Leading From Alignment

In our newest podcast episode, we welcome Mike Kern to the mic for a conversation every leader needs to hear. With decades of experience spanning both the corporate world and church ministry, Mike brings a rare perspective on leadership, wisdom, and decision-making.

Mike’s unique blend of business insight and ministry experience has equipped him to help churches and leaders navigate complex challenges with clarity and confidence. In this episode, we unpack his powerful framework: “A Recipe for Good Decisions.”

In today's episode, we explore what it really looks like to protect the most important part of who you are. From what you consume, to where you focus your eyes, to the thoughts you allow to take root, and the rhythms you build into your life . . . guarding your heart isn’t passive, it’s intentional. This conversation gets practical about how leaders can stay grounded, focused, and healthy in a dangerous world, and why that matters more than ever.

When everything feels fragmented, stability becomes magnetic. In a culture of constant updates, endless scrolling, and reflexive rebellion, it’s no surprise that more than a few young people are gravitating toward the structure and seriousness of the Catholic Church. What’s interesting is this shift may be less about belief—and more about what modern life is missing. In this week’s episode, we unpack three reasons behind this trend—and what the rest of us can learn from it.

The way we relate to ourselves—whether with truth, kindness, and grace or with harsh criticism—is more than a personal issue; it’s a defining factor for our entire life. It powerfully shapes our longevity, our health, and ultimately the kind of fruit we produce in ministry and leadership. In today’s episode we unpack what it means to be properly related to yourself and why it matters to both your life and your leadership.

What does it really take for pastors to thrive in today’s ministry landscape? In this episode of Leading from Alignment, we sit down with Aaron Hlavin, Michigan Assemblies of God Network Superintendent, for an honest and insightful conversation about both the opportunities and challenges pastors are facing right now.

After a big Sunday, the noise doesn’t always fade when the room empties. Sometimes on the Monday after it gets louder. In this episode, we’ve invited our good friend Lewis Brandon to the mic. We’re talking about how to process the emotional aftermath of a big Sunday and share practical ways for a leader to actively recover.

When betrayal comes from someone close, it’s more than a surface wound. It is a deep gash. In this week’s episode, we step into one of the hardest realities leaders face . . . being wounded by someone they trust.

Many pastors were trained primarily to preach and teach. Some were also equipped to provide pastoral care. But in today’s ministry environment, faithful and effective pastoral leadership needs something more. Pastors are increasingly called to live at the intersection of four vital roles—Theologian, Shepherd, Leader, and Missionary. In this episode, we explore why integrating these four pastoral callings is essential for healthy ministry today and how pastors can begin to grow into a more holistic vision of leadership that serves both the church and the mission of the gospel.

Coming back from vacation should mean easing back into rhythm—but instead, I walked into six or seven different crises. Different churches, different situations, but the same underlying reality: people are angry. So, what’s really going on? And more importantly, how do we pastor faithfully in a moment like this without becoming reactive ourselves?

Earlier this year, Laura and John were given the rare gift of three uninterrupted weeks away. They rented a condo on the ocean, where each morning began with coffee on the balcony and the sun rising over the Atlantic, the steady rhythm of the waves setting the pace for unhurried days. In the quiet space created by slowing down, clarity began to surface. As often happens when life’s noise fades, Father God met them in those moments—dropping what John calls “mic drops” into his heart. In this episode, he shares the powerful “aha” breakthroughs that emerged from the beach.