Leadership Matters Podcast: Recent Episodes
Jeremy Albrecht
A podcast to help develop healthy leaders for matters of leadership because leadership matters!
A Leadership Podcast created by EOD Youth Channel! (Eastern Ontario District of the PAOC)
You ever had an appointment or agenda or even your schedule get hijacked by, what seemed like an interruption? This can leave us feeling very frustrated and like we've lost the most precious commodity we have...our time. As frustrating as these interruptions can be for a leader, they can also unlock some of life's most defining moments. There are so many time management and productivity books, podcasts and resources that talk about the importance of eliminating these interruptions in an attempt to be the most productive you can be. However, what if by eliminating our ability to be interrupted, we are also eliminating moments that could completely change the trajectory of our lives and/or someone else's? If you're *curious and want to hear a little more about this idea, I encourage you to go have a listen to EP. 65 where Jeremy unpacks this idea of being an interruptible leader as well as 5 roadblocks that will keep a leader from being interruptible.
Ever been fearful of prematurely stunting your physical growth? Maybe you grew up believing one or more of the common misconceptions surrounding this idea of stunting one's growth. Regardless of whether you did or not, in this episode we will be taking a look, NOT at what stunts a person's physical growth, but what inhibits (or can inhibit) our leadership growth and development. In this episode, Jeremy discusses five areas that have the potential of stunting our growth as leaders. So, why don't you get comfortable (or uncomfortable...spoiler alert) and listen to this episode.
What makes a leader healthy? I believe one of the greatest indicators of what will come out of us as leaders, comes from the habits and rhythms we intentionally put into our lives. In this episode we discuss one of these practices and the far reaching benefits to our physical, emotional and spiritual lives when we practice this. Still wondering what this practice is...? Hit play on EP. 63 and find out for yourself...it's what a healthy leader would do!
Leaders...do you feel like sleep and/or time off no longer replenishes you like it used to? Do you feel like you're just getting through the next scheduled event in your calendar? Has it been a long time since you can remember laughing out loud?
These are just a couple of the many signs of burnout that we discuss here in EP.62 of the podcast. Despite a couple earlier episodes (EP.3 & EP.4) on this topic, in this episode we take a deeper dive into Why leaders most often burn out, What some of the signs of burn out as well as How to deal with burn out, should you find yourself in the midst of it.
This is part 2 of our series on, Disciples and The Church. In this episode we move into a more detailed look at A-What a Disciple is? and B-How Do We Make Disciples? Jeremy takes a deeper look into how we best learn as human beings and applies that to our disciple making efforts.
This episode was recorded live at our annual next gen leadership conference called, INITIATE. Our theme in 2023 for this conference was, "CALLED", and in this third general session, Mark Colwell spoke to leaders from the title, "Called to MAKE".
This episode was recorded live at our annual next gen leadership conference called, INITIATE. Our theme in 2023 for this conference was, "CALLED", and in this second general session, Jenni Colwell spoke to leaders from the title, "Called to BE".
This episode was recorded live at our annual next gen leadership conference called, INITIATE. Our theme in 2023 for this conference was, "CALLED", and in this first general session, Jeremy Albrecht spoke to leaders from the title, "Everyone Is Called".
Are you tired of discipleship conversations, that leave you with no real, tangible action steps after they are over? I think it is safe to say we have a discipleship problem here in the N.American Church. I know what you are thinking..."Thanks, Captain Obvious, tell us something we don't know". Well, I am not sure if this will be stuff you didn't know, but before we can dive too deeply into that, we first must acknowledge a couple sobering truths. Spoiler Alert--This is PT.1 in a mini series surrounding the topic of discipleship and this one may NOT leave you feeling warm and fuzzy about where you are at when it comes to, making disciples. But, my hope is that it does stir you to think more seriously about what and/or who you are currently building!
From self-sufficiency to selflessness.
Gary Cooper was what many in the business world would call, "highly successful". As founder and CEO of Palmetto Infusions, he moved this private health care company from 40 million to 600 million in revenue in just 4 yrs.
However, despite his entrepreneurial strength Gary had also experienced back surgery as well as 3 hip replacements and had turned to alcohol and performance addictions to numb the physical and emotional pain he was experiencing.He describes the 180 degree pivotal turn he made about 6 years ago as life-changing and saving. Since then, he has a completely different perspective of what 'success' actually is.
Part of Gary's transformation consisted of him handing over the title of CEO to his own company to someone else as well as remaining silent in meetings for an extended period of time. I had the opportunity of sitting down with Gary and unpacking some of the other elements of his transformation as well as some new habits/disciplines that Gary now holds dearly that are keeping him healthy as a leader.
Gary currently serves as Chairman of Palmetto Infusion | CEO & Founder of The Carolus Company and author of the soon-to-be-released book, "The Success Paradox"
Have you ever wished there were just a few more hours to each day? Ever felt like there's simply not enough time to get it all done? Ever answered the infamous, "How's it going?" question, with a "Busy...but, good!"? If any or all of these apply to you as a leader, then you may want to give this episode a listen to.
I had the privilege of sitting down with an incredibly busy, but intentional leader for this particular episode. Bill currently serves as the Lead Pastor of Central Community Church in St. Catherines, ON here in Canada and gives leadership to 4 different organizations within Central. He also hosts at TV show called, 700 Club Canada as well as coaching volleyball in his community. Above all these leadership positions, he still prioritizes being a husband, father and now grandfather! Obviously, it's one thing to wear so many various hats, while it's another to lead in each of these areas with vision and excellence.
Not sure how he does it all...? I was not either, but thankfully I had the opportunity to take a little deeper dive into his personal life and ask him some of the ways that he's able to accomplish so much, while still keeping the main thing, the main thing.
Why don't you grab something to take some notes with and join us for this conversation with Bill Markham.
Are you interested in success? Do you desire that whatever and wherever you are leading...grows?
If the answer to both or either of these questions is, 'yes' then you really need to lean in and listen to this episode. This is part 2 of a 2 part series entitled, "Growth & Development for LDRS" and in this episode we will be talking about how the growth and development of any organization is dictated largely by the growth and development of those leading it.
Too often in our churches, organizations and businesses...we hire the most capable, qualified people for the position and then we just expect that they will continue to grow and develop on their own. While the most successful organizations, churches and businesses have a strategic plan in place for the growth and development of its staff, employees and volunteers.
So, what plan do you currently have in place for the people you're leading to ensure that they are continually growing and developing as leaders? If you don't currently have anything in place...that's OK...this episode would be a great place to start as I walk you through 5 aspects to a leadership development strategy for those you are leading.
If you're a BUSY leader, then this is for you! Leadership is at times demanding, relentless and just plain busy...yet paramount to the success of any leader is their own growth and development. But, where do you, as a busy leader find the time for your own personal growth and development when the demands already have you feeling like you are barely keeping your head above water? What if...I told you it was easier than you think?
Better still...what if I told you I want to help you come up with your own strategic growth and development plan to ensure that you're continually growing as a leader. That's exactly what this two part mini-series is all about. Here in Part #1 I want to help you create a plan for your own growth and development. In this episode we talk about the various ways that we grow and learn as leaders as well as 4 quick and easy ways to ensure your growth is strategic and not just left to chance.
So, if you're a busy leader...who doesn't have much extra time right now for learning and growth...well this episode (and next month's) is for you.
If you are involved in leadership at any level and are interested in growing as a leader then you really need to give this episode a listen to. I had the privilege of sitting down with Rev. Bill Morrow who has 76 years of life experience, almost 50 years of church ministry experience and has led at some of the highest levels of church leadership in Canada. Bill is an intentional husband, father, leader, mentor and friend...and amidst all of the leadership, titles and accolades he's manage to remain humble and passionate about God above everything else.
This conversation took us in all sorts of various areas including, but not limited to things like the power of affirming those around you, mentoring, what needs to eat at your soul as a church leader. We talked about the power of making space to think and reflect every single day and how if you are married you have one job. Bill also touched on something he referred to as "intimacy deficit" and why it's so important that leaders pay attention to it. Towards the end of our conversation he also shared a couple of his favourite books as well as what he'd change if he could go back and start all over again as a leader.
I am going to warn you, this conversation was very much like drinking from a firehose and you may need to listen to this episode in its entirety more than once. I was so honoured to have been able to sit down with Bill and pick his brain on a few of these topics and I am confident you will find this conversation intriguing and inspiring.
Living with intention can be incredibly powerful and liberating! Habits have the power to shape who we are and redefine how we live our lives for the better. In this episode, Jeremy discusses why habit goals are much more effective in changing who we are than achievement goals as well as a step by step process for establishing some new habits this year. As human beings we may be habitual in nature, but you get to decide whether you're going to be a creature or creator of you habits.
This message was recorded live at our annual Initiate Leadership Conference (WEST) event in Scarborough where our keynote speaker, Tim Woodcock shared this message in General Session #2 on Saturday. Tim currently serves as the Lead Pastor of Glad Tidings Church in Burlington, ON. Why don't you listen in as Tim talks about Jesus' leadership and how he was and still is, "Worth The Follow"!
This is a special edition episode that was recorded live from our annual Initiate Leadership Conference (East location), where next generation leaders from across Eastern Ontario gather together for one day to be equipped, encouraged and empowered in their leadership. This episode is a message from Gen. Session 2 where Jeff Hillier (Lead Pastor, Community Pentecostal Church, Ottawa) spoke a message entitled, "Lead Like It Matters". Let's have a listen...
This is a special edition episode that was recorded live from our annual Initiate Leadership Conference, where next generation leaders from across Eastern Ontario gather together for one day to be equipped, encouraged and empowered in their leadership. This episode is a message from Gen. Session 1 where Jeremy Albrecht (Leadership Health & Youth Director) spoke a message entitled, "Worth The Follow". Let's have a listen...
For those involved in any sort of church leadership position, it won't come as any shock to you that we currently find ourselves experiencing a significant leadership crisis amongst us. Obviously, there are various contributing factors to the lack of leaders we see, while the number of vacant leadership positions continues to rise. The result can leave a church and/or Lead Pastor very overwhelmed with the daunting task of trying to find someone to fill that hole from a pool that seems to have no deep end. That being said, I do think we as leaders need to commit ourselves to a proactive approach rather than a reactive one. I get that this issue is much deeper rooted than any of us want to admit, but I also believe you as a leader can become part of the solution versus continuing to feed the problem. How do you do that...? Well that's what this episode is all about.
As leaders we often find ourselves doing a lot of convincing and coercing. Attempting to get those around us to move in a certain direction or give importance to a specific discipline that we know will be helpful. However, if we're not careful we can very quickly become professional at telling those around us to do things that we are not doing ourselves. It is when this happens that we begin to lose our credibility as a leader along with the moral authority that we possess. It is only when a leader's beliefs and behaviours are aligned that they begin to gain traction along with a special type of influence that touches a person's heart. In this episode, Jeremy talks about a principle that is true for all of us as human beings.
Hey Listeners...we've got another intriguing conversation in our LT5 series (Leadership Top Five). This time I had the privilege of sitting down with Aaron Kerr, who currently serves as Toronto Site Pastor for multi-site church out of Vancouver called, Vivid Church. Aaron and his wife (Dana) currently reside in Toronto, ON and have a deep desire and passion for people in Toronto and surrounding GTA to experience the life changing power and presence of Jesus. We went all sorts of different directions in this conversation, which I'm sure you will appreciate as you listen. So, why don't you put those pods in your ears and have a listen to my conversation with Aaron Kerr.
Resources Listed in Conversation:
Book, "Atomic Habits" (James Clear) https://www.amazon.ca/Atomic-Habits-Proven-Build-Break/dp/0735211299/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1YL5R763507PS&keywords=atomic+habits&qid=1656000795&s=books&sprefix=atomic%2Cstripbooks%2C240&sr=1-3
Podcast, "Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast" https://open.life.church/Craig-Groeschel-leadership-podcast
Church, "Vivid Church" https://vivid.church
Social Media for Aaron:
IG: @realaaronkerr
Ever wondered if you're living a lie? Maybe not that question specifically, but have you ever stopped to think about why you act the way that you do, talk like you do, think like you do, etc? The answer to so many of these questions lies beneath the surface of our lives and is rooted in our foundation. However, for many of us, we are living and leading from a faulty foundation. In this episode, Jeremy unpacks the 3 primary lies that humans tend to struggle with. For most of us, the reason we struggle is because of a wound that took place in our lives before the age of 12 and took root. The first step to dealing with these lies is to uncover them as they tend to lurk beneath the surface of our lives.
If you're interested in finding out more and seeing if you are prone to any of these, why not have a listen to this episode.
If you could have any superpower...what would it be? What if I were to tell you that you could actually have a superpower? And what if I were to tell you that by having this superpower, it could result in: giving you more confidence, being more creative, becoming a better communicator, being more effective as a leader, being more fulfilled and overall just experiencing a greater sense of happiness? Why would any leader pass that up...? And, what if I told you that you could experience all of this just by working on ONE thing...? Ok...so what's the superpower?
Well, that's exactly what we are unpacking in this episode of the podcast today...a superpower that I am pretty confident didn't make your top 3 responses to the question I started with above.
In this episode Jeremy unpacks what the superpower is, what makes it a superpower, why so many leaders ignore it and 5 practical steps to developing this hidden superpower.
At the very end of the episode he does throw out a challenge to listeners who think they already possess this superpower, to find out for sure by taking a quick, free online quiz to find out for sure. That quiz can be found by clicking HERE! or using this link:
www.insight-book.com/Quiz
In this episode of the podcast, Jeremy gets a little bit vulnerable and shares a personal story of a recent moment when he reacted disproportionately to a situation that happened one night as supper was concluding. He then goes on to talk about 3 possible habits that as leaders you may want to consider incorporating into your life if you haven't already. All 3 of these habits have the ability to help you as a leader in your journey to becoming the healthiest version of yourself by become more self-aware than ever before.
One of the habits he does reference is specific to being a leader in EOND and is a leadership health initiative that is called, "Clusters". As mentioned in the episode if you are interested in finding out more about Clusters and how to register, please click the link:
https://www.eond.org/healthy-leader-clusters
Enjoy the episode!
Hey listeners, we have another intriguing episode in our Leadership Top 5 (LT5) series. In this one, I had the privilege of sitting down with Brandon Richardson who currently serves, alongside his wife as Lead Pastors of a thriving 4.5yr old church plant in Waterloo, ON called, Slate Church. Brandon was so open and transparent in this conversation and as you will find out very quickly is one very intentional leader in all aspects of his life. I love how Brandon's passion for people coming alive in Christ comes through in our conversation. I'm confident that this conversation will stir and challenge you to reflect on all areas of your own personal life and leadership. Why don't you have a listen to see what I mean? You can find out more about Slate Church at www.slatechurch.com and more about Brandon by following his instagram @brandonhrichardson.
Hey listeners, we've got another episode in our, Leadership Top 5 series. In this one, I had the opportunity to sit down with Founder and Executive Director of Youth Worker Community, (www.youthworker.community) Sid Koop. Sid is a fascinating leader with a lot of passion for youth ministries across Canada, along with 20+ years of experience in it. In this conversation we talked personal habits/disciplines to how Sid enjoys the odd McDon's apple pie and ice cream. Regardless of where or what you are presently leading, this conversation is worth a listen.
Welcome to episode 45 of the podcast. This interview is one in our "This Is My Story" series as I got the privilege to sit down with a ministry couple who have two completely different contexts and stories of ministry. Each of them was so authentic and gracious to give us a window into some of their personal moments of pain, hardship and shame over the course of their lives. As real and candid as they were in the interview, I so appreciate that they didn't leave it there, but shared how God is gracious and a God of redemption as He worked through their individual pain and brokenness for their good, which ended up bringing the two of them together. You will definitely finish listening to this episode with a sense of hope no matter what you may be facing today.
This is another special edition here on the podcast and is a message given by Bill Markham, who currently is the Lead Pastor of Central Community Church in St. Catherines, ON (www.centralcc.ca). Bill delivered this message at Initiate Leadership Conference in November 2021. In it he addresses the need for us as leaders to remain adaptable as we really don't know what tomorrow will bring. Towards the end of his message he does talk about how the church really needs to get back to loving ALL people again and how vital it is that we remain outward focused. I know this message will challenge you and inspire you to evaluate your current context of leadership and how you're doing with loving people.
This is a special edition episode that is a talk that was given by Jeremy Albrecht at a Leadership Conference for church leaders in Eastern Ontario. The conference is called, Initiate and this year's theme was "Reset". In this talk, Jeremy talks about how this pandemic has brought about an incredible opportunity for the church and its leaders to hit the reset button. It's like we are at this crossroads, about to step into what's next...yet often before we can step into what's next, something must die! Why don't you have a listen to this challenging message from General Session 1 at Initiate 2021.
Ever wanted to run in the opposite direction after being asked or given the opportunity to lead? Ever felt unqualified to lead...like you just didn't possess what is needed for the task? You are not alone! Throughout the pages of Scripture, we find all kinds of men and women who demonstrate a reluctance to lead, yet who God uses immensely. If your initial response to an opportunity to lead has ever been to flee, then I think you're really going to appreciate the thoughts unpacked in this episode.
Ever felt like quitting? Have you ever contemplated what it would be like to work 9-5, be a Starbucks barista or work at Home Depot? Well, you're not alone. I don't know of many leaders who haven't had days where helping someone fit a 4x8 sheet of drywall in their mini-van, looked pretty appealing. Leading is challenging in the best of times, but leading in the midst of so much uncertainty can just be overwhelming. So how do we keep going? How do we continue moving ourselves and those around us forward, when every step we take seems to be onto ground that is unstable? The answer to that has to do with your anointing...what God has wired you for. Why don't you tune into this episode where our host, Jeremy takes a little deeper dive into how your anointing can keep you alive.
Do you want to be the type of leader that future leaders speak well of, long after you're gone? If you answered, "yes" to that, then you really need to listen to this entire episode on the podcast. It has been designed with legacy in mind and intentionally created for leaders who have a genuine desire to see their organization, ministry, church, business succeed, even after they their leadership tenure is up. The way we do this is by always ending on empty and if you're not sure what that means then you really need to go and hit, play right now!
We're back this month with another "TIMS" (This Is My Story) edition here on the Leadership Matters Podcast. This time I had the honour of interviewing Jassie Virk. Jassie currently lives in British Colombia where she serves at Citizens Church, while also acting as one of the co-hosts of the infamous "Youth Alpha Video Series". Jassie is a courageous, entrepreneurial leader who has faced and overcome all kinds of adversity since deciding to follow Jesus. She's got an incredibly powerful story of coming to faith and the decisions she had to face after putting her faith in Jesus. This interview was so authentic and left me wrestling with my own faith and my commitment level to it. Speaking of wrestling, we did talk WWE as well for a minute or two. For all this and more, why don't you click that "play" button to hear the whole story. If you're interested in finding out more about Jassie, following her story or connecting with her, you can follow her on Instagram @jassievirk. Enjoy!
Hey welcome to Episode #40 of the podcast. For our 40th eppy we're launching a brand new segment called, "This Is My Story" where we interview a guest leader and take a deep dive into their personal story of how they got to where they are today. We kicked this brand new series off with a powerful story from Jeremiah Niengor. Jeremiah is currently serving as the Youth Pastor at First Assembly Church in Calgary, Alberta. Jeremiah is only 24 yrs. old, yet has experienced so much already on his journey to leading at First Assembly.
I encourage you to listen in as we take a deep dive into this powerful story of redemption, faithfulness and hear the power of mentorship in a person's journey. Jeremiah was gracious enough to allow me to ask him some of his own personal thoughts, experiences and perspectives as it relates to racism here in Canada and how he's navigating the tension in our world today.
Towards the end of our conversation Jeremiah does give out some resources that have challenged him recently and so I wanted to list them here for your reference:
Books Mentioned:
"Why Revival Tarries" (Leonard Ravenhill) https://www.amazon.ca/Why-Revival-Tarries-Leonard-Ravenhill-ebook/dp/B00B8568Q6
"Beautiful Resistance" (John Tyson) https://www.amazon.ca/Beautiful-Resistance-Conviction-Culture-Compromise/dp/B082TV9B5T/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Beautiful+Resistance&qid=1619794325&s=digital-text&sr=1-1
"The Pursuit of Holiness" (Jerry Bridges) https://www.amazon.ca/Pursuit-Holiness-Jerry-Bridges/dp/1631466399/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2P635BCCHQXHO&dchild=1&keywords=the+pursuit+of+holiness+by+jerry+bridges&qid=1619794408&sprefix=The+Pursuit+of+Holiness%2Caudible%2C190&sr=8-1
And finally...for the first time ever a guest on our Podcast gave out his personal cell number if you ever wanted to call and chat. You can reach him at (587) 436-1139
How do you keep your character in tact as a leader? How does a leader stay strong, in the midst of so many various pressures? We glamorize drive, passion and willpower as leaders...but is that enough to keep us from crashing? How much willpower does it take to refuse the temptations we are bombarded with? These are all great questions. In this episode we take a much deeper look at the concept of willpower and learn some very valuable insights that help us better understand how it works. To find out more...why don't you pop in those earbuds right now and listen in to Episode #39.
Ever wonder what 'repentance' has to do with a leader's ability to lead? To be honest, I hadn't really given a whole lot of thought to that either until I sat down with Mark Colwell in this interview and he raised the idea. That wasn't the only gold that came out of this authentic conversation with Mark. This conversation went all sorts of various directions, but this one was deep. Mark is an incredible thought leader who is currently serving out in British Columbia as a campus pastor in the community of Maple Ridge.
So, grab your ear buds and settle in for another segment of our Leadership Top 5's.
Tired of having all kinds of regrets at the end of every year because you didn't achieve the goals you wanted to? We really want to help you ensure that never happens again. In this episode you'll hear about a strategy you can implement right away to take you from merely goal setting to goal achieving. By doing so, not only will you be able to achieve more goals this next year than ever before, but that will also help you in experiencing Your Greatest Year Yet!
If you have yet to listen to Part 1 (EP. 36-Rise N'Grind Routine), then I highly encourage you to go back and listen to that episode in its entirety first.
Ok, get ready with something to take some notes on because we're dropping all kinds of nuggets of truth in this episode.
We've all started out a brand new year before with a desire to achieve more, accomplish more, lose more, etc. Whether you call it a resolution or a goal, the truth is we often end up dropping and/or forgetting about these desires not too long after January. However, I actually believe this year could be different and I want to help you become an outlier in this regard. I believe by making a couple simple, little tweaks in your life, this could quite possibly end up being your Greatest Year Yet! That is why I want to take the next two months to unpack for you how this could happen for you. In Prt. 1 (Ep. 36) I want to specifically look at the idea of implementing an intentional Rise N'Grind Routine that is an absolute game changer. If you really want this to be your greatest year yet, then we need to have some great months this year and to have some great months, it will mean some great weeks and if we are to experience some great weeks, then we need to have some great days. I believe that each great day begins with a great morning routine. If you want to find out what goes into a great morning routine, then listen in as I unpack that in this episode.
In this interview I got the opportunity to sit down and have a conversation with one of the most fascinating guests we have had on the podcast to date. Hank and Tanya are owners and operators of a Dogsled Tour company called, "Winterdance" which is located north of Haliburton, ON. They have an incredible story of how they got into this and share a bunch of leadership lessons they have learned from Hank's participation in a few 1,000 mile Northern Dogsled races including the Alaskan "Iditarod" and the "Yukon Quest". Listen in as Tanya shares with me all these lessons and more from their Journey of 1,000 miles.
Get ready for our 2nd ever Leadership Top 5 (LT5) segment with guest, Jeff Hillier. Jeff currently serves as Lead Pastor of Community Pentecostal Church in Orleans. Jeff is an incredibly sharp leader and an avid reader which contributes to the edge which he so skillfully leads from. This was another very rich conversation where Jeff gave us a window into some of his personal routines and habits. If you're a leader looking to grow from another who has some years of experience, this is a must listen.
Recently I had the privilege to sit down with a very passionate, sharp thought leader by the name of Paul Fraser. Paul has served in church ministry over the past number of years in various roles including, youth pastor, district youth director and now currently serves the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) as the Multiplication Network Coordinator. Paul currently calls, Alberta home, but travels the country helping raise up and develop church planters while encouraging church multiplication efforts.
This was also the introduction of a brand new format for these interviews called, "Leadership Top 5's" (LT5), where I ask our guest my top 5 leadership questions. As a result, our conversation took all kinds of crazy twists and turns.
Why don't you listen in right now to hear how it went.
To suggest that leadership can be challenging would be an understatement in the best of times. Now add the complexities of navigating a crisis like Covid-19 and the task of leading becomes significantly more challenging. As I am in conversation with leaders today, I am consistently hearing leaders use words like, tired, exhausted, confused, anxious, numb, foggy, surviving and so many more, to describe how they are currently feeling. The result is we have many leaders today feeling paralyzed and even frozen in their leadership with no vision or clear path forward. I first of all, want to say that I get it and I'm with you in this. However, I'm not so sure the reason for all this is strictly due to Covid. Why don't you take the next 27 min. of your life and listen to some deeper thoughts on this as I share some of the possible deeper rooted issues behind our current paralysis.
Hey Listeners, I trust this special announcement finds you healthy and well. These have been some interesting times to be leading in that have brought about significant implications for leaders, regardless of leadership contexts. That said, we've got some exciting news we want to share with our listeners regarding the podcast. So, have a listen to this quick announcement.
This was a conversation I was fortunate enough to have with a very intentional, authentic, passionate leader by the name of Andy Moore. Andy currently leads a vibrant, growing church in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia as well as serves on the Lead Team for Arc Canada.
In this conversation we went all sorts of various directions including: leading millennials, leading through crisis, leading while having Covid (that's right, Andy was quarantined to his basement for 3 weeks, while having Covid) and so many more!
Enough reading, why don't you have a listen to my conversation with Andy Moore.
This episode is a recording from our recent YP Online Connexus session with special guest, Laura Bronson. Laura currently serves on the National Team of Youth For Christ workers across Canada. Laura is also director and founder of Keep It Real Ministries (ikeepitreal.ca) which is a GROUP OF SKATERS, ARTISTS AND GRAFFITI WRITERS WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT ENCOURAGING YOUTH TO BE REAL. You can easily find Laura, just look for a skate park full of students, showcasing their talents and Laura will most likely be in the very centre of it all. Laura is passionate about Jesus and sharing the message of hope and love to this generation through art, graffiti, skateboarding or whatever you're into.
In this episode Laura speaks to our Youth Pastors from EOND about reaching students despite the social distancing restrictions we find ourselves under during this pandemic.
Had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Kevin Shepherd, who serves as Lead Pastor at Glad Tidings Church in Burlington, ON as well as serving as the Assistant Superintendent of Western Ontario District of the PAOC. Kevin is such a sharp leader who is continually out in front in his thinking and approach to ministry. This conversation was so rich and valuable as we went all sorts of various places including, leadership habits, leading through crisis, personal leadership pain and George Floyd/Racism. If you're a leader, especially a church leader then you definitely need to listen to this conversation.
So, we have just had an opportunity to hear from an incredibly gifted leader and communicator, Chris Estrada. Chris recently joined us for one of our YP Online Connexus sessions through zoom with about 30 youth pastors/leaders. This session was incredibly rich for all who participated and so we thought it would be very meaningful to upload this session to the podcast. Chris spent the first 15 min. sharing a word of encouragement/challenge to us as leaders and then spent the rest of the time answering some really great questions. This episode will be sure to encourage you as well as equip you to lead as it is very timely and Covid-19 specific. So what are you waiting for...?
To say that life has drastically changed over the past month would be an understatement for sure. Not just life, but how we lead has also been affected in significant ways. Some are managing the implications of this pandemic well, while some are struggling to survive. So, how are you doing? This episode was created and recorded with you in mind as a check-in to see not just how you're doing, but also to remind you of a truth that I hope encourages you to keep going. This pandemic has created all kinds of leadership obstacles and challenges, but it's also created some incredible opportunities. So, how will you as a leader continue to lead the way God has called you to, in this new world we live in? For more on this, listen in to this episode.
We are leading in some of the most interesting days that many of us have ever experienced in our life. Every day seems to bring with it some new developments in the global effects of Covid-19. That being said, there is a need like never before for solid, consistent leaders to lead and navigate people through these uncertain times. One couple that is doing that so well are Mike and Nancy Miller who lead a fairly new church plant in Halifax, N.S. that goes by the name, "Nova Church". This couple is no stranger to challenge and adversity, but as you will hear in our conversation has managed to stay true to the call that is on their lives. In our conversation we cover all kinds of topics like church planting, family dynamics, leadership, physical health challenges, mental health struggles, covid-19 and even Tik Tok. Why don't you listen in for yourself to my conversation with Mike Miller.
In this episode we dive into the realm of what is actually needed to have maximum impact in our sphere of leadership. We often equate the amount of resources with the amount of impact we are able to have...but is that actually true? Why don't you listen in to episode 25 to find out.
With the rise of social media platforms and their use by leaders, it has become easier than ever to succumb to the pressure of comparing. The problem is that most leaders are not posting the multiple failures that preceded that infamous moment of success. The result is that we often end up comparing our worst to another person's best. This is when we as leaders can tend to feel horrible about ourselves and become trapped in constant comparison to those around us. Why don't you listen in as we unpack this a little further and what the real underlying issue is when it comes to comparison.
Happy New Year! The start of a new year always seems to bring about some moments of reflection on the past year, as well as some desires and dreams for the future. This is when so many people make all kinds of audacious resolutions that seem to fall by the wayside by the end of January. In this episode, I really want to unpack the concept that you don't need to make all sorts of crazy resolutions and goals to see the desired changes unfold in your life. In fact, you'll find as you listen that it could take, "just one" small choice to radically change the trajectory of your life.
I am so thankful to these two leaders who gave me just over an hour of their time to sit and chat very openly and honestly about their leadership journey over the years. As you listen in, you'll find out very quickly that their journey has been anything but easy, yet they have continued to persevere. Whether it was struggling to be heard as a female leader, coming face to face with the need to be liked, healthy or a very lengthy unforeseen adoption process...this couple has continued to hold on to faith. I've already said enough, why don't you just take my word for it and listen to one of the most "real" conversations we have had to this point on the podcast.
Initiate Leadership Conference is a conference we hold annually each November where Children's/Youth Pastors along with their leadership teams gather together for 2 days of equipping. This episode was recorded on Saturday afternoon (Gen. Session #3) in our closing session, where we heard from our Keynote speaker, Kevin Shepherd. Kevin is currently the Lead Pastor at Glad Tidings Church in Burlington, ON. as well as the Assistant Superintendent in the Western Ontario District of the PAOC. In this session Kevin talks about the idea of moving from the "A,B,C's" and moving to "D,E,F" when it comes to what we keep track of. He spends some time unpacking the idea of what it means and looks like to establish a culture of disciples who make disciples, who make disciples. Once again, you would be way better off if you just listened yourself though.
Initiate Leadership Conference is a conference we hold annually each November where Children's/Youth Pastors along with their leadership teams gather together for 2 days of equipping. This episode was recorded on Saturday morning (Gen. Session #2), where we heard from our Keynote speaker, Kevin Shepherd. Kevin is currently the Lead Pastor at Glad Tidings Church in Burlington, ON. as well as the Assistant Superintendent in the Western Ontario District of the PAOC. In this session Kevin unpacks the idea of what it means and looks like for discipled leaders to "MAKE" discipled leaders. But, don't take my word for it, why don't you have a listen.
Every year in November we hold our annual Initiate Leadership Conference for Children's/Youth Pastors and their leadership teams. This year our theme was "MAKE" taken from the Great Commission given to us by Jesus in Matt. 28:19. We kicked off the conference with Gen. Session 1 on Friday night where we heard a great message from Jeremy Albrecht entitled, "BE". In this message he took time to clearly define what it means to "BE" a disciple, since " you've got to BE one, to MAKE one"! Why don't you have a listen and find out what that's all about.
What goes into a "winning team"? I'm sure we as leaders could come up with all kinds of ingredients to support a winning team philosophy, but the real question would be whether it works or not. So, I decided to actually let you into my personal world of coaching House League Hockey for the past few years and what I've developed as my "winning teams" philosophy (AKA--Triple "H").
I believe these three H's transcend the game of hockey and if applied to our lives as leaders can set us up to "win" where we have been called to lead as well.
So, recently I had an opportunity to hang out with a couple of Canadian Youth Ministry gurus who were ministry guests at one of our events. I thought it would be a great resource to our listeners if the 3 of us were to sit down and record our very candid conversation for the podcast. Before you have a listen, let me give you an idea of who these guys are:
Rick Zuidersma currently serves on staff as the Youth & Young Adults Pastor at Glad Tidings in Burlington. Rick's passion is to see students and young adults encounter God, discovering purpose and the abundant life they can have in Christ. He believes that the church’s best days are still to come.
James Clarence currently serves on staff at First Assembly in Calgary, Alberta as the Youth and Young Adults Pastor. He loves his city, this nation, and loves his church. Just spend 30 sec. with James and you'll soon discover how much he loves people and is passionate about running alongside them to discover all that God has for them.
So, what are you waiting for...why don't you listen in to my conversation with Rick and James.
"WhatPods"
Lukas was our guest speaker last month at one of our camps and was gracious enough to sit down with me one morning and allow me to ask him some questions about leadership and record our conversation.
Lukas, his wife Trina daughter Georgia and son Beau currently live in Victoria BC, where they serve at Glad Tidings Church. Lukas has been apart of youth ministry for almost 10 years. He is passionate about seeing youth and young adults have a real encounter with Jesus as well as seeing young leaders developed. He loves the game of golf, the Toronto Raptors, BBQ Chicken and loves preaching and leading the next generation as they walk out and begin to lead in the world around them.
Communication is something that is so crucial to our effectiveness as leaders. Not just crucial, but it's something that is constantly happening, whether we realize it or not. So, if it is something that is constantly taking place, we should probably have a bit of a strategic plan for the why, who, what and how we communicate. Although, most of the principles shared in this episode can be applied to platform communication, this is more about communicating beyond the platform.
Communication is something that is so crucial to our effectiveness as leaders. Not just crucial, but it's something that is constantly happening, whether we realize it or not. So, if it is something that is constantly taking place, we should probably have a bit of a strategic plan for the why, who, what and how we communicate. Although, most of the principles shared in this episode can be applied to platform communication, this is more about communicating beyond the platform.
In this episode, I had a chance to chat with Jason Ballard, who oversees Student Ministries at a large church in Langley, B.C., as well as serving as a key contributor with Alpha Canada. Jason is an incredibly sharp, authentic leader, who has never allowed the platforms to change his person. Jason is full of passion and vision, which are responsible for leading him on a brand new adventure of church planting in September of 2019. Why don't you sit back and listen in on my conversation with Jason Ballard.
Check out my conversation with Nate Yeske on life, leadership and taking huge risks to answer the call. Also, if you're a leader who's interested in some online coaching/training, then you'll definitely want to tune into this episode and listen right to the very end for a special password that can be used at Yeske.co for a 25% off discount.
This is part 3 of a 3 part series, entitled "Leadership Hacks". The premise of this is not so much about doing more stuff, but about being more intentional with the right stuff. In this particular episode, we dive into the realm of "Leading Others".
In this episode we continue with part 2 of our 3 part series entitled, "Leadership Hacks". The underlying truth behind this entire little mini-series is the idea that leadership effectiveness is not so much about a leader "doing" more, but about the leader "being" more. Specifically, we will be talking about being more intentional. In this episode we continue the conversation by discussing the idea of being more intentional about "Leading Yourself". This series is super-practical and a great way to start off a brand new year, so why don't you tune in and listen.
In this episode we begin part 1 of a 3 part series entitled, "Leadership Hacks". The underlying truth behind this entire little mini-series is the idea that leadership effectiveness is not so much about a leader "doing" more, but about the leader "being" more. Specifically, we will be talking about being more intentional. In this episode we begin by discussing the idea of being more intentional about "Knowing Yourself". This series is super-practical and a great way to start off a brand new year, so why don't you tune in and listen.
This message was recorded live at our annual Initiate Leadership Conference in our second General Session on Saturday morning. Clark Moran delivered a heartfelt message about the Promise of a Dream. Why don't you have a listen for yourself.
This message is from our third General Session at our annual Initiate Leadership Conference. Clark Moran took some time to talk to us about the concept of Protecting the Dream and what that looks like for us as leaders.
This message was recorded live at our annual Initiate Leadership Conference. Jeremy Albrecht gave a powerful message related to our theme this year, "DREAM". Dreams are viewed from 2 very different perspectives and it is so crucial as leaders that we are able to distinguish the difference. If you would like to know why, why don't you click and listen in to this message.
In this episode Jeremy discusses the idea of submission in leadership. He starts by describing WHAT it is, then goes on to talk about 3 reasons WHY it is important and finishes up with a couple practical elements of HOW a leader goes about it. If you have ever desired the leaders under you to be in submission to your leadership, you first must ensure you are leading the way in submission to your leader.
What makes an extraordinary leader...extraordinary? Does a leader have to be good at everything to be extraordinary? Do extraordinary leaders have weaknesses at all? These are the types of questions that are covered in this 10th episode of the podcast.
It's one thing to have the desire to see lives transformed in and through your ministry, but it's another to see it happen. What separates desire from reality? Well that's exactly what we will be looking at in this episode of the podcast. Why don't you click play and listen in to what that key ingredient is.
This leadership talk was recorded live at our annual Initiate Leadership Conference in Saturday Afternoon's General Session. This year's theme was, "Multiply" because we believe God's Kingdom advances further & faster when His leaders multiply versus just adding! Listen in as Jason Small shares his heart and vision on what's involved in a Culture of Multiplication, both personally as well as in our ministries.
This leadership talk was recorded live at our annual Initiate Leadership Conference in Saturday Morning's General Session. This year's theme was, "Multiply" because we believe God's Kingdom advances further & faster when His leaders multiply versus just adding! Listen in as Jeff Price shares his heart and vision on what type of "volunteer" is worthy of multiplying!
This leadership talk was recorded live at our annual Initiate Leadership Conference in Friday Night's General Session. This year's theme was, "Multiply" because we believe God's Kingdom advances further & faster when His leaders multiply versus just adding! Listen in as Jeremy Albrecht shares his heart and vision on this idea of a multiplication mindset.
Ever had a desire to do something that you really love, a whole lot? Although, the desire to do something lots may be the starting point, it's definitely not the ending point. If we really want to have opportunities to do something a lot, then it's going to take a little more than just "desire" alone. So, what's involved? Why don't you listen in for the next 25 min. as Jeremy unpacks this a little further.
One of the most difficult things to tackle as a leader is shifting the culture in the area where you are leading. Sometimes the current culture has existed for many years. So, where does one begin? How does a leader even go about attempting such a mammoth task? Why don't you have a listen to this thought provoking episode which is all about these very things.
Many of our Bible Colleges are struggling to increase their registrations year to year. We also have churches in transition that cannot find leaders to lead them. So, where have all the leaders gone? Who's to blame? How can we as leaders, be a part of the solution and not the problem? Why don't you dial in as Jeremy talks about all this and more in this episode.
Ever wondered what the greatest qualifier for any leader is to continue advancing in their leadership context? In no way am I suggesting that there is just "one" qualifier that ensures a leader rises to the top, however I do believe the characteristic discussed in this episode holds more weight than often given credit for. Still wondering what it is...? Why don't you take the next 20 min. and listen in to find out!
Burnout...is something that has become an epidemic for leaders today. While there are many reasons for this, I believe a lot of it has to do with how we define and interpret success. In episode 3, I address this in a small way as well as talk about some physiological signs that precede "burnout". However, in this episode we spend some time talking about the road to health and wholeness and what that looks like. So, whether you're burned out yourself or not, I believe these next two episodes in particular would be a beneficial listen.
Burnout...is something that has become an epidemic for leaders today. While there are many reasons for this, I believe a lot of it has to do with how define and interpret success. In this episode I address this in a small way as well as talk about some physiological signs that precede "burnout". So, whether you're burned out yourself or not, I believe these next two episodes in particular would be a beneficial listen.
In this episode, we talk about we talk about the upside as leaders, of living in a constant state of "discontent" with the current state of the areas that we lead.
Leadership can be so futuristic at times and because of our need to always be looking ahead, it can be difficult to live in the here and now. Breathing is not only vital to our lives as human beings, but the act of taking time to breathe is also vital to our leadership. Listen in as Jeremy unpacks this leadership idea a little further!
This message is from our 2nd general session at Initiate'16 given by our Keynote Speaker, Matt Tapley. Matt spoke a very powerful message to all leaders in attendance about what it looks like to be "led under" the people God has put in place in leadership over us.
This message was spoke in our final general session of Initiate'16 on Saturday afternoon. Matt authentically shared with us the how the Spirit drives us to be "led to" people and the importance of putting a name and a face to evangelism.
This is the opening message from our first general session at Initiate'16. Pastor Jeremy Albrecht brought a timely word to leaders from across EOD about being leaders who are completely "LED By" Holy Spirit. He took some time to unpack the idea that "led by ministers create time and space for had to ministry to take place!"