Faithly Podcast

Today on the Faithly Podcast, Alicia Lee is joined by Terry Mertink, Senior Assistant to the President at Focus on the Family, to discuss the many aspects of leaving a successful corporate career to pursue a calling in Christian ministry.

After 20 years in the technology industry with companies including Applied Materials and Dell, Terry began sensing that God might be leading him toward work with greater Kingdom impact. He shares the process that eventually brought him to Focus on the Family, including the financial realities of changing careers, the importance of having his wife’s support, and why frustration with your current job is not enough reason to make a major transition.

Terry also offers honest insight into the realities of ministry life, from the emotional weight of serving people to the importance of humility, prayer, and discernment. For anyone wondering whether God may be calling them out of the corporate world and into ministry, Terry encourages them to slow down and seek wise counsel, and to trust God to open—or close—the right doors.

Website: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/

00:00 Introduction: When God Calls You From Corporate to Ministry
01:47 Two Decades in High Tech: From Clean Rooms to Data Centers
04:24 The Growing Sense of Calling: Success Versus Significance
07:39 The God Incident: When a Job Posting Stayed Open for Six Months
10:53 What is Focus on the Family? Five Pillars of Ministry
14:34 Relationship Management: Connecting Donors and Making Kingdom Impact
15:54 The Biggest Fear: Leaving Behind Bonuses, Stock, and Salary
17:40 When Friends Don't Understand: The Cost of Following God's Call
20:14 What No One Told Me: Ministry Work is Harder Than Corporate
23:37 The Myth of Ministry: It's Not All Kumbaya
25:10 The Most Rewarding Part: God Shows Up Every Single Time
29:21 A Prayer That Changed Everything: Lord, Close the Doors
31:34 Do Your Homework: What You See Outside Should Match What's Inside
33:11 What I Miss: The Art of the Deal and Corporate Bonuses
35:04 Leadership Lessons: Business Principles in Ministry
38:08 What I've Learned: Relying on God More and Letting Him Lead
39:19 The Spouse Question: Never Make a Decision Without Alignment
41:01 Who Should Think Twice: Unhealthy Reasons to Pursue Ministry
43:48 Humble, Hungry, and Smart: The Focus on the Family Hiring Philosophy
45:17 Advice for Those Feeling Stuck: Pray, Listen, and Close the Doors
47:19 Final Thoughts: Be Prepared for the Enemy and Trust God's Plan

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In this week’s episode of the Faithly Podcast, Alicia Lee and special co-host Rev. Elliott Johnson welcome Bishop Claude Richard Alexander, Jr., Senior Pastor of The Park Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, for a rich conversation about longevity, leadership, and what more than three decades of pastoral ministry have taught him about serving faithfully.

Bishop Alexander reflects on becoming a senior pastor at just 26 years old and the pressure he initially felt to prove himself. Over time, he learned that ministry was less about proving and more about pursuing the will of God, trusting His timing as he cared for the people entrusted to him. He shares the practices that have sustained him through seasons of growth, disappointment, loss, and change, including Sabbath, strong relationships, spiritual rhythms, and learning to distinguish between an unchanging message and adaptable methods.

Together, Alicia, Rev. EJ, and Bishop Alexander go on to explore the pressures facing today’s ministry leaders, from the expectation to always be “on” to the temptation to measure influence through followers and visibility. Bishop Alexander encourages pastors to protect their health and closest relationships while remaining rooted in the Gospel, giving themselves both grace and space as they pursue a life of faithful, lasting ministry.

Website: https://theparkministries.org/

00:00 Introduction: Life Was Not Designed for Us to Be Always On
01:34 The Unlikely Call: A 26-Year-Old Pastor for a Wounded Church
04:19 Learning to Lead: Caring for People Above All Else
07:40 You Have Nothing to Prove: The Lesson That Changed Everything
10:31 The Pursuit That Leads to Longevity: Trusting God With the Outcome
13:39 Sabbath, Disney World, and Devotion: Practices That Sustain
15:20 Godly Surprises: When God Orchestrates the Unplanned
18:53 Standing Firm and Staying Flexible: Doctrine Versus Modality
22:33 What Separates Leaders Who Finish Well: Curiosity, Identity, and Playing Well With Others
26:07 The Moses Model: When Ministry Feels More Like 40 Years Than 3
31:57 Opening Your Hands: Raising Up Leaders and Sharing Authority
34:51 Where Pastors Are Vulnerable Today: The Pressure to Always Be On
39:55 Emerging Leaders Who Inspire: Marcus Cosby, Nicole Martin, and Walter Thomas Jr.
43:16 The Church's Responsibility to the City: Salt, Light, and Redemptive Service
47:56 The Joyous Burden of 2033: A Unique Window for Unity
52:58 Pay Attention to Yourself, Your Spouse, Your Children: Final Wisdom for Faithful Longevity

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Join Alicia Lee in this episode of the Faithly Podcast as she sits down with Jef Fite, Founder of CoreC Leadership, to discuss healthy leadership and why spiritual formation alone does not automatically prepare someone to lead an organization well.

Drawing from nearly four decades of leadership experience across various companies, Jef explains why leadership should be treated as a craft that requires intentional formation and practice. He introduces the CoreC Leadership Framework, beginning with calling and moving through caring, character, competence, clarity, culture, and coalescence.

Together, Alicia and Jef explore common warning signs of leadership problems in churches, from exhausted pastors and unclear responsibilities to slow decision-making and recurring conflict. Jef encourages pastors not to view leadership gaps as failures, but as invitations to keep growing, reminding them that faithfully stewarding their calling also means developing the skills needed to lead people well.

Website: https://corecleadership.com

00:00 Introduction: When Leadership Challenges Disguise Themselves as Something Else
01:15 Jef's Faith Story: From Two Weeks Old in the Nursery to Family Legacy
03:50 Four Decades in Corporate Leadership: From Steamroller to Servant
07:55 The Heart Behind Core C Leadership: Why Pastors Need Leadership Formation
10:04 From Retirement to Calling: How Core C Leadership Was Born
14:52 Spiritual Growth Isn't Leadership Growth: Why Formation Matters
17:49 Identity Before Activity: Why Leadership Must Start With Who You Are
21:48 The Seven Core Cs: A Framework for Healthy Church Leadership
26:08 Warning Signs: How Pastors Can Recognize Leadership Challenges
29:41 Growth Pains: When Success Exposes Leadership Weaknesses
31:58 Good People, Bad Systems: Solving Clarity and Alignment Problems
34:53 The Invitation: Why Senior Pastors Don't Have to Know It All

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This week on the Faithly Podcast, Alicia Lee welcomes Brendan McClenahan, Church Engagement Manager at Plant With Purpose and one of the creators of TEND, for a thoughtful conversation about discipleship and creation care, diving into what it looks like for churches to build deeper relationships with God and the world around them.

Brendan shares how TEND grew out of lessons Plant With Purpose has learned through its global work and explains why creation care is not simply a political issue, but a deeply biblical one. He challenges Christians to see their neighbors as image bearers and potential partners, sharing how simple practices like composting, community gardening, shared meals and prayer can create genuine opportunities for connection and spiritual growth.

Together, Alicia and Brendan explore how churches can move beyond separating discipleship from outreach and instead learn to live the Gospel alongside their neighbors in everyday life. Through stories from TEND communities, Brendan offers a practical vision for ministry that is relational, decentralized, and rooted in a shared mission: helping people grow in faith while participating in the restorative work God is already doing around them.

Website: https://tendlife.org/

00:00 Introduction: Creation Care Across the Political Spectrum
01:24 Brendan's Journey: From Music to Ministry to Plant With Purpose
04:41 What is Plant With Purpose? Transforming Lives Through Regenerative Agriculture
06:38 The Birth of TEND: Bringing Plant With Purpose's Model to the U.S.
07:33 Three Broken Relationships: God, Neighbors, and Earth
09:45 How TEND Works: A 10-Week Journey of Discipleship and Outreach
12:31 Partners, Not Projects: Seeing Neighbors as Image Bearers
17:28 Is Creation Care Political? A Biblical Perspective
24:46 The Compost Story: When Neighbors Say Yes
30:51 From Compost to Christ: A Family's Journey to Faith
33:23 Reuniting Discipleship and Mission: The Tiny Gospel Problem
38:32 A Vision for Pastors: Getting Back to Coffee and Prayer
43:14 Next Steps: How to Get Started With TEND

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In this episode of the Faithly Podcast, Alicia Lee is joined by Pastor Justin Buzzard, Lead Pastor of Garden City Church in Silicon Valley and author of Date Your Wife and The Big Story, for an energizing discussion about what it means to stop playing small with your life.

Justin reflects on planting Garden City Church with just a few people and limited resources, noting the importance of staying faithful through both growth and difficult seasons, and why pastors and men especially need strong, genuine friendships. He also shares the unexpected story behind him making a college football team at age 47, decades after an injury ended his first opportunity to play, and how the experience is teaching him about discipline and perseverance, as well as trusting God through adversity.

Throughout their conversation, Alicia and Justin explore biblical masculinity and the belief that many men hold back from fully using the gifts and influence God has entrusted to them. Rather than allowing fear or past disappointment to define the future, Justin encourages listeners to pay attention to God-given desires and take meaningful risks, while trusting that God is bigger than the challenges standing in their way.

Website: https://www.justinbuzzard.net/

00:00 Introduction: Chasing Good Desires with All Your Heart
00:52 From Instagram Reel to College Football: The Unexpected Call
01:08 The Power of Long-Game Friendship: 15 Years of Emails
05:12 A Mom Who Pulled Over: The Star Wars Salvation Story
06:56 Falling in Love with the Local Church in College
08:11 Silicon Valley: Seventh Generation California and the Call to Influence
12:00 Three People, Three Thousand Dollars: The Garden City Church Plant
14:07 Fifteen Years of Ups and Downs: COVID, Church Sends, and a Seven Million Dollar Gift
16:33 Playing the Long Game: Why Pastors Need to Stay
18:18 Bruised, Sore, and All In: The Reality of Football at 47
23:47 Be a Man: The 21 Marks of Biblical Masculinity
27:00 Raising Three Sons in Silicon Valley: Desire, Discipleship, and Public School
28:54 Stop Playing Small: What It Means to Be a Godly Man Today
31:05 Area of Influence: Know It and Grow It

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Today on the Faithly Podcast, Alicia Lee welcomes Melissa Paredes, Senior Director of Content Marketing at Wycliffe Bible Translators USA, for a meaningful conversation about Bible translation, motherhood, and the life-changing power of Scripture.

Melissa shares how growing up as a Wycliffe missionary kid in the Philippines eventually led her into work telling the stories of what God is doing through Bible translation around the world. She explains why translation is ultimately about helping people encounter Scripture in the language they think, dream, and pray in, and reflects on witnessing a full Bible dedication that took 66 years to complete.

Their conversation becomes deeply personal as Melissa shares how God’s Word became her anchor while navigating her son Rory’s developmental challenges through seasons of uncertainty and grief. Through it all, Melissa shares how she learned to trust God more deeply and to see both motherhood and ministry as callings to steward rather than control.

Website: https://www.wycliffe.org/

00:00 Introduction: The Passion Behind Bible Translation Work
00:26 Bringing God's Word to Every Language: Wycliffe's Mission
01:17 More Than Marketing: Storytelling God's Global Work
02:15 Five Ways to Participate: From Prayer to Service
07:05 Why Bible Translation Matters: Understanding the Need
09:55 Bible Dedications: Celebrating 66 Years of Faithful Work
14:56 When Motherhood Didn't Go as Planned: Rory's Diagnosis
19:05 Every Word a Victory: Rory's Journey with Apraxia and Autism
21:42 Baptism at Seven: When a Child Overcomes Fear for Jesus
32:13 Clinging to the Rock: Scripture as an Anchor in the Storm
36:33 The Unexpected Gift: Loss, Transition, and Choosing Family
38:06 From Personal Pain to Global Passion: How Rory's Story Fuels the Mission
39:00 A Once-in-History Moment: Why Now Matters for Bible Translation
42:29 The Next Generation: Raising Kids Who Own Their Faith
45:56 Beyond Your Borders: Teaching Kids About the Global Church

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In this week’s episode of the Faithly Podcast, Alicia Lee welcomes Greg Stier, Founder and Visionary of Dare 2 Share Ministries, for an inspiring conversation about evangelism and discipleship, uncovering why teenagers should be viewed not simply as the next generation of the Church, but as an essential part of the Church today.

Greg shares how the Gospel radically transformed his violent inner-city family and ultimately shaped his own calling to preach and equip others to share their faith. After witnessing firsthand what could happen when teenagers were trained to reach their friends for Christ, Greg founded Dare 2 Share with a vision to see every teen, everywhere, hear the Gospel from a friend. He reflects on more than three decades of ministry, the impact of the Columbine tragedy on his sense of urgency, and why young people can become powerful disciple-makers when the Church equips and trusts them.

Throughout their conversation, Alicia and Greg explore why inviting someone to church is valuable but cannot replace personally sharing the Gospel in everyday life. Greg offers practical tools for beginning spiritual conversations, including his “ask, admire, admit” approach, and challenges believers to make evangelism part of their normal rhythm rather than an occasional activity. Ultimately, he encourages church leaders to stop underestimating teenagers and empower them instead.

Website: https://www.dare2share.org/

00:00 Introduction: The Power of a Violent Family Transformed by the Gospel
01:20 Growing Up with the Crazy Brothers: A Childhood of Violence and Fear
03:10 Yankee the Hillbilly Preacher: When the Gospel Came Knocking
04:20 From Street Fighter to Street Preacher: Uncle Jack's Radical Transformation
08:51 An Eight-Year-Old's Faith: When the Gospel Finally Made Sense
10:16 Called to Preach at Fifteen: Giving the Gospel at Grandpa's Funeral
11:23 The Birth of Dare to Share: Learning from a Youth Ministry of 800 Teenagers
12:38 Jesus Was a Youth Leader: The Biblical Case for Empowering Teens
15:39 From Local to Global: 35 Years of Mobilizing Teenagers to Share the Gospel
17:42 Columbine and the Call to Full-Time Ministry: When All Hell Broke Loose
19:36 The Church's Biggest Evangelism Problem: Come and See vs. Go and Tell
24:16 The Four A's of Evangelism: Ask, Admire, Admit, and Awkward is Awesome
27:01 The Gospel Acrostic: A Simple Framework for Sharing Your Faith
27:59 What Teenagers Teach Us: Don't Overthink It, Just Share
31:28 Leadership Lessons: Prayer, Finding Your Integrator, and Staying Focused
36:13 Half Monk, Half Missionary: What Makes a Healthy Youth Pastor
38:44 Writing Through Trauma: The Painful Process of Unlikely Fighter
41:24 The Now Generation: Why Teenagers Aren't the Church of Tomorrow

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Today on the podcast, Alicia Lee and special co-host Rev. Elliot Johnson welcome Pastor Keith Odom, Director of Technology for the Church of God in Christ, Lead Pastor of The Place of Grace Church, and Founder and CEO of Axtegrity Consulting, for a pertinent conversation about AI and the future of technology in the Church.

Keith shares how his lifelong interests in both ministry and technology eventually converged through a career that included work at the renowned MIT Media Lab and now allows him to help churches navigate an increasingly digital world. Drawing from his experience as both a pastor and technology leader, he explains why churches should view technology as a tool that can support the delivery of the gospel rather than something to fear. From AI-powered language translation and accessibility tools to sermon content, discipleship resources, and digital outreach, Keith explores practical ways emerging technology can expand what churches of every size are able to accomplish.

Together, Alicia, Rev. EJ, and Keith also address the very real risks surrounding AI, including deepfakes, misinformation, and the need for churches to become educated rather than simply reactive. Keith challenges Christian leaders to bring technology experts already sitting in their congregations to the table and to develop intentional technology ministries that support the broader mission of the church.

Websites: https://www.keithlodom.io/ and https://www.churchandtechnology.com/

00:00 Introduction: When MIT Media Labs Meets Ministry
01:31 Called to Build: From Childhood Churches to Construction Management
03:03 The Pastor-Technologist Perspective: Leading a Local Church
07:28 From Excel Expert to MIT Media Lab: The Technology Journey
11:04 The TGI Fridays Conversation: Becoming Director of Technology for COGIC
17:09 The Church's Biggest Technology Mistake: Demonizing What We Don't Understand
20:09 Is AI Really the Devil? A Biblical and Practical Perspective
21:21 AI Accelerating the Great Commission: 196 Languages in Real Time
23:34 The Pitfalls and Concerns: Deepfakes, Digital Deception, and Discipleship
26:59 Digital Transformation: Leveling the Playing Field for Small Churches
31:48 The Next Five Years: Keeping the Human Touch in an AI World
33:58 The Antichrist and the Last Days: Technology in End Times
37:01 Church and Technology Summit: An Immersive Experience
43:21 The Tech Town Hall: Building Systems Before Demand Requires It
45:34 A Word of Encouragement: Establish a Ministry of Technology

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Today on the Faithly Podcast, Alicia Lee and special co-host Rev. Elliot Johnson welcome Dr. Kimberly Nash Alexander, Founder of Deeper Roots SoulCare, spiritual director, ministry leader, and longtime pastor’s wife, for a thoughtful conversation about spiritual formation and learning to trust God through every season of life.

Dr. Alexander reflects on the experiences that shaped her faith, from her early years in Catholic school to a career in speech-language pathology, where she first began developing the deep listening skills that now inform her work as a spiritual director. She shares how God taught her to resist the pressure to follow a traditional career timeline and instead pay attention to the specific season He had placed her in. Whether raising her daughters, supporting her husband in pastoral ministry, or eventually stepping fully into her own calling, Dr. Alexander explains why no season is wasted when we remain attentive to what God is doing in us.

As their conversation continues, Alicia, Rev. EJ, and Dr. Alexander explore the unseen pressures of ministry and the importance of healthy community, before discussing the necessity of creating space for leaders and volunteers to rest. Dr. Alexander challenges the idea that our worth is tied to how much we accomplish, reminding listeners that serving God should flow from relationship with Him rather than constant striving. Through her work with Deeper Roots SoulCare, she encourages Christian leaders to slow down and listen deeply, rooting their identity in Christ so they can become who God is forming them to be, rather than simply doing more.

Website: https://www.deeperrootssoulcare.com/

00:00 Introduction: Taking a Break to Be With God
01:36 Kim Nash: The Contemplative Kid Who Asked Too Many Questions
06:23 From Wanting to Be a Nun to Speech Pathology
08:43 Trusting God's Timing Through Life's Seasons
11:25 The Call to Empower Women: When God Said It's Discipleship
13:41 The Green Leaf Moment: Releasing What's Alive to Follow God
15:06 Life as a Pastor's Wife: Intercession, Identity, and Making Home a Refuge
19:58 The Hidden Burdens: Loneliness, Grief, and Spiritual Warfare in Ministry
25:54 Sabbatical as Love: How Churches Can Care for Their Leaders
29:34 Accountability Partners and the Sacred Slow: Structuring Spiritual Growth
36:12 Deeper Roots Soul Care: Moving From Busy for God to Being With God
46:36 You Are Enough: A Word for Women in Leadership Today

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This week, Alicia Lee and special co-host Rev. Elliot Johnson welcome Rev. John Edward Cager, Presiding Elder of the Midwest North District of the AME Church, for a candid conversation about pastoral leadership, church growth, and what becomes possible when churches move from a mindset of “I” to “we”.

Rev. Cager reflects on initially resisting God’s call to ministry and the journey that eventually led him into more than three decades of service. Drawing from 25 years as a pastor and his current work mentoring and supporting pastors across his district, he explains why being called to ministry does not necessarily mean being called to the pastorate, and why success in ministry should never be measured by someone else’s platform. Whether serving three people or 3,000, he encourages Christian leaders to focus on the specific gifts, responsibilities, and assignment God has placed before them.

Throughout their conversation, Alicia, Rev. EJ, and Rev. Cager explore the importance of authenticity and integrity in Christian leadership, as well as the vision and flexibility churches need to meet the challenges of a changing world. From finding creative approaches to church finances and embracing technology to better connect with congregations, to drawing on the gifts already present within the pews, Rev. Cager challenges pastors to think beyond traditional models of ministry. Ultimately, he makes the case for greater collaboration across churches and denominations, reminding leaders that when we move beyond competition and work together for Jesus Christ, we expand our capacity to build the Kingdom.

Website: https://www.amec-midwestnorthdistrict.com/

00:00 Introduction: The Unique Perspective of a Denominational Leader
02:02 The Calling: From Resistance to Surrender
05:52 The Role of a Presiding Elder: Coaching, Mentoring, and Discernment
15:08 Authenticity and Integrity: The Foundation of Kingdom Building
21:13 What Makes Churches Work: Vision, Flexibility, and Spiritual Discernment
22:19 The Financial Reality: Multiple Revenue Streams for Ministry
26:11 Cultural Traditions vs. Biblical Mandates: Letting Go to Grow
30:26 Creative Ministry Models: From Fish Fries to Healthcare Clinics
36:06 The First Step: Possibility Meetings and Unleashing Congregational Talent
42:15 Technology as the New Lifeline: Staying Connected in a Digital Age
48:46 From I to We: The Power of Collaboration and the Federal Security Grant Story

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