feel disconnected and overwhelming?In this episode of Profit and Cashflow Mastery, Gavin Smith breaks down Part Two of the P&L Simplification Framework — showing you how to transform your messy financial data into a clear, colour-coded chart that tells you exactly what’s going on in your business at a glance.Whether you’re a creative thinker, a visual learner or just tired of squinting at tiny tables in Xero — this episode will change the way you view...
2025-06-1206 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryDrowning in Numbers? Simplify Your P&L with These 5 Profit DriversIf your Profit & Loss statement feels like a sea of numbers, you’re not alone. Most business owners struggle to understand their P&L — not because they’re bad with numbers, but because it’s set up all wrong.In this episode of Profit and Cashflow Mastery, Gavin Smith (founder of The Profit Analyst and creator of the Profit & Cashflow Mastery™ System) breaks down exactly why the traditional P&L is broken — and how to restructure it using five simple financial categories that make sense to business owners, not just accountants.This isn’t just about saving t...
2025-06-0609 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryStop Managing Cashflow Like a Beginner: How to Forecast Like a ProStill relying on gut feel, your bank balance, or multiple accounts to manage your cash? You’re not alone — but it’s keeping you stuck.In this episode of Profit and Cashflow Mastery, Gavin Smith, founder of The Profit Analyst and creator of the Profit & Cashflow Mastery™ System, reveals the four levels of cashflow thinking — and why most business owners are trapped in low-value habits that lead to stress and financial blind spots.You’ll learn what separates reactive business owners from those who make calm, confident decisions using real data — and walk away with four practical...
2025-05-2912 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryFrom Overwhelmed to Empowered: How Larissa Took Control of Her Business NumbersWhat happens when a successful business owner is secretly overwhelmed by the numbers — and running cashflow in her head?In this episode of Profit and Cashflow Mastery, Gavin Smith is joined by Larissa from North Industrial, a seven-figure business owner on the Sunshine Coast, who shares her journey from stressed, spreadsheet-stuck and confused — to confident, cash-savvy, and in full control of her business strategy.If you're a business owner who avoids numbers or thinks, “I’ll just sell more to fix it,” this is the real-life transformation you need to hear.🎧 You’ll learn:How L...
2025-05-2230 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryCashflow vs Profit: The #1 Reason Business Owners Feel StuckAre you making a healthy profit on paper but wondering where all your cash has gone?In this episode of Profit and Cashflow Mastery, Gavin Smith, founder of The Profit Analyst and creator of the Profit & Cashflow Mastery™ System, unpacks the three key reasons why cashflow doesn’t always match your profit — and how to finally take control of the financial rollercoaster.Whether you’re earning $250K or scaling past $1M, this is the episode that will help you stop relying on your bank balance as a measure of success — and start using cashflow strategy to make sm...
2025-05-1509 minProfit and Cashflow Mastery3 Costly Money Myths Keeping Business Owners Broke (And How to Break Free)Think your accountant has your finances sorted? Believe you're just “not a numbers person”? Feel like you can’t afford to learn financial strategy right now?In this episode of Profit and Cashflow Mastery, Gavin Smith — founder of The Profit Analyst and creator of the Profit & Cashflow Mastery™ System — breaks down the three most common money myths holding business owners back.If you’re making sales but still struggling with profit, cashflow, or clarity — this is the mindset reset you didn’t know you needed.🎧 You’ll learn:● Why relying on your accou...
2025-05-0804 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryStop Reacting, Start Scaling: The Mindset Shift That Makes Numbers Work for YouStill seeing your numbers as something to “keep the tax man happy”? Then you’re stuck in reactive mode — and that’s costing you serious growth. In this episode of Profit and Cashflow Mastery, Gavin unpacks the two-step mindset shift every business owner must go through to turn numbers from a necessary evil into a strategic weapon.If you’re using systems like Profit First and still feeling like you’re flying blind, this episode will show you what’s missing — and how to become the kind of business owner who uses numbers to drive growth.🎧 You’ll learn:
2025-05-0209 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryWhy Most Business Owners Fail (And How to Avoid It With One Simple Shift)Most business owners don't fail because they're not working hard enough — they fail because they never learned how to use their numbers. In this episode of Profit and Cashflow Mastery, Gavin unpacks the real reason behind 80% of business failures — and it's not what most people think.If you’re stuck on the financial rollercoaster — making sales but still struggling with cash flow, profits, or clarity — this is the episode you need to hear.Gavin shares:The internal shame business owners carry when they don’t understand their numbersWhy financial illiteracy i...
2025-05-0109 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryFrom Corporate CFO to Small Business Success: My Journey to Profit and Cashflow MasteryWelcome to the very first episode of Profit and Cashflow Mastery!In this episode, Gavin Smith, founder of The Profit Analyst, shares his journey from chartered accountant to CFO for a global business — and why he left the corporate world to help small business owners simplify their numbers, make smarter decisions, and scale faster.You’ll learn:Why most accountants get it wrong for business ownersHow Gavin’s real-world experience shapes the Profit & Cashflow Mastery™ systemThe simple tools that turn confusing financials into powerful decision-making assets
2025-05-0109 minProfit and Cashflow MasteryIntroducing The Profit and Cashflow Mastery PodcastIf you're a business owner making $250K–$1M a year and you’re ready to turn financial confusion into clarity and control, you're in the right place. Hosted by Gavin Smith, founder of The Profit Analyst, this show teaches you how to simplify your numbers, make smarter decisions, and scale your profits — without the overwhelm.Subscribe now and start using your numbers as a powerful tool to grow faster, stronger, and more confidently. 📞 Book a free clarity call here! 📲 Follow us on Instagram & LinkedIn: @TheProfitAnalyst 👍 Like this video? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate u...
2025-04-2800 minThe Church OfficeMartyn's Law- What does our church need to do next?Gavin recently sat down with Evangelical Alliance's Director of Advocacy Danny Webster to talk about one thing- Martyn's Law.
Listen in as Gavin and Danny discuss some of the changes this new law could bring for our churches. Thanks again to Danny for giving up his time.
If you'd like to find out more, here's an article from the Evangelical Alliance on the topic:
https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/martyns-law-where-does-this-leave-my-church-and-christian-events
2025-03-2128 minThe Church OfficeThe Role of Review in Church LifeDo reviews have a place in church? Are they of benefit? Or are they too managerial for church life?
We were thrilled to be able to open up this topic with John Truscott, a good friend of The Church Office.
Listen in as John and Gavin discuss why we often don't like the topic of reviews and consider the benefits. To hear more from John, head over to his website: https://www.john-truscott.co.uk/
2025-02-2156 minThe Church OfficeWise Church PlantingDan Steel is a former market researcher who transitioned into pastoral ministry and has been involved in church planting for over twenty-five years. In this podcast Dan and Gavin talk about his new book "Wise Church Planting: Twelve Pitfalls to Avoid in Starting New Churches,"
In the book Dan examines the common challenges that cause nearly a third of new churches to falter within four years. Drawing from interviews with 80 church planters across 27 countries, he identifies internal issues such as character flaws, disunity, and misaligned priorities, as well as external obstacles like opposition and unmet needs. Hope...
2025-02-0642 minThe Church OfficeEnjoying the Gospel and Building TeamsIn this podcast Gavin interviews Pete Greasley one of the founding Elders at Christchurch in Newport. Pete has served in Pastoral Ministry for 40 years and has a wealth of knowledge and experience. Gavin and Pete talk about enjoying the gospel, not taking your self too seriously and finish their discussion by talking about building teams and having a diversity of different gifting. We hope you enjoy the conversation.
To find out more about Christchurch please check out their website: www.christchurchnewport.co.uk
To find out more about the church office please check o...
2025-01-2537 minThe Church OfficeIs Your Pastor Paid Enough?Working out the renumeration of your Pastor can be a challenging job for any Trustee or Church Officer. 'How much should we pay our Pastor or Church Leader?' is a very common question that we get asked at The Church Office.
Gavin talks to Pete and draws on his 40 years of ministry experience to try and answer that question.
If you would like more information or would benefit from a conversation with Pete, please feel free to get in touch at: info@thechurchoffice.co.uk
2025-01-1147 minThe Church OfficeWhat is Gospel Coaching?"One of the things that struck me about Matt during our conversation was his wonderful heart to serve leaders in Christian Ministry."
Gavin recently had the joy of sitting down with Matt Waldock, co-pastor of City Church Manchester and UK Gospel Coaching Director.
If you have not heard of Gospel Coaching then this is a really good introduction into what it is and the benefits of having a gospel coach.
https://www.cmmnet.org/pages/uk
2024-12-1844 minThe Church OfficeAdmin and Ops Check InJoin Gavin and John wright, the Operations Manager at Frinton Free Church, as they talk through the first part of the 2024 Check-in survey. They enjoyed talking through the results that related to the pressure points that admin and Ops roles faced this year and where people had experience grace at work in their churches.
During the podcast John also shares a little bit about his experience of partnering with UCAN (UK Church Administrators Network). We hope you enjoy the podcast.
2024-12-0748 minThe Church OfficeThe Importance of Good Governance and GiftingIn this Episode Gavin talks to Lourens Du Plessis from Stewardship who leads the team that guide and strengthen churches and Christian charities with their governance and finances.
It was great to talk to Lourens about the challenges that churches are facing in the area of good governance. It was also a joy to talk about the gift of administration and how effective it can be in a local church. We hope you enjoy todays podcast.
www.stewardship.org.uk
2024-10-311h 02The Church OfficeThe Pitfalls of Church FinancesExpensePlus are back! Listen in as Gavin is joined by Sam and Dan to talk through the most common pitfalls in church finance.
From not having the right people in the room to spending too much on everyday costs, these are areas that we can all do with a hand figuring through.
2024-10-1553 minThe Church OfficeThe Work of Ministry behind the ScenesIntroducing...Owen Gilham!
After working in education (and a brief stint in theatre) Owen now works for Danbury Mission as the Operations Manager. Listen in as he and Gavin talk about the diverse work that Church Managers complete on a weekly basis. They cover the importance of getting appropriate policies and procedures for your church in place as well as the challenges around adding a new Sunday service and the co-ordination of all the service teams to make that happen. It's an interesting job, we hope you enjoy the episode.
https://www.danburymission.org.uk/
2024-09-1342 minThe Church OfficeManaging and Developing Church BuildingsHow do we make best use of our buildings for the gospel? Rich Spens has spent many years working behind the scenes at Kings Cross Church in London trying to think this through and put it into action.
Listen in as he chats with Gavin about how he's managing and developing his church, including an idea to take the church roof off!
2024-08-2140 minThe Church OfficeWe've got ourselves a sponsor!Hot off the press- Churchsuite have very kindly agreed to sponsor The Church Office podcast! We're really grateful for all the support from Gavin and the team at ChurchSuite and can't wait to work alongside them.
Listen into this special episode as Gavin Courtney joins us to talk about why the team wanted to sponsor the podcast and everything that's new at ChurchSuite.
2024-07-2448 minThe Church OfficeNavigating Data Protection as a ChurchData protection can often feel like a minefield, especially in a church context where sensitive data is handled frequently. We recently asked our followers to submit any questions they had about data and privacy for us to pass on to the experts.
Listen in to this Church Office special as Gavin brings your questions to Harry and Leanne from the ICO.
2024-07-051h 21The Church OfficeFinding out more about ACATGavin recently had the joy of sitting down with Ashley Ellis, CEO of ACAT, the Association of Church Accountants and Treasurers.
Listen in as they discuss what ACAT has to offer and why no church accountant or treasurer should feel alone.
The ACAT Team have a wonderful heart to serve local churches and those serving in the area of church finances.
For more information please visit https://www.acat.uk.com
2024-06-2833 minThe Church OfficeAwkward Size ChurchWould you describe your church as being an awkward size?
Listen in as Gavin and Ray talk about overcoming some of the barriers to gospel growth that are faced in our churches. Ray serves as the Leadership Consultant for the FIEC and is also the author of Ready, Steady, Grow.
2024-05-2557 minThe Church OfficePartnering with Smaller Churches for the GospelIn the video Gavin got the opportunity to chat to Steffan Job the General Secretary for the Evangelical Movement of Wales. It was great to find out more about all the different ways that the EMW are serving churches across Wales and beyond. You will pick up Steffan's heart straight away to serve churches with fewer members.
The EMW have a rich and wonderful history of reaching out to young people with the gospel through their summer camps and they've very kindly provided us with some of their risk assessments as document templates. You will find these...
2024-05-0729 minThe Church OfficeFace to Face ScotlandIn this podcast, Gavin got the chance to sit down with David Anderson from Face2Face Scotland. David is an experienced Pastor who provides mentoring, coaching and discipleship to pastors in their early years of ministry. It doesn't take long to pick up David's lovely heart and desire to care for leaders. In the video David makes reference to a short survey he would love listeners to complete.
Please follow this link to complete it:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/CoMissionChurchesTrust/MentoringAndCoachingPresentAndFuture
For more information please visit
www.facetofacescotland.org
2024-04-1935 minThe Church OfficeLoving Your Church with Your Heart, Time and GiftsGavin recently got to sit down with a good friend, Steve Robinson and talk to him about his new book 'Serve'.
Serve is a really encouraging read about what it looks like to follow Jesus' example when serving the church and what it means to serve sacrificially.
Listen in as Gavin and Steve talk through serving with purpose and joy.
2024-04-0544 minThe Church OfficeI Hired a Church AdministratorGavin recently caught up with Andy Weatherly from Grace Church, Stirchley about what prompted him to hire a Church Administrator and the difference having one has made.
It was great to meet him and listen in to his thoughts on the gift of administration, church deacons and strengthening the local church.
2024-03-2136 minThe Church OfficeSupporting Churches TogetherIn this podcast, Gavin sits down with Phil Topham, the Executive Director of the FIEC, to share their passion to better support churches in the area of policy and governance. The Church Office is grateful for the support and funding it has received from the FIEC to enable The Church Office to continue to be a free resource for churches.
https://fiec.org.uk
https://fiec.org.uk/resources/how-to-do-nothing
https://fiec.org.uk/resources/the-ministry-of-administration
2024-03-0628 minThe Church OfficeShould a Church Set Targets?In this podcast, Gavin sits down with John Truscott to discuss whether churches should be setting targets and goals. Is it going to help grow and move a church forward? How would you answer that question?
Listen in as Gavin and John share their experience about setting vision, developing aims and organising the next steps.
Please check out John's training notes exploring this area in greater detail on his website: https://www.john-truscott.co.uk/Resources/Training-Notes-index/Should-a-church-set-targets
2024-02-2054 minThe Church OfficePrayer Mate- Technology and Faith Working TogetherIn this podcast, Gavin got the opportunity to talk to Andy Gears who leads a charity called Disciple Tech. His passion is to create technology that helps people grow in their walk with Jesus. Listen in now as Andy and Gavin talk through Andy's projects from PrayerMate, a brilliant app that supports individuals and churches to pray more consistently, a Bible reading app called Redeeming Time and a new game called the 'Serpent and the Seed'!
To find out more information please check out the following links and check out the podcast!
https://www.prayermate...
2024-02-0929 minThe Church OfficeChristian Safeguarding Services- Vulnerable AdultsGavin sits down with Paul and Sue Harrison from Christian Safeguarding Services to chat about the services that they provide churches and christian charities.
During the podcast Gavin asks Paul to answer some questions from listeners. Together they open up the discussion about safeguarding vulnerable adults in the church context.
To find out more about Christian Safeguarding Services please check out their website
2024-01-2652 minThe Church OfficeFirst Week Back to WorkThe Church Office team would firstly like to wish all our listeners a happy new year, we hope the Christmas season has been a much needed rest for many of you serving in Administration and Operations.
In this podcast, Gavin sits down with Sharon Clarke to talk through their hectic starts to 2024. Gavin has been navigating a long list of jobs, dismantling Christmas decorations, finalising year end accounts and preparing for a pastoral team retreat as well as the many other tasks that are needed to restart the new year. Add to that list a leaking church ro...
2024-01-1232 minThe Church OfficeThe Diverse Role of a Church AdministratorIn the last video of 2023, Gavin sits down with Anna Hodgson the Operation Director at Mosaic Church in Basingstoke. Gavin and Anna spend some time reflecting on the diverse roles in Church Administration and Operations. From caring for staff and volunteers, being creative, enabling others to serve, releasing gifting and being strategic with resources, there's a lot to cover. It was a joy to get to know Anna and team up with the Commission Sphere of New Frontiers.
2023-12-1828 minThe Church OfficeChurchsuite- Serving Local Churches-In this podcast Gavin get the opportunity to sit down with Gavin Courtney the founder of ChurchSuite and discuss all the latest from ChurchSuite.
They caught up on new features to come, using ChurchSuite for holiday clubs and using flows for welcoming more people into your church family. Listen in now!
2023-12-0846 minThe Church OfficeThe Life of a Part Time Church AdministratorIn this podcast Gavin talks to Karen Coleman a Church Administrator from Fuller Baptist Church in Kettering. Karen shares life as a part time administrator giving us an insight into some of her responsibilities, highlights and challenges. Gavin and Karen also start the conversation around listed church buildings. Karen is also a member of UCAN and highlights some of the benefits of being involved in the network.
2023-11-1821 minThe Church OfficeWhat did you enjoy?In this podcast Gavin had the opportunity to chat with 5 guests and find out what they enjoyed about the Terry Virgo Podcast. Loads of really good practical advice and reflections. If you missed the podcast with Terry Virgo then please check out the link below.
https://www.thechurchoffice.co.uk/blog/an-interview-with-terry-virgo
2023-10-2049 minThe Church Office12 Recommendations that Help People to Serve.Almost every church we know has faced a shortage of volunteers over the past few years. Gavin takes the opportunity to chat to John Truscott about his 12 recommendations that help support people in church to serve. I love the fact that John challenges our thinking and helps us to build a culture of serving and discipleship.
In the video John references two training notes on his website.
Serving in a Post-Covid Church
Every member on active service
2023-09-0556 minThe Church OfficeBad Habits of a Church AdministratorJoin Gavin and Anna Wood, the Operations Director for Cornerstone Liverpool, as they talk through the third part of our results for the Check-in survey, the Bad Habits of a Church Administrator.
Thank you for everyone who took part in the survey and shared their Bad habits with us.
2023-08-1827 minThe Church OfficeGood Habits of a Church AdministratorJoin Gavin and Anna Wood, the Operations Director for Cornerstone Liverpool, as they talk through the second part of our results for the Check-in survey, the Good Habits of a Church Administrator.
Thank you for everyone who took part in the survey and shared their Good habits with us. The result were so encouraging and inspiring.
2023-08-0331 minThe Church OfficeWhere are you experiencing grace?Join Gavin and Lewis Roderick, one of the pastors at Christchurch Newport, as they talk through the first part of our results for the Check-in survey.
They talk through the struggles they faced early on in their working relationship, where people were experiencing grace in their work currently and verses that are encouraging us this year.
2023-07-2138 minThe Church OfficeDoing More with LessIn this podcast Gavin and Penny share their thoughts and takeaway points from the recent UCAN Cutting Edge Conference. The theme this year was all about Doing More with Less. With fewer financial resources, fewer staff and fewer volunteers delivering “business as usual” has never been more challenging.
2023-07-0634 minThe Church OfficeStory of UnionGavin had the opportunity this week to chat to Joel Morris the Executive Director of Union. Joel serves behind the scenes co-ordinating and leading administration and operations. He has a very interesting back ground in engineering and nuclear power, as he shares a little bit about his story. It was lovely to hear his heart to serve and equip the church in all the aspects of their work.
If you have not hear of Union they exists to grow leaders through their School of Theology, supporting church planting through their Mission network, as well as helping believers delight...
2023-06-1933 minThe Church OfficeTo Do ListEver wondered what a Church Administrator gets up to in the week? Gavin and Becky share their to do lists on the podcast, encouraging each other and enjoying the huge diversity of the tasks ahead.
On the podcast Gavin and Becky mentioned two UCAN events for those in the UK to get involved in.
PLEASE SEE THE LINKS BELOW.
Cutting Edge Conference
Bench Marking Survey
2023-06-0838 minThe Church OfficeCaring for my Church LeaderIn this Podcast Phil Swann the Pastor at Llanelli Free Evangelical Church in West Wales, shares a little bit about his experience of partnering with the church office. Gavin completed what he calls a " Back Office Review" looking at the work that happens behind the scenes and hopefully offering some support and advice to improve the running of the church which we pray will ultimately serve the gospel.
The second half of the podcast focussed on caring for our Pastors or Church Leaders. It was great to talk to Phil and learn more about some of these...
2023-04-1233 minThe Church OfficeMinistry behind the scenes at NewdayGavin had the opportunity this week to chat to Gaz Sim's one of the staff members behind Newday, tasked with organising this brilliant event for young people. We love his passion for the local church and the gift of administration.
In the podcast he talks about his calling and describes it as "facilitating people to meet with Jesus.' Love that Gaz!
If you have not heard of Newday it is one of the largest Christian events for young people that takes place in the UK every year. Thousands of young people aged 12-18 descend...
2023-03-3134 minThe Church OfficeHR Support for ChurchesIn this podcast Gavin talks to Andy Bagwell one of the Executive Director of UCAN who has helped launch a new HR Support Service for Churches in the UK. Andy is passionate about creating healthly church cultures and wants our churches to be excellent employers. To find out more about the HR Support Service that UCAN offer please check out the link below.
www.churchworkers.net
2023-03-0338 minThe Church OfficeManaging Church FinancesIn this video Gavin got the opportunity to talk to Tim Wyatt about Managing Church Finances and provided some practical examples around budgeting and forecasting. Gavin and Tim also discussed deficit budgets and the challenges that some churches are facing over the next couple of years . A big thank you too Wyatt and Co for giving the time for Tim to share his experience and wisdom with our viewers.
Here is a link to a helpful Finance Procedure Document and further videos that Tim has recorded to support churches in the area of finances.
https...
2023-02-1345 minThe Church OfficeWork FlowsWhether documented or not, we all likely follow some type of work flow. Sometimes they can be a bit random or inefficient, other times they can work really well. But in order to effectively carry out the vision of our churches, we need to be reviewing them- from our newcomer welcome process to how we process our orders and deliveries.
Join us as Gavin talks to Mark Parsons from Christchurch Bristol about a really helpful seminar he did on work flows behind the scenes.
2023-01-2537 minThe Church OfficeThe Church Health ReviewGavin recently sat down with John Truscott to discuss the opportunity January presents to look through how things are going in your church. John has developed a fantastic tool on his website that supports leadership teams to review the health of their church. He has cleverly broken it down in to 5 key themes with 9 questions to work through under each theme. John is passionate about the local church and offers loads of great tips and insights. Very helpful tool
Here is the link to the church office website where you can download the tool for free.
...
2023-01-1041 minThe Church OfficeMaking the most of Christmas EventsListen in as Gavin chats with Neil Tallamy from Baglan Community Church about why and how we can be making the most of christmas events in our churches.
Christmas can be the start of people having exposure to the gospel and to the church so we want to be maximising the opportunity to meet as many different people as possible. This starts with good hospitality and care, so that they're in the best disposition possible to listen the gospel.
2022-12-2031 minThe Church OfficeQuestion Time with Nigel RingIn this podcast Gavin had the wonderful opportunity to interview Nigel Ring who has served Terry Virgo and Newfrontiers leadership team behind the scenes for over 40 years. I loved hearing his heart and encouragement for church administrators. A great opportunity to learn from the best!
A big thank you to our listeners for sending in their questions.
1. Do you have any tips on recruiting volunteers? This is a really challenging part of my job at the minute.
2. Do you have any suggestions of how we can better recognise volunteers contribution and thank them?
2022-11-221h 20The Church OfficeGood News | Great Joy (Operation Christmas Child)In this podcast Gavin got the opportunity to interview Nick Coles the Uk Director for Operation Christmas Child. Operation Christmas Child is the world’s largest children's Christmas Project that sends shoe boxes filled with gifts to children all over the world.
As church administrators we love a good statistic and since Operation Christmas Child started they have delivered 198 millions shoe boxes to children in 100 different countries. What an incredible achievement and a wonderful demonstration of God's Love in Action.
It was great to hear Nick's passion for the project but we loved his heart to...
2022-11-0630 minThe Church OfficeHomeless Not HelplessIn this podcast Gavin got the opportunity to interview Fran Richley the Operations Director for a Homeless Charity in Newport called Eden Gate. The Church Office loves to make the connection between the practical and the gospel. Fran is doing both of these, He is both passionate about sharing Jesus and caring for the needs of some of the most vulnerable folk in our communities. We loved hearing about Eden Gate and the opportunities that the church has to get alongside projects working with the homeless in our area.
2022-10-2028 minThe Church OfficeToy OfferingIn this podcast Gavin got the opportunity to interview Naomi Hodges from Renewal Church in Solihull. Naomi leads the brilliant Toy Offering Project in her church. Last year they blessed over 600 children with Christmas gifts and food parcels. Community projects like this are a wonderful way to reach out to our local community, become more visible and create opportunities where we were able to express kindness and share Jesus.
2022-10-1032 minThe Church OfficeActs 435In this podcast Gavin got the opportunity to talk to Jenny Herrera. Jenny is Acts 435's Executive Director and has been involved in the charity since operations began in October 2009.
Acts 435 is a giving website that allows people to give money directly to others, and 100% of what is donated via Acts 435 goes directly to those in need. They work through a network of churches and local charities who nominate an Acts 435 representative, called the Advocate, who is trained by Acts 435 and posts requests directly onto our website for people in their community who are in need.
2022-09-0630 minThe Church OfficeThe Conference Manager- Top TipsIn this podcast Gavin got the opportunity to interview Becky Thomas the Operations Manager at Beeston Free Church in Nottingham. Becky has loads of experience in running conferences and events for her church. In her spare time she also serves as the conference director for UCAN running their national conference called 'Cutting Edge'. She loves her local church and has a heart to serve others for the gospel. If you are thinking about running a conference then this podcast is full of top tips and a helpful step by step guide of what to do next.
2022-08-1537 minThe Church OfficeCommunity FocusedIn this podcast Gavin got the opportunity to chat with Jo Roach a Church Manager for St Andrew's, Histon & St Andrew's, Impington in Cambridge.
Jo is passionate about serving her local community and clearly loves people and church administration. She has an infectious personality, she was an absolute delight to learn from and talk with, we hope you enjoy this episode.
At the end Jo talked about the UCAN ILM course "Managing Church Well" For more information please use the following link.
https://www.churchadministrators.net/managingchurchwell
2022-08-0227 minThe Church OfficeExpensePlus- Serving Local Churches in the Area of FinanceGavin got the opportunity to sit and talk to Sam Lewis one of the Co Founders of Expense Plus at the UCAN Conference 2022. It was a joy to spend time with Sam and hear his heart to serve local churches. Expense Plus is a brilliant piece of software that I would recommend for churches to use. Having the right tools in place to manage your church finances will save you time and money. Worth checking out www.expenseplus.co.uk
ExpensePlus is an easy to use, cloud-based fund accounting package that is specifically designed for Churches and C...
2022-07-1819 minThe Church OfficeCreating Safe Environments in ChurchIn this podcast Gavin got the opportunity to interview Justin Humphreys the CEO of Thirtyone:eight who have been serving churches in the area of safeguarding for decades. It was lovely and inspiring to hear Justins heart to care for the voiceless and the vulnerable in our churches and communities. Their discussion around creating safer environments by reviewing and investing into our culture was very helpful. We all play a part in creating a safe environment and it was lovely to hear about the resources and services ThirtyOne: Eight are producing to support the church and wider Christian community.
2022-07-0454 minThe Church OfficeManaging People WellIn this podcast Gavin got the opportunity to interview Robin Vincent the CEO of Care for the Family. Robin has had a career in working with people. It was great to listen to his wisdom relating to organisational structure, communication and leadership. He talks about the tension between caring for staff while at the same time driving them to be the best that they can be. His thoughts about developing healthly cultures in organisations was excellent. At the end of the interview they briefly talk about staff capacity and burnout. Hopefully both helpful and practical!
2022-06-2250 minThe Church OfficeFinancial Management and GovernanceIn this podcast Gavin got the opportunity to talk to Tim Wyatt about some of the financial challenges churches have faced during the pandemic. They also have a very interesting discussion around the important of charity governance and provide some practical examples and application points for UK churches. Gavin and Tim also discuss some of the implication for church budgets and some useful tips to consider over the next few years. A big thank you too Wyatt and Co for giving the time for Tim to share his experience and wisdom.
2022-05-3057 minThe Church OfficeA Leadership ConversationIn this podcast Gavin got the opportunity to interview and learn from David Norbury the chair of the Evangelical Movement of Wales. David had a very successful career in education and shares what he has learnt about Leadership and how it relates to the church. David identifies three models of leadership and explores their benefit in the church context.
2022-05-1242 minThe Church OfficeRebuild ConferenceIn this podcast Gavin connects with Lewis Roderick, they are chatting about the up and coming Rebuild Conference. It captures their heart behind the conference and an opportunity to hear about what is planned.
Venue: Christchurch Centre, Newport, UK
Date: 20th and 21st June 2022
To attend the conference please book here www.rebuldthechurch.co.uk
2022-04-0924 minThe Church OfficeMoney MattersIn this podcast Gavin is talking to Penny Clarke about the latest UCAN roundtable event on Church Finances with Tim Wyatt from Wyatt & Co Chartered Accountants. Their discussion covers the main points from the training session as well as encouragement to those serving behind the scenes overseeing church finances. A very interesting discussion about the tension between faith and stewardship or faith and operations. We hope you enjoy the video.
2022-03-1929 minThe Church OfficeThe Weird and Wonderful World of Church AdministrationIn this video Gavin talks to Verity Yeates a Parish administrator from St George and St Paul about the weird and wonderful world of church administration. They share stories, highlights and encouragement for those serving behind the scenes in their churches.
2022-03-0725 minThe Church OfficeInterview with Nigel RingIn this podcast Gavin had the wonderful opportunity to interview Nigel Ring who has served Terry Virgo and Newfrontiers leadership team behind the scenes for over 40 years. I loved hearing his heart and encouragement for church administrators. During the interview Nigel gives great examples of how to work with a senior church leader. I don't know if you can tell but I loved every minute of this interview with Nigel, grateful for him and his faithful service to the wider church.
2022-02-2851 minThe Church OfficeHow are you Approaching the New Year?Gavin connects with Anna Wood, the Operations Director for Cornerstone Collective in Liverpool. They are reflecting on how they are approaching the new year. Lots of encouragement for Church Administrator to look out and enjoy the grace of God around them. As well as an encouragement to be faithful in everything they are doing for the Glory of God.
2022-01-2821 minThe Church OfficeQ&A with John TruscottIn this podcast Gavin asks John Truscott some of the questions that listeners have sent in to The Church Office over the last few months.
1. How do you protect yourself from Burnout?
2. My senior leader is gracious with me but I find it hard to deal with my own mistakes and failures? Can you help?
3. How do you train the next generation for church administration?
4. Do you think there is a recommended length of time someone should stay in post?
5. Aren't church administrators really church deacons? Why do...
2022-01-1137 minThe Church Office1 Year AnniversaryIt has been a brilliant first year for the church office, God has been so Kind and gracious to the team. In this podcast Jonathan Thomas interviews Gavin and asks him what's been happening in the background. They review some of the stats and churches that have been helped in 2021. It's a great opportunity to celebrate the success of the website and podcast in its first year. Thank you everyone who has supported the church office both financially and through prayer. Much Appreciated!
2022-01-0217 minThe Church OfficeIs it Time to Assess your Capacity?In this podcast Gavin links up with John Truscott a church consultant to discuss the topic of Capacity. Your capacity and ability to achieve any task is impacted by a number of external factors and personal issues. The podcast offers lots of practical help and encouragement as we think about this topic.
2021-12-0848 minThe Church OfficeCommunity Money AdviceGavin teamed up with Julian Mander from Riverside in Birmingham to hear more about their Community Money Advice Centre. As we approach Christmas, levels of debt are on the rise. It is wonderful that the church is making a massive difference in supporting people to be completely debt free. Julian previously served as the Operations Director at his church and is now taking a full time position to manage and lead this initiative at Riverside. Julian is very passionate about his work, it was a joy to interview him.
2021-12-0846 minThe Church OfficeGetting Ready for the Most Important Day of the Week (SUNDAY)Gavin teamed up with Becca Staniforth from STC Sheffield to discuss the work that goes on behind the scenes to deliver a Sunday Morning week in week out. They discuss some of the challenges running church events post covid-19. The podcast offers lots of practical help and encouragement.
2021-10-2648 minThe Church OfficeHelp Volunteer Levels Are Low! What do we do?Gavin teamed up with Penny Clarke from Kings Church in Bolton to discuss some of the challenges that they face with volunteer levels being low in our churches. How do we recruit and care for new and existing volunteers serving in our churches. Lots of great stuff!
2021-10-0235 minThe Church OfficeFood Bank and the GospelIn this podcast Gavin talks to Jon Slocombe the manager for the Newport Food Bank. We hear Jon shares his heart to serve those in our community that are in the midst of crisis. I love Jon' desire to serve people not just with food but with the message of the gospel.
2021-09-0322 minThe Church OfficeTalking Church Comms with Ben ElliottGavin teamed up with Ben Elliott Head of Communications at The Well Church in Sheffield. Ben has a wealth of experience and it was a joy to sit and learn from him. In his spare time Ben also heads up his own design agency as well as running a network to support those serving in Church Communications roles called 'The Church Comms Collective Uk'.
2021-08-1335 minThe Church OfficeWhat are some of the challenges Operational Staff in our Churches face today?Gavin teamed up with Jules and Andy from UCAN to discuss some of the challenges that church administrator and operation directors are facing today.
2021-08-0547 minThe Church OfficeManumit Coffee- Slavery Free from Crop to CupGavin wonderfully got the opportunity this week to talk to Dai Hankey a pastor from Cardiff who in his spare time manages a not for profit company called 'Manumit Coffee'.
Manumit Coffee Roasters offers dignity and hope to survivors of modern slavery through training & employment. Our coffee is roasted by men and women who have suffered horrendous exploitation at the hands of modern slave traders but are now rebuilding their lives.
2021-07-2616 minThe Church OfficeGetting to know UCANIn this episode Gavin got the opportunity to talk too Jules Morgan and Andy Bagwell, two of the UCAN Directors. Andy serves as one of the Executive Directors running the day-to-day operations of the network. Jules Morgan is the Executive Director for New Wine England serving thousands of churches across the UK. A really interesting podcast and opportunity to learn about the important work of UCAN. I loved hearing Jules and Andy's heart to serve church administrators with a desire to strengthen local churches.
2021-07-1926 minThe Church OfficeAdministratively Challenged PastorIn this episode Gavin got the opportunity to talk to Dai Hankey, a church planter from Cardiff who would describe himself as a 'Administratively Challenged Pastor'. A helpful insight into the importance of church administration and what pastors need on the ground to run their churches. Thank you for your humility and helpful tips Dai!
2021-07-0634 minThe Church OfficeInvolving Young People in ChurchIt has long been recognised that volunteering has many benefits, not just for the church, but also for young people themselves. However, there are things to consider when it comes to safeguarding the young people while they serve. Gavin chats with Anna Wood from Cornerstone Collective to discuss this topic and provide some helpful points for your consideration.
2021-06-2929 minThe Church OfficeCornerstone Collective- The Operations DirectorThis week Gavin got the opportunity to talk with the Operations Director from the Cornerstone Collective, a group of churches based in Liverpool. Anna plays a significant role in serving these churches behind the scenes. Cornerstone Collective are passionate about reaching people with the gospel in Merseyside area and have adopted a different church planting model to what we have seen before. Really Interesting Stuff!
2021-06-1621 minThe Church OfficeChurch Planting- A ReflectionWhat's more encouraging than hearing other's stories? This week, Gavin talked to Tony Graham about the challenges he faced and the lessons he learned whilst helping plant a church in Merthyr Tydfil.
2021-05-1858 min