Leading From Alignment

It’s our tradition to take the first two episodes of the year to reflect on the biggest lessons we learned in the previous year. These are indelible takeaways we aspired to carry forward into 2024. We’ll unpack two takeaways today in episode 219, and 2 more in Episode 220 next week. Happy New Year!

It’s December 19th, six days before Christmas. This time of year can get very busy for pastors. Extra events at church. Extra events with family and friends. Finishing up the year and planning for next year. In today’s episode John & Jim talk about the subject of Holiday Rhythms and suggest three important ideas leaders may want to consider regarding the last 12 days of 2023.

Today we welcome Daniel Whitehead, CEO of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries back to the mic. In Part 2 of our conversation with Daniel, we explore what is contributing to the worldwide challenges we face with anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. And then we lay out a practical strategy pastors can take to help those suffering with these evil triplets in the churches they lead.

Today we welcome Daniel Whitehead, CEO of Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries to the mic. In Part 1 of our conversation with Daniel, we unpack what is happening—in the arena of wellbeing—in the lives of people who attend the churches we lead. We hope you enjoy this powerful episode!

The average age of a clergy member today is 57, compared to age 50 in 2000 Half of all American pastors today are older than age 55. These realities are ubiquitous across almost every denomination. And it begs the question: Is the talent pool merely shallow? Is God not calling enough leaders into vocational ministry? Or . . . is the talent pool afraid? Afraid to take on a role that while extremely fulfilling, also carries with it a lot of complexity? In Part Two of their conversation around engaging the next generation of leaders, John & Jim unpack helpful answers to the question posed to more than twenty young leaders: “What would you say to pastors who want to engage and enlist a younger generation?”.

Everywhere we turn, it seems the alarm is sounding about the graying of pastors. Legitimate concerns exist, including, “What happens if at some point we don’t have enough qualified leaders?” In today’s episode, we begin a two-part conversation on this most important subject: Engaging and Incorporating the Next Generation of Leaders.

The average age of a clergy member today is 57, compared to age 50 in 2000 (Lifeway Research). Half of all American pastors today are older than age 55. In 1992, 24% of all American pastors were older than 55 (Barna). One of the impacts of these alarming trends? The pastor talent pool is getting shallow. Every denomination is dealing with a leadership shortage. In today’s episode, John and Jim unpack the talent shortage issue and offer four things all of us can do to help address this clear and present danger to the health and well-being of the local church.

In today’s episode John & Jim welcome back Shannon Shaffer to the mic to continue their compelling conversation about worship leaders. In today's chat they explore the personal and public components of worship leading, the traits of an effective worship leader, and how worship leaders can avoid an age-old trap the devil often sets for them.

In their work across the country, John and Jim are noticing a troubling trend . . . worship pastors and lead pastors butting heads. Sparring over worship styles, over who’s in charge, or over whose kingdom is being built. Today's episode contains Part 1 of their powerful conversation with Shannon Shaffer, Worship Pastor at Auburn Hills Christian Center, focusing on factors that cause turbulence between worship pastors and lead pastors, and practical steps worship pastors and lead pastors can take to work together more effectively.

What does success in pastoral or ministry leadership look like? And what can make success—though desirable—dangerous? In today’s episode John and Jim outline what success from God’s perspective looks like, share two of the most common snares success brings, and what leaders can do to avoid getting trapped by those snares.