The Attentive Church Leadership Podcast

Pastoral leadership is deeply personal work. It asks leaders to hold conviction and compassion, vision and presence, courage and humility all at the same time.

In this episode of the LFM ACL Podcast, we sit down with Mark Toone, longtime pastor, author, and teacher, to reflect on the inner life of leadership and the practices that help pastors remain grounded over time.

Mark shares from decades of ministry experience about calling, faithfulness, and the quiet formation that sustains leaders through change, pressure, and seasons of uncertainty. This conversation invites pastors and Christian leaders to slow down, pay attention, and lead from a deeper place of trust in God.

This episode is especially for leaders who want to serve well without losing their soul.

In this episode, you will hear about:

The interior life of pastoral leadership

How calling is shaped over time

Staying grounded amid responsibility and expectation

Why attentiveness matters for long-term faithfulness

The LFM ACL Podcast exists to encourage and equip Christian leaders to live into their calling with wisdom, humility, and hope.

Learn more about Leighton Ford Ministries at lfmconnect.org.

Change is no longer the exception for church leaders. It is the environment we lead in.

In this episode of the Attentive Church Leadership Podcast, we sit down with Tod Bolsinger, pastor, leadership strategist, and author of Canoeing the Mountains and Tempered Resilience. Tod brings decades of experience walking alongside pastors and ministry leaders who are navigating uncertainty, loss, and transformation.

Together, we explore what faithful leadership looks like when old maps no longer work, why resilience is formed through spiritual maturity rather than sheer effort, and how leaders can grow steadier, wiser, and more hopeful in seasons of deep change.

This conversation is especially for pastors, Christian leaders, and ministry teams who feel stretched, tired, or unsure how to lead forward without losing their soul.

In this episode, you will hear about:

- Why adaptive leadership matters in today’s church

- The difference between technical fixes and deeper formation

- How resilience is shaped through practice, community, and trust in God

- What it means to lead with courage and clarity when outcomes are uncertain

Leighton Ford Ministries exists to encourage and equip leaders to live into their calling with faithfulness, humility, and hope.

Learn more about Leighton Ford Ministries at lfmconnect.org.

In this episode of the Attentive Church Leadership Podcast, we sit down with John E. Walker, for a conversation that cuts to the core of what every thriving ministry—and organization—depends on: culture.

Together, they unpack the practical and spiritual principles behind building a healthy, high-trust environment where people love to serve, leaders grow, and vision flourishes. John shares real-world wisdom on how to confront dysfunction, model values from the top down, and protect the heart of your team without losing momentum.

If you’ve ever wondered why some teams thrive while others just survive, this conversation will give you the tools to start shaping a culture worth being part of.

In this episode of the Attentive Church Leadership Podcast, we sit down with Alan Platt, founder of City Changers, for an honest and challenging conversation about the posture of today’s Church. Are we showing up to consume—or to contribute?

Alan unpacks what it means for leaders to cultivate a culture of engagement rather than entitlement—both in their congregations and in their own hearts. From redefining success in ministry to mobilizing believers for impact in every sphere of society, this conversation will equip and inspire you to lead with humility, clarity, and conviction.

Whether you’re a pastor, team leader, or passionate church member, this episode will stir you to evaluate your leadership through the lens of participation, not privilege.

In a culture obsessed with self, is true community even possible?

In this episode, Dr. Jim Singleton joins us to unpack what it looks like to build authentic, life-giving relationships in a world dominated by individualism and self-promotion. We discuss why loneliness is on the rise, the spiritual roots of our disconnection, and practical steps we can take to cultivate communities that reflect the heart of Christ.

Whether you’re a pastor, leader, or simply someone longing for deeper connection, this conversation will challenge the way you think about friendship, church, and your role in fostering community.

In this thought-provoking episode, Rev. Tom Hall joins Tim to unpack the question: Is the tail wagging the dog? - a challenge to the modern church's priorities, posture, and purpose. Drawing from years of pastoral experience and deep theological insight, Tom explores how cultural trends, political pressures, and institutional habits can distort the mission of the church.

Are we being led by Christ, or by the systems we've built in His name? What happens when strategy outweighs Spirit? And how can leaders reclaim a faithful center in turbulent times?

This is a candid, convicting, and hope-filled conversation for anyone longing to see the Church re-centered on Jesus.

In this episode of the Attentive Church Leadership Podcast, we sit down with Christina McDaniel to explore how strategic clarity and Spirit-led leadership can transform a local church.

Christina shares her firsthand experience walking through a visioning process with her church, the impact of outside perspective, and how rediscovering core values brought alignment and renewed momentum to their ministry.

If you're a pastor, church leader, or ministry influencer seeking practical insights on church health, leadership clarity, and spiritual renewal—this conversation is for you.

How does real, lasting transformation happen in a church?

In this episode of the Attentive Church Leadership Podcast, Dr. David Swanson (Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Orlando) and Dr. Jack Peebles join Kevin Ford to unpack what it looks like when a congregation moves from decline to revitalization.

Drawing from firsthand experience and decades of leadership, they share powerful insights on building trust, leading with attentiveness, and creating space for the Holy Spirit to work in the life of a church.

If you're a pastor, church leader, or someone passionate about seeing the Church flourish, this conversation will encourage and equip you.

Rhett Wilson interviews Marnie Crumpler, pastor of Grace Church in Bethlehem,

Pennsylvania. They discuss the vital importance of trust, how to gain it, and how

to use it effectively as you lead others.

Kevin Ford and Jim Osterhaus, a psychologist and senior leadership coach at LFM,

discuss the anxiety pastors feel leading an organization and facing criticism and

conflict. They talk about healthy conflict vs. unhealthy and look at four areas

pastors need to give attention to as they seek to be self-aware.