The Christian Leader Podcast

Peggy Goertzen is back for her fourth appearance on LEAD Pods, and she's bringing history to life once again. As director and archivist of the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies at Tabor College, Peggy is the go-to voice for all things MB heritage.

In this episode, she traces the roots of why Mennonite Brethren started gathering in the first place, taking us back to the 1870s when MB immigrants fled persecution in Russia and settled across Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. By 1879, scattered churches came together for a national gathering because, as Peggy puts it, they simply didn't want to be alone.

From love feasts and long sermons to big debates about missions, military service, and evangelism funding, Peggy draws a straight line from those early gatherings to why USMB still comes together today. With the 2026 Gathering in Salt Lake City just around the corner, this one is worth sharing with your whole team. Details at usmb.org.

After five years at the helm of MCC as the world faced some of its most turbulent times in recent history, US Executive Director Ann Graber Hershberger is passing the baton, and she couldn't be more at peace about it. Incoming director Rukshan Fernando brings a remarkable story of his own: born in the US, raised in Sri Lanka amid civil war, and shaped by decades of work across social work, Christian higher education, affordable housing, and nonprofit leadership.

Together they reflect on how this leadership transition has unfolded, what it looks like to hold a role loosely and hand it off well, and how MCC's new strategic blueprint is shaping the organization's next season. They also dig into what makes MCC distinct, and why keeping Jesus at the center is so essential.

MB church leaders will also want to catch the practical segment near the end, with tangible ways your congregation can connect with MCC's work, from school kit drives to pastor cohorts to learning tours abroad. Visit mcc.org to learn more.

This week Matt sits down with three members of the Gathering planning team, Kelsey Ensz, Drew Pankratz, and Alec Alvarado, for a behind-the-scenes look at what to expect for the USMB national convention this July in Salt Lake City. 

The three share the heart behind this year's theme, Cultivate: Living on Mission with Jesus, rooted in 1 Corinthians 3 and the MB family's longtime commitment to disciple-making. They discuss what went into selecting the speakers and workshops, along with details of what to expect if you plan to bring your kids or students along with you. 

Plus, we take a fun detour into Salt Lake City itself, with tips on hiking, Pioneer Day festivities, and why July is a great time to make the trip a family vacation. If you've been on the fence about attending, this episode just might be what pushes you to register. Get the details at usmb.org. 

Andy Owen and Kyle Goings return to LEAD Pods for a timely and energizing conversation about one of the church's most urgent challenges: developing the next generation of leaders before a looming leadership crisis arrives.

Andy serves as executive pastor at Ridgepoint Church in Wichita, Kansas, bringing over 20 years of international ministry experience from Thailand to his work of equipping leaders today. Kyle serves as next gen pastor at Ridgepoint and director of USMB Next Gen, where he focuses on calling and developing young leaders across the denomination.

The conversation tackles why leadership development feels so hard even when everyone agrees it matters, and what the data actually says about where the church is headed. Kyle unpacks striking statistics from Barna showing that more Protestant ministry leaders are now over 65 than under 40, with one in four pastors expected to retire by 2030. He also shares encouraging signs from Gen Z, a generation showing increased spiritual hunger not seen since the Jesus Revolution of the early seventies.

Andy offers a personal story about turning 50 and discovering a passage in Numbers 8 that reframed his entire approach to ministry, shifting his focus from doing the work to equipping others to do it. Together they offer practical steps any church leader can take, and Kyle makes a strong case that every church can and should have a summer intern, pointing listeners to leaderpipeline.net for free resources.

This episode is a candid and hopeful call for leaders to stop waiting for the next generation to be ready and start doing the work of developing them now.

Amy Jackson-Kincaid joins LEAD Pods for an eye-opening and faith-filled conversation about foster care, the guardian ad litem program, and the vital role churches can play in one of America's most pressing needs.

Amy serves as district administrator for the Guardian Ad Litem Program in North Carolina, overseeing nearly 600 children across three counties. She is also an ordained minister and associate pastor at Boone Mennonite Brethren Church, and serves on the USMB board.

The conversation covers how the foster care system actually works, what a guardian ad litem does, and how Amy went from offering one weekend of respite care in 2002 to leading a program that serves hundreds of children today. She is honest about the weight of the work and the hard days, but equally passionate about what becomes possible when churches decide to show up. From providing duffle bags of essentials to supporting foster families with meals and practical help, she outlines accessible ways any congregation can get involved.

Grounded throughout in James 1:27, this episode is a clear and compelling call for church leaders to see foster care not as someone else's problem, but as pure religion in action.

Pastor Aaron Halvorsen joins LEAD Pods for a warm and wide-ranging conversation about preaching, pastoral identity, and the often unglamorous but essential work of long-term ministry.

Aaron is the lead pastor of Community Bible Church in Olathe, Kansas, where he has served for over a decade and will soon celebrate the church's 60th anniversary. He shares his journey from the Pacific Northwest to Kansas, his unexpected entry into the Mennonite Brethren world through church planting, and what it has meant to put down deep roots in one church and one community over the long haul.

The conversation explores Aaron's passion for expository preaching and a preview of his upcoming talk at the USMB convention. Aaron reflects honestly on the dangers of measuring ministry success by visible results, the temptation of stagnation, and the challenge of maintaining joy and gratitude in the busyness of pastoral life.

Along the way, he offers encouragement for pastors to embrace the slow, invisible work of watering, trusting that God is growing things we cannot always see, and makes a compelling case for why gathering together as a denominational family is worth showing up for.

Pastor Endashaw Kelkele joins LEAD Pods for a wide-ranging conversation about immigrant church leadership, mission, and faith shaped by perseverance.

Endashaw is the lead pastor of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Denver, where he has served for more than three decades. He shares his story of growing up in Ethiopia during a time of Christian persecution, fleeing to Kenya, and eventually immigrating to Colorado—where he never expected to become a pastor, but felt God’s clear call to shepherd a growing community.

The conversation explores what it’s like to lead a bilingual, multicultural church navigating generational change, shifting language, and cultural tension. Endashaw reflects on the challenges and opportunities of serving first- and second-generation immigrants, raising up young leaders, and helping the church remain centered on the mission of Christ rather than control or comfort.

Along the way, he offers wisdom for pastors and church leaders serving in diverse communities, insights into evangelism through everyday work, and encouragement for churches seeking to come alongside immigrant congregations with humility, trust, and partnership.

Pastor Jon Annin joins LEAD Pods for a thoughtful conversation about leading change without losing people. Jon is one of the speakers for the USMB Gathering this summer, and this episode offers a window into his heart for ministry, renewal, and sustainable leadership.

Jon shares the story of returning to Stony Brook Church, a small church in Omaha that had experienced significant decline, and how patient, courageous change led to health, growth, and renewed mission. Along the way, he reflects on lessons learned from serving in both large and small churches, the importance of building teams that can say both yes and no, and why church health can’t be measured by size alone. The conversation also explores church planting, video campuses, and how pastors can lead change wisely in a season when both culture and ministry feel especially demanding.

In this special role-reversal episode of LEAD Pods, host Matt Ehresman steps into the guest seat as he is interviewed by Lacey Scully, the editor of the Christian Leader magazine. Together they explore the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence and what it means for church leaders today. Matt shares how he personally uses AI tools in his work, from podcast production to daily church communication, and why he believes AI can be a gift to ministry leaders when it's used thoughtfully and wisely. 

This conversation isn't about hype or fear; it's all about discernment. Matt and Lacey talk honestly about the ethical concerns surrounding AI, the risks of losing authenticity, and the importance of keeping the human (and spiritual) elements at the center of ministry. Along the way, Matt offers practical examples for pastors and church leaders who are curious about AI but unsure where to start. The goal isn't to replace people, but rather to leverage these tools without losing your soul. 

Pastor, theologian, and author A.J. Swoboda joins LEAD Pods for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership and formation. A.J. is one of our keynote speakers for the USMB Gathering coming up this July, so this episode gives a sneak peek into his heart for ministry and insight into life as a pastor in today's unique culture. 

We cover a lot of ground in this episode! A.J. shares thoughts about doubt and deconstruction (the main topic of his talk at Gathering), why it's so important for various denominations to learn from each other, and why he tells his students to always express gratitude to ChatGPT. This episode introduces A.J. as a thoughtful, grounded voice and invites pastors to reflect on how they are being formed as they lead in an increasingly complex world.