Be The Church with Joel Wayne

In this episode of the Be The Church Podcast, Pastor Luke Bilberry sits down with Pastor Joel Wayne and Pastor Michael Rubino for a deeply practical and Scripture-rooted conversation on what it really means to follow Jesus in everyday life.

Together, they wrestle with a powerful tension: following Jesus is simple—but it’s not easy. From family rhythms and leadership convictions to kingdom-minded living and surrender, this conversation exposes how easily we drift into compartmentalized, performance-driven faith—and calls us back to a life of wholehearted devotion.

They unpack why spiritual leadership isn’t about adding more to your plate, but about becoming the same person in every environment, why relationships—not efficiency—are the true engine of discipleship, and how entitlement quietly erodes our joy while expectancy restores awe and wonder in our walk with God.

From “kingdom vs. castle” thinking to the daily decision to serve rather than be served, this episode will challenge you to stop managing your faith and start surrendering your heart—at home, at work, and in every relationship.

Whether you’re leading a church, raising a family, working a job, or simply trying to follow Jesus faithfully, this conversation will help you rediscover the beauty of a life fully yielded to Him.

What you’ll learn:

• Why following Jesus is simple in truth—but difficult in surrender
• How compartmentalized faith leads to burnout and inconsistency
• The difference between entitlement and expectancy—and why it matters
• Why relationships (not programs) are central to discipleship and leadership
• How “kingdom vs. castle” thinking reshapes the way you lead and live
• The power of small, everyday acts of service in forming a Christlike life
• Why spiritual leadership flows from who you are—not just what you do
• How surrendering your heart (not just modifying behavior) changes everything

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In this episode of the Be The Church Podcast, Luke Bilberry is joined by Joel Wayne and Pastor Steve Harrington for a profound look at what God is doing on the international stage. Moving beyond mere logistics and "success metrics," the team explores how Be The Church is engaging the global mission field by prioritizing the one thing Jesus modeled most: intentional relationship.

Together, they discuss Steve's story as a missionary in the UK, the "reverse culture shock" of returning to the United States, and how the global church’s theology of suffering challenges our Western pursuit of comfort. From the mission fields of Europe and Africa to West Michigan, this conversation reveals that the most powerful tool for advancing the kingdom isn't a strategy—it’s a life willing to be known by others and shaped by God.

Whether you feel called to the other side of the world or just the other side of the street, this episode will challenge you to stop seeing people as projects and start seeing relationship as the primary vehicle for God’s transformative work.

What you’ll learn:

• The International Lens: How living in a different cultural context changes your internal "grid" and deepens your dependence on God.
• The Global Contrast: Why the American church struggles with individualism while the global church finds strength in shared suffering.
• Relational Mobilization: Why Be The Church focuses on "abiding" and relationship as their foundation.
• The Myth of Usefulness: Understanding that God doesn't send us overseas because He needs our help, but because He wants us to know His heart.
• Shortcuts vs. Sanctification: Why the "Prosperity Gospel" fails on the mission field and why we must embrace the "long game" of spiritual preparation.
• Picking Up the Accent: How proximity to God and His people changes the way we speak, lead, and love.

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In this second part of their conversation, Joel continues his deep dive with Pastor Jim Jeffrey to explore the intersection of leadership, discipleship, and the power of walking in humility. From serving as a lead pastor for decades to becoming a university president, Jim shares practical leadership lessons he has learned over 50 years in ministry.

This episode pulls back the curtain on what it looks like to truly die to self for the sake of the kingdom. Together, they examine the mechanics of healthy leadership through the lens of Nehemiah, the mathematical power of biblical collaboration, and the common pitfalls that cause gifted leaders to crash and burn.

Whether you are leading a large organization or discipling a handful of people in your living room, this conversation challenges every leader to remember that the greatest movement of God happens when no one cares who gets the credit.

What you’ll learn:
- Why Jim chose impact over title and how to navigate "stepping down."
- How to identify your leadership horsepower and match your capacity to your role.
- The timeless roadmap for moving a vision from chaos to implementation.
- Understanding the Deuteronomy 32:30 principle of how two leaders together produce exponential results.
- Why the church is "spinning its wheels" by choosing curriculum over a life-on-life process.
- Why convictions, character, and core commitments are the "taproot" of longevity.
- Why high-capacity leaders are at the greatest risk of the "Pride Trap."
- How to pour into "lay people" and treat them with the same intentionality as a professional staff.

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What if we’ve been rushing past the most important part of the story?

In this special Holy Week episode, Pastor Luke sits down with Pastor Joel to reflect on the final days of Jesus’ life—and why we can’t skip the journey to the cross to fully understand the power of the resurrection.

From the Garden of Gethsemane to the empty tomb, this conversation is a call to slow down, remember, and step into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Why did the disciples fall asleep when Jesus asked them to pray? And where might we be doing the same in our own lives?

This episode challenges us to move beyond surface-level belief and into true abiding—walking closely with Jesus in both suffering and victory. Because spiritual leadership doesn’t start with what we do for God, but how we dwell with Him.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

•  Why Holy Week matters more than we often realize 
•  The danger of spiritual disengagement—and how to stay awake 
•  What it means to truly abide with Jesus 
•  How humility leads to deeper worship 
•  Why the resurrection changes how we live right now

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In this episode, Joel Wayne sits down with Pastor Jim Jeffery to walk through the story behind his life and leadership—how a young boy from a broken home came to know Christ and began a journey that would shape decades of ministry.

In this deeply personal and honest conversation, Pastor Jim shares how his calling to ministry began at just 12 years old, only to be tested and refined in the years that followed. From a life-changing moment at summer camp to navigating family brokenness, early ministry, and unexpected leadership opportunities, his story reveals that spiritual leadership is not built on talent or ambition but on surrender, hardship, and faithfulness over time.

As Jim reflects on seasons of rapid ministry growth followed by one of the hardest leadership transitions of his life, he unpacks the humbling reality that God often does His deepest work in the desert. Together, Joel and Jim explore the difference between pastoring and leading, the dangers of chasing “more,” and why many leaders don’t truly understand leadership until they’re stretched beyond their capacity.

Whether you’re stepping into leadership for the first time or navigating a difficult season, this episode will challenge you to rethink what it means to be called, formed, and sustained by God.

What you’ll learn:

•  How Pastor Jim Jeffery came to faith and sensed his call to ministry at a young age 
•  Why spiritual leadership is formed through hardship, not just success 
•  The key lesson many leaders learn too late about transitioning between ministries 
•  The difference between pastoring and leading—and why both matter 
•  Why chasing “more” can lead you away from what God is actually doing 
•  How God uses difficult seasons to humble, shape, and prepare leaders 
•  The importance of learning leadership from both Scripture and godly mentors 
•  Why caring for your soul is essential if you want to lead for the long haul 

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In this episode, Joel Wayne sits down with Paul Davis, President of ABWE, to explore the future of global missions—and why the local church is still God’s primary strategy for reaching the world.

In this deeply practical and forward-looking conversation, Paul shares how his leadership journey was shaped not by ambition but by faithfully stewarding what God placed in front of him. Together, they unpack the critical role of the local church in sending missionaries, the power of kingdom-minded partnerships, and why relational investment—not platform—drives lasting gospel impact.

But this conversation doesn’t stop at what missions is today. It looks ahead.

As the global landscape rapidly shifts, Joel and Paul address the growing realities of persecution, the rise of the global middle class, and the urgent need for resilient, deeply formed disciples who can endure what’s coming. This is a call for pastors and leaders to lift their eyes beyond their immediate context and re-engage the Great Commission with clarity, conviction, and courage.

What you’ll learn:

• Why the local church—not individuals—is God’s primary sending strategy for missions
• How “outsized impact” is built through relationships, not platforms
• The real reason many missionaries struggle—and what churches must do differently
• Why global missions today is “uneven” and how partnership and creativity help close the gap
• The surprising rise of the global middle class—and what it means for reaching the nations
• Why persecution will define the future of missions—and how leaders must prepare now
• How to lead with a long-term mindset when gospel work requires endurance, not speed
• A biblical challenge to lift your eyes beyond your context and engage the nations

About Paul Davis
Paul and his wife, Martha, have served in pastoral ministry since 1989. In their lifetime of ministry, they have led church plants, Christian schools and dynamic ministry teams. Additionally, they have given oversight to children’s, youth and college/career ministries. They enjoy pace-setting leadership as well as serving as educators, conference speakers and ministry trip facilitators.

In 2017, Paul became the seventh president of ABWE. Today, Paul and Martha are working hard to meet, support, and encourage the ABWE global team, striving to embolden gospel-centered churches to become sending and supporting churches, connecting God-enabled donors to the visionary projects of our fields, and humbly working to build, heal and reignite relationships with ABWE partners past, present and future. The Davises have four adult children who are believers in Jesus Christ.

About ABWE

ABWE (Association of Baptists for World Evangelism) is a global family of ministries that exists to fulfill the Great Commission by multiplying leaders, churches, and missions movements among every people.

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Is your worldview shaped by Scripture or by your own preferences? In this episode, Joel Wayne and Luke Bilberry explore why a biblical worldview isn't just one option among many—it’s a challenge to everything else.

In this deeply personal conversation, Joel and Luke move beyond definitions to discuss the conundrum of the modern believer: the tendency to marry the Word of God with our own broken preferences. Drawing from the wisdom of Leslie Newbigin and AW Tozer, Joel and Luke unpack how our first thoughts about God dictate every decision we make—from how we parent to how we lead through uncertainty.

This episode is a call to stop being held captive by hollow philosophies and to start thinking God’s thoughts about every issue of life.

What you’ll learn:
- Why Christianity doesn’t "fit" into other worldviews; it is exclusive.
- How to move from a man-centered framework to a God-centered one.
- Why your preferences and God’s Word are often at war, and why "blending" them is a trap.
- Why only 9% of born-again believers actually hold a biblical worldview.
- Finding peace when you can’t see the destination, but you know the King.
- How to identify the "hollow and deceptive" practices that are currently holding you captive.

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In this episode of the Be The Church Podcast, Joel Wayne sits down with Dr. James Hilton, Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, for a conversation on the difference between running a church and leading a movement. After 22 years of ministry, James reveals why the traditional "church growth" model often leads to burnout and how a shift in strategy can lead to radical multiplication.

Together, they unpack the "Developer vs. Doer" trap that many leaders fall into—rewarding those who simply execute tasks while ignoring those who could multiply leadership. From the miracle of a woman walking into a baptismal tank to the humble reality of church revitalization, this conversation explores how fear of losing control quietly kills kingdom growth. You'll learn why your greatest strengths might actually be the biggest barrier to God’s power and how to create an environment where the Holy Spirit, not your own ego, is the primary driver of movement.

Whether you are leading a staff of 50 or volunteering in your local community, this episode will challenge you to stop filling holes and start developing developers.

What you’ll learn:

• The Movement Mindset: Why church growth is a miracle you can measure, but a movement is something only God can control.
• Doers vs. Developers: How to identify if your leadership systems are rewarding dependency or fostering multiplication.
• The Power of Revitalization: Why "weddings" between dying churches and passionate leaders may be the key to reclaiming Kingdom resources.
• Leading the High-Capacity Leader: How to make room at the table for entrepreneurs and "financial wizards" without feeling threatened.
• The Paradox of Strength: Why relying on your natural talents often keeps you from experiencing the "fresh manna" of God’s current work.
• Prophetic Leadership: The importance of calling out anointing in others and creating the right environment for spiritual formation.

About James Hilton
Dr. James Hilton serves as the Lead Teacher and Pastor at The Journey Church. He and his wife, Shana, have been happily married since 1997 and are blessed with four children: their son, Josiah; twin daughters, Halyn and Gracyn; and their youngest, Ansley.

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In this episode of the Be The Church Podcast, Joel Wayne sits down with Pastor Luke Bilberry for a Scripture-centered conversation about identity, purpose, and what it truly means to live as a child of God.

Rooted in 2 Timothy 2 and 1 Corinthians 9, they unpack Paul’s exhortation to Timothy and explore three powerful images of spiritual leadership: the soldier, the athlete, and the farmer. Together, they examine how identity in Christ fuels perseverance, how self-control and discipline prepare leaders for suffering, and why abiding in God—not accomplishing tasks—must be the foundation of everything we do.

This conversation challenges leaders to stop chasing performance-driven ministry and instead rediscover their purpose in being loved by the Father. From cultural pressures to personal ambition, Joel and Luke call listeners back to a simple but transformative truth: you are a child of God, strengthened by His grace, and called to endure hardship with confidence and joy.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why your identity as a child of God must shape your purpose and leadership
• How task-driven ministry can quietly replace abiding relationship with Christ
• What Paul’s charge to Timothy teaches about spiritual grit and perseverance
• Why sharing in Christ’s sufferings is part of faithful leadership
• How the images of soldier, athlete, and farmer define biblical leadership
• Why discipline and self-control prepare you for cultural pressure
• How changing the “rules” leads to spiritual drift and loss of authority
• Why doing hard things strengthens spiritual resilience
• How worship flows from knowing you are loved and approved by the Father
• What it looks like to run the race with the aim of pleasing the One who enlisted you

This episode is a bold reminder that spiritual leadership is not about winning approval from people—it’s about faithful obedience to the King of Kings. When your identity is secure in Christ, you can embrace the hard, endure suffering, and lead with courage in a culture that constantly shifts the rules.

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In this episode of the Be The Church Podcast, Joel Wayne sits down with John Chesnut, President and CEO of Wycliffe Bible Translators USA, for a conversation about the authority of Scripture, spiritual leadership, and the accelerating work of Bible translation around the world.

Together, they explore John’s leadership journey—from church planting and global adoption to leading a worldwide Bible translation movement—and unpack a foundational conviction: everything in ministry is downstream from the Word of God. Without Scripture in the heart language of a people, discipleship remains shallow, and the church struggles to take deep root.

Drawing from passages like John 5, John 14, and John 17, they discuss what it means to lead with humility, pursue unity as Christ prayed for His church, and trust in the sovereignty of God in a rapidly changing world. They also examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping Bible translation—shortening timelines, strengthening accuracy, and helping bring Scripture to oral and non-literate communities for the first time in history.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why everything in ministry and leadership is downstream from Scripture
• How heart-language Bible translation fuels lasting spiritual transformation
• What it means to lead through influence, unity, and partnership—not just position
• How spiritual rhythms protect leaders from drifting into performance-driven ministry
• Why team culture and executive humility shape the health of an entire organization
• How AI is accelerating Bible translation while preserving theological integrity
• Why oral Bible translation is essential for non-literate communities
• What it looks like to trust God’s sovereignty when leadership feels uncertain
• How the peace of Christ steadies leaders in a world filled with disruption

Whether you’re a pastor, ministry leader, or everyday believer seeking to lead faithfully in an uncertain age, this episode will expand your vision for the global Church and ground you in the transforming power of the Word of God.

About Dr. John Chesnut

John Chesnut serves as President and CEO for Wycliffe Bible Translators. He and his wife, Kelly, have been members of Wycliffe since 2001. John earned his bachelor's degree in behavioral science with minors in biblical studies and philosophy from California Baptist College, along with a master of divinity and doctor of ministry from Denver Seminary. The Chesnuts live in Orlando, FL. They have seven children through birth and adoption, along with an ever-expanding crew of grandchildren. You can learn more about Wycliffe at www.wycliffe.org.

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