The 95 Podcast: Conversations for Small-Church Pastors: Recent Episodes
95Network
95% of churches in the U.S. are under 500 in average attendance. Small and mid-size churches truly are the backbone of the Church in America. Join Dale Sellers and Caralee Culpepper, part of the team at 95Network, as we host conversations that specifically relate to the small and mid-size church context.
Ignite a movement of church renewal with the latest release from K. Kale Yu, a visionary scholar, professor, and ordained minister at the forefront of church revitalization. Recognized for his research by universities, seminaries, and Christian colleges including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Wheaton College—Yu brings a rare blend of academic research and pastoral heart to his work. He offers a bridge between theological truths and the practical needs of today’s congregations, making him an essential voice for those seeking to breathe new life into their faith communities.
Prepare to lead with purpose in Enkindle: Reviving the Church from Within(2026), the newest and most vital addition to The Spark Initiative Series. Designed as a cornerstone resource for the next generation of Christian leaders, this book is more than just a guide—it is a call to action. Yu provides the strategic tools and innovative leadership models necessary to navigate the complexities of modern ministry, ensuring that the fire of faith continues to burn brightly.
Whether you are an emerging practitioner or a seasoned pastor, Enkindle is your roadmap to sparking a lasting legacy of spiritual growth and vibrant community impact.
In this episode, Dale Sellers and Joseph Bennett talk with K. Kale Yu about “freestyle evangelism,” why program-driven churches feel inauthentic to Millennials and Gen Z, and how pastors can release Spirit-led passion projects that renew churches from within.
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Kimberly Tarlton is the Co-Founder & CEO of Story & Stone, a creative strategist, communications consultant, and a church girl at heart with over 28 years of experience helping ministries grow their impact—online and in-person.
Kim’s expertise spans digital, print, and live, leading church teams with a mix of creative spark and practical know-how. Her integrated marketing work has helped churches increase engagement, clarify their messaging, and confidently reach new guests.
She's known for leading cross-functional teams with heart and humor—and always with an eye on the metrics. A certified Working Genius Facilitator, a triple-certified HubSpot pro in Social Media, Content, and Email Marketing, and a sought-after speaker for conferences and podcasts on topics like church communications, guest strategy, and ministry development.
Kimberly and Dale discuss the importance of mission clarity as the foundation of your communications efforts in today's 95Podcast. Their conversation is filled with leadership nuggets to help you create an effective communication environment within your ministry.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/podcast-recast-95podcast-320-summary-church-communications-strategy-prioritize-plan-produce-w-kimberly-tarlton-episode-320/
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On today's 95Podcast, Dale Sellers sits down with Josh Clink to discuss his journey from unexpected pastoral leadership at age 26 through the aftermath of moral failure, COVID-19 burnout, compassion fatigue, and seven miscarriages—and how biblical counseling, spiritual formation, and anchored hope restored him. Josh shares practical pathways for pastors facing trauma, depression, anxiety, father wounds, and isolation, plus how CCEF equips small churches with counseling referrals, intensives, consultations, and the new Biblical Counseling for Pastors course.
Josh is the Counseling Manager and a counselor at CCEF. He holds a master of Arts in Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) and is working on his Doctorate of Education in Biblical Counseling from SEBTS. He is ordained by North Wake Baptist Church in Wake Forest, NC.
Prior to CCEF, Josh served as a pastor at FBC Afton in Afton, NY, for over seven years. He is passionate to see God reach down into the broken and hard moments of people’s lives to provide hope and healing. Josh has been married to his wife, Stephanie, since May 2014. He enjoys a fresh cup of coffee, cheering on his favorite sports teams, playing volleyball, working on cars, and fishing.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-347-podcast-recast-summary-from-trauma-to-triumph-josh-clink-on-pastoral-health-counseling-and-soul-care-episode-347/
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Pastors can do “good hard” ministry without destroying their soul or family. In this episode, Lance Witt shares his story of leaving Saddleback Church after hitting a breaking point when an unsustainable pace and growing tension at home revealed that working harder could no longer produce health. What followed was a renewed calling: to help leaders pursue a different way of life—one marked by health, humility, and deeper dependence on Jesus.
Lance unpacks the hidden drivers of burnout, including approval addiction, people-pleasing, and a faulty theology of availability that keeps leaders overextended. He offers a clear distinction between “good hard” ministry and the kind that quietly depletes your soul, along with practical rhythms that restore health like Sabbath, boundaries, daily time with Jesus, and honest feedback. The conversation will challenge leaders to embrace limits as a gift, cultivate a healthy ambition, and build a culture where both they and their teams can grow without burning out.
About Lance: Lance Witt has been leading churches and organizations for 40+ years. He was the lead pastor for 3 different churches and then spent 7 years as an executive and teaching pastor at Saddleback Church in Southern California. In 2007, Lance launched a ministry called Replenish, which is dedicated to “Helping people live and lead from a healthy soul.” Over the last 15 years Lance has encouraged, challenged and equipped thousands of leaders through speaking, personal coaching, LifePlanning, and writing books. Lance’s books include…
Replenish… a resource for pastors and ministry leaders on doing ministry without losing your soul.
High Impact Teams… a resource to catalyze teams to increased health and high-performance
Your ONE Life… this newest book releases in 2021 and is focused on helping people own, live and love their one and only life.
Lance and his best friend, Connie, have been married for 45 years. They have two grown children and 4 beautiful granddaughters. Their entire family lives in Castle Rock, Colorado.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-346-summary-healthy-holy-and-humble-soul-care-rhythms-for-pastors-with-lance-witt-95-podcast-346/
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What happens after Easter matters. In this episode, Vick Green shares a practical approach to follow-up and discipleship for small and mid-size churches: clarify vision, build a “multiplication vehicle,” start with a few leaders, and aim for the 16% tipping point.
When vision is clear, it begins to shape decisions, focus energy, and help leaders say no to what doesn’t move the mission forward.
Vick also challenges how we think about discipleship. Growth doesn’t come from information alone—it’s formed through practice, relationships, and a shared vision that spreads through people, not just preaching. He outlines a simple pathway to begin building that kind of culture, even in smaller churches.
Vick Green (MDiv, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary) is a pastor, coach, and consultant, and the CEO of Replicate Ministries, where he helps thousands of churches develop disciple-making cultures each year. He lives in the Nashville area with his wife, Sophie, and their three kids: Barrett, Lenna, and Allie Sage.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-331-summary-after-easter-a-simple-follow-up-plan-that-builds-real-disciples-w-vic-green/
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Dr. Bridget Trammell is a Christian counselor, speaker, and bestselling author of Trigger Warning: A Faith-Based Playbook for Healing from Trauma, Control, and the Lies that Broke You. Drawing from her personal journey through religious trauma, domestic violence, and emotional abuse, along with years of clinical experience, she helps individuals understand trauma, reclaim their identity, and find healing through faith and practical tools.
Bridget is passionate about creating safe spaces for people to process pain, break unhealthy cycles, and walk in freedom. With clinical techniques led by a Biblical approach, she builds the bridge between therapy and theology.
Bridget is married to Josh who serves as Lead Pastor of Take Heart Church. They have two daughters Hallie and Haven.
Dale & Joseph sit down with Bridget for a candid conversation about how trauma forms, how it shows up in ministry leadership, and why church culture often suppresses pain instead of supporting healing. Bridget shares parts of her personal story—including escaping an abusive marriage marked by addiction and violence—and explains why victims often struggle to leave unsafe situations.
The conversation explores religious trauma and “high-control” church environments, including how shame-based purity culture can distort sexuality, create secrecy, and amplify abuse. Bridget outlines practical frameworks for understanding trauma responses (fight, flight, freeze, and fawn), what “trigger warnings” really indicate, and why unresolved trauma layers over time—often driving burnout, control, addiction, and emotional reactivity in leaders.
The episode ends with a direct call to pastors and leaders who feel like “silent weepers”: healing requires honesty about wounds, safe relationships, wise counsel, and spiritual community that can carry burdens together—following the model of Jesus, who showed real humanity in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Show Link: https://95network.org/95podcast-344-summary-trigger-warning-trauma-healing-for-pastors-church-leaders-w-bridget-trammell-episode-344/
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This Podcast was previously released June 24, 2025: John Finkelde has over 40 years of experience in ministry. He has done it all when it comes to leading a healthy church. As lead pastor at C3 Church Hepburn Heights, Perth, Australia, John led the church through a generational renewal that saw it grow, while also planting a new church every three years and moving to a purpose-built, multi-million-dollar worship centre.
In 2012, John founded Grow a Healthy Church and has conducted over 170 on-site and online church consultations in Australia, the UK, Europe, and New Zealand to glowing reviews.
John joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss the importance of taking care of your physical and mental health, along with emphasizing the value of financially planning for retirement.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-343-summary-pastoral-rest-that-lasts-how-dale-sellers-john-finkelde-help-pastors-build-a-sustainable-rhythm-days-off-sabbath-vacation-margin-episode-343/
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Today's conversation was previously aired on May 13, 2025.
In this episode, Dale talks with Bob Hamp from Think Differently Academy about one of the most common assumptions pastors carry: “It must be my fault.” Together, we unpack the crucial difference between fault and responsibility, showing how fault leads to shame while responsibility creates freedom. Bob explains why many leaders take ownership of things they were never meant to control—and how that mindset quietly fuels burnout, anxiety, and people-pleasing.
The conversation also explores how family-of-origin patterns shape leadership, why old fears and insecurities can feel so convincing, and why lasting transformation requires more than simply knowing the truth intellectually. Bob offers a hopeful framework for understanding how God rewires unhealthy patterns over time, helping leaders move from shame and self-blame toward greater peace, clarity, and freedom. If you've ever felt responsible for everyone else's outcomes, this episode will challenge the way you think and help you begin thinking differently.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-342-summary-when-everything-feels-like-your-fault-freedom-responsibility-and-identity-w-bob-hamp-episode-342/
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With 13 years of working in and alongside ministry, Shelby Black is the co-founder of Bellwether, an AI-powered platform built specifically for ministry leaders. Shelby brings both personal conviction and operational experience to the conversation around AI in the church.
Her work with Bellwether started from a simple belief: no one should feel forgotten by their church. That conviction is now the foundation of a tool helping ministry teams see their people more clearly. Alongside Bellwether, Shelby serves as Director of Growth at Clever, a digital marketing agency serving churches and nonprofits.
Together with her husband Andy — a technical co-founder with deep ministry roots of his own — they bring 28 combined years of ministry experience to the question of how AI should be developed, adopted, and stewarded in faith communities.
She lives in the Denver area with Andy and their two young kids.
Dale Sellers and Joseph Bennett talk with Shelby about 10 practical AI guardrails for churches—data privacy, transparency, pastoral boundaries, automation risks, and how pastors can lead congregations already using AI.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-341-summary-ai-guardrails-for-churches-practical-guidelines-for-ethical-safe-ministry-use-w-shelby-black/
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Dale Sellers and Joseph Bennett talk with Lynne Roberts from RightNow Media about how small and mid-size churches can resource families, strengthen small groups, train volunteers with built-in accountability, and care for pastors’ souls through curated conferences and practical leader tools.
Lynne Roberts serves on the Customer Success team as a Senior Account Consultant at RightNow Media. She works with churches, associations, and networks across the globe. Her primary role is to train ministry leaders to maximize the RightNow Media platform within their local church. Lynne has served at RightNow Media for 9 years and lives in Johns Creek, Georgia, with her husband and two young daughters. They are active members of Perimeter Church in Johns Creek.
Pastors, many of you know that we have partnered with RightNow Media – the world’s largest streaming library of Bible studies and discipleship content designed specifically to encourage you and your family in your walk with the Lord. RightNow Media has content from over 400 Christian publishers, tens of thousands of Bible studies, conferences, training sessions, kid’s cartoons, and much more. As a pastor partnered with 95Network, you are receiving FREE personal access to this resource!
Click the following link to sign up for your free personal access to this amazing resource https://app.rightnowmedia.org/join/95network
There are 3 new tools on RightNow Media for you as a pastor: Pastors Plus, Webinars, and the PastorsHub.
This gift is meant for you to use personally and with your immediate family. Please know that your user account cannot be shared or given away to your church. However, because you are a valued part of our family here at 95Network, your church qualifies for a significant discount to use RightNow Media to equip your families, resource your small groups, and develop your leaders within your local church. If this resource is a blessing to you and your family, imagine how impactful it could be for your entire church!
How do I set up my personal account?
To create your free personal account through 95Network, click here.
If you’re interested in Pastors+ or a RightNow Media subscription for your church, please contact our representative at RightNow Media, Lynne Roberts, at Lynne@rightnowmedia.org. She will go over pricing and the discount you’ll receive because of your partnership with 95Network.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-340-summary-rightnow-media-for-small-churches-free-tools-for-pastors-volunteers-and-families-with-lynne-robertsw-lynne-roberts/
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Dustin Dozier serves as a Teaching Pastor and Director of Next Steps at Upstate Church in South Carolina, a ten-location church reaching nearly 6,000 people each week.
He coaches and consults with church leaders who want to build healthy churches that grow through meaningful relationships and deep community. Dustin is the founder of The Connected Church Co. and the #1 Amazon bestselling author of The Connected Church, where he helps pastors and teams create cultures where people feel known, valued, and connected—not just counted.
He and his wife Sloan have been married for 20 years and are raising three boys together.
In Podcast 339, Dale Sellers and Joseph Bennett talk with Dustin Dozier about building a culture of belonging, prioritizing first-time guests, avoiding volunteer burnout, and creating simple systems that move people from attending to truly connecting.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-339-summary-the-connected-church-how-to-help-churches-move-people-from-attending-to-belonging-w-dustin-dozier-episode-339/
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Dale and Joseph interview Brittany Nelson about digital natives vs digital immigrants, why children’s ministry matters, volunteer recruitment that works, and practical ways churches can partner with parents to disciple kids at home.
This is a great conversation on leading kids ministry in a digital world—bridging digital natives and digital immigrants, improving volunteer recruitment, and building real partnerships with parents for everyday discipleship at home.
Brittany Nelson is an author, speaker, former children’s pastor and the creator of DeeperKidMin.com, an online hub of downloadable resources made FOR children’s ministry leaders BY children’s ministry leaders.
She works to support children’s ministry leaders around the world by sharing resources and encouragement that grow kids deeper in their faith. Her other adventures include being a mom to the 3 sweetest little girls, reading as many books as she can, volunteering in children's and youth ministry, and drinking lots of herbal tea.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-338-summary-digital-natives-vs-digital-immigrants-brittany-nelson-on-hybrid-church-kids-ministry-and-partnering-with-parents/
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Dale Sellers and Joseph Bennett talk with former lead pastor Michael Hidalgo about why pastoral rest is a crisis-level need, how real sabbaticals differ from a leave of absence, and how his ministry Menuah helps small churches create practical, sustainable sabbatical plans—including pulpit supply, congregational care, and re-entry. Michael has over 25 years experience in local church ministry as a teaching pastor and lead pastor. He is a speaker, author, and coaches pastors. His passion has always been to support spiritual and emotional health for faith leaders. When he's not working he loves skiing, cycling, and spending time in the mountains of Colorado. Michael, his wife and children live in Denver, Colorado.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-337-summary-pastoral-sabbaticals-made-doable-rest-renewal-and-a-plan-for-small-church-pastors-with-michael-hidalgo/
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Dale Sellers and Joseph Bennett talk with airline pilot, pastor, and leadership strategist Michael McFadden about “flying in front of the plane”—leading proactively instead of reactively. Michael shares the cockpit disciplines behind preparation, checklists, margins, turbulence, accountability, and Spirit-led decision-making for pastors and church leaders.
Michael K. McFadden, also known as Pilot Mike, is a dynamic speaker, leadership trainer, entrepreneur, and private pilot with over 25 years of aviation and leadership experience.
He is the founder of The Leadership Training Company and the author of three influential books:
- How to Maximize Your Potential
- How to Maximize Your Potential as a Student Leader
- How to Maximize Your Potential in Your Relationship
Using flight as a metaphor for personal development and purpose-driven leadership, Michael has inspired thousands through keynotes, coaching programs, and digital resources rooted in his original 12-Point In-Flight Leadership Plan.
Michael is the creator of the “I’m Powerful Beyond Belief” essay contest and scholarship program for high school students and is currently developing a new book and speaking series titled Cleared for Takeoff: Leadership from 10,000 Feet. He’s also planning a global aviation journey as an Earthrounder, turning his passion for flight into a mission of hope, vision, and impact.
Through his speaking, books, and coaching, Michael equips entrepreneurs, student leaders, educators, and executives to navigate uncertainty, master their mindset, and soar toward their highest potential.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-336-summary-flying-ahead-of-the-plane-leadership-lessons-from-the-cockpit-with-michael-mcfadden/
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In Podcast 335, Dale Sellers interviews pastor and author Ramfis Moulier about how approval addiction and ministry overwork can damage marriages, families, and intimacy with God—and what it takes to heal and lead from presence, not performance.
They also discuss the hidden cost of “doing ministry” for approval. Ramfis shares how a legalistic church culture, unrealistic expectations, and the intoxicating pull of platform affirmation can slowly turn ministry into a substitute for intimacy with God—and even into a rival to a spouse.
Through candid stories from Ramfis’s life (and themes from his book Ashes), this conversation explores why many pastors feel trapped in overwork, why honesty is often punished in church culture, and how healing begins when leaders choose peace and presence over performance and applause.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-335-summary-when-ministry-becomes-a-mistress-how-pastors-escape-approval-addiction-and-rediscover-peace-w-ramfis-moulier/
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Dan Reiland is a coach, consultant, author, husband, father and grandfather. He brings decades of local church leadership experience to his current ministry endeavors that focus on helping leaders excel.
Dan has served the local church for more than forty years including at 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, Georgia where he partnered with Kevin Myers for 24 years as the Executive Pastor. He previously partnered with John Maxwell for 20 years, first as Executive Pastor at Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego, then as Vice President of Leadership and Church Development at Maxwell Leadership (Previously INJOY).
Dan is best known as a leader with a pastor’s heart and a coach’s intuition. He truly loves the local church and is considered one of the nation’s most insightful executive leadership coaches and church consultants, bringing wisdom and experience to the process. Dan has written 4 books on the church and church leadership and writes a bi-weekly blog at DanReiland.com.
Dan and his wife Patti have two children and three grandchildren. In his leisure time, he’s a collector of really cool guitars!
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-334-summary-healthy-soul-healthy-ministry-prayer-sabbath-and-soul-care-rhythms-for-pastors-with-dan-reiland/
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Doug Bullock directs the aftercare at the Retreat at Church Creek, a ministry that serves pastors, encouraging them to live well and finish strong. Simultaneously, he has been pursuing his doctorate in pastoral re?rement.
After graduating from Dallas Theological Seminary, Doug previously served as the Lead Pastor of Eastern Hills Bible Church in Manlius, NY.
Upon retiring from that ministry, he began investing in younger pastors and encouraging other older pastors to join him. Yet strangely, at the same time, he began to observe the very questions about which he now writes, in his life and the lives of others.
On today's 95Podcast, discover how pastors can prepare for retirement, deal with loss, and continue impactful ministry. Doug Bullock, author of New Dawn, shares insights on pastoral health, mentoring, and honoring both retiring and younger pastors in the local church.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-333-summary-pastoral-retirement-how-to-finish-well-and-start-a-new-season-of-ministry-w-doug-bullock-episode-333/
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Pastors can do “good hard” ministry without destroying their soul or family. Lance Witt shares his story leaving Saddleback Church, the dangers of approval addiction, and practical rhythms like Sabbath, boundaries, and feedback that build healthy leadership.
Lance has been leading churches and organizations for 40+ years. He was the lead pastor for 3 different churches and then spent 7 years as an executive and teaching pastor at Saddleback Church in Southern California.
During his years at Saddleback, Lance led the 40 Days of Purpose campaign. Ultimately, both nationally and internationally, more than 25,000 churches also did the 40 Days of Purpose campaign.
In 2007, Lance launched a ministry called Replenish, which is dedicated to “Helping people live and lead from a healthy soul.” Over the last 15 years Lance has encouraged, challenged and equipped thousands of leaders through speaking, personal coaching LifePlanning, and writing books.
Lance’s books include…
- Replenish… a resource for pastors and ministry leaders on doing ministry without losing your soul.
- High Impact Teams… a resource to catalyze teams to increased health and high-performance
- Your ONE Life… this newest book releases in 2021 and is focused on helping people own, live and love their one and only life.
- Lance and his best friend Connie have been married for 45 years. They have two grown children and 4 beautiful granddaughters. Their entire family lives in Castle Rock, Colorado.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-332-summary-healthy-holy-and-humble-soul-care-rhythms-for-pastors-with-lance-witt-95-podcast-332/
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Vick Green (MDiv, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary) is a pastor, coach, and consultant. He is the CEO of Replicate Ministries, a ministry that trains thousands of churches each year to create their unique disciple-making culture, vision, and strategy. Vick lives in the Nashville area with his wife, Sophie, and their three kids: Barrett, Lenna, and Allie Sage.
What happens after Easter matters. Vic Green (Replicate Ministries) shares a practical follow-up and discipleship approach for small and mid-size churches: clarify vision, build a “multiplication vehicle,” start with a few leaders, and aim for the 16% tipping point.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-331-summary-after-easter-a-simple-follow-up-plan-that-builds-real-disciples-w-vic-green/
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In this fourth installment of the Easter Prep Series, Dale Sellers and Joseph Bennett talk about why prayer cannot be an afterthought for small and mid-size churches. They share a practical “team huddle” rhythm that motivates volunteers, aligns everyone around the mission, and builds expectancy for what God can do.
They also outline a simple four-part “Pray for Easter” guide that helps churches pray intentionally for guests, volunteers, salvation, and momentum beyond Easter Sunday.
Shoe Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-330-summary-praying-for-easter-a-simple-plan-to-rally-volunteers-reach-guests-and-build-momentum-episode-330/
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In Episode 329 of the 95 Podcast, Dale Sellers and Joseph Bennett interview lead pastor Kevin Robinson about building a repeatable sermon prep system, getting weeks ahead, using feedback between services, and setting boundaries so ministry does not sabotage marriage and family life.
Pastor Kevin and his wife Katie met in a small group at Foothills in 2011. Today, they are happily married with three children, Hayley, Anna, and Caleb. Kevin has served in various roles at Foothills over the years before becoming lead pastor and also served at a church in his hometown, Franklin, TN. They have made it their lives’ mission to help people find and follow Jesus and are thrilled to continue that mission through Foothills, in the upstate and beyond!
Show Notes: https://95network.org/sermon-prep-for-pastors-process-feedback-loops-and-boundaries-that-keep-you-healthy-w-kevin-robison-episode-329/
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Discover how to prepare your church for Easter with strategic communication, not just activity. Leah Norton from Fish Hook shares how to reach new people authentically, avoid overproduction, and create meaningful connections that last beyond Easter Sunday on today's podcast.
Leah shepherds and stewards Fishhook and their churches with compassion and personal care. She is a nurturer, encourager and possibility-seer. She guides the team and churches to make decisions with mission in mind.
She collaborates with churches through a combination of empathy and action. She has this distinct ability to listen, observe, ask insightful questions and then turn all of it into a unique plan that each church can use to reach their goals. She’s Fishhook's resident grammar guru and constant thread of positivity.
When she isn’t wearing her Fishhook captain’s hat, Leah can typically be found planning her next vacation, volunteering at her church or hanging with her husband and teenage daughters.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-328-summary-easter-church-planning-authentic-communication-over-production-with-leah-norton-from-fish-hook-episode-328/
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In this practical episode of the 95 Podcast, Dale and Joseph sit down with volunteer expert Mary Ann Sibley to kick off a five-part series on preparing churches for Easter. Mary Ann shares her powerful testimony of being served in a church parking lot by a smiling volunteer that ultimately led to her salvation.
Our discussion reveals why the service truly starts before people enter the building. The conversation explores how to shift from recruiting volunteers out of need to building mission-focused teams through relationship, how to have difficult conversations with volunteers in the wrong roles, and why churches must stop doing 20 things poorly to focus on 1-2 things well.
With Easter bringing a surge of spiritually hungry young families back to church, this episode provides actionable strategies for small and mid-size churches to care for volunteers, create meaningful connections, and prepare for maximum impact during the most critical season of the year.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/summary-preparing-your-church-volunteers-for-easter-expert-training-tips-from-mary-ann-sibley-on-building-mission-focused-teams/
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Josh is the Counseling Manager and a counselor at CCEF. He holds a master of arts in biblical counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) and is working on his doctorate of education in biblical counseling from SEBTS. He is ordained by North Wake Baptist Church in Wake Forest, NC.
Prior to CCEF, Josh served as a pastor at FBC Afton in Afton, NY, for over seven years. He is passionate to see God reach down into the broken and hard moments of people’s lives to provide hope and healing. Josh has been married to his wife, Stephanie, since May 2014. He enjoys a fresh cup of coffee, cheering on his favorite sports teams, playing volleyball, working on cars, and fishing.
On today's 95Podcast, Dale Sellers sits down with Josh to discuss his journey from unexpected pastoral leadership at age 26 through moral failure aftermath, COVID-19 burnout, compassion fatigue, and seven miscarriages—and how biblical counseling, spiritual formation, and anchored hope restored him. Josh shares practical pathways for pastors facing trauma, depression, anxiety, father wounds, and isolation, plus how CCEF equips small churches with counseling referrals, intensives, consultations, and the new Biblical Counseling for Pastors course.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-326-summary-from-trauma-to-triumph-josh-clink-on-pastoral-health-counseling-and-soul-care-episode-326/
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Derek has pastored Grace Church in Erie, PA since 1995 and is the author of the book Untapped Church and host of the podcast Reinventing Church. His passion is building up and equipping leaders to walk in their God-given calling.
Derek also founded two other organizations: ServErie that has mobilized thousands of volunteers to serve their community, and the Grace Leadership Institute to train the next generation of Christian leaders and disciples. Derek is a proud graduate of Taylor University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He married his high school sweetheart, Kim and they have three grown children, Caleb, Chase, and Ayden and a granddaughter Ruby.
On today’s 95Podcast, discover how to transform your church from a teaching center to a training center. Pastor Derek Sanford shares proven strategies for mobilizing volunteers, creating a permission-to-fail culture, and equipping people for ministry beyond church walls.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-325-summary/
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Dave Miller, who served as a Worship and Creative Arts Pastor at churches in Las Vegas, Central KY, and Western MI has also spent the last fifteen years on the go helping churches on a variety of topics from strategy to technology and facility redesign.
He’s most passionate, however, about helping young leaders take their healthiest first steps into ministry. He’s an avid cyclist, Cincinnati Reds fan, and “Poppi” to Jamie & Benny.
Kristin previously served on staff at churches in Denver overseeing Operations, First Impressions, and Global/Local Outreach. She’s also recruited students to ministry as an Admissions Director. She’s passionate about equipping young leaders to pave the way for others to meet Jesus, not unlike her own testimony of encountering Christ on a rare visit to a church with her family when she was 9.
As the co-founder of LP, she keeps the big picture in mind. She’s a foodie, loves to cook and entertain with friends and family, and is a fan of words but can’t seem to find many who will play Scrabble with her!
Dave & Kristin join Dale to discuss the long-lasting impact of developing residency programs within your ministry to raise up the next generation of leaders.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-324-summary-how-church-residency-programs-develop-next-gen-leaders-w-dave-kristin-miller-episode-324/
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In this episode of the 95 Podcast, Dale Sellers welcomes back his friend Karl Vaters for their fifth or sixth conversation together. Recording in early 2026, they dive deep into the critical topics of pastoral succession, retirement transitions, and the future of small church ministry. Karl shares insights from his recent seven-week world tour, including stops in Malaysia, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and West Virginia, where he ministered to small church pastors facing diverse cultural challenges. The conversation explores why so many pastoral transitions fail, how to avoid the "narrative void" of retirement, and why discipleship is the answer to nearly every church challenge. With tens of thousands of pastors approaching retirement in the next decade and a shrinking pipeline of new leaders, this timely discussion offers practical wisdom for navigating one of the church's most pressing issues.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/pastoral-succession-planning-why-pastors-struggle-to-let-go-w-karl-vaders-episode-323/
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In this compelling episode of the 95 Podcast, Dale Sellers sits down with Amy Anderson of The Unstuck Group to discuss critical topics facing church leaders today. Fresh from leading The Unstuck Group through the unexpected loss of founder Tony Morgan, Amy shares profound insights on succession planning, navigating grief while leading, and the importance of knowing when to pass the torch. The conversation explores the church life cycle, metrics that matter for sustained health, and the exciting resurgence of spiritually hungry young adults returning to church. Amy offers practical wisdom on how pastors can focus on what only they can do, build leadership benches, and position their churches to reach the next generation effectively.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-322-summary-succession-planning-church-health-leading-through-transition-reaching-the-next-generation-w-amy-anderson-episode-322/
Key Points In Brief
- Amy's Journey: 35 years of marriage, three grown kids, six grandchildren on the way; started in corporate (3M, Amation), transitioned to church ministry for 12-13 years, now 11 years with The Unstuck Group working with 250+ churches
- Core vs. Defend vs. Discuss Beliefs: Churches share common core beliefs worth dying for; defend beliefs (like women in leadership, Calvinism vs. Arminianism) we'll defend but shouldn't let divide; discuss beliefs (age of earth) are open conversations
- Leading Through Loss: After Tony Morgan's sudden death in fall 2024, Amy led The Unstuck Group through grief while experiencing their biggest year of service; team-based leadership and lack of weekly "52 events" helped manage the weight
- Succession Planning Essentials: Best time to plan is during the high point, not the decline; requires 2-3 year transition across three lanes—teaching/preaching, board leadership, and staff leadership; pastors often stay too long
- Church Life Cycle Reality: Every church goes through a life cycle; the key is recognizing where you are and reinventing at sustained health to avoid decline; metrics tell the story before attendance and finances show problems
- Maintenance Phase Warning: When you're more worried about keeping people happy than moving mission forward, you're in maintenance; false happiness comes from good attendance/finances while momentum is actually slipping
- Lead Indicators to Watch: Percentage of people serving, new people in database, kids check-ins, and baptisms—these decline before overall attendance, giving early warning signs
- Future Pastor Shortage: Over 100,000 pastors expected to transition in next 10 years; seminaries aren't producing enough replacements; churches must build leadership benches and create residency programs to raise up future leaders
- What Lead Pastors Must Do: Cast vision, be spiritual leader/teacher, champion where church is going—but don't have to do everything; surround with team that complements weaknesses
- Two Essential Strategies: (1) Effective weekend service reaching new people—the primary entry point; (2) Clear discipleship pathway with simple steps: serving (spiritual gifts), community (finding 3 friends), generosity
- Exciting Trend: Spiritual temperature is rising; Gen Z and 28-40 year olds (with and without kids) are finding their way to church, spiritually hungry—not returners but new seekers trying out faith
- Hope for the Future: While some churches will close (the "clubs" not on mission), there's a strong army of mission-focused churches making tough decisions, refining strategies, and positioned to reach this seeking generation
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Brandon Robbins is a pastor and YouTube content creator whose channel has more than 320,000 subscribers and 32 million views. He is a #girldad with two beautiful daughters and an amazing wife, LeeAnn. When he isn’t leading his church or making videos, Brandon loves to read, travel, and search for the world’s best hot sauce.
Brandon joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss his latest book, The Forgotten Teachings of Jesus: Rediscovering the Bible with The Chosen: Season Two. The conversation takes a refreshing look at the settings that existed when Jesus taught in person over 2000 years ago. It's hard to truly understand the impact of many of Jesus' teachings if they are viewed through a current world view.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/the-forgotten-teachings-of-jesus-w-brandon-robbins-episode-321/
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Kimberly Tarlton is the Co-Founder & CEO of Story & Stone, a creative strategist, communications consultant, and a church girl at heart with over 28 years of experience helping ministries grow their impact—online and in-person.
Kim’s expertise spans digital, print, and live, leading church teams with a mix of creative spark and practical know-how. Her integrated marketing work has helped churches increase engagement, clarify their messaging, and confidently reach new guests.
She's known for leading cross-functional teams with heart and humor—and always with an eye on the metrics. A certified Working Genius Facilitator, a triple-certified HubSpot pro in Social Media, Content, and Email Marketing, and a sought-after speaker for conferences and podcasts on topics like church communications, guest strategy, and ministry development.
Kimberly and Dale discuss the importance of mission clarity as the foundation of your communications efforts in today's 95Podcast. Their conversation is filled with leadership nuggets to help you create an effective communication environment within your ministry.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/creating-effective-communication-within-your-ministry-w-kimberly-tarlton-episode-320/
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Happy New Year! Today's first 95Podcast of the year features a conversation with Emily Manders, Jason Allison and Michael Schooley discussing the impact of online cohorts and small groups. They share several experiences of seeing firsthand how much encouragement, support and community develops through these healthy connections.
Our heart at 95Network is to provide a place where you can also get connected. This is why we're emphasizing the theme of "Let's Connect!" throughout 2026. We are here for you whether you need encouragement individually or even as a leadership team. Just email Dale at Dale@95Network.org to get the connection conversation started.
Description
In the first episode of 2026, Dale Sellers welcomes Jason Allison (Director of Church Strengthening at Converge Mid-Atlantic), Emily Manders (Director of Operations at Converge Mid-Atlantic and Executive Director at Restoration Church), and Michael Schooley (church planter and leader developer with Converge Northeast) to discuss the vital importance of relational connection in ministry. The conversation explores how cohorts, online communities, and peer-to-peer relationships are transforming pastoral care and church health in an era when traditional conferences are declining in attendance. The team shares practical insights about creating safe spaces for vulnerability, processing content together, and building sustainable ministry through authentic relationships.
Show Notes: https://95network.org/95podcast-319-summary-lets-connect-you-dont-get-breakthrough-at-the-drive-through-w-emily-manders-jason-allison-michael-schooley-episode-319/
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Ian Dunaway helps church teams grow with purpose through coaching, communication tools, and youth-focused leadership strategies. He also works to inspire church leaders to reach people creatively and effectively by building relationships to accomplish their goals through developing practical ministry tools. He and his wife Hannah have one child and currently serve at G6 Church & G6 Allies in Owasso, OK.
Ian joins Dale on today's podcast in an honest conversation about some of the difficulties he has experienced serving in several churches over the years. His vulnerability in discussing the impact that difficult times have had on him will be very relatable to all of us.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-shaping-student-ministry-through-g6-allies-w-ian-dunaway-episode-318/
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Doug Beutler received his ministry training and graduated from Fort Wayne Bible College in 1982. He was ordained in 1990. He has planted two churches during his ministry, in 1994 and 2004. He started LifeWater Community Church in 2004 in his living room and it has grown to what it is today. Doug has a passion for church planting and for lost people. His mission is to help each family, find and fully follow Christ.
Recently, Doug founded Seeds of Change. It is a growing network of small churches united by a common mission: Making Disciple Makers in a small church setting. We exist to support pastors of churches under 100 members by offering a strong, relational community of peers. Through support, coaching, encouragement, mentoring, and practical training, Seeds of Change helps small church leaders thrive right where they are. You are not alone. You have a network of like-minded pastors behind you, walking with you as you lead and disciple.
Doug joins Dale on today's podcast to share his heart for the local church as well as small church pastors.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-seeds-of-change-w-doug-beutler-episode-317/
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Russ Ewell says, "Fortune smiled on me the day I became a father of a family with disabilities. Human limits became real as I watched my sons fight to overcome Autism and Down Syndrome. Their inspired efforts increased the intensity of purpose shared by my wife and me. We learned to live differently."
A significant number of people fear being different. Disability has served to help my family and me overcome this fear. It has clarified what’s important and freed us from convention. The struggle has consistently opened our eyes to the discovery necessary to overcome our family’s human limits.
This has been my personal journey. As a minister, I’ve applied what I’ve learned from my family’s experience to my spiritual life and process, constantly looking for ways to grow and refusing to settle for tradition or convention. This type of transformative thinking is something I believe a relationship with God should do for everybody.
Russ joins Dale on today's podcast to help us understand how to think differently in our leadership when it comes to reaching the next generations. This is a lively conversation that you will find to be very helpful.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-learning-how-to-lead-differently-w-russ-ewell-episode-316/
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Josh Spinks serves as a vice president of e3 Partners, overseeing the North American initiatives for the ministry, including I Am Second. In his role, he seeks to partner e3 with churches and ministries across the country. These partnerships help equip churches and believers to engage lostness both in the U.S. and around the world.
Josh has pastored in local churches with his family of eight for the last twenty years. He received his bachelor’s degree in religion from Liberty University and his master’s degree in Christian apologetics from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Josh joins Dale on this week's 95Podcast to discuss helpful ways to train discipleship leaders within your local church. It's not nearly as hard to do as you might think.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-made-to-multiply-w-josh-spinks-episode-315/
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It's time to celebrate!
We are releasing the 300th episode of the 95Podcast today. Wow! That's so hard to believe. Our first episode was released on July 31, 2019, featuring Austin Savage as our host. Austin was so instrumental in the launch of the podcast. He had a vision and an understanding of the potential impact a podcast could have, specifically focused on serving small and midsize church leaders. As of today, there have been over 150,000 downloads of the 95Podcast since we began.
95Network teammates Jon Sanders and Jason Allison join Dale in the celebration on today's podcast. It's a fun look back at the impact of the podcast over the years. There have been so many wonderful guests who have joined us. We've included 12 of our favorite conversations in today's show notes in case you may have missed them.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-300-podcasts-and-still-going-strong-w-jon-sanders-jason-allison-episode-313/
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Todd Miechiels is a story advocate, shepherd, midwife, and missionary. For more than 15 years, he has walked alongside others to help uncover, unlock, and unleash stories of God’s work—especially among those who feel stuck, hesitant, or unsure how to begin.
He lives with his wife Kim, and sometimes hosts his three adult sons, north of Atlanta, Georgia, and is waiting on the Lord, while co-laboring on Steps of Courage—a guided path and set of practices for spiritually open leaders who long to know and share their story wholeheartedly.
Todd shares his passion for helping people tell their story of how Jesus has transformed their lives on today's 95Podcast. He hopes to help others move out of their comfort zone in order to share the Gospel with the world.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/from-story-poverty-to-story-stewardship-w-todd-miechiels-episode-313/
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Tim Sprankle currently serves as the executive director of Charis Fellowship (2024–2026). Since 2007, he has served as lead pastor at Leesburg Grace Church in northern Indiana. His Charis connections extend widely, including previous ministry in Fellowship churches in Arizona and Ohio, co-leading the Charis Symposium, co-hosting the More of Us podcast, teaching at Grace College, writing curriculum for Momentum Youth Conference, and board terms with several national ministries. Tim earned his B.A. in Biblical Studies at Grace College (2001), M.Div. in Pastoral Ministries at Grace Theological Seminary (2004) and D. Min. in Discipleship at Talbot School of Theology (2023).
Tim loves to read, write, run, coach, ask questions, play disc golf, and spend time with his family. His wife Liz and three teenagers bring him great joy. Our conversation on today’s 95Podcast covers a variety of topics relating to the issues that come with leading a church.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/leadership-lessons-discovered-over-the-years-w-tim-sprankle-episode-312/
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We all experience worry, hurts, and conflict. Often we suppress our emotions and keep others at a safe distance. But we end up imprisoned, settling for shallow relationships with God, family, and friends. The key to deeper connection? Empathy for yourself and others, says psychologist-therapist duo Bill & Kristi Gaultiere.
Empathy is often misunderstood, even maligned as nothing more than coddling or rescuing. Yet true empathy, the Gaultieres explain, respects truth and encourages personal responsibility. It’s Biblical and loving. Empathy relieves stress and renews energy. It strengthens emotional health and raises emotional intelligence. It enables us to resolve conflicts and develop close, loving relationships. It’s also how Jesus relates to us.
In their new book, Deeply Loved (Revell, Sept. 2025), Bill and Kristi weave together engaging true stories with compelling insights from Scripture and modern psychology to help readers. Bill and Kristi join Dale on today's 95Podcast to talk through the powerful impact of giving and receiving empathy.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/deeply-loved-receiving-reflecting-gods-great-empathy-for-you-w-bill-kristi-gaultiere-episode-311/
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Whitney Shafer is a pastor’s wife, a certified mental health coach, and the founder of Vibrant, a space created just for women in ministry who feel stretched thin and overlooked.
After more than 25 years in church life, she has seen how easily pastors’ wives lose themselves in expectations they were never meant to carry. That’s why she wrote Burn the Boxes! Whitney wants to help you rediscover who you are in Christ and start walking in freedom again.
Today's podcast conversation is peels back the curtain to the secret struggles that many wives of pastors deal with on a daily basis. You'll easily sense Whitney's sincere desire to come along beside any wife of a ministry spouse to walk with them on their journey.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/burn-the-boxes-becoming-who-god-made-you-to-be-as-a-pastors-wife-w-whitney-shafer-episode-310/
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Matthew Sonke and his wife Ashley spent the first years of marriage working and living among college students. This experience gave them a first-hand perspective of the shackles that come with college debt and a strong desire to mobilize this generation.
You can feel his passion for developing missionaries and helping churches create a healthy missions focus on today's 95Podcast. His desire to reach the unreached will definitely touch your heart. This passion is what lead the team at AIRO to create The Missions Course.
Matt has a Bachelors in Christian Studies and a Masters in Counseling Psychology. He loves sports, and will invite you over only if you root for the Dodgers or Lakers.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-missions-course-w-matt-sonke-episode-309/
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Ian Dunaway helps church teams grow with purpose through coaching, communication tools, and youth-focused leadership strategies. He also works to inspire church leaders to reach people creatively and effectively by building relationships to accomplish their goals through developing practical ministry tools. He and his wife Hannah have one child and currently serve at G6 Church & G6 Allies in Owasso, OK.
Ian joins Dale on today's podcast in an honest conversation about some of the difficulties he has experienced serving in several churches over the years. His vulnerability in discussing the impact that difficult times have had on him will be very relatable to all of us.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/shaping-student-ministry-through-g6-allies-w-ian-dunaway-episode-308/
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Jason Moore is a church tech leader, bestselling author, and practitioner who has been at the forefront of integrating technology into ministry for over two decades. With a passion for helping churches engage with modern tools while staying rooted in faith, Jason has led numerous trainings on AI in the church. His work has empowered church leaders across the country to embrace new technologies with confidence and purpose.
Jason joins Dale on today's podcast to discuss options and implications for using AI in message prep. They also delve into the pro's and con's of AI and what the long-term impact may be for the Church.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/a-i-and-the-church-a-clear-guide-for-the-curious-and-courageous-w-jason-moore-episode-307/
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Doug Beutler received his ministry training and graduated from Fort Wayne Bible College in 1982. He was ordained in 1990. He has planted two churches during his ministry, in 1994 and 2004. He started LifeWater Community Church in 2004 in his living room and it has grown to what it is today. Doug has a passion for church planting and for lost people. His mission is to help each family, find and fully follow Christ.
Recently, Doug founded Seeds of Change. It is a growing network of small churches united by a common mission: Making Disciple Makers in a small church setting. We exist to support pastors of churches under 100 members by offering a strong, relational community of peers. Through support, coaching, encouragement, mentoring, and practical training, Seeds of Change helps small church leaders thrive right where they are. You are not alone. You have a network of like-minded pastors behind you, walking with you as you lead and disciple.
Doug joins Dale on today's podcast to share his heart for the local church as well as small church pastors.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/seeds-of-change-w-doug-beutler-episode-306/
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NOTE TO LISTENERS: THIS PODCAST WILL NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN.
Hannah Ashwell is a therapist, counselor, and executive coach specializing in the unique emotional challenges faced by Ultra High Net Worth Individuals, emergency responders and those wishing to find freedom from ‘modern day’ addictions such as food and weight related issues, unwanted sexual behavior, pornography and gambling. Drawing on deep clinical expertise and lived experiences, Hannah works with anyone who’s committed to make the changes they need to make to live the life of freedom they want to live.
Alongside her work as a therapist, Hannah is a leading expert in law enforcement and first responder related trauma, working with national bodies to shape wellbeing policy and support officers in high-risk roles. She is currently writing two PhDs on mental health in the policing workforce.
A popular podcast guest, Hannah speaks with clarity and humor on trauma, addiction, the recovery journey and wealth and privilege. Her forthcoming book QuitPorn: You Don’t Have To Be Addicted To Want To Break Free, is being published in 2025. She lives with her twin boys and two German Shepherds, Meshach and Shadrach.
Our conversation is an eye opening dive in the to longterm impacts of addictions on today's society.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-ongoing-impact-of-pornography-in-the-church-w-hannah-ashwell-episode-305/
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Russ Ewell says, "Fortune smiled on me the day I became a father of a family with disabilities. Human limits became real as I watched my sons fight to overcome Autism and Down Syndrome. Their inspired efforts increased the intensity of purpose shared by my wife and me. We learned to live differently."
Significant numbers of people fear being different. Disability has served to help my family and I overcome this fear. It has clarified what’s important and freed us from convention. The struggle has consistently opened our eyes to the discovery necessary to overcome our family’s human limits.
This has been my personal journey. As a minister, I’ve applied what I’ve learned from my family’s experience to my spiritual life and process, constantly looking for ways to grow and refusing to settle for tradition or convention. This type of transformative thinking is something I believe a relationship with God should do for everybody.
Russ joins Dale on today's podcast to help us understand how to think differently in our leadership when it comes to reaching the next generations. This is a lively conversation that you will find to be very helpful.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/learning-how-to-lead-differently-w-russ-ewell-episode-304/
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Dr. Michael Shafer is a seasoned pastor and the Executive Director of G6 Allies, a ministry dedicated to equipping pastors and their families with the tools they need to be resilient leaders who build healthy churches.
He’s also the creator of Stocks for Pastors, a financial education platform that helps ministry leaders invest wisely and build long-term financial confidence. Dr. Shafer teaches the same biblically grounded investing strategies he has used personally for more than 15 years to supplement his ministry income. His passion is to help pastors defeat the financial challenges that often come with ministry so they can pursue their calling with clarity and peace of mind.
We have the opportunity to learn more about the heart and soul of G6 Allies as well as Stock for Pastors on today's 95Podcast. His passion for supporting and serving the local church leader is contagious!
Show Notes:https://www.95network.org/finding-support-through-g6-allies-w-michael-shafer-episode-303/
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Josh Spinks serves as a vice president of e3 Partners, overseeing the North American initiatives for the ministry, including I Am Second. In his role, he seeks to partner e3 with churches and ministries across the country. These partnerships help equip churches and believers to engage lostness both in the U.S. and around the world.
Josh has pastored in local churches with his family of eight for the last twenty years. He received his bachelor’s degree in religion from Liberty University and his master’s degree in Christian apologetics from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Josh joins Dale on this week's 95Podcast to discuss helpful ways to train discipleship leaders within your local church. It's not nearly as hard to do as you might think.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/made-to-multiply-w-josh-spinks-episode-302/
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Nick Hall is an evangelist and the founder and president of Pulse Evangelism, an organization that exists to make Jesus known by reaching the lost and unleashing the evangelist. In 2004, Nick wrote a paper in his college English class titled “Pulse,” casting a vision to see his campus and generation transformed by the hope of Jesus. That paper sparked a student-led grassroots movement, which soon grew beyond the campus and led to the launch of Pulse Evangelism.
Today, Pulse is a global movement that has reached over 330 million people worldwide with the Gospel through live events, digital outreach, local revival gatherings, and evangelism training. Nick is the author of “Reset” and also serves as the president and CEO of The Table Coalition and as a member of the Executive Committee of the National Association of Evangelicals. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and their three children.
You'll sense the contagious energy to reach the world for Jesus as you listen to Nick and Dale's conversation on today's podcast.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/pulse-evagelism-w-nick-hall-episode-301/
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It's time to celebrate!
We are releasing the 300th episode of the 95Podcast today. Wow! That's so hard to believe. Our first episode was released on July 31, 2019 featuring Austin Savage as our host. Austin was so instrumental in the launch of the podcast. He had a vision and an understanding of the potential impact a podcast could have that was specifically focused on serving small and midsize church leaders. As of today, there have been over 150,000 downloads of the 95Podcast since we began.
95Network teammates Jon Sanders and Jason Allison join Dale in the celebration on today's podcast. It's a fun look back at the impact of the podcast over the years. There have been so many wonderful guests that have joined us. We've included 12 of our favorite conversations in today's show notes in case you may have missed them.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/300-podcasts-and-still-going-strong-w-jon-sanders-jason-allison-episode-300/
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Jason Kovacs, of the Gospel Care Collective, joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss the emotional, mental and spiritual health of ministry leaders. The Gospel Care Collective was started to provide counseling, consulting, and Biblical counseling training to individuals and churches. With over 20 years of leadership experience in church and non-profits we specialize in serving pastors and ministry leaders around the world. We are a Training Center with the Association of Biblical Counselors and a member of the Biblical Counseling Coalition and the Society for Christian Psychology.
The Gospel Care Collective has four values that explain their focus:
1 - Christ-Centered: We do not offer a system or a three step process for change but a person, a Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension Jesus has forever dealt with our sin and perfectly shown the depths of God’s love for His children.
2 - Clinically-Informed: We are not reductionistic or secular in our approach but rather interpret the complexity of the human condition (body & soul) through the comprehensive Biblical story.
3 - Church-Partnering: God has forever existed in the community of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and we, as His image bearers, are designed to live and thrive in community.
4 - Community-Renewing: Our aim is to provide a level of care that enables everyone experiencing it to be equipped to live on the mission God has called them to locally and globally and to see our communities renewed by the power of the gospel.
The conversation is filled with great wisdom on our need to learn how to rest in the Father's presence.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-gospel-care-collective-w-jason-kovacs-episode-299/
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Matt Steen has served the local church for over two decades as a youth pastor, church planter, and executive pastor. Originally from Baltimore, Matt currently lives in the Orlando, FL area with his wife Theresa, and has a B.S. in Youth Ministry from Nyack College and an M.Div. and MBA from Baylor University.
Certified as an Urban Church Planter Coach by Redeemer City to City and as a StratOp facilitator by the Paterson Center, Matt has made a career of helping churches thrive through intentionality, clarity, and creating healthy cultures. He is convinced that a healthy church is led by a healthy team with great chemistry, and loves partnering with Chemistry’s churches to do great things for the Kingdom.
Matt joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss the subject of succession planning. As the average age of the American pastor continues to get older, it's imperative that churches begin having conversations around the subject of who will lead the church in the future.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/how-chemistry-staffing-can-help-you-with-succession-planning-w-matt-steen-episode-298/
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As culture has evolved, each generation has developed its own general set of values and views that may align with those of the other generations. Not surprisingly, these differences extend to the Church--how we view the Church's purpose, ministry approaches and even the type of worship songs we sing.
In his new book The Multigenerational Church Crisis: Why We Don't Understand Each Other and How to Unite in Mission, seasoned pastor Bryan Chapell helps pastors understand the unique strengths of each generation—uniting everyone from Boomers to Gen Alpha around a common mission. With practical strategies for pastors and church leaders, this timely resource offers a blueprint for building a more unified and enduring church.
Bryan joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss his optimism for reaching the next generations through our existing churches.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-multigenerational-church-crisis-w-bryan-chapell-episode-297/
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Polly Hamp understands the effect of living a lifetime of traumatic events. Some of her earliest childhood memories deal with the abuse she suffered from multiple people. However, she has allowed the Lord to turn her darkest pain into a pathway to freedom for herself and others, as she has spent many years ministering to those with similar stories.
Recently, Polly made another discovery that has taken her freedom journey to new heights. She joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to share what led her to create the Think Differently About Health Academy. TDAH! helps us understand freedom in every aspect of life.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-curiosity-opens-up-possibility-w-polly-hamp-episode-296/
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Robby Angle is passionate about discipleship. He understands the need to customize the ministry pathway your church has to align with its mission and vision. At the root of it all, Robby knows that the most effective discipleship flows out of authentic relationships developed through consistent interaction.
Robby's conversation with Dale on today's 95Podcast only scratches the surface of the resources he has made available through RightNow Media's Discipleship Framework. He desires to partner with any church to create effective and impactful discipleship.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-developing-a-discipleship-framework-w-robby-angle-episode-295/
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If you've listened to the 95Podcast for a while, you know the impact Bob Hamp has had on Dale's life. It has truly been life-changing. This is why Dale is so excited to have Bob join him again on today's podcast to discuss a new course he is offering on decoding our identity in Jesus.
Bob believes that a lot of discipleship teaching is designed to help us get relief from our addictions and problems. However, this approach is more about the "what" you may be dealing with instead of the "way" to freedom. It's always fascinating to learn from Bob whenever he can join the podcast. Today is no exception.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/decoding-identity-w-bob-hamp-podcast-294/
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Dale is honored to connect with his daughter and son-in-law on today's 95Podcast. TJ and Tiffany Deluccia join him to discuss the value of having an annual vision retreat together. Their marriage's clarity of purpose and planning are a direct result of consistently taking a few days each year to reflect and set goals for the coming year.
They have released a new e-book on Amazon entitled "Build A Life Together." Today's conversation centers on their experiences over the years which the e-book is built around.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-build-a-life-together-w-tj-tiffany-deluccia-episode-268/
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95Network team member Joseph Bennett joins Dale on the first podcast of 2025 to discuss ways he has overcome his leadership barriers over the years. This conversation is filled with practical wisdom from the hardships and joys of his ministry experience.
We hope today's podcast will encourage you as you approach another year of serving others through your ministry calling. We're pulling for you every day to experience the amazing fulfillment that comes with having Jesus work through you to accomplish his will.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-breaking-leadership-barriers-w-joseph-bennett-episode-290/
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John Finkelde has over 40 years of ministry experience. He has done it all when it comes to leading a healthy church. As lead pastor at C3 Church Hepburn Heights, Perth, Australia, John led the church through generational renewal that saw it grow, while also planting a new church every three years and moving to a purpose-built, multi-million dollar worship centre.
In 2012, John founded Grow a Healthy Church and has conducted 170+ on-site and online church consults in Australia, UK, Europe, and NZ to glowing reviews.
John joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss the importance of taking care of your physical and mental health along with emphasizing the value of financially planning for retirement.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/do-your-work-from-rest-instead-of-resting-from-work-w-john-finkelde-episode-291/
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Dr. John H. Wilson, PhD, MBA, is an author, speaker, university professor, and entrepreneur with a formal background in exegetical studies of leadership. Dr. Wilson brings a unique perspective on contemporary leadership through the lens of sacred texts along with strategic and practical applications.
Dr. Wilson has experience as a senior leader in the technology industry and is a university professor with expertise in leadership and entrepreneurship. He is also the founder and CEO of Strategic Collisions International, LLC, an organization that helps “accidental entrepreneurs” to thrive through executive coaching, leadership development training, and coaching/consulting services.
John joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss his new book, "The Nehemiah Way," and how it can help any leader learn principles from Nehemiah for equipping leaders.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-nehemiah-way-w-john-wilson-episode-290/
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At the Bucket Ministry, we're more than clean water. Our mission is to provide clean, safe, drinking water and the Living Water to families living in under-resourced areas around the world. We give away long-lasting water filters and share the gospel in communities afflicted by clean water scarcity and spiritual darkness.
Community Pastor, Matt Arnett, joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to share how providing these long-lasting water filters creates an open door for evangelism and discipleship in many countries all around the world. Matt also serves at the Director of Business on Mission & Church on Mission for The Bucket Ministry.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-bucket-ministry-discipleship-w-matt-arnett-episode-289/
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Todd Meert's ministry journey is much different than most. He launched into full-time ministry in his early forties. Serving on several mission trips to Africa with his local church is what eventually led him to accept the ministry calling. However, he didn't know at the time just how much those early years were preparing him do create a ministry in his home town unlike no other.
Todd joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to share the step-by-step process that eventually became Harvest 10:2. He has such a cool story of how simply listening to the Holy Spirit's guidance helped him connect with so many people who were far from God.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/innovative-ways-to-reach-the-harvest-w-todd-meert-episode-288/
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Kara Powell serves as the Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute and as the Chief of Leadership Formation at Fuller Seminary. Kara recently authored a new book along with Jake Mulder and Raymond Chang entitled "Future Focused Churches." They did extensive research involving over one thousand churches with the goal of helping churches connect with the next generations.
Kara offers several proven best practices for helping your ministry close the generation gap. This conversation is a must for any church wanting to invigorate the atmosphere with the life that comes from connecting with youth.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/future-focused-churches-w-kara-powell-episode-287/
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Greg Surratt has experienced ministry leadership from many different perspectives. The early days of being in a Christian band to leading small churches to becoming the founding pastor of Seacoast Church and helping to create ARC (Association of Related Churches) have given Greg a deep understanding of what ministry leaders encounter.
Greg joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to share his deep passion for pastoral health which is what lead him to help create The Retreat at Church Creek. His transparency and authentic desire to serve ministry leaders is so inspiring. The hope of this podcast is that you will take the time to get away for some soul care in the midst of your ongoing leadership journey.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-retreat-every-ministry-leader-needs-w-greg-surratt-episode-286/
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Dale had the privilege to talk with Bob Hamp again today discussing a common theme that he's noticed that effects a lot of ministry leaders. Negative circumstances or broken relationships often cause leaders to wonder "what they did wrong" to cause the problem. For so many, this type of thinking is a natural default that has been developed over years of relational interaction.
Bob helps us to understand the impact of family origin that often leads us to react this way. Hopefully, today's conversation will help many of us to begin down a pathway of experiencing complete freedom in Jesus.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/why-is-it-always-my-fault-w-bob-hamp-episode-285/
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95Network's Jason Allison joins Dale to discuss the brand new 95Network Conference entitled, "Equipping Principals For Cultivating A Healthy/Thriving Church." The conference was created out of our annual team gathering in January 2025.
Our desire is to come along beside churches to help them establish proven foundational principles, remove common barriers that prevent engagement and embrace leadership traits that lead to health.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/equipping-principals-for-cultivating-a-healthy-thriving-church-w-jason-allison-episode-284/
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95Network teammates Mary Ann Sibley and Joseph Bennett join Dale today to discuss best practices for creating a thriving and healthy volunteer culture. Joseph serves as the Executive Pastor at Foothills Church. They recently had Mary Ann come do training with their volunteers. The results of her leadership has been really encouraging.
You're going to hear from both Mary Ann and Joseph the heartbeat of volunteer training is simply discipling people to be the hands and feet of Jesus no matter where they are serving.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/empowering-volunteers-w-mary-ann-sibley-joseph-bennett-episode-283/
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JC Campbell joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss a variety of topics facing the Church. He serves as the Lead Pastor of Greater Hope Church in Evansville, IN. He also serves with the Indiana Center for Congregations as Southwest Regional Director. His passion for the next generation is contagious.
Your hope will be built up as you hear JC's vision for a church that is connecting with young families as well as those far from Jesus.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/ministry-intentionality-w-jc-campbell-episode-282/
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Pastor Larry Kaufman joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss lessons learned from decades of ministry. He has successfully launched several campuses from Grace Church in Berlin, OH with hopes of multiplying even more. Larry also heads up 5812Global which is a ministry created to serve the vulnerable and marginalized in countries such as Thailand, Kenya, Uganda and Haiti.
This conversation is filled with a lot of practical wisdom and help for anyone wanting to develop a healthy ministry to hand off to the next generation.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/raising-up-leaders-at-home-abroad-w-larry-kaufman-episode-281/
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Tony Miltenberger is the founder of Follow2Lead Coaching. He is a veteran, podcast host, executive coach, author, and the associate pastor of disciple making at Centerville Grace Church. Throughout the years, Tony has traveled the globe taking deployments in Kuwait, El Salvador, and numerous marriage retreats throughout the US. He has consulted with churches in the deep south and multi-million dollar organizations in the Midwest.
He has done hundreds of hours of pastoral counseling and executive coaching. Each conversation helps people uncover their true potential by taking a deep look at their past as well as their hopes for the future. He is genuinely curious and passionate about pursuing the mission of making disciples who make disciples.
Tony joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss a variety of issues dealing with the emotional health of leaders.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/follow-2-lead-w-tony-miltenberger-episode-280/
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Pastor Darrell Stetler has been a guest on the 95Podcast several times. He joins Dale on today's 95Podcast for a conversation around a free tool he has created to help you use AI in your sermon prep. Sermon Illustrator will help you reduce the time used as you craft your weekly sermons by helping to create content within the parameters that you have put in place.
This is a great way to help you become more efficient in managing your time on a weekly basis. Darrell walks us through how to use Sermon Illustrator to do research with ease.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/sermon-illustrator-w-darrell-stetler-episode-279/
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Every tech advancement in ministry comes with pros and cons, champions and nay-sayers, benefits and costs. For church leaders, it’s not always easy to figure out what their congregants really need, how to play to their ministry’s strengths, and what strong discipleship actually looks like in a tech-driven world.
Recent Barna State of the Church research, in partnership with Gloo, uncovered five tech trends that show why adopting a blend of digital innovation and in-person ministry matters more than ever for leaders. Brad Hill, Chief Solutions Officer at Gloo believes these shifts aren’t just about digital tools and strategies. They show a need for pastors to build trust, educate their congregants, and create meaningful digital experiences that truly connect people to God and each other.
Brad joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to share practical ways that Gloo supports churches of all sizes with their efforts to use technology to reach new people.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/technology-and-the-church-w-brad-hill-episode-278/
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Eric Metcalf and Jon Ferguson join Dale on today's 95Podcast to share with us about the ministry of NewThing. Although church planting is a the heart of what they do, they'll also tell you they are not here to help you plant a church. We’re here to provide a framework to catalyze movements. At NewThing, the mission of reproducing churches is what drives everything we do. If God has called you to make a greater impact than what you’re doing today, we want to give you a map to get there and equip you with everything you need along the way.
The heart to collaborate with other networks, churches and leaders energizes them to discover the possibilities of what can happen in the world if we all work together.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/god-is-doing-a-new-thing-w-eric-metcalf-jon-ferguson-episode-277/
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Polly Hamp understands the effect of living a lifetime of traumatic events. Some of her earliest childhood memories deal with the abuse she suffered from multiple people. However, she has allowed the Lord to turn her darkest pain into a pathway to freedom for herself and others as she has spent many years ministering to those with similar stories.
Recently, Polly made another discovery that has taken her freedom journey to new heights. She joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to share what led to her creating the Think Differently About Health Academy. TDAH! helps us to understand freedom in every aspect of life.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/curiosity-opens-up-possibility-w-polly-hamp-episode-276/
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Aimee Cottle of Fishhook joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss effective ways to engage your community this Easter season. It's always fascinating to hear Aimee share simple ways to help churches connect with their surrounding neighbors. Their are so many free tools available to help pastors reach new people that are readily available.
It's important to start early in your preparations for reaching as many folks as possible this Easter. Aimee's passion for sharing the amazing story of Easter will certainly encourage you to do all that you can to share the love of Jesus.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/preparing-for-easter-w-aimee-cottle-episode-275/
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Dave Coryell joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss the importance of being intentional at reaching young people in your local ministry. The conversation draws on his vast experience of decades of ministering to youth as youth pastor and lead pastor of local churches. However, his greatest ministry experience comes from raising his own four children.
You will be challenged and encouraged to create easy on-ramps to implement the young people of your community in the flow of your weekly ministry. Dave's passion for helping churches to develop an impactful youth ministry gives hope to any ministry wanting to reach the next generation.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/less-like-hippos-more-like-honey-bees-w-dave-coryell-episode-274/
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Robby Angle has a passion for discipleship. He understands the need to be able to customize the ministry pathway your church has in order to align with your mission and vision. At root of it all, Robby knows that the most effective discipleship flows out of authentic relationships developed through consistent interaction.
Robby's conversation with Dale on today's 95Podcast only scratches the surface of the resources he has made available through RightNow Media's Discipleship Framework. His desire is to come along beside any church wanting to create effective and impactful discipleship.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/developing-a-discipleship-framework-w-robby-angle-episode-273/
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Eric and Gena Boggs join Dale on today's 95Podcast to talk about the high's and low's of ministry marriage. They have led Beech Springs Church since 1990. They are known for their love for God’s people and their great desire to see every person find the place of destiny and purpose that God has for them.
They minister a message of hope and freedom to all and have a passion to see individuals, families and marriages restored, enriched and lived out in such a way that the Kingdom of God is advanced. Their authenticity when it comes to valuing family first is seen in everything they do.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/thriving-ministry-marriage-w-eric-gena-boggs-episode-272/
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Bryan Sims of Spiritual Leadership Inc. joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss his new book, "Creating Space: Cultivating Environments for Disciples of Jesus to Thrive and Multiply." Bryan coauthored the book with Craig Robertson. The inspiration behind the book was that he wanted to see our discipleship models in the local church move toward a more relationship-driven atmosphere instead of a program-driven one.
The goal is to create PSDs (Passionate Spiritual Disciples) throughout the local church. Our conversation is filled with practical ways to move your discipleship pathway to become more relationship-focused.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/creating-space-w-bryan-sims-episode-271/
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95Network's Discipleship Director Matt Adair joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss ways any ministry can create a healthy discipleship pathway. Matt knows the importance of learning about the specific DNA of a ministry before developing the pathway. There is no "one size fits all" process for effective discipleship.
Matt's approach to helping churches comes from his value of understanding that relationships are the key to effective discipleship.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/our-relationships-are-bigger-than-our-problems-w-matt-adair-episode-270/
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Dan Jacobsen grew up under the influence of Warren Wiersbe who happened to be his famous grandfather. His grandfather mentored him in the early days of Dan's own ministry journey. Soon after Wiersbe died at the age of 89, an unfinished book was discovered that was being written as a 100-day devotional. At the urging of his family, Dan accepted the role of completing his grandfather's final work.
Dan joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss the responsibility of completing his famous grandfather's final work. This is a great conversation of staying true to the author's communication while also including a style that connects with all generations.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/becoming-new-a-100-day-journey-of-transformation-through-gods-word-w-dan-jacobsen-episode-269/
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You know the impact that Bob Hamp has had on Dale's life if you've been a listener to the 95Podcast for awhile. It has truly been life-changing. This is why Dale is so excited to have Bob join him again on today's podcast to discuss a new course he is offering on the topic of decoding our identity in Jesus.
Bob believes that a lot of discipleship teaching is designed to help us get relief from our addictions and problems. However, this approach is more about the "what" you may be dealing with instead of the "way" to freedom. It's always fascinating to learn from Bob whenever he is able to join the podcast. Today is no exception.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/decoding-identity-w-bob-hamp-bonus-episode/
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Dale is honored to connect with his daughter and son-in-law on today's 95Podcast. TJ and Tiffany Deluccia join him to discuss the value of having an annual vision retreat together. Their marriage's clarity of purpose and planning are a direct result of consistently taking a few days each year to reflect and set goals for the coming year.
They are releasing a new e-book soon on Amazon entitled "Build A Life Together." Today's conversation centers on their experience over the years. Be sure to email them if you want a copy once it's available.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/build-a-life-together-w-tj-tiffany-deluccia-episode-268/
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95Network team member Joseph Bennett joins Dale on the first podcast of 2025 to discuss ways he has personally overcome his own leadership barriers over the years. This conversation is filled with a lot of practical wisdom gained from the hardships and joys of his ministry experience.
Our hope is that today's podcast will give you some encouragement as you approach another year of serving others through your ministry calling. We're pulling for you everyday to experience the amazing fulfillment that comes by having Jesus work through you to accomplish his will.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/breaking-leadership-barriers-w-joseph-bennett-episode-267/
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It's always a privilege to check in with Lance Witt. He is a seasoned leader with a lifetime of experience leading in ministry. Lance joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss some ways that we can be intentional about maintaining soul health while leading others.
Lance draws from decades of ministry life to guide us through some practical steps to ensure a healthy soul. He truly is one of the wisest voices in the country. You'll be encouraged as you listen to this conversation.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-best-of-2024-great-ideas-for-maintaining-soul-health-w-lance-witt-episode-255/
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Michael Moore never saw himself as a Lead Pastor. However, he began sensing the call after serving as Executive Pastor of his dad's church. At the same time, his dad started to sense that it was time to identify and raise the next leader of their local church.
Today's 95Podcast is filled with practical wisdom on successfully handing off ministry leadership to the next generation. Michael helps us see the unmistakable value of creating " hands-on" discipleship within your ministry's mission and vision.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-best-of-2024-keys-to-successful-ministry-handoff-w-michael-moore-episode-265/
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95Network ministry partner Karl Vaters joins Dale for another podcast to discuss his latest book, "De-Sizing The Church." This is a great conversation that reveals so much about how the church in America operates today. It also dives into the historical turning points that led us to where we are currently.
You'll really enjoy Karl and Dale's transparent conversation on today's podcast.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-best-of-2024-de-sizing-the-church-w-karl-vaters-episode-264/
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Chuck Gordon joins Dale on this week's 95Podcast, talking through the highs and lows of ministry life. Chuck experienced many years of successful growth as a church planter. However, there came a point when everything started heading in the wrong direction, and it seemed that his life was unraveling.
Chuck leads a ministry today called Connect Hope, which focuses on encouraging pastors, uniting ministries, and resourcing kingdom work. This is an excellent conversation about Jesus' faithfulness in walking with us through the difficult days we all face. His passion for coming alongside ministry leaders will inspire you to do the same.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-best-of-2024-connect-hope-w-chuck-gordon-episode-263/
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While serving as the Executive/Counseling Pastor of his local church, Josh Clink suddenly became the Lead Pastor after the pastor abruptly resigned. He immediately knew he was in "over his head" due to having zero formal training in preaching and leading a congregation. In addition, he also found himself leading through the pandemic restrictions and difficulties.
All of this led to a "dark season" for Josh. Today's podcast is an encouraging conversation as Josh shares how Jesus brought him and his wife, Stephanie, out of these tough times with the support of some trusted friends. He also gives us some insight into the counseling ministry that he serves with, Anchored Hope. They offer convenient and confidential virtual counseling with theologically educated and professionally trained counselors. Anchored Hope has biblically grounded, clinically informed virtual counseling available for ministry leaders no matter where they live.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-best-of-2024-anchored-hope-trusted-support-for-ministry-leaders-w-josh-clink-episode-262/
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95Network teammate Jason Allison joins Dale today to launch the new Soul Care Essentials Online: 3-Session Video Series and Soul Care Essentials Cohort: 6 Weeks of Guided Conversations for Post-Conference Groups.
Our team worked together over several months to create these resources to encourage and strengthen discouraged ministry leaders. Although ministry has always taken a toll on ministry leaders, the effects of the pandemic increased the pressure for most leaders exponentially.
The Soul Care Essentials sessions include content dealing with a leader's Private Life, Personal Life, and Professional Life. Leaders can then pursue a deeper personal discovery by working through the Soul Care Essentials Cohort, which is six weeks of follow-up for post-conference discussion with a small group of trusted friends. These resources provide practical tools that enable you to examine and expose areas where you may not be leading from a healthy soul. As we always say at 95Network, "A healthy leader can create a healthy ministry." We hope to help you lead from a healthy soul!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-best-of-2024-soul-care-essentials-online-w-jason-allison-episode-215/
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Michael Moore never saw himself as a Lead Pastor. However, he began sensing the call after serving as Executive Pastor of his dad’s church. At the same time, his dad started to sense that it was time to identify and raise the next leader of their local church.
Today’s 95Podcast is filled with practical wisdom on successfully handing off ministry leadership to the next generation. Michael helps us see the unmistakable value of creating ” hands-on” discipleship within your ministry’s mission and vision.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/keys-to-successful-ministry-handoff-w-michael-moore-episode-260/
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Michael Rubino understands how to serve small church pastors—after all, he is one! On today's 95Podcast, Michael joins Dale to provide practical next steps for leaders who find themselves stalled at the crossroads. His vast connections with other national leaders help him provide relevant guidance for even the most discouraged leader.
One of the most refreshing things about Michael's ministry is that he "practices what he preaches" by using the same wisdom in leading his local church. He also offers some great advice to any leader who is ready to impact their community for Jesus.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-revitalize-roadmap-w-michael-rubino-episode-259/
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As a small church leader, do you find the hope of being able to take your family on a nice vacation out of reach? If so, today's podcast with Tim Walker may offer you a practical solution. Tim serves in a really poor area of the country that provides a modest salary. So he did some research to try to find a way to be able to afford to travel without breaking the budget. The answer was Travel Hacking.
Tim shares some of the great experiences he's experienced that would not have been possible without learning how to leverage travel points. He has been able to share his insights with even the most staunch skeptic and help them learn how to leverage it for themselves.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/travel-multiplier-w-tim-walker-episode-258/
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Losing a loved one is hard. . . There's just no way around it. However, dealing with the emotions of the loss of being a teenage son adds another layer to the grief. Bart Blair joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss the suicide of his 16-year-old son that happened four years ago. While it's difficult to process, Bart bravely walks us through the emotions he and his family are processing with another Christmas season on the horizon.
This podcast offers practical advice for anyone dealing with the loss of a special family member as the holidays approach. Bart's transparency is both refreshing and painful to listen to, but we believe it will provide great comfort to others going through the same thing.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/grief-makes-christmas-complicated-w-bart-blair-episode-257/
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Dan Nichols joins Dale for this week's 95Network Podcast to discuss the release of his upcoming book, Breaking Down Philippians. Dan is passionate about helping everyone understand the scriptures, which is the motivating factor behind his new book. This passion led him to create a special paraphrased version of this particular book of the New Testament.
Dan truly believes that the Gospel is the hope of the world. He desires to help the people living in the Northeastern part of the United States experience a real and lasting relationship with Jesus.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/making-scripture-simple-w-dan-nichols-episode-256/
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It's always a privilege anytime we get to check in with Lance Witt. He is such a seasoned leader with a lifetime of experience leading in ministry. Lance joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss some ways that we can be intentional at maintaining soul-health while leading others.
Lance draws from decades of ministry life to guide us with some really practical steps we can take to ensure we maintain a healthy soul. He truly is one of the wisest voices in the country. You're going to be encouraged as you listen to this conversation.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/great-ideas-for-maintaining-soul-health-w-lance-witt-episode-255/
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95Network's podcast producer Kevin Smith joins Dale on today's podcast talk through some of the difficult things that many of us are experiencing during this current season. Kevin has served in both small and large churches in various capacity's gaining a wealth of wisdom and knowledge from his experiences.
Their conversation covers some of the hi's and low's of long-term ministry service. You'll find some very practical next steps shared by Kevin and Dale that is sure to help you if you're in a season of ministry stress.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/how-are-you-doing-w-dale-kevin-episode-254/
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95Network ministry partner Karl Vaters joins Dale for another podcast to discuss his latest book entitled, "De-Sizing The Church." This is a great conversation revealing so much of how the church in America operates today. It also dives into the historical turning points of what led us to where we find ourselves currently.
You're going to really enjoy the transparent conversation between Karl and Dale on today's podcast.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/de-sizing-the-church-w-karl-vaters-episode-253/
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We all want our churches to be healthy, both deep and wide. But what should that look like? What are some characteristics of churches that are effectively reaching their community for Jesus?
Join us for this conversation with Tony Morgan, founder of The Unstuck Group, as we walk through 10 characteristics of unstuck churches.
We've known Tony for a long time. He's a good friend and has been so supportive of our ministry, so we were really excited to get him on the podcast. The honesty, experience, and conviction that Tony comes into this conversation with made this such a powerful discussion.
Here are some key takeaways:
A willingness to change is crucial. Across the board, we have to be open-handed about how we do ministry. An openness to change methods is a key aspect of unstuck churches.
Unstuck churches fight the pressure to focus inward. A lot of the points that Tony highlighted came back to this takeaway right here. Focusing too much on the people inside our church hurts our ability to understand and reach the people outside our church.
Small churches are not "less than." This was my favorite part of the conversation. When we talk about healthy/unhealthy churches, we're not talking about large/small churches. The size of your church does not change your ability to be "unstuck" and effectively impact your community for Jesus.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/in-tribute-to-tony-morgan-10-characteristics-of-unstuck-churches-w-tony-morgan-episode-4/
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Tony Morgan is a dear friend of ours and a gifted author, speaker, and strategist. In 2009, he founded The Unstuck Group, which in their words, has "a mission to get churches unstuck." The Unstuck Group has consulted with over 550 churches to create a vision and strategy to help them gain momentum in reaching people for Christ.
We're so excited to have Tony with us today. We're talking a lot about the wave of new people coming to church and how we can provide a welcoming place for them. Tony has some encouraging and constructive advice about how to navigate change and how to be intentional and faithful about making bold moves in your church.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/in-tribute-to-tony-morgan-do-something-even-if-its-wrong-w-tony-morgan-episode-251/
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Dale had the opportunity today to catch up with Tony Morgan and Amy Anderson of The Unstuck Group. Their conversation covered a wide range of topics concerning what Tony and Amy are seeing as they work with many churches throughout the year. Some exciting things are happening in the church today as we move further away from the impact of the pandemic.
You'll want to pull up a chair at the table and sit in on this valuable time. The point of this podcast is that we can spread hope that Jesus is truly at work in HIS church throughout America and worldwide.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/there-is-a-lot-to-be-excited-about-in-the-church-today-w-tony-morgan-amy-anderson-episode-172/
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Jon Sanders is a trusted resource that we often glean from at 95Network. Especially, when it comes to understanding how to serve in ministry while simultaneously providing a good standard of living for your family. Jon and Les Hughes created Entrepastors with this principal at the forefront.
Dale catches up with Jon on today's 95Podcast to learn more of what their experience of helping ministry leaders has shown so far. You'll enjoy Jon's honest assessment of the opportunities that are available if you only look in the right places.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/entrepreneural-pastors-update-w-jon-sanders-episode-249/
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Matt Wilson from Compassion International joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to update us on some new initiatives from Compassion. They have also signed on to sponsor the Soul Care Essentials Conference for another year. Although Compassion is widely known for their work with sponsoring children, they also have a strong commitment to supporting the local church.
Compassion believes that a healthy leader can help develop a healthy ministry. This is one of the reasons they promote soul care health for pastors and staffers.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/making-a-difference-through-compassion-international-w-matt-wilson-episode-248/
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95Network team member Jason Allison joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss the impact of our Soul Care Essentials Conference. Jason has facilitated several conferences throughout 2024. The discussion today is around the impact he is seeing firsthand as a conference leader.
Many pastors and church leaders often ignore their emotional health while providing ministry help to others. Jason and Dale dive into some of the reasons why pastors tend to do this. They also highlight some of the practical benefits of being intentional at taking care of your own soul.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/intentionally-caring-for-your-soul-w-jason-allison-episode-247/
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While serving with Campus Outreach, Mike Jackson discovered that there was a disconnect with the outreach/evangelism efforts of the staff. That led Mike to start a comprehensive journal that eventually became his first book entitled, "Reaching Your Jerusalem: Overcoming Your Barriers To Sharing The Gospel."
Mike joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss the two most important barriers to effectively sharing your faith. He offers some very practical and easy to implement guidance to prepare anyone to present the Gospel message to their family, friends and co-workers.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/overcoming-the-insecurities-of-sharing-your-faith-w-mike-jackson-episode-246/
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Darrell Stetler has been a frequent guest on the 95Podcast. Today's episode is another encouraging conversation for anyone leading a small or midsize church. Darrell always offers practical wisdom from his twenty one years of experience in pastoring the same church.
He reminds all of us that God is pleased just to see us "pick up the tools we already have" to begin building something. He's not waiting until we finish the project. He actually gets excited to see His leaders join with Him to impact their communities with the Gospel.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/using-the-tools-the-lord-has-already-provided-w-darrell-stetler-episode-245/
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Bruce and Toni Hebel know firsthand how the impact of refusing to forgive can destroy your life. Separate encounters with Jesus led them to experience healing and forgiveness they didn't know was available. Jesus truly set them free!
They join Dale on today's 95Podcast to continue sharing about the power of forgiveness. They also give updates on some folks they ministered to with a focus on forgiveness many years ago who are still living in freedom. The power available to the local church to truly impact their communities can be released when the leaders and members choose to walk in forgiveness.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-forgiving-forward-again-w-bruce-toni-hebel-episode-244/
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Jon Sanders, 95Network's Director of Coaching, joins today's 95Podcast as a guest, discussing his recent experience at a retreat provided by the Boulder Crest Foundation. The retreat is called Struggle Well. They specialize in providing opportunities to help public servants in the first responder field and military personal work through post-traumatic impact. They focus specifically on Post-traumatic growth.
Jon transparently shares how he didn't think he needed to spend a week on such a retreat to the point that he even considered not going. However, his life was forever changed as he discovered some deep-seated effects of traumatic encounters that he had experienced. This conversation is essential for anyone who serves in the ministry and as a first responder.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/struggling-well-post-traumatic-growth-w-jon-sanders-episode-243/
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While serving as the Executive/Counseling Pastor of his local church, Josh Clink suddenly became the Lead Pastor after the pastor abruptly resigned. He immediately knew he was in "over his head" due to having zero formal training in preaching and leading a congregation. In addition, he also found himself leading through the pandemic restrictions and difficulties.
All of this led to a "dark season" for Josh. Today's podcast is an encouraging conversation as Josh shares how Jesus brought him and his wife, Stephanie, out of these tough times with the support of some trusted friends. He also gives us some insight into the counseling ministry that he serves with, Anchored Hope. They offer convenient and confidential virtual counseling with theologically educated and professionally trained counselors. Anchored Hope has biblically grounded, clinically informed virtual counseling available for ministry leaders no matter where they live.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-anchored-hope-trusted-support-for-ministry-leaders-w-josh-clink-episode-242/
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It was our absolute pleasure to have Karl and Shelley Vaters join us for this podcast, which focuses on ministry marriage. Shelley shares that she never gave much thought to marrying a pastor. She also shares some eye-opening experiences that have accompanied her serving alongside Karl for all these years.
Karl and Shelley pull back the curtain and allow us to see some of the difficulties they've worked through together over their ministry journey. It would be great to listen to this special podcast with your spouse. It may even be possible that you'll hear a lot of your story in theirs.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-marriage-and-the-ministry-over-40-years-w-karl-shelley-vaters-episode-241/
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John Fuller has been in ministry for over three decades. Not growing up in the church, John accepted Jesus as a rough and raw college student. Becoming a Christian led John to do a complete 180 in his life, ultimately resulting in him serving as a youth pastor and eventually the lead pastor of a small church.
Today's conversation is filled with the wealth and wisdom that comes from understanding the importance of viewing ministry leadership through two different avenues: the Window and the Mirror. You'll be encouraged and challenged as you hear the things the Lord has taught John from the beginning of his ministry up to recently stepping down as lead pastor of his church after a successful transition.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-the-two-views-for-a-leader-the-window-the-mirror-w-john-fuller-episode-230/
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Tom & Suzi Steele were on a much needed vacation in Virginia Beach trying to recover from a difficult season of pandemic related ministry. They received an unexpected phone call that shook them to the core. A severe thunderstorm produced a strike of lightning that hit their church steeple. The result was a fire that burned the church to the ground. So much for a relaxing vacation.
Today's 95Podcast features a conversation with Tom & Suzi discussing the impact of the catastrophic effects of the fire. They also update us on how the church is doing today as well as how they processed these events.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/from-disaster-to-disciple-making-w-tom-suzi-steele-episode-239/
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Steven Goodspeed of My Church Law Firm joins Dale today to discuss the brand new law that is taking effect concerning overtime pay. This is very informative conversation on exactly what the new law could mean to your church. It only takes one disgruntled employee to cause a big issue when it comes to how compensation is handled by your ministry.
We've also included an a deeper dive into this with this link to a webinar presented by My Church Law Firm. You can view it here:
New Federal Overtime Rule! How You Can Prepare Now.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/what-the-new-laws-mean-to-your-church-w-steven-goodspeed-episode-238/
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In today's episode of The 95Podcast, Jon Sanders talks with guest Greg Reed about his journey from pastoring to an incredible new season of ministry called “workplace life coaching.” With over four decades of pastoral ministry experience and a passion for reaching others,
Greg transitioned to a workplace life coach role, bringing faith into the marketplace. From car dealerships to Coca-Cola distribution sites, he's impacting lives and boosting business environments. Learn how he's turning ministry into a thriving business model and get inspired by his story of faith, mentoring, and real success in corporate America.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/is-it-time-to-become-a-life-coach-w-jon-sanders-greg-reed-episode-237/
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One of the most important leadership principles that needs to be learned by all of us is that Jesus isn't in a hurry! He has a plan. He is working His plan. And He wants us to participate in it. However, many of us put unnecessary pressure on our lives to try to do ministry "for" Him instead of "from" Him. Although it's taken some time, Michael Schooley is a pastor who knows first-hand the fulfillment of Jesus working through him.
Michael joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss the journey from being a committed youth pastor to eventually becoming a church planter. Their conversation is so refreshing as they honestly tackle some of the issues facing a pastor in today's culture.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/were-here-to-help-w-jimmy-dodd-episode-236/
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Tim Walker has spent over a decade pastoring Restored Church in Wilkes Barre, PA. He learned from the beginning the importance of being a disciple-maker. This intentional ministry focus has allowed Restored Church to see the transformation of many lives.
Tim also serves as a facilitator for The Timothy Initiative USA. His passion for discipleship permeates today's podcast conversation. Tim also shared information about an in-person training sponsored by The Timothy Initiative USA that is coming up this summer.
Show notes: https://www.95network.org/disciples-making-disciples-w-tim-walker-episode-235/
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One of the most important leadership principles we all need to learn is that Jesus isn't in a hurry! He has a plan. He is working on His plan, and He wants us to participate in it. However, many of us put unnecessary pressure on our lives to do ministry "for" Him instead of "from" Him. Although it's taken some time, Michael Schooley is a pastor who knows first-hand the fulfillment of Jesus working through him.
Michael joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss the journey from being a committed youth pastor to becoming a church planter. Their conversation is refreshing as they tackle some of the issues facing a pastor in today's culture.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/joy-in-the-journey-w-michael-schooley-episode-234/
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The need for impactful ministry to men is crucial in today's culture. However, many churches seem to have put this ministry focus on the back burner. Wendell Morton of Men's Ministry Catalyst joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss the ever-increasing need for consistent and strategic ministry to the men in your community.
They both transparently share the impact of growing up with fathers who were in the home but still emotionally disconnected from their sons. This conversation brings to light how even more impactful it is for young men to grow up without a father in the home.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/impactful-mens-ministry-wendell-morton-episode-233/
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Chuck Gordon joins Dale on this week's 95Podcast, talking through the highs and lows of ministry life. Chuck experienced many years of successful growth as a church planter. However, there came a point when everything started heading in the wrong direction, and it seemed that his life was unraveling.
Chuck leads a ministry today called Connect Hope, which focuses on encouraging pastors, uniting ministries, and resourcing kingdom work. This is an excellent conversation about Jesus' faithfulness in walking with us through the difficult days we all face. His passion for coming alongside ministry leaders will inspire you to do the same.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/connect-hope-w-chuck-gordon-episode-232/
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Bruce and Toni Hebel know firsthand how the impact of refusing to forgive can destroy your life. Separate encounters with Jesus led both of them to experience healing and forgiveness that they didn't even know was available. Jesus truly set them free!
They join Dale on today's 95Podcast to continue sharing about the power of forgiveness. They also give updates on some folks that they've ministered to in the area of forgiveness many years ago who are still living in freedom. The power available to the local church to truly impact their communities can be released when the leaders and members choose to walk in forgiveness.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/forgiving-forward-again-w-bruce-toni-hebel-episode-231/
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Dana Russell had spent most of her adult life serving in ministry. However, a successful music ministry along with discipleship weekends that impacted thousands of young girls wasn't enough to heal a deep wound in her heart. The private pressure that she had been living under for decades eventually resulted in a very public extra marital affair. . . In a moment, her whole world was turned upside down.
Dana joins Dale on today's 95podcast to share how Jesus helped her trade the shadows of shame and rejection for His all encompassing shadow of peace. This is a raw and honest conversation on how the things we attempt to hide in the shadows are exposed to the light at some point in our lives.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/trading-shadows-w-dana-russell-episode-230/
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Kirk Mackie is a leader of leaders. His vast experience in the local church as well as serving as a coach and spiritual mentor to many pastors has allowed him to view ministry from all sides. One of the best attributes of Kirk is his desire to keep learning and keep growing in his own personal leadership.
Kirk joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to share some insight on where he sees the current state of our church leaders. They also discuss what he sees on the horizon as he leads hundreds of churches in the Aspire Network.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/preparing-to-lead-in-changing-times-w-kirk-mackie-episode-229/
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Jon Sanders, 95Network’s Director of Coaching, joins today’s 95Podcast as a guest discussing his recent experience at a retreat provided by the Boulder Crest Foundation. The retreat is called Struggle Well. They specialize in providing opportunities to help public servants in the first responder field as well as military personal work through post-traumatic impact. They focus specifically on Post-traumatic growth.
Jon transparently shares how he didn’t think he needed to spend a week on such a retreat to the point that he even considered not going. However, his life was forever changed as he discovered some deep seated effects of traumatic encounters that’s he has experienced. This conversation is so important for anyone serving in the first responder field as well as in ministry.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/struggling-well-post-traumatic-growth-w-jon-sanders-episode-228/
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Michael Rubino knows firsthand what it's like to see a ministry thrive, survive and be revived. His vast experience of leading a vibrant ministry on Long Island, NY eventually led him to launch the Church Revitalization Center. He has a refreshing approach of letting you see behind the scenes of the ups and downs of decades of church leadership.
Michael joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss the structural pillars of church revitalization. He also gives the details of the upcoming Church Revitalize Conference 2024 and how you can be a part of this special half-day virtual event.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/church-revitalize-2024-w-michael-rubino-episode-227/
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Jon Sanders hosts today's 95Podcast talking with John D Hanson about some things he sees on the horizon for the global economy. The backdrop to this conversation is based on data provided by ITR ECONOMICS dealing with their forecasts of a looming economic correction that will effect all of us in one way or another. John sees an entrepreneur opportunity for the Church to prepare now in order to be a light as well as a resource to those in need.
The insight John shares is based on the story of Joseph in Genesis and how he prepared during extreme prosperity for the coming famine. This podcast is sure to make you think!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-joseph-project-w-jon-sanders-and-john-hanson-episode-226/
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While serving as the Executive/Counseling Pastor of his local church, Josh Clink suddenly found himself in the role of Lead Pastor after the pastor abruptly resigned. He immediately knew that he was in "over his head" due to having zero formal training on preaching and leading a congregation. In addition, he also found himself leading through the pandemic restrictions and difficulties.
All of this led to a "dark season" for Josh. . . Today's podcast is an encouraging conversation as Josh shares how Jesus brought him and his wife, Stephanie, out of these tough times with the support of some trusted friends. He also gives us some insight into the counseling ministry that he serves with called Anchored Hope. They are Biblically grounded, clinically informed, virtual counseling available for ministry leaders no matter where you live.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/anchored-hope-trusted-support-for-ministry-leaders-w-josh-clink-episode-225/
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Jonathan Weibel is one authentic dude! His love for Jesus and for people motivates him to do anything he can to reach his neighbors with the message of the Gospel. Jonathan joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss the release of his new book entitled, "Front Yard Mission: How To Start A Love God, Love Your Neighbor Movement In Your Neighborhood."
The conversation is filled with practical ways of connecting with those who live all around you. Jonathan shares stories of success, and a couple of failures, in his efforts to connect with his neighbors.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/front-yard-mission-book-release-w-jonathan-weibel-episode-224/
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Following a previous leader is always a difficult challenge whether the leader was well thought of or not. This is especially true when it comes to transition in the church. Gavin Adams joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss his new book entitled, "Big Shoes To Fill: Stepping Into A Leadership Role . . . Without Stepping In It." This is a great conversation around the dynamics of what the new leader "inherits" as they assume the reigns of an organization.
Gavin gives practical as well as personal wisdom that he has gained over the years of helping churches and marketplace organizations walk through leadership transition.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/big-shoes-to-fill-w-gavin-adams-episode-223/
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Jon Sanders hosts today's 95Podcast leading a powerful conversation with Wayne Prevett. Wayne founded Life Celebration Ministries to address the need for ministry to families in post-Christian Canada. He shares how the Lord has allowed him to impact so many lives that would never set foot inside the local church.
Wayne believes that his Canadian experience is a precursor of what ministry will be like in America in the not to distant future. This podcast gives a lot of practical insight of ways to reach a nation that believes in God but isn't necessarily Christian.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/travel-in-time-w-jon-sanders-wayne-prevette-episode-222/
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Leonard Edloe has been a pharmacist for most of his life. He also accepted the call to ministry in the early years of his marriage. He has seen the ups and downs of ministry in the rural black church firsthand. It's out of his personal experience that Leonard wrote "Restoring The Glory." He has a deep conviction that the rural black church in America needs to embrace some major changes before it's too late.
Leonard joins Dale on today's podcast to reflect on how the rural black church arrived at this point and offers some solutions for it to become impactful again.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/restoring-the-glory-breathing-new-life-into-the-rural-black-church-w-leonard-edloe-episode-220/
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It was our absolute pleasure to have Karl and Shelley Vaters join us for this special podcast focusing on ministry marriage. Shelley shares that she never gave much thought to marrying a pastor. She also shares some of the eye opening experiences which have accompanied serving alongside Karl for all of these years.
Karl and Shelley pull back the curtain and allow us to see some of the difficulties they've worked through together over their ministry journey. It would be great for you to listen to this special podcast with your spouse. It may even be possible that you'll hear a lot of your story in theirs.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/marriage-and-the-ministry-over-40-years-w-karl-shelley-vaters-episode-220/
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Dan Nichols has been a friend of 95Network for many years. His work with the Northeast Collaborative is making a big impact in churches of all denominations in the northeastern United States. Dan recently reached out to Dale to share some insight from a new article he had written about the stressful situations that many pastors find themselves in as they lead their churches.
You'll enjoy the frank and honest with Dan today as he discusses his passion to help congregations learn how to best support their pastor.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/why-we-need-pro-pastor-people-w-dan-nichols-episode-219/
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Church Renewal International was founded in 2012 to share biblical principles and practices essential for renewing a church with other pastors and equip them for their own ministries. Chris joined Church Renewal International as the North American Director several years ago after pastoring a local church for eighteen years. Their mission statement is to see churches renewed and equipped to fulfill Christ’s mission.
Chris shares with Dale on today’s 95Podcast some of the things he’s seeing and hearing from churches around the world. It is quite sobering to realize that churches and their leaders are all working through many of the same things in the new season of church leadership.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/church-renewal-w-chris-puhach-episode-218/
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Jon Sanders hosts today's 95Podcast having a discussion with Jeff Gauss. Jeff was a church planter for many years and had a great deal of success, until he hit a major wall of burnout and depression about 6 years ago. He was actually one of Jon's coaching clients in the aftermath of all of that. He went on to start a business called Church Plant Solutions that does bookkeeping and tax returns for pastors and churches.
Jeff is now back in full-time pastoral ministry as an Executive pastor at a church in Florida. When he moved from Minnesota/North Dakota to Florida, he was actually able to complete go off of all his anti-depressant medications. Today's discussion is about burn out in ministry as well as about his business and the services he is providing for churches and pastors.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-road-to-recovery-from-ministry-burnout-w-jeff-gauss-episode-217/
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Bart Blair has spent most of his adult life working with churches in one capacity or another. Whether serving as a worship leader or later as a ministry consultant, Bart has had the opportunity to see how churches of all sizes function. His experience allows him to be a trusted voice that can help any ministry navigate today's changing tides.
Today's 95Podcast is filled with incredible wisdom derived from Bart's observations of healthy churches, not so healthy churches and churches on the brink of closing. Bart truly believes that any ministry can experience renewal if only they will commit to intentional prayer for renewal. Our hope is that this conversation will inspire you to pray for renewal in your life and ministry.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/praying-for-renewal-in-our-church-w-bart-blair-episode-216/
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95Network teammate Jason Allison joins Dale today to launch the new Soul Care Essentials Online and Soul Care Essentials 6-Week Follow Up resources. Our team worked together over several months to create a resource designed to encourage and strengthen discouraged ministry leaders. Although ministry has always taken a toll on ministry leaders, the effects of the pandemic increased the pressure for most leaders exponentially.
The Soul Care Essentials sessions include content dealing with a leader's Private Life, Personal Life and Professional Life. Leaders can then pursue an even deeper personal discovery by working through the Soul Care Essentials 6-Week Follow Up with a small group of trusted friends. These resources provide practical tools that enable you to examine and expose areas where you may not be leading from a healthy soul. As we always say here at 95Network, "A healthy leader can create a healthy ministry." Our hope is to help you lead from a healthy soul!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/soul-care-essentials-online-w-jason-allison-episode-215/
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John Fuller has been in ministry for over 3 decades. Not growing up in the church, John accepted Jesus as a rough and raw college student. Becoming a Christian led John to do a complete 180 in the trajectory of his life which ultimately resulted in him serving as a youth pastor and eventually the lead pastor of a small church.
Today's conversation is filled with the wealth and wisdom that comes from understanding the importance of viewing ministry leadership through two different avenues: the Window and the Mirror. You'll be encouraged and challenged as you hear the things the Lord has taught John from the beginning of his ministry up to recently stepping down as lead pastor of his church after a successful transition.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-two-views-for-a-leader-the-window-the-mirror-w-john-fuller-episode-214/
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Ira Antoine began his adult life as an engineer for NASA. However, he soon sensed a calling to give up pursuing an engineering career to answer the call into ministry. So, after stepping away, he served on staff at a local church, eventually becoming the Lead Pastor.
Today Ira serves churches throughout Texas and beyond, specifically focusing on bi-vocational pastors in a rural context. This episode of the 95Podcast is filled with wisdom that only comes from overcoming the obstacles that decades of ministry in the local church can create.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-best-of-2023-bi-vocational-ministry-isnt-trendy-w-ira-antoine-episode-213/
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Bill and Kristi Gaultiere know from first-hand experience how ministry can take a toll on your life. They both realized this while serving the local church in a season of intense activity. However, they soon discovered something on the inside was wrong. The joy and fulfillment of ministry had diminished amid the fast-paced life of leading in today's culture.
On this edition of the 95Podcast, you will hear the heart of their ministry to leaders through Soul Shepherding and the Sabbatical Guide. They want you to find a weekly rhythm to your life and ministry that brings comfort and peace each day.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-best-of-2023-the-sabbatical-guide-w-bill-kristi-gaultiere-episode-212/
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Is it time to acknowledge that our traditional way of providing discipleship, in most cases, is not providing clear results? When it comes to your discipleship process, do you have a clearly defined goal you are shooting for that would allow you to evaluate your effectiveness? If the answer to these questions is no, you will enjoy today's 95Podcast with Spiritual Formation Pastor Matt Adair.
Dale and Matt discuss practical ways you can use to determine your discipleship effectiveness. For Matt, one of the key outcomes of effective discipleship is to love your enemies. Today's podcast is filled with great wisdom and guidance for anyone looking to create transformational discipleship throughout their ministry.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-best-of-2023-transformational-discipleship-w-matt-adair-episode-211/
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95Network team member Hykeng Paul joins Dale on today's podcast to discuss ways to keep the conversation going concerning racial issues in the church. Their discussion is designed to provide practical next steps to help you connect with those in your community who may be from different cultures.
Racial reconciliation doesn't happen automatically. Only through intentional efforts will our churches begin to have meaningful conversations to bridge the gap between different cultures.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-best-of-2023-keeping-the-conversation-going-w-hykeng-paul-episode-210/
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Dan stated, "After my divorce, I didn’t know if I would ever be married again. I had a lot of pain and confusion. But deep in my heart, I wanted someone whom I could love and who would love me back. A person whom I could share my life with me. Even though I was married before, I had missed some of this. However, my dating life didn’t indicate I would be married again."
In today's 95Podcast, Dan Houk shares that in his experience, most people in Christian circles are open to a loving, committed marriage. It’s just that they are sometimes still hurting, feel unprepared, feel awkward about looking around, or have lost hope because of their circumstances. This is an "eye-opening" conversation designed to help all church leaders see a valuable segment of society that is right before our eyes.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-best-of-2023-intentional-relationship-solutions-w-dan-houk-episode-209/
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Bill & Kristi Gaultiere understand what it's like to pastor people while working through your own personal problems. Their life experiences have given them a deep love for pastors and ministry leaders to experience freedom, healing and the joy that comes from having a healthy soul.
Today's podcast is a great conversation about their new book Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith that details how to effectively use Enneagram to grow emotionally and spiritually. The honesty and authenticity of the Gaultiere's is a wind of fresh air for every ministry leader.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/healthy-feelings-thriving-faith-w-bill-kristi-gaultiere-episode-208/
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Vivica Keyes was soundly sleeping one night when she was suddenly awakened by the sound of breaking glass at 3:00 a.m. As she was inspecting her broken kitchen window, she came face to face with an intruder. Alone and terrified, Vivica fought off the intruder and called 911. Today's podcast is an intense conversation of what life has been like sense that fateful evening several years ago.
Vivica wants everyone to know how to deal with their own personal trauma as well as teaching all of us proven methods to help those who have been through traumatic experiences of their own. True freedom can be experienced even after going through tragic circumstances if you're willing to pursue the right path that lead to healing and wholeness.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/remove-the-drama-from-your-trauma-w-vivica-keyes-episode-207/
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BJ Rutledge knows first hand how Jesus can use ordinary people to do extraordinary things. His obedience to step out and plant a church in the small town of Paradise, Texas resulted in hundreds of people coming to know Jesus personally over the past 20 years.
You'll be encouraged as you hear BJ's story of the "Miracle In The Cow Pasture." God's faithfulness is on full display as BJ recalls how simply saying "yes" to the prompting of the Holy Spirit created an avenue for lasting impact.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/miracle-in-the-cow-pasture-w-bj-rutledge-episode-202/
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Jordan Hibbard is a great example of how each phase of his life prepared him for the next phase. He grew up in the Philippines where his parents served as missionaries for many years. He recently finished serving as the Trips & Speakers Director at Clayton King Ministries where he planned dozens of short term missions trips along with trips to the Holy Land.
Today, Jordan serves as the Church Partnership Specialist for Wilcox travels where he works with pastors and churches throughout America helping them develop short term missions trips as well as trips to take their congregations to the Holy Land. You're going to enjoy getting to know Jordan and his passion to assist leaders in travel plans.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/see-the-world-w-jordan-hibbard-episode-205/
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Jim Powell is a man on a mission! He recently reached out to Dale to share how he has personally benefitted from using A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) in his ministry leadership. Jim's passion for serving pastors and leaders, specifically in small churches, is what led him to create 95Network many years ago. He personally understands the stress and struggles of the many responsibilities placed upon church leaders.
Today's podcast is a great conversation about how using A.I. can create much needed margin in the life of a leader. While there are certainly areas of caution to consider, Jim hopes that each of us will not miss the opportunity using it to lift our weekly work loads.
Show Notes:
https://www.95network.org/can-church-leaders-benefit-from-using-ai-w-jim-powell-episode-204/
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Cheryl Robertson found herself having to carry the responsibility of helping to raise her eight younger siblings when her mother suddenly died just after her seventeenth birthday. After already having experienced several traumatic experiences, she soon became completely overwhelmed with life. The pressure only increased after she was married at 20 years of age. However, she eventually discovered that freedom in the journey of life can be found if we are willing to go down the pathway of pain with some trusted mentors.
Today's podcast is story of resilience and the faithfulness of Jesus to help us through the most difficult of circumstances. Cheryl still finds the desire to minister to everyone she meets with the hope that they too can find freedom as they confront life's trauma's head on with the help of others.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/its-never-too-late-to-find-freedom-w-cheryl-robertson-episode-203/
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Shayla Kenworthy is the Director of Business Development at Fishhook. She has a wealth of experience and wisdom when it comes to helping churches of all sizes communicate their mission and vision. She joins today's podcast to share A Timeline For Planning & Promotion to help us prepare for the upcoming Christmas season.
Shayla's passion for the local church to reach their individual communities is what fuels her desire to see every church be as effective as possible. You'll sense her "heart to help" as she leads us through practical ways to make sure we take advantage of every opportunity available to share the love of Jesus during this holiday season.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/a-timeline-for-planning-promoting-christmas-w-shayla-kenworthy-episode-202/
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Jamison Davis realized that the current trajectory of his financial planning was marked by several mistakes. So he sought advice from the "professionals" in order to create a more secure financial future. His journey revealed that most pastors have done a poor job of financial planning often based on wrong information.
Today Jamison serves full-time with Guardian Wealth management dedicating his time and experience to ministry leaders in need of solid guidance. No matter where you are today, you can still prepare for the future by using many of the benefits afforded to you.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/guardian-wealth-management-w-jamison-davis-episode-201/
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We're celebrating today!!! It's our 200th podcast episode which is so surreal. And we couldn't have planned a better guest. Matt Wilson, who is the Strategic Partnerships Manager | Church Engagement Director of Compassion International, joins me to talk about the new strategic partnership that we've established between Compassion International and 95Network.
You'll love hearing how Jesus has ordered Matt's steps throughout his life to prepare him for this impactful role that he now serves in. Thank you to everyone who has supported the 95Podcast as we have recently surpassed 50,000 downloads! We're are so excited about to see how Jesus uses the next 200 podcasts to encourage pastors and leaders throughout His Church in the coming years!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/our-200th-episode-announces-the-new-partnership-w-compassion-international-w-matt-wilson-episode-200/
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Trevor Williams has always allowed the Lord to develop into a person who fights back from whenever he gets knocked down. Traumatic events from childhood, his teen years, physical injury and even being deployed to Iraq didn't keep him down.
However, the impact of suddenly loosing his wife and mother of his three children was a punch that sent Trevor reeling. Today's 95Podcast is a powerful story of how Trevor found the hope and help he needed through his relationship with Jesus that allowed him to pursue a path of healing. Trevor's life is such a beautiful example of the grace of God bringing beauty from the devastating events that rock his world.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/god-of-the-gray-area-w-trevor-williams-episode-199/
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Justin Knapp's story is unique to say the least! He was not raised in a Christian home. In fact, his upbringing was far from Christian. However, Justin sensed the Lord's calling to commit his life to Jesus in his early teens. There was no influence from a church. No special crusade that got his attention. Nothing. He simply heard the voice of Jesus calling him to come follow Him and the rest is history.
Today, Justin uses his passion for the local church to assist ministries who are in need of creating other sources of revenue in addition to weekly giving. Space Together was created out of his churches on situation which was quite daunting at the time.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/space-together-w-justin-knapp-episode-198/
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Sam Black joins the 95Podcast today to discuss his new book, "The Healing Church." The conversation centers around the devastating impact that pornography is having in society as a whole as well as the church. Sam challenges us to develop authentic ministry pathways that provide an avenue for people to experience healing and wholeness by being set free from porn's addictive nature.
This is an honest and enlightening conversation highlighting Sam's desire to see every church become a Healing Church.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-healing-church-w-sam-black-episode-197/
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Jason Young knows firsthand what it's like to be driven to perform in ministry. Working 80 hours a week still didn't provided the satisfaction he sought in conquering the task's he faced each week. This backdrop led Jason to write, "Don't Burn Out - Burn Bright."
Today's podcast is an honest evaluation of what we can do to avoid the pitfalls that lead to ministry burnout. Jason's transparent and honest assessment of his own ministry struggles will relate to anyone serving in ministry. His hope is to help you take a proactive approach to maintaining healthy rhythm's in your daily routine.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/dont-burn-out-burn-bright-w-jason-young-episode-196/
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Steven Goodspeed and Dustin Gaines from My Church Law Firm joins Dale today to discuss many of the issues currently facing churches and non-profits. They have dozens of years of expertise specifically dealing with church compliance and legal preparedness. It's fair to say that how the government relates to the local church brings new challenges on an ongoing basis.
My Church Law Firm is also partnering with 95Network to create a member portal that will provide a great deal of materials relating specifically on legal issues facing the small and midsize church. This is such an informative and encouraging podcast.
Show notes:https://www.95network.org/my-church-law-firm-w-steven-goodspeed-dustin-gaines-episode-195/
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Weston Williams has served as a lead pastor for many years experiencing both setbacks and success. Over the past few months, he began to sense a restlessness in his heart concerning a solid vision for the future of his local church. Ultimately, Weston let go of his plans and embraced a new pathway of serving in ministry through an unplanned avenue.
You'll enjoy listening to today's conversation with Weston and Dale as he highlights the steps of faith that have allowed him to join the staff of WaterForGood.org. This ministry is making a big difference in the lives of so many people who have very little hope.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/water-for-good-w-weston-williams-episode-194/
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Justin Trapp & Wade Bearden of Ministry Pass join Dale today for an insightful conversation on practical tips to reach the next generations. Both Justin and Wade have many years of "real world" experience serving in the local church.
Their passion for effective communication shines through as they talk about the current state of the church and what must be done to reach those in our communities who are far from God.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/how-to-preach-to-the-unchurched-w-justin-trapp-wade-bearden-episode-193/
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Discipleship In The Home was born in Dr. Friedeman’s own home, as the father of six, and in the classroom, as professor of Christian Education at Wesley Biblical Seminary. It is a wonderful blend of practical wisdom built on a firm Biblical foundation. It teaches:
- How to create a family discipleship routine using a powerful family catechism for the dining room table
- Exactly what simple steps you need to take in order to begin teaching your children (or grandchildren!) to love Jesus more.
- How to help your children to memorize Scripture
- How to get and maintain laser-focus on the most important things for your family
- How to plan a meaningful father/son or mother/daughter retreat and rites of passage celebrations.
Darrell Stetler II (a small church pastor and dad of 7) and NewStart Discipleship added to the book a Resource Notebook that allows you to create a discipleship plan for children that you could start by tonight.
The Discipleship In the Home Resource Notebook will help you implement a family discipleship time, in the evening or at your dinner table, and create valuable moments where your children learn:
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Great hymns of the church
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Great prayers & quotes from Christian history
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The 3 great Creeds of Christian history: Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian
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18 Key Bible passages to memorize first (153 verses)
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Catechism questions that will teach them core theology
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Available in KJV, ESV, and NIV - your choice
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/discipleship-in-the-home-w-matt-friedeman-darrell-stetler-episode-192/
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Joe Epley joins Dale today to discuss leading ministry in the rural setting. Joe has done extensive research into the dynamics involved in serving people in the rural setting through the local church. They discuss some of the trends and challenges that are unique to rural ministry.
Things are definitely changing in "how" we lead in the new church culture. Today's podcast offers some great wisdom and solid advice for any leader in the rural setting.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/rural-advancement-w-joe-epley-episode-191/
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Dale had the opportunity to catch up with Pastor Michael Rubino on this week's 95Podcast. In addition to serving as the Lead Pastor of Cornerstone Bible Church on Long Island, NY, Michael also leads the Church Revitalization Center. Michael is a powerful resource of ministry "staying power" who has endured many of the up's and down's of serving in the local church.
You are going to love listening to this "life-long New Yorker" talk about the challenges he has face trying to reach almost 4 million people with the Gospel on Long Island. Michael's honest evaluation of his on ministry set backs and difficulties provides hope for any pastor who is struggling to find ministry balance in their busy lives today.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-church-revitalization-center-w-michael-rubino-episode-190/
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Kaitlyn Wood has always had an opinion! In fact, her teen years were filled with moments of "pushing the envelope" just because she could. After settling some issues in her own heart, Kaitlyn committed to a life of full-time ministry service.
Kaitlyn joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to talk through many ministry related issues such as following her dad as lead pastor of her local church. (Her dad actually serves on staff with her today!) This is great conversation on the challenges facing women who choose to answer the call to serve the local church in today's climate.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/leading-through-changing-times-w-kaitlyn-wood-episode-189/
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Jesus said, "And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." (Matthew 25:40 NKJV) The Welcome Net strives to act out these words of Jesus through the Chicagoland Immigrant Welcome Network. It is dedicated to upholding the human dignity of some of the most vulnerable in their community.
Jared Alleman joins guest host Jon Sanders today to discuss how he discovered that the mission field doesn't always require you to leave the country. This is a very eyeopening conversation.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/guest-host-jon-sanders-welcoming-the-stranger-w-jared-alleman-episode-187/
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95Network Director of Coaching Jon Sanders sits in as host of today's 95Podcast. Jon is joined by Les Hughes who is co-founder of Entrepastors along with Jon. Their conversation is a deep-dive into all things Entrepastors.
They came together several years ago in order to provide a coaching track to help pastors fulfill their ministry calling while simultaneously providing a healthy living for their families. This conversation is so practical as Jon and Les share the benefits of becoming an Entrepastor.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/guest-host-jon-sanders-a-conversation-with-entrepastors-w-les-hughes-episode-186/
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Today's 95Podcast is a continuation of a difficult conversation around the topics of the stronghold of pornography and learning how to live in sexual freedom within marriage. Dale's guests are Russell Willingham and Mike Manzie of New Creation Ministries. Russell and Mike share their stories of sexual addiction and the freedom they found in Jesus.
It's important to realize the Jesus used the lives of other believers in order for Russell and Mike to experience complete freedom. They are both involved today in providing help to ministry leaders who found themselves bound by this devastating stronghold. The podcast conversation is so important that it's broken into two separate parts.
* The conversation in today's podcast is not appropriate for children due to some of the content. Please take measures to assure that "little ears" aren't around.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/porn-addiction-and-living-in-sexual-freedom-part-2-w-russell-willingham-mike-manzie-episode-186
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Today's 95Podcast is a difficult conversation around the topics of the stronghold of pornography and learning how to live in sexual freedom within marriage. Dale's guests are Russell Willingham and Mike Manzie of New Creation Ministries. Russell and Mike share their stories of sexual addiction and the freedom they found in Jesus.
It's important to realize the Jesus used the lives of other believers in order for Russell and Mike to experience complete freedom. They are both involved today in providing help to ministry leaders who found themselves bound by this devastating stronghold. The podcast conversation is so important that it's broken into two separate parts.
* The conversation in today's podcast is not appropriate for children due to some of the content. Please take measures to assure that "little ears" aren't around.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/freedom-for-pastors-bound-by-porn-w-russell-willingham-mike-manzie-episode-185/
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Dale had the privilege of spending some time with Jeff Clark on today's 95Podcast. Jeff stated, "We were often taught that healthy things grow as an indicator of church health. However, eventually things should move from just focusing on growth towards focusing on maturity. Mature things reproduce."
Today's podcast is filled with wisdom and practical lessons derived from over 40 years of ministry experience in the rural setting as well as serving many years on the mission field in the pacific realm. You're going to enjoy the "golden nuggets of truth" shared by Jeff.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/ministry-maturity-leads-to-reproduction-w-jeff-clark-episode-184/
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Ira Antoine began his adult life as an engineer for NASA. However, he soon sensed a calling to give up pursuing an engineering career in order to answer the call into ministry. After stepping away, he served on staff at a local church eventually becoming the Lead Pastor.
Today Ira serves churches throughout Texas and beyond with a specific focus on bi-vocational pastors in a rural context. This episode of the 95Podcast is filled with wisdom that only comes from overcoming the obstacles that decades of ministry in the local church can create.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/bi-vocational-ministry-isnt-trendy-w-ira-antoine-episode-183/
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Bill & Kristi Gaultiere know from first hand experience how ministry can take a toll on your life. They both came to this realization while serving the local church in a season in intense activity. However, they soon discovered something on the inside was wrong. The joy and fulfillment of ministry had diminished in the midst of the fast paced life of leading in today's culture.
On this edition of the 95Podcast, you will get to hear the heart of their ministry to leaders through Soul Shepherding and the Sabbatical Guide. Their desire is for you to find a weekly rhythm to your life and ministry that brings comfort and peace each day.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-sabbatical-guide-w-bill-kristi-gaultiere-episode-182/
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Bruce and Toni Hebel know how hard ministry can be. Several difficult church pastorates brought them to a place of deep hurt and emotional pain. However, their breakthroughs came as they came face to face with the call of Jesus to completely forgive those who had hurt them.
Today, Bruce and Toni lead hundreds of people through a process that brings past issues to the surface in order to be completely set free and move forward in life. This podcast is probably going to lead you to a place of serious introspection to make sure there is not an offense of the past that's holding you back today.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/forgiving-forward-w-bruce-toni-hebel-episode-181/
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Mary Ann Sibley is passionate about equipping people for ministry success. She learned through a series of experiences that the only way to have sustained, successful ministry is to equip and empower others. This experience has helped Mary Ann to become a tremendous resource for any leader in need of coaching and training to develop leaders.
Mary Ann joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to talk through ways we can develop an awesome volunteer culture within any organization. This podcast is loaded with so much practical wisdom.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/w-mary-ann-sibley-episode-180/
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It's always so refreshing whenever we get the opportunity to catch up with Steve McVey of The Dirt Roads Network. Steve's many years of experience and his obvious passion to help the lost find Jesus is inspiring.
Today's conversation with Steve and Dale takes us through next steps for pastors who need direction on this side of the pandemic. So many important issues are covered in this podcast. I'm sure you will sense a renewed calling in your own heart as you listen.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/its-not-a-career-its-a-calling-w-steve-mcvey-episode-179/
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Calvary Church in West Hartford, Connecticut reached a point in 2019 when it was apparent that they could use some "outside eyes" to help them gain clarity. Pastor Frank Termine connected with Dale while attending a conference in Clinton, Connecticut. Dale had mentioned that 95Network offered an event called VisionDay which was designed to help an individual church gain mission and vision clarity.
Calvary Church did host a VisionDay in February of 2020. It was only a few weeks later that the pandemic shut down was implemented all across the country. Today's podcast conversation with Pastor Frank is a wonderful testimony of how Jesus used VisionDay to prepare Calvary Church for a brand new focus for impacting the surrounding communities.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/how-visionday-helped-calvary-church-w-frank-termine-episode-178/
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Dale had the opportunity to spend some time with the leadership of Servant Solutions on today's podcast. The purpose of connecting with them was to gain a greater understanding of many of the issues facing pastors. The conversation was so good that we needed to separate it into two different podcast.
Today's podcast is part #2 which focuses on financial planning and retirement for pastors . Mark, Bob and Jim share some valuable insight for every pastor no matter what stage of life you're currently in. This podcast is filled with great information for every leader in pastoral ministry.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/servant-solutions-retirement-planning-part-2-w-mark-senseman-bob-haymond-jim-obold-episode-177/
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Dale had the opportunity to spend some time with the leadership of Servant Solutions on today's podcast. The purpose of connecting with them was to gain a greater understanding of many of the issues facing pastors. The conversation was so good that we needed to separate it into two different podcast.
Therefore, today's podcast part #1 deals mainly with understanding the pastors housing allowance and all of the varied nuances that exist concerning it. Mark, Bob and Jim do a great job of explaining how the pastors housing allowance is designed to work. This podcast is filled with great information for every leader in pastoral ministry.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/servant-solutions-pastor-housing-allowance-part-1-w-mark-senseman-bob-haymond-jim-obold-episode-176/
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Meet 95Network's Director of Discipleship Matt Adair. Dale recently connected with Matt on Podcast Episode 167 to learn about his discipleship ministry called Transformational Discipleship. After a few conversations, Dale asked Matt to join the 95Network team to be a resource to churches that are in need of discipleship training and coaching.
Today's BONUS EPISODE introduces Matt to our audience as he shares his tremendous passion for helping churches to become consistent in their discipleship emphasis. You will soon learn that Matt is a trusted resource and friend that can train your ministry on how to develop effective and consistent discipleship.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/meet-95networks-director-of-discipleship-w-matt-adair-bonus-episode/
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Daniel Yang grew up an immigrant in some of the harshest environments imaginable. However, Jesus took the pain of those difficult days and shaped him into a successful businessman at an early age. Daniel soon discovered that the fulfillment of living the American dream had actually left him empty.
Experiencing a heart-attack in his early 40's eventually turned Daniel's life upside down. Learn how Jesus took the stress and trauma that Daniel had internalized and used it to set him on a successful ministry path. He serves as the Director of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center Church Multiplication Institute.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/easter-week-w-episode-175/
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Have you ever felt like God was preparing you from your childhood to live out a Divine calling??? If so, then you will most likely identify with the journey that Ben and Kathleen Struss have experienced. They both sensed that Jesus was preparing them for a lifetime of missions work ever since their early teens. This is what led them to move their family to the other side of the world in order to serve the nation of Indonesia.
Ben joins Dale today on the 95Podcast to discuss how his family arrived at the point of church planting in a predominately Muslim nation. This is such a great conversation of how God uses each step of our lives to prepare us for His perfect plan.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/w-ben-struss-episode-174/
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VisionDay Consultant Evan Silver joins Dale today to discuss how he uses his VisionDay Facilitator training to serve leaders in the salon industry. After making a few tweaks, Evan is having a tremendous impact helping salon's to discover that their business's can also serve their client's hearts.
This is a fun and fascinating conversation about how leadership principles are the same in most settings whether it's in a ministry atmosphere or working with people in the market place.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/can-visionday-work-in-varied-leadership-settings-w-evan-silver-episode-173/
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Dale had the opportunity today to catch up with Tony Morgan and Amy Anderson of the Unstuck Group. Their conversation covered a wide range of topics concerning what Tony and Amy are seeing as they work with many churches throughout the year. Some exciting things are happening in the church today as we move further away from the impact of the pandemic.
You'll want to pull up a chair at the table and sit in on this valuable time. The point of this podcast is that we can spread hope that Jesus is truly at work in HIS church throughout America and worldwide.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/there-is-a-lot-to-be-excited-about-in-the-church-today-w-tony-morgan-amy-anderson-episode-172/
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Dale had the awesome opportunity on today's 95Podcast to catch up with Jeff Wright. Jeff grew up at the small church Dale pastored many years ago. Their conversation is a reflection of the impact of their early relationship as well as an update of what God is doing today through Jeff and his wife Alyssa.
They discuss the triumphs and tragedies of church planting in another culture far from the United States. You'll be encouraged to hear how the Wrights have placed their entire lives in the Lord's hands as they share His love with an unreached population.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/lifestyle-evangelism-w-jeff-wright-episode-171/
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Are you really fulfilled in your current career choice? What if an organization existed that could help guide you into the career path that aligns with your gifts, calling and passion. Kevin Brennfleck joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss the possibilities that await you should you be willing to look at your vocational options.
The Christian Career Center exists to provide thorough guidance into helping you discover your God-given abilities. Far too many people spend their lives working in areas that are not a great fit for how they are created. You'll find today's podcast to be a great resource that understands the next steps necessary to experience vocational fulfillment.
Show notes: https://www.95network.org/exploring-the-christian-career-center-w-kevin-brennfleck-episode-170/
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It's always so enlightening anytime Dale has the opportunity to catch up with Karl Vaters. Today's podcast is filled with so much wisdom as Karl shares his insights and wisdom. Karl gives valuable guidance to any leader who finds themselves in the midst of not really knowing which way to go next.
Karl Vaters has an international impact in the small church space through his books, conferences, podcasts and teaching materials. His passion for the small church as well as the small church leader is contagious.Pull up a chair and prepare to learn as you check out today's 95Podcast with Karl Vaters.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/you-cant-go-forward-while-looking-backward-w-karl-vaters-episode-169/
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"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward." by Vernon Law
Mark & Jill Savage can relate to this quote first-hand. They speak openly about how their marriage was built on a foundation of sand that eventually eroded away as the pressure of ministry finally took its toll on Mark.
Today's podcast is a powerful and transparent conversation with Mark and Jill on how finally arriving at a place of total surrender brought complete healing and restoration to the both of them. Every ministry couple needs to pull up a chair and listen to the wisdom of the Savage's shared in this special Valentines podcast.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/healing-broken-trust-w-mark-jill-savage-episode-168/
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Is it time to acknowledge that our traditional way of providing discipleship in most cases isn't providing clear results? When it comes to your discipleship process, do you have a clearly defined goal you are shooting for that would allow you to evaluate your effectiveness? If the answer to these questions is no then you will really enjoy today's 95Podcast with Matt Adair.
Dale and Matt discuss practical ways you can use to determine your discipleship effectiveness. For Matt, one of the key outcomes of effective discipleship is to love your enemies. Today's podcast is filled with great wisdom and guidance for anyone looking to create transformational discipleship throughout their ministry.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/transformational-discipleship-w-matt-adair-episode-167/
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George Kreger created saveyourchurchmoney.com out of his own need as a lead pastor. Today it has grown into a national service provider established to assist ministries who are in search of the best possible deals when it comes to purchasing church furniture.
Dale interviews George in today's 95Podcast to learn about how he served in rural church ministry for over 30 years. They discuss the high's and low's George experienced as a lead pastor. His experience led him to develop this great resource designed to provide a trusted friend to assist any local church pastor in the confusing area of purchasing items for the church. You'll soon learn that George is a friend you can trust to help you navigate your furnishing needs too.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/save-your-church-money-w-george-kreger-episode-166/
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Tim Walker joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to talk about the amazing impact he has seen at Restored Church in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Restored Church has a decade of meeting the needs of the less fortunate by sharing the Gospel with them. Once someone has come to Christ, the next step is to disciple them through a process called The Timothy Initiative. The goal of The Timothy Initiative is to develop discipleship to the 4th generation.
Tim shares how he's seen firsthand the impact of developing disciples who develop disciples that develop disciples. He also notes 4 key shifts that are happening: 1 - Believer to Disciple, 2 - Knowledge to Obedience, 3 - Disciple to Disciple-Maker & 4 - Addition to Multiplication.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-timothy-initiative-w-tim-walker-episode-165/
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95Network team member Hykeng Paul joins Dale on today's podcast to discuss ways to keep the conversation going concerning racial issues in the church. Their discussion is designed to provide practical next steps to help you in connecting with those in your community who may be from different cultures.
Racial reconciliation doesn't happen automatically. Only through intentional efforts will our churches ever begin to have meaningful conversations to bridge the gap between different cultures.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/keeping-the-conversation-going-hykeng-paul-episode-164/
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After my divorce I didn’t know if I would ever be married again. I had a lot of pain and confusion. But deep in my heart, I wanted someone in my life who I could love and who would love me back. A person who I could share my life with me. Even though I was married before, I had missed some of this. However, my dating life didn’t seem to indicate I would be married again.
In today's 95Podcast, Dan Houk shares that in his experience, most people in Christian circles are open to a loving, committed marriage. It’s just that they are sometimes still hurting, feel unprepared, feel awkward about looking around, or they have lost hope because of their circumstances. This is an "eye-opening" conversation designed to help all church leaders see a valuable segment of society that is right before our eyes.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/intentional-relationship-solutions-w-dan-houk-episode-160/
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Thom Rainer published a blog article on November 28, 2022 entitled, "The New Very Large Church." One of the statements in the article said that churches with an average attendance of more that 250 is now considered to be a "very large church." He went on to highlight some of the implications of this "size-mic" shift in the church.
Dale gathered some of the 95Network team to discuss their reaction to Thom's post. Jason Allison, Jon Sanders, Greg Moore and Brent Carter share their insights of the shifting paradigm of the local church. The small and midsize church continues to be the "backbone" of the church in America. We hope you will find encouragement as well as some wisdom of how to navigate these changing times through today's 95Podcast.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/ithe-size-mic-shift-of-the-church-w-the-95network-team-episode-162/
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Today's PODCAST RECAST originally aired on June 7, 2022. Episode 122 was an incredible conversation with Dan Reiland discussing the culture of the church.
Dan Reiland is the executive pastor at 12Stone Church in the Lawrenceville suburb of Atlanta. Before beginning his ministry at 12Stone, he spent two decades partnering with John Maxwell at Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego and as Vice President of Leadership and Church Development at INJOY. Dan is a wealth of knowledge for pastors who want to know more about leading effectively in their ministries and personal lives.
In this episode, we’re talking with Dan about what a healthy church culture looks like. He offers a host of practical steps for creating a thriving church environment and how to prepare a succession plan when the time is right. Dan’s advice to pastors about where to turn and what to do when you know you’re in an unhealthy place is full of compassion and wisdom. There are so many truths waiting to be heard today—I can’t wait for you to listen!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-essentials-for-a-thriving-church-w-dan-reiland-episode-161/
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Today's PODCAST RECAST originally aired on August 16, 2022. Episode 142 featured an insightful conversation with 95Network's Director of Coaching Jon Sanders discussing the impact of PTSD.
Dale returns the favor today by giving Caralee the week off as he talks with Jon Sanders about some of the things he learned recently at a special training in Mississippi called Tactical-Resilience Protocol (TRP) and Emotions-Management Process (EMP) from 22Zero.org. Although the focus was specifically on the effects of PTSD in first responders and the military, Jon helps us see how most pastors are dealing with the same kinds of emotional issues.
We dive into how trauma affects the nervous system requiring intentional focus to “put the trauma in its place.” Everyone has a basic fight, flight, freeze, or fake response to ongoing traumatic situations. The honest transparency shared by Jon and Dale makes this podcast one you’ll want to share with anyone working through emotional discouragement.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-ptsd-and-the-ministry-w-jon-sanders-episode-162/
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Christine Carter was living a normal life when she was suddenly blindsided by the disappearance of her husband. Things got much worse as she soon discovered the double life that he was living. Alone with two children and pregnant with a third, Christine began a journey of discovering how faithful the Lord could be in her life.
Pink Theology was written to communicate how we can learn through serious study of Scripture a new level of trust. It's one thing to say I believe in God's Word. However, it's another thing entirely to see your belief become reality. Our conversation with Christine and Brent is a refreshing testimony of His faithfulness.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/pink-theology-w-christine-brent-carter-episode-159/
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It's been said that "dynamite comes in small packages." That is certainly the case when it comes to Nicole Vallance and her contagious passion for evangelism. Nicole accepted Jesus into her heart as a young college student and has never looked back. Although life has brought some setbacks to Nicole, she remains steadfast in her desire to see everyone experience a personal relationship with Jesus.
Today's 95Podcast conversation with Dale and Nicole is filled with hope that our churches will return to the mission of evangelizing our communities. Nicole has devoted her life to sharing Jesus with anyone and everyone along with training churches in practical ways of sharing their faith.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/evangelism-is-a-lifestyle-w-nicole-vance-episode-158/
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Stacey Foster knows what it's like to have a "testimony" of being far from God. However, his actual testimony began on the night he lay on his bed and asked Jesus to save him. That night Stacey started a journey that was unimaginable to him at that moment.
Stacey joins Dale to talk about many things currently impacting the church and society. His work with church leaders through Compassion International is having a significant impact in America and worldwide.
Show notes: https://www.95network.org/get-your-burning-before-you-get-your-learning-w-stacey-foster-episode-157/
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Happy Thanksgiving! We wanted to do something special for this week's 95Podcast so we brought back the most popular podcast of all time. Today's PODCAST RECAST features the conversation originally released in December 2020 with Bob Hamp. Whether you hearing it again or it's your first time, Bob has a pertinent reminder for each of us on today's PODCAST RECAST of Episode 59.
"Freedom is not the absence of something, it's the presence of Someone."
This man changed my life... Bob Hamp is the Founder of Think Differently Academy and is a Marriage & Family Therapist. I talk about him a lot in my book Stalled, particularly regarding the profound effect his teaching called "The Problem Jesus Came to Solve" had on my life and my journey towards health.
So you may be able to imagine how much of an honor it is to be sharing this conversation Austin and I got to have with Bob on the podcast today.
Not only will you hear him play something on his "office guitar" at the opening of the episode, but you'll also get to listen to a conversation about why we need to change how we think about "freedom" and how you can take steps today to start doing ministry from Jesus instead of for Jesus (which was the game-changing shift for me). Listen in!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-doing-ministry-from-jesus-instead-of-for-him-w-bob-hamp-episode-156/
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Pastor Rusty Richards has always been an overachiever. He's also been blessed to serve in ministries that have experienced steady growth throughout his ministry experiences of serving in several staff roles before becoming a Lead Pastor. However, the impact of leading his church and team through the beginning of the 2020 pandemic shutdown brought to the surface some things that Rusty had been burying inside for many years.
Rusty joins Dale on today's podcast to discuss how he came face to face with some deep-seated issues, hurts, and trauma that could no longer be avoided. He transparently walks us through his path to healing as he has sought the much-needed help he was looking for. Rusty's story will impact every leader.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/how-leading-through-the-pandemic-brought-personal-freedom-w-rusty-richards-episode-155/
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Have you ever been living in the joy of knowing you are doing precisely what the Lord has called you to do while being exactly where He wants you? And then, suddenly, out of nowhere, the most imaginable tragedy happens??? If so, you can relate to Davey Blackburn's story.
The Lord has been so faithful in Davey's life as he discovered a level of grace and comfort that most people never know. Today's podcast is a shining example of how "nothing is wasted" when we give even the most unexplainable life experiences to Jesus.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/nothing-is-wasted-w-davey-blackburn-episode-154/
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Derek Sanford is the Lead Pastor of Grace Church in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he lives with his wife Kim and their three children. Derek became Lead Pastor after serving for many years in various ministry roles under Pastor Al Detter. After transitioning to Lead Pastor, Derek began to implement a plan to raise and release volunteers throughout the ministry of Grace Church.
Dale and Derek discuss the process involved in empowering volunteers to lead most areas of the church. This fascinating conversation concerns how to equip your church to thrive by utilizing the gifts within your local church body.
Show notes: https://www.95network.org/untapped-church-w-derek-sanford-episode-153/
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Jesse Barnett, the leader of 95Network's Digital Discipleship Coaching, joins Dale today to discuss the fantastic opportunity currently available to church leaders. He unveiled his new process designed to teach pastors how to "get more mileage out of their message" last year. Although several pastors have connected with Jesse, the need for encouragement and digital training is more significant than ever.
This podcast will challenge even the most resistant skeptic on how important it is to shift to adding a strong digital focus to your ministry to reach new people. Jesse's passion for supporting pastors is loud and clear as he shares his heart for developing impactful digital ministry.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/too-great-of-an-opportunity-to-be-missed-w-jesse-barnett-episode-152/
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Pastor Josh Robinson joins Dale today to discuss how he has benefitted from going through Digital Discipleship Coaching with 95Network Coach Jesse Barnett. Josh has consistently seen new inquiries and first-time guests at his church as he has implemented the principles he learned.
Although Josh describes himself as "tech-savvy," he recognized that any leader could improve their online impact by following through with this training. Josh says it is Jesse's desire to help every communicator "get more mileage out of your message" no matter what arena you communicate in. You'll be encouraged by Josh's positive experience as he shares it on today's podcast.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-impact-of-digital-discipleship-coaching-w-josh-robinson-episode-151/
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We celebrate the release of our 150th podcast today by having several members of the 95Network team join us for a discussing about ministry leadership "soul-care." Kevin, Travis, Suzi, Jason, Brent, Joseph & Jon joined Dale today to give their insight into what they are currently seeing across the country.
We also took this opportunity to unveil our new 1/2 day "Soul Care Essentials Conference" that has just been launched. The 95Network team is looking forward to connecting with pastors and leaders all across the country through this special conference designed to encourage and strengthen small and midsize church leaders.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/soul-care-essentials-w-the-95network-team-episode-150/
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Dale caught up with Mark Pritchard today who is Lead Pastor of The Church at the Gates to discuss his take away from the recent VisionDay he hosted. This was actually the second strategic planning retreat that Dale has led at The Church at the Gates.
Mark shares his insights on how helpful it has been for his team as well as himself to bring in "outside eyes" to help shape the strategic plan of the church. This is a great interview if you're considering hosting a VisionDay with your team in the coming days.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-value-of-a-visionday-w-mark-pritchard-episode-149/
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Dale visits today with Laurie Acker who is the founder of The Creative Little Church. She has a tremendous heart to serve small churches throughout America and around the world. Laurie sees the potential that exists within small churches as the members are trained and empowered to use their God-given gifts for His glory.
The Creative Little Church recently changed its name to Small Church Ministry. The goal of the name change is to connect with more small churches who are looking for hope, help and training specific to small churches. Prepare to be encouraged today as you hear Laurie's passion for small churches and their big potential.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/small-church-ministry-w-laurie-acker-episode-148/
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Mark Waltz joins Dale today to work through a conversation about health, wellness, wholeness and well-being for ministry leaders. They transparently share how they came to realize that certain events throughout life can still have a powerful effect on our lives today.
Mark has begun a six month Leadership Wellness Cohort which is having a profound impact on many of the leaders who choose to join it. Today's podcast may help reveal things in your life that are still affecting your leadership today.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/wellness-and-emotional-healthy-leaders-w-mark-waltz-episode-147/
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Dale discusses the importance of making stewardship a priority focus in your leadership with Chris Willard in today's 95Podcast. Many pastors and leaders are paralyzed when it comes to discussing anything to do with money in the church. We dive into some common fears as well as offer some proven solutions for approaching this subject.
Chris Willard serves as Co-founder and CEO of the Elevate Group which was created to assist ministries with increased engagement and multiplying their ministry impact. You're going to be challenged and encouraged as you listen to this important podcast.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/prioritizing-stewardship-in-your-leadership-w-chris-willard-episode-146/
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Dale returns from his extended break to join Caralee in discussing the positive effects of taking a break throughout July. Whether writing a new book or just taking a breather, he highlights the benefits of getting out of the normal routine of life which allows you to gain fresh perspective and hear the Lord's voice more clearly.
Caralee also shares how the Lord spoke some unexpected direction in her life concerning her family. As the season of co-hosting the 95Podcast comes to a close, Caralee reflects on the blessings that she has received after saying "yes" to trying something out of her comfort zone.
This episode highlights the importance of "giving up to go up" in our leadership.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/gaining-perspective-by-slowing-down-w-caralee-dale-episode-145/
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Karis Hortin is only 21 years old, but she's already lived a lot of life. Born in Ethiopia, she was raised by her grandmother until she was seven, when she entered an orphanage because her grandmother contracted HIV. At nine, she was adopted by an American family and began her life in the United States. Karis says that before she ever heard of God, she always felt like someone was looking out for her.
These days, she uses her faith, talent, and marketing expertise to help churches get their social media platforms off the ground. She's also a certified life coach for teen girls and has used her popular TikTok and YouTube accounts as a platform to tackle the complicated things that teens face these days. Oh, and did I mention she's a beauty queen running for Miss Illinois? Is there anything she can't do?!
Today, our conversation centers around social media for churches and why having an online presence is so crucial for the younger generation. Karis mentions how we should see social media as a ministry rather than an advertisement—a comment that holds so much truth. Listen in today, and reach out to us or Karis (link below) if you have any questions!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/social-media-as-a-ministry-and-not-an-advertisement-w-karis-hortin-episode-136/
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The original release of Podcast 111 w/ Polly Hamp was so well received that we decided to release it again as the end of summer 2022 nears. We hope you enjoy today's PODCAST RECAST.
The work of Jesus is evident all throughout Polly Hamp's life.
If you've listened to the podcast for a while, you know my life was changed by the teaching of Bob Hamp, and it was such an honor to have his wife Polly on the podcast this week to share her story.
Polly's earliest memory is from age 3, when she was first sexually abused. In today's episode, she shares about the journey of life she has been on, as well as the incredible ways Jesus has shown up in her story and redeemed aspects of her story.
Her vision in life is to see people walk in the fullness of who God created them to be. For years Polly has been helping individuals find freedom and hope from hurting and stuck places. She was the founder and director of a ministry that helped people impacted by the sex industry find freedom and a new life. She also is a published author, speaker, Think Differently Coach, Certified NLP Practitioner, and an Organizational Consultant.
The faithfulness of God evident in her story brought me to tears. I encourage you to listen!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-recovering-from-trauma-seeing-gods-faithfulness-w-polly-hamp-episode-143/
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The original release of Podcast 117 w/ Marty Sawyers was so well received that we decided to release it again as the end of summer 2022 nears. We hope you enjoy today's PODCAST RECAST.
At Full Strength Network, Marty Sawyers and his team believe that healthy pastors lead healthy churches, and healthy churches change the world. That's why they've gathered a national network of providers who are passionate about helping pastors and their families stay on the road to mental, spiritual, and financial well-being.
We all know how important it is to take care of yourself. They say that when an airplane is going down, if you don't put your safety mask on first, then you can't help anyone else. This is especially true for ministers and their families.
Today, we're talking to Marty about why pastors need counseling in every season of life, whether dealing with trauma or simply maintaining healthy habits. We'll also talk about how Full Strength Network can help pastors and their families receive counseling, financial coaching, and well-being resources in an affordable, safe, and anonymous way.
Take a few minutes to listen. I know you'll be encouraged!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-healthy-pastors-lead-healthy-churches-and-what-that-looks-like-for-you-w-marty-sawyers-episode-144/
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In today’s episode, we’re catching up with Hykeng Paul, the Director of Unity and Diversity at Newspring Church here in South Carolina. As a black man who grew up in the AME church and then began attending a predominantly white church, Hykeng has a unique perspective on racial separation in congregations. He’s a wealth of knowledge about the history of the black church and what led us to where we are today.
During our conversation, Hykeng brings a welcome perspective to the table about why tackling this issue should be a priority in our churches and what we can do about it. He gives some practical first steps for pursuing unity—the first being just simply to start praying about it. Our open and honest conversation was a blessing to me, and I hope it will be to you.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/bridging-the-minority-gap-with-intentional-relationships-w-hykeng-paul-episode-133/
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Have you ever wondered why it seems like there are always more women than men in the church? Studies show that the average Protestant church is around 61% female and 39% male. Quite the difference, huh?
During today's conversation, Jon and Caralee talk to author and video producer David Murrow about what causes men to fall away from the church and what we can do to draw them in again. Our goal at 95Network is to see churches not only grow but flourish. And to reach that goal, we need everyone's help—both men and women!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/why-men-hate-going-to-church-w-david-murrow-episode-137/
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"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)
Chuck Stecker is the founder of A Chosen Generation, and he believes that all generations, young and old, have something to contribute to the church. That's why his organization seeks to provide strategies and resources for leaders who want to strengthen the intergenerational culture of their churches.
Today, we're talking to Chuck about fostering a church culture that brings generations together. It's essential that the older generation (or the "encore generation," as Chuck calls it) stays active in the church. And we don't mean being involved in seniors-only ministries—we mean being involved in discipleship ministries with kids, students, teens, and young adults. The encore generation has so much to give! It's time that we encourage them to keep hold of their baton and continue their race.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/creating-an-intergenerational-culture-in-your-church-w-chuck-stecker-episode-135/
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Our fearless leader is turning 60! First, from all of the team at 95Network, we want to wish him a very happy birthday. We're so thankful for his leadership, his vulnerability, and his encouragement every day.
As Dale welcomes a brand new decade in his life, he's spending some time today reflecting on his experiences in the past four decades of ministry. He and Caralee discuss the highs and the lows of his life, what Jesus has taught him about relinquishing control, and how Grace is the greatest gift for people who are constantly striving to "fix" everything. There's so much wisdom in this episode—enjoy!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/dales-turning-60-reflections-on-the-past-40-years-of-ministry-w-dale-caralee-episode-134/
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At this point, most of us know that providing online access to sermons and Sunday services is imperative to reaching people inside and outside of the church. However, many pastors are still hesitant (or even unwilling) to go there. Today's guest, David Murrow, says that "online sermons are the church's welcome center." Currently, people "visit" churches by first finding them online, watching a few sermons, and then coming in person if they like what they've seen.
With this in mind, David has recently launched a coaching program to help churches improve their online presence. He's got some great ideas and resources available for pastors who are ready to dive into the online world. I hope you take away some great ideas to try for yourself!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/how-to-make-your-sermon-shareable-w-david-murrow-episode-137/
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John Michael Clark is the pastor at Salt Church, a new church plant, on the Chesapeake Bay of Virginia. He and his wife Natalie have always had a good marriage, but several years ago, God made it clear that He had better for them. When John Michael started searching for answers on how to make his marriage great, he came up short. It seemed like no one could tell him exactly how to lead his family well. That's why he started a ministry called The Family Captain.
Today, we're talking to John Michael about why men don't take responsibility for the leadership role in their homes, why filling that role is vital to marital and familial relationships, and what God has called us to do about it. Our conversation is an excellent resource for both men and women who want to grow their relationship with their spouses the way God intended.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/leading-your-family-what-it-looks-like-for-men-in-marriage-w-john-michael-clark-episode-139/
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We're excited to welcome Dan Reiland back to the 95 Podcast! If you don't remember, Dan is the executive pastor at 12Stone Church just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. He's worked for decades in ministry and has honed his craft in teaching others how to lead effectively. Recently, he spent some time with us discussing how to create a thriving church, a conversation filled with practical tips and wisdom for pastors.
Dan just released his new devotional book, Leadership Alone Isn't Enough, and we're so excited to talk to him about it. The book incorporates 40 short devotions designed to refresh and deepen the connection between you and God. Each devotion is only about three pages long and has a reflection question at the end—a perfect design for pastors and leaders who need encouragement. Tune in to see what Dan has to say!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/creating-an-intergenerational-culture-in-your-church-w-chuck-stecker-episode-135/
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Dale returns the favor today by giving Caralee the week off as he talks with Jon Sanders about some of the things he learned recently at a special training in Mississippi called Tactical-Resilience Protocol (TRP) and Emotions-Management Process (EMP) from 22Zero.org. Although the focus was specifically on the effects of PTSD in first responders and the military, Jon helps us see how most pastors are dealing with the same kinds of emotional issues.
We dive into how trauma affects the nervous system requiring intentional focus to “put the trauma in its place.” Everyone has a basic fight, flight, freeze, or fake response to ongoing traumatic situations. The honest transparency shared by Jon and Dale makes this podcast one you’ll want to share with anyone working through emotional discouragement.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/ptsd-and-the-ministry-w-jon-sanders-episode-142/
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During today's podcast, Jon and Caralee welcome one of our team members, Gwen Rutz. Gwen serves as the lead pastor of The Crossing church in Clinton, Oklahoma, and is on the leadership team for the Oklahoma Network of Women Ministers. She and her husband, Troy, are about to embark on an exciting new phase of ministry in the marketplace through their business, Native Arrow Archery.
We're talking with Gwen about how she got involved with 95Network and how our coaching program helped her create a focus and tangible goals for leading her congregation. She'll also share about her life and how God has been preparing her to hand off the baton to someone else so she can go where He is leading. It's a great conversation with so much energy and hope! I pray it blesses you.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/what-did-god-say-how-to-bravely-follow-his-lead-w-gwen-rutz-episode-138/
Support the show
The original release of Podcast 111 w/ Polly Hamp was so well received that we decided to release it again as the end of summer 2022 nears. We hope you enjoy today's PODCAST RECAST.
The work of Jesus is evident all throughout Polly Hamp's life.
If you've listened to the podcast for a while, you know my life was changed by the teaching of Bob Hamp, and it was such an honor to have his wife Polly on the podcast this week to share her story.
Polly's earliest memory is from age 3, when she was first sexually abused. In today's episode, she shares about the journey of life she has been on, as well as the incredible ways Jesus has shown up in her story and redeemed aspects of her story.
Her vision in life is to see people walk in the fullness of who God created them to be. For years Polly has been helping individuals find freedom and hope from hurting and stuck places. She was the founder and director of a ministry that helped people impacted by the sex industry find freedom and a new life. She also is a published author, speaker, Think Differently Coach, Certified NLP Practitioner, and an Organizational Consultant.
The faithfulness of God evident in her story brought me to tears. I encourage you to listen!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-recovering-from-trauma-seeing-gods-faithfulness-w-polly-hamp-episode-143/
Support the Show: https://www.95network.org/contact-us/
Dale returns the favor today by giving Caralee the week off as he talks with Jon Sanders about some of the things he learned recently at a special training in Mississippi called Tactical-Resilience Protocol (TRP) and Emotions-Management Process (EMP) from 22Zero.org. Although the focus was specifically on the effects of PTSD in first responders and the military, Jon helps us see how most pastors are dealing with the same kinds of emotional issues.
We dive into how trauma affects the nervous system requiring intentional focus to “put the trauma in its place.” Everyone has a basic fight, flight, freeze or fake response to ongoing traumatic situations. The honest transparency shared by Jon and Dale make this podcast one you’ll want to share with anyone working through emotional discouragement.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/ptsd-and-the-ministry-w-jon-sanders-episode-142/
Support the Show: https://www.95network.org/contact-us/
We're excited to welcome Dan Reiland back to the 95 Podcast! If you don't remember, Dan is the executive pastor at 12Stone Church just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. He's worked for decades in ministry and has honed his craft in teaching others how to lead effectively. Recently, he spent some time with us discussing how to create a thriving church, a conversation filled with practical tips and wisdom for pastors.
Dan just released his new devotional book, Leadership Alone Isn't Enough, and we're so excited to talk to him about it. The book incorporates 40 short devotions designed to refresh and deepen the connection between you and God. Each devotion is only about three pages long and has a reflection question at the end—a perfect design for pastors and leaders who need encouragement. Tune in to see what Dan has to say!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/leadership-alone-isnt-enough-w-dan-reiland-episode-141/
Support the Show: https://www.95network.org/contact-us/
Have you ever wondered why it seems like there are always more women than men in the church? Studies show that the average Protestant church is around 61% female and 39% male. Quite the difference, huh?
During today's conversation, Jon and Caralee talk to author and video producer David Murrow about what causes men to fall away from the church and what we can do to draw them in again. Our goal at 95Network is to see churches not only grow but flourish. And to reach that goal, we need everyone's help—both men and women!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/why-men-hate-going-to-church-w-david-murrow-episode-137/
Support the Show: https://www.95network.org/contact-us/
John Michael Clark is the executive pastor at Salt Church on the Chesapeake Bay of Virginia. He and his wife Natalie have always had a good marriage, but several years ago, God made it clear that He had better for them. When John Michael started searching for answers on how to make his marriage great, he came up short. It seemed like no one could tell him exactly how to lead his family well. That's why he started a ministry called The Family Captain.
Today, we're talking to John Michael about why men don't take responsibility for the leadership role in their homes, why filling that role is vital to marital and familial relationships, and what God has called us to do about it. Our conversation is an excellent resource for both men and women who want to grow their relationship with their spouses the way God intended.
Show Notes:
https://www.95network.org/leading-your-family-what-it-looks-like-for-men-in-marriage-w-john-michael-clark-episode-139/
Support the Show: https://www.95network.org/contact-us/
During today's podcast, Jon and Caralee welcome one of our team members, Gwen Rutz. Gwen serves as the lead pastor of The Crossing church in Clinton, Oklahoma, and is on the leadership team for the Oklahoma Network of Women Ministers. She and her husband, Troy, are about to embark on an exciting new phase of ministry in the marketplace through their business, Native Arrow Archery.
We're talking with Gwen about how she got involved with 95Network and how our coaching program helped her create a focus and tangible goals for leading her congregation. She'll also share about her life and how God has been preparing her to hand off the baton to someone else so she can go where He is leading. It's a great conversation with so much energy and hope! I pray it blesses you.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/what-did-god-say-how-to-bravely-follow-his-lead-w-gwen-rutz-episode-138/
Support the Show: https://www.95network.org/contact-us/
At this point, most of us know that providing online access to sermons and Sunday services is imperative to reaching people inside and outside of the church. However, many pastors are still hesitant (or even unwilling) to go there. Today's guest, David Murrow, says that "online sermons are the church's welcome center." Currently, people "visit" churches by first finding them online, watching a few sermons, and then coming in person if they like what they've seen.
With this in mind, David has recently launched a coaching program to help churches improve their online presence. He's got some great ideas and resources available for pastors who are ready to dive into the online world. I hope you take away some great ideas to try for yourself!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/how-to-make-your-sermon-shareable-w-david-murrow-episode-137/
Support the Show: https://www.95network.org/contact-us/
Karis Hortin is only 21 years old, but she's already lived a lot of life. Born in Ethiopia, she was raised by her grandmother until she was seven, when she entered an orphanage because her grandmother contracted HIV. At nine, she was adopted by an American family and began her life in the United States. Karis says that before she ever heard of God, she always felt like someone was looking out for her.
These days, she uses her faith, talent, and marketing expertise to help churches get their social media platforms off the ground. She's also a certified life coach for teen girls and has used her popular TikTok and YouTube accounts as a platform to tackle the complicated things that teens face these days. Oh, and did I mention she's a beauty queen running for Miss Illinois? Is there anything she can't do?!
Today, our conversation centers around social media for churches and why having an online presence is so crucial for the younger generation. Karis mentions how we should see social media as a ministry rather than an advertisement—a comment that holds so much truth. Listen in today, and reach out to us or Karis (link below) if you have any questions!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/social-media-as-a-ministry-and-not-an-advertisement-w-karis-hortin-episode-136/
Support the Show: https://www.95network.org/contact-us/
"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)
Chuck Stecker is the founder of A Chosen Generation, and he believes that all generations, young and old, have something to contribute to the church. That's why his organization seeks to provide strategies and resources for leaders who want to strengthen the intergenerational culture of their churches.
Today, we're talking to Chuck about fostering a church culture that brings generations together. It's essential that the older generation (or the "encore generation," as Chuck calls it) stays active in the church. And we don't mean being involved in seniors-only ministries—we mean being involved in discipleship ministries with kids, students, teens, and young adults. The encore generation has so much to give! It's time that we encourage them to keep hold of their baton and continue their race.
Show Notes: https:www.95network.org/creating-an-intergenerational-culture-in-your-church-w-chuck-stecker-episode-135/
Support the Show: https://www.95network.org/contact-us/
Our fearless leader is turning 60! First, from all of the team at 95Network, we want to wish him a very happy birthday. We're so thankful for his leadership, his vulnerability, and his encouragement every day.
As Dale welcomes a brand new decade in his life, he's spending some time today reflecting on his experiences in the past four decades of ministry. He and Caralee discuss the highs and the lows of his life, what Jesus has taught him about relinquishing control, and how Grace is the greatest gift for people who are constantly striving to "fix" everything. There's so much wisdom in this episode—enjoy!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/dales-turning-60-reflections-on-the-past-40-years-of-ministry-w-dale-caralee-episode-134/
Support the Show: https://www.95network.org/contact-us/
Links to Resources Mentioned or Related
Halftime: Moving From Success To Significance by Bob Buford
Dale's Unexpected Sabbatical Story – Episode 91
40 Years in the Making: Dale's Stalled Story – Episode 44
Use code PODCAST to get 10% off anything in our store!
Read Stalled: Hope and Help for Pastors Who Thought They’d Be There By Now
Watch Podcast on YouTube
Key Takeaways
1) As Dabo Swinney says, "There's nothing less important than the score at halftime." After 40, many of us pivot from pursuing success to pursuing significance. Over the years, Dale has learned that living a meaningful life looks more like loving God, loving family, and obeying what He's called us to do.
2) Jesus came to give us life. We can let our strivings cease and start living freely by knowing that we don't have to adhere to a particular set of rules just to measure up. Jesus loves you because He loves you. He doesn't love you because of what you've done, who you are, or how you perform.
3) God doesn't need our help. God can accomplish whatever He wants, and He certainly doesn't need us to do that. However, He wants a relationship with us. Let Him pursue you!
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Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/dales-turning-60-reflections-on-the-past-40-years-of-ministry-w-dale-caralee-episode-134/
In today’s episode, we’re catching up with Hykeng Paul, the Director of Unity and Diversity at Newspring Church here in South Carolina. As a black man who grew up in the AME church and then began attending a predominantly white church, Hykeng has a unique perspective on racial separation in congregations. He’s a wealth of knowledge about the history of the black church and what led us to where we are today.
During our conversation, Hykeng brings a welcome perspective to the table about why tackling this issue should be a priority in our churches and what we can do about it. He gives some practical first steps for pursuing unity—the first being just simply to start praying about it. Our open and honest conversation was a blessing to me, and I hope it will be to you.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/bridging-the-minority-gap-with-intentional-relationships-w-hykeng-paul-episode-133/
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Dan Reiland is the executive pastor at 12Stone Church in the Lawrenceville suburb of Atlanta. Before beginning his ministry at 12Stone, he spent two decades partnering with John Maxwell at Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego and as Vice President of Leadership and Church Development at INJOY. Dan is a wealth of knowledge for pastors who want to know more about leading effectively in their ministries and personal lives.
In this episode, we’re talking with Dan about what a healthy church culture looks like. He offers a host of practical steps for creating a thriving church environment and how to prepare a succession plan when the time is right. Dan’s advice to pastors about where to turn and what to do when you know you’re in an unhealthy place is full of compassion and wisdom. There are so many truths waiting to be heard today—I can’t wait for you to listen!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/essentials-for-a-thriving-church-w-dan-reiland-episode-132/
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Matt Whitman originally went to school to study law. After a family tragedy struck, he came home to fill in for his dad as pastor of their church, which took him down a path of ministry that led to the eventual creation of his popular podcast and YouTube channel. Each day, the Ten Minute Bible Hour podcast provides listeners with a “fast, fun, deep dive” into the Bible. And as you can probably guess, it’s only a 10-minute listen! Matt also has a YouTube channel, which offers video titles that range from “A Protestant Talks With A Catholic Priest” to “Who Picked What Books Went In The Bible?”
Today, Matt and his co-worker Aron Utecht are talking with us about the weight of ministry, why it’s important to remember that the Gospel also applies to pastors, and why people are more drawn to “normal pastors” rather than “experts.” Our conversation with these guys was interesting and full of great thoughts—I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-10-minute-bible-hour-accepting-gods-grace-as-a-pastor-w-matt-whitman-aron-utecht-episode-131/
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Tony Morgan is a dear friend of ours and a gifted author, speaker, and strategist. In 2009, he founded The Unstuck Group, which in their words, has "a mission to get churches unstuck." The Unstuck Group has consulted with over 550 churches to create a vision and strategy to help them gain momentum in reaching people for Christ.
We're so excited to have Tony with us today. We're talking a lot about the wave of new people coming to church and how we can provide a welcoming place for them. Tony has some encouraging and constructive advice about how to navigate change and how to be intentional and faithful about making bold moves in your church.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/do-something-even-if-its-wrong-w-tony-morgan-episode-130/
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Social media is undoubtedly a hot topic in the world today—in both secular cultures and our churches. So what does that mean for us as Christians? Should we embrace all social media has to offer or treat it as something that opposes our beliefs?
Today, we’re talking with Chris Martin, who has spent more than a decade in digital and content marketing for businesses like Lifeway Christian Resources and Moody Publishers. His recently released book, Terms of Service: The Real Cost of Social Media, sheds light on how social media is a dominating force in our lives, how it affects us in ways we don’t even realize, and why we need to be cautious about how we engage with the internet.
We’ll talk about how to live wisely while still engaging in social media. Plus, we’ll also talk about how we can use social media as a positive medium to reach the lost and how churches can benefit from spreading good news across these outlets.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/engaging-in-social-media-and-what-it-means-for-the-church-w-chris-martin-episode-129/
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Let’s face it—in this day and age, the easiest way to connect with someone is through a text message. Most people (young and old) know how to communicate through this medium, so why shouldn’t the church hop on the bandwagon, too?
That’s precisely why Text In Church exists. Today, Jeanette Yates talks to us about how their affordable text and email software can help you reach out to and engage with your visitors. She gives us some valuable tips on how to connect with first-time guests and provides us with great strategies for finding what works for your ministry when it comes to guest follow-up.
Text In Church makes it easy to gather information, reach out to guests, and engage in real conversations—all through text! We’re excited to share this with you today and hopeful that you’ll learn some new ways to reach out to your guests.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/text-in-church-128/
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At God’s House Christian Church, Pastor Timothy Pender and his congregation believe that everyone was born with a purpose, on purpose. In other words, God has a plan for each one of us (Jeremiah 29:11). And this episode, we’re talking about God’s specific plan for pastors when it comes to reaching out for mental health support.
We’re thrilled to welcome Pastor Pender and have him share about his time in the military, how he manages his PTSD, and what God says about unity in churches and between pastors. We’ll cover many truths about the importance of asking for help when you need it and surrounding yourself with trusted individuals who can support you.
If you’re listening today and struggling with your mental health, please reach out to us at 95Network or to Full Strength Network (link below).
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/gods-plan-for-pastors-in-seeking-help-and-building-unity-w-pastor-timothy-pender-episode-127/
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Mark Messmore has a passion for teaching and preaching. He also has a passion for teaching people how to preach! In his early 20s, God began showing him the need for a simple, easy-to-follow model for people learning how to prepare and present a sermon. He thought his ideas would eventually end up in a university-level classroom, but it turns out that the Lord had other plans. He recently released his book, Simple Preaching Prep, to help train leaders in the church—whether as Sunday School teachers, youth group volunteers, or pastors—to deliver compelling messages.
In today’s episode, we’re diving right in with Mark on why letting other people stand in the pulpit on a Sunday is a good thing, what keeps pastors from asking other people to preach a message, and what you should look for when identifying who might be up for the task. Plus, he’ll let us in on some of his best tricks for preparing a great message! Enjoy!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/w-mark-messmore-episode-126
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In this episode, Caralee is joined by two of our awesome team members here at the 95Network, Jon Sanders and Travis Stephens. Jon serves as our Coaching Director and is also a full-time firefighter and one of the founders of EntrePastor, an organization that helps pastors identify ways to create additional sources of income for their families. Travis is our Membership and Social Media Director and is the Executive Pastor of Strong Tower Church in Tennessee.
Jon and Travis dive a little deeper into what coaching through 95Network looks like, what it includes, and how it can help pastors. We touch on the isolation pastors often feel, which leads them to burnout and discouragement. We also talk about how having a group of other people who can share stories, encourage, and give sound advice is priceless for leading successfully.
Pastors, our prayer for you today is that God provides exactly what you need to accomplish His mission. We’re here for you.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/diving-more-into…hens-episode-125/
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During a conversation with our podcast producer Kevin Smith a few weeks ago, he mentioned that we often focus our time, effort, and energy on preparing for Easter and then forget to rest and reflect afterward. As pastors and ministry leaders, it’s easy to feel like we have to keep pressing on after the amens are over on Easter Sunday because the needs never seem to end.
However, we must do what Jesus commands us to do: take Sabbath. Today, we’ve got three of our wonderful team members on the podcast—Kevin Smith, Bobby Lewis, and Denis Keith. Each of these guys has spent many years in ministry, and they all have such great advice on why it’s essential to recharge and how to do it best. As you listen today, take some time to reflect on how you can be more disciplined in taking time for Sabbath.
From us at 95Network, we pray that you had a wonderful Easter celebration this year. There is so much to be thankful for, the most important of all being Christ’s sacrifice for us so we can spend eternity with Him.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/easter-is-over-n…is-bonus-episode/
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Growing up as a pastor’s kid, Dan Nichols had firsthand knowledge of the uglier sides of the church. Because of the hurtful things he’d witnessed throughout his childhood, he went into college disdainful of the church and its imperfections. Thankfully, the Lord used the book of Acts and healthier ministry experiences to change his outlook, eventually leading him to plant a church in Pennsylvania.
These days, Dan is the lead pastor at Grace Christian Fellowship in Cortland, New York. He’s also played an integral role in founding The Northeast Collaborative, an organization that provides tools and resources for pastors to lead and launch healthy churches. He has a tremendous heart for seeking the lost, particularly in the Northeast area, which is considered the most unchurched corner of the nation.
In this episode, Dan shares with us his timely and wise thoughts on why he thinks our nation is moving into a post-Christian culture, how God is trying to get our attention, and what we can do moving forward to build healthy churches and make disciples.
Show Notes:https://www.95network.org/overcoming-obstacles-and-embracing-gods-design-for-his-church-w-dan-nichols-episode-124/
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In today’s church, having small groups isn’t a new phenomenon. Over the past couple of decades, many of us have seen how small groups can provide an avenue for people to grow closer to God and to stay connected with each other. Having other people who know you, keep you accountable, and support you is such a blessing.
In this episode, we’re thrilled to talk to Allen White about the role that small groups can play in our churches. Allen has spent over 30 years in ministry and has dedicated countless hours to uncovering what works (and what doesn’t) for small groups and leaders. He provides a wealth of knowledge about creating effective and successful group efforts.
Are you interested in starting a small group at your church? Do you have small groups but want help building them or identifying leaders to help own the cause? Listen in and see what Allen has to say!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-benefits-of-…hite-episode-123/
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Conrad Weaver has made it his mission in life to tell stories that matter. After graduating with a psychology degree and spending several years as a youth pastor, he realized storytelling was his gift. As he says on his website, “My responsibility in the world is to leave it a better place than when I arrived. If the films I produce can play a role in that, then I’ve been successful.”
Currently, Conrad is working on a documentary called PTSD911, which focuses on first responders and their exposure and experiences with trauma. Today, he’ll tell us about some of the things he’s seen and what the first responder community is doing to address the issue of mental health for their team members.
While many of us don’t have experience as first responders, we’ve likely all experienced trauma. As you listen today, my prayer is that you’ll realize that there’s no shame in asking for help. We’re in this together. Reach out to us at 95Network today if you have questions or want to get connected.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/conrad-weaver-122/
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After spending years in a successful marketing and communications career, Evan McBroom felt God calling him to start something new. In 2003, he founded Fishhook, a communications organization for churches. He eventually stepped away from Fishhook so that others could take charge and lead the organization, and at the time, he didn’t think he had the energy for another startup. But, of course, God had other plans.
In the fall of 2021, Evan and his wife knew that the Lord was calling them to establish a new ministry. So, at the beginning of this year, he launched Teamness—an organization designed to help host and facilitate leadership retreats for pastors and their teams.
During today’s conversation, we’ll talk to Evan about how to strengthen, encourage, and focus your church ministry team so you can accomplish your mission with joy, passion, and longevity. We’ll also talk about Teamness and opportunities that the organization can give you and your team. Do you think your group could benefit from a team-building retreat? If so, this is a great podcast for you.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/building-supportive-and-effective-ministry-teams-w-evan-mcbroom-episode-121/
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Easter Sunday is quickly approaching—and it’s the first one in two long years that might actually look “normal” for most of us. With that in mind, we decided to do a special bonus episode with one of our very own team members, Travis Stephens, to talk through some ideas on how to make the most of your Easter Sunday service. Travis recently wrote a blog series that outlines strategies for pastors, staff, and volunteers to prepare for the upcoming holiday.
As a busy pastor or ministry leader, we know you might not have tons of time or resources to devote to making this Easter “the best one ever.” But we want you to know (and Travis even mentions this in the podcast) that it’s not about your performance, the grandeur of the Easter Sunday production, or even the number of people who show up at your church that morning. You can let go of some of that pressure when you remember that if even one person hears one thing that moves them towards Christ, you’ve done your job. We’re praying for you!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/practical-tips-t…ns-bonus-episode/
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As one of the members of the popular contemporary Christian group 4Him, Mark Harris has shared God’s word through music to millions of people for over 35 years. After wrapping up his days on tour, he began working as a worship pastor which eventually led him to Southlake, Texas to join the team at Gateway Church.
Today, he’s sharing some of his thoughts with us on how church worship has changed over the past couple of years and why he thinks being receptive to those changes is the key to success. He’ll also touch on how to equip and disciple your worship pastors and what the younger generation is looking for these days.
Worship and music pastors—this one’s for you!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/mark-harris-120
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I met Sara Chapple when I was serving with The Unstuck Group. She always impressed me with her strong faith and high belief in the local church. She has worked in ministry in some capacity for nearly 20 years. She just finished her first book entitled, “Journey to Joy.”
Sara is married to an incredible man named Paul, and is stepmom to three of the most amazing kids you could imagine. She loves sports (watching) and hot tea (drinking) and books (reading and writing!) She is also a reluctant vegan!
In today’s podcast episode with Sara, Caralee and I learn all about drinking tea, ministering to women, finding her purpose, and writing her first book. We also learn the powerful impact that fathers have in the lives of their daughters. Sara's transparency will definitely touch your heart as you hear her heart.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/journey-to-joy-w…pple-episode-119/
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In today’s episode, we’re talking to Chris Bright and Lee Button from thinking church in the United Kingdom. Much like us here at 95Network, thinking church aims to equip small churches with a vision for the future and tools to handle their day-to-day operations. They’re passionate about helping church leaders find a way to do things better.
This conversation is full of hope and encouragement, especially for the future of God’s church. As we’ve entered into a new way of thinking and living in the past couple of years, people are beginning to look towards the church for stability and security.
Take some time to listen and hear what Chris and Lee have to say!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/innovation-boldn…urch-episode-118/
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At Full Strength Network, Marty Sawyers and his team believe that healthy pastors lead healthy churches, and healthy churches change the world. That's why they've gathered a national network of providers who are passionate about helping pastors and their families stay on the road to mental, spiritual, and financial well-being.
We all know how important it is to take care of yourself. They say that when an airplane is going down, if you don't put your safety mask on first, then you can't help anyone else. This is especially true for ministers and their families.
Today, we're talking to Marty about why pastors need counseling in every season of life, whether dealing with trauma or simply maintaining healthy habits. We'll also talk about how Full Strength Network can help pastors and their families receive counseling, financial coaching, and well-being resources in an affordable, safe, and anonymous way.
Take a few minutes to listen. I know you'll be encouraged!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/healthy-pastors-…yers-episode-117/
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I’ve known Michael Moore for many years and have always valued his leadership in the church. We first met when I served as a consultant with The Unstuck Group where Michael has also served for over six years.
Michael became the full-time Executive Pastor of Faith Chapel in Birmingham, Alabama nine years ago. His father, Michael Moore, Sr., founded Faith Chapel in 1981. He accepted the calling to ministry in 2005 and began working for Faith Chapel in April 2006. In 2008, Michael began graduate school, which allowed him to travel to Japan and London as a part of his studies. In 2011, he graduated with an MBA and in the fall of 2012, was married to Michelle Scott. He and Michelle have three beautiful daughters, Meeghan, Margeaux, and Maiki Rose.
In today’s episode, Michael shares his passionate love for the local church and reveals why he has confident hope that churches are coming out of pandemic-related setbacks and are ramping up again for lasting impact in their individual communities.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/creating-change-through-unified-vision-clarity-w-michael-moore-episode-116/
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“Following God’s calling into ministry doesn’t mean you have to live a life of scarcity and meagerness.”
As pastors themselves, Jon and Les are familiar with the struggles that many people in ministry face when it comes to financial freedom. That’s why they’ve made it their mission to show other pastors how to use their gifts to create new streams of income. They’re passionate about helping pastors use added income to live more comfortably, start saving, and simply enjoy more opportunities.
Have you thought (or even dreamt) about owning a business outside of your ministry? If so, this podcast is for you! Get out your notepad and be ready to listen and learn!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/how-to-be-a-pastor-and-an-entrepreneur-w-jon-sanders-and-les-hughes-episode-115/
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The ministry of Promise Keepers was transformative for me and so many others. But if I'm honest, it feels like we don't have as much momentum in ministry to men as we did in those days.
Wendell Morton is the Executive Director of Men's Ministry Catalyst. He was in full-time ministry for 17 years with both small and large churches and spent four of those ministry years with Promise Keepers. He also spent 23 years in corporate America, building and leading sales teams.
Wendell has a passion to help pastors and church leaders build growing churches, and is particularly passionate about men's ministry.
In today's episode, we are talking about what differentiates men and women, the combination of strength and insecurity prevalent among men, some fun Promise Keepers memories, and the best way to reach your community.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/wendell-morton-114/
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Gavin Adams is a strategic organizational consultant and leadership partner focused on supporting leaders from innovation through implementation. We share a quote from him in every one of our one-day events, so it’s really fun to finally have him on the podcast this week.
Before launching Transformation Solutions, Gavin spent 15 years in ministry leadership, most recently serving as the lead pastor at Woodstock City Church, a campus location of North Point Ministries. Prior to ministry, Gavin spent over a decade in the marketplace working as a business strategy and marketing consultant. (And on the podcast, he told us he and his wife just bought a coffee shop! Whew! )
In today’s episode, Gavin is diving deep into approaching ministry with new strategies, why the pandemic is a disruption rather than an interruption, struggles he’s seeing in churches to actually change, and so much more. This is well worth the listen, and we’re excited to be sharing it with you!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/gavin-adams-113/
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Jason Hamrock is back on the show this week! And we're talking through a topic I have seen around social media, but haven't understood: Virtual reality.
After serving 11 years as a church Communications Director, Jason Hamrock is now the CEO of Missional Marketing, a marketing agency that specializes in supporting churches.
In this episode, Jason is talking through the potential changes on the horizon, what Meta is and why Mark Zuckerberg is moving their company in that direction, why he and his church are testing out virtual reality services, the encouragement that all of us need to hear about shifts in culture, and more!
This was a great conversation and we plan to lean on Jason a lot in the coming days. Don't miss this one!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/jason-hamrock-112/
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The work of Jesus is evident all throughout Polly Hamp's life.
If you've listened to the podcast for a while, you know my life was changed by the teaching of Bob Hamp, and it was such an honor to have his wife Polly on the podcast this week to share her story.
Polly's earliest memory is from age 3, when she was first sexually abused. In today's episode, she shares about the journey of life she has been on, as well as the incredible ways Jesus has shown up in her story and redeemed aspects of her story.
Her vision in life is to see people walk in the fullness of who God created them to be. For years Polly has been helping individuals find freedom and hope from hurting and stuck places. She was the founder and director of a ministry that helped people impacted by the sex industry find freedom and a new life. She also is a published author, speaker, Think Differently Coach, Certified NLP Practitioner, and an Organizational Consultant.
The faithfulness of God evident in her story brought me to tears. I encourage you to listen!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/polly-hamp-111/
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Welcome to 2022! Happy New Year!
We are so excited for what God is going to do this year in your church and here at 95Network. The past couple years have been so difficult for everyone, uniquely so for church leaders. But that doesn't limit our God. He is still at work, still moving, and He wants to make a huge difference in your community.
In today's episode, we're sharing some recent results from a national survey of small-church pastors we did last year, revisiting what God did in 2021, and looking forward to where we feel He's leading us in 2022.
As always, we are cheering you on! God wants to use you to accomplish incredible things. We hope this episode is an encouragement to you as we kickoff this year!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/looking-ahead-2022/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Merry Christmas from all of us here at 95Network! 🎄 Today we’ve got a fun one for you to close out 2021!
In today’s episode, I’m chatting with each member of our team and asking them about their favorite holiday memories. You’ll hear about the time Caralee’s husband pretended to be Rudolph, when Jesse had to cut 4-feet off a Christmas tree, why last year was the first Christmas Jason loved, the “redneck-est Santa” story from Travis, and so many more! Some of these really are stories I’ll never forget. 🙂
Above all, we want to encourage you, despite all the pressure we can feel as a church leader, to keep sight on the true purpose of Christmas, as well as encourage you to prioritize your family during this time of the year. Both of those things are most important.
Enjoy this one this week! We hope it brings you some joy and an opportunity to reflect on your own favorite holiday memories.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/95network-christmas-109/
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At 2:30 in the morning on September 10th, 2016, Leslie Weirich woke up to the doorbell ringing and the news that her 20-year-old son, Austin, had taken his life. It was the moment that changed everything. This ultimately led her to leave her career as a successful financial recruiter and now speak to thousands of people across the country about suicide prevention.
This is such an important conversation.
In today's episode, Leslie shares her family's story, 8 factors that ultimately lower the risk of suicide, encouragement every pastor needs to hear right now, and so much more. This is a conversation I'm incredibly grateful to be sharing, and I hope you are able to listen.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/leslie-weirich-108/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
"A lot of people are catapulting towards a final scene that holds a lot of regret."
Lance Witt is one of those leaders I hold so much respect for. With over 40+ years of leadership experience, and a deep understanding of soul care and ministry leadership, he holds so much wisdom for the Church today. I am honored to have him back on the podcast for today's conversation!
In this episode, we're talking about finding clarity on the life you truly want to live, the very real importance of acknowledging our limits, the message God has for leaders in this season, the formula that leads to a life of meaning and effectiveness, and so much more.
This is one you don't want to miss!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/lance-witt-107/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
(Take one day to ensure a stronger future for your ministry with VisionDay. Get all the details here!)
We have to stop limiting the opportunities we have to connect with people because we don't know how to do it. This is something I firmly believe, especially for those of us in ministry.
Today I'm excited to introduce you to Jesse Barnett, our newest member of the team and an Atlanta-based craftsman at heart who brings stories to life through writing, speaking, coaching, and teaching. Above all, his heart is to use his spiritual gifts and talents to serve those who have a message to share, and to help them multiply the reach, effectiveness, and power of that message. As Communications Coach with 95Network, he helps pastors get more mileage from their message by learning how to utilize the digital space to expand their church community.
In this conversation, Jesse shares how to "take something you've already created and put a little Miracle-Gro on it," why learning how to update how we communicate leads to deeper relationships, the opportunities available for every pastor to repurpose the message they've already worked on, and, most importantly, how this all relates to the Gospel. Listen in!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/jesse-barnett-106/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
(Take one day to ensure a stronger future for your ministry with VisionDay. Get all the details here!)
Imagine a movement of people loving their neighbors that leads to revival and renewal in our churches, our cities, and our world. That’s exactly what Jonathan Weibel & Steve Lutz are pursuing through Front Yard Mission.
We respect both of these guys greatly. They truly are the real deal, building meaningful relationships throughout their community by simply being intentional and being present.
In today’s conversation, we’re talking about practical ways you and your congregation can show up meaningfully for your neighbors this holiday season and beyond (seriously so many ideas in this episode!), great challenges for us to consider in our walk with Jesus, and the next season they see on horizon for what “church” looks like. This is a must-listen!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/jonathan-weibel-steve-lutz-105/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
(Take one day to ensure a stronger future for your ministry with VisionDay. Get all the details here!)
Mary Ann Sibley grew up Buddhist, and was 40 years old before anyone ever invited her to church and she was transformed by Jesus. Before long, she was a volunteer. Not too long later, she started a volunteer ministry from scratch, growing it into the thousands.
Mary Ann is the founder of MatterSpark, an organization all about helping churches build leaders to build healthy volunteer teams. She also is the Volunteer, Hospitality, & Guest Services Training Director here at 95Network!
This episode was so much fun. In this conversation, we're talking about reenergizing volunteers this holiday season, the eternal impact volunteers can make on people's lives, practical ways to communicate the joy of Christ to everyone who walks through the doors, and encouragement for every church leader. Listen in!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/mary-ann-sibley-104/
Support the show (http://www.95network.org/donate)
(Take one day to ensure a stronger future for your ministry with VisionDay. Get all the details here!)
The past couple years have often felt like we’ve been blindfolded and then asked to lead people somewhere new. Do you agree? With all of the ups and downs, sometimes it’s important to just remember the why. The simple reason God has called each of us into leadership.
That’s what today’s conversation with my friend Paul Alexander is.
On top of being a ministry consultant with The Unstuck Group, Paul has more than 23 years experience serving in the local church, the last 18 of which have been on the Senior Leadership Teams of some large churches throughout the nation. Currently, Paul is serving as the Executive Pastor at Sun Valley Community Church, a multi-site church located in the Phoenix area.
Most of all, I respect Paul and I trust him. In this conversation, he openly shares about how his church has focused on reaching people throughout COVID, why he never wants to hear “pre-COVID” from his team again, why he’s not asking people to come back to church, what visionary leadership looks like when God is leading a church somewhere new, and a whole lot more. This was refreshing and encouraging. Listen in!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/paul-alexander-103/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
(Take one day to ensure a stronger future for your ministry with VisionDay. Get all the details here!)
Today's conversation is all about church planting, and let me tell you, it's a good one. My friend Jason and I were recently sitting down to talk about some concerning church planting trends, and I felt like we needed to chat about this on the podcast.
For this episode, we're welcoming Jon Sanders, Founder of Small Town Big Church & 95Network Coaching Director, and Jason Allison, Pastor at Press Church & 95Network VisionDay Facilitator / Coach. These guys are incredible leaders who not only have hands-on experience with church planting and leadership, but a huge heart to support those God has called into ministry.
This conversation is practical and full of wisdom. We talk about some unhealthy motives behind church planting, a few things to consider if you feel God is calling you in this direction, the importance of training beyond seminary for leadership, insight they have learned in their years of leadership, and a whole lot more. Listen in!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/jon-sanders-jason-allison-102/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
What a season it's been here at 95Network. God is doing incredible things in His Church right now and it is simply so meaningful to get a front-row seat to how God is moving within the hearts of church leaders across the country. He truly is so faithful!
Along those lines, this week we've got an update for you. 👀 The 95 Podcast has been a big piece of how our ministry has expanded over the last 2-3 years, and it's going to look a little bit different moving forward!
Today, we're giving you ALL the details on what's next. Listen in for some memories, some God stories, and some excitement for the upcoming changes for this resource! 🎉
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/future-95-podcast-101/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
(Take one day to ensure a stronger future for your ministry with VisionDay. Get all the details here!)
We're back with Episode 100! 🎉 It's hard to believe!
To celebrate, we're so excited to share today's episode with Carey Nieuwhof with you.
Carey is a bestselling leadership author, speaker, podcaster, and former attorney. He hosts one of today’s most influential leadership podcasts. His podcast, blog and online content are accessed by leaders over 1.5 million times each month. He also just released a new book!
In today's episode, though, we talk about Carey's story (including a story he hasn't shared before!), leading in small churches, the undeniable call he experienced to ministry in the midst of a career in law, discovering how to live a life that's not on the way to burnout, and the practical things he's learned about truly leading at your best. Here's one of our favorite quotes: "Time off won't heal you when the problem is how you spend your time on."
This is a powerful conversation that we are so eager for you to hear. Don't miss this one!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/carey-nieuwhof-100/
Support the show (http://www.95network.org/donate)
(Take one day to ensure a stronger future for your ministry with VisionDay. Get all the details here!)
I am really excited to share today's episode of The 95 Podcast with you. As I have been getting back into hosting events across the country, the weight of how a lot of pastors are actually doing has been settling on me. Today we want to talk about the future of the Church and the current state of pastoral leadership.
I have known Kirk Mackie for a few years, and every time I talk with him I feel refreshed. I hope you experience the same thing as you listen to this episode today.
Kirk loves the Church. In pastoral roles that span 22 years, his experience leading, coaching, empowering, and consulting results in people coming to faith and changing their culture. He’s passionate about developing godly leaders especially in cross-cultural environments.
In this episode, we talk about the areas of growth Kirk has seen in his own leadership, the opportunity in front of us, the drastic shift that is happening in the Church right now, how the role of the pastor needs to shift moving forward, and much more.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/kirk-mackie-99/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
(Take one day to ensure a stronger future for your ministry with VisionDay. Get all the details here!)
Welcome back to the podcast! As always, we want to remind you that we are cheering you on as you navigate the day-to-day of ministry. Your work matters so much!
Today, we have another unique episode for you as we chat with Mark Juba, Senior Associate at The Church Lawyers (Our lawyers and strategic partners here at 95Network). And we're talking through legal issues churches should understand resulting from COVID-19. We're talking through how to navigate if you're asked for a religious exemption letter, whether churches should be concerned about upcoming regulations, and much more.
We include this "preface" in the episode, but we'd like to include it here as well: The goal for this episode is not about politics or vaccines. This is simply for you to be aware of conversations The Church Lawyers are having and various legal issues that are on the horizon.As always, we hope you find support in today's conversation!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/mark-juba-98/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
(Take one day to ensure a stronger future for your ministry with VisionDay. Get all the details here!)
One of the biggest deficits we've seen in church leadership here at 95Network is the confidence and ability to cast vision. This topic is as crucial today as it's ever been.
Today, we get to share a conversation that Dale actually had over on the Thinking Church podcast with Chris Bright, co-founder of Thinking Church, a UK-based organization passionate about helping churches think clearly about the future. Chris is a great leader and he asked some awesome questions!
In this conversation, we dive deep into how to cast vision as a leader, how to balance long-term vision and short-term vision, how to have faith without being unrealistic, why leaders are often hesitant to share their dream for the church, and so much more.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/thinking-church-97/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
(Are you signed up for our National Conference in November? Get all the details here!)
I'm so excited to share today's episode with you. Jacob King is an incredible young man who has wisdom beyond his years. He is a first-year ministry student who has a huge heart for God and for the Church.
I've been friends with Jacob's dad, Clayton, for MANY years. I have seen Jacob grow into his calling in some incredible ways, so I was really excited when he agreed to do the podcast today.
In this conversation, we're talking about dealing with the expectations of others, discovering our calling, the power of Scripture, reaching the next generation, and so much more.
Listen in!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/jacob-king-96/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
(Are you signed up for our National Conference in November? Get all the details here!)
In true 95Network fashion, we are celebrating episode 95 of The 95 Podcast! We wanted to take this week to simply reflect on all God has done and how He has provided opportunities beyond what we could have imagined. He truly is so faithful!
Praying this conversation is an encouragement to your heart today! And if you've been a long-time listener, hopefully you're able to reminisce along with us on some really special conversations and what God is doing in His Church.
Listen in!
Show Notes: www.95network.org/reflections-celebrations-95th-episode/
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(Are you signed up for our National Conference in November? Get all the details here!)
"We think that our job is to get people to go along with the things Jesus suggested as opposed to heal the broken."
You may already know this, but this man changed my (Dale's) life… Bob Hamp is the Founder of Think Differently Academy and is a Marriage & Family Therapist. I talk about him a lot in my book Stalled, particularly regarding the profound effect his teaching called “The Problem Jesus Came to Solve” had on my life and my journey towards health. In my recent sabbatical, he played a huge part in that as well.
And our last podcast episode with him is by far our most popular podcast episode ever... more than double what's in the #2 spot!
In this episode, you basically get to listen in on some live counseling takeaways before we jump into talking about how we're partnering together on our upcoming national conference and what Bob is hoping for church leaders right now.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/bob-hamp-94/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
(Are you signed up for our National Conference in November? Get all the details here!)
Russ Lee is the mind behind Winter Jam, a lead member of NewSong, and before that was the lead singer for the group Truth. Dale and Russ have been good friends for years now and it was so much fun to have him on the show!
Russ has an incredible story of redemption, from selling drugs as a 17-year-old to now leading thousands of people in worship across the nation. In this conversation, we talk about his story, how we can keep from letting the approval of others drive our satisfaction, his favorite song he's ever played, and some encouragement for every church leader.
Listen in!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/russ-lee-93/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
(Are you signed up for our National Conference in November? Get all the details here!)
"God is not going to share His glory."
In our conversation before Dale left for Sabbatical, we spent the last portion talking about when leaders start to put the pressure on their own shoulders rather than giving it to the Lord. After that episode, we had a couple pastors reach out to learn a little bit more about that, and they were willing to allow us to share the conversation with you as well!
In this conversation, you'll hear a lot from Dale's heart, and why we are where we are in the Church in America. We hope this is a challenging and insightful episode!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/touching-the-glory-92/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
(Are you signed up for our National Conference in November? Get all the details here!)
"If you can't stay afloat, you can't help anybody."
Dale is BACK from his 40-day Sabbatical. And he has quite the story to share with you. Let's just say that the Sabbatical went nothing like he expected... :)
Today, Dale shares that story, what brought him to the end of himself, and how God allowed experiences that reinforced the Stalled message in his life. Listen in!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/dale-sabbatical-reflections-91/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
(Are you signed up for our National Conference in November? Get all the details here!)
Today we get to share a special conversation with you.
Darrell Stetler is a small-church pastor in Oklahoma City as well as the creator of New Start Discipleship, a family of tools to help pastors develop a culture of real discipleship in their ministry.
In this conversation, Darrell openly shares about getting past the surrender and pain of control in ministry, his journey towards freedom from porn, what he's learned about real discipleship in ministry, practical ways pastors can prioritize "transferable discipleship" in the church they lead, a perspective shift on systems, and so much more.
You can get a free copy of the NewStart Discipleship Journal here, and we hope this episode is such an encouragement to you!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/darrell-stetler-90/
Support the show (http://www.95network.org/donate)
(Are you signed up for our National Conference in November? Get all the details here!)
If it’s not clear, it’s confusing.
With Dale still out on Sabbatical, we’ve got another unique episode for you this week! For this one, we’re sharing conference audio from our popular Growth Engines one-day event, shared as part of the Ozark Christian College Preaching-Teaching Convention in February 2020. Today we’re sharing Session 4, led by Austin, on Effective Church Communications.
In this jam-packed session, Austin walks through 10 things to consider for effective communications, the value of digital content (even before it was forced on us!), important perspective shifts for church leaders, the purpose of communications in churches overall, and more. You’ll get a lot from this one, and we look forward to hearing what stands out most to you!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/church-communications-89/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
(Are you signed up for our National Conference in November? Get all the details here!)
It’s kind of crazy, but this podcast has almost been around for 2 years! 84 episodes ago, we had a really great conversation with Tony Morgan, founder of The Unstuck Group, as we walk through 10 characteristics of unstuck churches. This was pre-pandemic and is a great conversation to ground us and remind us of our purpose and our direction.
Tony is a dear friend that we’ve known for a long time. And the honesty, experience, and conviction he comes into this conversation with made this such a powerful discussion.
We all want our churches to be healthy, both deep and wide. But what should that look like? What are some characteristics of churches that are effectively reaching their community for Jesus? Find out all of that in today’s episode!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/tony-morgan-88/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
(Are you signed up for our National Conference in November? Get all the details here!)
Did you know that 83% of pastor's wives wish their husbands would choose a different profession?
Donna Lewis and her husband, Bobby, have been in ministry for decades and are church planters of RiverPoint Church. Bobby is actually a coach and conference facilitator here at 95Network, and Donna has a huge passion to support pastors' wives. In this episode, she openly shares about the loneliness of feeling unseen, what it's like to feel like the church is the "other woman," why avoiding the issue isn't a solution, her encouragement to both male pastors and pastors' wives, and more.
(In this episode, we are specifically talking to male pastors. If you're a female pastor, we see you and do hope you still get value from this episode!)
Pastors, this is so important. Your marriage is more important than your ministry. We hope this episode is a reminder for you of exactly that.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/donna-lewis-87/
Support the show (http://www.95network.org/donate)
(Are you signed up for our National Conference in November? Get all the details here!)
"I believe the Church is coming into its finest hour and is about to rise up."
Jon Sanders is the Founder of Small Town Big Church, a full-time firefighter, and is also the Director of Coaching here at 95Network. He is one of our favorite leaders in the world... a straight-shooter with a huge heart for church leaders and developing systems that help leaders thrive.
In this conversation, Jon shares what he's most excited about for the Church right now, what's discouraging him currently, how he sees a poverty mindset show up for leaders, why there's no excuse for leaders to lead from a place of isolation, the reason he has spent thousands of dollars on coaching in his own life, and so much more.
We know you'll find a whole lot of value in this one!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/jon-sanders-86/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
“God gives us dominion over bits and bytes, not just atoms.”
Churches have pivoted in incredible ways in the last year, adopting technology in new ways at a rate they never anticipated. But what should our perspective of all this adoption of technology really be?
Paul Johnson is Co-Founder & CEO of Pathwright, an all-in-one design, learning, and teaching platform. He is an incredible innovator and a thoughtful leader. In today’s episode, he shares his theology of technology, what’s encouraged him and discouraged him about the Church over the past year and a half, the incredible value available for us in leveraging technology, the negative ways technology can shape us, and so much more.
We can’t wait to hear what stands out to you most from this conversation!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/paul-johnson-85/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
You may have already seen this in last week's article, but starting at the end of this week, I'm headed on a new adventure. My new journey will be to take a 40-day sabbatical, something I've never yet had the opportunity to do in my 40 years of ministry.
On today's episode, it's just Austin and I sharing some reflections on the decision for me to go on sabbatical, the heartache we feel for pastors who don't feel like this would ever be an option, and the hope for small-church pastors to replenish.
If you're in a place in your life where Jesus Himself is calling you to do something, and you can't do it because of your ministry, you're in a bad spot.
I am prayerful that this episode will speak to your heart today. And I am trusting it will solidify a message that I believe God is speaking to many of us.
Also: The podcast will still continue while I'm on sabbatical starting this Saturday, and I look forward to sharing what I learn during this period of rest when I get back at the beginning of August!Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/sabbatical-episode-84/
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"Entrepreneurship has a really important role in shaping culture."
After growing up in the Middle East, Stephanie Leathe came to the U.S. for college before falling in love with entrepreneurship and equipping ministries. She is an incredible leader and it is truly an honor to have her on the show this week.
Stephanie is the CEO of Altar Live, a new partner of ours here at 95Network focused on helping churches navigate a hybrid model of ministry. I love their ministry, their willingness to learn, and their passion for smaller churches. In this episode, we talk about Stephanie's story, the culture shock she experienced in American churches, how churches can become more entrepreneurial, the real opportunity each of us have online, and so much more! Listen in!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/stephanie-leathe-83/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
We’re setting a record on The 95 Podcast today… We’re welcoming back a guest for the THIRD TIME! Karl Vaters is joining us back on the show for an incredible conversation that I truly can’t wait to share with you.
When I was out in WA for a recent conference with Karl, he shared something that completely changed my perspective on the last year. And I wanted him to join us on the show to share that insight with you as well.
Today we talk about the unseen emotional impact of the pandemic on pastors, how we should be welcoming people back to our church, Karl’s darkest season as a pastor, the biggest things we need to be aware of as leaders, and a challenge for us all to be honest with ourselves about.
This is one I’ll be listening back to many times over again, and I encourage you to check it out!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/karl-vaters-82/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Chris Vitarelli is the pastor of The Road Community Church, a small multi-site church in Fenton and Howell, MI. He is the creator of the Small Church BIG Deal Conference and author of Small Church BIG Deal: How to Rethink Size, Success and Significance in Ministry.
I'm really excited to share this week's episode with you. I recently had the opportunity to speak at the Big Little Church conference out in Lacamas, WA with Chris, and I loved that time with him and Karl Vaters. So I'm excited to share this conversation Austin and I got to have with him to encourage you in your leadership!
Today, Chris shares about why small churches are SO significant, how to know if you're leading from a place of fear, cautions for church leaders in this current season, and moving from a success-mindset to an identity-mindset. Listen in!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/chris-vitarelli-81/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Today's conversation is one of my favorite episodes of the podcast.
After 20 years of serving as a pastor, Jimmy formalized his ministry to other pastors in 1999 by founding PastorServe. A well-known and respected speaker, Jimmy is the author of “Survive or Thrive,” “Pastors are People Too,” and "What Great Ministry Leaders Get Right." He is also a graduate of Wheaton College and Gordon-Conwell Seminary.
Today, Jimmy shares what it was like leading at Grace Chapel when Gordon MacDonald had a moral failure, why so many pastors fall, what they consistently are hearing from leaders at PastorServe, what separates remorse and repentance, and the most common lies the Enemy whispers to church leaders.
This is an episode for your soul and you don't want to miss it!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/jimmy-dodd-80/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Imagine a movement of people loving their neighbors that leads to revival and renewal in our churches, our cities, and our world.
That's exactly what Jonathan Weibel & Steve Lutz are pursuing through Front Yard Mission.
Through a mutual connection, we had the opportunity to connect with these guys, and they are just fun people, but most importantly they are doing some incredible work. In today's episode, we chat about why many Christians don't prioritize relationships with the people in closest proximity to them, how we've flipped Jesus' model of discipleship, what it means to love our neighbors, and how leaders can release control to increase impact.
This is one you'll want to listen in on!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/front-yard-mission-79/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
We've got a different type of podcast today, and it's one I'm so grateful to be able to share with you. I've known Tracy Hamilton, Lead Pastor of Tri-County Worship Center, for years.
This past year was an especially tough one for him and his family as he lost his wife to cancer. I was out to lunch with him recently and he was sharing some things God has been teaching him as he has navigated this loss, and he was gracious enough to come on the podcast to share those things with you as well.
In this episode, Tracy shares about the word God had given him for 2020, how he'd like to see churches handle grief differently, and why the dreams that God put in your heart are just as real today as they were before the pandemic.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/tracy-hamilton-78/
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We've got a guest from across the Pacific today, and we can't wait to share this conversation with you! John Finkelde has 30 years of pastoral experience before founding Grow a Healthy Church in 2012. He has such a huge heart for church leaders.
In this episode, John shares incredible wisdom including how he navigated a healthy pastoral transition, what he's been consistently sharing with leaders he's coaching this last year, why you have to lead from a place of rest, and why your mission is deeper than church growth.
This conversation encouraged Austin and I so much, and it's one you don't want to miss!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/john-finkelde-77/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
When we shared Episode 70 of the podcast titled “Leveraging Google for Ministry,” we heard from pastor after pastor who found the topic so helpful.
Today, we’re going deeper on that conversation.
Mark Sties is co-owner (along with his wife) of Sties Design Agency. Their company has a huge heart for the Church, while having produced video for companies like Ford, launched websites for clients across the country, put companies at the top of Google search, and more. Their decades of brand-building experience achieve results and keep the heart of the Gospel at the center of all their work.
We had the opportunity to meet Mark at one of our first digital events at the start of the pandemic, and we have such similar perspectives and vision for small and mid-size churches. In this conversation, he shares why digital ministry can no longer get the scraps under the table, shifts leaders need to understand about how Google is starting to rank websites, and why you don’t need to go it alone. I am so grateful to finally have him on the show, and I can’t wait for you to hear this conversation. Listen in!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/mark-sties-76/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
"All my life I had felt worthless, and I had been looking to others to give me significance."
Do you ever feel like you've never had help in ministry? Do you feel like you're just holding out for a better season? Do you struggle to implement structures and systems in your churchFriend, we have an encouraging episode for you today. Steve Smith has such a heart for pastors. He is the founder of Church Equippers and has a long history of pastoral leadership and coaching. Today he shares the journey God led him on to heal him from anger, his insight into revitalization and transformational discipleship, and some encouragement directly to your heart as a leader.
Listen in!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/steve-smith-75/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
There's nothing more rewarding than seeing those you minister to at a young age grow up and grow into all that God has for them. Kaleb White is one of those people in my life.
Kaleb is the Director of Student Ministry at NewSpring Church, and a young leader with an incredible perspective and pulse for the times we're living in.
In this episode, he shares about what he's currently seeing in students, why we need to take Scripture's call to pass on our faith seriously, how to structure ministry effectively for students, and the rise of mental health issues.
This is another episode you don't want to miss. Listen in!
Check out the show notes and Kaleb's FREE curriculum: https://www.95network.org/kaleb-white-74/
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
"Jesus loves your 'failure' church of 60 at least as much as that church you always had in your mind." - Carl Culley
This conversation is a special one with two people who are so much fun and have a huge passion for the small church.
Carl & Kalani Culley have a long history of ministry and are the pioneers of Lacamas Creek Church in Camas, WA, pastoring there for the last 25 years. They are also the leaders of the Big Little Church Conference and proprietors of the Camp Lacamas Retreat & Conference Center.
I believe you'll find their wisdom and insight very relatable and valuable in your life and ministry. We talk about their decades of experience in planting and leading churches, the most challenging seasons of discouragement and disappointment, how to navigate tough seasons, and so much more.
Listen in!
Big Little Church Conference: http://www.biglittlechurch.com/
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/carl-kalani-culley-73
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
"So many of our churches get to a point where they can take in finances to sustain staff, and then they stop growing." - Rich BirchRich Birch is one of the leading voices in church leadership today, having the privilege of leading in one of the very first multisite churches in North America. An author and speaker, Rich focuses on highlighting practical solutions to support leaders in impacting their communities.
In this high-energy conversation, Rich shares his heart about what he's seeing in the Church right now. From the real concern of pastoral exhaustion to the serious problem of reduced volunteerism, listen in to hear his wisdom on the moment we're all walking through.
On a personal level, I respect Rich deeply. This episode is one that I really think every leader, and their entire team, needs to listen to. I look forward to hearing what stands out most to you!
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/rich-birch-72
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
We've all been focusing a lot on online ministry for the past year, and for good reason. But today's conversation is swinging the pendulum back in the opposite direction: If we're truly going to be a hybrid ministry, we need to have an intentional in-person experience prepared.
Mary Ann Sibley is one of the best. She is the founder of MatterSpark, an organization all about helping churches build leaders to build healthy volunteer teams.
Mary Ann grew up Buddhist, and was 40 years old before anyone ever invited her to church and she was transformed by Jesus. Before long, she was a volunteer. Not too long later, she started a volunteer ministry from scratch, growing it into the thousands.
Friends, this episode is one you should listen to. I am certain you'll find it encouraging and inspiring as you navigate this week.
Find related links and my personal takeaways in today's show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/mary-ann-sibley-71
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Today's episode is a masterclass for church leaders on Google and SEO.
After serving 11 years as a church Communications Director, Jason Hamrock is now the CEO of Missional Marketing, a marketing agency that specializes in supporting churches.
In today's episode, he shares practical insight about optimizing your website, why it's important to be adding new content to your website consistently, supporting people on their spiritual journey, and so much more.
Friends, a topic like this often feels more over our head than it actually is. I encourage you to let Jason share his wisdom with you today!
Check out our key takeaways and links mentioned in today's show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/jason-hamrock-70
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Plain and simple, today's episode is one you don't want to miss.
Amy Anderson is the Director of Consulting at The Unstuck Group, and someone we greatly respect.
In this conversation, she shares about what stage of the church lifecycle most churches are currently in, what the Unstuck team has been seeing in church leaders, practical ways we can leverage our digital presence, and timely reminders of our collective purpose.
This conversation is practical, filled with Scripture, and challenging. We look forward to hearing what stands out most to you!
For our key takeaways and the links from today's episode, check out the show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/amy-anderson-69
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
"If we're truly not just about our church and more about the kingdom of God, we have to lead with open hands."
When a leader has their boots on the ground with a realistic outlook on where the church is at, without sacrificing hope, I listen in. Steve McVey is one of those leaders.
He is the Executive Director of the Dirt Roads Network, which exists to transform rural America by planting and revitalizing life-giving churches in small towns and communities. He also is the Missions Pastor at Lamont Wesleyan Church, located in a town of less than 100 people.
This really is a conversation you don't want to miss. Steve's honesty and wisdom is refreshing. Listen in!
Check out my key takeaways and related resources in today's show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/steve-mcvey-68
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
I love when we get to share "soul care" episodes on the podcast. This is one of those episodes.
Bill Gaultiere is a Psychologist and pastor/mentor to pastors. He writes and speaks to thousands of people every week through Soul Shepherding. He was personally mentored for many years by Dallas Willard and Ray Ortlund Sr., and is the author of the new book Journey of the Soul.
I truly believe this episode will be such an encouragement to you. Bill shares fresh language to help us understand the full journey of discipleship, how we can calm our soul, reminders on making Sabbath an actual part of our rhythm, and he closes the episode by leading us through a breath work exercise.
Check out my takeaways and related links for this episode in the show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/bill-gaultiere-67
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
For many years, we've been partnering with churches to take discipleship from just a buzzword to a practical journey of helping people actually become like Christ.
Today, I'm so excited to introduce you to Pat Linnell, Founder of Grace Bomb, which exists to equip churches through free resources that help their congregations grow in daily obedience to the Great Commission by loving their neighbors in unique and intentional ways. (And here's the crazy thing: It's free for you to utilize.)
I had the opportunity to connect with Pat last year, and I loved his practical perspective on discipleship.
Today, after we share some laughs about hunting and minivans, Pat talks about decentralizing discipleship, why God led him from being a teaching pastor at a large church to starting Grace Bomb, how they're able to give Grace Bomb away for free, how our churches can mobilize the people of God, and more. Listen in!
Check out my takeaways and related links for this episode in the show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/pat-linnell-66
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
I've had the incredible opportunity to get to know Brad Cooper, Lead Pastor of Newspring Church. The ripple effect of Brad's life is something he will never be able to measure. His heart for God truly keeps me anchored.
In my book Stalled, I share about something called "the sweet spot." This illustration came from Brad during a planning retreat I was hosting with a church staff I was on a few years ago. So I wanted to ask him to come share about it on the podcast, and offer you encouragement.
Brad is a preacher at heart, and you'll feel that during this episode. I pray God uses this episode to encourage your heart and bring clarity to your life and ministry!
Check out my takeaways and related links for this episode in the show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/brad-cooper-65
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
I am so darn excited to share today's episode. Back in 2020, the conversation I first had with Craig Rees was my most inspiring and helpful conversation of the entire year.
So when he was open to being on the podcast, I was incredibly grateful.
In recent days, smaller churches have gotten some more intentional focus. And larger churches have continued to get press. But mid-size churches are kind of left in no man's land.
Craig is the Lead Pastor of Central Wesleyan Church in Holland, MI and CEO of Water's Edge. Today we talk about the leadership shift that takes place when a church goes from being small (under 150) to mid-size (over 150), key systems mid-size churches need to start thinking about, how to be committed to a vision, reaching the next generation, and the list goes on.
Craig is an incredible leader and I hope today's conversation is a blessing to you!
- Dale
Check out our key takeaways and any related resources in today's show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/craig-rees-64
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
We're living through the greatest communications shift in over 500 years.
You may have heard that before.
For today's episode of The 95 Podcast, we had a special opportunity to connect with Brady Shearer, Founder of Pro Church Tools, Nucleus, RebelGive, and many other resources for churches, and welcome him onto the show to share his expertise about how churches can be effective online.
This one is timely, practical, and encouraging, all in one.
Pastor, you need to take to heart the insight that Brady is sharing today. His insight is not anything that you can ignore or avoid. Listen in!
Check out all the links Brady mentions and our key takeaways in today's show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/brady-shearer-63
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
WELCOME BACK TO THE 95 PODCAST!
You'll notice that we're back with some NEW theme music, some NEW energy, some GREAT guests ahead, and some FRESH direction for this resource! Can you tell we're excited? 🙂
To kick off the new year, Austin and I are sharing 3 things that every church leader needs to be prepared for throughout 2021.
We are believing God has incredible things ahead for His Church this year, but there are some things we need to structure for and be prepared for to walk the journey ahead. We're looking forward to walking that journey with you!
Check out our key takeaways and related resources in today's show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/2021-church-leadership-62
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Jesse is a dear friend of mine. We used to work together back when I was on the team at The Unstuck Group and we have a ton in common, including a deep love for the small and mid-size church (and hunting, of course).
This conversation with him to close out 2020 is gold. Seriously.
I've said it for a long time, but follow-through and accountability are two of the primary issues I see in churches.
In today's episode, Jesse talks about operationalizing follow-through, how he has learned to lead people through ministry loss and difficult changes, and some honest insights into why church leaders need to be more honest with their people than they typically are.
(P.S. I also just want to say thank you. 2020 was a crazy year, but your support of this podcast continued. We crossed 10,000 total downloads a couple months back, and that means the world to me and my team. Here's to more great conversations in 2021!)
Check out my key takeaways and related resources in today's show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/jesse-tink-61
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
2021 is going to look just a little different for our team here at 95Network. Austin, our Managing Director, is taking a step out and starting his own content marketing agency. This dream really became a possibility for him as a result of reading Stalled and hosting our new Stalled Conference this Fall.
Transition and change are a reality of any team.
So this week on the podcast, we're talking about what this change means, how we're navigating the transition, how Austin and I's conversation went about this new direction for him, and what his role on the team will continue to be.
Sometimes we stay somewhere too long and our fruitfulness dries up. It's important for all of us to be aware of whether or not we're truly in our sweet spot. I hope this episode inspires you in that way.
Check out some key takeaways and resources mentioned in today's episode in the show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/navigating-team-transition-60
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
"Freedom is not the absence of something, it's the presence of Someone."
This man changed my life... Bob Hamp is the Founder of Think Differently Academy and is a Marriage & Family Therapist. I talk about him a lot in my book Stalled, particularly regarding the profound effect his teaching called "The Problem Jesus Came to Solve" had on my life and my journey towards health.
So you may be able to imagine how much of an honor it is to be sharing this conversation Austin and I got to have with Bob on the podcast today.
Not only will you hear him play something on his "office guitar" at the opening of the episode, but you'll also get to listen to a conversation about why we need to change how we think about "freedom" and how you can take steps today to start doing ministry from Jesus instead of for Jesus (which was the game-changing shift for me). Listen in!
- Dale
Check out our takeaways and all the links mentioned in today's episode in the show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/bob-hamp-59
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Earlier this year, we had the opportunity to lead a one-day event and a couple workshops at the Preaching & Teaching Convention at Ozark Christian College. In the workshop I led about "Developing a Mission-Minded Congregation," I had some great back-and-forth with the pastors in attendance.
So this week, we wanted to share the live audio from that session, including part of the teaching from our one-day conferences, along with some Q&A.
I went down a lot of roads I don't usually talk about in workshops I lead. We discussed leading change without offending people (which as you may know, isn't actually possible), how you should track vision, signs your church might not actually want to reach your community, why many leaders struggle to cast vision, and a whole lot more. Plus, Austin and I spend a little time upfront sharing why we're thankful as we close out 2020.
Excited to hear what you think of this type of content on the podcast!
- Dale
Check out my takeaways and links mentioned in the show notes for this episode: https://www.95network.org/blog/mission-minded-congregation-ozark-christian-58
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Dillon Smith is the Content Director for Carey Nieuwhof and is an intuitive, wise, and strategic Gen Z leader. Today he shares about what the keys will be for the Church's future digital effectiveness, how he's navigated representing Christ to a generation that's marked by disappointments in the Church, and what he's learned working alongside Carey Nieuwhof.
This is a great one, and I hope you'll find some key things for you to consider in your own ministry!
Check out our takeaways and more in this episode's show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/dillon-smith-57
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
This last week was heavy, not only with political division, but also with news of another leader falling morally. (Not to mention the reminder of countless church leaders falling that we don't hear about in the news.) And I felt frustrated. I felt frustrated by how I saw other pastors responding. I felt frustrated by how consistent these mistakes happen. And I felt frustrated by the witness that is hindered each time events like this take place (for the whole Church, not just their church).
Austin and I had another podcast scheduled to release today, but after talking on Monday, we knew we needed to record a fresh conversation this week addressing what we're seeing.
So today, here's about as honest of a conversation as you could get on the podcast, and some crucial reminders about how none of us are the exception. You'll hear many of the lessons I've learned in my 40 years of ministry, some openness about Austin's lifelong struggle with pornography and what led to his dad's affair, and a path forward for every single one of us. I hope you'll take the time to really listen to this conversation.
- Dale
This week's show notes are full of my takeaways and lots of links to resources mentioned. Check them out right here: https://www.95network.org/blog/episode56
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I'm really excited to be sharing this conversation today. It was such an honor to connect with Derwin Gray, former NFL player and Lead Pastor of Transformation Church, a multiethnic, multigenerational, mission-shaped community in Indian Land, SC.
Not only is this a timely episode with it being Election Week in the U.S., but this episode just brought life to my soul and reminders of the mission we're all actually on. Derwin truly is one of the most grounded, thoughtful, and balanced leaders I've met.
In today's episode, he shares his thoughts about measuring success in a ministry, how we should be leading through this year's election, why he applies so much energy and thought into Generation Z, and why traditional evangelicalism is being challenged, pushed, and reshaped.
This is a good one. It's a must-listen this week. And it's definitely a conversation starter with your leadership and friends in ministry.
- Dale
Check out the show notes for today's episode right here: https://www.95network.org/blog/derwin-gray-55
Join us for the Stalled National Conference on November 17: https://www.95network.org/national-stalled-conference
Support the show (http://www.95network.org/donate)
Brian Weber is the Executive Minister of Converge MidAtlantic, having the opportunity to work directly with church leaders each and every week. I (Dale) met him at a conference I did in partnership with Converge a while back and I loved how he thought about the Church.
We recently took some time to have Brian on the podcast to talk about what he's seeing among the pastors he's working with, navigating the challenges this year of ministry continues to bring, and some of his own personal passion for leading ministry that brings about change in a community that clearly represents the change happening in the hearts of people.
This is an honest, down-to-earth conversation for you this week!
Check out the show notes for this episode right here: https://www.95network.org/blog/brian-weber-54
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Jeff VanderGiessen spent eight years working at Mars Hill Church in Seattle before he felt God's call to step out and found Amplio Systems, a company passionate about helping churches take the right next step, in the Chicago area.
Today, Jeff shares honestly about the grief he's still had to process in seeing the difficult journey for Mars Hill with some insights into navigating ministry loss for every leader. Jeff also dives into the importance of taking regular breaks, having a hobby outside of the ministry, his feel for where the Church is headed, and why personality-driven churches aren't the model to look up to. This is a great conversation from someone with a huge heart for the Church!
Check out the show notes for everything mentioned during today's episode: https://www.95network.org/blog/jeff-vandergiessen-53
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Barb Roose is a popular author and speaker who has spoken at events like the She Speaks Conference and Aspire Women's Events. She’s the author of multiple Bible studies, including: Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus, I’m Waiting, God: Finding Blessing in God’s Delays, and Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle. Her newest Bible study: Breakthrough: Finding Freedom in Christ releases in Spring 2021.
Today she shares about her years leading in a majority-white church, why she's been so encouraged about the Church during COVID-19, why she focuses on making Scripture practical for people, her recent development of the (g)race project, and her journey through an unwanted divorce with some key insights for pastors' marriages.
Plain and simple, you don't want to miss this one!
Check out the show notes at https://www.95network.org/blog/barb-roose-52
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
If we don’t do something to bridge the generational gaps between us and Gen Z, we will lose them. This episode is gold for leaders to understand what it looks like to reach Generation Z from a leader who invests his time in helping influencers engage the next gen.
Jordan Francis is the Co-Founder of RLTK, an organization that exists solely to equip leaders to better engage Gen Z. His honesty and insight into the barriers that exist in many churches is so helpful.
In this episode, we cover why a lack of trust is the largest barrier in reaching Gen Z, why engaging this generation will require a decentralized approach to church, how you can include young people in the actual day-to-day of ministry, and a whole lot more.
This is an episode you'll want to send to each member of your team, and intentionally spend time talking about afterwards.
Check out the show notes here: https://www.95network.org/blog/jordan-francis-51
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
"God is not turned off by the relatively small number that sits on the population sign at the edge of my town."
We are so excited to share this week's conversation with you. Jon Sanders is the Founder of the Small Town Big Church Network, an incredible ministry to support and encourage leaders in small towns and rural contexts. We had the opportunity to meet Jon a few months back and have immediately hit it off with him and feel a strong connection in perspective and vision.
Along with pastoring a rural multisite church for many years in South Dakota, Jon is also a full-time firefighter / EMT. Today we have fun talking about how pastors are doing right now, pastor appreciation month, bivocational pastoring, and a little preachin' from Jon about what he's been seeing in his work with leaders. We know you'll enjoy hearing from him and we hope you're blessed by this conversation today.
Check out the show notes and get the link to the Rural Matters Institute National Conference here: https://www.95network.org/blog/jon-sanders-50
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Meet Chad Hunt, the newest addition to our team here at 95Network. Chad has led hundreds of churches through coaching and consulting processes over the years and we're excited to welcome him onto the team as our VisionDay Director.
Today, a great conversation with Chad on the podcast as we talk about his new role on the team, why your church really should be viewed as a blank canvas right now, the reality that God trusted your gift set enough to allow you to lead your church through a pandemic, and why this uncertain time is the perfect season to recalibrate and refine your vision and plan.
Chad is an incredible pastor and someone with a HUGE heart for small and mid-size churches. Listen in!
Check out some key insights and the links from today's conversation at the show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/chad-hunt-49
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
This week is the last of the "Stalled" podcast series we've been featuring leading up to the launch of the new book Stalled: Hope and Help for Pastors Who Thought They'd Be There By Now. And what an incredible launch we had earlier this week!
One of the key aspects of the "Stalled" message is the understanding that our Enemy wants to keep leaders discouraged not just to limit our effectiveness today. But ultimately to keep us from effectively engaging the next generation.
Today, we walk through 4 key principles for leaders to consider when it comes to capturing the heart of the next generation, building trust, and standing in the gap for them. Tune in and let us know what you'd add to the conversation!
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Today on the podcast, we're walking through 4 questions every leader needs to answer for themselves. We discuss approval addiction, leading "surrendered," negative thinking, and what remains of your passion for the next generation. Take a listen!
Looking for the show notes? Head over to https://www.95network.org/blog/4-questions-every-leader-47
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Every week, we connect with pastors who are stalled. Many of them see it. But many of them don't. In Dale's own life, he learned the hard way what can happen inside of us if we don't understanding the warning signs of becoming stalled in life and ministry.
Today on the podcast, we discuss the 4 warning signs a ministry leader is becoming stalled. We hope this is a simple check-in for you to be honest about your own health. We all talk a lot about healthy churches, but a church can never be healthy if the pastor isn't healthy themselves.
Take a listen! And let us know which of the 4 stand out the most for you.
Looking for the show notes? Just head here: https://www.95network.org/blog/warning-signs-stalled-46
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Shawn Lovejoy is the Founder & CEO of CourageToLead.com. His heart beats for coaching leaders through what keeps them up at night. Shawn has been a successful real estate developer, church planter, pastor, entrepreneur, and leadership coach. Courage To Lead facilitates leadership growth and organizational health for leaders all around the globe.
We were honored to have Shawn join us for Episode 45 of the podcast for some straight-shootin' leadership wisdom. In today's podcast, we discuss why courage is the biggest problem in the Church today, the decision Shawn made to handoff his church 6 years ago, how pastors "overspiritualize their lack of growth," and why building an effective team is the most important aspect of the long-term health of a ministry.
Check out the show notes here: https://www.95network.org/blog/shawn-lovejoy-leadership-45
Pre-Order Stalled here: https://www.95network.org/stalled
Support the show (http://www.95network.org/donate)
"Ministry almost killed me."
This week we're switching things up on the podcast. You may have heard us talking about "Stalled," Dale's upcoming book highlighting his years of discouragement as a small-church pastor feeling like Jesus was disappointed in him.
Today on the podcast, Austin interviews Dale about his own story, walking through when he came to faith, the ministry stress that led to open heart surgery, and how he got to the place that he told his friend Tony, "I thought I'd be there by now." Dale has experienced a lot in his 40 years of ministry and we hope that hearing his story is an encouragement to you today.
Want to learn more about the book Stalled? Head to www.95network.org/stalled
Want to take a look at the show notes for this episode? Find them at https://www.95network.org/blog/dale-sellers-story-44
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
"I got this sense that the rural church had really been forgotten about."
Today we're joined by Danny Davis, author of Rural Church Turnaround and Pastor of Life Point Church in Odessa, MO. Danny has a rich story, spending 11 years planting and revitalizing churches in South Africa before coming back to pastor a rural church in Odessa, MO. He also holds a Doctor of Education in Transformational Leadership.
Danny shares some insights from the research he did for his recent book of successful church turnarounds in rural contexts. We cover topics like navigating change, what it takes to lead a turnaround in a rural context, the heart of a pastor, church size, and a whole lot more. We hope you'll be encouraged and challenged as you listen through!
Check out all the resources mentioned and more at the show notes for this episode: https://www.95network.org/blog/danny-davis-43
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
We're back from our short break from the podcast while Austin was on paternity leave! And it's good to be back! We've got some great podcast episodes and articles ahead, a book launching in the Fall, and a whole lot more.
On Episode 42, Austin and I take some time to chat about a recent VisionDay, Andy Stanley's recent announcement that they won't hold services through the end of the year, some important leadership takeaways from the story of Gideon, and 3 things that cause any leader to struggle with leading their church forward.
Many leaders are exhausted. Many leaders also haven't slowed down enough to realize they're exhausted. It's been a tough few months, but there are many obstacles ahead. It's important for us to be ready and to be leading from a healthy place.
Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/andy-stanley-gideon-pastors-42
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Every pastor has a story to share. No matter the size of their church. That's a belief of ours and is one of the core reasons we love supporting church leaders. There are so many crucial, powerful things happening every day in small and mid-size churches that go unnoticed and unseen.
Joe Thompson is the Lead Pastor at Smithfield Christian Church in Smithfield, VA. We've been connected to him for a while and love his genuine heart and his passion for ministry.
We're partnering with Joe on an upcoming project where we'll be sharing the stories of pastors across the country. So we're excited to introduce you to him today, talk about the inspiration behind this project, and share some key insights he's taken away from some of the conversations he's been hosting.
You have a story to share. Listen in!
Click here to check out the show notes for today's episode!(Also, credit to Yannick Lemieux for the applause track we use for fun in today's episode.)
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
This was a fun one. We recently asked some of our listeners to share with us who has been most helpful to them in navigating COVID-19. We got quite a few responses for our guest today!
Ryan Wakefield spent years as the Creative Director at James River Church, and has since founded Church Marketing University, a hub of training and resources to help churches utilize new methods to share the message of Jesus. His energy and passion for churches is contagious, and we had such a blast getting to connect with him on the podcast.
In addition to some fun stories about vacations and football, Ryan shares some honest insights for leaders to consider coming out of COVID-19. What strategies should we hold on to that we learned during this time? If he was a small-church pastor today, what is the one thing he would do to ensure future effectiveness? And a whole lot more...
Listen in! This is a practical, honest, and inspirational conversation.
Click here to check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
This week, many conversations are happening that should have been happening for many years. And that's true about our ministry as well.
A Note From Dale:
I met Harold Coleman about 14 years ago when we were both part of the same church in South Carolina. I've always loved his leadership, friendship, and as of late have greatly appreciated his insight and honesty into where our country is at.
Today, Harold graciously took some time to talk to us about his experience as a black man in America, why churches aren't exempt from this issue, some honest insight into the difficult journey of addressing racial reconciliation with our congregations, and why "doing" more and "talking" less is a more effective strategy moving forward.
I know there are a lot of conversations happening right now around this topic, so I really encourage you to listen through this or other conversations that are happening. And overall, please lean in during this moment in our country. Don't ignore it. Don't shy away from it. And take some courageous steps forward.
Click here to check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Today on the podcast we've got such a great conversation with Tiffany Deluccia, Director of Sales and Marketing at The Unstuck Group.
Tiffany is an incredibly strategic thinker and has a huge heart for the Church. She shares some practical thoughts about communicating more strategically online, empowering leaders within our congregation to champion aspects of our communications efforts better than we could, and why you should allow yourself to dream a little bit about the potential influence of your ministry.
And she just so happens to be Dale's daughter. (And she used to be Austin's boss!)
We really encourage you to take a listen as we continue to navigate what it looks to use new methods to minister effectively to our communities. This was a good one.
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Today on the podcast, we've got a great conversation with John Lynch, a speaker, author, and former pastor.
We loved this conversation. Nothing in it is specifically addressed to churches navigating COVID-19, and that's honestly why we're sharing it today. Instead of piling more on to your crisis-related toolbox, we wanted to share a resource that would speak straight to your heart.
And that's exactly what this episode does.
John has such a passion for the Church. After 27 years as the teaching pastor at Open Door Fellowship in Phoenix, AZ, John began speaking nationally and authoring many resources. In this episode, he talks a whole lot about living a vulnerable life and the freedom leaders can experience if they take the risk of being fully known.
This is a soul-care episode. And we're so grateful to have had the opportunity to connect with John. Give it a listen!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
The word "engagement" has been a common one in church leadership in the last few years. During COVID-19, that term has become even more crucial as people determine what it looks like to measure their effectiveness online.
But for many churches, a lot of the conversations happening have added a level of confusion and complexity in their ministry that doesn't need to be there.
So this week on the podcast, we're breaking down engagement into 4 questions for you to consider and giving you some "permission" to measure engagement a little more organically, especially if you're in a small or mid-size church.
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
As we all know, the conversations surrounding COVID-19 are constantly changing. This past week, many of the conversations online have shifted towards developing a strategy for reopening our buildings, with many smaller churches seeing that as a possibility in the (fairly) near future.
As Karl Vaters shared a couple weeks back on the podcast, the season that's ahead will look different for every church based on their local orders and their specific context.
For Episode 35, Austin and Dale take some time to talk through some of what we're seeing from churches and walk through 6 principles for leaders to consider as they develop their strategy and plan for eventually reopening. Our great fear is that as churches see the "light" of returning, the comfort of getting closer to normal will overtake the progress that could be made during this time.
Take a listen!
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
We're really grateful to be sharing today's conversation with Dale's good friend Clayton King, long-time ministry leader, a gifted evangelist, and part of the team at Newspring Church. We got to record this conversation before everything hit with COVID-19, and we've been sitting on it for a little while, so we're glad we're finally sharing it today.
Clayton is the real deal. He loves Jesus with all His heart. He loves the Church with all his heart. And he practices everything he preaches. You'll quickly find that he's a straight-shooter with some very honest responses throughout this conversation. And we truly believe that what we cover today is so important for the Church today.
So I hope you enjoy this episode. Austin recently said, "I have never heard two people talk that fast!" And it's true: You probably don't want to speed it up -- Dale and Clayton do talk fast!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
It is always so special to us to have conversations with others who have a passion, understanding, and care for small churches. Karl Vaters checks all of those boxes. Our conversations with him are some of our favorites, and this one is no different!
For Episode 33 of the podcast, we have Karl back on the show to talk about his own experiences in crisis leadership, how he's currently helping churches adapt to and recover from COVID-19, the importance of team leadership during this time, and a whole lot more. And, of course, there are quite a few laughs, and a mention of Karl's late cat, Darth.
Some great wisdom and support in this episode!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
"I wish someone would have told me that I was entering cross-cultural ministry..."
This week on the podcast we have such a great conversation with Ron Klassen, Executive Director of Rural Home Missionary Association, an organization that exists to plant and strengthen churches in small-town America.
We spend a few minutes upfront talking about some great things we've seen from churches during COVID-19, but we spend most of the time simply hearing Ron's heart and experience serving in and supporting churches in rural contexts. He has so much to share and, whether you minister in a rural community or not, there are tons of great takeaways in this episode!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Our defaults have been taken away. The normalcy or tradition we rely on has been removed. So how should we respond?
Dale and Austin share some honest thoughts (and a little bit of preachin') about your role during this crisis, what our Easter efforts should focus on this year, and some reminders about the opportunities you have during this season of ministry. And we walk through 4 important reminders for you to consider, no matter if you're planning an online service, a casual Facebook Live video, sharing premade content, or anything else.
We're cheering you on during this season! We continue to be encouraged by the efforts we see churches taking to minister to their community right now. And we hope this episode is an encouragement to you!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Today's episode, sponsored by Twitter (just kidding), is a really fun one. We got to have Jeanette Yates, Communications Manager at Text in Church, on the podcast to talk through guest experience, guest follow-up, volunteer training, and how the team at Text in Church is supporting churches during COVID-19.
Jeanette is such an encouragement! And her insights are so valuable in thinking through how we can be intentional in engaging our community during this season of ministry and in the weeks ahead.
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
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This was originally a Facebook Live we hosted with our friends in ministry, Aimee Cottle and Jamie Shafer, from Fishhook. If you'd prefer to watch the conversation, you can click here!
No doubt, as the world around us has quickly changed, one of the pressing issues for church leaders is how we're going to shift our strategy for Easter. So today we're sharing a conversation with our friends over at Fishhook to talk through that. Where do we start? Should we do an online service this year? How should we plan?
Easter is the intersection of faith, hope, and love. Our communities need all these things right now. And it's exactly what you have to give. But, your audiences need to connect with it in a way that is inviting, approachable, and accessible - literally.
You have the most important story in the world to tell. How will you tell it in a way that can be experienced? Understood? How will people hear it? See it? Share it? Hold it - even in time of social distancing?
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
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This was originally a Facebook Live we hosted with our friend in ministry, Kem Meyer. If you'd prefer to watch the conversation, you can click here. One pastor commented and said, "This is the single most helpful post/video I have seen yet for the small and struggling churches." Great wisdom from Kem -- worth a listen!
Our team has been focusing this past week on providing as many resources as we can for you to lead your ministry effectively and intentionally through COVID-19.
So today we wanted to share a conversation with one of our ministry partners, Kem Meyer. She is the Founder of Less Chaos. Less Noise., is an incredibly strategic thinker, and has a huge heart to resource the Church.
In this conversation, we talk through the changes COVID-19 has brought, how our ministries should (and shouldn't) be responding, what Kem is seeing, and some encouragement for how to move forward intentionally.
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
It's a crazy season in ministry, to say the least. A lot of changes have happened really quickly and it's left a lot of churches scrambling to piece ministry together. However, where we go from here is crucial as ministry leaders.
This is not a time to shrink back, fight back against, or ignore. It is a time for us to put all our methods on the table and figure out how we leverage the shifts in our world to reach our community. This is not a time for us to "wait it out" or remain insider-focused, but instead is such a clear opportunity for the Church to make a meaningful and lasting difference in our local communities.
So today on the podcast, Dale and Austin have an encouraging, honest, and hope-filled conversation as we all navigate COVID-19. We hope it is a support for you today!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
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We are so excited to be sharing today's episode of the podcast. Lance wrote a book called Replenish and it is one of Dale's personal favorite books for ministry leaders. So the fact that we got to have Lance on the podcast is really special to us!
Lance Witt was a Senior Pastor for over 20 years, worked at Saddleback Church for a while, wrote 2 books (Replenish and High Impact Teams) and has since started Replenish Ministries and is a consultant with our friends at The Unstuck Group.
We talk about such good stuff in this episode around balance, burnout, calling, and learning to pay attention to what's going on inside our own soul. Lance has such a huge heart for the Church and some powerful, honest thoughts for ministry leaders. A really great conversation!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
We recently helped a church we're connected with in New York structure a capital campaign for a new building. They had reached out to an organization that wanted to charge them $30,000 upfront to (hopefully) raise $200,000. And we didn't think that was realistic, honest, or wise for their smaller church.
So today we're excited to share our conversation with Mike Stadelmayer, VP of Church Growth Services, an organization that helps with capital campaigns and has a 100% success rate of churches who get the "green light" to raise funds. What drew us to them is that a majority of their business is done in small churches.
Mike has such a great heart for local churches and we loved talking about his years as a bivocational pastor, the most common issues they see in capital campaigns, and some practical suggestions for churches who are considering walking through a campaign. This was a great conversation and we believe this episode is a great resource for churches!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
This week on the podcast, we got to have another special conversation. We recently connected with Roy Yanke, Executive Director of PIR Ministries, an incredible ministry that partners in pastoral restoration and renewal.
We wanted to have Roy on the podcast simply to share about the work they're doing. But when he honestly shared his story while we were talking, the work they do took on even a deeper a level of meaning. Roy truly has a powerful story of literally walking from bank robber to pastoral blessing that I believe will be powerful for you to hear.
For Episode 25, we're excited to be sharing this conversation. Roy has such a heart for church leaders and a huge amount of wisdom to share.
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Today is another one of our favorite conversations we've had with a new friend in ministry. We got to talk with Dave Jacobs, founder of Small Church Pastor, author, and coach for church leaders.
We talked about how he first became a Senior Pastor at the age of 21, his journey through burnout, how to avoid becoming cynical or jaded, the consistent things he hears from the pastors he's coaching, leading change, and a whole lot more.
Plus, we got to hear about how he's never ridden a horse (and a bonus Yoda impression at the end of the episode). This is an episode we both loved hosting and listening back to, and it's one you don't want to miss!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
As you may have seen on our social media, I was recently down in Honduras to work with local pastors there. It was a really incredible time and I was brought in by my friend Joseph Bennett. So I figured I'd record a podcast episode when I was down there with Joseph and his wife Rebecca while I was staying with them!
I believe the raw emotions of what they are dealing with each day will strike a chord with many of the church leaders who listen to our podcast.
So for Episode 23 of the podcast, I'm LIVE from Honduras talking with Joseph & Rebecca about what it's like ministering in Honduras, their biggest challenges in marriage as missionaries, the difficulties of moving their family into a new culture, and more. This really is an honest conversation that you don't want to miss -- I believe it will encourage you and inspire you to hear about what others are doing to spread the name of Jesus!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Our team often has the chance to connect with churches who are just knocking it out of the park with how they're reaching their community, focusing on their mission, and staying focused on where they're headed rather than where they've been.
This week on the podcast, we're talking with a pastor of one of those churches. Mark Pritchard is the Lead Pastor at Church at the Gates in Missoula, MT, a church Dale personally had the opportunity to work with a couple years back. They went through a planning process with The Unstuck Group, similar to what we do in VisionDay, and came out with some incredible clarity and unity for where they're headed as a ministry.
We had a ton of fun on this episode (Austin's question of the day was the most random one yet) and we loved hearing about the ministry Church at the Gates is doing today and how Mark has grown in his leadership. It's a good one!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
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Our good friend, Lee Button, who is from the UK (although we learned his favorite sport is American football) and is Founder of Thinking Church and a consultant with The Unstuck Group, was recently staying with Dale for a couple days. While he was there, we figured we should record a podcast episode with him!
So for Episode 21 of the podcast, we were grateful to be able to talk with Lee about what he's seeing in churches over in the UK, how we all can reshape our ministries to better reach people in our community, how they've done ministry in a context where people are suspicious of the Church, and the list goes on.
Lee has so much wisdom to share with an incredibly thoughtful and strategic approach to ministry. It was fun to hear his thoughts because Lee was sharing a lot of similar things to what we say about ministry. Give it a listen!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Or want to find out how to access the bonus conversation w/ Lee? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Foster care is something that many churches are aware of. But a lot of us simply aren't sure what practical steps our ministries can take to help.
On Episode 20 of the podcast, we were grateful to connect with Jami Kaeb, Director of The Forgotten Initiative, a faith-based organization that exists to help people support the foster care community through awareness, encouragement, and advocacy.
We loved having this conversation. Jami is a great leader and she has so much practical wisdom to share when it comes to supporting the foster care community. This conversation is one that dives into some mistakes churches make when they approach missional opportunities like this, practical ways to get involved, and some of Jami's heart for church leaders. It's absolutely worth the listen!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
There are a good number of things that should be on our radar as church leaders that simply aren't in the week-to-week of ministry. Law issues definitely fall in that category for most of us. However, this is an area we have to be proactive in rather than reactive.
For Episode 19, we're grateful to be sharing a conversation with Steven Goodspeed from The Church Lawyers, a full-service law firm that looks to provide outstanding and practical legal services to churches, ministries, and nonprofits of all sizes. We've had the opportunity to get to know them over the past couple years and are so grateful for their heart for local churches.
Steven comes at this topic with such practicality and heart, and I hope it's a great conversation-starter for many of our teams. It's definitely worth a listen!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
It's the start of a new decade! We pray you are expectant for what this year holds for your ministry. To start the year off, we are sharing a conversation about a topic we're passionate about around here: The dynamics between older and younger generations.
This is an issue that we don't often see intentionally addressed in churches. But the reality is that strategically investing in younger generations is the foundation for the future of every one of our ministries.
Join us for this honest conversation as we walk through why we believe this is a pressing issue, respond to some of Carey Nieuwhof's recent research, share how I (a 57-year-old) and Austin (a 23-year-old) work together effectively, and also respond to some questions we received from members of our network about this topic.
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Thank you so much to all of you who have supported us as we launched The 95 Podcast this year! This week, we're sharing our final episode of 2019 and the conclusion of our series of interviewing people who are ministering in northeast America.
For Episode 17, we're excited to be sharing a conversation with Kim Richardson and Jarrod Spalding, who lead Vision Partners, an organization dedicated to helping churches clarify their future. They found us online about a year ago and we've enjoyed getting to know them this past year.
Both Jarrod and Kim have a great heart for local churches and are doing some great work to help churches stay accountable to their vision. There's some great takeaways in this conversation and we're excited to be sharing it!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (http://www.95network.org/donate)
This week we're continuing our (accidental) series on the podcast where we interview leaders who are ministering in northeast America!
We are so excited to have Tim Ponzani, District Executive Minister of Converge Northeast, on Episode 16 of The 95 Podcast. We've had the opportunity to get connected with the Converge Network over the years and loved recently meeting Tim at a couple of our one-day events in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Tim is an incredible leader and has such a strong ability to articulate the culture of ministry in the northeast. On the episode, we enjoyed hearing about the work Converge is doing in the northeast along with his vision for the Church in that area. Tim's responses were incredibly thoughtful and we're excited to be sharing this conversation!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
This past week, I had the opportunity to lead a one-day event for pastors in the Dominican Republic. This was such a powerful experience and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to meet some incredible leaders who are doing some great work throughout this country.
We wanted to make sure we captured a conversation for the podcast while I was here. So I'm very excited to be sharing a conversation between myself, Victor Medina, Michael Moore, and Erick Suarez for Episode 15 of The 95 Podcast.
This is probably the most honest and straightforward conversation we've had on the podcast. I'm really excited to share it, and I hope that you'll take some time to listen:
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
It's impossible to lead a church to be evangelistic if we're not evangelistic ourselves.
We are so excited to have Dan Nichols, Executive Director of The Northeast Collaborative and Pastor at Restored Church in Wilkes-Barre, PA, on Episode 14 of The 95 Podcast! We got connected with Dan a little over a year ago and have been consistently impressed by his leadership and passion for the Church.
This was a conversation filled with enthusiasm, honesty, and quite a few laughs. Dan had some incredible wisdom to share with church leaders and some down-to-earth reminders about the intended purpose of our ministries:
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
We are so excited to have Jeff Keady, co-host of the 200churches Podcast, on Episode 13 of The 95 Podcast! It's always special to talk with another church leader who has such a deep passion to resource smaller churches.
It's difficult to provide an overview of this episode because Jeff had so much wisdom to share on investing in the next generation, leading change in your church, avoiding insecurity as a pastor of a small church, and simply enjoying the journey that God leads you on in ministry.
This truly is a conversation you don't want to miss (plus, you'll get to hear the stories of how Jeff came to faith in Christ and the weirdest gift he's received as a pastor).
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Every church leader experiences seasons of insecurity. Fluctuating attendance, inconsistent weekly giving, staff issues, board members with agendas, and comparison to other “successful” ministries in our region all feed the notion that we’re not good enough to lead our church.
These seasons are sure to occur at various points in our leadership, but how we walk through them determines what lies ahead for our life and the church we lead.
Join us this week on the podcast as we walk through 7 questions to ask during seasons where we're not sure if we should continue on in ministry:
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
And finally, click here to download the freebie mentioned called 6 Things Every Small-Church Pastor Needs to Hear.
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"We're a small church, so we don't have time to improve."
On a recent phone call with a pastor, this is a statement we heard.
And we regularly hear a lot of pastors of smaller churches express similar sentiments as they feel like the day-to-day of ministry dominates their schedule.
But here's the reality: If you feel like you don't have enough time for what's most important, it's not because of your church's size. It's because of your church's structure.
Join our team this week on the podcast for a conversation on 5 reasons churches get to a place in ministry where they can honestly say, "We don't have time to improve."
Check out this episode's show notes.
Austin's Social Media Game: We want to get to know you better! We're starting a new tradition this week at the start of our episodes of answering one random question. But we need your participation: So this week, send us your answer (on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn) to the questions, "If you had to get rid of one fast food restaurant because it's the worst, what would you choose? And if you had to get rid of all fast food restaurants except for one because it's the best, which one would you choose?"
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For a multitude of reasons, balancing the demands of ministry while prioritizing your marriage can be so hard. If you're in ministry, you've likely gone through many seasons where you've felt this.
This week on the podcast we're connecting with Mark & Jill Savage, long-time leaders in church and parachurch ministries. They have an incredible story of redemption in their marriage after an affair and now spend their days investing in marriages across the world.
If you're familiar with Mark & Jill's ministry, you likely know how influential and wise they are. So I hope you'll take some time to listen through this conversation as we discuss why pastors struggle to invest in their marriage, how Mark got to the point that he had an affair, and a slip of the tongue that had all of us laughing.
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
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As Jeff Bezos has said, "Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room." Branding is way bigger than your logo. It's how people experience your church, how they are affected by your mission, and what they actually think about you when you're not around.
So this week on the podcast we're connecting with Kem Meyer, Founder of Less Chaos. Less Noise., to uncover just how important branding is, even in a small church.
Whether you've been following Kem for a while or not, she has so much to share with church leaders. Every time she speaks, wisdom just pours out. So I highly recommend listening through this conversation when you have a chance -- I think it will challenge you in some important ways.
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Interested in the Coffee Talk that Kem mentioned during the podcast? Click here to check out the details!
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
As time goes on, ministry is one of those things that we tend to make more complex than it needs to be. Our number of programs increases. The complexity of organizing those programs increases. And as a result, our church's efforts get less and less directed towards the mission.
But it doesn't have to be that way.
Join us for this conversation with Chris Hughes, Co-Founder of The Ministry Mechanics, about avoiding complexity in our churches. Chris has a lot of wisdom to share from his years of experience in leading (and consulting) churches.
This is a really practical conversation about leading strong and maintaining a clear focus on the actual mission each of our churches are on. Chris shares personal experiences, simple advice, and direct challenges to make avoiding complexity a simple reality we can pursue.
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
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"Your church can change."
If there's one theme from this conversation that I walked away with, it's this. There is hope for the future. Even if your church is declining. Even if you're not sure where to go next. Your church can regain momentum to better reach your community.
Join us for this discussion with Scott Ball and A.J. Mathieu from The Malphurs Group about some common issues they see in dying churches and how churches on the decline can turn things around.
This is a powerful and honest conversation with two people who care deeply about the Church. (Plus, it's the most people we've had on the podcast at one time!)
It's definitely worth the listen!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (http://www.95network.org/donate)
If we're honest, discipleship tends to be a buzzword. We say it a lot, but it's hard for us to fully define. (And since we label so many things as "discipleship," it makes it even more difficult to understand what our ministry efforts are actually trying to accomplish.)
Join us for this conversation with Josh Jeffrey, CEO of Clear Design Group and the Developer of Like Jesus, about making disciples like Jesus did. Josh has teamed up with Dr. Dann Spader to develop a new disciple-making resource for churches and he has a lot of wisdom to share about this topic.
This is a robust and refreshing conversation about returning to the roots of why we do what we do. We have to maintain a perspective of discipleship that not only encompasses the message of Jesus, but also the methods.
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
And finally, click here to download the freebie mentioned about developing a discipleship pathway in your church.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
There's been a lot of talk in church leadership surrounding the ideas of influence, engagement, attendance, and more. So how should we actually measure success in our church? (Or should we at all?)
Join us for this conversation with Karl Vaters, a widely-respected voice for pastors in smaller churches. If you already follow Karl, you know his passion for the Church is unmistakable and the practicality of his ideas is refreshing.
And, of course, our favorite quote from the conversation is this: "If you minister to seniors, remember these four words: Grandma went to Woodstock." -- It may sound crazy at first, but take a listen to uncover why those four words truly are important.
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
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We all want our churches to be healthy, both deep and wide. But what should that look like? What are some characteristics of churches that are effectively reaching their community for Jesus?
Join us for this conversation with Tony Morgan, founder of The Unstuck Group, as we walk through 10 characteristics of unstuck churches.
We've known Tony for a long time. He's a good friend and has been so supportive of our ministry, so we were really excited to get him on the podcast. The honesty, experience, and conviction that Tony comes into this conversation with made this such a powerful discussion.
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
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Your mission and vision is the foundation of every single thing you do as a ministry. If you're not clear on who you are and where you're headed, you'll be guided by whatever feels urgent. This affects your ability to empower leaders, make progress as a ministry, and engage people in your community.
But it's not enough to write your vision on the wall. You have to write it on people's hearts.
In this personal, on-the-road conversation, Dale and Austin take some time to talk about having a vision for the future, particularly as it relates to reaching the next generation.
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
Social media is a big topic. Especially in a small church, it can often feel overwhelming to figure out how (and find the time) to best utilize this tool to support your church and share your message.
Join us as we talk with Aimee Cottle, Director of Marketing at Fishhook, about some practical ways smaller churches can be using Facebook Groups to create community and improve discipleship within their ministry.
We love the whole team over at Fishhook and really enjoyed talking with Aimee. Don't miss this fun, practical, and inspiring conversation!
Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.
Support the show (https://www.95network.org/contact-us/)
What better place to start for the very first episode of The 95 Podcast than talking about our favorite topic: small churches. The topic of church growth has been used in many unhealthy ways over the years, causing a lot of pastors to experience insecurity about their ministry, and in some cases permitting some to become complacent. Join us for this encouraging conversation where we talk about church growth, church size, and leading a healthy ministry.
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