Long Bio (see below for brief bio for speaking and writing):

Entrepreneur, bestselling author, and international speaker Greg Atkinson has been in ministry and organizational leadership for 28 years and has been writing, speaking, and training tens of thousands of leaders since 2000. Greg’s writings have been seen by over a million readers. Greg has spoken in over 100 countries.

In 2003, Greg launched a website geared to encourage, network, resource, and equip Christian pastors, media ministers, artists, and worship leaders – after having served the previous 11 years as a worship pastor himself in the Carolinas and Washington DC.

Greg has a degree in worship with a minor in religion and has done graduate work in worship and leadership. He helped create, develop, and lead WorshipHouse Media while serving as Director there until the summer of 2006.

Greg is a professional writer and is a member of the IAPWE or International Association of Professional Writers & Editors. Greg has been a part of several book projects.

When Christianity Today updated their Leadership Handbook on Management and Administration (published with Baker), they turned to Greg to write the technology chapter. Several years ago, Greg wrote the Foreword for the book Facebook for Pastors, edited by Chris Forbes. Greg also wrote a brief section on social justice in Shawn Wood’s book Wasabi Gospel.

In the book Churchleaders.com Top 100 Book: The Best Leadership Articles, Practical How-To’s and Features of the Year 2012 Edition, Greg had two articles featured.

Greg had an article chosen to be included in the exclusive eBook titled Keep Them Coming: Church Secrets for Closing the Back Door and Engaging New Guests. This eBook is free and offered on ChurchLeaders.com, OutreachMagazine.com, and other Outreach, Inc. websites.

Greg’s solo writing projects include numerous articles for magazines, blogs, and websites, his own eBook Church Leadership 101 (which has now been downloaded over 36,000 times) and his four #1 bestselling books Church Leadership Essentials, Strange Leadership,  Secrets of a Secret Shopper and Greg’s new book, The Hospitality Handbook for Volunteers.

Secrets of a Secret Shopper is a 5-Star Reviewed book which made Danny Frank’s Year in Review of Books of 2017. And was #4 on the Must-Read Books for Preachers in 2018 (Recommended by Preachers and Church Leaders).

Here is Greg’s Amazon Author Page. And here is Greg’s Amazon Influencer Page where people can shop books he recommends.

Greg wrote a devotional for YouVersion (the Bible app) and Bible.com entitled Take Courage: Winning the War on Fear, which has been downloaded over 100,000 times and recently was translated into Spanish and Portuguese, making it available to millions more around the globe. Greg has also written eBooks for Church Fuel and The Center for Church Communication and Church Marketing Sucks.

Greg’s first book Church Leadership Essentials was listed #62 in The Top 100 Best-Selling Church Leadership Books. This is a list that includes names such as Pope Francis, Billy Graham, Henry Blackaby, and Andy Stanley. Greg is honored to make such a list. The book that listed #69 on that list (mentioned 3 paragraphs above) had a chapter written by Greg.

Greg was once again selected as one of the Top 30 Christian Leaders to follow on Twitter in 2021. To read the list featuring leaders like Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Tim Tebow, Jon Acuff, Dr. Sam Chand, Dr. Derwin Gray, Michael Hyatt, Greg Laurie, Dr. Crawford Loritts, Donald Miller, Beth Moore, Tyler Perry, Sadie Robertson Huff, Albert Tate, Michael Todd, Chad Veach, Rick Warren, and others – go HERE.

Greg’s blog was also selected as one of the Top 35 Blogs Christian Leaders Need to Read in 2018, 2019, 2020, and again in 2021. His blog is listed with ChurchLeaders.com, Pastors.com, Michael Hyatt’s blog, and others. You can read the list HERE.

To keep up with Greg’s writing/book projects, free downloadable resources, and to be the first to know of his release dates and promotions/giveaways, “like” his Facebook page HERE and sign-up for his quarterly newsletter HERE.

Greg has spoken at numerous colleges, seminaries, and conferences all over North America, including teaching “Intro to Praise and Worship” at Dallas Theological Seminary from 2005 to 2007. Greg has trained several church staff teams, including full-time staff at Saddleback Church and Prestonwood Baptist Church.

Greg is speaking at the Thrive Business Leaders Summit in January and the ENGAGE Conference, Courageous Men’s Summit, and the Fully Loaded Conference all in February. Greg will be speaking at the Dream Church Conference and the Church Online Summit in March.

Greg is a contributor to many magazines and websites, including Rick Warren’s Ministry Toolbox Newsletter, Pastors.com, ChurchLeaders.com, Outreach Magazine, Relevant Magazine, Christianity Today, Leadership Journal, XPastors.org, Catalyst, MichaelHyatt.com, ThomRainer.com, ChesterGoad.com, Lewis Center for Church Leadership/ChurchLeadership.com, FaithVillage.com, Biblical Leadership, Brian Dodd on Leadership, Preaching Magazine, Ministry Today Magazine, Worship Leader Magazine, Ministry Team Magazine, Charisma Magazine, Church Production Magazine, Technology for Worship Magazine, HomeLife Magazine, Church Marketing Sucks, Christian Media Magazine, Life Letter Cafe, Sermon Central, Solutions Magazine, Limitless Ministries, Eagles in Leadership, ChurchCentral.com, ExPastors.com, Leadership Network, Forbes and many others.

You can hear Greg speak on the subject of first impressions on various podcasts here: https://gregatkinson.com/first-impressions-podcasts-greg-atkinson-church-secret-shopper/

Greg started and leads the Weekend Worship and Guest Services Facebook group. Currently, it is a thriving community of over 15,600 church leaders from around the world. You can join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/worshipandguestservices/

Greg leads the Church Assimilation and Next Steps Facebook group. Currently, it is a thriving community of over 5900 church leaders from around the world. You can join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/churchassimilation

Greg was featured in a mental health piece in the Wall Street Journal. You can read it HERE.

Greg was featured on NBC, FOX, and CBS as “the secret shopper.”

Greg has worked with churches of all stages and sizes including some of the largest and fastest-growing churches in the US, as well as organizations such as Josh McDowell Ministries. To read endorsements of Greg’s consulting work, go HERE.

Greg was the CEO and Founder of a social media marketing company called GTK Solutions – named after his three kids. GTK Solutions worked with businesses in the area of social media and increasing their business, growing and interacting with customers and creating and maintaining their online presence and brand.

Greg was the Editor of Christian Media Magazine and has served as a worship pastor, creative director, technical director, and campus pastor (overseeing all staff) over his twenty-seven-year ministry career.

Greg is the Founder and CEO of the First Impressions Conference – a global leadership conference with events throughout the year. From the street to the seat – if it happens on a Sunday, this conference covers it. Every church has a back door – we help you close it!

Greg and Nils Smith are the Co-Founders of the Social Media Church Conference. Greg is an Alliance Partner with the Rukes Search Group.

Greg is a professional secret shopper for businesses in the hospitality industry (restaurants, automotive, and hotels). Greg enjoys traveling the country as a secret shopper or mystery worshiper for churches of all sizes. You can find out more about that ministry here: www.worshipimpressions.com.

Greg is a life coach and consultant – specializing in areas such as first impressions (also called hospitality or guest services), leadership, and the entire worship experience. Greg now coaches entrepreneurs and business owners. Greg is a member of the Forbes Coaching Council and a featured contributor. Some of his coaching advice was featured on Forbes here. Greg is also a member of ICCI (International Christian Coaching Institute).

As a life coach, Greg helps people start businesses, side hustles, and navigate careers, goals, relationships, and spirituality. Greg is the Co-Founder of the The Entrepreneurial Church Conference. More info coming on that in 2023.

Greg serves on the Advisory Board of Full Strength Network and was the Executive Director of ExPastors.com – a ministry that offered help, healing, and hope to ex-pastors, pastors, and church leaders around the world.

Greg lives in the Charlotte, NC area. Greg can be reached at greg@gregatkinson.com. To book a call or coaching session with him, go here: https://bookme.name/gregatkinson – Stay connected to Greg and his work here: https://linktr.ee/gregatkinson

For a brief bio for writing and speaking see below:

Greg Atkinson is the Founder and CEO of Worship Impressions and the First Impressions Conference and Co-Founder of the Social Media Church Conference, as well as the Co-Founder of the The Entrepreneurial Church Conference (coming in 2023). Greg is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, speaker, leadership and life coach, consultant, and member of the Forbes Coaching Council and ICCI (International Christian Coaching Institute). Greg has worked with churches of all stages and sizes, including some of the largest and fastest-growing churches in the country, as well as with businesses, non-profits, and organizations such as Josh McDowell Ministries. Greg started and ran his own social media marketing company. Greg has been featured in Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, Christianity Today, and on CBS, FOX, and NBC. Greg is an Alliance Partner with the Rukes Search Group and serves on the Advisory Board of Full Strength Network.  Greg has been in ministry for nearly three decades. Stay connected to Greg and his work here: https://linktr.ee/gregatkinson

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