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.

In this episode of Voices from the Field, I’m joined by Mark — a veteran Next Gen leader who’s done it all: youth ministry, camp ministry, suicide prevention, kids ministry, and creating resources for leaders nationwide.

Mark shares what it really takes to keep a volunteer team healthy and committed for the long haul. From why it takes two years to earn a team’s trust, to how pastoring your volunteers in both Scripture and life changes everything — his insights are a masterclass in building teams that carry the ministry with you.

If you’ve ever wondered how to inspire and equip leaders so they don’t just serve — they thrive — you don’t want to miss this one.

#NextGenMinistry #VolunteerLeadership #YouthMinistry #CampMinistry #HealthyTeams #BeyondTheNumbersPodcast #VoicesFromTheField

In this episode of Voices from the Field, I sit down with Josh Hanusheck— a younger leader who’s made the leap from youth ministry to launching and leading a thriving young adults ministry. His fresh perspective is packed with practical takeaways for building and sustaining a healthy volunteer culture in Next Gen ministry.

From creative onboarding ideas to harnessing momentum, to giving volunteers clear “on and off ramps” so they serve from a place of joy instead of burnout — Josh brings wisdom that will challenge and inspire leaders of all ages. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to re-energize your team, this conversation will give you the tools you need to lead well.

Check out Josh's Young Adult Podcast: https://linktr.ee/threestrandspodcast

#NextGenMinistry #VolunteerCulture #YouthMinistry #YoungAdultsMinistry #HealthyLeadership #BeyondTheNumbersPodcast #VoicesFromTheField

Episode 4 – What’s Killing Your Volunteer Culture?

This one’s personal.

In this episode, we’re talking about what quietly kills volunteer culture in next-gen ministry—not through scandal, but through neglect, performance pressure, and misplaced priorities.

I share the story of one of the best volunteers I ever worked with—and how the system pushed him out because he didn’t “fit the mold.” We’ll look at the red flags that leaders often miss, how to build trust with your team, and what it really means to value people over polish.

Your volunteers are not numbers.They’re not placeholders.They’re people.

Let’s create a culture where they can actually thrive.

Episode 3 – Boundaries and Burnout: Setting Guardrails Before You Break

In this episode, we’re getting honest about the boundary lines that so many ministry leaders ignore—until it’s too late.

I’m talking about the drive to be needed, the praise addiction we don’t always recognize, and the cost of constantly putting the church before your own soul, your family, and your health.

Whether you've hit the wall or you're headed toward it, this episode will help you name the red flags, reset your rhythms, and take practical steps toward a ministry life that's sustainable—not just impressive.

Let’s talk about how to lead with limits… before you burn out completely.

Ep 2. When Church Feels Like a Corporation | From Hurting Staff Culture to Healing Leadership

What happens when ministry starts to feel more like climbing the corporate ladder than following Jesus?

In this episode of Beyond the Numbers, we dive deep into the painful reality of toxic church staff culture—where metrics matter more than people, overwork is normalized, and staff are burned out, micromanaged, or just surviving.

We’ll explore:

• The difference between professional excellence and corporate coldness
• How branding, hustle, and inaccessibility can replace spiritual health
• What a healing, healthy leadership culture can actually look like
• Practical steps for pastors, staff, and congregants to shift the atmosphere

If you've ever felt unseen, overworked, or unsure whether what you're experiencing is "normal," this episode will bring both clarity and hope.

👉 Follow the conversation on Instagram: @beyondthenumberspodcast

Ep 1. Is this normal, or is this healthy

Is the way we’re doing ministry actually healthy—or just what we’ve come to accept as normal?

In this first episode of Beyond the Numbers, we unpack how many pastors and church leaders settle into rhythms that look successful on the outside but leave them exhausted, isolated, or discouraged. We’ll ask:

• What does real ministry health look like?

• How do we break out of unhealthy "normal" cycles?

• What small shifts can make a big difference?

Whether you're a ministry veteran or just starting out, this conversation will give you language, clarity, and hope for a more sustainable way forward.

👉 Connect on Instagram: @beyondthenumberspodcast

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/seize-the-day

License code: IQSMHJN1MWPMWRAY

More and more churches are being exposed for toxic leadership, burnout, and unhealthy staff culture — but is this really what ministry was meant to be?

In this short trailer, I’ll share why I created Beyond the Numbers — a podcast for pastors, leaders, and church staff who are ready to pursue health, not hype.

Episode 1 drops Sept 10th

Subscribe now and join me as we rediscover what ministry can look like beyond just the numbers.