Ministry Without Hating It

For most, to “honor” simply means to not talk bad about someone else. And by doing so we have utilized language and practices of honor to avoid hard conversations. In this Brave Conversations episode with BrianJames McMahon, we break down how the original translation of the Hebrew word found in scripture for “honor” brings an element of honesty to the way we truly honor others. Because without honesty, you m...

You might have a good team, but is it the right team? In this episode, we sit down with Pastor Jay Haugh to discuss his journey of stepping into the role as a first-time senior pastor in a brand new city, and the practical insight he’s gained through the seasons of assessing and building ministry teams, identifying leadership gaps and ultimately prioritizing character over charisma. 

Brenton & Jay also bond over their...

What started as a throwaway, icebreaker question, has officially become an entire episode. For this roundtable conversation, we brought in NextGen Pastor and Spice Girls Super Fan, Salina Gordon, along with MWH’s very own AJ Williams, to answer a question that’s deeper than you might think. 

Asking, “Were the Spice Girls a good team,” actually opens up an entire discussion around team dynamics, individua...

We want to be safe people. We might think that we are safe people, and oftentimes we do become very safe for people. But pastoring is not a safe experience. In this episode we kick off our first Brave Conversations Episode in collaboration with Church Well Co, and BrianJames McMahon. Together we unpack the truth that just because we say “this is a safe space” within relationship, it does not necessarily mean others auto...

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 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 ...

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 ...

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 ot...

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 ...

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...

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 other...

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&rs...

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 t...

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:&nb...

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 Intervie...

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 fou...

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 Jor...

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...