unSeminary Podcast

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast! Today we're talking with Craig Smith, Lead Pastor of Mission Hills Church in Colorado—an 80+ year-old multisite church and one of the fastest-growing in the country. Is your church growing faster than your systems can handle? Do you ever feel like your team is working hard but not aligned? […]

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. Today we're joined by Shayla McCormick, Executive Pastor at Coastal Community Church, a thriving multisite church in South Florida known for its authentic culture and rapid growth. How do you build and protect a thriving staff culture as your church grows? Tune in as Shayla offers practical, actionable insight […]

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we're joined by Bob Riedy, Senior Pastor of Church of the Open Door in Pennsylvania. After leading one of the fastest-growing churches in the country, Bob found himself facing a personal and professional breakdown. In this deeply transparent episode, he shares his journey through burnout, […]

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. Today, we're talking with Quovadis Marshall (Pastor Q), Lead Pastor at Hope City Church in Waterloo, Iowa. Caught up in a life of gangs and violence, he became incarcerated at nineteen years old. However, Pastor Q experienced a life-transforming encounter with Christ through the Prison Fellowship Academy Program. Now […]

Thanks for joining us at the unSeminary podcast. In this episode of the unSeminary Podcast, we're joined by Danny Anderson, Lead Pastor of Emmanuel Church in Indiana, and Rachel Long, founder of the Joshua Center. They share their story of navigating a significant transition when Rachel moved from being the Executive Pastor at Emmanuel Church […]

Thanks for joining us at the unSeminary podcast. We're talking with Eric Smith, founder and lead pastor of Hope City Church in Florida and co-creator of SermonDone. Are you a pastor who's feeling the pressure of sermon prep each week? Wondering how you can save time on research and content creation without compromising the quality […]

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. We're joined today by Aaron Stanski, founder and CEO of Risepointe, a church design and project management firm that helps growing ministries align their physical spaces with their mission. With a background in engineering and church leadership, Aaron brings unique insights into how churches can strategically […]

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast during our All About Multisite month. Today we're talking with David Ashcraft, CEO and President of the Global Leadership Network (GLN), and former Senior Pastor of LCBC Church in Pennsylvania. Are you wrestling with growing pains as your church multiplies? How does an expanding multisite church keep its vision […]

Let's face it: talking finances can be uncomfortable, but it's a critical conversation, especially in multisite ministry. Today, I'm tackling one of the toughest—and most essential—questions in multisite: How do we fund, sustain, and scale financially healthy campuses? Throughout our All About Multisite series, I'm providing practical answers every Wednesday and hosting insightful interviews with […]

Thanks for joining us at the unSeminary podcast. In this All About Multisite month podcast episode we're talking with Omar Giritli, Lead Pastor, and Carlos Cardenas, Executive Pastor at Christ Fellowship. With campuses spread across Miami, the Caribbean and South America, Christ Fellowship has truly become a model of how to lead a diverse, multi-generational […]

The multisite journey isn't always smooth—even thriving churches experience growing pains. Today, I'm busting some of the biggest myths and offering practical insights to overcome common struggles within multisite churches. Every week during All About Multisite month, I'm diving deep into practical solutions on Wednesdays and hosting behind-the-scenes conversations with multisite leaders on Thursdays. Today's […]

Welcome back to another special All About Multisite episode of the unSeminary podcast. We're joined today by Bo Chancey (Senior Pastor) and Jeremy Peterson (Executive Pastor) from One Church, a growing multisite church based in New Hampshire. With four physical “outposts” and a thriving online presence, One Church is reaching communities across rural and suburban […]

Multisite ministry sounds great—one church, many locations—but practically speaking, balancing centralized consistency with local campus adaptations is a real challenge. In today's episode of the All About Multisite series, I want to help you manage this important balance effectively. Throughout this series, I'm sharing practical wisdom every Wednesday and insightful interviews with successful multisite churches […]

Thanks for joining us for this special episode of the unSeminary podcast as we kick off All About Multisite month. In this conversation, we're joined by Rick Langston and Daniel Simmons from The Summit Church in North Carolina. Rick serves as the Executive Pastor of Strategic Initiatives, and Daniel is the Executive Pastor of Campuses […]

Multisite churches have dramatically increased—from just a few hundred in the early 2000s to over 5,000 today. I've had the honor of being at the core this movement for nearly 2.5 decades, having led 13 multisite launches and coached many more. My goal in this solo episode is to share insights from my own experience […]

Thanks for joining us at the unSeminary podcast. In this episode we're talking with Kara Powell, the Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute and Chief of Leadership Formation at Fuller Theological Seminary. How is your church engaging with the next generation? Building connection and trust with young people can be difficult in today's world. […]

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today, we're talking with Diana Rush, the Senior Director of Build Community at Eastside Christian Church, a multisite church with locations in California, Nevada, and Minnesota. Are you a middle manager in a church trying to balance the pressures from both your senior leadership and your […]

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. We're talking with Amy Anderson, the managing director at The Unstuck Group. Unstuck helps pastors grow healthy churches by guiding them through experiences that align vision, strategy, team, and action. Is your church feeling stuck or overwhelmed by its growth? Wondering if you have the right […]

Welcome to the unSeminary podcast. We're talking with Tyler Vance, the COO of Apollos, a digital platform designed to help churches thrive by using technologies for personal growth. Despite being more digitally connected than ever, people lack deep, meaningful relationships. Gen Z has often been called the loneliest generation in history. However, churches are uniquely […]

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. We're talking with Rick and Patti Love, founders of the organizations Love New Canadians and Love New Internationals. These ministries equip churches to serve new immigrants, refugees, and international students in their neighborhoods. Since 2014 Rick and Patti Love have worked with more than 700 churches and ministries in […]

Welcome to the unSeminary podcast. Today we're talking with Chad Bickley, the executive pastor at Skyline Church in California. Is your church experiencing growth, but you're struggling with how to maintain a healthy team culture? Wondering how to create a culture that drives growth while ensuring your staff remains aligned and healthy? In this episode […]

Thanks for tuning in to the unSeminary podcast. We're talking with Danny Anderson, the Lead Pastor at Emmanuel Church in Indianapolis. Is your church growing quickly, but you're feeling the pressure? Wondering how to balance church growth with spiritual health for yourself and your staff team? Danny shares his journey of leading a fast-growing church […]

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. Today we're talking with Adam Ader, the Groups Director at Parkview Christian Church in Illinois. Is your church looking to improve how you connect people into life-changing groups? Wondering how to lead a growing group ministry that truly impacts people's lives? Tune in as Adam shares valuable insights on […]

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. We're talking with Nick Stumbo, the Executive Director of Pure Desire Ministries. According to a Barna study, 75% of Christian men and 40% of Christian women view pornography at least occasionally, with 67% of pastors having a personal history of porn use. How can churches effectively address pervasive issues […]

Welcome to the unSeminary podcast. This month we're focusing on key “Unpredictions”—timeless truths that church leaders need to be focusing on in 2025 and beyond. In this episode, we're learning from Mark Clark, the founder of Village Church, a multi-site church with locations in multiple cities across Canada and online around the world. He is […]

Welcome to the unSeminary podcast. This month we're focusing on key “Unpredictions”—timeless truths that church leaders need to be focusing on in 2025 and beyond. In this episode, we're learning from Kenny Jahng, founder of Big Click Syndicate and AI for Church Leaders, and Editor in Chief of Church Tech Today. We're talking about how […]

Welcome to the unSeminary podcast. This month we're focusing on key “Unpredictions”—timeless truths that church leaders need to be focusing on in 2025 and beyond. In this episode, we're hearing from Mike Mantel, the President and CEO, and Jonathan Wiles, the Chief Operating Officer, of Living Water International (LWI), a faith-based global humanitarian organization. Together […]

Welcome to the unSeminary podcast. This January we're focusing on key “Unpredictions”—timeless truths that church leaders need to be focusing on in 2025 and beyond. In this episode, we're joined by Nicky and Sila Lee of The Marriage Course // Alpha International, and are talking about how marriages will still be struggling. Nearly half of […]

Welcome to the unSeminary podcast. This January we're focusing on key “Unpredictions”—timeless truths that church leaders need to be focusing on in 2025 and beyond. In this episode, we're joined by Dave Miller, co-founder of Leadership Pathway, and are talking about how the next generation will matter more. Are you curious about how your church […]

Thanks for joining in for the unSeminary podcast. We're continuing with our special series called unPredictions 2025 – these are timeless topics that will keep shaping church leadership in 2025 and beyond. Today we're talking with Natalie Frisk, the director of curriculum at Raise Up Faith, about how parents will be worrying about their kids. […]

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. To kick off the new year, we're focusing on key “Unpredictions”—timeless topics that are consistent and crucial for church growth in 2025 and beyond. In this episode, we're joined by Greg Curtis, the Director of First Steps and Content Development at Eastside Christian Church and founder of Climbing the […]

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. We're talking with James Griffin, the lead pastor at Crosspoint City Church in Georgia. Is your church working through a difficult season and struggling to see fruit? Wondering how a church can overcome significant challenges and emerge stronger than ever? In this episode of the unSeminary Podcast James shares […]

Thanks for joining us at the unSeminary podcast. Today we're talking with Jared Kirkwood, the Executive Pastor of Ministries and Lead Pastor at the Irvine location of Mariners Church in California. A church's mission isn't much without a strategy. How are you aligning, training, and equipping people at your church to take their next steps […]

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. We're talking with Pat Gillen, the Executive Pastor of Families and a teaching pastor from First Baptist Simpsonville / Upstate Church in South Carolina. How are you cultivating leaders at your church? Are you trying to figure out your next step for developing Gen Z? Tune in as Pat […]

Thanks for joining the unSeminary podcast. Today we're talking with Andy Hill, the Executive Pastor at Mobberly Baptist Church in Texas. How do you keep your church's staff aligned? The more your church grows, the more challenging it is to keep everyone connected and moving in the same direction. In this episode of the unSeminary […]

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. We're talking with Jay Kranda this week, the online campus pastor at Saddleback Church in California. What are you doing with online church? How does it fit in with your digital strategy? How can digital tools strengthen in-person community? Tune in as Jay discusses a team-based approach to digital […]

Thanks for joining in for the unSeminary podcast. Today I'm looking forward to talking with Drake Farmer, the Executive Pastor of Ministries from Beulah Alliance Church in Alberta, Canada. Are you curious about how churches manage leadership transitions smoothly? Learn about the strategic and intentional planning behind the leadership transition as Daniel Im (interviewed here) […]

In this deep dive episode of the unSeminary podcast, we explore Jenni Field's insightful book Nobody Believes You: Become a Leader People Will Follow. This conversation delves into practical strategies and timeless leadership principles tailored especially for those guiding teams in a church context. Field's book offers a fresh perspective on becoming a credible leader […]

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. This week we're talking with Andrew Hopper, the founding and lead pastor of Mercy Hill Church in North Carolina. Andrew has also started Breaking Barriers, which provides pastors and churches with biblical strategies to help them grow in order to go. Are you curious about how to effectively grow […]

Welcome to the unSeminary podcast! This week we have with us Justyn Smith, Executive Kids Pastor at Cornerstone Church in Arizona and a story catalyst at Plain Joe. What does an effective children's ministry look like? What does kids' ministry at your church look like when you put yourself in the shoes of a child, […]

In this Deep Dive episode of the unSeminary Podcast, the hosts explore how to make your church irresistible by discussing Rich Birch's book, Unlocking Your Church's Invite Culture: Strategies for Church Growth That Work Today. The conversation unpacks Birch's insights on how churches can cultivate an environment where members naturally want to invite others into […]

Thanks for joining in for the unSeminary podcast. Today we're talking with Will Hutcherson, a Next Gen and Student Pastor who has become increasingly passionate about finding practical ways to bring hope to kids and teens who are facing anxiety, depression, and despair. This led to him starting Curate Hope, a non-profit that focuses on […]

Welcome to the unSeminary podcast. Today we're talking with return guest Aaron Stanski, the founder and CEO of Risepointe. They provide creative design solutions so that your church's mission isn't held back by its building. Is your kids' ministry space feeling tired? Churches often take more design risks with kids' environments through use of color […]

Thanks for joining in the unSeminary podcast. I'm excited to have Jeff Beachum with us. He's part of Portable Church Industries (PCI), which has helped thousands of churches launch and operate successfully in mobile settings. Jeff serves as the Multiplication Specialist and Director of Marketing. Is your church running out of capacity, but looking for […]

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. I'm excited to talk with Kim Tarlton, the General Manager of Church Communications Group which helps church communicators navigate the complexities of the modern communication landscape. Many churches operate under the misconception that crises won't happen to them. However, crises can arise from various sources, including issues in the […]

Thanks for joining us for today's unSeminary podcast. Carey Nieuwhof has been a guiding light in the church leadership space for decades and this week we're celebrating the ten-year anniversary of his podcast. To mark this special occasion, we're revisiting an interview we did with him 10 years ago. Do you have things at your […]

Welcome to an Office Hours episode of the unSeminary podcast. In our Office Hours episodes I'm happy to answer your questions that you can submit via an audio file through our website. Mark Strickland is the lead pastor at Milton Bible Church in Milton, Ontario, Canada. His mid-sized church has about 300 attending on Sunday […]

Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast. This week we're talking with Greg Griffith, Lead Pastor at King of Kings in Omaha, Nebraska. If your church does what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten. But when you take a risk and step out of your comfort zone, who knows how God can use […]

Thanks for tuning in for the unSeminary podcast. This week Drew Karschner is joining us. He's the Lead Pastor at Northridge Church in Rochester, New York – one of the fastest-growing churches in the country. While church growth is a blessing, it often comes with hardships that must be navigated carefully. Whether your church is […]

Thanks for tuning in for the unSeminary podcast. We're talking with Kerri-Ann Hayes today. In addition to being a senior consultant at Ministry Architects, Kerri-Ann has worked in children's and family ministry for over 20 years and has a heart for making churches more inclusive for families with special needs. At our churches we want […]

Welcome to this week's unSeminary podcast. This week we're sitting down with Brian Tome, the founder and senior pastor at Crossroads Church in Cincinnati – one of the fastest growing and most innovative churches in the country. Whether we realize it or not, the systems in our churches are often set up to cater to […]