I recently sat down with Brady Shearer, the founder of Pro Church Tools and Nucleus, for an episode of the ChurchCandy podcast. If you have been doing ministry and have any kind of social media presence, you have probably come across Brady’s content. He has been creating resources for churches for years, and this conversation did not disappoint.
We covered a lot of ground, from short-form video strategy to the future of church social media, church giving platforms, and how to handle negativity in the comments. Here are some of the biggest takeaways from our conversation that I think every pastor and church leader needs to hear.
How Brady Shearer Built Pro Church Tools by Serving Churches First
One of the things I really admire about Brady Shearer is how he built his brand. He did not start by selling a product. He started by helping churches. For years, he put out free content, tutorials, and resources that church leaders actually found useful. By the time he launched Nucleus, his church website platform, over a thousand churches signed up in the first week. That happened because he had already built trust with his audience.
This is something I try to do with Church Candy as well. When you genuinely help people first, the business follows. If you are a pastor looking to grow your church’s online presence, take that same approach. Give before you ask.
Short-Form Video Is a Must for Churches
Brady Shearer and I talked about the rise of short-form video and why churches need to pay attention. I remember when TikTok first came out back in 2018. I was telling every church leader I knew that this was going to change how social media works. That prediction turned out to be right.
Today, short-form video is the primary way people discover new content. If your church is only posting static images and text-based updates, you are missing a huge opportunity. You do not need a full production team. A phone, decent lighting, and a pastor willing to share a quick thought on camera can go a long way.
The Future of Church Social Media
This is where the conversation got really interesting. Brady Shearer shared his perspective on where church social media is heading. He pointed out that social media platforms are constantly evolving, and churches that cling to one platform or one strategy will eventually fall behind. The key is to stay adaptable.
We also talked about newer platforms and features like BeReal. While Brady did not feel the same urgency about BeReal as he did about TikTok, we discussed how churches could potentially use it to show the authentic, behind-the-scenes side of ministry. People crave authenticity, and a platform designed around unfiltered moments could be a natural fit for churches that want to be real with their community.
The bigger takeaway here is that the churches winning on social media are the ones willing to experiment and meet people where they already are. If your community is spending hours on Instagram Reels or TikTok, that is where your church should be showing up with the hope of Jesus.
Handling Haters in the Comments
If you run social media for a church long enough, you will get negative comments. It is inevitable. Brady Shearer and I had a candid conversation about how to deal with it. The reality is that when you put yourself out there online, not everyone is going to be supportive. Some people will criticize your church, your theology, or just troll for the sake of trolling.
The important thing is to not let the negativity stop you from doing the work. For every hater in the comments, there are dozens of people silently watching your content and being encouraged by it. Those are the people you are making content for. Stay focused on the mission.
The Truth About Church Giving Platforms
One of the most eye-opening parts of my conversation with Brady Shearer was about church giving platforms. Brady broke down how these platforms actually work behind the scenes, and it was something I think every pastor needs to understand.
Most churches do not realize how much money they are losing to transaction fees from their giving platform. The processing companies charge a base rate, and then the giving platform adds their own percentage on top. Brady explained that some of these platforms are taking a significantly larger cut than churches realize. When you add that up over the course of a year, it can amount to thousands of dollars that could be going toward ministry instead.
If you have not looked closely at what your church is paying in giving platform fees, I would encourage you to do that this week. It is one of those things that is easy to overlook but can make a real financial difference for your church.
Building an Audience That Trusts You
This is a theme that came up throughout our entire conversation. Brady Shearer built Pro Church Tools into what it is today because he spent years building trust with church leaders. He gave away valuable content for free, listened to feedback, and built products that actually solved problems churches were facing.
As a pastor, you have that same opportunity. Every sermon, every social media post, every interaction with your community is a chance to build trust. And when people trust you, they will show up to your church, invite their friends, and support your mission. This is exactly what we help churches do at Church Candy through our digital outreach strategies.
What Pastors Should Take Away from This
If you are a pastor or church leader, here is what I want you to walk away with after listening to this conversation with Brady Shearer. First, invest in short-form video. It is where the attention is, and your church needs to be there. Second, pay attention to your giving platform and know what you are paying in fees. Third, stay adaptable with your social media strategy because the platforms will keep changing. And finally, focus on building trust with your audience before you try to sell or promote anything.
Brady Shearer is doing incredible work for the church, and I am grateful he took the time to come on the ChurchCandy podcast. Watch the full episode above to hear the entire conversation, and if your church needs help reaching new families through social media, schedule a call with our team.
About The Author
