Podcasts about 95network

95Network's Jason Allison joins Dale to discuss the brand new 95Network Conference entitled, "Equipping Principals For Cultivating A Healthy/Thriving Church." The conference was created out of our annual team gathering in January 2025.Our desire is to come along beside churches to help them establish proven foundational principles, remove common barriers that prevent engagement and embrace leadership traits that lead to health.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/equipping-principals-for-cultivating-a-healthy-thriving-church-w-jason-allison-episode-284/Support the show

95Network teammates Mary Ann Sibley and Joseph Bennett join Dale today to discuss best practices for creating a thriving and healthy volunteer culture. Joseph serves as the Executive Pastor at Foothills Church. They recently had Mary Ann come do training with their volunteers. The results of her leadership has been really encouraging.You're going to hear from both Mary Ann and Joseph the heartbeat of volunteer training is simply discipling people to be the hands and feet of Jesus no matter where they are serving.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/empowering-volunteers-w-mary-ann-sibley-joseph-bennett-episode-283/Support the show

95Network's Discipleship Director Matt Adair joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss ways any ministry can create a healthy discipleship pathway. Matt knows the importance of learning about the specific DNA of a ministry before developing the pathway. There is no "one size fits all" process for effective discipleship.Matt's approach to helping churches comes from his value of understanding that relationships are the key to effective discipleship. Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/our-relationships-are-bigger-than-our-problems-w-matt-adair-episode-270/Support the show

95Network team member Joseph Bennett joins Dale on the first podcast of 2025 to discuss ways he has personally overcome his own leadership barriers over the years. This conversation is filled with a lot of practical wisdom gained from the hardships and joys of his ministry experience.Our hope is that today's podcast will give you some encouragement as you approach another year of serving others through your ministry calling. We're pulling for you everyday to experience the amazing fulfillment that comes by having Jesus work through you to accomplish his will.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/breaking-leadership-barriers-w-joseph-bennett-episode-267/Support the show

95Network ministry partner Karl Vaters joins Dale for another podcast to discuss his latest book, "De-Sizing The Church." This is a great conversation that reveals so much about how the church in America operates today. It also dives into the historical turning points that led us to where we are currently.You'll really enjoy Karl and Dale's transparent conversation on today's podcast.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-best-of-2024-de-sizing-the-church-w-karl-vaters-episode-264/Support the show

95Network teammate Jason Allison joins Dale today to launch the new Soul Care Essentials Online: 3-Session Video Series and Soul Care Essentials Cohort: 6 Weeks of Guided Conversations for Post-Conference Groups.Our team worked together over several months to create these resources to encourage and strengthen discouraged ministry leaders. Although ministry has always taken a toll on ministry leaders, the effects of the pandemic increased the pressure for most leaders exponentially.The Soul Care Essentials sessions include content dealing with a leader's Private Life, Personal Life, and Professional Life. Leaders can then pursue a deeper personal discovery by working through the Soul Care Essentials Cohort, which is six weeks of follow-up for post-conference discussion with a small group of trusted friends. These resources provide practical tools that enable you to examine and expose areas where you may not be leading from a healthy soul. As we always say at 95Network, "A healthy leader can create a healthy ministry." We hope to help you lead from a healthy soul!Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-best-of-2024-soul-care-essentials-online-w-jason-allison-episode-215/Support the show

Working a side hustle is no longer the exception for pastors, it's the norm. Embracing it might answer a lot of your (and your church's) needs.Karl Vaters talks with Jon Sanders about the rise in covocational pastoring and why it's something more pastors, especially small-church pastors, should take seriously. Jon is the co-host of the EntrePastors Podcast and the co-founder of EntrePastors.com (with Les Hughes).The culture around us is shifting. The idea that someone entering the workplace will get a single full-time job to pay the bills is a rarity. And the church is no exception. But, unlike the secular marketplace, we shouldn't be playing catch-up with this. We can lead.Jon and Karl talk about several important aspects of bivo/covo ministry, including:Why this is a growing needHow to make the shift without neglecting the churchThe difference between bivocational and covocationalHow to prepare your congregation for a covocational pastorateAnd more.Jon also serves as the Director of Coaching for the 95Network, a ministry that specializes in serving small to midsize churches.Podcast Links:Rural Church Rescue, with Jon Sanders (ep 024)EntrePastorsHow The Side Hustle Is Changing The Face Of Pastoring Bonus MaterialFinding a Covocational Job That Fits a Pastor's Skills and Schedule, with Jon SandersWhat marketplace jobs work well for covocational pastors?The skills you have honed as a pastor are highly desirable in the secular marketplace. But how can they be turned into a paying job that won't interfere with your pastoral calling?In the bonus conversation I talk to Jon Sanders of EntrePastors.com about how to make that transition, including several real-life examples of pastors who have made that transition well.To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

Working a side hustle is no longer the exception for pastors, it's the norm. Embracing it might answer a lot of your (and your church's) needs.Karl Vaters talks with Jon Sanders about the rise in covocational pastoring and why it's something more pastors, especially small-church pastors, should take seriously. Jon is the co-host of the EntrePastors Podcast and the co-founder of EntrePastors.com (with Les Hughes).The culture around us is shifting. The idea that someone entering the workplace will get a single full-time job to pay the bills is a rarity. And the church is no exception. But, unlike the secular marketplace, we shouldn't be playing catch-up with this. We can lead.Jon and Karl talk about several important aspects of bivo/covo ministry, including:Why this is a growing needHow to make the shift without neglecting the churchThe difference between bivocational and covocationalHow to prepare your congregation for a covocational pastorateAnd more.Jon also serves as the Director of Coaching for the 95Network, a ministry that specializes in serving small to midsize churches.Podcast Links:Rural Church Rescue, with Jon Sanders (ep 024)EntrePastorsHow The Side Hustle Is Changing The Face Of Pastoring Bonus MaterialFinding a Covocational Job That Fits a Pastor's Skills and Schedule, with Jon SandersWhat marketplace jobs work well for covocational pastors?The skills you have honed as a pastor are highly desirable in the secular marketplace. But how can they be turned into a paying job that won't interfere with your pastoral calling?In the bonus conversation I talk to Jon Sanders of EntrePastors.com about how to make that transition, including several real-life examples of pastors who have made that transition well.To get Bonus Content every week, click here to become a Financial Partner, or here to subscribe to the Free Weekly Newsletter.

95Network's podcast producer Kevin Smith joins Dale on today's podcast talk through some of the difficult things that many of us are experiencing during this current season. Kevin has served in both small and large churches in various capacity's gaining a wealth of wisdom and knowledge from his experiences.Their conversation covers some of the hi's and low's of long-term ministry service. You'll find some very practical next steps shared by Kevin and Dale that is sure to help you if you're in a season of ministry stress.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/how-are-you-doing-w-dale-kevin-episode-254/Support the show

95Network ministry partner Karl Vaters joins Dale for another podcast to discuss his latest book entitled, "De-Sizing The Church." This is a great conversation revealing so much of how the church in America operates today. It also dives into the historical turning points of what led us to where we find ourselves currently.You're going to really enjoy the transparent conversation between Karl and Dale on today's podcast. Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/de-sizing-the-church-w-karl-vaters-episode-253/Support the show

Jon Sanders is a trusted resource that we often glean from at 95Network. Especially, when it comes to understanding how to serve in ministry while simultaneously providing a good standard of living for your family. Jon and Les Hughes created Entrepastors with this principal at the forefront.Dale catches up with Jon on today's 95Podcast to learn more of what their experience of helping ministry leaders has shown so far. You'll enjoy Jon's honest assessment of the opportunities that are available if you only look in the right places.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/entrepreneural-pastors-update-w-jon-sanders-episode-249/Support the show

95Network team member Jason Allison joins Dale on today's 95Podcast to discuss the impact of our Soul Care Essentials Conference. Jason has facilitated several conferences throughout 2024. The discussion today is around the impact he is seeing firsthand as a conference leader.Many pastors and church leaders often ignore their emotional health while providing ministry help to others. Jason and Dale dive into some of the reasons why pastors tend to do this. They also highlight some of the practical benefits of being intentional at taking care of your own soul.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/intentionally-caring-for-your-soul-w-jason-allison-episode-247/Support the Show.

Jon Sanders, 95Network's Director of Coaching, joins today's 95Podcast as a guest, discussing his recent experience at a retreat provided by the Boulder Crest Foundation. The retreat is called Struggle Well. They specialize in providing opportunities to help public servants in the first responder field and military personal work through post-traumatic impact. They focus specifically on Post-traumatic growth.Jon transparently shares how he didn't think he needed to spend a week on such a retreat to the point that he even considered not going. However, his life was forever changed as he discovered some deep-seated effects of traumatic encounters that he had experienced. This conversation is essential for anyone who serves in the ministry and as a first responder.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/struggling-well-post-traumatic-growth-w-jon-sanders-episode-243/Support the Show.

Jon Sanders, 95Network's Director of Coaching, joins today's 95Podcast as a guest discussing his recent experience at a retreat provided by the Boulder Crest Foundation. The retreat is called Struggle Well. They specialize in providing opportunities to help public servants in the first responder field as well as military personal work through post-traumatic impact. They focus specifically on Post-traumatic growth.Jon transparently shares how he didn't think he needed to spend a week on such a retreat to the point that he even considered not going. However, his life was forever changed as he discovered some deep seated effects of traumatic encounters that's he has experienced. This conversation is so important for anyone serving in the first responder field as well as in ministry. Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/struggling-well-post-traumatic-growth-w-jon-sanders-episode-228/Support the show

Dan Nichols has been a friend of 95Network for many years. His work with the Northeast Collaborative is making a big impact in churches of all denominations in the northeastern United States. Dan recently reached out to Dale to share some insight from a new article he had written about the stressful situations that many pastors find themselves in as they lead their churches.You'll enjoy the frank and honest with Dan today as he discusses his passion to help congregations learn how to best support their pastor.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/why-we-need-pro-pastor-people-w-dan-nichols-episode-219/Support the show

95Network teammate Jason Allison joins Dale today to launch the new Soul Care Essentials Online and Soul Care Essentials 6-Week Follow Up resources. Our team worked together over several months to create a resource designed to encourage and strengthen discouraged ministry leaders. Although ministry has always taken a toll on ministry leaders, the effects of the pandemic increased the pressure for most leaders exponentially.The Soul Care Essentials sessions include content dealing with a leader's Private Life, Personal Life and Professional Life. Leaders can then pursue an even deeper personal discovery by working through the Soul Care Essentials 6-Week Follow Up with a small group of trusted friends. These resources provide practical tools that enable you to examine and expose areas where you may not be leading from a healthy soul. As we always say here at 95Network, "A healthy leader can create a healthy ministry." Our hope is to help you lead from a healthy soul!Show Notes:  https://www.95network.org/soul-care-essentials-online-w-jason-allison-episode-215/Support the show

95Network team member Hykeng Paul joins Dale on today's podcast to discuss ways to keep the conversation going concerning racial issues in the church. Their discussion is designed to provide practical next steps to help you connect with those in your community who may be from different cultures.Racial reconciliation doesn't happen automatically. Only through intentional efforts will our churches begin to have meaningful conversations to bridge the gap between different cultures. Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/the-best-of-2023-keeping-the-conversation-going-w-hykeng-paul-episode-210/Support the show

Jim Powell is a man on a mission! He recently reached out to Dale to share how he has personally benefitted from using A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) in his ministry leadership. Jim's passion for serving pastors and leaders, specifically in small churches, is what led him to create 95Network many years ago. He personally understands the stress and struggles of the many responsibilities placed upon church leaders.Today's podcast is a great conversation about how using A.I. can create much needed margin in the life of a leader. While there are certainly areas of caution to consider, Jim hopes that each of us will not miss the opportunity using it to lift our weekly work loads. Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/can-church-leaders-benefit-from-using-ai-w-jim-powell-episode-204/Support the show

We're celebrating today!!! It's our 200th podcast episode which is so surreal. And we couldn't have planned a better guest. Matt Wilson, who is the Strategic Partnerships Manager | Church Engagement Director of Compassion International, joins me to talk about the new strategic partnership that we've established between Compassion International and 95Network.You'll love hearing how Jesus has ordered Matt's steps throughout his life to prepare him for this impactful role that he now serves in. Thank you to everyone who has supported the 95Podcast as we have recently surpassed 50,000 downloads! We're are so excited about to see how Jesus uses the next 200 podcasts to encourage pastors and leaders throughout His Church in the coming years!Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/our-200th-episode-announces-the-new-partnership-w-compassion-international-w-matt-wilson-episode-200/Support the show

Shellie and Matt are joined by Dale Sellers, author of Stalled and Executive Director of the 95Network. Dale discusses misconceptions about smaller congregations and small congregation leadership and shares how to think about and become healthier congregations. Resources Stalled: Hope and Help for Pastors Who Thought They'd Be There by Now (book) Thriving Rural Communities at Duke Divinity School 95Network (organization) Karl Vaters (website) The Congregational Resource Guide (The CRG)

Steven Goodspeed and Dustin Gaines from My Church Law Firm joins Dale today to discuss many of the issues currently facing churches and non-profits. They have dozens of years of expertise specifically dealing with church compliance and legal preparedness. It's fair to say that how the government relates to the local church brings new challenges on an ongoing basis.My Church Law Firm is also partnering with 95Network to create a member portal that will provide a great deal of materials relating specifically on legal issues facing the small and midsize church. This is such an informative and encouraging podcast.Show notes:https://www.95network.org/my-church-law-firm-w-steven-goodspeed-dustin-gaines-episode-195/Support the show

Calvary Church in West Hartford, Connecticut reached a point in 2019 when it was apparent that they could use some "outside eyes" to help them gain clarity. Pastor Frank Termine connected with Dale while attending a conference in Clinton, Connecticut. Dale had mentioned that 95Network offered an event called VisionDay which was designed to help an individual church gain mission and vision clarity.Calvary Church did host a VisionDay in February of 2020. It was only a few weeks later that the pandemic shut down was implemented all across the country. Today's podcast conversation with Pastor Frank is a wonderful testimony of how Jesus used VisionDay to prepare Calvary Church for a brand new focus for impacting the surrounding communities.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/how-visionday-helped-calvary-church-w-frank-termine-episode-178/Support the show

Meet 95Network's Director of Discipleship Matt Adair. Dale recently connected with Matt on Podcast Episode 167 to learn about his discipleship ministry called Transformational Discipleship. After a few conversations, Dale asked Matt to join the 95Network team to be a resource to churches that are in need of discipleship training and coaching.Today's BONUS EPISODE introduces Matt to our audience as he shares his tremendous passion for helping churches to become consistent in their discipleship emphasis. You will soon learn that Matt is a trusted resource and friend that can train your ministry on how to develop effective and consistent discipleship.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/meet-95networks-director-of-discipleship-w-matt-adair-bonus-episode/Support the show

95Network team member Hykeng Paul joins Dale on today's podcast to discuss ways to keep the conversation going concerning racial issues in the church. Their discussion is designed to provide practical next steps to help you in connecting with those in your community who may be from different cultures.Racial reconciliation doesn't happen automatically. Only through intentional efforts will our churches ever begin to have meaningful conversations to bridge the gap between different cultures.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/keeping-the-conversation-going-hykeng-paul-episode-164/Support the show

Thom Rainer published a blog article on November 28, 2022 entitled, "The New Very Large Church." One of the statements in the article said that churches with an average attendance of more that 250 is now considered to be a "very large church." He went on to highlight some of the implications of this "size-mic" shift in the church.Dale gathered some of the 95Network team to discuss their reaction to Thom's post. Jason Allison, Jon Sanders, Greg Moore and Brent Carter share their insights of the shifting paradigm of the local church. The small and midsize church continues to be the "backbone" of the church in America. We hope you will find encouragement as well as some wisdom of how to navigate these changing times through today's 95Podcast.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/ithe-size-mic-shift-of-the-church-w-the-95network-team-episode-162/Support the show

Today's PODCAST RECAST originally aired on August 16, 2022. Episode 142 featured an insightful conversation with 95Network's Director of Coaching Jon Sanders discussing the impact of PTSD.Dale returns the favor today by giving Caralee the week off as he talks with Jon Sanders about some of the things he learned recently at a special training in Mississippi called Tactical-Resilience Protocol (TRP) and Emotions-Management Process (EMP) from 22Zero.org. Although the focus was specifically on the effects of PTSD in first responders and the military, Jon helps us see how most pastors are dealing with the same kinds of emotional issues.We dive into how trauma affects the nervous system requiring intentional focus to “put the trauma in its place.” Everyone has a basic fight, flight, freeze, or fake response to ongoing traumatic situations. The honest transparency shared by Jon and Dale makes this podcast one you'll want to share with anyone working through emotional discouragement. Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/podcast-recast-ptsd-and-the-ministry-w-jon-sanders-episode-162/Support the show

When people hear the word “pastor,” they often think of a middle-aged man with a beard. And when they hear the word “church,” they picture a building with stained glass windows and a steeple. But there is so much more to pastoral ministry and the church than just that. Redefining pastoral ministry, the church structure, and our beliefs about wealth and business sounds like a daunting task, doesn't it? But it's one that we need to tackle if we're ever going to see genuine change in the church.In this episode, Tim talks to Jon Sanders, the cofounder of EntrePastors. Jon has a vision of a healthier church structure that would allow pastors to thrive financially. He discusses our nebulous concepts of church, ministry, and wealth and how we could change the limiting narratives surrounding those to live a free and prosperous life.Find out how we can move toward a healthier church structure and lean into the freedom God gave us so that we may follow our calling truthfully. Don't miss this episode!3 Reasons to Listen:Learn about the flaws and limitations in the current church structure. Find out how to break free from these limiting structures and beliefs to become healthier Christian communities.Discover the power of leaning into your freedom and serving God through entrepreneurship.ResourcesVisit the Seek Go Create website for show notes, resources, and more!EntrePastorsLetters to the Church by Francis Chan Listen to more episodes and highlights on Seek Go Create or visit our YouTube for full-length episodes and short clips from each episode.About JonJon Sanders is a podcaster, speaker, and a coach. He is passionate about using his voice to motivate and inspire leaders in ministry and business through his platforms. He is the co-host of the EntrePastors Podcast, which serves pastors by helping them think, act, and thrive as prosperous entrepreneurs, and the Small Town Big Church Podcast.He also serves as the Director of Coaching for the 95Network, an organization that specializes in serving small to midsize churches. Besides his passion for ministry and church leaders, he also works as a full-time firefighter for Sioux Falls Fire Rescue.If you'd like to reach out to Jon, you can contact him on the EntrePastors website.Episode Highlights[02:58] Who Is Jon Sanders?Jon has been in pastoral ministry for his entire life.He is a full-time firefighter and an entrepreneur with several businesses.He is also a husband, father, and grandfather.[06:43] What EntrePastors DoesThe institutional church model is limiting and flawed.Entrepastors is a mashup of “entrepreneur” and “pastor.”It aims to get rid of the “starving pastor” narrative and urges them to enter the marketplace.Pastors can launch a business, thrive financially, and lead the church at the same time.[09:45] “The model...

Jesse Barnett, the leader of 95Network's Digital Discipleship Coaching, joins Dale today to discuss the fantastic opportunity currently available to church leaders. He unveiled his new process designed to teach pastors how to "get more mileage out of their message" last year. Although several pastors have connected with Jesse, the need for encouragement and digital training is more significant than ever.This podcast will challenge even the most resistant skeptic on how important it is to shift to adding a strong digital focus to your ministry to reach new people. Jesse's passion for supporting pastors is loud and clear as he shares his heart for developing impactful digital ministry.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/too-great-of-an-opportunity-to-be-missed-w-jesse-barnett-episode-152/Support the show

We celebrate the release of our 150th podcast today by having several members of the 95Network team join us for a discussing about ministry leadership "soul-care." Kevin, Travis, Suzi, Jason, Brent, Joseph & Jon joined Dale today to give their insight into what they are currently seeing across the country.We also took this opportunity to unveil our new 1/2 day "Soul Care Essentials Conference" that has just been launched. The 95Network team is looking forward to connecting with pastors and leaders all across the country through this special conference designed to encourage and strengthen small and midsize church leaders.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/soul-care-essentials-w-the-95network-team-episode-150/Support the show

During today's podcast, Jon and Caralee welcome one of our team members, Gwen Rutz. Gwen serves as the lead pastor of The Crossing church in Clinton, Oklahoma, and is on the leadership team for the Oklahoma Network of Women Ministers. She and her husband, Troy, are about to embark on an exciting new phase of ministry in the marketplace through their business, Native Arrow Archery.We're talking with Gwen about how she got involved with 95Network and how our coaching program helped her create a focus and tangible goals for leading her congregation. She'll also share about her life and how God has been preparing her to hand off the baton to someone else so she can go where He is leading. It's a great conversation with so much energy and hope! I pray it blesses you. Show Notes:  https://www.95network.org/what-did-god-say-how-to-bravely-follow-his-lead-w-gwen-rutz-episode-138/Support the show

Have you ever wondered why it seems like there are always more women than men in the church? Studies show that the average Protestant church is around 61% female and 39% male. Quite the difference, huh? During today's conversation, Jon and Caralee talk to author and video producer David Murrow about what causes men to fall away from the church and what we can do to draw them in again. Our goal at 95Network is to see churches not only grow but flourish. And to reach that goal, we need everyone's help—both men and women!Show Notes:  https://www.95network.org/why-men-hate-going-to-church-w-david-murrow-episode-137/Support the show

Our fearless leader is turning 60! First, from all of the team at 95Network, we want to wish him a very happy birthday. We're so thankful for his leadership, his vulnerability, and his encouragement every day. As Dale welcomes a brand new decade in his life, he's spending some time today reflecting on his experiences in the past four decades of ministry. He and Caralee discuss the highs and the lows of his life, what Jesus has taught him about relinquishing control, and how Grace is the greatest gift for people who are constantly striving to "fix" everything. There's so much wisdom in this episode—enjoy!Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/dales-turning-60-reflections-on-the-past-40-years-of-ministry-w-dale-caralee-episode-134/Support the show

An interview with Austin Savage about the role of marketing in church leadership, including what marketing is, what it isn't, and why we need to destigmatize it to use it effectively. You may know Austin from the work he did with 95Network.com, including several years co-hosting the 95Podcast with Dale Sellers. Recently, he established Austin Savage & Co. to help churches with creating content and using media in the church. In this conversation, Karl and Austin talk about The difference between Marketing and promotion/advertising How to put the content your church is already creating into the marketplace in creative ways How to get started without costing any money Links Asana 95network.org Austinsavage.co For a Transcript of this episode visit the Pivot Blog  Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com/support Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An interview with Austin Savage about the role of marketing in church leadership, including what marketing is, what it isn't, and why we need to destigmatize it to use it effectively. You may know Austin from the work he did with 95Network.com, including several years co-hosting the 95Podcast with Dale Sellers. Recently, he established Austin Savage & Co. to help churches with creating content and using media in the church. In this conversation, Karl and Austin talk about The difference between Marketing and promotion/advertising How to put the content your church is already creating into the marketplace in creative ways How to get started without costing any money Links Asana 95network.org Austinsavage.co For a Transcript of this episode visit the Pivot Blog  Support This Work: Visit the Website Subscribe to weekly Newsletter Contribute financially at KarlVaters.com/support Visit our Youtube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At God's House Christian Church, Pastor Timothy Pender and his congregation believe that everyone was born with a purpose, on purpose. In other words, God has a plan for each one of us (Jeremiah 29:11). And this episode, we're talking about God's specific plan for pastors when it comes to reaching out for mental health support.We're thrilled to welcome Pastor Pender and have him share about his time in the military, how he manages his PTSD, and what God says about unity in churches and between pastors. We'll cover many truths about the importance of asking for help when you need it and surrounding yourself with trusted individuals who can support you.If you're listening today and struggling with your mental health, please reach out to us at 95Network or to Full Strength Network (link below). Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/gods-plan-for-pastors-in-seeking-help-and-building-unity-w-pastor-timothy-pender-episode-127/Support the show

In this episode, Caralee is joined by two of our awesome team members here at the 95Network, Jon Sanders and Travis Stephens. Jon serves as our Coaching Director and is also a full-time firefighter and one of the founders of EntrePastor, an organization that helps pastors identify ways to create additional sources of income for their families. Travis is our Membership and Social Media Director and is the Executive Pastor of Strong Tower Church in Tennessee. Jon and Travis dive a little deeper into what coaching through 95Network looks like, what it includes, and how it can help pastors. We touch on the isolation pastors often feel, which leads them to burnout and discouragement. We also talk about how having a group of other people who can share stories, encourage, and give sound advice is priceless for leading successfully. Pastors, our prayer for you today is that God provides exactly what you need to accomplish His mission. We're here for you.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/diving-more-into…hens-episode-125/Support the show

During a conversation with our podcast producer Kevin Smith a few weeks ago, he mentioned that we often focus our time, effort, and energy on preparing for Easter and then forget to rest and reflect afterward. As pastors and ministry leaders, it's easy to feel like we have to keep pressing on after the amens are over on Easter Sunday because the needs never seem to end. However, we must do what Jesus commands us to do: take Sabbath. Today, we've got three of our wonderful team members on the podcast—Kevin Smith, Bobby Lewis, and Denis Keith. Each of these guys has spent many years in ministry, and they all have such great advice on why it's essential to recharge and how to do it best. As you listen today, take some time to reflect on how you can be more disciplined in taking time for Sabbath. From us at 95Network, we pray that you had a wonderful Easter celebration this year. There is so much to be thankful for, the most important of all being Christ's sacrifice for us so we can spend eternity with Him. Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/easter-is-over-n…is-bonus-episode/Support the show

Join the conversation at Explore Purpose Insiders! Click here to join: https://explorepurpose.com/explore-purpose-insider/ The Explore Purpose Podcast inspires you to live a life of meaning and purpose so that you can make a greater impact on the world around you.  TODAY'S EPISODE:  I Thought I'd be 'There' by Now HOST: Conrad Weaver GUEST: Dale Sellers   ABOUT DALE SELLERS Dale is a man with a powerful calling to help weary and worn pastors and church leaders. He has been in ministry for  40 years. He launched Dale Sellers Leadership, Inc. in March 2014 to assist organizations in the areas of leadership, inspiration, and evangelism. Dale became a ministry consultant for The Unstuck Group in April 2017 with a focus on helping the small church. In July 2018, he accepted the position as the Executive Director of 95Network, and in September of 2020, he published his first book Stalled: Hope and Help for Pastor's Who Thought They'd Be There by Now. His years of ministry have grown a deep love for small and midsize congregations — the backbone of the American church. He believes in the mission of 95Network, not only because it equips small churches to thrive, but also because it connects weary church leaders with friends and partners who care. Dale and his wife Gina have been married 39 years, have three daughters, two sons-in-law, and two awesome grandchildren! https://www.95network.org +++++ Visit www.explorepurpose.com to learn more. Connect with us on social Media: Instagram: @explorepurpose_ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/explorepurpose TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@explorepurpose? YouTube: https://bit.ly/3sCHPFE  Explore Purpose is a production of ConjoStudios, LLC. Producer & Host: Conrad Weaver Music Composer: Volodymyr Piddubnyk  Music Acquired at storyblocks.com Copyright ©2022 ConjoStudios, LLC All rights reserved.

Conrad Weaver has made it his mission in life to tell stories that matter. After graduating with a psychology degree and spending several years as a youth pastor, he realized storytelling was his gift. As he says on his website, “My responsibility in the world is to leave it a better place than when I arrived. If the films I produce can play a role in that, then I've been successful.”Currently, Conrad is working on a documentary called PTSD911, which focuses on first responders and their exposure and experiences with trauma. Today, he'll tell us about some of the things he's seen and what the first responder community is doing to address the issue of mental health for their team members.While many of us don't have experience as first responders, we've likely all experienced trauma. As you listen today, my prayer is that you'll realize that there's no shame in asking for help. We're in this together. Reach out to us at 95Network today if you have questions or want to get connected. Show Notes:  https://www.95network.org/conrad-weaver-122/Support the show

In today's episode, we're talking to Chris Bright and Lee Button from thinking church in the United Kingdom. Much like us here at 95Network, thinking church aims to equip small churches with a vision for the future and tools to handle their day-to-day operations. They're passionate about helping church leaders find a way to do things better.This conversation is full of hope and encouragement, especially for the future of God's church. As we've entered into a new way of thinking and living in the past couple of years, people are beginning to look towards the church for stability and security.Take some time to listen and hear what Chris and Lee have to say!Show Notes:  https://www.95network.org/innovation-boldn…urch-episode-118/Support the show

Welcome to 2022! Happy New Year!We are so excited for what God is going to do this year in your church and here at 95Network. The past couple years have been so difficult for everyone, uniquely so for church leaders. But that doesn't limit our God. He is still at work, still moving, and He wants to make a huge difference in your community.In today's episode, we're sharing some recent results from a national survey of small-church pastors we did last year, revisiting what God did in 2021, and looking forward to where we feel He's leading us in 2022.As always, we are cheering you on! God wants to use you to accomplish incredible things. We hope this episode is an encouragement to you as we kickoff this year!Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/looking-ahead-2022/Support the show

Merry Christmas from all of us here at 95Network!

(Take one day to ensure a stronger future for your ministry with VisionDay. Get all the details here!)We have to stop limiting the opportunities we have to connect with people because we don't know how to do it. This is something I firmly believe, especially for those of us in ministry.Today I'm excited to introduce you to Jesse Barnett, our newest member of the team and an Atlanta-based craftsman at heart who brings stories to life through writing, speaking, coaching, and teaching. Above all, his heart is to use his spiritual gifts and talents to serve those who have a message to share, and to help them multiply the reach, effectiveness, and power of that message. As Communications Coach with 95Network, he helps pastors get more mileage from their message by learning how to utilize the digital space to expand their church community.In this conversation, Jesse shares how to "take something you've already created and put a little Miracle-Gro on it," why learning how to update how we communicate leads to deeper relationships, the opportunities available for every pastor to repurpose the message they've already worked on, and, most importantly, how this all relates to the Gospel. Listen in!Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/jesse-barnett-106/Support the show

(Take one day to ensure a stronger future for your ministry with VisionDay. Get all the details here!)Mary Ann Sibley grew up Buddhist, and was 40 years old before anyone ever invited her to church and she was transformed by Jesus. Before long, she was a volunteer. Not too long later, she started a volunteer ministry from scratch, growing it into the thousands.Mary Ann is the founder of MatterSpark, an organization all about helping churches build leaders to build healthy volunteer teams. She also is the Volunteer, Hospitality, & Guest Services Training Director here at 95Network!This episode was so much fun. In this conversation, we're talking about reenergizing volunteers this holiday season, the eternal impact volunteers can make on people's lives, practical ways to communicate the joy of Christ to everyone who walks through the doors, and encouragement for every church leader. Listen in!Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/mary-ann-sibley-104/Support the show

On this episode, Warren Colebank interviews Dale Sellers. Dale is the author of “Stalled - Hope and Help for Pastors Who Thought They'd Be There by Now” and serves as the executive director of 95Network, a nonprofit ministry designed to help small to midsized churches through content, conferences, coaching, and consulting. Dale has been in ministry for 40 years and now travels extensively leading 95Network's one-day conferences.

What a season it's been here at 95Network. God is doing incredible things in His Church right now and it is simply so meaningful to get a front-row seat to how God is moving within the hearts of church leaders across the country. He truly is so faithful!Along those lines, this week we've got an update for you.

(Take one day to ensure a stronger future for your ministry with VisionDay. Get all the details here!)Welcome back to the podcast! As always, we want to remind you that we are cheering you on as you navigate the day-to-day of ministry. Your work matters so much!Today, we have another unique episode for you as we chat with Mark Juba, Senior Associate at The Church Lawyers (Our lawyers and strategic partners here at 95Network). And we're talking through legal issues churches should understand resulting from COVID-19. We're talking through how to navigate if you're asked for a religious exemption letter, whether churches should be concerned about upcoming regulations, and much more.We include this "preface" in the episode, but we'd like to include it here as well: The goal for this episode is not about politics or vaccines. This is simply for you to be aware of conversations The Church Lawyers are having and various legal issues that are on the horizon.As always, we hope you find support in today's conversation!Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/mark-juba-98/Support the show

(Take one day to ensure a stronger future for your ministry with VisionDay. Get all the details here!)One of the biggest deficits we've seen in church leadership here at 95Network is the confidence and ability to cast vision. This topic is as crucial today as it's ever been.Today, we get to share a conversation that Dale actually had over on the Thinking Church podcast with Chris Bright, co-founder of Thinking Church, a UK-based organization passionate about helping churches think clearly about the future. Chris is a great leader and he asked some awesome questions!In this conversation, we dive deep into how to cast vision as a leader, how to balance long-term vision and short-term vision, how to have faith without being unrealistic, why leaders are often hesitant to share their dream for the church, and so much more.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/thinking-church-97/Support the show

(Are you signed up for our National Conference in November? Get all the details here!)In true 95Network fashion, we are celebrating episode 95 of The 95 Podcast! We wanted to take this week to simply reflect on all God has done and how He has provided opportunities beyond what we could have imagined. He truly is so faithful!Praying this conversation is an encouragement to your heart today! And if you've been a long-time listener, hopefully you're able to reminisce along with us on some really special conversations and what God is doing in His Church.Listen in!Show Notes: www.95network.org/reflections-celebrations-95th-episode/Support the show

We have Sr. Spiritual Directors waiting and ready to listen to you with empathy and confidentiality! On the Soul Shepherding Network page, you can find out more and book an appointment.  Our Journey of the Soul: Soul Talk cards are a great resource for personal devotions, small groups and spiritual direction. In the Soul Shepherding Institute, we'll show you how to make space to hear God's voice, be renewed spiritually, and engage in soul training that will equip you to thrive with Jesus in all you do as a pastor or ministry leader.You can order your copy of Journey of the Soul on Amazon or wherever books are sold. Please post a review to help other readers find us.We love hearing from you! Contact Us and share how Soul Talks has impacted your life and relationships.Sign-up to receive Soul Shepherding's weekly blog email!

(Are you signed up for our National Conference in November? Get all the details here!)Did you know that 83% of pastor's wives wish their husbands would choose a different profession?Donna Lewis and her husband, Bobby, have been in ministry for decades and are church planters of RiverPoint Church. Bobby is actually a coach and conference facilitator here at 95Network, and Donna has a huge passion to support pastors' wives. In this episode, she openly shares about the loneliness of feeling unseen, what it's like to feel like the church is the "other woman," why avoiding the issue isn't a solution, her encouragement to both male pastors and pastors' wives, and more.(In this episode, we are specifically talking to male pastors. If you're a female pastor, we see you and do hope you still get value from this episode!)Pastors, this is so important. Your marriage is more important than your ministry. We hope this episode is a reminder for you of exactly that.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/donna-lewis-87/Support the show

(Are you signed up for our National Conference in November? Get all the details here!)"I believe the Church is coming into its finest hour and is about to rise up."Jon Sanders is the Founder of Small Town Big Church, a full-time firefighter, and is also the Director of Coaching here at 95Network. He is one of our favorite leaders in the world... a straight-shooter with a huge heart for church leaders and developing systems that help leaders thrive.In this conversation, Jon shares what he's most excited about for the Church right now, what's discouraging him currently, how he sees a poverty mindset show up for leaders, why there's no excuse for leaders to lead from a place of isolation, the reason he has spent thousands of dollars on coaching in his own life, and so much more.We know you'll find a whole lot of value in this one!Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/jon-sanders-86/Support the show

Recorded in an RV at the Big Little Church conference in Camas WA, Karl talks with four people who host conferences for small church leaders. The conversation covers: Why they started their small church conferences What big church conferences can do to include the needs and voices of small church leaders First steps if you want to host a small church conference Guests: Carl & Kalani Culley of BigLittleChurch.com Dale Sellers of 95Network.org Chris Vitarelli of SmallChurchBigDeal.com Links from Episode: Big Little Church Conference (http://www.biglittlechurch.com/) Small Church, Big Deal (http://smallchurchbigdeal.com/) 95Network (https://www.95network.org/) First 5 app - Devotional tool (https://first5.org/) For a Transcript of this episode visit the Pivot Blog  Support This Work: Visit the Website (https://karlvaters.com/) Subscribe to weekly Newsletter (https://karlvaters.com/subscribe/) Contribute financially through Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/karlvaters) Visit our Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrcGS0_tkxklJyB7wn9-aZA) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recorded in an RV at the Big Little Church conference in Camas WA, Karl talks with four people who host conferences for small church leaders. The conversation covers: Why they started their small church conferences What big church conferences can do to include the needs and voices of small church leaders First steps if you want to host a small church conference Guests: Carl & Kalani Culley of BigLittleChurch.com Dale Sellers of 95Network.org Chris Vitarelli of SmallChurchBigDeal.com Links from Episode: Big Little Church Conference (http://www.biglittlechurch.com/) Small Church, Big Deal (http://smallchurchbigdeal.com/) 95Network (https://www.95network.org/) First 5 app - Devotional tool (https://first5.org/) For a Transcript of this episode visit the Pivot Blog  Support This Work: Visit the Website (https://karlvaters.com/) Subscribe to weekly Newsletter (https://karlvaters.com/subscribe/) Contribute financially through Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/karlvaters) Visit our Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrcGS0_tkxklJyB7wn9-aZA) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Entrepreneurship has a really important role in shaping culture."After growing up in the Middle East, Stephanie Leathe came to the U.S. for college before falling in love with entrepreneurship and equipping ministries. She is an incredible leader and it is truly an honor to have her on the show this week.Stephanie is the CEO of Altar Live, a new partner of ours here at 95Network focused on helping churches navigate a hybrid model of ministry. I love their ministry, their willingness to learn, and their passion for smaller churches. In this episode, we talk about Stephanie's story, the culture shock she experienced in American churches, how churches can become more entrepreneurial, the real opportunity each of us have online, and so much more! Listen in!Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/stephanie-leathe-83/Support the show

Dale Sellers will be leading our 2021 Catalyst Conference this year, on October 16th.  Here is your opportunity to get to know him and the passion and expertise he has for the local church.  In this podcast Dale shares what he is hearing from pastors in this new post pandemic season, as well as what churches need to be focused on moving forward. Dale's Bio: Dale Sellers has been in ministry for almost 40 years. He launched Dale Sellers Leadership, Inc. in March 2014 to assist organizations in the areas of leadership, inspiration, and evangelism. Dale became a ministry consultant for The Unstuck Group in April 2017 with a focus on helping the small church. In July 2018, he accepted the position as the Executive Director of the 95Network, and in September of 2020, he published his first book Stalled: Hope and Help for Pastor's Who Thought They'd Be There by Now. His years of ministry have grown a deep love for small and medium-sized congregations — the backbone of the American church. He believes in the mission of 95Network, not only because it equips small churches to thrive, but also because it connects weary church leaders with friends and partners who care.

Ep.19 - Austin Savage is the Managing Director at 95Network, a ministry designed to support the 95% of churches under 500 in attendance. Austin is also the host of both The 95 Podcast and The People of Peoria Podcast—so it's safe to say that he fit right in with Andy and Chuck. Austin shares some valuable instruction and timely truths for pastors and leaders...and there's a lot of laughter along the way!

 WELCOME BACK TO THE 95 PODCAST!You'll notice that we're back with some NEW theme music, some NEW energy, some GREAT guests ahead, and some FRESH direction for this resource! Can you tell we're excited?

2021 is going to look just a little different for our team here at 95Network. Austin, our Managing Director, is taking a step out and starting his own content marketing agency. This dream really became a possibility for him as a result of reading Stalled and hosting our new Stalled Conference this Fall.Transition and change are a reality of any team.So this week on the podcast, we're talking about what this change means, how we're navigating the transition, how Austin and I's conversation went about this new direction for him, and what his role on the team will continue to be.Sometimes we stay somewhere too long and our fruitfulness dries up. It's important for all of us to be aware of whether or not we're truly in our sweet spot. I hope this episode inspires you in that way.Check out some key takeaways and resources mentioned in today's episode in the show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/navigating-team-transition-60Support the show

Dale Sellers, from the 95Network, talks with Jeff about his ministry story and the book that grew out of it - Stalled - Help and Hope For Those Who Thought They'd Be There By Now. Dale and Jeff have a combined 70 years of ministry experience, and they had this conversation just for YOU! Enjoy!Support the show

"Freedom is not the absence of something, it's the presence of Someone."This man changed my life... Bob Hamp is the Founder of Think Differently Academy and is a Marriage & Family Therapist. I talk about him a lot in my book Stalled, particularly regarding the profound effect his teaching called "The Problem Jesus Came to Solve" had on my life and my journey towards health.So you may be able to imagine how much of an honor it is to be sharing this conversation Austin and I got to have with Bob on the podcast today.Not only will you hear him play something on his "office guitar" at the opening of the episode, but you'll also get to listen to a conversation about why we need to change how we think about "freedom" and how you can take steps today to start doing ministry from Jesus instead of for Jesus (which was the game-changing shift for me). Listen in!- DaleCheck out our takeaways and all the links mentioned in today's episode in the show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/bob-hamp-59Support the show

Brian Weber is the Executive Minister of Converge MidAtlantic, having the opportunity to work directly with church leaders each and every week. I (Dale) met him at a conference I did in partnership with Converge a while back and I loved how he thought about the Church.We recently took some time to have Brian on the podcast to talk about what he's seeing among the pastors he's working with, navigating the challenges this year of ministry continues to bring, and some of his own personal passion for leading ministry that brings about change in a community that clearly represents the change happening in the hearts of people.This is an honest, down-to-earth conversation for you this week!Check out the show notes for this episode right here: https://www.95network.org/blog/brian-weber-54Support the show

Jeff VanderGiessen spent eight years working at Mars Hill Church in Seattle before he felt God's call to step out and found Amplio Systems, a company passionate about helping churches take the right next step, in the Chicago area. Today, Jeff shares honestly about the grief he's still had to process in seeing the difficult journey for Mars Hill with some insights into navigating ministry loss for every leader. Jeff also dives into the importance of taking regular breaks, having a hobby outside of the ministry, his feel for where the Church is headed, and why personality-driven churches aren't the model to look up to. This is a great conversation from someone with a huge heart for the Church!Check out the show notes for everything mentioned during today's episode: https://www.95network.org/blog/jeff-vandergiessen-53Support the show

Barb Roose is a popular author and speaker who has spoken at events like the She Speaks Conference and Aspire Women's Events. She's the author of multiple Bible studies, including: Surrendered: Letting Go and Living Like Jesus, I'm Waiting, God: Finding Blessing in God's Delays, and Joshua: Winning the Worry Battle. Her newest Bible study: Breakthrough: Finding Freedom in Christ releases in Spring 2021.Today she shares about her years leading in a majority-white church, why she's been so encouraged about the Church during COVID-19, why she focuses on making Scripture practical for people, her recent development of the (g)race project, and her journey through an unwanted divorce with some key insights for pastors' marriages. Plain and simple, you don't want to miss this one!Check out the show notes at https://www.95network.org/blog/barb-roose-52Support the show

If we don't do something to bridge the generational gaps between us and Gen Z, we will lose them. This episode is gold for leaders to understand what it looks like to reach Generation Z from a leader who invests his time in helping influencers engage the next gen.Jordan Francis is the Co-Founder of RLTK, an organization that exists solely to equip leaders to better engage Gen Z. His honesty and insight into the barriers that exist in many churches is so helpful.In this episode, we cover why a lack of trust is the largest barrier in reaching Gen Z, why engaging this generation will require a decentralized approach to church, how you can include young people in the actual day-to-day of ministry, and a whole lot more.This is an episode you'll want to send to each member of your team, and intentionally spend time talking about afterwards.Check out the show notes here: https://www.95network.org/blog/jordan-francis-51Support the show

Meet Chad Hunt, the newest addition to our team here at 95Network. Chad has led hundreds of churches through coaching and consulting processes over the years and we're excited to welcome him onto the team as our VisionDay Director.Today, a great conversation with Chad on the podcast as we talk about his new role on the team, why your church really should be viewed as a blank canvas right now, the reality that God trusted your gift set enough to allow you to lead your church through a pandemic, and why this uncertain time is the perfect season to recalibrate and refine your vision and plan.Chad is an incredible pastor and someone with a HUGE heart for small and mid-size churches. Listen in!Check out some key insights and the links from today's conversation at the show notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/chad-hunt-49Support the show

This week is the last of the "Stalled" podcast series we've been featuring leading up to the launch of the new book Stalled: Hope and Help for Pastors Who Thought They'd Be There By Now. And what an incredible launch we had earlier this week!One of the key aspects of the "Stalled" message is the understanding that our Enemy wants to keep leaders discouraged not just to limit our effectiveness today. But ultimately to keep us from effectively engaging the next generation.Today, we walk through 4 key principles for leaders to consider when it comes to capturing the heart of the next generation, building trust, and standing in the gap for them. Tune in and let us know what you'd add to the conversation!Support the show

Today on the podcast, we're walking through 4 questions every leader needs to answer for themselves. We discuss approval addiction, leading "surrendered," negative thinking, and what remains of your passion for the next generation. Take a listen!Looking for the show notes? Head over to https://www.95network.org/blog/4-questions-every-leader-47Support the show

Every week, we connect with pastors who are stalled. Many of them see it. But many of them don't. In Dale's own life, he learned the hard way what can happen inside of us if we don't understanding the warning signs of becoming stalled in life and ministry.Today on the podcast, we discuss the 4 warning signs a ministry leader is becoming stalled. We hope this is a simple check-in for you to be honest about your own health. We all talk a lot about healthy churches, but a church can never be healthy if the pastor isn't healthy themselves.Take a listen! And let us know which of the 4 stand out the most for you.Looking for the show notes? Just head here: https://www.95network.org/blog/warning-signs-stalled-46Support the show

Shawn Lovejoy is the Founder & CEO of CourageToLead.com. His heart beats for coaching leaders through what keeps them up at night. Shawn has been a successful real estate developer, church planter, pastor, entrepreneur, and leadership coach. Courage To Lead facilitates leadership growth and organizational health for leaders all around the globe.We were honored to have Shawn join us for Episode 45 of the podcast for some straight-shootin' leadership wisdom. In today's podcast, we discuss why courage is the biggest problem in the Church today, the decision Shawn made to handoff his church 6 years ago, how pastors "overspiritualize their lack of growth," and why building an effective team is the most important aspect of the long-term health of a ministry.Check out the show notes here: https://www.95network.org/blog/shawn-lovejoy-leadership-45Pre-Order Stalled here: https://www.95network.org/stalledSupport the show

"Ministry almost killed me."This week we're switching things up on the podcast. You may have heard us talking about "Stalled," Dale's upcoming book highlighting his years of discouragement as a small-church pastor feeling like Jesus was disappointed in him.Today on the podcast, Austin interviews Dale about his own story, walking through when he came to faith, the ministry stress that led to open heart surgery, and how he got to the place that he told his friend Tony, "I thought I'd be there by now." Dale has experienced a lot in his 40 years of ministry and we hope that hearing his story is an encouragement to you today.Want to learn more about the book Stalled? Head to www.95network.org/stalled Want to take a look at the show notes for this episode? Find them at https://www.95network.org/blog/dale-sellers-story-44Support the show

"I got this sense that the rural church had really been forgotten about."Today we're joined by Danny Davis, author of Rural Church Turnaround and Pastor of Life Point Church in Odessa, MO. Danny has a rich story, spending 11 years planting and revitalizing churches in South Africa before coming back to pastor a rural church in Odessa, MO. He also holds a Doctor of Education in Transformational Leadership.Danny shares some insights from the research he did for his recent book of successful church turnarounds in rural contexts. We cover topics like navigating change, what it takes to lead a turnaround in a rural context, the heart of a pastor, church size, and a whole lot more. We hope you'll be encouraged and challenged as you listen through! Check out all the resources mentioned and more at the show notes for this episode: https://www.95network.org/blog/danny-davis-43Support the show

We're back from our short break from the podcast while Austin was on paternity leave! And it's good to be back! We've got some great podcast episodes and articles ahead, a book launching in the Fall, and a whole lot more.On Episode 42, Austin and I take some time to chat about a recent VisionDay, Andy Stanley's recent announcement that they won't hold services through the end of the year, some important leadership takeaways from the story of Gideon, and 3 things that cause any leader to struggle with leading their church forward.Many leaders are exhausted. Many leaders also haven't slowed down enough to realize they're exhausted. It's been a tough few months, but there are many obstacles ahead. It's important for us to be ready and to be leading from a healthy place.Show Notes: https://www.95network.org/blog/andy-stanley-gideon-pastors-42Support the show

Every pastor has a story to share. No matter the size of their church. That's a belief of ours and is one of the core reasons we love supporting church leaders. There are so many crucial, powerful things happening every day in small and mid-size churches that go unnoticed and unseen.Joe Thompson is the Lead Pastor at Smithfield Christian Church in Smithfield, VA. We've been connected to him for a while and love his genuine heart and his passion for ministry.We're partnering with Joe on an upcoming project where we'll be sharing the stories of pastors across the country. So we're excited to introduce you to him today, talk about the inspiration behind this project, and share some key insights he's taken away from some of the conversations he's been hosting.You have a story to share. Listen in!Click here to check out the show notes for today's episode!(Also, credit to Yannick Lemieux for the applause track we use for fun in today's episode.)Support the show

This was a fun one. We recently asked some of our listeners to share with us who has been most helpful to them in navigating COVID-19. We got quite a few responses for our guest today!Ryan Wakefield spent years as the Creative Director at James River Church, and has since founded Church Marketing University, a hub of training and resources to help churches utilize new methods to share the message of Jesus. His energy and passion for churches is contagious, and we had such a blast getting to connect with him on the podcast.In addition to some fun stories about vacations and football, Ryan shares some honest insights for leaders to consider coming out of COVID-19. What strategies should we hold on to that we learned during this time? If he was a small-church pastor today, what is the one thing he would do to ensure future effectiveness? And a whole lot more...Listen in! This is a practical, honest, and inspirational conversation.Click here to check out this episode's show notes.Support the show

The word "engagement" has been a common one in church leadership in the last few years. During COVID-19, that term has become even more crucial as people determine what it looks like to measure their effectiveness online.But for many churches, a lot of the conversations happening have added a level of confusion and complexity in their ministry that doesn't need to be there.So this week on the podcast, we're breaking down engagement into 4 questions for you to consider and giving you some "permission" to measure engagement a little more organically, especially if you're in a small or mid-size church.Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.Support the show

As we all know, the conversations surrounding COVID-19 are constantly changing. This past week, many of the conversations online have shifted towards developing a strategy for reopening our buildings, with many smaller churches seeing that as a possibility in the (fairly) near future.As Karl Vaters shared a couple weeks back on the podcast, the season that's ahead will look different for every church based on their local orders and their specific context.For Episode 35, Austin and Dale take some time to talk through some of what we're seeing from churches and walk through 6 principles for leaders to consider as they develop their strategy and plan for eventually reopening. Our great fear is that as churches see the "light" of returning, the comfort of getting closer to normal will overtake the progress that could be made during this time.Take a listen!Support the show

We're really grateful to be sharing today's conversation with Dale's good friend Clayton King, long-time ministry leader, a gifted evangelist, and part of the team at Newspring Church. We got to record this conversation before everything hit with COVID-19, and we've been sitting on it for a little while, so we're glad we're finally sharing it today.Clayton is the real deal. He loves Jesus with all His heart. He loves the Church with all his heart. And he practices everything he preaches. You'll quickly find that he's a straight-shooter with some very honest responses throughout this conversation. And we truly believe that what we cover today is so important for the Church today.So I hope you enjoy this episode. Austin recently said, "I have never heard two people talk that fast!" And it's true: You probably don't want to speed it up -- Dale and Clayton do talk fast!Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.Support the show

It is always so special to us to have conversations with others who have a passion, understanding, and care for small churches. Karl Vaters checks all of those boxes. Our conversations with him are some of our favorites, and this one is no different!For Episode 33 of the podcast, we have Karl back on the show to talk about his own experiences in crisis leadership, how he's currently helping churches adapt to and recover from COVID-19, the importance of team leadership during this time, and a whole lot more. And, of course, there are quite a few laughs, and a mention of Karl's late cat, Darth.Some great wisdom and support in this episode!Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.Support the show

"I wish someone would have told me that I was entering cross-cultural ministry..."This week on the podcast we have such a great conversation with Ron Klassen, Executive Director of Rural Home Missionary Association, an organization that exists to plant and strengthen churches in small-town America.We spend a few minutes upfront talking about some great things we've seen from churches during COVID-19, but we spend most of the time simply hearing Ron's heart and experience serving in and supporting churches in rural contexts. He has so much to share and, whether you minister in a rural community or not, there are tons of great takeaways in this episode!Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.Support the show

Our defaults have been taken away. The normalcy or tradition we rely on has been removed. So how should we respond?Dale and Austin share some honest thoughts (and a little bit of preachin') about your role during this crisis, what our Easter efforts should focus on this year, and some reminders about the opportunities you have during this season of ministry. And we walk through 4 important reminders for you to consider, no matter if you're planning an online service, a casual Facebook Live video, sharing premade content, or anything else.We're cheering you on during this season! We continue to be encouraged by the efforts we see churches taking to minister to their community right now. And we hope this episode is an encouragement to you!Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.Support the show

It's a crazy season in ministry, to say the least. A lot of changes have happened really quickly and it's left a lot of churches scrambling to piece ministry together. However, where we go from here is crucial as ministry leaders.This is not a time to shrink back, fight back against, or ignore. It is a time for us to put all our methods on the table and figure out how we leverage the shifts in our world to reach our community. This is not a time for us to "wait it out" or remain insider-focused, but instead is such a clear opportunity for the Church to make a meaningful and lasting difference in our local communities.So today on the podcast, Dale and Austin have an encouraging, honest, and hope-filled conversation as we all navigate COVID-19. We hope it is a support for you today!Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.Support the show

Our team often has the chance to connect with churches who are just knocking it out of the park with how they're reaching their community, focusing on their mission, and staying focused on where they're headed rather than where they've been.This week on the podcast, we're talking with a pastor of one of those churches. Mark Pritchard is the Lead Pastor at Church at the Gates in Missoula, MT, a church Dale personally had the opportunity to work with a couple years back. They went through a planning process with The Unstuck Group, similar to what we do in VisionDay, and came out with some incredible clarity and unity for where they're headed as a ministry.We had a ton of fun on this episode (Austin's question of the day was the most random one yet) and we loved hearing about the ministry Church at the Gates is doing today and how Mark has grown in his leadership. It's a good one!Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.Support the show

Our good friend, Lee Button, who is from the UK (although we learned his favorite sport is American football) and is Founder of Thinking Church and a consultant with The Unstuck Group, was recently staying with Dale for a couple days. While he was there, we figured we should record a podcast episode with him!So for Episode 21 of the podcast, we were grateful to be able to talk with Lee about what he's seeing in churches over in the UK, how we all can reshape our ministries to better reach people in our community, how they've done ministry in a context where people are suspicious of the Church, and the list goes on.Lee has so much wisdom to share with an incredibly thoughtful and strategic approach to ministry. It was fun to hear his thoughts because Lee was sharing a lot of similar things to what we say about ministry. Give it a listen!Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Or want to find out how to access the bonus conversation w/ Lee? Check out this episode's show notes.Support the show

There are a good number of things that should be on our radar as church leaders that simply aren't in the week-to-week of ministry. Law issues definitely fall in that category for most of us. However, this is an area we have to be proactive in rather than reactive.For Episode 19, we're grateful to be sharing a conversation with Steven Goodspeed from The Church Lawyers, a full-service law firm that looks to provide outstanding and practical legal services to churches, ministries, and nonprofits of all sizes. We've had the opportunity to get to know them over the past couple years and are so grateful for their heart for local churches.Steven comes at this topic with such practicality and heart, and I hope it's a great conversation-starter for many of our teams. It's definitely worth a listen!Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.Support the show

It's the start of a new decade! We pray you are expectant for what this year holds for your ministry. To start the year off, we are sharing a conversation about a topic we're passionate about around here: The dynamics between older and younger generations.This is an issue that we don't often see intentionally addressed in churches. But the reality is that strategically investing in younger generations is the foundation for the future of every one of our ministries.Join us for this honest conversation as we walk through why we believe this is a pressing issue, respond to some of Carey Nieuwhof's recent research, share how I (a 57-year-old) and Austin (a 23-year-old) work together effectively, and also respond to some questions we received from members of our network about this topic.Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.Support the show

Thank you so much to all of you who have supported us as we launched The 95 Podcast this year! This week, we're sharing our final episode of 2019 and the conclusion of our series of interviewing people who are ministering in northeast America.For Episode 17, we're excited to be sharing a conversation with Kim Richardson and Jarrod Spalding, who lead Vision Partners, an organization dedicated to helping churches clarify their future. They found us online about a year ago and we've enjoyed getting to know them this past year.Both Jarrod and Kim have a great heart for local churches and are doing some great work to help churches stay accountable to their vision. There's some great takeaways in this conversation and we're excited to be sharing it!Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.Support the show

We are so excited to have Jeff Keady, co-host of the 200churches Podcast, on Episode 13 of The 95 Podcast! It's always special to talk with another church leader who has such a deep passion to resource smaller churches.It's difficult to provide an overview of this episode because Jeff had so much wisdom to share on investing in the next generation, leading change in your church, avoiding insecurity as a pastor of a small church, and simply enjoying the journey that God leads you on in ministry.This truly is a conversation you don't want to miss (plus, you'll get to hear the stories of how Jeff came to faith in Christ and the weirdest gift he's received as a pastor).Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.Support the show

Every church leader experiences seasons of insecurity. Fluctuating attendance, inconsistent weekly giving, staff issues, board members with agendas, and comparison to other “successful” ministries in our region all feed the notion that we're not good enough to lead our church.These seasons are sure to occur at various points in our leadership, but how we walk through them determines what lies ahead for our life and the church we lead.Join us this week on the podcast as we walk through 7 questions to ask during seasons where we're not sure if we should continue on in ministry:Want to take a look at some conversation takeaways and see any resources mentioned during the conversation? Check out this episode's show notes.And finally, click here to download the freebie mentioned called 6 Things Every Small-Church Pastor Needs to Hear.Support the show