Dean Hawk Leadership Podcast | AUDIO

AI and the Church: Is It the Future or a Fad?"  In today's world, AI is reshaping everything—our lives, our culture, and our careers. But what about the church? Should pastors be using AI for sermon writing? How can it make ministry more efficient? In this episode, Dean dives into these pressing questions and shares practical insights to help you and your team navigate the role of AI in the local church. Don't miss this timely conversation about the intersection of technology and faith.

Ignite Your Church's PotentialIn this episode, we dive into MOMENTUM BUSTERS & THRUSTERS and how it can transform your organization, ministry, or team. Have you ever felt that surge of energy that pushes things forward effortlessly? Or have you experienced those moments when it feels like you're trudging through mud, despite all your best efforts? We'll uncover what sparks momentum, how to keep it going, and the factors that can stall it.This will be an amazing podcast to sit down with your entire team and collaborate how to implement the momentum thrusters into your organization and teams.

Do you carry the weight of praying and trusting God for the weekly finances and offerings of your church?  In this month's podcast Dean offers some creative insights to bringing your team on board to help you fight the good fight of faith and see your church income INCREASE! 

Go forward 20 years in your life . . . what does your retirement fund look like?  Special guest and CFO, Kim Hawk, joins Dean this month to talk about the practical steps of investing NOW to prepare for your future retirement.  We'll help you make sense of the Roth IRA, 403b, stocks, mutual funds, matching contributions, and investments.  Grab your spouse and have them join you for this podcast! 

As pastors, there are moments when we give everything to others, yet feel like we have nothing left for ourselves.  We experience criticism, betrayal, burnout, and seasons where encouragement is scarce.  If we look to people to fill our need we often are left wanting.  This month, Dean will share SIX key steps that David took to find strength in God on one of his WORST days of his leadership career. “But David found strength in the Lord his God.” – 1 Samuel 30:6

In this month's podcast Dean reveals a simple practice he added to his Sunday worship experience years ago that leaves people almost in shock the first time they attend a service.   One woman recently said, “I've been going to church for 30 years and have never seen a church do this?”   This simple tool will change your reputation in the community, transform the way your members think, and lay a foundation for a move of God in your city.

One of the joys of ministry are the hundreds of armchair quarterbacks to critique our sermons, decisions, and direction for the church.  This is a podcast for your entire team as Dean shares practical insights on how to respond and handle those emails and complaints from church and community members.

It's that time of year to make plans for your 2025 church budget.  Discover WHY establishing and maintaining an annual budget is so important and find out the SIX major categories your budget should be divided into.

Check out this month's podcast and discover the benefits of having legal counsel to help you navigate the many issues of leading your church.  Dean is joined by special guest, Ashley Hawk, who is an attorney who specializes in church and non-profit law.

One of the most effective ways to impact your city with the love of Jesus Christ is through the school system.  Join Dean in this month's podcast to learn creative ways to build relationships with your local schools through creative outreaches that bless students and faculty.

What happens to your church or organization if you suddenly die?  Having a strategic plan in place will ensure stability in the midst of a crisis.  In this podcast Dean shares practical steps to developing a catastrophic plan for you and your team.

Does your team dread your weekly staff meeting?  Is your meeting a safe place to disagree and express ideas? This month Dean shares the guidelines and elements of their weekly lead team staff meeting that will hopefully bring some inspiration to yours.

Friendships in church leadership can be difficult. How close should we get to the members of our church or staff? In this podcast Dean gets raw and breaks the myths of “leadership friendships” as he interviews one of his own personal friends who is a member in his church.

In our post Covid-19 world LONELINESS has become a WORLD-WIDE EPIDMIC with an impact on our physical, mental, and emotional health.  Research found that loneliness and lack of social connection is equal to the risk of smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and it's greater than the risk associated with obesity, excess alcohol consumption, and lack of exercise.  What a great opportunity for the church to rise up and meet this need HEAD ON! Vivek Murthy, the 19th US Surgeon General said, “Human relationship is as essential to our well-being as food and water.”  Join Dean in this month's podcast as he unpacks how the church can get involved and make a difference.

How do you know if your team members are giving their best?  In this SECOND part of HOW TO MEASURE SUCCESS, Dean focusses on TEN (10) AREAS to regularly measure and review with your team members.  The big difference is each one of these are elements that are within their control.  

One of the worst things we can do is compare ourselves or our ministry . . . to others.  Guaranteed when we do, we will always come up short.  In this TWO-PART podcast, Dean begins in PART 1 with how to measure our PERSONAL success.  As pastors, we often measure success by things out of our control; like attendance and offerings. In this podcast, Dean shares NINE challenging questions he uses to measure his personal success and effectiveness to help clarify if he is AHEAD or BEHIND.

Every Sunday Dean gives bold, straight forward invitations for people to accept Christ with every head up, eyes open, and people looking around.  “We don't sneak people into heaven.  We walk them through the front door!” Dean says.  Check out WHY he does this and the practical WAY to equip your church to become a birthing room for heaven.

All of us daily face opportunities to make excuses.  And those excuses later lead us to regret some of our decisions.  This month Dean lays out a challenge for you and your team to take your leadership to the next level by living with NO EXCUSES | NO REGRETS!

This month Dean pulls from one of the all-time greatest battles recorded in history to identify the difference of these two strategies and their vastly different outcomes.   Are you playing to win?  Or playing not to lose?  You'll be surprised at how easy it is to slip into defensive mode rather than playing offense and going for the win. 

Let's face it . . . as a pastor we are constantly around people, yet we often feel lonely and isolated. How valuable would it be to have a fellow pastor you could air out your frustrations, hear some wisdom, and ask for prayer to get you through the situation?    In this month's podcast, Dean shares a proven method for building strength and unity among the pastors of your city.  Life is always better together!

The simplest definition of leadership is . . . influence.  As pastors, we have the privilege of being an influencer for the Kingdom of God and we must be careful how we use that influence in our church and community.   In this podcast, Dean will challenge you to utilize your influence for the greatest impact. 

The pain and wounds of ministry are very real.  After being hurt a few times by people on your team or in your church it can become very tempting to withdraw from relationships and “go turtle” to avoid being hurt again.  Join Dean for this month's leadership podcast as he teaches you how to break out of your shell to heal . . . and authentically love and minister to people once again. 

This month Dean and leadership coach, Thomas Thompson, discuss the startling research that revealed 70% of Christian leaders today fail to finish well.  There are SIX BARRIERS that stand in the way of finishing strong and Dean and Thomas get very practical on how to PREVENT a leadership crash.

Dr. Tiko Hardy joins Dean this month to discuss a hot topic that every church staff needs to be diving into.  The demographics of our communities are more diverse than ever before.  What practical things can we do to EXPAND our ministry endeavors to be more inclusive and less divisive?   Consider gathering your entire team to review this insightful podcast!

For every action there is a reaction.  We often think we're communicating one thing, but our words and actions are sending a completely different message.   When a staff member asks you for a decision and your response is, “You decide.  I'm good with what you believe is best” you just sent a powerful subliminal message of “I trust you” and that employee walks away with confidence and a smile.   Guess what subliminal messages you send when you thank your members for giving but never get around to asking them to give?  Check out this month's podcast for the answer to this question and many more!

Check out this month's podcast! Talk about excellence is cheap . . . but the reality of making it a part of your daily life is another.  There are no shortcuts to excellence.  In this podcast, Dean shares 10 basic values on implementing excellence and taking your life, leadership, and ministry to the next level.  

Dean is known for is his creativity and ability to visualize a spiritual truth to help people learn.  With 65% of the population who are VISUAL LEARNERS, in this month's podcast, Dean unloads 50+ ideas to spark creativity in your preaching and make your audience come alive!  It is highly recommended to VIEW this podcast in its video format to get the full impact!

A lot of people talk about INTEGRITY yet struggle to live and maintain their values in a world that doesn't have values.  This month Dean unpacks why integrity matters and shares how to live a committed life in an uncommitted world.

In this new leadership podcast, Dean shares 24 different ways to improve the work environment and create a place that makes your staff happy that they work for you and the church, which results in them performing at their peak and creating a healthy church environment. 

Coming up with a new sermon topic every single week can be taxing.  In this podcast Dean shares EIGHT practical ways to generate fresh ideas and help you navigate mapping out an entire year of sermon series.

One of the greatest tools we often fail to implement in ministry is THE POWER OF TOUCH. This month Dean will share practical insights on how touch can be an effective tool to impact people's lives.  

Statistics tell us that 32.7% of America's workforce have elected to pursue new opportunities . . . and the church world is not exempt.  This month Dean will guide you through 11 key steps to navigating staff changes within your church.  He views this season of change as the “Great Realignment” by God to strengthen the church in fulfilling its mission.

We are living in a post-pandemic world where pastors are maxed out and overloaded.  Record numbers are quitting or giving serious consideration to doing so.  This month Dean brings some hope on what to do when you feel like giving up and wisdom to recharge your batteries.

When you can get your team members functioning like an owner it's a GAME CHANGER!  It completely transforms the way they approach their job and responsibilities.  In this month's leadership podcast Dean shares the attributes of squatters, renters, and owners.  A “MUST LISTEN” podcast for your entire team!

At first glance you might think reactive and responsive are the same. Yes, they are similar, but they have drastically different outcomes. One typically creates a negative response. The other a positive one. This month Dean will break it down and help you grow as a leader in your decision making.

Every single Sunday at Rock we see people make new commitments to Jesus Christ. Several hundred are INTENTIONALLY born again every year! In this podcast Dean shares his tips, hints, and insights on how to give weekly invitations to accept Christ that people respond to. Plus, he’ll help you build a culture within your church to invite friends and reach the lost. Make it a priority to listen to this podcast and start a fresh move of God in your church!

We have heard the statement “LEADERS ARE READERS” but we’re often unsure what to read? In this podcast Dean shares highlights from some of his favorite books that have molded and shaped him as a leader to inspire you to pick a few and read this summer!

All too often pastors face the reality of having a prodigal child just like so many other parents. The guilt, shame and pain of watching your child make poor choices is very real. This month Dean shares some powerful insights from Dr. Doug Weiss’s new book; PRODIGAL PARENT PROCESS that will bring hope and freedom to you and your church families. TO ORDER BOOKS: https://www.drdougweiss.com/product/prodigal-parent-process-book/

It’s one thing to know WHAT God wants you to do. It’s another thing to know HOW you’re going to accomplish it. Take 20 minutes to discover FOUR steps to building a strategy and seeing your vision become a reality.

All too often we are so focussed on the future we forget to embrace the present. I hope you will check out this month’s podcast as I share FIVE key steps to LIVE IN THE MOMENT and make the most of your family time, your ministry career, and your life!

How much should you be paid as the senior pastor? What about your youth pastor or worship pastor? This month Dean is joined by Phil Martin, the CEO of THE CHURCH NETWORK and MINISTRYPAY.COM. Together they will share insights and tools to help you and your board establish fair salaries for each person on your team. Plus, Dean will share some benefits you can consider for your team members.

Be sure and check out this month's podcast as Dean interviews legendary life coach, author Dr. John Townsend as they discuss a unique way to raise the bar on your emotional health as a leader.

Merry Christmas! This month is the most unique leadership podcast Dean has done this year. It’s a personal message for you . . . about you . . . to affirm the gift and call on your life. Be sure and check it out HERE.

Merry Christmas! This month is the most unique leadership podcast Dean has done this year. It’s a personal message for you . . . about you . . . to affirm the gift and call on your life. Be sure and check it out HERE.

Core values are fundamental to achieving your purpose. They are the 'How' that will deliver your 'Why'. They define how everyone should behave, relate and decide things together in order to achieve their collective purpose. Join Dean this month as he shares his core values and how they impact his team.

Pastor Dean dives back into our topic from two weeks ago with PEOPLE CONNECTIONS II. In this podcast, Dean shares 25 different ways to build unity and connections among your church family members. The greater the unity and comradery within your members the greater impact you’ll have as a church in reaching your community.

Check out this podcast, PEOPLE CONNECTIONS, and learn how you as the leader can build a stronger bond and have greater influence with your members. These practical steps will draw people in and connect their hearts with yours. As the senior pastor, you are the catalyst and set the bar for the friendliness factor within your church.

In this podcast Dean shares nine financial secrets, he has learned over the last 40 years of ministry. Be sure to check out this issue or any of the previous four

In this podcast, Dean shares some valuable tools from his parenting years while doing ministry. As pastors and church leaders we know we live in a fishbowl. But what are the things we can do to protect our children and create a healthy environment for them to thrive? Check it out!

Any marriage can be challenging, but when you add the ministry into the mix, it becomes even greater. Join Dean for some tips, hints, and insights to build a successful marriage while navigating the ministry waters.

As pastors and church leaders it is so easy to be consumed about caring for our people that we forget to take care of ourselves. In this podcast Dean shares some keen insights on taking care of ourselves so we are fully equipped to meet the needs and demands of ministry.