Leading In The City

In our new episode of Leading in the City, Drew Hyun, pastor of Hope Church Midtown, goes deep in sharing his own spiritual struggles with pastoring and how God leveled him to rebuild a pastor who delights in his belovedness before God and not the praise of people.

Whatever you agree with you give power to in your life. What a reminder from Lenmarie Pascall on our latest episode of Leading in the City. We have to check the voices we're listening to in leadership and ministry, because too often we entertain the lies of discouragement instead of the anointing of God.

Do you truly understand what you carry? Ebony Small breaks down the facts on the internal battle of "What is" versus "What it feels like". How are you leading and serving in spite of external realities?

From growth habits to humility and embracing the giftings in others – Dr. David Ireland takes us through 5 habits pastors should practice to continue ministering and leading others at the level of excellence God has called them to.

In this special episode of the Leading in the City podcast, Bishop Claude Alexander illuminates on the season God has brought us through with COVID and how he's using it to perfect a new work in us.

In this special episode of the Leading in the City podcast, Dr. Michael Carrion unpacks Acts 17 speaking directly to pastors about the importance of standing strong in the Word of God while fulfilling our calling as leaders in the city.

During the 2021 Pastors' Prayer Summit, our Decadal Plan Director, Chuck Armstrong sat down with our 10 Zip Codes Project, East NY Liasion, Mark Atkinson to discuss the purpose behind the work he's called to do in East, New York.

During the 2021 Pastors' Prayer Summit, our Decadal Plan Director, Chuck Armstrong had the opportunity to interview Pastor Rich Villodas. He is the lead pastor at New Life Fellowship in Queens, NY, and an author. Pastor Rich Villodas shares the journey behind his book, The Deeply Formed Life.

At Movement Day 2020, The Bernards (Dr. A.R. Bernard, Pastor Jamaal, and Alfonso Bernard III) shared their perspective on what it looks like to empower and equip leaders for the next generation. Listen to their full conversation in this special edition of Leading in the City.

This special episode, recorded live from MDNYC 2020, could not have been more timely considering all we've navigated this year. Listen to Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, author of "Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times," speak on the power and sincerity of prayer amidst adversity.

In this special Leading in the City episode, recorded live from Movement Day NYC 2020, our Exec. Director Rev. Adam Durso sits with our Decadal Plan Director, Chuck Armstrong to talk about what they're excited most to see out of MDNYC 2020.

At this year's Movement Day NYC, our Director of Advance, Annette Cutino, spoke with Albert Tate, Lead Pastor of Fellowship Church. Listen as they discussed the importance of remaining encouraged and establishing healthy rhythms in leadership.

In this special episode of our Leading in the City podcast, our Exec. Director, Rev. Adam Durso, sits down with Rev. Chuck Armstrong, Bonny Andrews, and Rev. Annette Cutino to discuss what they've gleaned from leading during this pandemic.

Chip Roper, President of Voca Center joins our Exec. Director Adam Durso in leading a conversation on generosity with April Tam Smith, founder of PS Kitchen, and Brian Jacks, CEO of WiConnect LLC. Hear their outlook on living generously on our latest episode of Leading in the City.

When it comes to leading in the city, being in community is not only beneficial, it's necessary. Listen as Robert Guerrero of Redeemer City to City, Church of the City Lead Pastor Jon Tyson, and Walter Sotelo of New York Go and NYC Love Kitchen talk about the role relationships played in their lives and ministries.

What role can data play in the Church? We invited a panel of leaders from organizations like Gloo, Cinnamon Network, and The Center for Emotional Development, to sit down with our Exec. Director Adam Durso and unpack how we can use metrics to reach our communities. Listen as Tim Popadic, Bruce Barker, Rupert A. Hayles, Jr. and Pastor Rick Rusaw share from their experiences in ministry on the latest Leading in the City episode.

What is it like to be a woman leader in ministry? Ebony Small of PULSE Movement, SJ Kitty Soto, pastor at Garden of Hope, and our very own, Annette Cutino, share from their personal experiences, cultures, and backgrounds in this conversation with LEAD.NYC Executive Director, Adam Durso. Hear the words of encouragement and insight they have to share on this episode of Leading in the City.

As leaders, it's easy to get caught up in what we do, when in actuality, God is more concerned with who we are. In this episode of our podcast, our Executive Director, Adam Durso, sits down with Pastor Jamaal Bernard, Lead Pastor of Christian Cultural Center, Long Island, and Denison Ministries Chief Strategy Officer, Craig Denison, as the three take a deep dive into the tension between finding our identity in who we are versus what we do.

In this episode, LEAD.NYC Executive Director Adam Durso talks with key leaders to gain a deeper understanding of how we can empower the next generation. Daniel Sanabria of Youth for Christ NYC, Jubilee Christian Church’s Youth & YA Pastor Roberson Pierre, and Craig Sider, CEO of MOVEMENT.ORG, all shared insights on how we can lead in a way that encourages our youth to rise up and take their place in our cities.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at our latest Leading in the City podcast recording. In this episode, Executive Director, Adam Durso is joined by Chris Whitford of Avail NYC, Carolyn Harrison, Regional Director of Young Life, and our very own, Annette Cutino, Director of LEAD.NYC’s Advance Leadership programs. Drawing from their vast experience in ministry, each talked about the importance of examining our heart and motive behind serving and loving others.

In this episode, Josh Crossman, CEO of Pinetops Foundation, challenges us to change the way we use and think of “revival.” Through evangelizing and taking time to disciple younger generations, the Church can make revival a reality.

In this excerpt from our virtual prayer gathering, Bishop Joseph Mattera shares a devotional on Psalm 46, contrasting the unshakable nature of God to the trembling anxiety that often grips our world in times of trouble. Going through this passage, Mattera shows us how each verse points to God as our refuge and strength in times of fear and adversity.

At the 2019 Movement Day NYC gathering, LEAD.NYC Chief Strategist, Rupert A. Hayles, Jr., sat down with WiConnect LLC CEO Brian Jacks and Bob Doll of Nuveen Asset Management to discuss how we as Christians can be both wise stewards of our finances and generous givers. When you look at this matter through the lens of faith, it then becomes clear how both can exist simultaneously in the way we live and give.

At Movement Day NYC, comedian Michael Jr. did more than just make us laugh, he reminded us of our calling to serve. After his session at Movement Day NYC, he talked with our Chief Strategist, Rupert A. Hayles, Jr., about vocation and generosity. No matter where we are or what we do, Michael Jr. reminds us that we are always in a position to serve others.

It's important for pastors and non-profit leaders to understand the intersect between financial health and ministry. With extensive backgrounds in finance and tech, Wanji Walcott, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel at Discover, and Pat Gelsinger, CEO of VMware, cover how being good stewards of our finances actually frees us to give more generously. At Movement Day NYC, our Chief Strategist, Rupert A. Hayles Jr., asked Walcott and Gelsinger to share their thoughts on this topic as it applies to life and ministry. Listen to the full interview here on our Leading in the City podcast.

Today, many are looking for a sense of belonging and purpose, which, Times Square Church Senior Pastor Carter Conlon says creates an incredible opportunity for the Church to model unity. At Movement Day NYC, Pastor Conlon sat down with LEAD.NYC Chief Strategist Rupert A. Hayles Jr. to discuss what this could look like lived out in our city. The full interview is now available here on our Leading in the City podcast.

Our executive director, Rev. Adam Durso, believes that the collaboration of faith leaders, joining efforts to advance the gospel here in NYC, could serve as a model to inspire leaders in other cities across the nation. Check out the latest episode in our “Going Deeper” series as Adam joins our chief strategist, Rupert A. Hayles Jr., to talk about the heart behind LEAD.NYC — empowering leaders to make an impact on this city together.

In our latest podcast, Timothy Keller, founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, emphasizes the importance of partnerships within the Church. Listen to the full episode to learn why Keller thinks churches and ministries across denominations, socio-economical classes, and races must work together in order to further the gospel in the city.

At Movement Day 2019, Dr. Mac Pier challenged faith leaders to collectively seek what God has in store for this city in the next decade. As the founder of MOVEMENT.ORG, Mac believes that what’s accomplished in New York City has the power to change the destiny of a nation and influence the rest of the world. With that in mind, how much more of an impact can pastors and ministry leaders have when they join forces to collectively reach this city and beyond? Hear Mac’s heart behind this on our Leading in the City podcast.

LEAD.NYC’s Chief Strategist, Rupert A. Hayles, Jr. sits down with Jennifer Jones Austin to get insight on what she shared at Movement Day 2019. Jennifer is the CEO & Executive Director of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, an organization that advocates for just public policies and serves as a voice for the voiceless in New York City. In this episode of “Going Deeper,” Jennifer calls the church to take a stand for social justice. Listen to the full podcast to hear how she connects our role as Christians to our responsibility as citizens.

Continuing the post-Movement Day NYC 2019 podcast series, "Going Deeper", we interviewed P.S. Kitchen's founder April Tam Smith. Hosted by LEAD.NYC's Chief Strategist, Rupert A. Hayles Jr., "Going Deeper" is an exclusive deep dive into keynote speaker presentations from this year's gathering. In this episode, April shares what drew her to start the successful nonprofit restaurant and talks about her approach to living a life of radical generosity.

The first of our post-Movement Day NYC 2019 podcast series, "Going Deeper", hosted by LEAD.NYC's Chief Strategist, Rupert A. Hayles Jr., is an exclusive deep dive into keynote speaker presentations from this year's gathering. Listen in as Christian Cultural Center's (Brooklyn) Dr. A.R. Bernard gives us a closer look into the church's responsibility as members of a greater society.

WMCA MDNYC2019 Sneak Peek

From our Pastors Prayer Summit 2019, Dr. David Ireland, Christ Church, Montclair, NJ, shared on “The Shepherd’s Psalm”. Psalm 23:6 says “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Ministry can be emotionally draining at times, but scripture presents us with two anchors for our souls in times of trouble. In his exhortation of Psalm 23:6 from our recent Pastors’ Prayer Summit, Dr. David Ireland shares that leaders must be anchored by expecting God’s pursuit and enjoying God’s presence.

From our Pastors Prayer Summit 2019, Bishop Joseph Mattera, Resurrection Church, Brooklyn, NY, shared on “Understanding the Goodness of God”. Psalm 23:6 says “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23 weaves together the three metanarratives of scripture: the story of redemption, deliverance, and salvation; the story of God’s Kingdom; and the story of the person of Jesus. In Psalm 23, we learn that David’s satisfaction came from God following him with His “goodness and mercy”. It’s out of God’s goodness we see mercy emanating, not just when He protects us, but when He corrects us.

From our Pastors Prayer Summit 2019, Pastor A.R. Bernard, Christian Cultural Center, Brooklyn, NY, shared on “Without a Vision for the Future, You’ll Always Live in the Past”. Psalm 23:5 says “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Vision gives us hope, a sense of purpose, and a sense of destiny. However, when we hear a promise from God or a vision for our future, a certain type of tension begins. In this tension our past stirs up and tries to convince us that it is better than the future that’s being presented to us. Now you have a choice, do you choose to have faith for your future or do you choose to stay in your past?

From our Pastors Prayer Summit 2019, Pastor Justin Mattera, Zion NYC, Bay Ridge Brooklyn, NY, shared on “The Lord of Hosts”. Psalm 23:5 says “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Psalm 25 says that God prepares a table before our enemies, but some pastors today have sacrificed the truth of God for a false peace that allows the lies of the enemies to stand. Pastor Justin says, "the main sins of his generation of pastors is that we don’t want enemies, even the enemies the gospel creates. As leaders, we cannot compromise the gospel in order to stave off our enemies.

From our Pastors Prayer Summit 2019, Pastor Jamaal Bernard, Christian Cultural Center, Smithtown, NY, shared on “Immutable God”. Psalm 23:4 says “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Our decisions will always have consequences, but what happens when our decisions lead us to the valley of shadow and death? Pastor Jamaal takes us through his exhortation of Psalm 23:4 to remind us that even if we run off track of God’s anointed task for us, God is still with us.

In the Valley God Does His Best Work, Exhortation on Psalm 23:4, Pastor Steve Milazzo. From our Pastors Prayer Summit 2019, Pastor Steve Milazzo, Bethlehem Assembly of God, Valley Stream, NY, shared on “In the Valley God Does His Best Work”. Psalm 23:4 says “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Pastor Milazzo invites you to put aside all of your titles and listen as the sheep of the Good Shepherd as he explores why it’s a good thing to be led to the valley by God. God does His best work through you while you go through the valley, and it’s after this process that you will then be ready to do the work of ministry.

From our Pastors Prayer Summit 2019, Mart Green, Founder & CEO, Every Tribe Every Nation, Mardel Christian & Educational Supply , shared on “Intimacy with God leads to Refreshment and Generosity”. Psalm 23:3 says “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” How can you get closer to God? Mart Green shares how through his brokenness God spoke to him in such profound ways that it revealed something that was in his heart. During this moment of intimacy with God, Mart’s ministry was then revealed.

From our Pastors Prayer Summit 2019, Bishop Duane Durst, Network Superintendent, NY Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God, shared on “Willing Participants”. Psalm 23:3 says “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” ESV. Doing good works to the point of exhaustion is not the way God calls us to be good and faithful servants. We must be willing to pause the work and allow ourselves to rest in Him, for He is the restorer of our souls. Bishop Duane Durst says, our spiritual growth is stunted when we don’t give all our hurts and resentments of our lives to God. But by resting and willingly putting those hurts into God’s hands, we can mature in our faith.

From our Pastors Prayer Summit 2019, Jimmy Mellado, President & CEO of Compassion International in Colorado Springs, CO, shared on “Capacity and Challenge”. Psalm 23:2 says “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.” What happens when you have too much challenge but not enough capacity? Or how about when you have too much capacity but not enough challenge? Jimmy Mellado shares the importance of having a rhythm of work and rest, to stay away from an emotional or adrenaline escape. It’s out of the restored soul we then bear fruit of doing what the Lord tells us.

From our Pastors Prayer Summit 2019, Pastor Marlinda Ireland, from Christ Church, Montclair & Rockaway, NJ, shared on “Go Ahead, Lie Down”. Psalm 23:2 says “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.” When we cease from striving and begin to rest and be content as leaders within our churches and organization, it greatly affects those around us. Others will sense that we are at peace as leaders of the flock, and the flock then begins to feed out of our peace.

From our Pastors Prayer Summit 2019, Rev. Dr. Marc Rivera, from Primitive Christian Church in New York, shared on “The Personalization of God”. You can spend your entire Christian walk studying the Bible, serving the Lord, and being at every church event, and yet not know God in the fullness of who He is. Psalm 23:1 says “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” In this Psalm, King David says God is “my Shepherd.” Knowing that God is your personal God takes you deeper in your pursuit of Him. We lack effectiveness in our leadership when we just think of God as “our” God; it’s when we make it personal that it takes us to a whole different dimension where we can lead others to as well.

From our Pastors Prayer Summit 2019, Pastor Jon Tyson, lead pastor of Church of the City in New York, shared on the “Good Shepherd”. Psalm 23:1 says “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” We must ask ourselves, who is our shepherd? As leaders we also need other godly leaders to guide us to the right path, mentor us, and influence us. Pastor Jon Tyson says, if you are not intentionally getting shepherded by someone, you will unconsciously be shepherded by our culture. We won’t thrive on the shepherding of culture, but we will thrive from the influence of a godly leader who will put a vision in front of us and work to draw us into it.

Join Adam Durso as he interviews Jurie Kriel and Dr. Craig Snider as they discuss how to retain the effectiveness of the gospel in the modern century.

How can Senior Pastors make room for Next Gen Leaders to thrive? Paul Coty (Vice President of NYC Initiatives for Young Life), Vinny LiVecchi (Youth Director of Bethlehem Assembly of God), and Steve Milazzo (Lead Pastor of Bethlehem Assembly of God) share their insight on our latest Leading In The City episode.

Interview By: Adam Durso

Join Adam Durso as he interviews Raymond Harris, Chip Roper and Dr. Craig Snider as they discuss what it looks like when you are anointed and called by God to stand in the marketplace as a Christian.

Investing your time and resources into breaking the cycle of poverty displays the love of Jesus and radically transforms our hearts in the process. Our newest Leading in the City Podcast dives right into this powerful topic with Mark Pellingra, the Church Relations Director at Compassion International Inc.

There are several statistics that reveal the alarming rate at which young people have been leaving the church. But if that’s the case, then why are new reports claiming that we are currently in the middle of the largest Gospel opportunity in the history of North America? In this eye-opening episode of our Leading in the City podcast, we got to sit down with Joshua Crossman, Mac Pier, and Zach Lembke to discuss the unique moment in history that God has given us to make kingdom impact in our city.