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Articles by Phil Cooke
First person: Concerned about AI? You’re probably asking the wrong question.
Everybody is talking about what AI can do, and for good reason. It can summarize research, write code, generate images, analyze enormous amounts of information and answer questions before most of us have finished typing them. Honestly, the advances have been amazing, and I use it for something nearly every day. LOVE stories by church media expert Phil Cooke? Click here.
Pastor: Your Communications Team Isn’t There to Polish Your Image
I’ve advised and consulted with so many churches and ministries over the years that I often think I’ve seen it all. But whenever that happens, something new always pops up. One time, I watched a pastor berate his communications team for not “capturing his good side” in their photos and social media posts. Another time, a ministry leader screamed at his production team for leaving dark shadows under his eyes.
Restored, but Not Reinstated
When the pastor frantically called me, the church leaders were already under fire from the congregation and the local media. A few years earlier, they had a promising young staff member working in the youth department. But when someone noticed he was spending way too much time with one particular minor girl in the youth department, leadership was notified, and the immediate investigation indicated that something was indeed wrong.
First person: What do Christian funerals really communicate?
Something isn’t adding up. Nearly every Sunday we sing about heaven. We preach the resurrection. We quote Paul’s words that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” We tell each other that Christ has defeated death. Then someone dies. LOVE stories by church media expert Phil Cooke? Click here. Walk into many Christian funerals, and you’ll be forgiven for wondering if any of us believe what we just preached. I’m not suggesting we ignore grief. Jesus stood at Lazarus’ tomb and wept.
First person: The valuable resource disappearing from your church every day
Walk into almost any church communications or media office, and you’ll find talented people running at full speed. They’re building announcement slides, editing videos that were requested an hour ago, fixing website glitches, resizing graphics and answering a steady stream of “Can you do this real quick?” requests. They look busy because they are busy. LOVE stories by church media expert Phil Cooke? Click here. The problem is that busyness isn’t the same as creativity.
First person: Don’t use social medial like it’s 2012
Church and nonprofit leaders who understand how X works today can still build significant influence — but only if they stop treating it like a digital bulletin board or megaphone. A surprising number of pastors and nonprofit leaders have written off X (formerly Twitter). They assume it’s too political, too chaotic or simply not worth the effort anymore. I think that’s a mistake. LOVE stories by church media expert Phil Cooke? Click here. Yes, the platform has changed dramatically.
First person: Stop trying to ‘manufacture what only God can do’
Every church has that mythical “perfect” Sunday. The worship is powerful. The sermon lands. Everything clicks. Strangely enough, it never seems to happen on the Sunday I invite a friend. LOVE stories by church media expert Phil Cooke? Click here. Instead, the regular worship team is away, the C-team is leading, and the guest speaker delivers a message that wanders all over the map. I’m sitting there thinking: “Of all Sundays…” For years, I wanted to orchestrate the perfect first impression.
First person: Why leaders fail when crisis strikes
You don’t discover your leadership style during a crisis. You reveal it. When the crisis hits — the scandal, budget collapse, public criticism, staff failure, market shift, lawsuit, bad press, or unexpected disruption — most leaders don’t suddenly become poor decision-makers. They simply become exaggerated versions of who they already are. Some disappear. Some panic. Some start blaming. Some obsess over optics instead of solutions. LOVE stories by Phil Cooke? Click here.
First person: Ways to make change stick after a Christian conference
You can tell how most conferences will end before the opening session. People arrive excited. The coffee is good. The worship is excellent. Speakers are introduced with language usually reserved for Nobel Prize winners. Notes are taken. Photos are posted. People leave saying, “That changed my life.” Then Monday happens, and almost nothing changes. LOVE stories by church media expert Phil Cooke? Click here. We’ve built conference experiences around moments instead of systems.
Why Pastors Are Unknowingly Sabotaging Their Church Media Teams
Most pastors and ministry leaders say they want to reach more people. They talk about impact, influence and “taking the message further.” But behind closed doors, many are sabotaging the very media teams capable of helping them do it. And usually, they don’t even realize it. One of the biggest mistakes pastors make is treating media people as technicians rather than leaders.
Young people may be leaving the Church, but not for the reason you think
Here’s what most church leaders get wrong about the exodus of young people: they blame screens. Too much TikTok. Too many distractions. Shorter attention spans. So the response is better lighting, louder music, slicker production. As if the problem is a production budget. It’s not. LOVE stories by church media expert Phil Cooke? Click here. Young people are actually some of the most sophisticated media consumers alive. They can smell inauthenticity from three zip codes away.
First person: Don’t let this happen to your small group
What does it take to maintain a “lemonade” friendship? How do you remain “sweet” when things get “sour”? Here are
First person: When someone in your small group ‘hijacks the room’
One of the fastest ways to kill a small group isn’t bad theology, poor leadership or even lack of preparation. It’s one person who talks too much. We’ve all seen it happen. A Bible study begins with energy, curiosity and meaningful conversation. Then someone hijacks the room. Every question becomes an opportunity for a sermon, a personal story or a rabbit trail that only they find interesting. Before long, the quieter people stop trying to contribute. The leader loses control of the flow.
The Power of Proximity
For all the hype about remote work, there’s still something powerful about proximity. Creative ideas rarely happen in isolation. They happen in hallways, coffee shops, lunch meetings, and random conversations that weren’t planned. I’ll never forget a movie producer friend with an office on a major film studio lot. He told me that because he was on the studio lot, he kept bumping into directors, executives, writers, and actors, and those casual meetings eventually led to multiple projects.
First person: Here’s what I’m thinking when you share your ‘God idea’
I get a lot of requests to read scripts, take pitch meetings, and give career advice. I’m a “connector,” and it’s apparently part of my DNA.
Church on Trial: How to Protect Your Congregation, Mission, and Reputation During a Crisis
In the ministry world where unpredictability is the only certainty, church leaders face a unique challenge—navigating the upheaval precipitated by crises. From unforeseen scandals to disruptive emergencies, leaders must be equipped with grounded solutions to manage them with confidence and poise. That is why Phil Cooke's Church on Trial is a must-listen.
First person: Media isn’t a side ministry anymore — it is the ministry
Here’s the reality: Christian media isn’t fading — it’s becoming essential. New research from Infinity Concepts in partnership with Grey Matter Research, along with findings from Barna Group, reveals something many church leaders have underestimated. Evangelicals aren’t casually engaging media — they’re immersed in it. 80% use some form of Christian media weekly, and younger believers are leading the charge, especially through streaming, music and social platforms.
First person: The power of the gospel is simplicity
The early church grew in large part because the gospel message could be understood by everyone. Rich, poor, slave, free, educated, uneducated — the power of its simplicity made it available to every culture, ethnic group and era. LOVE stories by church media expert Phil Cooke? Click here. Psalm 119:130 says, “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” That’s it.
First person: Next steps for disgraced ministry leaders?
When a pastor or ministry leader commits serious sin, the usual response is predictable: announce a “restoration process,” keep him near the platform and quietly plan for his comeback.
First person: When a ministry leader commits ‘serious sin’
When a pastor or ministry leader commits serious sin, the usual response is predictable: announce a “restoration process,” keep him near the platform and quietly plan for his comeback. I’m not convinced that’s biblical — or healthy. For more stories at your doorstep, subscribe to The Baptist Paper. SIGN UP for our weekly Highlights emails. Let’s be honest about what happened. A leader didn’t just make a mistake.
First person: Stop saying you’re busy — and 4 other things leaders shouldn’t say
Here are five things leaders should stop saying. I’m busy: Nobody cares. We’re all “busy” these days. When you regularly remind everyone how busy you are, what they hear is: “I’m obviously more important than you, and I’m doing more important work.” In a world where everyone is busy, proclaiming your busyness doesn’t help. I’m authentic: Stop telling people how “authentic” you are and just start being authentic. Authenticity means the real thing.
Ideas on a Deadline
Ideas on a Deadline is the definitive book for creative people who have to deliver breakthrough ideas on demand. One of the most destructive myths about creativity is the idea that we need to wait for inspiration.
Church livestreams: How many watch 'live' versus later?
Let me start by saying that one of my great frustrations is the number of churches that discontinued their Sunday livestream broadcast after the pandemic. I guess their theory that now that everyone is free to attend in person, we don’t really need it anymore. But the truth is, not everyone can or wants to attend each week. LOVE stories by church media expert Phil Cooke? Click here. In my case, I travel a lot, and it’s nice to stay up to date by watching our church livestream from the road.
Opinion: What good crisis management should teach churches
When a Hilton-branded hotel in Minnesota canceled reservations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, it didn’t stay local — it became national news almost instantly. The Department of Homeland Security publicly accused Hilton of refusing service and undermining law enforcement, posting screenshots of cancellation emails and sparking a political firestorm.
First person: Why storytelling is important — and how it needs to be done differently - The Baptist Paper
We’re living in a time when people don’t automatically trust institutions — especially churches and ministries. Scandals, political polarization, social media outrage and overpromising have left many audiences skeptical before you ever open your mouth. That doesn’t mean storytelling is less important. It means it’s more important — and it has to be done differently. For more stories at your doorstep, subscribe to The Baptist Paper. SIGN UP for our weekly Highlights emails.
First person: 14 things every church communications director should know
If you work on the communications or media team at a church, ministry or nonprofit, your job is to share your organization’s story with the local community and sometimes the world. For more stories at your doorstep, subscribe to The Baptist Paper. SIGN UP for our weekly Highlights emails. While a pastor or leader may speak to the local congregation or supporters, your job is to take that message and share it on a much bigger platform.
What Hollywood Knows About Resilience That You Don’t
Love it or hate it, one thing you can say about many producers in Hollywood is that they are remarkably resilient. They don’t give up and, in some cases, keep pitching ideas for years. There’s something to be said for that because, in my experience, when people outside Hollywood hit a wall, get rejected, or suffer a defeat, nine times out of ten, they give up.
First person: What church communicators should know about the human brain
The human brain is wired to crave novelty. Long before smartphones and streaming platforms competed for our attention, God designed our minds to scan the environment for anything new, surprising or out of place. It was a survival instinct: anything unusual might signal danger … or opportunity. That wiring never went away. Today, novelty still triggers a powerful cocktail of neural responses — most notably dopamine, the brain’s reward chemical.
Why You Should Write A Book
Today, literally anyone can write a book. That photo of me is my first realization that I loved writing, and I was trying out my mom’s church typewriter. Now, a wide range of companies can easily take your manuscript, typeset it, design the cover, obtain the ISBN number, and list it on Amazon.com and other retailers. The reason to do it isn’t just a raging ego; it’s getting your story down on paper.
How to Sell Your Ideas
Everyone has ideas, but only a few people turn those ideas into reality. The truth is, “idea people” are important, but sometimes it seems like they’re a dime a dozen. That’s why it’s the “execution people” that interest me. Moving your book, movie, business, or whatever idea to the production and funding stage is a challenge. Here are some ideas to help make that happen: 1) What’s in it for me?
6 Things Megachurches Get RIGHT
As the saying goes, “The world is going to hell in a hand basket.” There’s never been a greater challenge for world evangelism, there are plenty of social problems like hunger and homelessness we face here in the United States, Christians are being marginalized more than ever, religious persecution is rampant on a global basis, and that’s just the beginning. But what are we still debating in the church today? Megachurches.
Before cameras, microphones and social media, God’s Old Testament prophets were the original communicators — using every tool of their time to capture attention, confront culture and call people back to truth. Here’s what today’s media creators can learn from them. For more stories at your doorstep, subscribe to The Baptist Paper. SIGN UP for our weekly Highlights emails. When people think of media professionals, they typically envision filmmakers, podcasters, journalists, or social media creators.
First person: Developing a culture of invitation
Since we live in such a secular culture, it’s easy to think most nonbelievers are indifferent — even hostile — to the idea of attending church. But Relevant magazine reports new research indicating that 80% of non-churchgoers say they would attend if invited. It confirms the findings of the book Jonathan Bock and I wrote called “The Way Back: How Christians Blew Our Credibility and How We Get It Back.” For more stories at your doorstep, subscribe to The Baptist Paper.
Why Your Origin Story Matters
A few years ago, when the Oral Roberts University basketball team generated so much excitement during the Sweet Sixteen at the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, I was reminded of an incident from many years ago when I was directing the national television ministry for the university’s founder, Oral Roberts. Often, when Oral would preach, he would tell the story of his dramatic healing of tuberculosis when he was a young man.
'Beyond your walls': Boosting your church livestream
If your church is livestreaming services each week, congratulations — you’re reaching far beyond your walls. But if your livestream feels flat or uninspiring, chances are your camera work needs a creative boost. The good news? You don’t need big money or Hollywood budgets to create a more dynamic experience. You just need intentional camera placement and smart angles that help tell your story and draw viewers into worship. For more stories at your doorstep, subscribe to The Baptist Paper.
First person: Handling church trolls online
Numerous churches are poorly led, have pastors who have committed moral failures, or otherwise need to be accountable. On the other hand, there are wonderful churches that are doing fantastic work, but are still being harassed by online trolls. I’ve consulted with hundreds of churches over the years, and sadly, online trolls are a common enemy shared by some of the most effective churches in America.
Maximize Your Influence: How to Make Digital Media Work for Your Church, Your Ministry, and You
This is your ticket to make the digital revolution work for you. The digital age has changed everything we know about engaging this culture with the gospel message. And now media producer and consultant Phil Cooke has created the ultimate reference to help pastors and church leaders speak the language of this generation. Whether you lead a church of 20 or 20,000, this information will help take your ministry to the next level.
First person: What do you do with these books?
In helping organizations navigate the challenge of moving on after the sexual abuse, adultery, or other moral failure of a pastor or leader, one of the big questions I hear is “What do we do with the decades of books the pastor published, the sermons he preached, or the TV programs, social media, or video resources that he or she created? There are two answers — one is for the organization, and the other is for private individuals. ENJOY articles from Phil Cooke? Check out more of his articles.
First person: Churches and TV commercials
I’m always thrilled when local churches make the decision to share their story on local TV. In spite of the chorus that “everyone is moving to the Internet,” broadcast television still has a huge audience and I wish more churches had that kind of vision. So if you’re considering buying 30- or 60-second TV commercials, then here’s a few important things to consider: It all starts with identifying the audience you want to target.
What Churches and Ministries Can Learn from the Cracker Barrel Rebrand Fiasco Original
Wow, did things erupt after the Cracker Barrel restaurant rebrand announcement! People went nuts, and social media has been flooded – mostly with critics. The Wall Street Journal reported that “The fallout has shaved tens of millions of dollars from the public company’s market value, spawned calls for boycotts and risked the casual-dining chain’s turnaround plan.” The fact is, rebranding is a normal process. Every business, organization, church, and more needs to update from time to time.
The Irony of Leadership
If you search for a term like “the irony of leadership,” you’ll get lots of different answers – because indeed, there are a lot of ironic aspects of leadership. However, in my opinion, the most essential principle is that the ultimate job of a leader is to work themselves out of a job. Leaders often spend so much time developing themselves and their own leadership potential (which is a good thing) that they forget the importance of developing the leaders around them. Think of a football team.
How To Lead When Your Team is Smarter or More Experienced Than You
Throughout my career, I have been involved in numerous projects where the stakes have been high. Once, I directed a short film for Dentsu Advertising in Tokyo, which was then the largest advertising agency in the world. Another project was directing an expensive music video that launched a pop album with Universal Music Group. Then, there was a live, international boxing match broadcast on ESPN. Still another was a live, global satellite event beaming into 150 countries.
Why Your Crisis Could Be The Key To Your Creativity
Increasingly, studies are confirming that a crisis can actually boost creativity. It’s easy to see why we all live in a state of constant frustration. CNN reports that we consume about 74 gigabytes — nine DVDs worth — of data every day. And that’s not counting personal problems, career challenges, and other obstacles. But the Wall Street Journal confirms that “having your world turned upside down sparks creative thinking.” How?
Game Changers
blog By Phil Cooke The media landscape is evolving at light speed in an age of rapid technological advancement. Leaders are communicators, so staying informed about emerging trends is essential to understand the shifting preferences, platforms and audience expectations. I’m not a prophet, and many of these signs are already there if you’re a serious media or creative professional. But just in case you missed them, here are the top eight media trends I think will shape the future.
First person: A critical ministry role some may overlook
Obviously, a sound audio engineer is essential to a speaker because great sound is critical to the success of a presentation. That’s why professional speakers, teachers, or preachers invest in a professional sound crew whenever possible. But there’s another — perhaps even more important — reason that a good sound person is critical: He or she is often the last person a speaker talks to before taking the stage. RELATED: Check out more stories from Christian media expert Phil Cooke.
Ideas on a Deadline: How to Be Creative When the Clock is Ticking
Ideas on a Deadline is the definitive book for creative people who have to deliver breakthrough ideas on demand. One of the most destructive myths about creativity is the idea that we need to wait for inspiration.
Social Media and The Lack of Nuance
I’m not sure about you, but I’m growing weary of all the armchair investigative journalists, theologians, and morality cops on social media. Particularly in the Christian world, we’ve seen a dramatic rise in people who feel “called” to point out all the mistakes, bad teaching, and wrongdoing in the Church and beyond.
Social Media and The Lack of Nuance
I’m not sure about you, but I’m growing weary of all the armchair investigative journalists, theologians, and morality cops on social media. Particularly in the Christian world, we’ve seen a dramatic rise in people who feel “called” to point out all the mistakes, bad teaching, and wrongdoing in the Church and beyond.
First person: I simply showed up and this happened
Early in my career, I volunteered to help a Christian conference focused on media. This was back when television was a significant tool for sharing the gospel (it still is), and I had been producing the weekly TV program for a substantial national ministry. The media conference was on the ministry’s campus where I worked, so I offered to help set things up and assist with the event.
The Power of Showing Up
Early in my career, I volunteered to help a Christian conference focused on media. This was back when television was a significant tool for sharing the gospel (it still is), and I had been producing the weekly TV program for a substantial national ministry. The media conference was on the ministry’s campus where I worked, so I offered to help set things up and assist with the event.
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