Ministry Without Hating It

How do you lead when you are ultimately not the one in charge? In this episode we sit down with Starla Smith, who serves as an Executive Pastor, to break down what leadership from the 2nd chair looks like. Starla shares stories from her ministry journey of unexpectedly finding herself in roles of authority, what she’s learned from seasons of transition and her intentionality to keep touch points with people just as important as the...

As a ministry leader, if you were asked “Who are you discipling,” how would you answer? What if we said preaching and leading classes don’t count? Starts getting real, real fast! In this episode, Timmy Hensel & Melissa Brotherton return for a round table discussion about why this question can be uncomfortable, yet so necessary to keep at the forefront of our ministry. We’ll get practical in implementing discipleship practices, ...

In this episode, we sit down with the ever-positive Pastor Lesli Klingenmeier! Through the lens of her decades in Children’s Ministry, and as a denominational leader, Lesli shares wisdom on the value of bi-vocational ministry, the changing landscape of Kids Ministry and the importance of always sharing stories. Lesli believes that when navigating through the challenges of ministry, the path to greater positivity is as simple as shi...

If I love hard, it’s going to cost me something. That is what our first guest of Season Five, Foursquare Central District Supervisor and Pastor, Antonio Sims, leads with as he jumps all into the ministry set before him. In this episode, Antonio shares how his desire to love well comes from a history of pain points, and how it has translated into his roles as a church planter, pastor and denomination leader. If I truly love others, ...

Is it possible to get to a place in ministry where things seem easy, and less challenging? Bi-vocational Pastor, Chad Halverson, says, “Yes”. But it’s not the promised land that you might think. In this episode, Chad recalls the major shift he experienced going from only ever being in full-time vocational ministry to moving cross country twice within a year, picking up two marketplace jobs, and all the lessons he is still learning ...

Ministry is a lot like bull riding. Each day you wake up, and you never know which bull you’re gonna get. In this episode Pastor and Church Planter, Jesse Lambert, unpacks the adventure that has been his journey to serve God’s Church. Jesse talks about how he’s learned to walk out practically, “this is God’s church, made up of hurting people and I am a tool to bring healing.” And that journey may not take you to where you thought y...

If the Lord asked you to lay everything down tomorrow, could you do it? It’s a self-awareness leveling question our guest, Pastor Timmy Hensel, now asks frequently. In this episode Timmy shares how he had never experienced what feels like and means to lay everything down until he recently took a sabbatical. Leaders, you have permission to rest. And this isn’t just for your benefit–laying things down empowers others and ultimately b...

There’s nothing harder than serving the NextGen Ministry. At least according to our guest, Pastor Joe Martin. In this episode, Joe shares how being a second generation NextGen focused Pastor isn’t just a role, but a continued obedience to God’s call in his life. Together we unpack the challenges and current trends of NextGen ministry, and discuss how getting back to the basics will reach the next generation. We’re bringin’ the seri...

How do we combat stagnation, cultivate fresh vision and lead others to experience God in fresh ways? What if we told you it has a lot to do with the creativity you unlock through the building of your own imagination? In this episode, BrianJames McMahon once again returns to unpack the practice of widening the capacity of what we see and engage through our imaginations. This practice not only expands the parameters of how much of Go...

This probably goes without saying, but: We believe in Women in Ministry Leadership. That said, in this episode Pastor Melissa Brotherton shares her ministry journey as a female Lead Pastor has formed her ministry as denominational Women’s Mobilizer. Melissa candidly unpacks the psychological, sociological and theological challenges women in ministry face, while speaking encouragement to men and women alike to be functioning togethe...

Ministry leaders will experience levels of pain, grief and relational struggle that most others will not–it just comes with the territory. What if instead of powering through, withdrawing from or finding ways to cope, we just took time to lament it instead? In this Soul Check episode, our friend BrianJames McMahon returns to unpack how powerful lament can be in our ministry journeys.

Resources Highlighted in this Interview: 

• Chur...

Did that get your attention? No, this episode isn’t an anti-easter manifesto. It’s a roundtable discussion on the highs and lows, pros and cons and practical approaches to the ministry calendar–specifically the big holidays and ministry events. Let’s talk about the pain points that come along with these, and how we can experience fruitfulness in events without hating it.

Resources Highlighted in this Interview: 

• Gloo Text Message...

Have you ever said, “I am going to make this work, or die trying”? According to Pastors Sal & Krystal Bono, that’s probably the worst thing you can say within ministry. In this episode, the Bonos get candid about the pain from messy transitions, the death of a ministry dream and even being houseless for a season. But through all of these humbling experiences, Sal & Krystal also share the hope they have found to keep going b...

If God chooses the foolish things to shame the wise, then what does that say about me? According to Pastor Jordan Wall, it’s actually pretty simple. In this episode Jordan shares how his story formed a simple approach to his ministry, regardless of the assignment, and how that shifts the fluctuations of ministry from targets to dashboards. Simple. 

Resources Highlighted in this Interview: 

• Connect further with Jordan at revitaliz...

Statistically, the number of ministry leaders struggling with their identity, calling and confidence in ministry is growing, and they are feeling more and more isolated. In this episode, Pastor and Executive Director Johnny McCallister unpacks how ministry leaders need each other more than ever before. Johnny shares keys for resiliency learned from over 30 years of ministry, tools for ministering to others, and what it looks like t...

How does knowing who you’ve been created to be as a leader directly impact your effectiveness in discipling others? Pastor and denominational leader, Beth Hackbarth, sits down for a conversation with us to share how her own journey of self-discovery opened up a new level for her in leading others. In this episode, we also talk about what the long game of developing people and leaders in our care looks like, and the impacts of being...

Is it your “ministry”, or your “mission assignment”? Distinguishing this small, yet profound detail has made all the difference for our guest, Pastor Peter Henderson. In this episode, Peter shares how being a survivor of the Columbine thrust him into Pastoral Ministry as a teen–leading him to become a Senior Pastor in his 20’s, the wisdom gained from being a young leader in a healthy transition, and how his passion for being on mis...

We’re back! And for our first episode of Season Four we’re visited by Pastor and Non-Profit Leader, Jared Ballenger. In this conversation Jared shares why the word “ministry” has always been spelled “w-o-r-k” (and how that’s not a negative thing), finding freedom on the other side of burnout and the incredible work of rescuing children from human trafficking that he gets to be a part of with Destiny Rescue. It’s a chill interview, ...

At its core, experiencing pain simply means that something is off. And oftentimes, we think pain is bad. And sometimes it is. And sometimes it can be really useful. In our Season 3 Finale, therapist and pastor, BrianJames McMahon, unpacks for us how being honest and lamenting his own pain changed everything for him–including stepping out of vocational ministry. It’s possible to not fear pain, wrestle with lament, and bravely face t...