417. How AI Could Fund the Future of Ministry (Boston Interviews #2)
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
Release Date: 05/04/2026
419. Why Most Small Churches Get Stuck (And How to Bring Them Back to Life)
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
đ Why Most Small Churches Get Stuck (And How to Bring Them Back to Life) Boston Interviews #4 In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob sits down with Joel Nagel, a leader with a deep passion for helping small churches grow, thrive, and become vibrant again. Joel shares insights from his work with the Small Church Initiative, an experimental cohort designed to strengthen churches with fewer resources and limited training opportunities. With most churches being under 100 members, this conversation addresses a critical question: đ Why do so many small churches get stuckâand how...
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418. From Electrician to Ministry: How This Young Couple Is Building a Thriving Teen Ministry (Boston Interviews #3)
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
đ From Electrician to Ministry: How This Young Couple Is Building a Thriving Teen Ministry (Boston Interviews #3) In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob sits down with Tim and Susie Tang Creel, who lead a thriving youth and family ministry in Auckland. Their ministry is growing fastâwith over 35 teens and climbingâand whatâs even more inspiring is that theyâve only been in full-time ministry for about a year. So whatâs working? Tim and Susie share the simple but powerful principles behind their impactâalong with the personal sacrifices, faith decisions, and daily...
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417. How AI Could Fund the Future of Ministry (Boston Interviews #2)
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
đ How AI Could Fund the Future of Ministry (Boston Interviews #2) What if ministry funding didnât have to be the biggest limitation for growing churches? In this second episode from the Boston conference interview series, Rob sits down with Nate Bigby, a church leader and innovator who is helping reshape how ministry can be funded in todayâs world. Nate and his wife lead a church in Corpus Christi, Texasâbut beyond that, Nate has been developing practical solutions for bivocational ministers, helping them generate income through AI-based businesses. In this conversation, Nate shares...
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416. What Leaders Are Hoping for Before a Major Conference (Boston Interviews #1)
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
đ What Leaders Are Hoping for Before a Major Conference (Boston Interviews #1) What are church leaders really hoping for when they come to a major conference? In this special episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob sits down for a quick, candid conversation with leaders gathered in Boston just before the Church Builders Conference begins. Featuring: Chris Schwarzenberger (Spokane, Washington) Brock and Anne Roby (SF Bay Fellowship, San Francisco Bay Area) Pam Skinner Together, they share their expectations, hopes, and what theyâre really looking for going into the weekendâfrom...
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415. Stop Waiting: Why âNot Ready Yetâ Is Holding You Back
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
đ Stop Waiting: Why âNot Ready Yetâ Is Holding You Back What if the biggest thing holding you back⊠isnât lack of abilityâbut your habit of waiting? In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob tackles one of the most commonâand dangerousâmindsets that keeps people stuck: đ Waiting for the âright time.â Whether itâs starting something new, stepping out in faith, or pursuing what God has put on your heart, many people delay action while trying to feel âready.â But as Scripture reminds us: âIf you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything...
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414. Feeling Anxious About the Future? Build This Foundation Instead
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
đ Feeling Anxious About the Future? Build This Foundation Instead Feeling pressure, uncertainty, or anxiety about your future? Youâre not alone. In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob tackles one of the biggest challenges facing disciples todayâhow to stay grounded when everything around you feels unstable. From shifting job markets to rapid technological change, from global conflict to personal uncertainty, itâs easy to feel like youâre falling behind. But hereâs the truth: đ You donât need a perfect plan⊠you need a solid foundation. Drawing from powerful...
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413. Breakthrough Is Right There⊠So Why Are You Still Stuck?
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
đ Breakthrough Is Right There⊠So Why Are You Still Stuck? Why do so many people stay stuck⊠even when breakthrough is right in front of them? In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob dives into one of the most powerful stories in the Bibleâwhen the Israelites stood on the edge of the Promised Land⊠and didnât go in. Not because they couldnât. đ But because they wouldnât. Drawing from Numbers 13â14, Rob unpacks the moment everything changedânot because the facts changed, but because their faith did. Twelve leaders saw the same land. They saw the same...
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412. The 3 Mindsets That Will Transform Your Faith (Most Christians Ignore This)
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
đ The 3 Mindsets That Will Transform Your Faith (Most Christians Ignore This) What if your spiritual growth isnât about trying harder⊠but thinking differently? In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob breaks down three powerful identities every serious disciple must embrace: đ Soldier. Athlete. Farmer. Drawing from 2 Timothy 2:3â7, Rob explains how these arenât just metaphorsâtheyâre expectations for anyone who wants to live a no-regrets life and truly make an impact. Each identity reveals a critical mindset: The soldier teaches focused obedience The athlete teaches...
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411. What If You Get to Heaven⊠and Canât Get In?
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
đ What If You Get to Heaven⊠and Canât Get In? What if you showed up at Heavenâs gate⊠and were turned away? Itâs a sobering questionâbut one that every person needs to consider. In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob shares a powerful personal story from his time living in Japanâwhen he was denied boarding on a flight because he didnât have the right visa. No matter how much he reasoned, explained, or hoped⊠đ Without the right documentation, he wasnât getting on that plane. And that moment became a lasting spiritual lesson. Because when it comes to...
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410. This One Leadership Skill Changes Everything (Most People Miss It)
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
This One Leadership Skill Changes Everything (Most People Miss It) What if your future success came down to one simpleâbut overlookedâskill? In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob shares a powerful leadership principle that impacts everything: đ Your ability to recognize and recruit the right people. Through a personal story that starts with an unexpected phone call during COVID, Rob unpacks how one decisionâto invest in the right personâled to far more than he ever imagined. That young man didnât just become a leader⊠He became family. Drawing from 1 Samuel 14:52, this...
info_outlineđ How AI Could Fund the Future of Ministry (Boston Interviews #2)
What if ministry funding didnât have to be the biggest limitation for growing churches?
In this second episode from the Boston conference interview series, Rob sits down with Nate Bigby, a church leader and innovator who is helping reshape how ministry can be funded in todayâs world.
Nate and his wife lead a church in Corpus Christi, Texasâbut beyond that, Nate has been developing practical solutions for bivocational ministers, helping them generate income through AI-based businesses.
In this conversation, Nate shares how he built an AI agency with low startup cost, minimal hours, and scalable potentialâand how this model could help churches:
- Support ministers financially
- Train interns in real-world skills
- Multiply leadership without financial strain
If youâve ever wondered how to fund ministry, support staff, or create sustainable growth in a church, this episode offers a fresh and forward-thinking perspective.
đ In This Episode, Youâll Learn:
- Why small churches often struggle financially
- How AI is lowering the barrier to starting a business
- A real example of building income quickly with AI
- How bivocational ministry can become more sustainable
- Practical ways to train interns to support themselves
- Simple tools to get started with AI today
đĄ Key Insight
The future of ministry may not depend on more fundingâŠ
đ It may depend on more creativity.
đ Practical Takeaways
- You donât need large capital to start an AI-based side business
- Ministers can work fewer hours outside ministry while earning income
- Churches can redirect funds toward growth and staffing
- Interns can be trained to become self-supporting leaders
đ§ Tools Mentioned
- Google Gemini (AI assistant for daily use)
- NotebookLM (learning + research tool)
- Website builders and app tools powered by AI
đ About This Series
This episode is part of the Boston Conference Interview Series, where Rob captures real conversations with leaders and innovators from around the country.
Each interview highlights ideas, challenges, and breakthroughs shaping the future of the church.
đ Reflection Questions
- How could creativity unlock new opportunities in my ministry?
- Am I thinking traditionally about fundingâor innovatively?
- Whatâs one step I could take to learn a new skill that supports my calling?
đ Next Steps
đ© Sign up for Robâs weekly newsletter:
https://RobSkinner.com
đ Get The 10X Christian:
Available on Amazon or RobSkinner.com
đ Support the Podcast
If this episode helped you:
- Share it with a ministry leader
- Leave a review
- Subscribe for more faith + leadership content
đ Contact Nate
Call or text Nate at 210-883-7506.
Email Nate for his agency: nate@kratesolutions.com