Ted takes you through the week's biggest stories in church leadership.

Stories covered this week:

• Beth Moore's Farewell: Living Proof Live announces its final seven events after 29 years of women's ministry, with the last event scheduled for April 2027.
• Jeff Foxworthy on Christianity: The comedian calls Christians the "worst advertisement" for their faith, paired with new Gallup data showing declining religious importance in American life.
• AI in Seminary & Ministry: Thom Rainer on AI-proof ministry roles, the Graduate Theological Union president on AI ethics, and the World Council of Churches hosts an AI panel for faith communities.
• Gen Z & Millennials Returning: New Gloo/Barna data shows younger generations leading a church resurgence — but they want authenticity, not better branding.
• Church Win: New Life Community Church in Carlisle, PA distributes 300+ refurbished bicycles annually to people reentering society after incarceration.

Links:

• Healthy Church Staff Podcast
• Church Leadership Radar Newsletter

Ted Rhoades (Todd's AI twin brother) steps in to cover today's stories:

• Beth Moore Announces Final Living Proof Live Events — After 29 years of women's conferences, Beth Moore is modeling what it looks like to end well. Her intentional, graceful transition is a masterclass in leadership.
• Top 20 AI-Proof Jobs Include Ministry Roles — Thom Rainer ranks the safest jobs in an AI-driven world, and ministry roles like senior pastor, youth pastor, hospice chaplain, and missionary top the list. The common thread: they're deeply relational.
• The Iron Law of Church Growth — New research shows denominations without young adults could lose half their members within a decade. A sobering wake-up call for churches not actively engaging twenties and thirties.
• Good News: Campbellsburg Baptist Goes Old School — Handwritten letters and care packages are making a difference in this small-town church's community outreach.

Ending well is a leadership skill. Is there anything in your ministry that needs a thoughtful, grateful ending?

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Today on Church Leadership Radar: Thom Rainer calls out "The Easter Illusion" — the gap between attendance and real discipleship. New Barna research shows Gen Z and millennials are actually leading a church resurgence. Christianity Today profiles John Perkins, now 95 and in hospice care. Plus, a Pennsylvania church distributing 300+ refurbished bikes per year to formerly incarcerated people.

Today's Challenge: As your team plans for Easter, spend just as much time planning for the Monday after. What's the follow-up strategy?

Sources:

• Thom Rainer on The Easter Illusion
• Barna Research: Gen Z & Millennials Leading Church Resurgence
• Christianity Today: John Perkins Profile
• New Life Community Church Bike Program

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Today on Church Leadership Radar, Ted Rhoades fills in for Todd and covers three important stories:

• Gallup's Latest Numbers: Only 47% of Americans now say religion is very important in their lives, weekly church attendance has dropped to 31%, and the closing gender gap in church engagement is a shift every leader needs to watch.
• Jeff Foxworthy on Christians: The comedian told an audience that Christians are "the worst advertisement" for what they believe in — and why that's a conversation worth having at your next staff meeting.
• Ministry PTSD on Your Staff: A new piece on why your church staff may be carrying invisible wounds from previous ministry experiences, and how understanding that dynamic could help you keep great people.

Good News: Set Free Sanger in California mobilized 40 volunteers to serve 300 people through their Warm My Sheep outreach — 21 professions of faith and 8 rededications.

The One Thing: This week, look at your Sunday experience through the eyes of someone who chose to be there, not someone who showed up out of habit. What would you change?

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Ted Rhoades covers the breaking story from Crossroads Church, where founding pastor Brian Tome has been suspended amid an independent investigation, plus the removal of Acts 29's VP Tyler Jones after confessing to a long-term extramarital relationship. Also: What Gen Z actually wants from church, and Mountain View Church nearing one million meals served.

Today's Stories:

• Brian Tome Suspended – Crossroads Church founding pastor suspended pending independent investigation
• Tyler Jones Removed – Acts 29 U.S. VP and Vintage Church lead pastor removed after confession
• What Gen Z Wants from Church – Exponential
• Mountain View Church Nears 1 Million Meals – Queen Creek Tribune

More from Today's Report:

• The SBC Free Fall: Why the Largest Protestant Denomination Lost 3.6 Million Members
• The Pastor Who Can't Say No: The Hidden Cost on Your Family
• Every Superhero Needs a Squad: Why Pastors Need Community

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Today on Church Leadership Radar: The FBI seizes $4.2 million from a church accused of forced labor — a stark reminder about financial transparency. Plus, why the church staffing crisis is getting worse and what you can do about it. A New Mexico church launches inclusive "Messy Church" events for special needs families. And a veteran pastor's honest confession about the biggest mistake of his 27-year career.

Stories covered:

• FBI raids Kingdom of God Global Church properties — forced labor and money laundering charges
• Thom Rainer on why the church staffing pipeline has fundamentally shifted
• Trinity Church in Clovis, NM launches "Messy Church" for special needs ministry
• A pastor's 27-year career lesson: don't neglect friendships with other pastors

More from us:

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This week on Church Leadership Radar: Adam Hamilton explores a Senate run, Barna finds 1 in 3 Christians trust AI spiritual advice as much as a pastor, and the data behind the vanishing church. Plus a Church Win from Abundant Life Fellowship.

• Adam Hamilton Senate Exploratory Committee — Founding pastor of Church of the Resurrection (22,000+ members) announces exploration of Independent Senate run in Kansas
• Barna AI Spiritual Advice Study — 34% of practicing Christians say AI-generated spiritual advice is as trustworthy as counsel from their pastor
• Ryan Burge's "The Vanishing Church" — New book argues revival narrative is overblown; Gen Z less religious than millennials
• LifeWay Research on Religious "Nones" — Nearly two-thirds of unaffiliated still carry spiritual openness
• Karl Vaters on the End of "Cool Church" — The shift from production value to authenticity
• Christianity Today: "The Ministry of Small Things" — The irreplaceable value of pastoral presence

Abundant Life Fellowship Church — After a propane explosion destroyed their building and critically injured Pastor Brandon Pitts, the church held its first worship service in a high school gym just 10 days later. "We have not lost our faith."

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Today on Church Leadership Radar: A new Barna study reveals 34% of Christians trust AI for spiritual advice as much as their pastor. Acts 29 removes VP Tyler Jones after a moral failure confession. Researcher Ryan Burge argues the revival narrative is overblown. Plus, a church community rallies after a devastating explosion.

Stories covered:

• Barna Study: 34% of Christians trust AI spiritual advice as much as their pastor
• Acts 29 removes U.S. Vice President Tyler Jones from leadership
• Ryan Burge's new book challenges the revival narrative with Gen Z data
• Abundant Life Fellowship Church holds first service after propane explosion

Connect with us:

• Subscribe to the newsletter at churchleadershipradar.substack.com
• Check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

In today's episode: Your best staff member might be your biggest succession risk — what happens when key leaders leave and they take everything they built with them? Plus, a thoughtful look at what AI will never replace in ministry (and how to use it wisely). And the warning signs your best volunteers are about to walk away — before they actually do.

Good News: Twenty-five people in Battle Ground, Washington relaunched a 75-year-old church as Saving Grace Church, complete with tap-to-pray tags, free haircuts, and care packs for the community.

Takeaway: Pick one ministry area this week and ask: if the leader left tomorrow, what would we lose? If the answer is "everything," start building systems alongside the person.

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Today on Church Leadership Radar: Evangelist Todd White issues a public apology amid growing scrutiny over his ministry practices at Lifestyle Christianity. New LifeWay Research reveals that nearly two-thirds of religious "nones" still carry some level of spiritual openness. Barna's David Kinnaman sits down with Carey Nieuwhof to pump the brakes on the revival talk. Plus, two churches from different cultural backgrounds pull off a miracle merger.

Stories covered:

• Todd White's public apology and calls for independent investigation
• LifeWay Research: Only 36% of religious nones have complete absence of belief
• David Kinnaman on Carey Nieuwhof's podcast: Tapping the brakes on revival talk
• Two churches complete a cross-cultural merger

Connect:

• Newsletter: Church Leadership Radar on Substack
• More from Todd: Healthy Church Staff Podcast