https://youtu.be/3NDB60O3KhM There have been steady but subtle shifts in how churches hire staff and call ministers for years. Many of those shifts have accelerated since COVID. Sam and Thom look at four of the most significant shifts. The surprising number of pastors who were formerly laypersons in their churches. The acceleration of the part-time movement. The surprising number of unpaid lead pastors. The return of the circuit rider pastor? Resources: “Every Woman’s Bible” (Discover This Bible) * “Every Woman’s Bible” (Bulk Purchasing) * Tyndale House Publishers * Upward Sports Brown Church Development Group The Everything Church Resource Directory National Congregations Study Church Answers University * “The Surprising Return of the Neighborhood Church” by Sam Rainer * The Hope Initiative * Get your FREE tool! Attendance Growth Projector Episode Sponsors: Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities.  Whether you are a sports fanatic, or on staff at a church, Upward Sports will give you all the tools you need to run a first-class sports ministry that allows you to reach families in your community.  Upward Sports offers basketball, soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball and softball through league and camp offerings. At Upward Sports, we want to help your church make a difference, and give you increased opportunities to share the gospel.  Learn more today at Upward.org/ChurchAnswers. **As a partner of Rainer or Leadership, Upward Sports is offering a $500 sports start up grant to listeners. Head over to Upward.org/ChurchAnswers and schedule a call… tell them we sent you! Your sports grant will assist you in a 2024 LEAGUE! Discover your story in God’s story and find a life of extraordinary purpose. Every woman brings her own questions to the Bible: If I’m God’s child, why does my life sometimes feel ordinary or even disappointing? Why does the Bible say such hard and confusing things about and to women? How can I understand God and my own identity and place in God’s story? Every Woman’s Bible doesn’t shy away from the questions women ask. In these pages, active and impactful women of yesterday and today share age-old truths with modern relevance. Contributions from more than 100 women around the world—from every continent—explore the heartfelt needs, gritty challenges, and uncommon faithfulness of women of the Bible, throughout history, and today.