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

Episode Description

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk explore the power of the second chair and what it means to lead when you’re not the boss. They walk through seven Bible characters who held significant influence without ever holding the top position, offering a roadmap for ministry leaders who want to move the kingdom forward from wherever they sit on the org chart.

If you’ve ever felt overlooked, under-positioned, or stuck waiting for your turn to lead, this episode will reframe how you see your seat at the table.

The Power of the Second Chair – Why number two often holds the keys

Position vs. Influence – How influence operates without title

Seven Biblical Examples – Joseph, Joshua, Elisha, Daniel, Nehemiah, Samuel, and Ruth

The Heart Posture That Wins – Sovereignty, faithfulness, and diligence

“You may not be number one in charge, but number one doesn’t always hold all the keys. Number two can often hold the keys.”

Genesis 37–50 – The story of Joseph

Numbers 13–14 – Joshua and the twelve spies

2 Kings 2 – Elijah and Elisha

Daniel 1–6 – Daniel in Babylon

Nehemiah 1–6 – Rebuilding the wall

1 Samuel 1–3 – The calling of Samuel

Proverbs 12:24 – “The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slack hand will be put to forced labor”

You don’t need the corner office to shape the culture, the direction, or the future of your church. If you crush it where you are, with the influence you’ve been given, God will use you in ways your title could never reach.

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

Key Topics CoveredKey QuoteScripture ReferencesTakeawayCall to ActionStay Connected for More Resources

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart sits down with Nick Blevins — author of The Volunteer Playbook and co-founder of Ministry Boost — to tackle the volunteer problem head-on. They explore why most church leaders have never been taught how to recruit, offering a five-step framework and the surprising 10X volunteer conversion rate that reframes how ministry leaders should think about building their teams.

If you've ever felt like you're constantly plugging holes and pulling your hair out on Sunday mornings, this episode will give you a system to replace the scramble.

Key Topics Covered

→ The Volunteer Conversion Rate (VCR) – Why you need 10 prospects for every 1 volunteer you want to place, and how to build a prospect pool that actually works

→ The 5-Step Recruiting Framework – Prospects, conversation, orientation, onboarding, and placed — a repeatable system for moving people from the lobby to the classroom

→ Time + Strategy – Why blocking two hours a week for recruiting is the single most important habit a ministry leader can build

Key Quote "You got to be a shepherd before you're a recruiter."

Scripture References Matthew 9:37-38 – "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." Judges 7 (Gideon) – Referenced as an example of God accomplishing his purposes with fewer people than expected.

Takeaway The volunteer problem isn't a mystery — it's a math and systems problem. Most churches don't lack willing people; they lack a consistent process to find, invite, orient, and place them. Two hours a week, a real prospect list, and a framework that moves people through clear steps will transform your recruiting from frantic to sustainable.

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 break down the specific recruiting resources every ministry leader should have built before they ever pick up the phone. They explore how pre-prepared tools — from slot sheets to pushback scripts to draft follow-up emails — transform recruiting from a dreaded chore into a confident, efficient system.

If you've ever sat down to make recruiting calls and felt completely unprepared, this episode will hand you the exact toolkit to change that.

Key Topics Covered

→ Slot Sheets – Knowing exactly how many people you need and where, so you can recruit with precision and report with confidence

→ The Down-Sell Strategy – How to redirect a "no" into a smaller yes using pre-built offering lists, just like selling magazine subscriptions

→ Pre-Prepared Follow-Up – Draft emails for yes, no, and "let me think about it" responses that you can send within minutes of hanging up

Key Quote "God impressed upon my heart two questions: Josh, what did volunteering at this church do for you? And do you think I can do that in every one of those people I'm going to find for you?"

Scripture References Matthew 9:37-38 – "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few."

Takeaway Recruiting isn't about being pushy or salesy — it's about being prepared. When Josh reframed recruiting as a pathway to discipleship, everything changed. The tools didn't make him a robot; they made him efficient enough to be fully present on every call. Build your resources now so you're ready when the season hits.

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 and Vance tackle the five core reasons volunteers say no — and what it takes to make recruiting an easy yes. They explore why guilt-based recruiting never works long-term, offering a practical framework for building the kind of ministry environment people actually want to join.

If you've ever felt like pulling teeth trying to get people to serve, this episode will show you exactly what's standing in the way and how to fix it.

Key Topics Covered

→ The Five Reasons People Say No – Reputation, unclear roles, unclear vision, no winning team, and lack of relational equity

→ Making Yes Easy – Clear structure, simple job descriptions, ministry checklists, tours, leveraging testimonies, and closing the onboarding gap

→ Recruiting to Vision, Not Need – Why twice as many people signed up when one church shifted from guilt to vision-based recruiting

Key Quote "People aren't moved by a need — they always feel like somebody else is going to fulfill it. People want to join a team that's thriving."

Scripture References Matthew 9:37-38 – "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few."

Takeaway If volunteers keep saying no, the solution isn't to ask louder — it's to fix what you're offering. Clear structure lowers fear and builds confidence. Simple job descriptions remove ambiguity. And when people can see your ministry in action through tours and testimonies, the yes becomes almost automatic.

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 Puffer Fish Principle — a nature-inspired framework for attracting the right volunteers to your ministry. They explore how the environments we create communicate volumes before we ever say a word, offering practical insights for ministry leaders who want to stop repelling potential team members and start drawing them in.

If you've ever wondered why people keep saying no to serving, this episode will equip you with a fresh lens on what your ministry is really communicating.

Key Topics Covered

→ The Puffer Fish Principle – How a tiny fish's elaborate design teaches us about attracting volunteers through order and excellence

→ The Bowerbird Basics – Why appearance, decoration, and presentation differentiate you from every other option competing for a volunteer's time

→ Repel vs. Recruit – How disorganization, chaos, and the "hot mess express" subconsciously push people away

Key Quote "Current chaos communicates future chaos. Order communicates future peace."

Scripture References Matthew 9:37-38 – "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field."

Takeaway Volunteers live in a chaotic world. If your ministry can bring order in the midst of that chaos — clean spaces, crisp communication, logical systems — you're sending a psychological signal that says, "We have our stuff together, and there's more where that came from." That signal is the most powerful recruiting tool you have.

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 and Bill Van Kirk unpack the concept of a ministry virtual tour — a practical, evergreen video tool that allows prospective families to experience your church before they ever set foot inside.

Key Topics Covered

• What Is a Ministry Virtual Tour – Giving people a real, digital experience of your physical ministry space before their first visit
• The Two-Part Framework – Combining vision-sharing (talking head) video with B-roll footage
• How to Execute It Well – Writing scripts, building shot sheets, walking through your building, and hosting on your website

Key Quote
"A virtual tour is a way for visitors to get a feel for our ministry before they come, or they have a deeper experience after their first time visit."

Scripture References
Luke 14:28 — "For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?"

Takeaway
A ministry virtual tour is not just a tech project — it is an act of pastoral care. When you invest the time to walk families through your spaces before they arrive, you reduce the unknowns that keep people from taking the next step.

Stay Connected
Website: leadministry.com | Facebook: LeadVolunteers | Instagram: @leadvolunteers

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk walk through five digital tools that are actively transforming how ministry leaders work. Bill brings a practitioner's perspective — not theory, but tools he uses every single week.

Key Topics Covered

• SermonDrip – Extend your sermon into a full week of discipleship content
• NotebookLM – A free Google tool that turns your own research into an interactive assistant
• Claude Co-Work – Cut admin time with AI-powered writing and organizing
• Canva – Professional church communications without a designer (free for nonprofits)
• Motion Calendar – Protect important work from being eaten by urgent tasks

Key Quote
"The goal is not more tech. The goal is effective ministry. If a tool doesn't make your ministry more effective, drop it."

Takeaway
Every tool on this list exists for one reason: to give you more time and energy for the people God has called you to shepherd. Technology is the means — people are the mission.

Stay Connected
Website: leadministry.com | Facebook: LeadVolunteers | Instagram: @leadvolunteers