Beyond The Numbers Ep. 10

In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, we dive into one of the most important questions every church and ministry leader must face: Is God’s Word truly our foundation—or has it become optional?

After spending months interviewing with churches, I was surprised to discover how often the authority and sufficiency of Scripture were treated as negotiable. But a healthy church cannot be built on shifting opinions or trends—it must be built on the infallible, inerrant Word of God.

We’ll explore:

• Why churches are drifting from the Bible as their foundation

• The dangers of treating Scripture as optional

• What a healthy, Word-centered ministry looks like

• Practical steps leaders can take to keep God’s Word at the center

If you’ve ever wrestled with where your church stands—or wondered how to lead with conviction in a shifting culture—this episode will equip and encourage you.

Brent has decades of ministry experience—and a unique journey that includes a few years in the NFL. In this conversation, he shares wisdom every Next Gen leader and youth pastor can benefit from: how to stop the comparison game fueled by social media, what he learned from over-ambition and zeal, and how to embrace long-term faithfulness in ministry.

Whether you’re new to ministry or decades in, Brent’s insight will encourage and challenge you.

✨ Topics we cover:

• Resisting comparison in ministry

• Lessons from mistakes and overzealous seasons

• Practical encouragement for Next Gen leaders

• Staying faithful for the long haul

What would you tell your younger self in ministry? In this Voices from the Field episode of Beyond the Numbers, Josh talks with Justin Lucas, Student Pastor at Mercy Hill Church in North Carolina, about the lessons they’ve learned from years of ministry — the good, the hard, and the humbling.

We open up about comparison, burnout, boundaries, and the danger of letting ministry become your identity. But most importantly, Justin shares how God brings healing and redemption through the process.

If you’ve ever questioned your calling, felt worn out, or wondered if health and growth can coexist — this conversation is for you.

🎧 Listen, reflect, and take a deep breath. You’re not alone.

#HealthyMinistry #BeyondTheNumbersPodcast #YouthPastorLife #NextGenLeaders #MinistryHealth #ChurchLeadership #ChristianPodcast #LeadershipDevelopment #FaithBasedLeadership

Beyond the Numbers | Episode 9

What if you could hop in a DeLorean and give advice to your younger self in ministry? 🚗⚡️

In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, I reflect on the biggest lessons I wish I knew earlier. Ministry isn’t about chasing numbers — it’s about pursuing health:

in our souls, our families, our teams, and our churches.In this episode you’ll hear:

• The advice I’d give my younger self in ministry

• How performance-driven leadership sacrifices presence

• Why comparison robs us of shepherding well

• What it looks like to take Spirit-led risks instead of playing it safe

This conversation is for leaders who are tired, worn out, or ready to build healthier rhythms in ministry.

Question for you: If you could go back, what’s one thing you’d tell your younger self in ministry or leadership? Drop it in the comments — I’d love to hear.⸻

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on healthy ministry:https://linktr.ee/beyondthenumberpc⸻#MinistryLeadership #YouthPastor #HealthyChurch #NextGenMinistry #BeyondTheNumbersPodcast

Betrayal in ministry hurts in a way few people understand. In this episode, I share personal experiences of betrayal, manipulation, and loss—and how God has been faithful to redeem them.

We’ll explore:

• The reality of betrayal in ministry leadership

• The damage it causes to staff, volunteers, and churches

• What healthy leadership looks like instead

• Practical steps for leaders walking through hurt

• The healing and redemption God offers

If you’ve ever felt betrayed or broken in ministry, this episode is for you.

Beyond The Numbers Episode 7

In this episode, I wrestle with a tough question: are we building ministries, or are we building brands?

I share my own story of chasing views and influence, and how I had to shift back to faithfulness over follower counts. We’ll also dive into John 17 and Acts 8, where Philip left a thriving ministry to minister to just one person. It’s a powerful reminder that God’s metrics look different than ours.

This episode is for any pastor or ministry leader who feels the pressure to perform, produce, and “stay on brand.” You’ll walk away challenged to re-center on obedience, discipleship, and the people God has placed right in front of you.

Next week: “Leading Through Betrayal and Loss” — one of the most raw and personal episodes yet.

“God used my pain to reach others.”

In this episode of Voices from the Field, Josh sits down with Scott, a NextGen Pastor from Minnesota, to share how God turned a life marked by chaos, foster care, and despair into a testimony of redemption.

From battling depression and feeling unwanted, to discovering purpose and healing in Christ — Scott’s story is a reminder that no pain is wasted when placed in God’s hands.

If you’ve ever asked, “Why me, God?” or felt like your story was over, this episode will show you how God can take broken pieces and build something beautiful.

🎧 Listen now and be reminded: Your story still matters.

#ChristianPodcast #FaithAndHealing #PurposeInPain #BeyondTheNumbersPodcast #VoicesFromTheField

In this episode, I talk with Matt, Student Director at Colonial Church, about how God has met him in seasons of deep pain and loss. From being kidnapped, to losing his best friend to suicide, to carrying grief while deployed — Matt’s story is raw, honest, and full of hope.

Together we unpack how pain doesn’t have to be the end of your story but can be the place God begins something new. This conversation highlights the role of community, mentorship, and trusting God even when life doesn’t make sense.

Key Takeaways:

• Pain can be the beginning of a new story

• Questioning faith doesn’t disqualify you

• Community and mentorship are vital in healing

• God can use our struggles to help others heal

If you’ve ever carried hurt and wondered if God can use it, this episode will remind you He’s still writing your story.

How can God use this? In this episode, I open up about living with Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex—a rare skin disorder that’s brought a lifetime of physical pain. For years, I let it shape my identity… until I gave it to God and saw Him turn my wounds into a testimony.

We’ll explore what it means to:

• Let God define you, not your pain

• Lead from scars, not wounds

• See suffering as a platform, not a prison

• Believe that God can redeem what feels broken

This isn’t about glorifying pain—it’s about seeing how God can bring purpose, healing, and hope through it.

Episode 5: Is Ministry Stealing Your Family? — How to Lead Without Losing What Matters Most

What if your greatest ministry success came at the cost of your family?

In this episode, I share my own journey of learning (sometimes the hard way) how to protect my marriage, invest in my kids, and keep ministry from taking the best of me while my family gets what’s left. We’ll talk about why so many leaders unintentionally put their homes on the altar of “success,” the warning signs that ministry is stealing more than it should, and how to build healthy rhythms that honor both your calling and your family.

Whether you’re a youth pastor, next gen leader, or in any kind of ministry role, this episode will challenge you to rethink your priorities and remind you that your spouse and kids are not ministry props—they’re your first calling.