Stetzer Leadership Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ed Stetzer
Season 1 of the Stetzer Leadership podcast was dedicated to helping church leaders navigate through the new reality of the coronavirus. Season 2 of the Stetzer Leadership podcast expands beyond the coronavirus, offering insight to help leaders navigate this unique cultural moment we now find ourselves in, alongside our hosts, Ed Stetzer and Daniel Yang.
Ed Stetzer and Daniel Yang interview leaders such as Rick Warren, Andy Stanley, Matt Chandler, Andy Crouch, and Senator Marco Rubio to better understand how we can respond faithfully and responsibly to the current crisis.
WE’RE MOVING!
The Stetzer Leadership Podcast is now partnering with Outreach Magazine to bring you The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast. Be sure to subscribe to the new channel.
In the meantime, here is a sample of our latest podcast with Mark Mittelberg.
WE’RE MOVING!
The Stetzer Leadership Podcast is now partnering with Outreach Magazine to bring you The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast. Be sure to subscribe to the new channel.
In the meantime, here is a sample of our latest podcast with James Choung.
WE’RE MOVING!
The Stetzer Leadership Podcast is now partnering with Outreach Magazine to bring you The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast. Be sure to subscribe to the new channel.
In the meantime, here is a sample of our latest podcast with Ann Voskamp.
WE'RE MOVING!
The Stetzer Leadership Podcast is now partnering with Outreach Magazine to bring you The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast. Be sure to subscribe to the new channel.
In the meantime, here is a sample of our latest podcast with Dr. Francis Collins.
WE'RE MOVING!
The Stetzer Leadership Podcast is now partnering with Outreach Magazine to bring you The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast. Be sure to subscribe to the new channel.
In the meantime, here is a sample of our latest podcast with Sho Baraka.
We're moving!
Subscribe to the new Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast and access show notes at: https://churchleaders.com/podcast
WE'RE MOVING!
The Stetzer Leadership Podcast is now partnering with Outreach Magazine to bring you The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast. Be sure to subscribe to the new channel.
In the meantime, here is a sample of our latest podcast with Derwin Gray.
WE'RE MOVING!
The Stetzer Leadership Podcast is now partnering with Outreach Magazine to bring you The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast. Be sure to subscribe to the new channel.
In the meantime, here is a sample of our latest podcast with Matt Chandler.
The greatest untapped resource in today's church is high-capacity volunteer leaders. Many people in many churches are largely untapped which means available but not used. Ed is joined by Derek Sanford, author of his recent book, Untapped Church.
The Stetzer Leadership Podcast is moving! Subscribe to our new location at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-stetzer-churchleaders-podcast/id988990685.
Enneagram is everywhere in Christian circles these days, but we haven’t yet heard it used as a tool particularly for pastoral leadership. Ed is joined by Todd Wilson to discuss his latest book, Enneagram Goes to Church. Enneagram coach Lisa Vischer joins to give an overview and discuss Todd's research.
Ed is joined by Grammy Award-winning musician, Michael W. Smith for a special episode to discuss lessons from Michael's dad, the vital role fathers play, and leadership lessons Michael learned from his dad.
As Christian leaders, no other text is more important or influential than the bible. The events of 2020-21 have disrupted almost every aspect of our lives--including how Americans engage with the Bible. We're joined in this episode by Dr. John Plake from the American Bible Society to discuss the latest research in their "State of the Bible" report. More info at https://sotb.research.bible
How do we know if our leadership has drifted?
Christine Caine joins Ed and guest host Wendy Larson to discuss her new book, How Did I Get Here? Finding Your Way Back to God When Everything is Pulling You Away.
Christine is a sought-after international speaker, author and activist. She leads the A21 campaign and Propel Women. Known for her ability to effectively communicate a message of hope, Christine has a heart for reaching the lost, strengthening leadership, and championing the cause of justice.
Will Mancini joins Ed Stetzer and guest host Josh Laxton to talk about the future of the church--especially as we emerge from the pandemic. They discuss Will's new book, Future Church: Seven Laws of Real Church Growth. At the heart of this is the question: What will you do with this ministry moment? Will is especially equipped to lead us in a moment like this
The intersection of politics and faith has been divisive in recent years. Bill Haslam says it doesn’t have to be—that faith can actually be a redemptive and unifying presence in the public square.
Ed Stetzer and guest host Josh Laxton interview former two-term governor of Tennessee, Bill Haslam, to talk about his new book Faithful Presence: The Promise and the Peril of Faith in the Public Square.
Gov. Haslam has been a mayor and governor, serving at local, state and federal levels of government.
In this episode, Ed is joined by Rob Wegner and Lance Ford, co-authors of the recent release The Starfish and the Spirit: Unleashing the Leadership Potential of Churches and Organizations, along with Alan Hirsch. As stated on Amazon, this book leverages "the metaphor Ori Brafman popularized in his NYT best-selling book, The Starfish and the Spider, Rob Wegner, Lance Ford, and Alan Hirsch show why the distributed structures of starfish organizations are uniquely fit to the church." Currently, Rob is one of the founders and directors of the Kansas City Underground, a mission agency and decentralized network of missionaries and microchurches in Kansas City. Lance is the co-founder of the Sentralized Conference in Kansas City.
In this episode of Stetzer Leadership Podcast, Ed is joined by Rich Stearns, President Emeritus of World Vision International. Rich is the author of several books, including the best-selling, award-winning The Hole in Our Gospel. He also wrote Unfinished, as well as two books with his wife, Reneé – a children’s Bible storybook, God’s Love For You, and a 90-day devotional, He Walks Among Us.
His most recent release, and the focus of this conversion, is Lead Like It Matters to God: Values-Driven Leadership in a Success-Driven World. In this book, "Stearns shares captivating stories of his life journey and unpacks seventeen crucial values that can transform leaders and their organizations." He joins the podcast to share more about the leadership wisdom he's gained through the years.
In this episode of Stetzer Leadership Podcast, Ed is joined by Dr. Lamar Hardwick, author of the recently released book, Disability and the Church: A Vision for Diversity and Inclusion. This release follows his first book, the best-seller I am Strong: The Life and Journey of an Autistic Pastor. While Hardwick's first book centers around his personal journey with experiencing disabilities within the Church, his latest book offers "a practical and theological reconsideration of the church's responsibilities to the disabled community." Hardwick joins Stetzer Leadership Podcast to share more about his story, his latest book, and how COVID-19 has helped and/or harmed those with disabilities in our congregations.
In this episode, Ed is joined by a different cohost, Dr. Karen Swanson, as he welcome Lecrae back on Stetzer Leadership Podcast in commemoration of Second Chance Month.
Lecrae is a talented musician and gifted storyteller, as evidenced in his 7 studio albums and multiple mixtapes, now nearing the 2 million mark in sales, with the acclaimed artist winning a Billboard Music Award, multiple BET, Soul Train, and Dove awards and even an Honorary Doctorate of music to go along with his 2 Grammy wins.
Lecrae has partnered with Prison Fellowship to raise awareness about Second Chance Month. Prison Fellowship is the world's largest Christian nonprofit organization for prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, and a leading advocate for justice reform.
In this episode of Stetzer Leadership Podcast, Ed and Daniel are joined by Dr. Darrell Bock. Dr. Bock is a renowned New Testament Scholar, and currently holds positions as Senior Research Professor of New Testament and Executive Director for Cultural Engagement at Dallas Theological Seminary. He has written over 40 books, the most recent of which is Virtual Reality Church: Pitfalls and Possibilities (Or How to Think Biblically about Church in Your Pajamas, VR Baptisms, Jesus Avatars, and Whatever Else is Coming Next), with Jonathan Armstrong, the topic of this week's episode; How do we respond thoughtfully and biblically to virtual reality technology and the changes it may bring?
In this episode, Ed and Daniel are joined by Dr. Derwin L. Gray, Lead Pastor of Transformation Church in North Carolina and former NFL Safety. Dr. Derwin L. Gray joins the podcast to discuss his most recent book, Building a Multiethnic Church: A Gospel Vision of Love, Grace, and Reconciliation in a Divided World. Building a Multiethnic Church is an invitation for church leaders to help their congregations embrace Christ’s call to the early church—a call that crosses ethnic and socioeconomic barriers to create heavenly colonies of love, reconciliation, and unity.
Join Ed and Daniel for an interview with Dr. Jay Butler, Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Jay C. Butler, MD is the Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases. In this capacity, he provides leadership to the efforts of CDC’s three infectious disease national centers and helps to advance the agency’s cross-cutting infectious disease priorities. He is board certified in medicine, pediatrics and infectious diseases, and has served in public health positions at federal, state, and tribal government, including completing more than 22 years in the Commissioned Corps of the US Public Health Service, from which he retired at the level of Captain (Medical Director) in 2012.
In this episode of Stetzer Leadership Podcast, Ed and Daniel are joined by Mac Lake. Lake is the Founder and CEO of Multiply Group, a coaching and consulting organization that specializes in beginning and supporting leadership journeys. Lake joins Ed and Daniel for a conversation about fostering a leadership pipeline in our churches, especially as we transition back to a “normal” life after COVID-19. Ed and Daniel also get a chance to learn more about Lake’s most recent book (The Multiplication Effect: Building a Leadership Pipeline that Solves Your Leadership Shortage), as well as other topics like fostering a culture of leadership development in your organization.
In this week's episode, Ed and Daniel are joined by Dr. Andrew Whitehead, co-author of the book, Taking America Back for God: Christian Nationalism in the United States, with Samuel Perry. The rise of Christian nationalism is one of the key issues facing leaders and pastors today, yet many do not know the path forward in this reality. In this conversation, Ed, Daniel, and Andrew dive deeper into Christian nationalism, covering topics such as:
- Defining Christian nationalism
- Christian nationalism across denominations
- The generational divide in nationalism
Show Notes:
Read Tim Keller's review of Taking America Back here: "A Book Review on the Topic of Christian Nationalism"
In this episode, Ed and Daniel are joined by Dr. Gregory Jantz. Dr. Jantz is a best-selling author of 39 books, including his latest book The Anxiety Reset: A Life-Changing Approach to Overcoming Fear, Stress, Worry, Panic Attack, OCD and More. Dr. Jantz is also Founder of The Center: A Place of HOPE. Topics discussed include:
- Addressing mental health in the Church
- The differences between church counseling and professional counseling
- Physical symptoms of anxiety
In this episode of Stetzer Leadership Podcast, Ed and Daniel are joined by Carey and Toni Nieuwhof as we talk about marriage, an especially important topic as we consider the strain that COVID-19 has brought to many households. Toni Nieuwhof is a family law mediator and former divorce attorney who recently released her first book, Before You Split: Find What You Really Want for the Future of Your Marriage. In her book, Nieuwhof offers a practical guide and wisdom from what she’s learned in her years of marriage, which both the Nieuwhofs bring to this week’s episode as well. Other topics include:
- Handling conflict with your children in mind
- How leadership can affect your marriage
- Reclaiming joy in your relationship
In this episode of Stetzer Leadership Podcast, Daniel Yang and Dr. Ed Stetzer are joined by guest Jeff Vanderstelt. Vanderstelt is the Teaching Lead Pastor at Doxa Church , and the leader of Saturate and the Soma Family of Churches. As we approach a full year of COVID-19, there are many topics to reflect on. Other topics include:
- Obeying God in community, not just as an individual
- Planting churches as missional communities in COVID-19
- Growing beyond Sunday service
In this episode of Stetzer Leadership Podcast, Dr. Ed Stetzer and Daniel Yang are joined by Ray and Jani Ortlund for a conversation centered around Jani’s new bookHelp! I'm Married to My Pastor: Encouragement for Ministry Wives and Those Who Love Them. Drawing on her own experience as a pastor’s wife for over 50 years, Jani Ortlund brings a helpful and vulnerable voice of encouragement for ministry couples. Topics discussed include:
- Growing together as a ministry couple
- Creating boundaries between pastoral ministry and personal life
- The challenges and blessings of raising children as a ministry couple
In this episode of Stetzer Leadership Podcast, Daniel Yang and Ed Stetzer are joined by guest John S. Dickerson for a conversation centered on his latest release: Jesus Loves Me: Christian Essentials for the Head and the Heart. Other topics discussed include:
- Church methodology for the next generations
- Articulating core Christian doctrines
- Evangelism in a post-truth age
In this special episode of Stetzer Leadership Podcast, listeners have a chance to be a part of class with Propel Women's cohort at the Wheaton College Graduate School. As part of online class, students were joined by guests John C. Maxwell and Rob Hoskins for a Q&A session on their most recent book, Change Your World. The beginning of the session, listeners will hear an interview with Ed, followed by questions from several of the Propel Women students. Topics include:
- The relationship between leadership and influence
- The heart values of a good leader
- Explaining "outcome-based ministry"
Small groups have changed drastically during COVID-19, and churches all over the country have been forced to adapt to this changing landscape. Today, Stetzer Leadership Podcast welcomes Eric Geiger, Senior Pastor of Mariners Church in Irvine, CA, as he shares how his church approaches this vital discipleship ministry. Other topics include:
- The volunteer to leadership pipeline
- Navigating division in the church
- Hosting micro-gatherings as a small group
Ed interviews Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes for Health
Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. has served as Director of the National Institutes of Health since August 17, 2009, appointed by two presidents. In this role, Dr. Collins oversees the work of the largest supporter of biomedical research in the world, spanning the spectrum from basic to clinical research.
In this episode, Ed and Daniel are joined by Shaila Visser, the National Director of Alpha Canada and Global Senior Vice President for Alpha International. Shaila shares more about the digital strategy shifts that Alpha has made and what her and her team have learned about effective evangelism through COVID-19. Other topics include:
- How secular culture can increase spiritual conversations
- The importance of a personal invitation
- Fostering digital engagement
- Celebrating evangelism in our churches
This is a conversation about how God is working during COVID-19 and how MOPS International is fitting uniquely into that picture. Ed and Daniel are joined by Mandy Arioto, the President and CEO of MOPS International. MOPS International exists to support and gather mothers to provide encouragement and community. COVID-19 has made family life difficult, especially for families with young children. Topics discussed include:
- How pastors and church leaders can support families with young children
- How MOPS is fostering community during COVID-19
- How churches can support single mothers
- Raising up women leaders within your congregation
In this episode, we will talk about the impact the pandemic has had on children in general, and specifically on foster kids. While COVID-19 has provided a significant opportunity, considering the increase in free time, it has also introduced new barriers for families to be able to keep foster children for a longer period of time. In this episode, Ed and Daniel are joined by Cheri Williams, the Senior Vice President of Domestic Programs at Bethany Family Services. Topics discussed include:
- The impact of COVID-19 on domestic adoption and international adoption
- How pastors can encourage families seeking to foster or adopt
- How church congregations can support adoptive families
We live in a “post-truth, post-modern” cultural moment that drastically affects the way that we, as Christians, engage with the world. The pervasiveness of digital media only amplifies this cultural moment. In this episode, guest Karen Swallow Prior, author and professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, joins Ed and Daniel to discuss the importance of what she calls, a “500 Year Moment.” Topics discussed include:
- Prior’s recent book release Cultural Engagement: A Crash Course in Contemporary Issues
- Defining post-truth and post-modern in the context of our culture
- What does it mean to live in the “digital dark ages”
- Challenges that evangelicals will face in this cultural moment
The last few years have been full of racial turmoil in the United States, which has been unavoidable for our church and organizations. In light of these issues, how does one stay in predominantly white spaces as a person of color? This is the primary question posed in this episode featuring Dhati Lewis. Other topics include:
- The history of the Southern Baptist Convention and racial issues
- Acknowledging systemic racism as churches and denominations
- Filtering the differences between Americanism and Christianity
As Christian leaders engage today’s culture, we need to understand the changing world around us. Engaging these changes in ways that edify the church and winsomely seek after the lost requires cultural intelligence. In this episode, hosts Ed and Daniel are joined by Dr. Darrell Bock to discuss:
- The current state of the culture wars
- How Christians can effectively engage our culture
- How to engage difficult conversations
- Preaching and teaching in a culturally relevant way
Dr. Darrell Bock
- Senior research professor of New Testament and executive director for cultural engagement at Dallas Theological Seminary
- He has authored or edited over 30 books, including Jesus According to Scripture: Restoring the Portrait from the Gospels, Jesus in Context: Background Readings for Gospel Study, Studying the Historical Jesus: A Guide to Sources and Methods, Jesus the Messiah: Tracking the Promises, and more.
- Darrell is a graduate of the University of Texas (B.A.), Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M.), and the University of Aberdeen (Ph.D.).
- Serves on the board at Wheaton College
While 2020 has been a tough year, there is also cause for gratitude. Dr. Ed Stetzer shares five lessons learned as leaders and churches have navigated a tumultuous year. We hope it encourages you as we head into this Thanksgiving holiday. Ed is Executive Director of Wheaton College Billy Graham Center and a Dean at Wheaton College. For more information, visit WheatonBillyGraham.com.
What does a flourishing small group ministry look like during the pandemic? Ed and Rhiannon are joined by Lisa Bishop from Park Community Church in Chicago. They talk about how they’re caring for leaders and how they’re adapting their strategy to have groups worship together online.
Lisa Bishop
- Director of Small Groups Ministry and Women's Ministry at Park Community Church Near North, located in the heart of Chicago's Near North neighborhood.
- She is passionate about biblical literacy and equipping and encouraging people to live a transformed life by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- She is the host of the Living a Life Unleashed Podcast and the Founder of Living a Life Unleashed LLC, a leadership development experience that equips and empowers leaders to lead with maximum impact.
In this episode, Daniel and Ed are joined by Dave Ferguson as they discuss how to pursue ministry in new, creative ways. Dave Ferguson is Lead Pastor at Community Christian Church in Chicagoland and President of Exponential. Dave also shared with Daniel and Ed about his forthcoming book: BLESS: 5 Everyday Ways to Love Your Neighbor and Change the World. Other topics include:
- Addressing racial issues as a pastor
- How to create a flexible plan for reopening churches
- New ministry opportunities in the digital space
In the wake of the national election, the Church, and evangelicals in particular, is grappling with widespread division. In this episode, Ed is joined by Walter Kim and Pastor John Jenkins. Walter Kim is the President of the National Association of Evangelicals. Pastor John Jenkins Sr. is board chair of the National Association of Evangelicals. Topics discussed include:
- The NAE "Call to Civic Responsibility"
- Support for the current administration among white Evangelicals
- The changing demographics of Evangelicalism
- Speaking prophetically to systems of power
In this second episode, recorded on Friday of election week, Rick Warren shares the seven truths he'll be sharing with Saddleback Church this weekend, based in biblical principles and U.S. history.
On the eve of the national election, we are joined by "America's pastor," to talk about the role of politics and fear in our nation.
Pastors and leaders are navigating an increasingly polarized culture. On this episode, we talk with David French about his latest book, Divided We Fall: America’s Succession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation. We discuss:
· Character in political leadership and the evangelical witness
· How Christians can make the most impact in reducing abortion
· Healing our congregations after the election
There’s a lot going on right now. As churches continue reopening, we continue to find our congregations, and our leadership, divided. Pastor and author Larry Osborne joins Ed Stetzer and Daniel Yang as we discuss flourishing small groups, as well as the following topics:
- Leading a congregation divided by politics
- The practical implementation of reopening plans
- Creating a church culture that encourages ministry, not restrains it
Our current political climate presents unique challenges for Christian leaders, particularly in an election season. Research shows that Christians already divide into churches based on political opinions, and that division is even greater as everyone—from prominent Christian leaders to ordinary church members—begins voicing their support for opposing candidates, parties, and positions.
This episode will not tell you how to vote. Instead, Dr. David Platt joins us to discuss his latest book, Before You Vote. In this episode, we discuss:
- Responses to the first presidential debate
- The bible’s call to pray for our political leaders
- A pastor’s role in the American political system
Two-time Grammy award-winning hip-hop artist, entrepreneur, speaker, thought leader, philanthropist, and New York Times bestselling author, Lecrae, is the first guest of season 2. Lecrae joins the podcast to discuss his latest book, I Am Restored, which details his untold testimony of overcoming trauma and experiencing restoration. Other topics discussed include:
- How racism can be perpetuated through systems and structures
- The importance of embracing global Christianity
The National Association of Evangelicals today released a statement calling for civic responsibility in this election season. NAE represents 45,000 local churches from 40 different denominations and millions of people in the U.S. NAE President Walter Kim joins Ed and Daniel to talk about the reason and content of the statement. In this episode, they discuss:
- why the statement is needed,
- what it means for Christians to seek the health of the nation, and
- the difference between a public theology and a political stance.
In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, issues of race continue to be an ongoing crisis as well. As churches and the broader society continue to grapple with this important issue, it is critical to know how to talk about it with each other during this continuing conversation. In this episode, with guest Jemar Tisby, we discuss:
- Defining racism and systemic racism
- The American church’s complicity in racism
- How should pastors talk about racism
- The legacy of Billy Graham as it relates to race
- How to study the history of racism
This episode references:
Our article series on The Exchange about White Fragility.
Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s documentary series on African American Lives
The Enduring Lost Cause: Afterlives of a Redeemer Nation Edward R. Crowther, editor
As church leaders navigate the ongoing health crisis, our world—and particularly the United States—is also engaging in a vital conversation about race. As pastors seek to better understand the role of race in our churches and preaching, we’re excited to discuss a very timely book that just released. Based on his new book, Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope, Dr. Esau McCaulley and Ed discuss:
- How to honor the inerrancy of scripture and recognize the role of cultural hermeneutics
- How pastors and Christian leaders of all races can benefit from different viewpoints
- The role of scripture in discipleship
In the Western world, we tend to focus on church evangelism, where Christ-followers invest in relationships and invite people to attend church. Many forms of evangelism are less possible during this pandemic (ie. mass gatherings, passing out literature), yet many people are open to the gospel. In this episode, we discuss:
- Personal and small group evangelism during the pandemic
- Breaking into evangelistic conversations by listening, engaging in natural conversations about what is going on in our world, and topics that have been impacted by Christ in your life
- How to train and mobilize people for personal evangelism by sharing stories, demystifying the process
- Principles for training everybody to share their faith (you already have everything you need, not trying to win arguments, different types of testimonies, and praying evangelistically)
As pastors and parents prepare for the Fall, many will be attending school remotely. In this episode, Ed and Daniel talk with Valerie Bell, CEO of Awana, the global leader in child discipleship. Several vital issues are addressed:
- Shifting your church towards equipping parents for discipleship
- Creating faith cultures in our homes by sharing faith stories
- How to help kids belong, believe, and become with their faith
- How parents can disciple kids as the church of 2050
In this episode, Ed references “Waking Up in 2030” by Ross Douthat (New York Times)
These days, it feels like hope is hard to come by, especially when we try to talk to race. In this episode, Ed and Daniel talk with Trillia Newbell about how to grace-filled discussions on race. Topics covered include:
- Winsome cultural engagement in what we watch, post, and listen to
- Dealing with weariness, anxiety, and other emotions that may arise during difficult conversations
- The transformative power of the gospel in our relationships
Trillia Newbell
- Author of numerous books, including the recently released Beautifully Distinct: Conversations with Friends on Faith, Life, and Culture.
- Her writings on issues of faith, family, and diversity have been published in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Desiring God, True Woman, Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and more.
- She is also a commentator for World Radio (a sister platform for World Magazine).
- Trillia is a highly sought after speaker. She has presented at conferences, churches, women’s retreats, colleges and seminaries, including True Woman, The Gospel Coalition Women’s conference, Southeastern Theological Seminary, and more.
- Recently, she began working with Moody Publishers as an acquisitions editor.
- Her greatest love besides God is her family. She is married to her best friend and love, Thern. They reside with their two children near Nashville, TN.
Thom Rainer, Founder and CEO of Church Answers, shares where he sees opportunities for the church to stay on mission post-coronavirus, including:
- This is not a time to panic. We should be concerned, but the church has historically been through a lot of difficult times. It is a new missiological opportunity for the church.
- Our Western churches have primarily been vertical, meaning that they’ve grown through large mega churches. Now, we’re seeing more horizontal growth where there’s multi venues, and maybe even micro-sites now.
- Some churches have found that during quarantine, the church members have connected with community members better than they had before the pandemic.
- It’s a great time to rethink and re-engineer. This is an opportunity to make the necessary changes that you should have pre-pandemic.
Book Referenced in this Episode: The Post-Quarantine Church 6 Urgent Challenges and Opportunities That Will Determine the Future of Your Congregation
Thom Rainer
- Founder and CEO of Church Answers
- Served as president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources
- Served for 12 years at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he was the founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism.
- He has been a pastor of four churches and interim pastor of ten churches.
- Graduate of the University of Alabama, MDiv and PhD degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
- Written over 30 books, including three bestsellers: I Am a Church Member, Autopsy of a Deceased Church, and Simple Church.
Barna recently released research which found that “One in Three Practicing Christians Has Stopped Attending Church During COVID-19”. In light of this research, Ed and Daniel talk with David Kinnaman about the ongoing changes affecting the Church, and how COVID-19 has accelerated those changes. Topics covered include:
- Rethinking Christian education for the digital age
- How churches can sustain online engagement
- Creating resilient disciples
David Kinnaman
- President of Barna Group, a leading research and communications company that works with churches, nonprofits, and businesses ranging from film studios to financial services.
- Author of the bestselling books Faith For Exiles, Good Faith, You Lost Me and unChristian.
- Since 1995, David has directed interviews with more than 1.5 million individuals and overseen hundreds of U.S. and global research studies.
- He and his wife live in California with their three children.
The Coronavirus pandemic has become an ongoing crisis. Many leaders have not been trained in crisis management and how to manage it from a Christian perspective. In this episode, Ed and Josh:
- Define crisis as any issue or event that unravels the order or threatens the flourishing of a person, group, organization, or a body of people and our role as leaders.
- Describe the stages of crisis which start with the basement, where you protect yourself, your family, or your church; the workroom where you change your communication and people’s roles and the laboratory where you help people innovate.
- Identify the differences between incident and issue crises for how you lead.
- Describe how mission and vision remain, but strategies change.
This episode refers to our new online course on crisis leadership.
Bio:
Josh has been serving local churches in vocational ministry for almost twenty years replanting and revitalizing churches.
He currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, the Assistant Director of Lausanne North America, and the Director of the Rural Matters Institute.
Josh holds a PhD in North American Missiology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
As churches decide whether to reopen, there are more than two options. In this episode, J.D. Greear describes the approach they have taken at Summit Church, where they are gathering for worship and prayer in smaller groups. In this episode, Ed and Daniel talk with J.D. about:
- How they made the decision to shift towards house churches during this season
- The theological case for shifting strategies in a crisis
- How they anticipate the change will impact their church moving forward
About the Guest:
- J.D. Greear is the pastor of The Summit Church, a church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina that has grown from 300 to over 10,000 in attendance each Sunday under his leadership.
- He has authored several books, his most recent being Above All: The Gospel Is the Source of the Church’s Renewal (2019)
- J.D. completed his Ph.D. in Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, writing on the correlations between early church presentations of the gospel and Islamic theology. Seeing Muslims come to faith in Christ has long been a burden of his, a burden that led him to serve in Southeast Asia with the International Mission Board.
- He is currently serving as the 62nd president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
- Pastor J.D. and his wife Veronica live in Raleigh. Together they are raising four kids: Kharis, Alethia, Ryah, and Adon
A lot of us are spending more time at home these days, which presents a great opportunity to get to know your neighbors and potentially make an impact for the gospel.
How do we best reach our neighbors? In this episode, Dave Runyon, author of The Art of Neighboring, helps us get to know our neighbors by:
- Having a map and a list
- Deploying people for ministry in their front yards
- Hosting ways for neighbors to connect
- Naturally loving our neighbors and building relationships
Referenced in this episode:
COVID-19 Neighboring Toolkit
The Art of Neighboring Video Series on Right Now Media
Dave Runyon
- Helps faith, business, and government leaders unite around common causes in the Denver metro area.
- Executive Director of CityUnite and as a consultant for businesses who have a desire to make a positive impact in their communities.
- Co-author The Art of Neighboring (Baker Books)
- Pastor for ten years at Foothills Community Church and The Next Level Church
Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa recently re-opened its campus for in-person gatherings. We explore the factors involved and what it looks like. In this episode, we discuss:
- how they made the decision to open
- ways they’ve adjusted their campuses and services to be outside and socially distanced
- scriptural basis for complying with public health guidance
- engaging their community needs
Brian Brodersen is senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and is joined by their executive pastor, Jordan Taylor and Lance Emma, who oversees many things including Calvary’s radio program and facilities.
Earlier today, NorthPoint Ministries, a megachurch with multiple campuses and serving nearly 185,000 people weekly, decided to postpone in-person gatherings for the rest of the year. The change comes after a major uptick in the Atlanta area where NorthPoint meets, resulting in more than 22,000 cases in just the last couple days. We are joined by Andy Stanley, founding pastor and one of the most influential pastors in America.
View the announcement here.
We ask Andy about:
- his team’s decision and how they made it
- how the crisis has impacted their budget and giving, and
- how he is calling his congregation to live on mission in the crisis.
Andy Stanley founded Atlanta-based North Point Ministries in 1995. Today, NPM consists of seven churches in the Atlanta area and a network of more than 90 churches around the globe that collectively serve nearly 185,000 people weekly. A survey of U.S. pastors in Outreach Magazine identified Andy as one of the ten most influential living pastors in America.
As the Coronavirus crisis continues, where do we see the work God is doing? In this episode, Nancy Guthrie, Rhiannon Blaauw Erskine, and Dr. Stetzer discuss:
- the idols this season is exposing
- unexpected ministry opportunities where God is working
- what she’s learned about God from helping couples navigate the emptiness of losing a child and how it can help us navigate Coronavirus
- how to trust God when we’re feeling empty
- the role of scripture in helping us navigate the crisis
Here are the links referenced in this episode:
- “Our Faith is Being Tested, and is on Display” (article in byFaith magazine)
- Biblical Theology Workshops for Women
Nancy Guthrie:
- Teaches the Bible at her church, Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Franklin, Tennessee,
- Speaks at conferences worldwide, and through numerous books and video series.
- She and her husband, David, are the cohosts of the GriefShare video series used in more than 12,000 churches nationwide
- They also host Respite Retreats for couples who have experienced the death of a child.
- Guthrie is also the host of Help Me Teach the Bible, a podcast of the Gospel Coalition.
- Her latest book, God Does His Best Work with Empty, releases from Tyndale House Publishers in September 2020
In this episode, Ed and Andrew talk about the role of church leaders in combatting conspiracy theories.
Following up on their recent articles on Christianity Today’s The Exchange blog, Andrew and Ed talk about the discipleship implications when Christ-followers share false information online.
How do you help Christians think critically in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis?
As pastors face the challenges of a prolonged season of challenge, mental health and discouragement can become a concern. In this episode, President Ryken and Dr. Stetzer discuss:
- the challenges of depression and despair in the life of leadership
- the critical role of close friendships that can help leaders through crisis
- the role of supporting relationship structures such as elders and spouses
- Scripture’s role in helping us pray through burdens (specifically Psalm 142)
- Dr. Brown’s professional and research interests center around issues of interpersonal trust, multiculturalism, and trauma.
- He serve as a co-director of the Multicultural Peace and Justice Collaborative, an innovative, collaborative research team that is intentionally multicultural in membership and focus.
- He has a background in trauma counseling both in hospital, college, and community agency settings.
- Dr. Brown mentors students within each cohort within the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.
- Prior to becoming a counselor educator, he spent eleven years as a minister at a university church in Florida that was comprised of many international students from around the world.
- Dr. Brown earned his M.Div. at Abilene Christian University as well as an MA in Education and an Ed.S. in Mental Health Counseling from University of Florida. After his time at University of Florida he went on to earn a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Old Dominion University.
Mimi Larson, Ph.D.
Mimi is Visiting Assistant Professor of Christian Formation & Ministry, Wheaton College
She has served in full-time ministry for twenty-five years, leading children and family minishttps://digitalpass.lifeway.com/tries in the church.
Mimi earned her doctorate in Early Childhood Educationfrom Concordia University Chicago.
She is passionate about encouraging, equipping, and challenging the next generation of ministry leaders to faithfully pursue God’s call in their lives.
Mimi has several publications including children’s ministry curriculum.
Jana Magruder
Jana serves as the Director of LifeWay Kids.
She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing.
She recently published a book titled Nothing Less: Engaging Kids in a Lifetime of Faith.
As everyone has gone online, we went to Bobby Gruenewald, pastor and Innovation Leader at Life.Church — a leader in online church. He shares their best practices.