Show Notes
Gavin 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!!)
More from The Church Office
Join Gavin Smith and Jonathan Wright as they reflect on the Mind the GAP conference. Together, they revisit the different sessions, share their favourite moments and discuss the ideas that stood out—offering encouragement for those serving in church administration, leadership and management.
Faithful and Limited Serving behind the scenes in church life can bring great joy, but also the pressure to keep everything running smoothly. With growing responsibilities and limited time and energy, it can begin to feel as though everything depends on us. In this episode, Gavin shares a personal reflection following the Mind the GAP conferences. Drawing on 1 Corinthians 3, he explores the encouragement found in Paul’s words: we plant and water, but God gives the growth. Our calling is to serve faithfully with the gifts God has given us, recognising our limitations and trusting him with the results. For anyone serving in church administration, operations or leadership, this is an invitation to work diligently, pray dependently and find peace in the truth that Christ is building his church. Our limitations are part of being human, and our labour in the Lord is not in vain.
After 22 years as a primary school teacher, Janet Sutherland sensed God leading her into a completely new chapter, first as a church administrator and later as church manager. In this episode, Janet shares honestly about that transition and the growing responsibilities she now carries, from managing buildings, rotas and governance to supporting staff, volunteers and members of the wider community. We explore the joys and challenges of a role in which no two days are the same, the importance of supportive leadership and healthy appraisals, and why church administrators and managers need trusted relationships with others who understand their work. An encouraging conversation for anyone serving behind the scenes in church ministry, particularly those whose role is growing and changing.
In this episode, we introduce the vision behind the Mind the GAP conference, created for church managers, administrators, operations managers and ministry leaders serving in the space between vision and delivery. We explore the reality of leading from the “messy middle", translating vision into action, managing competing priorities, supporting senior leaders and bringing staff and volunteers with you. Discover how the conference will equip you with practical skills, greater confidence and the influence needed to help your church or Christian organisation move forward together.
What does it take to build a healthy ministry behind the scenes? In this episode, Gavin Smith is joined by Zach Cochran, Vice President for Operations at The Gospel Coalition, to explore the often-overlooked role of operations in advancing gospel ministry. The conversation explores the unique calling of the "number two" leader, the importance of trust, integrity and consistency, and why operational leaders are often called to absorb pressure while enabling others to flourish. Whether you're a church leader, operations manager, administrator or volunteer, this episode offers practical wisdom on building healthy teams, leading through change, and creating the structures that help churches faithfully fulfil their mission.