Leading From Alignment

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A podcast from Converge Coaching. Through their more than 50 years of ministry experience, Jim Wiegand and John Opalewski bring Pastors weekly tips and tools to help lead better, lead longer, and enjoy it more.

Converge Coaching


    • May 27, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 25m AVG DURATION
    • 288 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Leading From Alignment podcast is a highly practical and timely resource in today's world. Whether you are looking for wisdom to apply to your personal life or your ministry, this podcast has valuable insights that will resonate with leaders from all walks of life. Hosted by John at Converge, the teachings are tremendously helpful and applicable.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is its practicality. Unlike many leadership podcasts out there, the content provided by John is not just theoretical, but it gives you actionable steps and advice that you can implement immediately. This makes it incredibly useful for leaders who are looking for tangible guidance to improve their skills and make a real impact in their respective fields. The episodes cover a wide range of topics, from building healthy habits and relationships to overcoming challenges and pursuing one's destiny.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is its ability to combat the feeling of isolation that many leaders experience. John highlights the importance of cultivating healthy relationships and provides insights on how to create a supportive network around you. This perspective is invaluable for leaders who may feel like they are living on an island, as it offers encouragement and guidance on how to connect with others and build meaningful connections.

    While the Leading From Alignment podcast has many strengths, one potential drawback is that it may not appeal to everyone. The content is specifically targeted towards leaders, so if you're not in a position of leadership or if you're looking for more general self-improvement content, this podcast may not cater to your needs.

    In conclusion, the Leading From Alignment podcast stands out as a top choice for leaders seeking practical wisdom and guidance in their personal lives and ministries. With its actionable steps and emphasis on building relationships, this podcast provides optimistic and uplifting messages that will inspire listeners to chase their destinies. Overall, it is an excellent resource for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills and gain valuable insights from seasoned ministry veterans.



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    Latest episodes from Leading From Alignment

    Episode 288: Navigating Organizational Change with Confidence - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 30:08


    Today's episode kicks off a two-part conversation where we unpack six key behaviors that help leaders navigate organizational change with greater confidence and clarity. Whether you are leading through a season of transition or preparing for what's ahead, these behaviors are practical, grounded, and tested in real-world leadership

    Podcast Episode 287 - The Vulnerable Leader - Interview with Jason Holdridge Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 36:09


    Struggles often strip away the illusion of control. It's an unsettling process, but it can also be freeing. It reminds us to lean into trust rather than self-reliance. Today, John and Jim welcome Jason Holdridge back to the mic for part two of their conversation on leadership and vulnerability. In this episode, Jason courageously shares his gripping journey with anxiety—and how he's learned to navigate it while leading a vibrant and growing church. They close out the conversation with the powerful lessons anxiety has taught him, and how embracing those lessons has shaped him into a more effective, grounded, and authentic leader.

    Podcast Episode 286 - The Vulnerable Leader - Interview with Jason Holdridge Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 35:05


    How open should a pastor be when it comes to sharing their personal struggles? That is such a good question—and one a lot of pastors wrestle with. Today, John and Jim welcome Jason Holdridge to the mic. Jason is the lead pastor of Impact Church in Lowell, Michigan. They dive into Jason's personal faith journey, his calling into vocational ministry, and the unexpected twists, surprises, and growth he has experienced over more than two decades of serving in ministry.

    Episode 285 – Six Insights from John's Vacation – Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 25:03


    In Episode 284, John and Jim covered the first three of six inspirational thoughts from John's February vacation. Today in Episode 285, they present three more insights from his time soaking in God's awe-inspiring and creative masterpieces.

    Episode 282 – De-sizing the Church – Karl Vaters Interview – Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 30:20


    In today's episode John and Jim welcome Karl Vaters to the mic to discuss his bestselling book, De-Sizing the Church. We dig into Karl's research on the church growth movement and explore how discipleship and integrity are the answers to every problem a church encounters.

    Episode 284: Six Insights from John's Vacation – Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 31:22


    It is amazing what God can reveal to us when we slow down and listen. In today's episode we unpack the first three of six inspirational moments from John's vacation earlier this year. If you feel tired, or discouraged, or even a bit distant from God, this episode is the medicine you need.

    Episode 283: De-sizing the Church – Karl Vaters Interview – Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 35:32


    In today's episode John and Jim welcome Karl Vaters back to the mic to continue our conversation around his compelling book, De-Sizing the Church. Today Karl reveals what he is most optimistic about and most concerned about regarding pastors and the local churches they serve.

    Episode 276: Three Temptations of Leadership

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 27:11


    Leadership is a journey fraught with peril. Numerous temptations lurk. In today's episode John and Jim explore three less talked about, more subtle temptations that threaten to sneak up on and ambush a leader.

    Episode 275: The Leader's Need to Pivot

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 22:33


    One of the hardest things to do for most lead pastors is to separate from work. Failure to pivot from work to our personal life leads to overscheduling, overcommitting, and rest-deprivation. So here is the question: How do we work hard, how do we fulfill our calling, without running ourselves into the ground? We learn how to pivot.

    Episode 274: Leadership & Forgiveness - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 25:09


    How we forgive is a harbinger of leadership fruitfulness and longevity. In part two of their conversation about Leadership & Forgiveness, John and Jim focus on extending forgiveness to ourselves, and then close with four powerful forgiveness principles we need to know.

    Episode 279: The Pain & Power of Pruning

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 32:58


    Are you in pain today? Even while the organization you lead is growing? Growth, while often desirable, is usually accompanied by pruning, both in our personal and pastoral lives. And pruning often is joined by an unwelcome companion . . . pain. In today's episode John and Jim outline four ways pruning brings more fruit into our life at home and at the church or ministry we lead.

    Episode 277: The Unhurried Leader

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 28:29


    Hurrying seems to be our national pastime. And pastors are among the biggest hurry-ers. The question is—how do we deal with the tension between our God-given assignment and His call to stop hurrying? How can we be productive without always being on the move? Into today's episode John and Jim unpack four master keys to embracing a less-hurried life.

    god hurrying unhurried leader
    Episode 280: Stress & You

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 32:14


    The top contributor to pastoral burnout? The ongoing stress of the role. If you have answered the divine call to pastoral ministry, you have signed up for both a fulfilling and stressful journey. In today's episode John and Jim work through five of the most stress-inducing realities of the pastoral role and then offer a practical tip to successfully navigate each of those five stressors.

    Episode 278: The Power of No

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 26:41


    You do not exist to cater to every whim of those you lead. It's not good for them . . . or for you . . . nor the organization you lead. In today's episode John and Jim explore three ideas that help leaders locate the middle ground between the extremes of people-pleasing yeses and people-dodging no's.

    Episode 281: Finishing Well

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2025 25:32


    It's not easy to finish. It's even less easy to finish well. With the attrition of well-known ministry leaders over the past several years, you can begin to wonder, does anyone finish well? The good news is that with intentionality, God's help, and the help of our Christian community, we can finish with a flourish. In today's podcast John & Jim consider three ideas that increase the chances of finishing our race in full stride.

    Episode 273: Leadership & Forgiveness – Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 30:10


    Here's something most pastors didn't learn at college: Difficult people go to church. The 2nd thing they didn't learn: Difficult people can cause a great deal of harm. In today's episode John and Jim dive into a two-part conversation around why getting better at forgiveness helps us lead at a higher and healthier level.

    Episode 272 - Harnessing the Energy of Core Values - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2024 21:03


    Last week John and Jim began a two-part conversation on the irreplaceable role core values play. Core values answer the question, how?. How do we behave on our way to the vision God has given us? Core values provide the fuel that thrusts our organization toward that vision. Today's episode unpacks how leaders can utilize core values to shape the culture they need.

    Episode 271 - Harnessing the Energy of Core Values - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2024 31:37


    In the past two episodes John and Jim focused on vision development and vision-casting. Vision answers the question, where? Today they begin another two-part conversation on the irreplaceable role core values play. Core values answer the question, how? How do we behave on our way to where God is telling us to go?

    Episode 270 - Casting Your Vision - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2024 27:26


    Last week John and Jim started a two-part series about casting your 2025 vision. In today's episode they continue their conversation on vision with extremely practical vision development exercises that will help you begin the vision-development process.

    Episode 266:The Power of Forty

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 26:45


    In 1900, the Ford Motor Company commissioned a series of tests to determine how long a workweek should be to optimize productivity. Ford discovered the “sweet spot” was 40 hours per week. If you are a pastor, a 40-hour work week is likely elusive, not practical, even difficult to conceptualize. But the question remains, how do pastors migrate toward a smarter, more reasonable weekly work rhythm? In today's episode John and Jim attempt to answer this most important question.

    Episode 265: The Number One Contributor to Burnout

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 38:22


    What is the top contributor to the ongoing burnout crisis for pastors? The ongoing and immense stress of the role. The solution is not the total elimination of stress. The truth is some stress is actually good for us. But the unrelenting variety of stress is where challenges emerge. So, what is a leader to do? In today's podcast we unpack three big ideas and five practical behaviors that will help you reduce your risk of burnout, or help you recover from its menacing grip.

    Episode 269 – Casting Your 2025 Vision – Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2024 23:44


    Vision is a clear, compelling, mouthwatering picture of where God wants to take the organization you lead. In today's episode contains part one of our conversation around this most important leadership skill: Vision development and casting. We are cheering for you to dream big this year!

    Episode 267:Pay Attention to Your Own Yard

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 32:22


    Human nature leans toward noticing problems with other people while being blind to our own. Jesus identifies this tendency when He asks: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” This tendency can trip up even the best of leaders. In today's episode John and Jim unpack how we as leaders can take care of our “own yard” first.

    Episode 268:John's Four Biggest Aha's of 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 33:39


    Episode 268:John's Four Biggest Aha's of 2024 by Converge Coaching

    Episode 263 -The Trap of Isolation

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024 29:24


    The second leading cause of pastor burnout is isolation. All of us need people in our life who energize us, refresh us, make us laugh, who we can have mask-off community with. Leadership is too hard to do alone. In today's episode John & Jim explore two major friendship obstacles, and then outline seven quick friendship tips for pastors.

    Episode 264: Emotional Intelligence & You

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2024 28:09


    What is it like to be on the other side of you? The answer can be a leading indicator of your emotional intelligence level. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand your emotions, the emotions of those near you, and the impact your emotions have on the emotions of those near you. In today's episode we focus on four threads that help a leader gain more of this precious leadership commodity

    Episode 261 - How to Let Your Team Help You

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 29:23


    Ever feel like there is more work to do than hands to help? If so . . . you need a team. A team that feels free to help you. In today's episode we explore three master keys to developing and releasing a team to help share the ministry load with you.

    Episode 262 : A Pastor's Most Common Leadership Lid

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2024 27:47


    What is the most limiting behavior for a leader? The inability or unwillingness to have tough conversations with those you lead. In today's episode John and Jim unpack six practical steps that will help you find the sweet spot between the tendency to bully and the tendency to wimp out when it comes to difficult conversations.

    leadership lid
    Episode 260 - Implementing a Succession Plan

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 29:09


    One of the most vulnerable times in an organization's life is when it is transitioning from its current senior leader and passing the baton to the next one. In today's episode John and Jim explore a high-level plan for a senior leadership transition. They answer two of the most frequent questions pastors ask when being coached through the leadership transition journey and then outline an example of a succession plan.

    Episode 259 - Are You Overstaying?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2024 30:48


    Should I stay, or should I go? A question most pastors have asked multiple times. Churches can experience two extremes when it comes to lead pastors: pastors who leave prematurely, or pastors who hang on too long. In today's episode John and Jim unpack four powerful questions and four practical steps to help leaders discern if a necessary ending is nearing

    Episode 258 - Jesus' Invitation to Weary Leaders

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 25:45


    In last week's episode 257 we explored a leader's most important assignment . . . building a strong inner life. In today's episode we piggyback on that idea today by unpacking a practical way to get arrive at a stronger inside life . . . responding to Jesus' invitation to weary leaders. The more we say yes to His invitation in Matthew 11, the stronger our inner life grows.

    Episode 257 - A Leaders' Most Important Assignment

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 31:35


    In today's episode John and Jim do a quick flyover of three quotes from Peter Scazzero's book, The Emotionally Healthy Leader. Together they unpack the #1 assignment of every pastor—an assignment that if taken seriously, is the biggest contributor to a pastor's longevity and fruitfulness.

    Episode 256 – Leading in an Election Year

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 30:35


    It's national election season again. It's safe to assume there's going to be some tension leaking into the churches you lead. In today's episode John & Jim unpack four perspectives we hope will help you manage that tension.

    Episode 255 - Interview with Lewis Brandon

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024 37:49


    Today John and Jim welcome to the mic Lewis Brandon, pastor of Jordantown Wesleyan Church in Vinton, Virginia. A vibrant, growing church led by a vibrant, growing pastor. His powerful journey of healing from brokenness, anxiety, and depression is one of the most moving interviews we've had in the history of this podcast.

    Episode 254 – Staffing Your Church from Within – Part 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 30:25


    Finding character-filled, talented people to add to your team is challenging. In today's episode Johne and Jim conclude their three-part series on Staffing Your Church from Within. They welcome to the mic today, Pastor Jim Westheim, Director of Operations at Faith Alive Church in West Branch, Michigan. He will unpack the practical steps Faith Alive has taken to successfully build their team from within (including 225 volunteers) over the last three years.

    Episode 253 – Staffing Your Church from Within – Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2024 26:26


    Finding character-filled, talented people to add to your team is becoming increasingly challenging. The pool of available candidates seems thin right now, and we sense it could stay that way for the near future. Considering those realities, we offer Part 2 of our series, Staffing Your Church from Within. In today's episode we get extremely practical about taking next steps to implement this way of adding to your team.

    Episode 252 – Staffing Your Church from Within – Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 36:04


    Over the past few weeks, more than a dozen pastors have reported to us they are trying to add staff. They have the budget for it but are finding the talent pool shallow. We believe this trend will continue to grow in the years ahead. With that in mind, today's episode is the first in a series of three podcasts dedicated to the idea of staffing your church from within.

    Episode 251 - You & Your Marriage – Interview with Greg and Rachelle Colegrove – Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 23:12


    The health of your marriage is foundational to the health of the organization you lead. The most impactful thing a pastor does for a church's health is to have a healthy marriage. In Part 2 of their conversation with Greg and Rachelle Colegrove, founders of The Fun Marriage Workshop, John and Jim explore what pastors and their spouse can do if they find themselves in marital crisis, how they can get in front of marital struggles, and the impact marital health has on the church they lead.

    Episode 250 - You & Your Marriage – Interview with Greg and Rachelle Colegrove – Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 33:03


    In today's episode, Greg and Rachelle Colegrove, founders of The Fun Marriage Workshop, join John and Jim on the mic. Together they unpack the leadership marriage landscape, the contributing factors to marital stress in a leader's life, and finally what leaders can do to address those stressors both biblically and practically.

    Episode 249: The Beauty & The Beast of Task - Orientation

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2024 25:26


    There is beauty in order. But the truth is there is also a beast . . . a dark side to task-orientation. In today's episode John and Jim take a look at the darker side of task-oriented leadership, and what leaders can do to minimize its negative impact.

    Episode 248 - Becoming a Leader of Leaders

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2024 33:25


    In today's episode John and Jim explore a seismic shift in leadership style that holds the promise of leadership excellence over a long period of time . . . becoming a leader of leaders.

    Episode 247 - You & Your Marriage

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 28:44


    Statistics drawn from over 12,000 coaching and/or counseling sessions with pastors during the years 2022-2023 revealed the following top four needs being addressed in descending order were: Burnout/exhaustion; marriage counseling (both critical and preventative maintenance); unhealthy addictions/behavior (pornography, alcohol); and leadership coaching. In today's episode John and Jim explore the second most addressed need . . . the health of our marriage. The most powerful influence for good or not so good in the churches we pastor is the health of our marriage.

    Episode 246 - 4 Master Keys to Beating Discouragement

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 31:35


    Discouragement is the universal experience of leadership. Extended seasons of discouragement can cause leaders to doubt their calling, capability, and value. Some leaders even prematurely exit ministry due to a growing sense of hopelessness. In today's episode John and Jim unpack four master keys to beating this unwelcome trouble of all leaders.

    Episode 245 - Eight Church Trends in 2024 Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2024 28:18


    Welcome back to Part 2 of John and Jim's conversation centered around eight trends emerging in churches this year. Last week in Episode 244 they explored the first four trends: The gravitational pull toward the tactical at the expense of the strategic; the way church health is measured; the loneliness of the people we lead; and the need your team has for face time with you. In today's episode they unpack four additional trends in the Church post-pandemic.

    Episode 244 - Eight Church Trends in 2024 - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2024 33:15


    Pastoring in 2024 is not like it was pre-pandemic. We can either live in denial or figure out how to adapt without diluting our message. In today's episode John & Jim explore four trends they are noticing in the Church post-pandemic and how pastors can respond to those trends.

    Episode 243: The Leadership Landscape in 2024 – Interview with Greg Surratt – Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2024 30:58


    In today's episode, John and Jim welcome back Greg Surratt, founding pastor of Seacoast Church in South Carolina, co-founder of the Association of Related Churches (ARC), and a pastor to thousands of pastors across the world. Today's conversation concludes a compelling two-part look at the challenges regarding the health and wellbeing of pastors. It unpacks a pathway for responding to elevated levels of burnout among pastors and . . . explores how to get in front of this problem with higher-risk younger and emerging leaders.

    Episode 242 - The Leadership Landscape in 2024 – Interview with Greg Surratt – Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2024 25:23


    Today John and Jim welcome Greg Surratt to the mic. Greg is the founding pastor of Seacoast Church in South Carolina, the co-founder of the Association of Related Churches (ARC), and a pastor to thousands of pastors across the world. In their conversation today, they begin a two-part look at how to reduce your risk of pastoral burnout.

    Episode 241 - Underdog

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2024 23:05


    Have you ever felt like an underdog? Like you are operating at a disadvantage? If so . . . welcome to the club! The Bible is full of people who felt they were underdogs. In today's episode, John and Jim unpack an encouraging idea: You + God is a winning combination!

    Episode 240 - Following God's Lead

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2024 28:34


    Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved of all the Psalms. It carries fresh meaning for those of us who lead. Before God leads you in your calling . . . He leads you to Himself. In today's episode, John and Jim unpack how leaders can navigate chaotic times by getting quiet enough to tune in, listen to, and follow God's voice.

    Episode 239: The Impact of Identity, Affection, & Affirmation on Your Leadership

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2024 25:26


    Do you want to lead better? Longer? Have more fun along the way? If so, three foundational items in your life need to get healthier: Identity, Affection, and Affirmation. In today's episode we unpack these three pillars of healthy living and leadership that, if properly applied, will improve your leadership, lengthen your shelf-life, and increase the enjoyment of your calling.

    Episode 238: Addressing the Elephant in the Room Part 2 - Collapsing Relational Triangles

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2024 30:01


    Gossip . . . perhaps the most pervasive problem in the church today. And the lack of unity it produces weakens the witness of the Church and ultimately the reputation of Jesus. In today's episode John and Jim tackle a subject that comes from a friend of Converge Coaching, Jay Fowler . . . collapsing relational triangles. Today's conversation carves a path that will help build unity in the church or ministry you lead.

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