FrontStage BackStage with Jason Daye - Healthy Leadership for Life and Ministry

What is spiritual authority—and how can it be distinguished from control or abuse?

In this episode of FrontStage BackStage, host Jason Daye sits down with Jason Jensen, Vice President of Spiritual Foundations for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA and author of Formed to Lead. Together, they explore a faithful, Christ-centered vision of leadership that relies on the Holy Spirit’s formation.

The conversation unpacks the heart of spiritual authority, drawing from the life of Jesus in the gospels, and contrasts it with the distortions of control and spiritual abuse. It is a hopeful and encouraging dialogue that highlights humility, integrity, character, and discernment as the marks of true authority.

They discuss:

• What spiritual authority is—and what it isn’t
• The difference between Spirit-formed authority and spiritual abuse
• Why humility and integrity are essential for leaders
• How the Holy Spirit shapes leaders for lasting impact
• The example of Jesus as the model of healthy authority

Viewers and listeners will be challenged to rediscover spiritual authority as Jesus modeled it—rooted in humility, character, and dependence on the Spirit—so their leadership nurtures healthy disciples and flourishing communities.

Dig deeper into this conversation: Find the free Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide, all resource links, and more, at http://PastorServe.org/network

Some key takeaways from this conversation:

Jason Jensen on the importance of character formation as the foundation for authentic leadership: "Spiritual authority comes from character formation."

Jason Jensen on the significance of leading with humility rather than control: "We need to beware of our own temptation to demand authority in others' lives."

Jason Jensen on the importance of modeling repentance: "Spiritual authority repents and asks for forgiveness."
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Looking to dig more deeply into this topic and conversation? FrontStage BackStage is much more than another church leadership show, it is a complete resource to help you and your ministry leaders grow. Every week we go the extra mile and create a free toolkit so you and your ministry team can dive deeper into the topic that is discussed.

Visit http://PastorServe.org/network to find the Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide. Our team pulls key insights and quotes from every conversation with our guests. We also create engaging questions for you and your team to consider and process, providing space for you to reflect on how each episode's topic relates to your unique church context. Use these questions in your staff meetings, or other settings, to guide your conversation as you invest in the growth of your ministry leaders.

Love well, live well, & lead well

Complimentary Coaching Session for Pastors http://PastorServe.org/freesession

Follow PastorServe LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Connect with Jason Daye LinkedIn | Instagram

What is Gen Z really asking about God? In this episode of FrontStage BackStage, Jason Daye sits down with Tanita Maddox, national director of generational impact for Young Life and author of What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God.

Together, they dive into the surprising questions and spiritual longings shaping Gen Z today. They highlight how the Church can respond with honesty, humility, and hope. This is a practical and encouraging conversation for pastors, ministry leaders, and parents who want to better understand and engage the next generation with the gospel.

We explore:

• What the latest research reveals about Gen Z’s spiritual curiosity
• Why the Church and Gen Z are missing each other
• How the Church can communicate the gospel in ways that truly connect with Gen Z 
• Practical ideas for pastors, parents, and leaders to disciple and empower young people
• Encouragement for ministry leaders navigating generational change

If you want to reach Gen Z with the gospel, and walk with them as they ask real questions about faith, this episode will give you both clarity and hope.

Dig deeper into this conversation: Find the free Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide, all resource links, and more, at http://PastorServe.org/network

Some key takeaways from this conversation:

Tanita Maddox on the importance of bridging the gap between Gen Z and the Church: "Gen Z has a lot of questions that the Church is not addressing."

Tanita Maddox on the significance of understanding before responding: "If we just start answering questions without understanding where it's coming from, we can accidentally give the wrong answer."

Tanita Maddox on the importance of earning Gen Z’s trust through authenticity and integrity: "What I love about Gen Z is they actually realize that their trust has a value to it, and they're not going to squander it."
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Looking to dig more deeply into this topic and conversation? FrontStage BackStage is much more than another church leadership show, it is a complete resource to help you and your ministry leaders grow. Every week we go the extra mile and create a free toolkit so you and your ministry team can dive deeper into the topic that is discussed.

Visit http://PastorServe.org/network to find the Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide. Our team pulls key insights and quotes from every conversation with our guests. We also create engaging questions for you and your team to consider and process, providing space for you to reflect on how each episode's topic relates to your unique church context. Use these questions in your staff meetings, or other settings, to guide your conversation as you invest in the growth of your ministry leaders.

Love well, live well, & lead well

Complimentary Coaching Session for Pastors http://PastorServe.org/freesession

Follow PastorServe LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Connect with Jason Daye LinkedIn | Instagram

What if being a small church isn’t a weakness, but a strength?

In this episode of FrontStage BackStage, host Jason Daye talks with Brandon O’Brien, director of global thought leadership for Redeemer City to City and author of The Strategically Small Church. Together, they explore how the typical size of most churches, which may be smaller than you think, connects with the story of the early church and what that means for ministry now.

Instead of seeing size as a liability, Brandon helps us recognize the surprising strengths of small churches and how they can thrive in their communities.

We discuss:

• Why the average church is small—and why that matters
• How biblical stories of the early church challenge our view of growth
• The unique blessings smaller churches bring to their people and neighborhoods
• How to flip perceived limitations into ministry assets
• Encouragement for pastors who feel pressured to “grow bigger”

If you’re leading a small church, simply want to understand the blessings of being “right-sized” for your mission context, or have ever wondered how small churches can thrive in a culture obsessed with size, this conversation will give you hope, fresh perspective, and practical wisdom for leading effectively.

Dig deeper into this conversation: Find the free Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide, all resource links, and more, at http://PastorServe.org/network

Some key takeaways from this conversation:

Brandon O’Brien on the importance of faithfulness over numbers in ministry: "Size is not a biblical indicator of ministry success."

Brandon O’Brien on the significance of knowing your unique calling: "Who are we uniquely equipped to reach that nobody else is reaching?"

Brandon O’Brien on the importance of authenticity in building trust: "Authenticity and sincerity are more appealing than people often think."
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Looking to dig more deeply into this topic and conversation? FrontStage BackStage is much more than another church leadership show, it is a complete resource to help you and your ministry leaders grow. Every week we go the extra mile and create a free toolkit so you and your ministry team can dive deeper into the topic that is discussed.

Visit http://PastorServe.org/network to find the Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide. Our team pulls key insights and quotes from every conversation with our guests. We also create engaging questions for you and your team to consider and process, providing space for you to reflect on how each episode's topic relates to your unique church context. Use these questions in your staff meetings, or other settings, to guide your conversation as you invest in the growth of your ministry leaders.

Love well, live well, & lead well

Complimentary Coaching Session for Pastors http://PastorServe.org/freesession

Follow PastorServe LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Connect with Jason Daye LinkedIn | Instagram

What helps make a church truly healthy? According to recent disciple-making research, one of the clearest signs of church health is how believers are multiplying disciple-makers.

In this encouraging conversation, theologian, author, and Navigators leader Alice Matagora joins Jason Daye to unpack the latest research on disciple-making in the US and what it means for pastors and ministry leaders today. Together, we explore both the challenges and the hope:

• Surprising research trends about disciple-making in the American church
• How pastors can help everyday believers become disciple-makers
• What healthy churches do to create disciple-making culture
• Why multiplying disciples matters for every generation
• Practical encouragement for pastors and leaders equipping their people

This episode will equip pastors and ministry leaders with clarity, hope, and practical tools for leading churches that multiply disciples who make disciples.

Dig deeper into this conversation: Find the free Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide, all resource links, and more, at http://PastorServe.org/network

Some key takeaways from this conversation:

Alice Matagora on the importance of ordinary believers stepping into discipleship: "You don't have to know everything or have a theological degree to disciple somebody."

Alice Matagora on the significance of moving beyond knowledge to true transformation: "I can know more about Jesus, but unless I'm really spending time with him, I'm not necessarily being transformed."

Alice Matagora on the importance of equipping believers to open Scripture on their own: "We're kind of missing the mark on getting people into the Word of God for themselves."
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Looking to dig more deeply into this topic and conversation? FrontStage BackStage is much more than another church leadership show, it is a complete resource to help you and your ministry leaders grow. Every week we go the extra mile and create a free toolkit so you and your ministry team can dive deeper into the topic that is discussed.

Visit http://PastorServe.org/network to find the Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide. Our team pulls key insights and quotes from every conversation with our guests. We also create engaging questions for you and your team to consider and process, providing space for you to reflect on how each episode's topic relates to your unique church context. Use these questions in your staff meetings, or other settings, to guide your conversation as you invest in the growth of your ministry leaders.

Love well, live well, & lead well

Complimentary Coaching Session for Pastors http://PastorServe.org/freesession

Follow PastorServe LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Connect with Jason Daye LinkedIn | Instagram

What does it take to serve faithfully in ministry for the long haul?

In this episode of FrontStage BackStage, PastorServe CEO and best-selling author Jimmy Dodd joins us for a vital conversation about protecting your ministry integrity and steering clear of the failures that have derailed too many in ministry.

This is a hope-filled and practical guide for pastors and ministry leaders who want to finish well. Jimmy shares how intentional habits, proactive safeguards, and spiritual disciplines can help protect your calling and sustain your leadership for decades to come.

We explore:

• Why moral integrity is essential to long-term ministry health
• How pastors can build intentional guardrails to avoid failure
• Practical steps for protecting your heart, marriage, and calling
• How to focus on grace-filled safeguards
• Encouragement for leaders weary of the pressure to “hold it all together”

Whether you’re early in ministry or decades in, this episode will help you serve with integrity, finish strong, and thrive in the calling God has entrusted to you.

Dig deeper into this conversation: Find the free Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide, all resource links, and more, at http://PastorServe.org/network

Some key takeaways from this conversation:

Jimmy Dodd on the importance of authentic leadership: "Satan lies to us. He whispers in our ear and says: don't tell your secrets, because if they really know you, they won't like you."

Jimmy Dodd on the significance of healthy relationships in pastoral ministry: "If you are a really healthy pastor, you're not isolated."

Jimmy Dodd on the importance of being open to accountability and hard questions: "You have to be at a point where people can ask you hard questions."
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Looking to dig more deeply into this topic and conversation? FrontStage BackStage is much more than another church leadership show, it is a complete resource to help you and your ministry leaders grow. Every week we go the extra mile and create a free toolkit so you and your ministry team can dive deeper into the topic that is discussed.

Visit http://PastorServe.org/network to find the Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide. Our team pulls key insights and quotes from every conversation with our guests. We also create engaging questions for you and your team to consider and process, providing space for you to reflect on how each episode's topic relates to your unique church context. Use these questions in your staff meetings, or other settings, to guide your conversation as you invest in the growth of your ministry leaders.

Love well, live well, & lead well

Complimentary Coaching Session for Pastors http://PastorServe.org/freesession

Follow PastorServe LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Connect with Jason Daye LinkedIn | Instagram

Conflict is inevitable in ministry—but it doesn’t have to divide us. In this conversation, theologian, conflict mediator, and best-selling author Ann Garrido helps us see conflict through a redemptive lens. We explore how disagreements can be a blessing, a sign of God’s diverse design, and an opportunity for deeper unity.

You’ll discover:

• How to transform conflict into a fruitful exchange rather than a source of division.
• Recognizing and navigating triangulated relationships before they damage trust.
• Why healthy church conflict can be a positive rather than a negative.
• Practical steps for managing tension with grace and truth.

If you’re a pastor, ministry leader, or follower of Christ seeking to lead with wisdom, this episode will help you approach conflict as a God-given opportunity for growth, for you and for those you serve.

Dig deeper into this conversation: Find the free Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide, all resource links, and more, at http://PastorServe.org/network

Some key takeaways from this conversation:

Ann Garrido on the importance of embracing conflict as a sign of care and a pathway to deeper understanding: "People only fight about things that they care about."

Ann Garrido on the significance of seeing conflict as a pathway to growth and stronger community: "Normalize conflict as something that's going to happen in any healthy community."

Ann Garrido on the importance of affirming people’s feelings without necessarily agreeing with their perspective: "I'm not affirming their side. I'm affirming their feeling."
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Looking to dig more deeply into this topic and conversation? FrontStage BackStage is much more than another church leadership show, it is a complete resource to help you and your ministry leaders grow. Every week we go the extra mile and create a free toolkit so you and your ministry team can dive deeper into the topic that is discussed.

Visit http://PastorServe.org/network to find the Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide. Our team pulls key insights and quotes from every conversation with our guests. We also create engaging questions for you and your team to consider and process, providing space for you to reflect on how each episode's topic relates to your unique church context. Use these questions in your staff meetings, or other settings, to guide your conversation as you invest in the growth of your ministry leaders.

Love well, live well, & lead well

Complimentary Coaching Session for Pastors http://PastorServe.org/freesession

Follow PastorServe LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Connect with Jason Daye LinkedIn | Instagram

What if one of the most overlooked paths for healthy ministry leadership… is confession?

In this episode, pastor and author Mandy Smith invites us to consider how spiritual confession—far from being a weakness—can actually unlock depth, clarity, and power in our ministry leadership. Together, we explore how recognizing our often overlooked leanings toward self-sufficiency opens the door to greater reliance on God and deeper connection with those we serve.

This conversation is especially for pastors and ministry leaders who feel the tension between professionalism and personal vulnerability, and long to serve more authentically.

We discuss:

• How honest confession shapes stronger, healthier leaders
• How vulnerability builds credibility in ministry leadership
• The dangers of professionalism without personal surrender
• What it looks like to rely on God instead of self
• Why leading from weakness might be the most Christlike thing you can do

If you’re a pastor or ministry leader who feels the pressure to hold it all together, this episode will offer fresh perspective, spiritual relief, and practical encouragement.

Dig deeper into this conversation: Find the free Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide, all resource links, and more, at http://PastorServe.org/network

Some key takeaways from this conversation:

Mandy Smith on the importance of embracing our human limitations as places where God’s strength is revealed: "When Jesus had those confrontations with his human limitation in the wilderness, he refused to disconnect from God in those moments."

Mandy Smith on the significance of embracing vulnerability as the pathway to authentic growth and thriving: "As much as it feels vulnerable to really live and thrive, I have to stretch out beyond myself."

Mandy Smith on the importance of embracing the stretch that comes with change: "Anytime we're stepping in to make change, it's going to really stretch us."
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Looking to dig more deeply into this topic and conversation? FrontStage BackStage is much more than another church leadership show, it is a complete resource to help you and your ministry leaders grow. Every week we go the extra mile and create a free toolkit so you and your ministry team can dive deeper into the topic that is discussed.

Visit http://PastorServe.org/network to find the Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide. Our team pulls key insights and quotes from every conversation with our guests. We also create engaging questions for you and your team to consider and process, providing space for you to reflect on how each episode's topic relates to your unique church context. Use these questions in your staff meetings, or other settings, to guide your conversation as you invest in the growth of your ministry leaders.

Love well, live well, & lead well

Complimentary Coaching Session for Pastors http://PastorServe.org/freesession

Follow PastorServe LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Connect with Jason Daye LinkedIn | Instagram

What if the people around you are more open to spiritual conversations than you assume? In this episode, we sit down with author and cultural analyst Mark Matlock to explore the growing spiritual curiosity in today’s world—and what that means for ministry leaders, churches, and everyday Christ-followers.

We discuss:

• Surprising trends in spiritual openness across generations
• Why assumptions about apathy may be holding us back
• How to engage seekers with humility and curiosity
• How fear and the need for certainty can hold us back from open, curiosity-driven conversations
• How to join conversations God is already starting in people's hearts

Rather than focusing on convincing people, let’s begin noticing where God is already at work and show up with love, patience, and grace. If you’re a ministry leader who wants to better understand and engage with today’s spiritually curious culture, this conversation will encourage, challenge, and equip you.

Dig deeper into this conversation: Find the free Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide, all resource links, and more, at http://PastorServe.org/network

Some key takeaways from this conversation:

Mark Matlock on the importance of being present when hearts are ready: "There is a time when people are ready to really put their trust in Christ, and we can actually make that introduction."

Mark Matlock on the significance of spirituality as the true pathway to an upgrade in life: "The spiritually curious are looking for an upgrade, and spirituality is the pathway for an upgrade."

Mark Matlock on the importance of stepping outside Christian circles and engaging with others: "The best thing is to actually get out there and be around people that aren't Christians."
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Looking to dig more deeply into this topic and conversation? FrontStage BackStage is much more than another church leadership show, it is a complete resource to help you and your ministry leaders grow. Every week we go the extra mile and create a free toolkit so you and your ministry team can dive deeper into the topic that is discussed.

Visit http://PastorServe.org/network to find the Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide. Our team pulls key insights and quotes from every conversation with our guests. We also create engaging questions for you and your team to consider and process, providing space for you to reflect on how each episode's topic relates to your unique church context. Use these questions in your staff meetings, or other settings, to guide your conversation as you invest in the growth of your ministry leaders.

Love well, live well, & lead well

Complimentary Coaching Session for Pastors http://PastorServe.org/freesession

Follow PastorServe LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Connect with Jason Daye LinkedIn | Instagram

Ministry leadership doesn’t have to be lonely. In this episode, we explore the surprising value of peer groups for ministry leaders—why they matter, how they work, and how they can be a game-changer for long-term health and impact.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Jason Daye and Jim Marvine as they share personal stories and practical insights on:

• The power of shared wisdom and mutual support
• Why isolation is one of the most overlooked risks in ministry
• How peer advisory groups help leaders stay grounded, encouraged, and accountable
• What makes a peer group thrive—and how to find one that fits

Whether you’re feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or simply hungry for deeper connection with other ministry leaders, this conversation will give you clarity, hope, and a next step.

Dig deeper into this conversation: Find the free Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide, all resource links, and more, at http://PastorServe.org/network

Some key takeaways from this conversation:

Jim Marvine on the importance of leading with humility and authenticity: "Ministry leaders have the same issues as everybody else."

Jim Marvine on the significance of treating your ministry with the same diligence and stewardship as a business, to sustain the calling: "Ministry is not a business, but you better be about the business of your ministry, or you won't be in it very long."

Jim Marvine on the importance of seeking outside perspective for greater clarity: "It's really good to hear an outside perspective."
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Looking to dig more deeply into this topic and conversation? FrontStage BackStage is much more than another church leadership show, it is a complete resource to help you and your ministry leaders grow. Every week we go the extra mile and create a free toolkit so you and your ministry team can dive deeper into the topic that is discussed.

Visit http://PastorServe.org/network to find the Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide. Our team pulls key insights and quotes from every conversation with our guests. We also create engaging questions for you and your team to consider and process, providing space for you to reflect on how each episode's topic relates to your unique church context. Use these questions in your staff meetings, or other settings, to guide your conversation as you invest in the growth of your ministry leaders.

Love well, live well, & lead well

Complimentary Coaching Session for Pastors http://PastorServe.org/freesession

Follow PastorServe LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Connect with Jason Daye LinkedIn | Instagram

Church revitalization doesn’t start with a new vision statement—it starts with discerning where God is already at work. In this episode, pastor and missional strategist Josh Hayden invites us into a thoughtful, long-term approach to renewing the local church, one rooted not in quick fixes or top-down programs, but in humility, discernment, and faithful presence.

Josh introduces the idea of “remissioning church”—not just reorganizing, but reorienting the church around the mission of God in the local community. He shares how ministry leaders can shift from ownership to stewardship, learning to hold their influence loosely and listen deeply to both the Spirit and the people they’re called to serve.

Together, we explore:

• What it means to steward—not control—your church’s community impact
• How to join God’s work already unfolding in your neighborhood
• Why real revitalization takes time, patience, and pastoral courage
• How remissioning can bring clarity, direction, and renewed joy to ministry leaders
• Practical encouragement for those leading change in slow, faithful ways

If your heart longs to see your church renewed from the inside out—not by chasing trends but by aligning with God’s mission—this conversation will offer both hope and a grounded path forward.

Dig deeper into this conversation: Find the free Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide, all resource links, and more, at http://PastorServe.org/network

Some key takeaways from this conversation:

Josh Hayden on the importance of aligning our lives with God’s mission and recognizing that we are partners, not the originators, of His work: "It's God's mission, and we're simply joining in."

Josh Hayden on the significance of viewing change as an essential part of discipleship and spiritual formation: "The change process is a discipleship process."

Josh Hayden on the importance of leaders modeling belief in change so their churches can have the faith to follow: "If leaders don't believe their churches can change, it's going to be really hard for their churches to believe it, too."
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Looking to dig more deeply into this topic and conversation? FrontStage BackStage is much more than another church leadership show, it is a complete resource to help you and your ministry leaders grow. Every week we go the extra mile and create a free toolkit so you and your ministry team can dive deeper into the topic that is discussed.

Visit http://PastorServe.org/network to find the Weekly Toolkit, including the Ministry Leaders Growth Guide. Our team pulls key insights and quotes from every conversation with our guests. We also create engaging questions for you and your team to consider and process, providing space for you to reflect on how each episode's topic relates to your unique church context. Use these questions in your staff meetings, or other settings, to guide your conversation as you invest in the growth of your ministry leaders.

Love well, live well, & lead well

Complimentary Coaching Session for Pastors http://PastorServe.org/freesession

Follow PastorServe LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Connect with Jason Daye LinkedIn | Instagram