Leading From Alignment

In Part 2 of his conversation with John and Jim, Mike Kern III emphasizes the importance of personal financial health for pastors—urging proactive salary discussions, use of benchmarking tools, and wise financial habits. He also addresses emotional resilience, encouraging pastors to reject limiting beliefs, seek counsel, and reframe their mindset for greater clarity and confidence.

In this insightful episode, John and Jim sit down with Mike Kern III—former President/CEO of two financial service companies and now a trusted advisor to pastors and churches through Churchway Advisors.

This conversation is packed with wisdom for pastors navigating the unique challenges of organizational financial leadership.

Every pastor wants to see their church love Jesus . . . but what about their kids? Today we’re getting real about one of the most important — and personal — parts of ministry: helping your own children fall in love with the Savior you serve.

Every pastor wants to see their church love Jesus . . . but what about their kids? Today we’re getting real about one of the most important — and personal — parts of ministry: helping your own children fall in love with the Savior you serve.

Last week, we unpacked key ideas for building a church hiring playbook. This week, we turn to the less exciting — but equally critical — side of the people equation: a church firing playbook.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to staff transitions and trying to force one can do more harm than good. Still, some guiding principles can help ensure every exit is handled with wisdom, grace, and clarity. Join us as we navigate this challenging but necessary aspect of church leadership.

In ministry, every hire is more than a role filled — it’s a person stewarding the mission of the Church. A great hire strengthens the team, brings unity, and fuels Kingdom impact. A bad hire? It can create division, drain energy, and stall momentum. Hiring well is essential to building a healthy, thriving church. In today’s episode John and Jim focus on improving your hiring batting average.

Serving alongside your spouse can be one of the most meaningful experiences in leadership—but let’s be honest, it’s not always easy. Sharing a mission deepens your connection, but without clear boundaries and communication, it can also blur the lines between work and home. In this week’s episode, we get real about the joys and perils of working with your spouse. They unpack four practical strategies to help you lead well together—without losing each other in the process.

It’s not the external obstacles that trip leaders up most—it’s the internal ones: self-doubt, fear of failure, ego, perfectionism, or an unwillingness to listen or adapt. But when leaders grow in self-awareness and learn to manage their inner dialogue and emotional triggers, their influence and effectiveness increase significantly. Today, John and Jim dive into four powerful strategies for overcoming the internal roadblocks that hold leaders back.

Today we welcome back our good friend, Josh Spurlock. Today is part two of our series: How to Heal Deep Pain. Whether you're carrying past wounds or supporting someone who is, this conversation offers hope and practical steps toward healing. Once again . . . Let’s lean in.

Today we welcome our good friend Josh Spurlock, founder of My Counselor Online, which provides faith-based counseling worldwide. We're kicking off part one of a two-part series: How to Heal Deep Pain. If you're carrying hurt or walking with someone who is, this conversation offers hope and guidance. Let’s dive in!