In this episode of Dents in the Darkness, host Michael Schooley (Converge Northeast & the Northeast Collaborative) is joined by NEC President- Pastor Dan Nichols of Grace Christian Fellowship (Cortland, NY) and Justin Bleuer of Berean Bible Church for a conversation centered on the Northeast Collaborative (NEC).

Together, they reflect on key celebrations from the past season, the stories of encouragement God is writing across the Northeast, and what is coming in 2026.

This episode also unpacks the heart behind NEC—why collaboration matters, how churches are stronger together, and the long-term vision for seeing healthy, gospel-centered churches planted and strengthened throughout the region.

If this episode encouraged you, consider subscribing to Dents in the Darkness, leaving a review, and sharing it with a pastor or church leader in the Northeast.

New episodes released monthly.

In this special episode of Dents in the Darkness, we bring you a live Q&A session with Dr. Crawford Loritts from the Northeast Leaders Summit 2025.

Dr. Loritts shares wisdom on perseverance, spiritual resilience, and what it takes to be a leader who finishes well in ministry. This conversation is rich with decades of pastoral experience, honest reflections, and practical encouragement for anyone called to lead.

• Why longevity in ministry matters now more than ever

• The foundational habits that sustain pastors and leaders

• How to navigate discouragement, criticism, and seasons of doubt

• The importance of character formation over platform building

• What Crawford has learned after a lifetime of preaching, shepherding, and leading

• Encouragement for younger leaders stepping into ministry today

Dr. Crawford Loritts was the main stage speaker at NLS 2025 and is a respected pastor, speaker, and leadership mentor who ministers across the country. He is the author of numerous books, including the influential Leadership as Identity. His decades of ministry experience have shaped a powerful voice for leaders seeking to remain faithful for the long haul.

In today's episode of Dents in the Darkness, we sit down with Mike Seay, Worship Consultant at the Multiply Group, to talk about the intentional development of worship leaders.

Drawing from his experience in both local church leadership and national coaching, Mike unpacks practical strategies for identifying, equipping, and releasing worship leaders who are spiritually grounded and musically skilled.

Whether you're a lead pastor, worship pastor, or ministry leader, this conversation will give you tools to build a worship leadership pipeline that lasts.

 What You’ll Learn:

• Why developing worship leaders is more than just teaching music

• How to create a culture of spiritual formation in your worship team

• How pastors and worship leaders should partner together.

• Practical systems for mentoring and multiplying leaders

• Common mistakes churches make when building worship teams

• How Multiply Group partners with churches to raise up worship leaders

 About Our Guest:
Mike Seay serves as a Worship Consultant with the Multiply Group, helping churches across the country develop sustainable systems for worship ministry.

 Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the Multiply Group: www.multiplygroup.org

• Connect with Mike Seay on Instagram: @mikeseay

Join us for a conversation with Matta Rizkallah, founder and CEO of Manufacturing Automation Systems (MAS), as we unpack what it means to live out Business as Mission in the industrial automation space.

Matta shares how his company began not only to serve market needs but to actively engage global mission initiatives and community transformation—all from Painted Post, New York.

Key themes include:

• How to build a kingdom business.

• How MAS integrates innovation, social impact, and Christian values into its mission 

• The challenges of being a business leader.

• How the church can help business leaders in their kingdom pursuit.

• Ongoing faith-based projects: building a school in Ghana and partnering with organizations like NuVenture Nepal and Potter’s Hands Foundation Manufacturing Automation Systems LLC

This episode is ideal for mission-minded entrepreneurs, church leaders, and Christians seeking to connect their daily work with eternal purpose

• Manufacturing Automation Systems, Inc. – automation & robotics company providing engineered solutions to industries including defense, life sciences, and semiconductor manufacturing Empire State Development+1

• Books on Business as Mission - https://businessasmission.com/library/books/

If you're a pastor feeling the weight of leadership, you’re not alone. In this episode, we sit down with Pastor Derek Sanford, lead pastor of Grace Church in Erie, PA, and founder of the Grace Leadership Institute, to talk about leadership.

Derek shares practical, time-tested wisdom on multiplying leaders, creating healthy team dynamics, and leading for the long haul without burning out. This episode is packed with insight for pastors looking to build sustainable leadership structures, raise up others, and stay faithful over decades—not just seasons.

 In This Episode: 

• Why teams matter (and how to build one)

• Building Leadership Longevity.

• How to identify, develop, and deploy emerging leaders

• Strategies for longevity in ministry and avoiding burnout

• The role of vulnerability and humility in healthy leadership

  
  

  Derek’s book: ⁠Untapped Church: Discovering the Hidden Potential of Ordinary People in Your Church

• Sign up for the Northeast Leadership Summit

   
  

In this episode of Dents in the Darkness, we talk with Pastor Stephen Hay, Vice President of Church Health with Anago Partners—an organization dedicated to helping churches flourish.

Stephen shares practical and spiritual insight on how churches can move from where they are to where God is calling them: places of vitality, health, and kingdom impact. Whether your church is stuck, struggling, or seeking greater clarity, this conversation offers hope and a roadmap forward.

What You’ll Learn:

• What it means for a church to flourish

• How to move from survival to Kingdom effectiveness

• The common challenges in church health and renewal

• How Anago Partners comes alongside pastors and leaders

• A powerful resource: Leading Change—a guide to help churches navigate transition and growth intentionally

In this episode of Dents in the Darkness, we sit down with Matthew Wilson from Compassion International to explore how this powerful ministry is changing the lives of children and families around the globe.

You’ll hear the heart behind Compassion’s mission to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name, and how the organization partners with local churches to provide not only physical needs like food, healthcare, and safety—but also spiritual hope through the gospel.

Whether you're a church leader, a sponsor, or just curious about how you can make a difference, this conversation will stir your heart and expand your vision for Kingdom impact.

What You’ll Learn:

• The story and mission of Compassion International

• Why partnering with local churches is key to sustainable transformation

• How Compassion supports the mind, body, and soul of each child

• Real stories of children going from surviving to thriving

• A sneak peek into our upcoming trip to El Salvador!

Covid changed a lot of things including in person worship. There is a place for online worship but in this conversation we talk about the theological and spiritual good of gathering in person rather than just online.  Jonathan Griffiths is a Lead Pastor in Ottawa, Canada and also a writer.  He wrote the book "Gathered for Good: God's Good Design for the Local Church". A great conversation on the importance of the local church.

Quebec is one of the most unchurched, unreached areas in North America. Jacob Matthieu is a church planter and now Director of Development for SEMBEQ.

In this podcast we talk about MULTIPLICATION. How do you reach those who are a couple generations away from any knowledge of Christianity. Why starting new churches, developing leaders is critical to seeing God move in Quebec.  We need others to grab on to a vision of MULTIPLICATION as Jacob has for Quebec.  

In this podcast, we talk with Mac Lake with Multiply Group. Mac has written multiple books on develop leaders at different levels of the church. From the Multiplication Effect which talks about a leadership pipeline to his latest book Leading Yourself. In this podcast we talk through helping your church develop a leadership pipeline.  How are you doing developing Leaders?