Metro District Podcast

In this episode of the Collective Leadership Podcast, Interim District Superintendent Omar Niebles sits down with Joel Koenigsberg, Director of Leadership Development, to explore the transformative practice of spiritual listening. Joel opens up about his personal journey—from struggling with distraction and the constant urge to fix problems, to discovering the profound impact of truly listening to God, others, and even himself.

Drawing from his experiences with spiritual direction and the wisdom of James 1:19 ("be quick to listen, slow to speak"), Joel shares how spiritual listening has reshaped not only his personal walk with God but also his approach to church leadership. He discusses the power of asking "curious questions" rather than jumping to solutions, the importance of creating space for the Spirit to speak through conversations, and how slowing down can actually accelerate spiritual growth in both individual lives and congregational settings.

Joel also addresses the unique challenges church leaders face—the pressure to have answers, the temptation to fill every silence, and the courage it takes to simply be present with people in their struggles. Whether you're leading a church, serving on a team, or simply wanting to become more present in your relationships, this conversation offers invaluable insights on how spiritual listening can transform the way we connect with God and others.

Metro District Podcast is the voice of the Metro District, Christian and Missionary Alliance — resourcing and connecting churches across NY, NJ, and PA.

🌐 Learn more: https://metrocma.org
📧 Contact: [email protected]
📍 2 Denman Ave, Clark, NJ 07066

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metro_cma/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metrodistrictcma

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Join us for an inspiring conversation with Jessica Ng, Youth Pastor at Queens Herald Church in Queens, New York. In this episode, Jessica shares her transformative approach to youth ministry that's creating ripple effects throughout her multigenerational, multilingual Chinese-American church.

Discover how Jessica has cultivated a culture of soul care among teenagers, teaching them to identify lies, hear God's voice, and pray for one another with remarkable spiritual maturity. Learn about her journey from being a teen in the youth group to becoming its leader, navigating cultural dynamics of honor and shame while empowering the next generation.

Jessica discusses practical strategies for bridging generational gaps, creating safe spaces for authentic conversation, and helping youth see their schools as mission fields. She also shares insights on investing in volunteer leaders, partnering with parents, and the beautiful moments of reconciliation happening across generations.

Whether you're in youth ministry, interested in soul care, or passionate about intergenerational church dynamics, this episode offers valuable wisdom on seeing young people the way God sees them - as deeply loved children with incredible potential to transform their families, schools, and communities.

Metro District Podcast is the voice of the Metro District, Christian and Missionary Alliance — resourcing and connecting churches across NY, NJ, and PA.

🌐 Learn more: https://metrocma.org
📧 Contact: [email protected]
📍 2 Denman Ave, Clark, NJ 07066

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metro_cma/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metrodistrictcma

Subscribe so you don't miss an episode — and if this encouraged you, share it with someone who needs it.

In this inspiring episode of the Collective Leadership Podcast, hosts Omar Niebles and Kelvin Walker sit down with Steve Hartmann, Lead Pastor of Lighthouse Alliance Community Church in Little Egg Harbor, NJ. Steve shares the remarkable 25-year journey of a church that has become deeply woven into the fabric of its community through unexpected ministries born from listening to God's leading.

From a thrift store that employs widows and serves as a ministry hub, to pickleball courts that have connected the church with hundreds in the 55+ community, to hosting high school sports banquets and an annual 5K run that has raised over $130,000 for local athletics—Steve demonstrates how being available to the Holy Spirit can transform a church into a vital center for the community.

Key topics discussed include:

• How organic, Spirit-led ministries prove more fruitful than our best laid strategic programs
• The power of noticing people and meeting practical needs as evangelism
• Creative approaches to financing Kingdom work through community partnerships
• The importance of sowing seeds without demanding immediate church growth
• Practical insights from "The 9 Arts of Spiritual Conversations" for natural evangelism
• How disasters like Hurricane Sandy are able to become avenues for establishing and building long-term community trust

This conversation offers hope and practical wisdom for churches of any size seeking to expand their gospel footprint through authentic community engagement. Steve's non-traditional path to ministry provide a refreshing perspective on how God prepares and uses willing servants to reach their communities in unexpected ways.

Perfect for pastors, church leaders, and anyone passionate about seeing the church become a beacon of hope through practical love and service.

Metro District Podcast is the voice of the Metro District, Christian and Missionary Alliance — resourcing and connecting churches across NY, NJ, and PA.

🌐 Learn more: https://metrocma.org
📧 Contact: [email protected]
📍 2 Denman Ave, Clark, NJ 07066

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metro_cma/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metrodistrictcma

Subscribe so you don't miss an episode — and if this encouraged you, share it with someone who needs it.

In this powerful episode of the Collective Leadership Podcast (Season 4), hosts Omar Niebles and District Superintendent Kelvin Walker sit down with Pablo Garcia, Executive Pastor of Global and Local Partnerships at Princeton Alliance Church, to explore the incredible ripple effect of missions work across generations.

Pablo shares his deeply personal journey from growing up as a pastor's kid in one of Lima, Peru's poorest neighborhoods to becoming a missions leader in the United States. His story beautifully illustrates how one missionary's five years of census-taking in 1920s Peru created a chain reaction that would eventually lead to Pablo's family coming to faith and his current role in preparing the next generation of missionaries.

Key topics discussed include:

• The legacy of Alliance missions in Peru, starting with Raymond Clark in the 1920s
• Growing up in ministry and learning valuable lessons about self-care and family priorities
• Pablo's unexpected 12-year journey serving at a Chinese church in New York
• The transformative power of churches becoming sending churches rather than just funding churches
• How God's provision enabled Pablo to complete his education debt-free
• The importance of cross-cultural ministry and kingdom multiplication

This episode is a testament to God's faithfulness across generations and cultures, showing how saying "yes" to God's calling—even when it means counting people for five years—can impact countless lives decades later. It's a must-listen for anyone involved in missions, church leadership, or wondering about the long-term impact of their ministry investments.

The Collective Leadership Podcast focuses on kingdom renewal and holistic gospel transformation, featuring conversations with leaders from the Metro District of the Christian & Missionary Alliance.

Metro District Podcast is the voice of the Metro District, Christian and Missionary Alliance — resourcing and connecting churches across NY, NJ, and PA.

🌐 Learn more: https://metrocma.org
📧 Contact: [email protected]
📍 2 Denman Ave, Clark, NJ 07066

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metro_cma/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metrodistrictcma

Subscribe so you don't miss an episode — and if this encouraged you, share it with someone who needs it.

Join us for this final episode of Season 3 of the Collective Leadership Podcast. In this episode, we get to hear from Rev. Ashley Tringale, Executive Pastor at Risen King Alliance Church, and her journey to becoming the executive pastor. In the episode, we will hear from Ashley about what it takes to make a good executive pastor and the kind of relationship that is needed to keep in step with the lead pastor of a church. If you are a pastor that would benefit from having an executive pastor but do not know when to start, this episode is for you. If you are an executive pastor desiring to grow in your leadership, this episode is for you.

Metro District Podcast is the voice of the Metro District, Christian and Missionary Alliance — resourcing and connecting churches across NY, NJ, and PA.

🌐 Learn more: https://metrocma.org
📧 Contact: [email protected]
📍 2 Denman Ave, Clark, NJ 07066

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metro_cma/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metrodistrictcma

Subscribe so you don't miss an episode — and if this encouraged you, share it with someone who needs it.

Welcome to our latest episode of the Collective Leadership Podcast. Joining us today is Michelle Park, M.A., LMFT, Founder & Owner of ReEnvision Marriage & Family Therapy. In this month’s episode, we dive into the encouragement for why having a healthy culture in our churches matter and how therapy and/or counseling can play a role in a church’s health. We talked with Michelle of how our church pastors and leaders can partner well with counselors and therapists in laying a foundation for holistic health when it comes to our congregations as well as ourselves as leaders. Enjoy the episode!

Metro District Podcast is the voice of the Metro District, Christian and Missionary Alliance — resourcing and connecting churches across NY, NJ, and PA.

🌐 Learn more: https://metrocma.org
📧 Contact: [email protected]
📍 2 Denman Ave, Clark, NJ 07066

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metro_cma/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metrodistrictcma

Subscribe so you don't miss an episode — and if this encouraged you, share it with someone who needs it.

Join us for this week's Collective Leadership podcast episode as we hear from Orlando Crespo on his journey serving within the local church and his three-plus decades in leadership with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Orlando shares his story of coming to know Christ and the various people who impacted his formative years in faith. He also offers insights and wisdom on how churches can engage Latin Americans (whether first-generation or next-generation) in their communities and expand the Gospel footprint on community college campuses where Gospel access may be limited. This episode is packed with valuable nuggets. Enjoy!

Metro District Podcast is the voice of the Metro District, Christian and Missionary Alliance — resourcing and connecting churches across NY, NJ, and PA.

🌐 Learn more: https://metrocma.org
📧 Contact: [email protected]
📍 2 Denman Ave, Clark, NJ 07066

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metro_cma/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metrodistrictcma

Subscribe so you don't miss an episode — and if this encouraged you, share it with someone who needs it.

It is no secret that our time in a ministry assignment always has an end date. While it isn't necessarily clear when we will say goodbye to one assignment and hello to the next, we can be clear on how we set the church up for success to receive the next leader and leadership. Join us to hear from Boyd Hannold and Alex Chang on a behind the scenes look on the transition of lead pastors at Princeton Alliance Church. You will hear this is more than just a logistical exchange of roles. This really was the blessing of two men who are friends and care deeply for what God was doing in each of their lives. Enjoy the episode!

Metro District Podcast is the voice of the Metro District, Christian and Missionary Alliance — resourcing and connecting churches across NY, NJ, and PA.

🌐 Learn more: https://metrocma.org
📧 Contact: [email protected]
📍 2 Denman Ave, Clark, NJ 07066

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metro_cma/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metrodistrictcma

Subscribe so you don't miss an episode — and if this encouraged you, share it with someone who needs it.

Welcome to Episode 3 of Season 3! In this episode we welcomed Melisa Page-Bailie, NYC Director for Promise686, and Mark Atkinson, NYC Area Director for CarePortal. Our eyes and hearts were opened to opportunities the Church, especially our Metro District churches, can play a significant role in supporting foster care families and the impact this can have generationally for families and individuals. Do not miss this conversation!

Metro District Podcast is the voice of the Metro District, Christian and Missionary Alliance — resourcing and connecting churches across NY, NJ, and PA.

🌐 Learn more: https://metrocma.org
📧 Contact: [email protected]
📍 2 Denman Ave, Clark, NJ 07066

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metro_cma/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metrodistrictcma

Subscribe so you don't miss an episode — and if this encouraged you, share it with someone who needs it.

Jennifer Chan, Missional Strategist for City to City, joins us in our latest podcast to talk about Evangelism. As many listening know, our Metro District is continuing to grow our partnership with City to City and Jennifer has supported our churches in developing evangelism teams. Join us to listen in to what evangelism is and why it still matters today in our churches.

Metro District Podcast is the voice of the Metro District, Christian and Missionary Alliance — resourcing and connecting churches across NY, NJ, and PA.

🌐 Learn more: https://metrocma.org
📧 Contact: [email protected]
📍 2 Denman Ave, Clark, NJ 07066

📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/metro_cma/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/metrodistrictcma

Subscribe so you don't miss an episode — and if this encouraged you, share it with someone who needs it.