In this episode of the Faithly Podcast, Pastor Adam Durso sits down with longtime friend Pastor Dan Underhill for a heartfelt conversation about spiritual obedience, leadership under pressure, and the kind of friendships that breathe life into your soul.

Pastor Dan opens up about the years-long journey that led to the launch of Cornerstone Church ATX, sharing how a word from God demanded not just action, but patience and submission. Together, Pastor Adam and Pastor Dan reflect on what gets revealed in seasons of pressure and why honoring leadership is a test of our own character, before diving into what it means to build a church marked by depth, diversity, and discipleship. Pastor Dan also unpacks the heart behind his Passion and Pursuit message—an invitation to live with integrity, to love God wholeheartedly and walk in real spiritual power.

Whether you’re discerning a calling, wrestling with timing, or simply in need of encouragement for the long road of leadership, this episode serves as a reminder that God’s promises are worth the wait, and that friendship forms a vital part of the fuel that sustains us.

Website: https://ccatx.com/

(00:00) A 25 Year Friendship Built in Ministry
(04:40) How to Lead Well When You Feel Squeezed
(09:25) The Call to Plant and the Long Road of Integrity
(14:30) Planting in Faith and Watching God Provide
(17:40) Building a Church for Generations and Living with Passion and Pursuit

Today on the Faithly Podcast, Alicia Lee is joined by Kate Trammell—Senior Vice President at Prison Fellowship—to trace her journey from Virginia magistrate to national justice advocate.

Raised in the local church and trained in law, Kate shares how her frontline experience in the courtroom stirred a deeper desire to pursue justice that restores rather than simply punishes. Now leading Prison Fellowship’s advocacy, legal, and research efforts, she unpacks the realities of incarceration, sharing the ripple effects on families and churches and explaining why this work is both deeply personal and deeply spiritual.

From policy change to personal redemption, Kate offers a vision of hope rooted in Scripture and propelled through action. We invite you to tune in as we explore how earthly justice can be re-imagined in the light of the Lord’s saving grace.

Website: https://www.prisonfellowship.org

(00:00) An Ordinary Faith Shaped by Church and Community
(05:45) Confronting the Limits of Justice Behind the Glass
(10:30) What Justice That Restores Really Means
(15:45) Navigating Political Tension with a Long View of Hope
(20:10) Sustaining Faithfulness in Work, Family, and Calling

In this episode of the Faithly Podcast, Alicia Lee is joined by Joshua James, Executive Director of Likewise Worship—a ministry committed to serving worship leaders for the long haul—for a conversation about what it really takes to sustain healthy leadership in today’s church.

Josh shares the origin story of Likewise Worship, born from founder Justin Unger’s desire to develop young leaders. What began as training and coaching soon deepened into a soul care mission, as they encountered increasing stories of burnout, isolation, and leaders quietly stepping away from ministry. From personal stories to practical tools like the Worship Leader Health Check, Josh offers insight into the unique pressures worship leaders face—from platform-driven culture to the demands of bi-vocational life—and how churches can create communities where leaders are not only empowered to serve, but fully supported and deeply seen.

Website: https://www.likewiseworship.com/

(00:00) A Hunger for Belonging and Authenticity
(05:29) Scaling Without Losing the Local Church and Relationships
(11:10) How Culture Shapes Community Across Different Cities
(16:59) Defining Burnout and Why Worship Leaders Feel Stuck
(22:00) Three Marks of a Healthy Leader
(31:08) Building Trust, Offering Care, and Knowing When to Refer Out
(37:58) Supporting Bi-vocational and Volunteer Worship Leaders
(43:13) Hope for the Church

Follow us on social media:

Website: https://faithly.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/
X: https://x.com/faithlyco

Welcome to Season 2 of the Faithly Podcast. In this premiere episode, host Alicia Lee is joined by Pastor Steve Milazzo—Lead Pastor of Bethlehem Assembly of God and President of the Hope Day Network—to explore the powerful story behind Hope Day, a nationwide movement reshaping how churches serve their communities.

What began 15 years ago as a unified outreach in Hempstead and Uniondale has grown into a model for transformational compassion and collaboration. Pastor Steve recounts how a burden God placed on his heart as a teenager, to help people experience God’s love in tangible, practical ways, ignited a movement that has since served over 195,000 people.

Together, they walk through the evolution of Hope Day, from its roots as a single event to a decentralized network of churches hosting community-tailored outreaches across the country, outlining what makes each Hope Day so unique. Pastor Steve closes with a vision for what’s ahead, including the upcoming February 7 launch and how ministry leaders and churches can encounter new ways to connect through the Hope Day Network.

Website: https://www.hopedaynetwork.org/new/

(00:00) Obedience Before Outcomes: Trusting God with the Growth
(03:10) The First Hope Day
(07:09) What Hope Day Looks Like Today
(10:14) The Event Experience
(13:19) Growth and Expansion
(16:37) What the Network Provides
(24:51) From Despair to Hope Through Hope Day
(33:01) Discipleship, Unity, and Letting God Lead the Growth

Follow us on social media:

Website: https://faithly.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/
X: https://x.com/faithlyco

In this final episode of our Voices from the Masterclass special series, Pastor Adam Durso is joined by Dr. Mark Labberton and Bishop Kenneth Ulmer for a candid and compelling conversation on leadership, worship, and the quiet weight of longevity in ministry.

Pastor Adam asks what it takes to sustain leadership over decades. Both guests agree: it’s not just anointing or skill that matters, but fruit—character, humility, and relational integrity. Dr. Labberton and Bishop Ulmer challenge the model of the isolated, burned-out leader and offer something better: space for vulnerability, mentorship, and intentional friendship. 

In a powerful and emotional turn, Bishop Ulmer opens up about the disorientation of transition, sharing what it feels like to step away from the pulpit after 41 years and adjust to a new rhythm of identity and purpose. Dr. Labberton shares how staying connected to younger leaders has kept him grounded and surprisingly useful in this next chapter of his ministry journey.

Their in-depth discussion crescendos with a shared plea for real friendship: the kind where you can share both your best and worst moments with the same person, acknowledging that while loneliness is common in ministry, it isn’t inevitable.

(02:12) Why Preaching Masterclass feels “weighty”
(09:17) The missing ingredient 
(11:14) The Brehm Center story:
(14:33) Ulmer on transition after stepping aside 
(20:36) Longevity in ministry 
(27:18) The danger of being untouchable
(33:18) The threat of honesty 

Follow us on social media:

Website: https://faithly.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/
X: https://x.com/faithlyco

Recorded live at the Preaching Masterclass, today’s Voices from the Masterclass episode features a powerful conversation between Pastor Adam Durso, Pastor Joe Valenzuela and World Vision’s Christine Hayworth—centering on spiritual renewal and what it means to embody the gospel in both word and deed.

Christine shares her personal journey of walking away from God in search of “freedom”, only to find true purpose in surrender, a journey that ultimately led her to her calling: to serve vulnerable children and communities around the world. Pastor Joe brings a local pastor’s perspective to the discussion, echoing the need for authenticity and emotional honesty in leadership.

Together, the group explores the work of World Vision and how they partner with communities around the world, diving into Christine’s transformative trip to Eswatini and the impact of programs like the innovative Chosen program. As Adam shares his own powerful experience in Eswatini, the conversation becomes a shared invitation to our listeners: you don’t have to do everything, but you can do something and that something can change lives.

(02:45) Why this conference feels different
(06:40) Christine’s story
(13:10) From storytelling to leadership
(16:50) Gospel credibility through meeting real needs
(23:58) Eswatini impact stats
(30:49) Send the Word

Websites: https://www.christinehayworthwv.com/ and  https://www.activechurches.com/

In this powerful episode of Voices from the Masterclass, recorded live at Preaching Masterclass 2025, host Pastor Adam Durso is joined by guests Aaron Lindsey and Dr. Judith McAllister for a deep and timely conversation about worship leadership, trust, and spiritual authority within ministry.

They explore how effective worship doesn’t start on the platform, it starts  in relationship. Drawing from decades of ministry, Dr. McAllister shares wisdom on the importance of relational equity between pastors and worship leaders, forged offstage through mutual trust and shared life. Aaron Lindsey offers insight from both sides of the platform, speaking candidly about his shift from global worship leader to senior pastor.

The conversation flows from mentorship and spiritual formation to the enduring power of hymns as doctrinal anchors across generations. With practical reflections and prophetic wisdom, this episode calls worship leaders back to the source: the revelation of Jesus Christ.

(00:02) Next-gen leadership, humility, rest, listening first
(05:10) Worship moment at Masterclass
(11:10) Why pastors’ presence in worship matters
(21:00) Building trust with musicians
(28:10) Hymns, doctrine, and building a multi-generational bridge

Websites: https://www.neverendingworship.org/ and https://app.believela.org/home/

Follow us on social media:

Website: https://faithly.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/
X: https://x.com/faithlyco

In this episode of Voices from the Masterclass, Pastor Adam Durso sits down with Dr. Dharius Daniels and Pastor Judah Smith to explore what makes this gathering so spiritually weighty, and why leaders today must rethink how they approach the calling to ministry.

Perhaps the most important part of the conversation is their honest exploration of how easily leaders drift from intimacy with Jesus into professional performance. Pastor Judah reflects on the danger of performative humility and the invitation to stop producing long enough to truly receive from God. Pastor Dharius shares a framework for recovery, emphasizing the difference between replenishment and returning: not just filling your tank, but actively retracing your steps back to spiritual alignment.

The conversation lands on the necessity of pre-emptive margin. In a culture that rewards hustle, the pastors challenge their fellow leaders to reclaim rest, even when it looks “unspiritual,’ and offer listeners a powerful reminder: your value to God is never based on your output, but on the truth that He is your Father, not your coach.

(00:02) Next-gen voice, change, humility and rest
(07:40) Presence with God and staying grounded while busy
(14:34) Leadership culture that resists rest
(23:28) Sabbath takes faith
(34:06) God is Father, not coach

Websites: https://www.churchome.org/ and https://dhariusdaniels.com/ 

Follow us on social media:

Website: https://faithly.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/
X: https://x.com/faithlyco

In this episode of Voices from the Masterclass, Pastor Adam Durso is joined by guests Pastor Dan Underhill and Pastor Brandon Clack for a raw and timely conversation on the calling to leadership.

Together, they explore why the next generation of leaders needs more than just a microphone—they need space to grow and authentically encounter God for themselves within their leadership. Pastor Brandon offers an inside look at what makes Masterclass so unique, going beyond the incredible preaching and unpacking the mindset and spiritual discipline behind the pulpit, making room for the Holy Spirit to work in tandem with preparation.

They go on to cover Pastor Brandon’s personal journey of navigating a major ministry move, including how he and his wife discerned the calling together with patience and humility. As the conversation deepens further, the pastors address the pressure leaders feel to perform, the trap of chasing applause, and the quiet dangers of envy and self-importance.

(00:02) Let the next generation speak
(06:34) Why 2026 has to be on your calendar
(14:45) Assurance vs striving; applause addiction
(19:19) Scarcity mentality vs Kingdom abundance
(24:08) The “Messiah complex” and honest leadership
(27:38) Closing charge: keep motives clean

Websites: https://www.brandonclack.org/ and https://ccatx.com/

Follow us on social media:

Website: https://faithly.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/
X: https://x.com/faithlyco

In this second episode of Voices from the Masterclass, recorded live at the Preaching Masterclass 2025, Rev. Adam Durso sits down with Dr. Bryan Loritts and Pastor Ricky Jenkins to unpack the soul of leadership, where spiritual calling and personal health converge with God-honoring vision.

Dr. Loritts challenges pastors to wrestle with a pivotal question: Is this a job, or is this a calling? He explores how abiding in Christ must be the foundation of any fruitful ministry. Pastor Ricky brings his own hard-won wisdom to the table, illustrating how both Spirit-led sensitivity and organizational structure are vital for sustainable, transformative leadership.

Together with Pastor Adam, these influential leaders explore the need for intentional pruning to pursue God’s mission over busyness and the importance of investing in emerging leaders, all while navigating the challenges of nurturing their personal emotional, physical, and spiritual health in the interest of fuelling long-term ministry.

(00:01) Leadership and Ministry Dynamics
(09:32) Leading Change and Pruning for Growth
(17:48) Crafting Authentic Transcendent Preaching Experiences
(27:32) Leadership Health and Community Building
(34:31) Empowering Church Leaders Through Faithly

Websites: https://southwestchurch.com/ and https://bryanloritts.com/

Follow us on social media:

Website: https://faithly.co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/
X: https://x.com/faithlyco