Leading Ideas Talks: Recent Episodes
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
Leading Ideas Talks brings to the table cutting-edge leaders on subjects you care about — navigating change, reaching younger people, financing your ministry, communicating effectively — to help you be the leader God is calling you to be.
Podcast Episode 184 What if the strongest leaders are not the loudest voices in the room? In this episode, Louis Kim, David McAllister-Wilson, and Jonathan Page explore how leadership rooted in humility, discernment, and relational wisdom can be more transformative than authority driven by control. Drawing from his experience in corporate leadership, theology, and artificial [...]
Podcast Episode 183 How can churches move from charity toward advocacy? In this episode, Angelique Walker-Smith draws from her work with Bread for the World to discuss the church’s responsibility to address hunger and poverty through both direct service and systemic change. She notes that moving beyond charity models and embracing advocacy is a core [...]
Podcast Episode 182 What makes people feel like they truly matter in your church? In a season where many are disengaging from church life, how can leaders help people feel truly seen and valued? In this episode, Jonathan Page talks with Zach Mercurio about his book The Power of Mattering, and how simple, everyday interactions [...]
Podcast Episode 181 This is part two of Loving Across the Divide: Conversations on Christian Nationalism. Part one is available here. In part two of the conversation on Christian Nationalism, Karen Stewart speaks with Caleb Campbell and Rachel Williams about the challenges of political and cultural division, exploring how Christians can navigate fractured communities with [...]
Podcast Episode 180 In a cultural moment marked by deep division and difficult conversations, this episode steps into one of the most complex and emotionally charged topics shaping faith communities across the United States: Christian nationalism. Host Karen Stewart invites listeners not to turn away from the discomfort, but to lean in—with curiosity, compassion, and [...]
Podcast Episode 179 How do we lead faithfully in a world that’s changing faster than the church ever expected? In this episode, Lewis Center Director Jonathan Page speaks with Karen Stewart, a seasoned ministry leader and Project Director at the HUB for Re-imagining Ministry at Wesley Theological Seminary. Together, they reflect on Karen’s 30-plus years [...]
Podcast Episode 178 What happens when you look at the American church from the outside? In this episode we sit down with missiologist Taylor Walters Denyer to explore what the U.S. church can learn from its global siblings. From community-based discipleship practices in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to re-centering mission as the foundation [...]
Podcast Episode 177 What becomes possible when churches learn to see relationships—not programs—as their greatest resource? In this podcast episode, Lewis Center Director Jonathan Page speaks with Angie Williams from the non-profit training organization Open Table and Audrey Smith about community convening, social capital, and re-embedding the church in the life of its community. Listen on Apple [...]
Podcast Episode 176 What does the future of church leadership look like? In this episode, new Lewis Center Director Jonathan Page joins Wesley Theological Seminary President David McAllister-Wilson and Dean Carla Works for an engaging conversation on leading with creativity, collaboration, and purpose. Together, they explore how the church can move beyond old models, embrace [...]
Podcast Episode 175 How can churches spark a more authentic youth ministry? In this episode, Kristin Franke, Director of Youth and Family Ministries at National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC, describes what good youth ministry looks like today and how church and lay leaders can better welcome and include youth as part of the congregation. [...]
The post “Good Youth Ministry” featuring Kristin Franke first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 174 In this episode, Michael Lamb introduces The Arts of Leading, a book exploring how the humanities offer essential insights into leadership. He argues that leadership is a liberal art, and he highlights lessons from unsung leaders, the performing arts, and biblical figures like Moses. Listen on Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify Watch on YouTube The Arts [...]
The post “Leadership as a Liberal Art” featuring Michael Lamb first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 173 How can churches engage men in challenging cultural norms of masculinity? In this episode we speak with Sean Harvey, founder of Warrior Compassion Institute. He empowers faith communities to engage men by fostering spaces of vulnerability, curiosity, and connection—meeting men where they are, while challenging cultural norms of masculinity with compassion and [...]
The post “Engaging Men While Challenging Cultural Norms of Masculinity” featuring Sean Harvey first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 172 How can a struggling congregation be transformed into a thriving multicultural ministry center? In this episode co-pastors Beth and Nelson Neil share how Culmore Church was transformed through shared space, mutual respect, creative collaboration, and intentional relationships. Their story demonstrates how transparency, flexibility, and mission alignment can revitalize ministry and serve as [...]
The post “Reimagining Church as a Ministry Center” featuring Beth and Nelson Neil first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 171 How can bivocational ministers and the congregations they serve thrive? In this conversation, Kris Bentley redefines bivocational ministry beyond traditional models, emphasizing shared leadership, congregational adaptability, and spiritual sustainability. She encourages both pastors and congregations to embrace bivocational ministry as a thriving, collaborative model of God’s call, rooted in sufficiency, creativity, and [...]
The post “Thriving in Bivocational Ministry” featuring Kris Bentley first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 170 What are the current church giving and worship attendance trends? In this conversation, Joe Park unpacks key trends in worship attendance and giving from Horizons Stewardship’s Church Giving and Worship Report: Key Findings from 2024. He emphasizes digital engagement, discipleship, and strategic ministry planning, while highlighting the importance of adaptive leadership, consistent [...]
The post “Church Giving and Worship Attendance Trends” featuring Joe Park first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 169 What should congregations consider when launching a social venture? In this insightful conversation, Jaleesa Hall shares how Raising A Village grew from a college initiative into a thriving nonprofit serving underserved children and families in Washington, D.C. She offers church leaders practical guidance on launching social ventures, emphasizing discernment, sustainable capacity-building, and [...]
The post “Launching Social Ventures that Transform Communities” featuring Jaleesa Hall first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 168 How can church leaders cultivate generosity in marginalized communities? In this episode, Jessica Anschutz speaks with Carlos Perkins who emphasizes that many Black, Latinx, and Hispanic congregations have been historically generous, despite limited resources. The conversation explores the importance of defining generosity, reflecting on personal beliefs about money, and how faith leaders [...]
The post “Cultivating Generosity in Marginalized Communities” featuring Carlos Perkins first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 167 How can preachers overcome writers block? In this episode, William Willimon shares insights for pastors preaching during Holy Week. He discusses his book Changing My Mind, reflecting on how his views on preaching have evolved over five decades of ministry. Willimon shares insights into his sermon-writing process and underscores the necessity of [...]
The post “Preaching Easter… Again” featuring William Willimon first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 166 Do you lead a small church? In this episode Allen Stanton shares how small congregations can be surprisingly nimble in the face of change and effective in spiritual formation because of their inherently relational nature. Listen on Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify Watch on YouTube Read in-depth interview The Gift of Small: Embracing Your Church’s Vocation [...]
The post “The Gift of Small” featuring Allen Stanton first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 165 What shifts are needed for congregations to be future-ready? Adelle Banks reflects on the evolving nature of church hospitality, social justice, technology, and vitality. She highlights innovative approaches that foster belonging, authentic community, and discipleship in a rapidly changing world. Listen on Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify Watch on YouTube Becoming a Future-Ready Church: 8 Shifts [...]
The post “Becoming a Future-Ready Church” featuring Adelle Banks first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 164 How can church leaders overcome burnout? In this episode, Callie Swanlund discusses her book, From Weary to Wholehearted, exploring burnout and its unique challenges. She introduces the SPARK practice—Soma, Preparation, Awe, Retreat, and Kinship—as a holistic approach to overcoming ministry burnout. Callie emphasizes the importance of recognizing burnout signs, creating supportive environments [...]
The post “From Weary to Wholehearted: Overcoming Ministry Burnout” featuring Callie Swanlund first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 163 Connecting with people and helping them grow as disciples requires a new playbook and a new way of leading. Stephen Handy shares how his Nashville church is reaching and discipling people in unchurchy ways by getting to know their neighbors, forging new missional partnerships, and focusing intentionally on relationships. Listen on Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify [...]
The post “Embracing Relational Discipleship” featuring Stephen Handy first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 162 How can congregations faithfully engage in ministry with Millennials and Gen Z? In this episode, Dexter Nutall shares how New Bethel Church engages these generations. The church fosters belonging, social justice, and leadership, creating a welcoming and impactful community for young people. Listen on Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify Watch on YouTube Read in-depth interview Related [...]
The post “Belong, Believe, Become: Engaging Millennials and Gen Z in Faith” featuring Dexter Nutall first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 161 How can spiritual direction impact leaders and congregations? In this episode Eunhyey Lok reflects on the role of spiritual direction, its benefits for personal and church growth, distinctions from counseling, and tips for finding a spiritual director. Listen on Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify Watch on YouTube Read in-depth interview Related Resources Spiritual Lessons from a [...]
The post “Exploring Spiritual Direction“ featuring Eunhyey Lok first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 160 What does the post-pandemic and post-disaffiliation United Methodist Church (UMC) look like? In this episode, Jessica Anschutz speaks with Lewis Center Director Doug Powe and Senior Consultant Lovett Weems, who discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the UMC. They highlight regionalization, the need for structural reform, and changes to the ordination process, while [...]
The post “The Future of the United Methodist Church” featuring Doug Powe and Lovett Weems first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 159 How can the church adapt to future challenges and foster community through innovative leadership? In this episode Doug Powe and Dustin Benac discuss the future of the church, emphasizing collaborative leadership, the importance of belonging, and adapting to cultural shifts through innovative community structures. Listen on Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify Watch on YouTube Adaptive Church: [...]
The post “Exploring the Future of the Church Together” featuring Dustin Benac first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 155 How can church leaders address polarization? We speak with Cathy Bien about the Campaign for Kindness and how church leaders can lead out of their faith to engage polarization in their communities with kindness. Listen on Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify Watch on YouTube Read in-depth interview Related Resources A Campaign [...]
The post “Engage Polarization with Kindness” featuring Cathy Bien first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 154 How can we lead in times of disaster? As we remember 9/11, Terry Bradfield, a retired Army chaplain who was assigned to the Pentagon on that fateful day, joins Lewis Center Director Doug Powe for a conversation about leading faithfully during a disaster. He reminds church leaders to check their doctrine at [...]
The post “Remembering 9/11: Leadership During a Disaster” featuring Terry Bradfield first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 153 A call to ministry along with a desire to make friends and fight off loneliness led Cristin Cooper to launch Coop’s Soups, an innovative business and ministry. She shares how loving God and loving neighbor led her to reach people in new and creative ways. Listen on Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | [...]
The post “Coop’s Soups, an Innovative Business and Ministry” featuring Cristin Cooper first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 152 How can congregations engage in ministry with young adults? Reggie Blount shares ways congregations can strengthen their ministry with young adults through hospitality, welcoming and meeting young adults where they are, and empowering them to engage in works of purpose and mission. Listen on Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify Watch on [...]
The post “Welcoming Young Adults” featuring Reggie Blount first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 151 How can intergenerational Christian practice foster relationships with God and community by engaging persons of all ages? We speak with Valerie Grissom, editor of All Ages Becoming: Intergenerational Practice and the Formation of God’s People, about the countercultural and community building work of intergenerational practices. Listen on Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | [...]
The post “Being the Body of Christ through Intergenerational Christian Practice” featuring Valerie Grissom first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 150 How can an innovative exploration of Moses’ biblical narrative offer a more generous leadership model for today’s religious leaders? In this episode, Kathleen McShane and Elan Babchuck, authors of Picking Up the Pieces: Leadership After Empire, ask how God is calling you to a leadership model in which power is shared so [...]
The post “Moses, Pyramids, and Leadership After Empire” featuring Kathleen McShane and Elan Babchuck first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 149 How can church leaders lead in such a way that is meaningful, sustainable, interesting and makes an impact? We speak with Heidi Brooks, Senior Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at the Yale School of Management, a leadership and organizational behavior expert about everyday leadership. Listen on Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify Watch [...]
The post “Everyday Leadership and Hope for Humanity” featuring Heidi Brooks first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 148 What is the state of clergy health and wellbeing coming out of the pandemic? What factors and practices influence the emotional wellbeing of clergy? Allison Norton describes new research that reveals growing discontentment even though clergy health and wellbeing tends to be better than that of the general public. Listen on Apple [...]
The post “Clergy Health and Wellness in the Post-Pandemic Era” featuring Allison Norton first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 147 How can bringing different generations together in worship, learning, and community promote faith formation? Holly Allen discusses the benefits of a more intergenerational approach to ministry and strategies for helping young and old journey together in faith. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify Watch on YouTube Intergenerational Christian Formation: Bringing [...]
The post “The Benefits of Intergenerational Christian Formation” featuring Holly Allen first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 146 How can church leaders better engage the public sphere and expand their prophetic witness? We speak with Kevin Slayton, a pastor with a passion for public policy and prophetic preaching, about building relationships, engaging in politics, and his book Politically Preaching, Why Politics Are Local to the Black Church. Listen on Apple [...]
The post “Engaging in the Public Sphere” featuring Kevin Slayton first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 145 How can a passion for helping people flourish lead to social innovation? We speak with K Scarry about social innovation and the ways she is supporting local artists, helping create spaces where everyone can thrive, and more. Listen on Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify Watch on YouTube Related Resources Innovating to [...]
The post “Innovating to Build Communities Where All Can Flourish” featuring K Scarry first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 144 How can a faith community organize itself to combat the sin of racism? Michael Adam Beck and Stephanie Moore Hand share with us a practical framework for doing justice together that reimagines discipleship, leadership, and evangelism as tools for change. Listen on Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify Watch on YouTube Doing [...]
The post “Doing Justice Together” featuring Michael Adam Beck and Stephanie Moore Hand first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 143 How are the trends in majority Latino congregations different from those in non-Latino congregations? We speak with Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi about her report Latino Congregations: Trends from the Faith Communities Today (FACT) and Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations (EPIC) Studies. It reveals that while Latino congregations face financial difficulties, a majority have [...]
The post “Trends in Latino Congregations” featuring Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 142 Is your church facing the difficult decision to sell or repurpose property? We speak with Mark Elsdon, editor of Gone for Good?, about how a congregation can pursue creative uses of church property in a way that avoids common pitfalls and propels their mission forward. Listen on Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | [...]
The post “Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transitions” featuring Mark Elsdon first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 141 How can church leaders address the challenges of urban ministry in a transformative way? We speak with pastor and scholar Tony Hunt about reading a community well, identifying assets, and the importance of understanding your ministry context. He shares with us how to develop the transformative qualities of effective leadership. Listen on [...]
The post “Transformational Leadership for Urban Ministries” featuring Tony Hunt first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 140 How can your youth ministry cultivate a faith that stays with a young person as they mature through adulthood? We speak with Brad Griffin of the Fuller Youth Institute about five compass points that can guide an impactful youth ministry. The approach emphasizes building trust and relationships while teaching in transformative and [...]
The post “New Approaches to Help Youth Form Lasting Faith” featuring Brad Griffin first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 139 How can congregational leaders be both healers and agitators at the same time, especially given our fractured landscape and the diversity of contexts where congregations exist? Doug Powe and Jessica Anschutz reflect on the book, Healing Fractured Communities, in which pastoral leaders write about their experiences with renewal, resilience, and resistance in congregations, [...]
The post “Healing Fractured Communities” featuring Doug Powe and Jessica Anschutz first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 138 How would you preach next Sunday if tomorrow your community fell victim to a mass shooting or was devastated by a natural disaster? Preaching Professor Kimberly Wagner shares how pastors can approach this increasingly unavoidable homiletical task in ways that hold in tension the community’s very real experiences of loss and grief [...]
The post “Preaching in the Wake of Mass Trauma” featuring Kimberly Wagner first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 137 How can an improv comedy show explore the intersection of faith and real life in community? In this engaging episode we speak with Katie Phillips about how Improv Church offers creative ways for engaging people in worship. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify Watch on YouTube Learn more about Improv [...]
The post “Improv Church: The Power of Connection” featuring Katie Phillips first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 136 How can your congregation function as a community of ministers rather than a community gathered around a single minister? Lydia Bucklin explains the Mutual Ministry Initiative and how this approach to shared ministry is flourishing among smaller churches in the Upper Pennisula of Michigan. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify [...]
The post “Embracing Mutual Ministry” featuring Lydia Bucklin first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 135 What are micro churches and how do they disciple missional leaders? In this episode, Bree Mills, director of Micro Churches Australia, shares the characteristics of micro churches, how they are formed, and how micro church leaders are developed. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify Read in-depth interview Watch on YouTube [...]
The post “Discipleship and Mission in the Micro Church Movement in Australia” featuring Bree Mills first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 134 Is your leadership so preoccupied with strategies and actions that you’ve lost sight of the ultimate why? Elaine Robinson shares her belief that God’s love must ground every aspect of the church’s mission. And love must be the foundational principle of all Christian leadership. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify [...]
The post “Leading with Love” featuring Elaine Robinson first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 133 Is your congregation too dependent on Sunday morning offerings? Grace Pomroy from Luther Seminary shares research findings on congregations that are developing new and creative funding sources, not only to bolster the bottom line, but to better connect with neighbors and advance their missions. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify [...]
The post “Funding Forward: How Congregations Can Develop New Revenue Sources” featuring Grace Pomroy first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 132 How can church leaders build an inclusive community of faith? In this episode Jessica Anschutz of the Lewis Center staff speaks with Brandan Robertson, the “Tiktok Pastor,” about social media ministry, intersectional inclusivity, and the challenges of building inclusive community. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify Watch on YouTube True [...]
The post “Building Inclusive Communities” featuring Brandan Robertson first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 131 How can church leaders improve their time management and maximize ministry? In this episode we speak with Nicole Reilley about time management, saying “no,” and prioritizing rest and sabbath. Also, learn how digital resources can help you better manage your time. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Spotify [...]
The post “Improve Your Time Management and Enhance Your Ministry” featuring Nicole Reilley first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 130 What if congregational change didn’t focus on setting goals or planning new programs? Dwight Zscheile believes finding a faithful way forward involves discovering what God is already doing in the lives of your neighbors and then finding ways of joining in God’s action. He shares a simple three-step process for experimenting with [...]
The post “Leading Faithful Innovation” featuring Dwight Zscheile first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 129 How can holy friendships sustain pastors and church leaders? In this episode we speak with Victoria White about her book Holy Friendships: Nurturing Relationships that Sustain Pastors and Church Leaders. She shares how to strengthen relationships into holy friendships and how to create opportunities for people to cultivate holy friendships. Listen on [...]
The post “The Power of Holy Friendships” featuring Victoria White first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 128 How can professional Christians be their authentic selves when in the spotlight of public ministry? We speak with church musician and author Sarah Bereza about the challenges of being authentic, knowing how much to share, and how to avoid oversharing when in a public ministry role. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher [...]
The post “How to Be Authentic in Public Ministry” featuring Sarah Bereza first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 127 What new approaches to youth ministry are emerging in our post-Covid era? Deech Kirk of the Center for Youth Ministry Training describes some of the common challenges confronting youth ministry today and some of the characteristics of the newer, innovative ministry models that are taking shape. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher [...]
The post “The Changing Contours of Youth Ministry” featuring Deech Kirk first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
Podcast Episode 126 What is the economic impact of small congregations on their communities? We speak with Bob Jaeger and Rachel Hildebrandt of Partners for Sacred Places about their report on the “Economic Halo Effect of Rural United Methodist Churches in North Carolina.” Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Spotify Watch [...]
Podcast Episode 125 The rapid growth in the percentage of Americans claiming no religious affiliation is drastically reshaping the country’s religious and cultural landscape. We speak with Dr. Ryan Burge, a leading expert on the “Nones,” about the characteristics of the growing cohort of Americans who say their religion is “nothing in particular.” Listen on [...]
Podcast Episode 124 How can a seamless pastoral transition lead to a more effective leadership transition? We speak with Lee Kricher, the author of Seamless Pastoral Transition: 3 imperatives and 6 Pitfalls, about shared leadership, nurturing future leaders, leading with humility, and more. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Spotify Watch [...]
Podcast Episode 123 How can preachers keep their preaching fresh? Teresa Fry Brown, professor of preaching at Candler School of Theology, shares strategies for preaching familiar texts for different generations, preaching for in person and digital audiences, and sermon preparation for bivocational pastors. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Spotify Watch [...]
Podcast Episode 122 What happens when a congregation trusts God for big change? We speak with author and pastor Dawn Darwin Weaks about the rebirth of Connection Christian Church and how to lead change well. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Spotify Watch on YouTube Breakthrough: Trusting God for Big Change [...]
Podcast Episode 121 How can Christian education maximize the potential for learning in both hybrid and virtual classrooms? We speak with author and pastor Tanya Campen about the holy work of Christian education. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Spotify Watch on YouTube Holy Work with Children: Making Meaning Together (Pickwick [...]
Podcast Episode 120 How can churches partner with other organizations to effectively and comprehensively meet the needs of their community? We speak with Glorymar Rivera Báez, executive director of REHACE, about the organization’s work in Puerto Rico providing services to vulnerable populations and rebuilding communities. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | [...]
Podcast Episode 119 How can your worship connect powerfully not only with those in the room on Sunday mornings, but with those worshiping online in the moment and after the fact? Hybrid ministry expert Jason Moore outlines simple changes that can make your worship more meaningful and participatory for online viewers in the moment and [...]
Podcast Episode 118 How does our faith influence our relationship with money? We speak with author and teacher Callie Picardo about stewardship, gratitude, and how creative partnerships can expand ministries. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Spotify Watch on YouTube Related Resources Money Talks: A Biblical Take on Earning, Saving, Spending, [...]
Podcast Episode 117 How can the church confront its complicity in sexual abuse and misconduct? Ruth Everhart says churches must restore justice by creating safe spaces for victims to share their stories while committing to appropriate measures to both prevent and respond to incidents of misconduct and abuse. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | [...]
Podcast Episode 116 How can church leaders address conflicts? We speak with attorney and mediator Charlie Pillsbury about mediating conflicts in congregations. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Spotify Watch on YouTube Related Resources 5 Suggestions for Managing Conflict in Polarized Contexts by David R. Brubaker Eight Strategies for Managing Conflict [...]
Podcast Episode 115 How can church leaders better reach Gen Z? In this episode, Josh Packard shares findings from the Springtide Research Institute on what faith leaders need to know about Gen Z’s religious beliefs and mental health. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Spotify Watch on YouTube Related Resources The [...]
Podcast Episode 114 Can bivocational ministry be a strategic choice and not just a reluctant concession to financial constraints? Ben Connelly shares how bivocational ministry can enhance collaboration, deepen engagement with the mission field, and even promote the personal spiritual growth of those who practice bivocational ministry. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google [...]
Podcast Episode 113 How can Christian innovation address the needs of people who are under-resourced and undervalued? Kimberly Daniel shares how Christian innovation can begin to break down barriers to wealth and flourishing. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Spotify Watch on YouTube Related Resources A Way Out of No Way: [...]
Podcast Episode 112 What is required to bring about meaningful change in your church? F. Douglas Powe Jr. and Lovett H. Weems Jr. maintain that genuine change also involves continuity. They outline strategies for sustaining key traditions and systems while simultaneously pursuing new initiatives and innovations. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Podcasts [...]
Podcast Episode 111 How can you be creative when facing deadlines? We speak with media consultant Phil Cooke about gaining clarity on expectations, saying “no,” and stumbling blocks to creativity. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Spotify Watch on YouTube Related Resources Ideas on a Deadline: How to Be Creative When [...]
Podcast Episode 110 How can you lead effectively given the inherent messiness of congregational life? Leadership expert Mike Bonem speaks about the art of leading change, responding to those who resist change, and how leading well depends on having the courage to allow yourself to be changed. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Google [...]
How can congregations support people with dementia and their caregivers? Elizabeth Shulman offers an organic three-part program to help congregations create ministries to meet the needs of people with dementia and their caregivers.
When do things go back to normal? How do we get people (back) to church? And how do we do more with less? Rebekah Simon-Peter calls us to the “next normal” as she explores what it means to invite people to church as spiritual community and to do more with less.
What can we learn about congregational revitalization, Fresh Expressions, and evangelism from the Methodist Church in Britain? Trey Hall shares insights on these subjects drawing from his experience in the United States and Great Britain.
How can your church reorient its posture toward its neighbors and neighborhood? Minnesota Pastor Travis Norvell decided to conduct his ministry by bike, on foot, and on public transportation. He shares how this revealed new people, new partners, and new possibilities for ministry.
How can church leaders approach innovation in ways that are consistent with their faith? Kenda Creasy Dean says it starts by focusing on people not problem, by seeking to participate in God’s new thing rather than trying to get God to participate in ours.
What can we learn from the Fresh Expression movement’s novel approach to reaching people unlikely to attend church on Sunday mornings? Luke Edwards discusses a process of listen, building relationships, and forming community that can lead to deepening discipleship and the formation of new, nontraditional worshipping communities.
How can storytelling impact your ministry? How can you inspire others to share their stories? Jee Hae Song believes we all have gifts for storytelling and shares part of her story to inspire others to share how God works in their lives.
How has the pandemic shaped the vitality and resiliency of congregations? Did it really prompt large numbers of pastors to leave ministry? Scott Thumma shares insights from ongoing research on the pandemic’s impact congregational life and health.
The pandemic taught us that church happens in powerful and meaningful ways outside our buildings. Dave Barnhart describes how small, home-centered worshiping communities can connect with people who may never cross the threshold of your church.
How can church leaders embrace rather that fear the future? Lewis Center Director F. Douglas Powe speaks with Olu Brown about how leaders can “normalize next” and begin living their future now by engaging innovative thinking, creative partnerships, and hybrid strategies to fulfill their mission.
How can your church reach new people in today’s evolving ministry context? Tony Morgan shares trends, perspectives, and strategies drawn from his work with scores of congregations across the country and abroad.
How can your congregation connect with new people in both physical and digital spaces? Jordana Wright shares creative strategies for transforming congregations into vibrant community hubs.
How can church leaders strive to be anti-racist? We speak with Sheila Beckford about strategies for equipping church leaders to do the hard work of anti-racism in order to work toward real change.
How can leaders respond to conflict in healthier, more productive ways? Brian Brown shares perspectives and practices that can help keep conflict from diverting too much energy from our churches.
What practices can help church leaders learn from failures and address conflict in ways that lead to fruitful ministry? We speak with Tyler Sit about centering marginalized voices, meeting the needs of the community, managing conflict, and other leadership lessons he has learned as a church planter.
What does it take to turn a congregation around? Ed Brandt, a long-serving pastor who recently retired as chief of chaplains for the U.S. National Guard, believes success in ministry is grounded in the hard but essential work of reaching out to the community, forging new connections, getting to know people, listening, earning trust, taking risks, and learning from mistakes.
What determines whether children will carry on the faith of their parents? Past research established that parents play the critical role. In this episode noted sociologist Christian Smith shares new research examining how parents shape their children’s faith and the critical factor of talking about religion in the context of day-to-day life.
Do you want amazing worship on a small church budget? Teresa Stewart, a blogger and creator of the website Paper Bag Cathedrals, shares ways small congregations can enliven their worship.
Do the challenges of a global pandemic and extreme polarization seem insurmountable? Retired Major General Randy Manner shares how clear vision and values help in navigating difficult terrain by engendering unity and hope.
Is your congregation squeamish when it comes to evangelism? In this episode, Lewis Center Director F. Douglas Powe Jr. speaks with Dr. Priscilla Pope-Levison on how congregations can more authentically engage a variety of evangelistic practices with confidence and integrity.
Are virtual meetings and work-from-home staff part of the new normal in your church? John Wimberly discusses best practices for working with staff and volunteers in a hybrid era.
How can innovation help congregations reach new and younger people? We speak with Mikka McCracken about innovation, building relationships, and creating person-focused ministries so more people know the way of Jesus and discover community, justice, and love.
How can rural churches break free from false narratives and unrealistic metrics? Allen Stanton lays out a new vision for healthy rural congregations as valued stakeholders and potent agents of change within their communities.
How can churches get ahead of the curve by learning to anticipate change rather than always responding to change after the fact? Dwight Friesen shares ways to cultivate the imagination and skill set needed to think forward.
How can your church extend its reach and maximize its impact through digital media? In this episode, media producer Phil Cooke shares strategies for becoming more media savvy.