• How This Church Grew From 120 to over 900 in 24 Months
    Sep 25 2025

    I’m donating $500 to the first 100 churches that sign up for ChurchCandy in September. This $500 will help cover the cost of your first month of running ads! Sign up below and claim your first month of ads for FREE:👉 https://go.churchcandy.com/500-donation

    📥 Download Free Resources:
    * Video Ad Script Examples ✍️ http://churchcandy.com/video-scripts
    * B-Roll & Shot List 📸 http://churchcandy.com/b-roll

    In this episode, Brady shares the Connect Church case study, where Pastor Ken Bennett and his team grew from just 120 weekly attendees to more than 900 members in only two years. Discover the exact systems they used with ChurchCandy to see this kind of explosive growth.

    Brady breaks down the 3-part strategy:
    0.Promote – running over 275 ad campaigns to invite new guests.
    0.Pursue – building a personal concierge follow-up system to connect with families before Sunday.
    0.Plug In – helping new visitors get connected, nurtured, and fully integrated into the church family.

    You’ll hear Pastor Ken’s first-hand experience, see examples of their ads, and get practical strategies that you can apply at your church to see more guests, higher retention, and long-term growth.

    CHAPTERS 📖

    00:00 Introduction and Overview

    00:45 Connect Church Growth Story

    02:10 The Role of Social Media & God’s Favor

    03:00 Step 1: Promote with Ads

    07:00 Step 2: Pursue with Personal Follow-Up

    13:00 Step 3: Plug In New Guests

    18:00 Recap & How You Can Implement This

    📍 Learn More About ChurchCandy:🌐 Website: https://churchcandy.com (https://churchcandy.com/)📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/churchcandymarketing

    📖 Get Brady’s book for church planters, Launch Big:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DH1XB7F7/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_XWCVF6K6TNSFRF8HB82D?linkCode=ml1&tag=bradysticker-20

    💬 Drop a comment below with your thoughts, and share this video with another church leader who needs these strategies!

    #ChurchGrowth #ChurchMarketing #ChurchCandy #ChurchLeadership #ChurchPlanting

    Show More Show Less
    19 mins
  • The Ultimate Church Fall-Festival Marketing Plan
    Sep 18 2025

    I’m donating $500 to the first 100 churches that sign up for ChurchCandy in September. This $500 will help cover the cost of your first month of running ads! Sign up below and claim your first month of ads for FREE:
    👉
    https://go.churchcandy.com/500-donation

    📥 Download Free Resources:
    Fall Festival Marketing Playbook:
    https://churchcandy.com/fall-festival

    In this episode, Brady presents the Ultimate Church Festival marketing plan to help churches attract large crowds for Fall Festivals or Trunk-or-Treat events and encourage attendees to return for Sunday services. The video emphasizes the importance of Facebook and Instagram ads, offering tips on creating engaging video ads with compelling hooks and incentives for RSVPs. Brady also discusses utilizing SMS and email campaigns for follow-ups and reminders, along with tactics for ensuring attendees come back for future services through felt-need sermons or family fun days. The episode includes a full SOP document available for download from the ChurchCandy website.

    CHAPTERS 📖
    00:00 Introduction and Mission
    00:42 The Ultimate Church Festival Marketing Plan
    01:52 Creating Effective Video Ads
    02:47 Engaging Your Audience with Incentives
    03:04 Optimizing Ad Performance
    05:47 SMS and Email Campaign Strategies
    07:56 Leveraging Organic and Local Media
    08:42 Onsite Registration and Data Collection
    09:37 Encouraging Return Visits
    11:22 Follow-Up Strategies
    12:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    📍 Learn More About ChurchCandy:
    🌐 Website:
    https://churchcandy.com

    📸 Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/churchcandymarketing

    📖 Get Brady’s book for church planters, Launch Big:
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DH1XB7F7/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_XWCVF6K6TNSFRF8HB82D?linkCode=ml1&tag=bradysticker-20

    💬 Drop a comment below with your thoughts, and share this with another church leader who needs these strategies!

    #ChurchGrowth #ChurchMarketing #ChurchCandy #ChurchLeadership #ChurchPlanting

    Show More Show Less
    14 mins
  • The Best Church Follow Up Strategy I’ve Ever Seen
    Sep 11 2025

    I’m donating $500 to the first 100 churches that sign up for ChurchCandy in September. This $500 will help cover the cost of your first month of running ads! Sign up below and claim your first month of ads for FREE:👉
    https://go.churchcandy.com/500-donation

    📥 Download Free Resources:
    * Video Ad Script Examples ✍️ http://churchcandy.com/video-scripts
    * B-Roll & Shot List 📸 http://churchcandy.com/b-roll

    In this episode, Brady shares a comprehensive follow-up strategy to help churches retain new guests. He emphasizes three main components of an effective follow-up strategy: ensuring the follow-up is seen, making it personal, and ensuring it is scalable. Brady explains the importance of using text messages over emails due to higher open rates and stresses the significance of personal touches in follow-up communication. He also introduces a special offer for the first 100 churches that sign up for Church Candy in September, covering the first month's ad cost. Additionally, he provides practical tips and a downloadable SOP for churches to implement this strategy immediately. The video also features success stories from various church leaders who have successfully applied these strategies.

    CHAPTERS 📖
    00:00 Introduction and Overview
    00:52 The Importance of a Good Follow-Up Strategy
    01:25 Special Offer for September
    02:09 Key Components of a Follow-Up Strategy
    03:19 Making Follow-Up Personal
    06:18 Scalability and Systems
    07:13 Concierge Team and Practical Examples
    11:46 Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Breakdown
    14:54 Conclusion and Invitation

    📍 Learn More About ChurchCandy:🌐 Website:
    https://churchcandy.com
    📸 Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/churchcandymarketing

    📖 Get Brady’s book for church planters, Launch Big:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DH1XB7F7/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_XWCVF6K6TNSFRF8HB82D?linkCode=ml1&tag=bradysticker-20

    💬 Drop a comment below with your thoughts, and share this with another church leader who needs these strategies!

    #ChurchGrowth #ChurchMarketing #ChurchCandy #ChurchLeadership #ChurchPlanting

    Show More Show Less
    16 mins
  • I Tested 1,000+ Church Ads…Here's 10 That Actually Work
    Sep 4 2025

    I’m donating $500 to the first 100 churches that sign up for ChurchCandy in September. This $500 will help cover the cost of your first month of running ads! Sign up below and claim your first month of ads for FREE:👉
    https://go.churchcandy.com/500-donation

    📥 Download Free Resources:
    * Video Ad Script Examples ✍️ http://churchcandy.com/video-scripts
    * B-Roll & Shot List 📸 http://churchcandy.com/b-roll

    In this episode, Brady breaks down the Top 10 Facebook & Instagram ads that actually work for churches. After testing over 1,000 ads with churches across the country, he shares the strategies proven to get new guests through your doors. From event promotions and coffee invites to “Plan Your Visit” ads and retargeting, Brady shows you how to maximize results, lower costs, and use creative content that makes people stop scrolling.
    He also shares real-world success stories, targeting strategies, and why consistent follow-up is the real key to church growth. Plus, you’ll see ad examples that you can start using immediately.

    CHAPTERS 📖
    00:00 Introduction – Why Ads Matter for Churches
    00:44 Best Platforms for Church Ads (Meta: Facebook & Instagram)
    02:31 The Power of Instant Form (Lead) Ads
    03:03 Promoting Events with Ads
    05:00 Coffee with the Pastor Ads
    08:00 Plan Your Visit Ads & Follow-Up Strategies
    11:30 Success Story: Pastor Ken’s Growth to 900+ Members
    12:00 Targeting: Cold Ads & Geo-Radius Setup
    14:00 Avoiding Targeting Mistakes (Mosaic Example)
    15:00 Retargeting Ads (Pixel, Custom Audiences)
    17:00 Creative Strategies for Church Ads
    17:40 Invite Videos with B-Roll & Multiple Hooks
    19:00 Real Results: Ad Cost & New Guests
    20:00 Free Video Editing Support from ChurchCandy
    21:00 Collage Image Ads (Pros & Cons)
    22:30 Carousel Ads & Shot List Resource
    23:00 Using Trends & Reels as Ads
    24:00 Final Thoughts & $500 ChurchCandy Offer

    📍 Learn More About ChurchCandy:🌐 Website:
    https://churchcandy.com
    📸 Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/churchcandymarketing

    📖 Get Brady’s book for church planters, Launch Big:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DH1XB7F7/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_XWCVF6K6TNSFRF8HB82D?linkCode=ml1&tag=bradysticker-20

    💬 Drop a comment below with your thoughts, and share this with another church leader who needs these strategies!

    #ChurchGrowth #ChurchMarketing #ChurchCandy #ChurchLeadership #ChurchPlanting

    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • The BEST Facebook Ads for Churches (examples + scripts)
    Sep 2 2025

    I’m donating $500 to the first 100 churches that sign up for ChurchCandy in September. This $500 will help cover the cost of your first month of running ads! Sign up below and claim your first month of ads for FREE!
    https://go.churchcandy.com/new-guests

    Download the BEST ChurchCandy video ad script examples here! ✍️
    http://churchcandy.com/video-scripts

    Download the BEST ChurchCandy B-roll & Shot List examples here! 📸
    http://churchcandy.com/b-roll

    In this episode, Brady shares effective strategies for using Facebook and Instagram ads to attract new visitors to churches. He details the importance of creating ads that prompt immediate action, rather than just boosting posts. Brady provides a step-by-step guide, including the importance of direct response lead generation, calculating cost per lead, and examples from successful implementations at various churches. He emphasizes the need for personalized follow-ups and shares complete video ad scripts and filming tips. To support churches in adopting these strategies, ChurchCandy is offering a $500 donation to cover the first month of ads for the first 100 clients who sign up in September.

    CHAPTERS 📖
    00:00 Introduction to Effective Church Ads
    00:44 The Foundation of Successful Ads
    01:32 Direct Response Lead Generation
    02:31 Understanding Cost Per Lead
    04:11 Case Studies: Success Stories
    07:13 Creating Impactful Video Ads
    07:42 Crafting Engaging Intros
    09:04 Key Elements of Your Video
    11:56 The Importance of Follow-Up
    14:36 B-Roll and Technical Tips
    23:03 Conclusion and Special Offer

    📍 Learn More About ChurchCandy:
    Website: https://churchcandy.com (https://churchcandy.com/)
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/churchcandymarketing

    Get Brady’s book for church planters, Launch Big:
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DH1XB7F7/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_XWCVF6K6TNSFRF8HB82D?linkCode=ml1&tag=bradysticker-20

    💬 Let us know your thoughts in the comments and share this with fellow church leaders looking to make an impact!

    ChurchGrowth #Leadership #ChurchCandy #PastorLeadership #ChurchMarketing #ChurchPlanting #VisionaryLeadership

    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • How Churches can ACTUALLY Reach Gen-Z
    Aug 21 2025

    Are You Ready to Take Your Church to the Next Level? ⛪️
    Schedule a Discovery Call With Our Team Today! ⬇️
    https://go.churchcandy.com/new-guests


    In this episode of the ChurchCandy podcast, Brady sits down with Jacob Salguero — founder of Tomorrow Creative and a leading voice helping churches reach the next generation. Jacob unpacks why Gen Z is engaging with faith in surprising ways, the rise of Christian creators on social media, and how authenticity (not production) is the key to connecting with this generation.

    Together, Brady and Jacob dive into the differences between millennial and Gen Z church culture, why rebellion looks like following Jesus, and how churches can use creativity and digital strategy to disciple effectively. They also tackle cringey church trends, the role of social media in evangelism, and the future of church services for young people.

    This conversation is packed with insights and practical strategies for pastors and church leaders who want to connect with Gen Z without being cringe.


    📖 CHAPTERS

    00:00 Welcome & Jacob’s Background

    03:45 Why Gen Z Finds Christianity “Edgy”

    06:12 The Shift from Millennials to Gen Z in Church

    08:45 Authenticity vs. Relevance in Ministry
    12:10 Hard Conversations Gen Z Wants to Have
    16:20 Why Creators Are the New Shepherds
    9:05 Breaking Sermons Into Social Media Content
    21:45 Podcasts, Panels, and the Future of Church
    23:50 Creativity in Preaching & Visual Engagement
    26:30 Why the Church Lost Its Creative Edge
    30:15 Lessons from the Sistine Chapel & Creativity as Discipleship
    33:00 Cringey Church Trends That Need to End
    36:55 Copycat Culture: Why Churches Shouldn’t Just Imitate Megachurches
    41:20 Building a Creative Team for Your Church
    44:15 Brand Books vs. Aesthetic Guides Explained
    47:30 Church Hot Takes
    55:40 Tomorrow Creative: Resources for Churches
    57:00 Final Thoughts & Outro


    👋 Connect with Jacob Salguero
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacobsalguero
    Tomorrow Creative: https://www.instagram.com/t_____________________mrw/


    📍 Learn More About ChurchCandy:
    Website: https://churchcandy.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/churchcandymarketing


    📘 Get Brady’s book for church planters, Launch Big:
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DH1XB7F7/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_XWCVF6K6TNSFRF8HB82D?linkCode=ml1&tag=bradysticker-20


    💬 Let us know your thoughts in the comments and share this with fellow pastors and church leaders who want to reach Gen Z effectively!


    #GenZ #ChurchGrowth #Leadership #ChurchCandy #PastorLeadership #ChurchMarketing #ChurchTrends

    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • The Problem with the American Church's Growth Obsession
    Aug 14 2025

    Are You Ready to Take Your Church to the Next Level? ⛪️Schedule a Discovery Call With Our Team Today! ⬇️
    https://go.churchcandy.com/new-guests

    In this episode of the ChurchCandy podcast, Brady sits down with Pastor John Ware Jr. from Lifehouse Church in Virginia. Pastor John shares his powerful journey of church planting, soul health, and leading a diverse, portable church. Together, they discuss the realities of ministry, the importance of authentic relationships, and practical strategies for building a healthy church culture. Pastor John opens up about overcoming personal challenges, fostering unity, and the impact of digital outreach. This conversation is packed with wisdom and encouragement for pastors and church leaders looking to grow, serve, and make a lasting difference.

    📖 CHAPTERS
    00:00 Welcome
    03:20 Planting Lifehouse Church
    04:59 Advice for Youth Pastors Considering Church Planting0
    6:02 The Importance of Soul Health in Ministry
    10:55 COVID, Identity, and Pastoral Burnout
    16:47 Soul Shepherding & Personal Growth
    23:12 Impact on Family and Staff
    28:31 Building a Diverse Church
    33:11 Navigating Racial Tension & Unity
    38:16 Launching a Second Campus
    42:20 Portable Church: Pros, Cons, and Strategies
    47:40 Social Media & Partnering with ChurchCandy
    52:32 Real Stories: Growth & Testimonies from ChurchCandy Ads
    57:06 How to Connect with Soul Shepherding & Pastor John
    1:01:57 Final Thoughts & Outro

    👋 Connect with Pastor John Ware Jr.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stutteringpastor/Lifehouse Church: https://lifehousenn.com/Soul Shepherding: https://www.soulshepherding.org/

    📍 Learn More About ChurchCandy:Website: https://churchcandy.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/churchcandymarketing

    Get Brady’s book for church planters, Launch Big:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DH1XB7F7/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_XWCVF6K6TNSFRF8HB82D?linkCode=ml1&tag=bradysticker-20

    💬 Let us know your thoughts in the comments and share this with fellow church leaders looking to make an impact!
    ChurchGrowth #Leadership #ChurchCandy #PastorLeadership #ChurchMarketing #ChurchPlanting #VisionaryLeadership

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 2 mins
  • What No One Tells You About Planting A Church In The City
    Aug 7 2025

    Are You Ready to Take Your Church to the Next Level? ⛪️
    Schedule a Discovery Call With Our Team Today! ⬇️
    https://go.churchcandy.com/new-guests


    In this episode of the ChurchCandy podcast, Brady sits down with Pastor Rod Vargas from Union Houston in Houston, Texas. Pastor Rod shares his inspiring journey of church leadership, community building, and the unique challenges of serving in a vibrant city like Houston. Together, they discuss the importance of authentic relationships, creative outreach strategies, and the power of digital marketing to reach new people. Pastor Rod opens up about his experiences with church planting, navigating cultural diversity, and fostering a welcoming environment for all. The conversation is packed with practical advice for pastors and church leaders looking to grow their congregations, build trust, and make a lasting impact in their communities.


    📖 CHAPTERS
    00:00 Welcome and Introduction
    01:36 Pastor Rod’s Testimony & Houston Roots
    06:56 Overcoming Addiction and Finding Purpose
    16:56 Planting Union Church & Embracing “Hard Soil”
    28:15 Building Community and Discipleship
    44:05 Rethinking Church Methods for Urban Ministry
    57:24 The Power of Digital Outreach & Church Candy
    1:05:00 Real-Life Stories of Transformation
    1:13:00 Encouragement for Pastors & Final Thoughts


    👋 Connect with Pastor Rod Vargas
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revrodhtx/
    Union Church: https://unionhouston.com/


    📍 Learn More About ChurchCandy:
    Website: https://churchcandy.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/churchcandymarketing


    Get Brady’s book for church planters, Launch Big:
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DH1XB7F7/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_XWCVF6K6TNSFRF8HB82D?linkCode=ml1&tag=bradysticker-20


    💬 Let us know your thoughts in the comments and share this with fellow church leaders looking to make an impact!


    ChurchGrowth #Leadership #ChurchCandy #PastorLeadership #ChurchMarketing #ChurchPlanting #VisionaryLeadership

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 16 mins