The Advantage Podcast

In this episode, David Ashcraft sits down with Preston Poore — former Coca-Cola executive, author of Disciple Leader, and founder of prestonpoore.com — for a candid conversation about the gap between Sunday and Monday. 

Preston draws on a 22-year corporate career to challenge pastors to stop viewing marketplace leaders as a resource to be utilized and start knowing them as people to be loved. 

He unpacks why only one in five churchgoers has ever been discipled, what it takes to become a redemptive influence in the workplace, and how a simple 10-week one-on-one process can produce disciple makers who multiply far beyond what any program can achieve. 

An unscripted conversation with David Ashcraft and top leaders impacting our world. Created by pastors for pastors to expand our knowledge and influence. In this episode, David Ashcraft sits down with Holly Goddard, Executive Pastor at North Point Ministries, to talk about what it takes to build a guest experience that turns a first-time visitor into a second-time guest. Holly shares her unlikely path from the tennis world to full-time ministry, then unpacks the three principles her volunteer teams live by every weekend: make it personal, be joyful, and come prepared. She tells stories of staff and volunteers who set the system aside to meet one person in a moment that mattered, describes how North Point trains hundreds of volunteers to greet, guide, and hand off guests without ever making them feel handled, and reflects on what would be lost if guest experience wasn't taken seriously. The conversation also covers what it looks like to lead well from the second chair, and how a healthy relationship between a lead pastor and an executive pastor sets the tone for an entire staff culture. 

In this episode of The Advantage Podcast, David Ashcraft sits down with Chip Ingram—pastor, author, and founder of Living on the Edge—for a conversation every pastor needs to hear.

Chip shares insights on:

Leading through a broken congregation—and what redevelopment really looks like. 
Building a culture of multiplication where laypeople are the heroes. 
Engaging marketplace leaders by helping them find their calling, not filling your needs. 
Primemovers—a proven process for developing high-capacity leaders, now available for churches. 
The four-part calli

In this episode you'll hear a refreshing conversation that reframes stewardship—not as a fundraising strategy, but as a core discipleship issue every pastor needs to address.

- Why stewardship and generosity are two different things—and why that distinction changes everything.

- How to teach your congregation about money without it feeling like an ask.

- The spiritual battle behind financial decisions and the spirit of Mammon (Matthew 6:24)

- Practical first steps for launching or strengthening a stewardship ministry in your church.

Whether you're just starting the conversation or looking to go deeper, this episode is packed with perspective and practical guidance.

In this episode of The Advantage Podcast, David Ashcraft sits down with Pearl Parks (LCBC's Global & Local Impact Director) and Javy Diaz (World Vision Church Engagement Director) for a candid, practical conversation about rethinking how your church engages global missions.

They cover:

- Why LCBC moved away from the traditional missions model — and what replaced it.

- The power of focused partnerships and why doing less often accomplishes more.

- Common mistakes churches make in global outreach, from quick fixes to spreading too thin.

- How child sponsorship became a gateway for thousands of people to engage globally.

- Why generosity begets generosity — and what the data actually shows.

- What it looks like to help communities become truly self-sustaining.

Whether you're starting from scratch or rethinking what you're already doing, this episode will give you a clear framework for leading your church into meaningful global impact.

In this episode of The Advantage Podcast, David Ashcraft sits down with Roy Clair, co-founder of Clair Global—the company behind the sound at the majority of the world’s major tours and many leading churches today.

Roy shares:

• How a small-town hobby in Lititz grew into a global organization of 8,000 employees

• The mindset and work ethic that fueled six decades of growth

Episode 29 features Dan Reiland—one of the most seasoned executive pastors and leadership coaches in the church world. Dan served alongside John Maxwell for years at Skyline Church and spent 24 years as the Executive Pastor at 12Stone Church with Kevin Myers. He now coaches senior pastors and executive teams full time, and his wisdom in this conversation is the kind you don't find in a book.

In this episode, David Ashcraft and Dan talk through:

• When the right time is to hire an executive pastor (and what size church makes it financially feasible)

• The two types of executive pastors—and why most people naturally gravitate toward one side

• How to build an executive team structure that works for your church's personality

• What it means to be a bottleneck—and how to know when your structure needs to change

• The critical difference between equipping and developing leaders (and why legacy churches know how to do both)

• A 10-minute conversation John Maxwell had with Dan in 1982 that changed the course of his ministry

Whether you have an executive pastor, are thinking about hiring one, or are trying to build a healthier culture on your team—this conversation will give you language, perspective, and practical handles to take home.

What if the entrepreneurs in your church could become your greatest ministry partners? In the newest episode of The Advantage Podcast, David Ashcraft talks with Mike Grunden from Faith Driven Entrepreneur about the ways pastors can engage high-capacity leaders for Kingdom impact.

In their conversation, you'll discover:

- Why revival often starts in "pockets of awakening"

- How to overcome intimidation when connecting with business leaders

- Practical tools to move entrepreneurs from the sidelines to the front lines of ministry.

In our newest episode of The Advantage podcast, David sits down with two leaders who are helping churches all over the country navigate one of the most confusing and rapidly changing areas of ministry today—technology.

Adam Hann (LCBC) and Christian Nelson (The Christian Consulting Group) join him for a practical and eye-opening conversation about how churches can leverage technology without losing their minds or their budgets. Whether you're a digital early adopter or someone who still sees tech as a "black hole," this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and a better strategy for the road ahead.

We talk about:

- Why so many churches are stuck with disconnected systems that don't talk to each other

- How your website and online experience have become your new front door

- The real ministry impact of knowing your people through data

- How to uncover untapped tech expertise that's already sitting in your church

- What a healthy technology budget actually looks like

- And how to thoughtfully prepare your church for the rise of AI—without panic or hype

We’re excited to welcome Kent Jacobs, founder and lead pastor of Epic Church in Philadelphia. Kent’s journey—from meeting Jesus at age 12 to launching Epic with just a handful of people—has been marked by courage, faith, and a deep desire to help every person in the city know God.

In the early days of Epic, Kent reached out to LCBC simply looking to learn. That small step sparked a meaningful connection that has grown into years of friendship, encouragement, and collaboration through The Advantage. Kent and his team have been key contributors to this network as together we work to strengthen churches across Pennsylvania.

In this episode, Kent shares the ups and downs of church planting in the city, the challenges of leading through COVID without a permanent facility, the surprising gift of a historic building, and the renewed hope and momentum Epic is experiencing today. You’ll hear his heart for Philadelphia, his passion for long‑term ministry, and the role collaboration has played in shaping his journey.