This week, we sit down with Connie Faber and Janae Shafer, the dynamic duo behind the Christian Leader magazine. They share how each issue comes together, from planning themes to collaborating with writers across the USMB family. With a mission to connect churches, celebrate stories, and inspire action, the magazine plays a vital role in reflecting the heart of the Mennonite Brethren community.

Connie and Janae also discuss the challenges of balancing print and digital formats in today’s fast-paced world and their vision for highlighting the rich diversity within the MB family. Whether you’re a regular reader or new to Christian Leader, this episode will inspire you to see the magazine in a whole new light—and maybe even get involved!

Learn more or subscribe at christianleadermag.com.

This week, we’re joined by USMB National Director Aaron Box to explore the role of generosity in leadership. As we dive into the history of Giving Tuesday and its impact, Aaron shares practical ways we can live out generosity—not just in giving, but in how we lead others. From creating a culture of service in our churches to fostering servant leadership in every sphere, Aaron highlights the importance of putting others first and leading with open hands.

We also discuss how generosity can transform leadership in any context, even in roles where it feels countercultural. Whether you’re a pastor, business leader, or emerging leader, Aaron’s insights will challenge and inspire you to think differently about what it means to lead well. Tune in to discover how generous leadership can build trust, empower others, and reflect the heart of Jesus.

Give to USMB here: usmb.org/givingtuesday

Supporting missionaries abroad has long been a valued part of our heritage, but how can we live ‘on mission’ right here at home? Today we’re joined by Heidi Quiring and Silvia Lopez from Multiply to share the latest updates on mission programs like SOAR, Action, and Trek—each designed to help people of all ages make a difference locally and globally. 

Multiply is reshaping their programs to show that missions can be an accessible, ongoing journey for everyone. In this episode, Heidi and Silvia offer practical tips to help us make mission part of everyday life. If you or someone in your church is ready to learn more, visit multiply.net to explore these opportunities!

Leadership development is one of USMB's core commitments, and finding new ways to grow, stretch yourself, or gain new skills is a crucial part of leadership. In our busy world where we all feel short on time, how can we continue to grow, find new resources, and discover meaningful new ideas?

Earlier this year USMB launched Leadership Fuel, a website devoted to sharing curated leadership resources for pastors and church leaders. On this episode, Jordan Ringhofer (Pacific District Conference district minister) and Kyle Goings (USMB NextGen chair) explain how Leadership Fuel came to be and how you can contribute resources that have been helpful to you.

Beyond that, Kyle and Jordan also share how they intentionally continue their own leadership journeys, with practical ideas of how we can document and store new ideas and thoughts for future projects. This episode is SUPER practical, so if you're ready to grow in your leadership, start by listening to this episode, and then check out Leadership Fuel!

This week we chat with Pastor Matt Thrift about his new book, Follow, and the heart of discipleship. Matt shares his journey from Southern Baptist circles to finding a home in the Mennonite Brethren tradition, drawn by our mix of strong theology and practical love for others.

Matt explains that discipleship isn’t about checking boxes but developing a real, ongoing relationship with Jesus. We also discuss how churches can balance evangelism and discipleship without sacrificing one for the other. Matt reflects on personal challenges, like embracing rest and Sabbath, admitting how hard it can be to step away from busyness.

If you’ve ever struggled to keep spiritual practices like prayer and Bible reading from feeling routine, Matt offers some practical insights. He encourages us to see discipleship as a lifelong journey rather than something we can “finish.”

Learn more or buy Matt's book here. 

Building bridges across cultural and religious divides can seem daunting, yet it's at the heart of authentic Christian ministry. In this episode, we meet Cody and Janna, two young workers preparing to serve in the Middle East through Multiply who show us how genuine relationships can transcend perceived barriers. 

Through their ministry in this region so far, Janna and Cody have discovered a Middle Eastern life that differs significantly from how the Muslim world is typically portrayed in our media. Their stories reveal the incredible warmth and hospitality that is very common in this region, and a surprising openness to discuss religion and American culture. 

Ministry and evangelism are difficult in these cultures, but slowly and patiently building sincere relationships is a crucial step to gain trust that leads to important conversations about faith. Learn more in this week's episode, and we invite you to consider partnering with Cody and Janna as they prepare for this exciting new ministry opportunity! 

Many Christians in America today feel ill-equipped to share their faith with Muslims. Our media and our culture tend to paint Muslims in a certain way that often makes us feel intimidated and maybe even scared, but those biases are almost always unfounded and unfair. As we hear from today's guest, sharing about Jesus really comes down to humility, curiosity, and sincerity, regardless of our cultural backgrounds.

Today we speak with Nasser al’Qahtani, Multiply's Regional Team Leader for North Africa and the Middle East. Nasser is a former Muslim himself, and he has amazing stories of how God has done wonders in his life and opened incredible doors for him to teach around the world. Nasser is a gifted storyteller and an engaging biblical scholar, so enjoy this episode as we hear how God is at work in the Middle East and how we can appropriately share our faith with others.

Nasser's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NasseralQahtani
Nasser's Multiply profile: https://multiply.net/global-worker/nasser-alqahtani

Next year marks a significant anniversary for our MB history and heritage, so we're preparing for a big party! The roots of our MB tradition can be traced to 1525 and the birth of the Anabaptist movement beginning in Zurich. For those of us involved with USMB, it's helpful for us to remember that our heritage and our roots go way beyond our U.S. history, and this event is a meaningful chance to learn, remember, and reconnect with our Mennonite and Anabaptist brothers and sisters around the world.

This week our guests are César García, the general secretary of the Mennonite World Conference, and Dr. Tim Geddert, our USMB delegate to MWC. We hear some behind-the-scenes planning for the anniversary event coming up next year, but César and Tim also share important reminders of what it means to be Mennonite, why adult baptism is such a big deal, and what we can learn from our larger Mennonite family around the world.

To learn more about the anniversary events in Zurich, visit mwc-cmm.org or anabaptism500.ch. 

This week we get to know James Moore, the recently appointed eastern district minister. In addition to this important role, James is also the lead pastor of West End MB Church in Lenoir, North Carolina. James discusses the joys and challenges of serving in both roles, including his role in helping immigrant Congolese churches become more self-sustaining. 

Before James became a pastor, he served a full career as a police officer in Lenoir. He still occasionally helps out with special events around town in this capacity, and his unique role as both a pastor and police officer lead to a distinct perspective on bridging the gap between the church and the community. James emphasizes the importance of prayer and the benefit of working together as we all aim to more effectively reaching the younger generations. 

This week, Fred and Esther Leonard from Mountain View Church in Fresno, California, share their passion for global missions and how they've integrated it into their church's DNA over the past 31 years. The Leonards discuss their upcoming "Live the Mission" conference and their extensive experience in missions work across 37 countries. They emphasize the importance of partnering with local leaders, empowering nationals, and creating sustainable mission strategies that don't rely solely on American funding or leadership.

Fred and Esther share practical advice for churches looking to engage in missions, including starting small by adopting a missionary, sending short-term teams, and balancing local and global outreach. They stress the importance of a "theology of presence" and the power of prayer in mission work. They also share inspiring stories of how their church's involvement has transformed lives and communities around the world, highlighting the need for a long-term commitment to see lasting change. This episode offers valuable insights for church leaders looking to cultivate a missions-minded congregation and make a global impact.