In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart sits down with Lauren Ralston to explore how ministry leaders can disciple volunteers the way Jesus discipled His followers. They discuss the difference between teaching information and giving people access to your life, how to identify a core leadership team, and why multiplication is not complete until the people you develop are developing others.

If your ministry structure still depends on you personally reaching every volunteer, teacher, child, or family, this episode will help you build a healthier model that multiplies care without losing personal connection.

KEY TOPICS COVERED

What Makes a Disciple Maker – Moving beyond personal growth to helping others reproduce

Life-on-Life Discipleship – Why people need access to your real life, not only your lessons

The 12, the 3, and the 1 – Identifying the people who need your deepest investment

A Multiplying Structure – Training coordinators to disciple teachers who disciple families

KEY QUOTE

“You are not a disciple maker until the people you are discipling are making disciples.”

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

2 Timothy 2:2 – Entrust what you have learned to faithful people who will teach others

Exodus 18:17-23 – Jethro challenges Moses to develop leaders who can share the load

Matthew 4:19 and Matthew 10:1 – Jesus first models ministry and then sends His disciples to do it

TAKEAWAY

Do not wait for growth to force multiplication. Identify one faithful person, invite them closer, let them see how you live and lead, and begin preparing them to pass the same investment to someone else.

CALL TO ACTION

We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.

STAY CONNECTED FOR MORE RESOURCES

Visit our website: http://leadministry.com

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers

Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk unpack the difference between dumping, delegating, and discipling volunteers. They explore why rushed handoffs create confusion and turnover, how clear systems protect both quality and people, and why the highest form of ministry multiplication requires passing on more than a task — it requires passing on the heart behind the work.

If you've ever returned from vacation to discover that a volunteer misunderstood an assignment, or wondered why capable people keep burning out around you, this episode will help you build a better handoff and a healthier team.

KEY TOPICS COVERED

Dumping vs. Delegating vs. Discipling – Recognizing three very different kinds of ministry handoff

Clarity Before Handoff – Why details, examples, and a dry run prevent avoidable failure

Build Once, Reap Repeatedly – Creating systems that serve volunteers for years

The Be-With Factor – Passing on your heart through time, questions, and shared ministry

KEY QUOTE

“The cost that you pay to delegate properly and disciple thoroughly is worth it.”

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

Mark 3:14 – Jesus appointed the twelve so they might be with Him and be sent out

Ephesians 4:11-12 – Ministry leaders equip God's people for the work of ministry

TAKEAWAY

Delegation may complete a task, but discipleship builds a person. Slow down before the handoff, provide the clarity a volunteer needs, and invest enough time for them to understand both what to do and why it matters.

CALL TO ACTION

We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.

STAY CONNECTED FOR MORE RESOURCES

Visit our website: http://leadministry.com

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers

Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk wrap the July Conflict series with ten practical rules every ministry leader needs when conflict shows up at the door. They explore the difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking, offering ministry leaders a working playbook for handling the hard conversations they'd rather avoid.

If you've ever felt unprepared for the relational fallout that comes with leadership, this episode will equip and inspire you with ten field-tested principles you can put into practice this week.

Key Topics Covered

• Act quickly and lead with the benefit of the doubt – the first two rules that change everything.
• Make it right, not being right – why winning the argument can cost you the relationship.
• Peacekeeper vs. peacemaker – the difference that defines the kind of leader you'll become.

Key Quote

"There's a difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking. Peacemakers take initiative, do the hard work, and choose humility."

Scripture References

• Matthew 5:9 – "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."
• Proverbs 15:1 – "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Takeaway

Conflict is not the enemy — disunity is. Lead with humility, address tension early, talk to the person not about them, and trust that God is using every hard conversation to grow you into someone who looks more like Him.

Call to Action

We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.

Stay Connected for More Resources

Visit our website: http://leadministry.com

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers

Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Vance Martin of Slingshot Group introduce the Ability vs. Likability framework — a simple chart that places every leader in one of four quadrants. They explore why the most effective leaders are both highly capable AND highly likable, offering ministry leaders a practical self-assessment for becoming the kind of influencer their team actually wants to follow.

If you've ever wondered why your hard work isn't translating into team buy-in, this episode will equip and inspire you with the framework and the action steps to shift your leadership posture this week.

Key Topics Covered

• The four quadrants of leadership – Influencer, Intimidator, Incompetent, Infamous.
• Why likability is a leadership superpower – the "benefit of the doubt" advantage.
• Invitation and challenge – the horse-whisperer model for leading people well.

Key Quote

"People are not a means to an end. They are the end. Focus on the people and you'll get more done than you ever thought possible."

Scripture References

• Proverbs 27:17 – "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
• Philippians 2:3-4 – "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves."

Takeaway

Likability gets you loved. Ability gets you respected. You need both. Run the honest self-assessment, pick one axis to grow on this quarter, and watch your influence multiply.

Call to Action

We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.

Stay Connected for More Resources

Visit our website: http://leadministry.com

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers

Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart sits down with Vance Martin of Slingshot Group to unpack the five ways leaders respond to conflict — and why only one of them actually produces healthy outcomes. They explore why conflict isn't a problem to solve but a tension to manage, offering a practical framework for ministry leaders to lean into hard conversations instead of dodging them.

If you've ever avoided a conflict and watched it grow worse, this episode will equip and inspire you with the tools to address tension head-on without losing your soul or the relationship.

Key Topics Covered

• Conflict is normal, natural, and neutral – why the discomfort isn't the enemy.
• The five responses to conflict – retaliate, escape, surrender, compromise, address.
• Build a fence, not a hospital – the proactive case for early intervention.

Key Quote

"Sometimes when you win, you lose. You were right. But man, you lost big time. It cost you a lot and you don't even know it."

Scripture References

• Proverbs 27:6 – "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy."
• Romans 12:18 – "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

Takeaway

Conflict will find you in ministry. The leaders who flourish aren't the ones who avoid it — they're the ones who address it. Get to the root, stay in the room, and remember that the goal isn't winning. The goal is the kingdom.

Call to Action

We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.

Stay Connected for More Resources

Visit our website: http://leadministry.com

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers

Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk unpack the honey-versus-vinegar principle and how ministry leaders can win people over with kindness instead of force. They explore why a winsome approach builds deeper trust, longer-lasting influence, and a healthier team culture for ministry leaders.

If you've ever felt the pull to "go nuclear" on a frustrating staff member, volunteer, or vendor, this episode will equip and inspire you with a kingdom-shaped alternative that actually works.

Key Topics Covered

• Defining conflict and why it's normal in ministry – the "good case of the normals."
• The honey vs. vinegar principle – kindness wins influence; harshness burns bridges.
• Honoring the unseen members of the body – why elevating "less honorable" roles matters.

Key Quote

"You can avoid a ton of conflict if you're just not a jerk."

Scripture References

• 1 Peter 2:23 – "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly."
• 1 Corinthians 12:22-23 – "On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor."

Takeaway

Vinegar may get results, but it leaves wreckage. Honey builds influence that lasts. Lead with kindness consistently and you'll find the hard conversations get easier — and people will go further with you than you ever thought possible.

Call to Action

We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.

Stay Connected for More Resources

Visit our website: http://leadministry.com

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers

Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk wrap up the June Lead Up series with a critical conversation: what to do when your senior leader hands you a last-minute request that might break your team. They share a brilliant third-option response from Lead Ministry coach Jody Quinn, unpack the difference between “doable hard” and “destructive hard,” and offer a framework for protecting your team while still honoring the leadership above you.

If you’ve ever felt cornered between saying yes to your boss and protecting your team, this episode hands you the language to do both.

Key Topics Covered

The Tightrope – Balancing your supervisor’s voice and your team’s needs

Jody Quinn’s Third Option – The script that buys you time and earns trust

Doable Hard vs. Destructive Hard – Knowing the difference matters

Horse Trading – Making your leader pay the cost of priority shifts

Honoring Authority Without Worship – Leaders aren’t divine

Key Quote

“If you need an answer right now, the answer is no. However, if you give me time to talk to the team, we might be able to pull this off.”

Scripture References

Proverbs 15:22 – With many advisers, plans succeed

Proverbs 11:14 – Where there is no guidance, a people falls

Romans 13:1 – Submission to authority

Ephesians 6:5-9 – Serving with sincere hearts

Takeaway

You’re a middle manager threading the needle between your supervisor’s voice and your team’s needs. Pause is power. Time creates clarity. And sometimes the most pastoral thing you can do is push back — not on the mission, but on the timeline.

Call to Action

We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.

Stay Connected for More Resources

Visit our website: http://leadministry.com

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers

Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk close out the June Lead Up series with the strategy that wins more yeses than any other: practicing your pitch. They walk through a four-step rehearsal method built on what Josh calls your “12, your 3, and your 1” — an insider team that lets you pressure-test, refine, and sharpen your proposal before it ever reaches your senior leader.

If you’ve been winging your pitches and wondering why they keep getting tabled, this episode names the gap and gives you the system.

Key Topics Covered

Why Practice Matters – How rehearsal validates your character and work ethic

The 12, the 3, and the 1 – Building your insider team

Speculative Speaking – Creating safe space for processing out loud

The 4-Step Pitch Refinement – Identifying agreement, confusion, and gold

Plan for the No – What to do when the answer comes back wrong

Key Quote

“The distance between your brain and your mouth — there is all kinds of you. It’s so much clearer in your brain than it is out of your mouth.”

Scripture References

Proverbs 15:22 – Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed

Proverbs 16:3 – Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans

Luke 14:28 – Counting the cost before you build

Takeaway

Your senior leader isn’t shutting down your idea. They’re shutting down your delivery. Practice your pitch three times before you walk into that meeting and watch how often the answer becomes yes.

Call to Action

We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.

Stay Connected for More Resources

Visit our website: http://leadministry.com

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers

Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Vance Martin from Slingshot Group introduce a powerful framework for leading up: the Four P’s. Every senior leader filters decisions through a primary lens — People, Progress, Pennies, or Process — and learning to speak that language is the difference between getting a yes and getting shut down.

If you’ve ever made a great pitch and watched your leader’s eyes glaze over, this episode will give you the diagnostic tool you’ve been missing.

Key Topics Covered

The People Lens – Driven by stories, transformation, and life change

The Progress Lens – Driven by vision, growth, and taking the hill

The Pennies Lens – Driven by stewardship and return on investment

The Process Lens – Driven by systems, fairness, and precedent

Key Quote

“You’re using the wrong key for the lock. You’re not going to unlock the door.”

Scripture References

Proverbs 16:21 – The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction

1 Corinthians 9:22 – Becoming all things to all people

Colossians 4:6 – Let your conversation be full of grace, seasoned with salt

Takeaway

Your leader isn’t blocking you. They’re filtering for what they value most. Identify their lens, reframe your pitch through their language, and you’ll start hearing yes more often than no.

Call to Action

We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.

Stay Connected for More Resources

Visit our website: http://leadministry.com

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers

Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

Episode Description

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart sits down with Vance Martin from Slingshot Group to unpack nine principles for leading up to your senior leader. They walk through the often-invisible work of building trust, bringing solutions, anticipating needs, and avoiding the trap of forming alliances against the very person God has placed above you.

If you’ve ever felt like your boss doesn’t see you, doesn’t get you, or doesn’t appreciate what you bring to the table, this episode will reframe how you show up for them — and how they will eventually show up for you.

No Surprises – Why blindsiding your leader breaks trust

Bring Solutions, Not Problems – How to lift weight, not add it

Don’t Try to Fix Your Leader – Pray, don’t correct

Form Loyalty, Not Alliances – Why “venting” with teammates is gossip

Anticipate Their Needs – Knowing rhythms, deadlines, and pressure points

“Gossip isn’t processing. If you’re venting about your leader with teammates, you’re tearing the team apart.”

Proverbs 25:13 – Faithful messengers refresh their leaders

Matthew 7:3-5 – The plank in your own eye

Romans 13:1 – Submission to authority

Hebrews 13:17 – Honoring those who lead you

Leading up isn’t about getting your way. It’s about building trust, honoring alignment, and being a follower worth following. The invisible, faithful, intentional work you do behind the scenes is what creates the visible fruit everyone sees.

We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.

Visit our website: http://leadministry.com

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers

Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers