Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry.

Today, we are joined by author and speaker Ron Sandison to discuss a crucial and often overlooked area of ministry: Serving autistic adults in your church. While many churches have developed wonderful special needs programs for children, neurodivergent adults can easily fall through the cracks. Pastor Aaron and Ron explore practical ways to move beyond mere accommodation to true integration, empowering autistic adults to use their unique gifts and talents to serve the Kingdom. Drawing from his own personal journey with autism, Ron shares invaluable insights on creating welcoming environments, fostering genuine community, and breaking down the stigmas surrounding neurodiversity. If you want to build a church culture where every individual feels valued, understood, and equipped for ministry, this eye-opening episode is for you.

For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry.

We are back for Part 2 of our vital conversation with Jason Tourville on The health and welfare of pastors and churches. Building on the foundation laid in our previous episode, Pastors Aaron and Jason dive deeper into the practical and systemic ways we can protect our leaders and build resilient ministries. They shift the focus toward how church boards, leadership teams, and congregations can actively champion their pastor's well-being rather than just consuming their energy. From navigating the necessity of sabbaticals and professional counseling to setting healthy boundaries and breaking the stigma around mental health in ministry, this episode provides a clear roadmap for long-term endurance. If you want to build a church culture that helps both leaders and congregations truly thrive, don't miss the conclusion of this powerful discussion.

For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry.

Today, we are joined by Jason Tourville, our speaker from Refresh, to tackle one of the most vital topics in ministry today: The health and welfare of pastors and churches. It is incredibly common for leaders to pour so much into their congregations that they find their own spiritual, emotional, and physical reserves running empty. Pastors Aaron and Jason discuss the realities of pastoral burnout, the direct connection between a healthy leader and a thriving church, and why prioritizing your own well-being is essential for long-term ministry. They unpack practical strategies for protecting your personal life, finding true rest, and building a culture of health within your leadership team. If you are feeling the weight of ministry demands or simply want to establish more sustainable rhythms for the future, this vital conversation is for you.

For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry.

Today, we are joined by Yolanda Mendez, Executive Pastor at Blue Roof Church in St. Joseph, Michigan, to discuss the inseparable twin engines of church growth: Evangelism and Discipleship. Is evangelism just an event on the calendar, or is it a lifestyle of proximity? Pastor Yolanda shares how her church uses interest-based "Blue Groups", from pickleball to crafting, to create natural opportunities for the Gospel by simply doing life with people. Pastors Aaron and Yolanda discuss why compassion must be the fuel for evangelism, the critical "warm transfer" into discipleship, and why the window to connect a new believer to a friend has shrunk from six months to just three. If you are looking for practical ways to move your congregation from sitting in rows to serving in circles, this episode is packed with wisdom.

Contact Yolanda Mendez:

Email: [email protected]

For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry.

Today, we are joined by David Miranda, a veteran financial advisor with over 24 years of experience specializing in helping individuals, and specifically ministers, navigate retirement planning. Let’s face it: many pastors are so focused on serving others that they neglect their own financial future, often believing that ministry means a vow of poverty or that retirement is just "working until I die." David Miranda challenges these misconceptions, offering crucial advice on how pastors can steward their personal finances with excellence. Pastors Aaron and David discuss the "80-10-10 rule," the vital importance of managing cash flow to become debt-free, and why pastors need to view themselves as worthy of investment. Whether you are just starting out or nearing retirement, this episode provides practical, biblical wisdom to help you build a secure financial foundation for your family and your future ministry.

For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry.

We are back for Part 3 of our comprehensive series on making meetings effective and fun with Pastor Dave Barringer. In this final installment, Pastors Aaron and Dave tackle the Annual Business Meeting, an event often viewed as a dry legal requirement or a potential battleground. How can you transform this mandatory gathering into a celebration of vision and unity? Pastor Dave shares his strategy for turning business meetings into "family moments," complete with celebration, testimony, and a clear vision for the future. They discuss the critical importance of board unity before stepping on stage, how to handle difficult questions with grace, and why setting a tone of gratitude can change the entire atmosphere of your church governance. Whether your business meetings are currently boring, tense, or just routine, this episode offers practical wisdom to make them a highlight of your church calendar.

For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry.

We’re back for Part 2 of our conversation on meetings with Pastor Dave Barringer from Kalamazoo First Assembly of God (K-First). Picking up right where they left off, Pastors Aaron and Dave shift their focus from staff meetings to the often-dreaded Board Meeting. How do you transform a boardroom from a place of conflict and tension into a space of unity and shared vision? Pastor Dave shares his powerful strategy for "board training," explaining why seven voices are better than one and why healthy disagreement can actually be a sign of strength. If you want to stop dreading board meetings and start building a team of "sacred stewards" who are unified in mission, you won't want to miss this episode.

For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry.

Today, we are joined by Pastor Dave Barringer from Kalamazoo First Assembly of God to share a refreshing vision for one of the most important parts of leading but also one of peoples least favorites: Meetings. Pastors Aaron and Dave discuss how you can transform your staff, board, and business gatherings into dynamic, life giving moments that your team actually looks forward to. Pastor Dave shares his philosophy on turning meetings into "family gatherings" that celebrate wins, build deep trust, and fuel creativity. This episode is full of encouragement and equipping practices to build a team culture where coming together is the highlight of the week.

For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry.

Today, we are joined by Pastor Jason Forsman, the Youth Alive Director for the Michigan Ministry Network, to discuss one of the most critical mission fields in our culture: the public school campus. Is the school system a closed door to the Gospel, or are we just missing the strategy? Pastor Jason unpacks the vision of Youth Alive, explaining that it is not just a club, but a comprehensive strategy to empower students to reach students. Pastors Aaron and Jason discuss campus ministry, the vital importance of prayer, and how youth pastors can shift from trying to do the ministry themselves to equipping students to be missionaries in their own hallways. You can find out more information at miyouthalive.com or email Jason at [email protected].

For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry.

In this special solo episode, Pastor Aaron Hlavin shares an inspiring New Year's message to encourage leaders as they close out one year and step into the next. It's so vital that we mark the trail of God's faithfulness in the past year, both personally and spiritually, while also daring to dream big for the future. This is a heartfelt call to embrace the "new" that God wants to do in 2026, with a prayer for revival, favor, and the courage to win our cities for Jesus.

For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.