Former LCBC Senior Pastor David Ashcraft talks about the small church dysfunction he encountered when he arrived at LCBC when it was just a small church.

Plus, he discusses how it scaled into a mega-church of 22,000, succession, and how he repositioned the Global Leadership Summit for the future.

🔗 Show Notes

📩 On The Rise Newsletter

🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet

🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy

🎥 Watch on YouTube

Follow @careynieuwhof

Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork

❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.

Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes

2026 CHURCH TRENDS

This year, I'm premiering my Annual Church Trends LIVE inside The Art of Leadership Academy. You'll receive the full 2026 church trends report and leader guide, as well as a live, interactive Q&A and a podcast series. All launching in January.

If you want to be the first to access it all, head to 2026churchtrends.com for free access.

STATE OF THE CHURCH

Stay up to date on the latest research coming out of Barna's State of the Church.

Visit stateofthechurch.com/carey

AMPLIFY+

Amplify Plus from Ministry Brands is a fully connected church management platform that brings your people, communication, events, & scheduling—all into one place.

When your systems work, your time "on" fuels the heart of ministry. Visit ministrybrands.com/amplify to learn more.

Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Sharon Hodde Miller discusses entering ministry with idealism that is crushed when people break your heart and leave your church.

Plus, she discusses how to keep your heart engaged, learning to fight cynicism, and how to know when to speak into culture and when to keep silent.

🔗 Show Notes

📩 On The Rise Newsletter

🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet

🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy

🎥 Watch on YouTube

Follow @careynieuwhof

Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork

❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.

Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes

2026 CHURCH TRENDS

This year, I'm premiering my Annual Church Trends LIVE inside The Art of Leadership Academy. You'll receive the full 2026 church trends report and leader guide, as well as a live, interactive Q&A and a podcast series. All launching in January.

If you want to be the first to access it all, head to 2026churchtrends.com for free access.

IGNITER MEDIA

Let's be honest: Keeping your church's visuals and communication fresh week after week is tough. Igniter has a robust library of ready-made church media that works seamlessly with all church presentation software.

For my listeners, Igniter is offering an exclusive discount on any of their memberships. Plus, they're giving you a FREE exclusive sermon series package valued at $330. Check it out at IgniterMedia.com/carey.

Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Theologian and church planter Dom Ruso offers lessons from church planting in Montreal, one of the most secular environments in North America, and how to reach a very difficult culture.

He talks about the lack of theological training churches are facing, why we're probably not ready for real revival, and how to reach people most people think are unreachable.

🔗 Show Notes

📩 On The Rise Newsletter

🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet

🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy

🎥 Watch on YouTube

Follow @careynieuwhof

Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork

❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.

Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes

2026 CHURCH TRENDS

This year, I'm premiering my Annual Church Trends LIVE inside The Art of Leadership Academy. You'll receive the full 2026 church trends report and leader guide, as well as a live, interactive Q&A and a podcast series. All launching in January.

If you want to be the first to access it all, head to 2026churchtrends.com for free access.

BELAY

Download Belay's free resource, The Power of Productivity, for tools and strategies that you can use to boost your productivity, so you can lead your ministry with efficiency and purpose.

STATE OF THE CHURCH

The State of the Church's free ChurchPulse Assessment helps you measure what matters, the flourishing of your people and the thriving of your church.

Access it now for free at stateofthechurch.com/carey

Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

J.R. Briggs has studied the art of asking questions for ten years. He shares how the quality of your questions determines the quality of your life and leadership, how to use questions to get your audience's full attention, and why question-asking is a dying art.

🔗 Show Notes

📩 On The Rise Newsletter

🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet

🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy

🎥 Watch on YouTube

Follow @careynieuwhof

Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork

❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.

Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes

2026 CHURCH TRENDS

This year, I'm premiering my Annual Church Trends LIVE inside The Art of Leadership Academy. You'll receive the full 2026 church trends report and leader guide, as well as a live, interactive Q&A and a podcast series. All launching in January.

If you want to be the first to access it all, head to 2026churchtrends.com for free access.

GLOO WORKSPACE

With solutions like Gloo Workspace, where ministry leaders get work done, and partners like Igniter Media, Barna, VisitorReach, and Outreach, Gloo is providing the digital backbone for the faith ecosystem, equipping your church, ministry, and individuals to thrive in a digital age.

Learn more about how Gloo can help you do more of what you're called to do by texting CAREY to 46816.

Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

In this episode of the podcast, N.T. Wright discusses the forces that formed him into the scholar, priest, and writer he is today: his early influences, his calling, and what he gave up to pursue his writing.

He also shares his views on spiritual warfare and the problem of Christians demonizing their enemies.

🔗 Show Notes

📩 On The Rise Newsletter

🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet

🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy

🎥 Watch on YouTube

Follow @careynieuwhof

Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork

❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.

Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes

2026 CHURCH TRENDS

This year, I'm premiering my Annual Church Trends LIVE inside The Art of Leadership Academy. You'll receive the full 2026 church trends report and leader guide, as well as a live, interactive Q&A and a podcast series. All launching in January.

If you want to be the first to access it all, head to 2026churchtrends.com for free access.

COMPASSION

As a pastor, I wonder how that's going for you, your family, and your community this holiday season? Do you feel a deep sense of compassion? Can you imagine what might change if you did?

Visit my friends at Compassion International to learn about the impact you and your church can make starting right now.

Find out more at www.compassion.com/carey.

Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Lysa TerKeurst opens up about the end of her marriage and offers insight into the distinction between difficult and destructive relationships.

Lysa shares the biblical grounds for divorce, and Carey and Lysa discuss how to help people in a tough marriage.

🔗 Show Notes

📩 On The Rise Newsletter

🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet

🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy

🎥 Watch on YouTube

Follow @careynieuwhof

Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork

❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.

Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes

2026 CHURCH TRENDS

This year, I'm premiering my Annual Church Trends LIVE inside The Art of Leadership Academy. You'll receive the full 2026 church trends report and leader guide, as well as a live, interactive Q&A and a podcast series. All launching in January.

If you want to be the first to access it all, head to 2026churchtrends.com for free access.

GLOO AI

Your congregation and staff are using AI tools, and as a leader, you must help them answer the question: Is AI contributing to my human flourishing or detracting from it?

Rather than measuring AI on speed or accuracy, Gloo's Flourishing AI approach evaluates AI tools based on their alignment with key dimensions of human flourishing, helping leaders steward the question, "Should we use this tool?"

This is one of the ways Gloo is building high tech for a higher purpose.

Discover Flourishing AI at gloo.com/Carey

Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

J.D. Greear shares the tension every pastor feels over when to speak out, how to speak out, and which issues should command a pastor's voice.

J.D. also discusses Charlie Kirk, the culture wars, and social outrage.

🔗 Show Notes

📩 On The Rise Newsletter

🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet

🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy

🎥 Watch on YouTube

Follow @careynieuwhof

Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork

❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.

Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes

2026 CHURCH TRENDS

This year, I'm premiering my Annual Church Trends LIVE inside The Art of Leadership Academy. You'll receive the full 2026 church trends report and leader guide, as well as a live, interactive Q&A and a podcast series. All launching in January.

If you want to be the first to access it all, head to 2026churchtrends.com for free access.

SUBSPLASH

Subsplash is a unified platform that brings together your website, mobile app, giving, church management, live streaming, and more—so you can simplify your systems to amplify your ministry impact.

Head to subsplash.com/carey today and you'll save $500 when you sign up.

ASPEN GROUP

Your building is shaping people's experience of ministry—either working for your mission or against it.

Aspen Group helps churches steward their resources to create spaces that enhance mission, elevate growth, and establish longevity—walking with you every step of the way, from first idea to final build.

To learn more about how Aspen Group can help your space better serve your mission, visit aspengroup.com/carey

Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Dr. Caroline Leaf explains her philosophy on the distinction between the mind and the brain, and how to utilize your mind to combat stress, anxiety, and burnout. She also weighs in on AI and its potential to harm the mind and brain.

🔗 Show Notes

📩 On The Rise Newsletter

🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet

🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy

🎥 Watch on YouTube

Follow @careynieuwhof

Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork

❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.

Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes

STATE OF THE CHURCH

Stay up to date on the latest research coming out of Barna's State of the Church.

Visit stateofthechurch.com/carey

AMPLIFY+

Amplify Plus from Ministry Brands, a fully connected church management platform that brings your people, communication, events, & scheduling—all into one place.

When your systems work, your time "on" fuels the heart of ministry.

Visit ministrybrands.com/amplify to learn more.

IGNITER MEDIA

Igniter has a robust library of ready-made church media from sermon videos to beautifully designed backgrounds that work seamlessly in all church presentation software applications.

And for my listeners, Igniter Media is offering a FREE exclusive sermon series package valued at $330.

Try it FREE at IgniterMedia.com/carey

Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

In this episode, you'll learn a fresh perspective on exactly where your time goes, how to cut the investments where you're least effective, and multiply your time investments in the activities that generate the most results.

🔗 Show Notes

📩 On The Rise Newsletter

🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet

🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy

🎥 Watch on YouTube

Follow @careynieuwhof

Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork

❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.

Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes

OneAccord

OneAccord is an AI-based translation platform designed exclusively for the local church, with over 50 languages available,

Visit oneaccord.ai/carey, for a free trial with 3 hours of translation credit.

Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Dr. James Sells and Shaunti Feldhahn rethink mental health and loneliness. They offer practical steps on how the church can lead healing without burning out its leaders, especially pastors.

🔗 Show Notes

📩 On The Rise Newsletter

🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet

🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy

🎥 Watch on YouTube

Follow @careynieuwhof

Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork

❗️Connect with other podcast listeners about each episode of my podcast, including me. You'll get exclusive insights by asking questions, sharing insights, and learning how others are applying the content in real life.

Join for free: https://careynieuwhof.com/shownotes

ECFA

ECFA is committed to regularly providing content—like "7 Questions a Board Can Ask the Senior Leader" or "How to Identify Ministry Burnout"—to help you build up leaders that thrive in their wellbeing, faith, and reaching the world for Christ.

Visit ecfa.org/LeaderCare to learn more and download free resources that will set your organization up for success.

COMPASSION

As a pastor, I wonder how that's going for you, your family, and your community this holiday season?

I encourage you to visit my friends at Compassion International to learn about the impact you and your church can make starting right now.

Find out more at www.compassion.com/carey.

JUNCTION CREATIVE

Whether you need a new website, a fresh brand strategy, or a marketing campaign that converts with a real ROI, Junction Creative gives you access to experienced marketers who treat your business like their own.

Their principles and values drive their belief that good companies can become great companies. That belief drives their approach to ROI-based digital marketing, results-driven SEO, and strategies with growth and profitability as their north star, as well as websites built with the understanding that they need to be your star employee representing you online.

If you're ready for a more hands-on marketing partner, visit junctioncreative.com to schedule your free consultation.

Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network