Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast: Equipping the Whole Church Staff for Gospel Impact

Leading Your Worship Team Well: Culture, Communication, and Care

Worship ministry is more than music. It is people.In this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Mack Burns sits down with Travis Cottrell to discuss what it takes to lead a worship team with a healthy culture, clear communication, and genuine care for the people behind the platform.Travis shares simple, foundational markers of a healthy team, how to set vision and priorities (like authenticity over performance), and how to correct with encouragement without crushing someone’s spirit. They also talk about practical ways to care for volunteers, build sustainable rhythms, and remind your team that every Sunday is a spiritual moment in someone’s life.In this episode, you’ll learn:The clearest signs of a healthy worship team cultureHow to shape culture by sharing vision and priorities consistentlyWhy authenticity should always come before performative excellenceHow to give creatives room while keeping the goal people-focusedA wise approach to hard conversations that correct without crushingHow to notice when someone needs rest and build sustainable serving rhythmsOne simple step worship leaders can take this month to lead betterMeet the GuestsMack Burns – Worship Minister at The Church at West FranklinTravis Cottrell – Worship Minister at Brentwood Baptist ChurchRegister for the Elevate ConferenceThis episode is part of our March focus on worship ministry, leading up to Elevate Church Conference on September 21–22, 2026. Learn more and register at elevatechurchconference.com.

Project Management for Church Communications: Build Systems That Create Margin

Communications is where vision meets execution. And without a system, things get chaotic fast.In this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, we walk through the project management stack that helps our communications team serve nine campuses with clarity, consistency, and healthy margin.We break down our full process, from a single intake form called the Commreq to project build-outs in ClickUp, tiering projects by priority, setting realistic lead times, and creating visibility with a marketing grid. Whether you are a one-person communications team or leading a larger staff, this conversation will help you build a system that supports people instead of burning them out.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why a single intake point reduces chaos and missed detailsWhat a Commreq is and why it becomes the single source of truthThe non-negotiables ministries need before promotion starts, including dates, location, and registrationHow to set and communicate realistic lead timesA tier system for deciding what gets the most supportHow to handle late requests without creating burnoutWhy deadlines are a leadership culture issue, not just a communications issueHow time estimates help teams protect margin and stay humanClickUpPaperform, Jotform, Google Forms, Microsoft Forms (intake form options)Project tiering (A–F)Marketing grid and visibility dashboardsMeet the GuestsDillon Sherlock – Associate Communications Director at Brentwood Baptist ChurchMadi Wuebben – Promotions Director at Brentwood Baptist ChurchResources MentionedClickUpPaperform, Jotform, Google Forms, Microsoft Forms (intake form options)Project tiering (A–F)Marketing grid and visibility dashboardsRegister for the Elevate ConferenceThis episode is part of our ongoing conversations leading up to Elevate: A Conference for the Whole Church Staff. Join us as we equip teams with practical tools to advance their mission—together. Learn more at elevatechurchconference.com

Brand Clarity for the Whole Church: Building Unity Without Losing Personality

Register Now for the Elevate Conference | September 9elevatechurchconference.comOn this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Dillon Sherlock is joined by Mallory, Senior Graphic Designer at Brentwood Baptist Church, to talk about what church branding really means.This conversation goes beyond logos and colors. It explores how clarity around mission shapes visuals, messaging, photography, sermon series design, and even staff alignment. From the three-question framework to the 80/20 rule, Dillon and Mallory share practical tools that help churches create unity without stifling creativity.If your team has ever wrestled with consistency, campus personality, or competing design preferences, this episode will give you a clear place to start.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why brand is about clarity, not controlThe three-question framework that guides every major campaignHow unified design builds trust across campusesWhat the 80/20 rule means for church creativityHow to reduce conflict by anchoring decisions in missionFirst steps smaller churches can take to build brand alignmentThe Three-Question FrameworkThe 80/20 Rule for Brand Consistencyelevatechurchconference.com Meet the GuestDillon Sherlock – Associate Communications Director at Brentwood Baptist ChurchMallory Nall – Senior Graphic Designer at Brentwood Baptist ChurchResources MentionedRegister for the Elevate ConferenceThis episode is part of our ongoing conversations leading up to Elevate: A Conference for the Whole Church Staff. Join us as we equip teams with practical tools to advance their mission—together.Learn more at elevatechurchconference.com

Building an Authentic Church Social Media Strategy: Tips for Small and Mid-Sized Ministries

Social media can feel overwhelming, especially for small and mid-sized churches with limited time, staff, and resources. In this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Dillon Sherlock is joined by Kat Howard and Laila Al-Hagal to talk honestly about what a healthy, sustainable church social media strategy actually looks like.Rather than chasing trends or overproducing content, this conversation focuses on showing real church life, staying grounded in mission, and building systems that serve people—not burn them out.If you’ve ever wondered what to post, how often to post, or how to keep social media from becoming another source of pressure, this episode is for you.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why authenticity consistently outperforms overproduced contentHow iPhone footage can be one of your most powerful toolsA simple content pillar framework to guide weekly postingHow often churches should realistically post on social mediaWays to approach event promotion without turning your feed into a bulletin boardTools that help small teams stay consistent without burning outDillon Sherlock – Associate Communications Director at Brentwood Baptist ChurchKat Howard – Digital Content ManagerLaila Al-Hagal – Digital Content ManagerMeta Business SuiteCapCutSprout SocialOpus (AI sermon clipping tool)Meet the GuestsResources MentionedRegister for the Elevate ConferenceThis episode is part of our ongoing conversations leading up to Elevate: A Conference for the Whole Church Staff. Join us as we equip teams with practical tools to advance their mission—together.Learn more at elevatechurchconference.com

Building a Responsive Worship Culture: How to Lead Engaged, Spirit-Led Gatherings

How can churches move beyond polished performances to create worship gatherings where people truly encounter God’s presence? In this episode of the Elevate Podcast, Wade Owens, Nic Gonzales, and Charley Lowry share practical insights on building a responsive worship culture. From unity with pastors to song selection, prayerful preparation, and creating space for the Spirit, you’ll hear real stories and practical tools to help your congregation engage deeply in worship.