Expanding imagination for ministry can happen when you employ the FISHing differently framework developed by today’s inspired guest and 2023 Locke Innovative Leader, Rev. Dr. Sidney WIlliams. As the saying goes: “what got us here won’t get us there.” Instead of focusing purely on the financial capital needed to fund ministry, Sidney invites us to FISH differently than we ever have before, and harness the power of Faith capital, Intellectual capital, Social capital, and Human capital. If you are like the disciples who are tired of catching few fish, this episode will make you want to get back in the boat and try again with a Jesus-led and Spirit-driven invitation to fish differently for the sake of the kingdom.

Quotations

“Storytelling is a form of pastoral care. To get people to do things differently, they have to know you know their story, so that before we write the next chapter in this journey together, you know how we got here.” (12:37)

“Churches that really excel in making an impact in their communities have created a safe space where people feel like their ideas will be heard and their differences are nurtured.” (17:15)

“We've got pastors and bishops and church leaders and lay leaders who are focused on budgets and money as if that's the goal rather than the harvest. What I try to teach and preach is there is no shortage of money, but we have to focus on solving problems.” (25:47)

“It's less about fixing people and more about asking, God, how can I partner with the people closest to the pain?” (29:18)

“Greatness is not about how great the speech you give, how big the crowd you assemble, how much power you assemble in your community organizing. Greatness is what's replicable.” (40:30)

“If we kind of blame the system it can almost give us a reason not to do the work as opposed to knowing we are a part of the system and asking how we can bring about justice and equity and mercy and love and grace and hope and those things that God is calling us to be.” (44:35)

“Fishing differently is learning how to thread to needle in a way that you can put together a tapestry, a cloth of different fabrics that would probably never come together on their own and threading that fabric together in a way that comfort gives warmth and comfort to the people in our community who need it most.” (47:48)

We discuss:

• Sidney’s journey from Wall Street to Fishing differently. (5:36)
• The FISHing Differently framework and how Sidney developed it. (9:54)
• Healing and pastoral care through storytelling. (12:37)
• Churches are part of the ecosystem that God has put in place. (17:36)
• Discerning purpose and measuring impact of a congregation. (23:54)
• Solving problems, finding funding, and partnering with communities. (28:31)
• How Sidney led the church to rebuild and reimagine ministry. (30:09)
• Partnerships to sustain ministry. (35:25)
• Changing systems from within and working with flawed systems. (39:28)
• Why calling everyone to a common table matters today. (47:05)

About Sidney Williams

Rev. Dr. Sidney Williams, a social impact advisor and community builder, is President & CEO of Crossing Capital Group and Senior Pastor of Bethel AME Church in Morristown, New Jersey. Sidney is the author of Morning Meditations: 100 Days to Believing You’re Successful and Fishing Differently: Ministry Formation in the Marketplace. Through his FISHing Differently framework, he helps churches and nonprofits engage with impact investors to fund ministries that accelerate sustained thriving in underfinanced communities. 

Through his 30 year corporate and community development experience, Sidney has participated in over $10 billion in public equity and debt offerings, including working for leading Wall Street firms in New York City and helping to start several companies. Since 2005, Pastor Sidney has been training leaders of faith communities using his FISHing Differently framework. In addition to providing leadership development training for local churches, Pastor Sidney is an adjunct professor at Drew Theological Seminary and a Senior Lecturer at Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio. He has also lectured in graduate business programs and taught corporate executives from Asia, Europe and the United States.

His greatest joys in life include spending time with family, traveling, meeting new people, cooking, and learning how to greet people in their native tongue.

Show Notes

Rev. Dr. Sidney Williams, a social impact advisor and community builder, is President & CEO of Crossing Capital Group and Senior Pastor of Bethel AME Church in Morristown, New Jersey. Sidney is the author of Morning Meditations: 100 Days to Believing You’re Successful and Fishing Differently: Ministry Formation in the Marketplace. Through his FISHing Differently framework, he helps churches and nonprofits engage with impact investors to fund ministries that accelerate sustained thriving in underfinanced communities.

This podcast is brought to you by the Leadership Ministry team at Wesleyan Impact Partners. Leadership Ministry connects diverse, high-capacity leaders who are courageously doing God’s work in the world, partnering in a Spirit-led movement to bring about human flourishing grounded in love, generosity, and belonging.

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