Church NXT

In this insightful episode of NXT, host Matt Garner delves into the journey of remarkable leadership with our guest, Joel Chelliah. With a rich background in ministry, Joel takes us back to his early days, revealing how he first entered the world of leadership and the path that led him to where he is today. He candidly shares the wisdom he wishes he had known when first starting out, imparting valuable knowledge to emerging leaders. In an honest discussion of strengths and weaknesses, Joel identifies his top two attributes and areas for growth, offering an introspective look at his leadership style. He further reflects on the advice he would give to his younger self, a thoughtful challenge that sparks self-improvement. A unique aspect of Joel's leadership philosophy revolves around setting boundaries. He discusses the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance, placing utmost value on his commitments to his family - his wife Sharon and their children. Joel stresses that he never lets the rigors of church administration compromise these crucial personal aspects of his life. Perhaps the most poignant moment in this episode is when Joel shares his life-altering experience of surviving a brain tumor. This near-death experience provided him with a fresh perspective, rescuing him not only from himself but also from being entangled in the dangerous worship of busyness. This episode offers profound insights for both new and seasoned leaders, emphasizing the significance of personal well-being, balanced lifestyles, and continuous self-reflection. It's a testament to Joel's resilience and a testimony of leadership that is genuinely transformative. Tune in to this episode to embark on an inspiring journey of leadership, resilience, and personal growth.

In this riveting episode of NXT, host Matt Garner invites the inspirational Roma Waterman for a deep dive into creating a prophetic life culture. Roma starts the episode by giving us an insight into her current projects, such as Heart Song and her range of online courses. Renowned for her prophetic journey, Roma illuminates her path of self-discovery and the maturation of her spiritual gifts. Through an introspective narrative, Roma shares the evolution of her prophetic abilities. Was it an innate understanding she gradually honed, or did it take an arduous effort to recognise this spiritual gift? Her years of commitment to nurturing this prophetic gifting paint an enlightening picture of spiritual growth. For those drawn to the prophetic, Roma offers her advice on the initial steps, making this episode a treasure trove of guidance for those beginning this journey. She takes us further into her personal life, detailing the creation of her prophetic culture and lifestyle, and providing listeners with a blueprint of what a life led by prophecy can look like. Given her expertise in worship and song, Roma shares valuable tips for aspiring prophetic worship leaders. Her insights are not only informative but also empowering, instilling confidence in future leaders. Roma rounds off this conversation with a powerful message to her younger self. By reflecting on her life journey, she delivers advice that she wishes she could have known earlier, offering not only a retrospective lesson but also forward-thinking guidance for listeners. Join us in this episode of NXT as Roma Waterman offers an enlightening perspective on prophecy, spiritual growth, and creating a life culture that resonates with one's divine calling. This conversation is bound to inspire anyone seeking to tread the path of prophetic living.

In this electrifying episode of the Leadership Masterclass, host Matt Garner explores the dynamic role of 'Passion' in leadership. Drawing from the biblical verse Romans 1:11, Matt emphasises that a true leader's passion is as intense and uncontrollable as a burning flame. This fiery passion drives leaders to break boundaries, invest in the well-being of others, and sacrifice personal comfort to foster collective growth. However, Matt stresses that authentic passion stems from a deeper source than just leadership books or motivational tapes - it emanates from a personal relationship with Jesus. In Luke 24:32, he illustrates how conversation and connection with Jesus can ignite a leader's passion. But how does passion manifest in our actions? Matt asserts that passion compels us to put in extra effort, distinguishing us in a world teeming with talent. He supports this idea with a study by Robert Kriegel and Louis Patler, where a staggering 100 out of 101 millionaires were found to have pursued their passions, demonstrating the remarkable impact of passion-driven focus. From here, Matt delves into five distinct ways passion influences leadership: 1. Passion produces energy - A passionate leader is propelled by the energy it generates. 2. Passion drives vision - Passion fuels the accomplishment of a leader's vision and goals. 3. Passion ignites others - Being around a passionate leader can motivate and energise others, igniting their own passions. 4. Passion raises influence - A leader's passion attracts others, boosting their influence. 5. Passion provides potential - Matt observes that a leader's passion opens new avenues of success, moving them closer to their potential. Join us in this invigorating episode as Matt Garner uncovers the dynamic power of passion, emphasising its integral role in successful leadership and its potential to unlock new horizons of personal and professional growth.

In this stirring episode, Matt Garner engages in a deep conversation with Brad, the passionate leader of Paradox Church. Brad discusses his vision, the journey to where he is now, and his contemplation about the church's future. Starting with an exploration of the ethos behind Paradox Church, Brad unpacks the meaning of its unique name and reveals his heartfelt vision for his congregation. With this understanding, he extrapolates his views to the wider Church community, articulating his predictions for the future. Turning to the calling of the Church, Brad explores what God is prompting the church to become in these times. He then identifies what he sees as the main obstacles in achieving this divine mandate, providing thoughtful analysis. Shifting focus to his personal journey, Brad walks us through his transformation as a leader and follower of Jesus. He shares the important lessons he's learned along the way, emphasizing the significant shifts in his understanding of leadership and faith. On a note of self-reflection, Brad examines things he had to unlearn in his journey, demonstrating the evolution of his spiritual understanding. In a poignant moment, he shares what advice he would give to his younger self or any young leader eager to embark on a new spiritual endeavor. The conversation wraps up with Brad confronting the most significant challenge that held him back from embracing these radical paradigms, shedding light on how he navigated his fears to step into a transformative journey. This episode offers profound insights into faith, leadership, and the evolution of the church.

In this thought-provoking episode, host Matt Garner sits down with Paul Cox, the brain behind The Church Co, to discuss a hot topic - the interplay between church and technology, with a particular focus on online presence. Paul begins by sharing his unique journey, detailing how The Church Co was born and its current status. He then delves into what he considers the greatest challenge for churches in the digital age, offering an insider's perspective on the intersection of technology and spirituality. The conversation becomes even more practical as Paul identifies the essential technological tool he believes every church should master for an effective online presence. Responding to a hypothetical situation of a church with a limited budget and scarce human resources, Paul offers tangible steps for establishing an online presence. His advice is particularly beneficial for those with little to no experience in this domain. In considering whether to employ or outsource for tech-related tasks such as website creation, Paul presents the pros and cons, allowing church leaders to make informed decisions that best suit their needs. The discussion takes an exciting turn as Paul shares his insights on the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence, contemplating how this technology could serve the church. He also evaluates the future of virtual church, discussing its potential growth in demand. In the episode's closing segment, Paul predicts some upcoming trends in the realm of church and technology, providing listeners with a glimpse into what lies ahead. Don't miss this insightful conversation on harnessing technology for the modern church.

In this enlightening episode, host Matt Garner invites Rochelle Masters, an expert in psychology and founder of Masters Psychology, to discuss a crucial but often overlooked topic: identifying and fostering a safe church culture.

From detailing her personal journey that led her to psychology, Masters shares her vision for a healthier and more supportive church environment. She provides insights into recognizing abusive or controlling leadership and unhealthy church cultures. Masters offers advice to those who may suspect they're part of such a community, providing a roadmap for identifying personal tendencies that might attract individuals to these types of environments.

A significant part of the conversation revolves around the traumatic aftermath of church hurt. Masters elaborates on practical steps one can take towards healing and recovery, focusing on the importance of self-care and seeking professional assistance when needed.

Turning the lens towards church leaders and pastors, Masters emphasizes the critical role they play in creating safe and nurturing spaces for their congregation. She addresses potential blind spots in church leadership and advises on how to uncover and address them for a more positive and inclusive church environment.

The episode concludes with a discussion on potential resources and avenues for help, emphasizing the importance of reaching out and seeking professional support when dealing with trauma and abuse. Join Matt and Rochelle in this poignant discussion on creating a safe, supportive, and healthy church culture.

In this episode is part of the Leadership Masterclass, host Matt Garner discusses the critical yet often underestimated concept of 'Focus.' Matt emphasises that our focus is one of the most potent tools we control, and its proper usage can dictate the course of our lives.

Using a compelling analogy, Matt contrasts sunlight with laser light. Despite the sun's enormous energy output, a laser - using far less energy but with concentrated focus - can cut through steel. This example beautifully illustrates how a defined focus can maximise the potential of even the smallest resources.

In leadership, directing attention is vital. Matt emphasises that the ability to focus not only shapes our actions but dictates the effectiveness of these actions. He underscores that success is directly tied to the ability and choice to concentrate efforts.

The episode takes a spiritual turn with a discussion of Hebrews 12:2. Matt encourages listeners to 'fix their focus' on their faith, mirroring the unwavering devotion described in the scripture.

Further expanding on the significance of focus, Matt delves into the idea that our destination is determined by our focus. He uses the analogy of a plane journey to demonstrate how even a tiny deviation in direction can lead to a completely different endpoint.

Shifting from the present to the future, Matt advises listeners to focus on their purpose rather than the immediate circumstances. Decisions made today, based on the 'focus of the future,' can alleviate the pain of the present.

However, Matt emphasises that focus isn't a 'set and forget' mechanism. Instead, it requires consistent attention and re-evaluation.

To summarise this episode, Matt poses a thought-provoking question to his audience: "What are you focusing on today?" Join this episode to explore the transformative power of focus and understand how it can direct your leadership journey and shape your destiny.

In this episode, Matt delves deep into a conversation with Richard Kobakian about leadership, especially in church organisations. Richard discusses his journey from his early days as a young leader with a vision in his heart to his current role in training future leaders. His primary piece of advice to young leaders is to be themselves and not to fall into the trap of attempting to be someone else to keep everyone happy.

Richard emphasises the importance of recognizing and playing to your strengths, not trying to be average at everything. In a world that applauds specialization, he advocates for leaders to focus on what they do really, really well. In his opinion, this is how God designed us, and it's essential to run in your own lane, rather than trying to be a jack-of-all-trades.

Richard also shares his experiences and strategies for church growth and leadership development. He acknowledges the early challenges, especially when there's a lack of human and financial resources. Richard stresses the value of delegation, training, and releasing people to do what they can do, allowing leaders to focus on the things only they can do. However, he cautions against abdication - just handing off tasks without providing enough guidance or outlining expectations.

The episode ends with Richard sharing his experiences of starting a church with little to no resources, and how this experience taught him the importance of training others and delegating tasks effectively. Throughout the conversation, the theme of authentic leadership and the importance of self-acceptance remain central.

In this rich and insightful episode, David Storer, a seasoned apostolic leader, shares his experiences and lessons on church growth, leadership, and delegation with host Matt Garner. They discuss the vital role of apostolic leaders in the growth of regional churches, and Storer delves into his experiences managing rapid church growth.

Storer explains that leading a rapidly growing church is like riding a tiger - thrilling but also terrifying. He recounts his challenges and how he learned to distinguish between principles and preferences in decision-making, using a compelling metaphor of outgrowing a loved pair of shoes.

They also touch on the concept of delegation and the importance of trust in leadership. Storer emphasises the significance of letting go, restructuring leadership, and allowing others to take the reins. He also discusses the struggle of not being able to know every member of his congregation as the church grew.

Storer introduces the concept of 'apostolic' leadership, explaining how this style of leadership influenced his decision to promote Kingdom growth by nurturing and releasing gifted individuals to plant new churches rather than holding onto them.

In the latter part of the episode, they delve into the birth and impact of Harvest Net, a church planting network Storer helped develop in 2003. He shares his motivation for pioneering new churches instead of focusing solely on growing his own, revealing a Kingdom-centric approach that breaks traditional church leadership paradigms.

Matt and David do a deep dive into the succession of leadership, which David did so well handing over his church.

Join us for a deep exploration of leadership styles, the necessity of change in a growing organisation, and the importance of trust and delegation in this episode with David Storer.

What is NXT all about? Join Matt Garner as he introduces NXT and the plan to learn and grow together.