Behind the Seal

A thriving culture drives a staff and organization to new heights. Kim Williams shares how to cultivate such a culture that can spread like wildfire in a workplace. Specifically, she explores ECFA’s own intentional pursuit of three key organizational values: Humble, Hardworking, and Healthy.📻 Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts: https://www.ecfa.org/Content/Podcast

Harold Moore's story of hard work and striving is all too familiar. After a marketing and pastoring career, the Lord led him uniquely to ECFA as the Executive Administrator to the President. Harold exudes joyous serving while also exhorting ECFA staff towards healthy leadership. Michael and Harold talk candidly about their professional, personal, and spiritual dynamic as humility, honor, and legacy overlap.Find out more about ECFA: https://www.ecfa.org

Michael Martin, ECFA's President, takes us back to 2021 when ECFA's Board started digging into how a leader's health affects financial integrity and trust. In the past two years, ECFA has surveyed and researched this connection. The ECFA board has applied these findings to better support the health of its own leadership and staff. With each conversation, ECFA was encouraged by ministry and church leaders to continue this research and bring leadership health to the forefront of the Trust conversation.Stick around until the end, as Michael has practical takeaways and next steps for you and your organization. Also, we react to a few of the highlights from this year's excellent thought leaders!Enjoyed the clips in this podcast? Here are the links to those full episodes:David Kinnaman, Barna: https://share.transistor.fm/s/03c0b5aeCarey Nieuwhof: https://share.transistor.fm/s/df964729Ruth Haley Barton, Transforming Center: https://share.transistor.fm/s/68be24daGlenn Packiam, Rockharbor Church: https://share.transistor.fm/s/5dfc1f1eJedd Medefind, CAFO: https://share.transistor.fm/s/9059608c

We’re blessed to speak with Bishop Derek Grier of Grace Church. He’s the top leader at Grace and a Board Member here at ECFA.  He dives into why supporting pastors is so vital right now and how the board can prioritize relationship building with top leaders!  His leadership in the National Unity Weekend has spurred Christ-Centered conversations and action on race and diversity nationwide.  Finally, he's  been involved in ECFA's Board research on leadership health, and his desire to see healthy relationship between boards and top leaders.https://www.gracechurchva.org/https://unityweekend.com/

Rob Hoskins and David Branker of One Hope Ministries have developed a reputation as a ministry with excellence in board and leader relationships, staff culture, and Christ-centered vision. Intentionality underscores all parts of their culture as leadership seeks intergenerational accountability. To live for Christ in your personal life and your public life, if they all look the same, is the most authentic you can be!One Hope Ministries: https://onehope.net/

Women Doing Well's purpose is to activate women towards purposeful generosity.  95% of women will, at some point in their life, be the primary financial decision maker for their family, yet a larger percentage do not feel confident and equipped to to handle what God has given to them.https://womendoingwell.org/

What do job interviews reveal about the current character of a candidate? William Vanderbloemen and his search firm have a unique knowledge of the staff at many Christian organizations and churches because they interviewed and recruited many of them! What do they look for when talking to a potential church or ministry leader? Ownership, transparency, excuses. No one is perfect, and how we approach our past failures defines our aim not to repeat them.Learn more about Vanderbloemen at https://www.vanderbloemen.comCatch all the BTS podcast episodes and videos at https://www.ecfa.org/Content/Podcast

Mark Yarbrough was a student, professor, and now President of Dallas Theological Seminary. For 100 years, DTS has held the word of God high in training young men and women to go into ministry and shepherd flocks worldwide.What's next for Pastors? How do cultural influences challenge private seminaries? How does a seminary take on the challenge of teaching integrity to future leaders?Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts: https://www.ecfa.org/podcast=========================ECFA Links:=========================ChurchEXCEL (Free Resources): https://www.ecfa.church/ChurchExcel.aspxBecome Accredited: https://www.ecfa.org/JoinECFA.aspxThe Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship™: https://www.ecfa.org/Standards.aspxAbout ECFA: https://www.ecfa.org/About.aspx=========================Connect With Us:=========================Church and Nonprofit PULSE Email: http://eepurl.com/lekpfFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/accountabilityLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evangelical-council-for-financial-accountability/Podcast: https://www.ecfa.org/podcast=========================Please be sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and turn on NOTIFICATIONS. Thanks again for watching!=========================Disclosure: This video is provided as general educational information and with the understanding that ECFA is not rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice or service. Professional advice on specific issues should be sought from an accountant, lawyer, or other professional. Opinions presented are those of the speakers and not necessarily the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

Raised as a Pastor's kid, then going in the ministry himself for over 35 years, Sam Chand has seen the changes in the church firsthand. His book, Leadership Pains, dials into the challenges that have resulted in failure among pastors. He's come alongside leaders as a first responder after a fall.Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts: https://www.ecfa.org/podcast=========================ECFA Links:=========================ChurchEXCEL (Free Resources): https://www.ecfa.church/ChurchExcel.aspxBecome Accredited: https://www.ecfa.org/JoinECFA.aspxThe Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship™: https://www.ecfa.org/Standards.aspxAbout ECFA: https://www.ecfa.org/About.aspx=========================Connect With Us:=========================Church and Nonprofit PULSE Email: http://eepurl.com/lekpfFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/accountabilityLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evangelical-council-for-financial-accountability/Podcast: https://www.ecfa.org/podcast=========================Please be sure to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and turn on NOTIFICATIONS. Thanks again for watching!=========================Disclosure: This video is provided as general educational information and with the understanding that ECFA is not rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice or service. Professional advice on specific issues should be sought from an accountant, lawyer, or other professional. Opinions presented are those of the speakers and not necessarily the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

Best Christian Workplaces Co-Founder and Board Chair Al Lopus has seen it all. Anonymous surveys reveal the heart of health in organizations. He shares telling signs of unhealth and examples of leaders who took it head on, even as they were the problem.Check out the Flourishing Culture Leadership Podcast here: https://workplaces.org/podcast

Ministry Lead Brian Kreeger worked hard. He was doing the Lord's work at all costs. Listen to his reflections from The Courageous Ask, a book considering how a leader finds support from his board, friends, and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.Connect with Brianhttps://www.briankreeger.com/ECFA's Lessons from the Boardroomhttps://www.ecfa.org/lessonsnonprofitboardroom/Default.aspx

Gary Hoag sees and hears about the global church every day. As CEO of Global Trust Partners, birthed from the heartbeat of ECFA, Gary witnesses how ministry work is done worldwide and how different cultures and governments perceive financial integrity,  good governance, and leadership. Biblically, Gary has spent time as a New Testament scholar considering the Jerusalem council and its leadership structure.The three books Gary mentions from ECFA Press:http://www.thechoicebook.orghttp://www.sowerbook.orghttp://www.ecfa.org/TheCouncil

Jacob Bland answered the call. As a young leader in a storied ministry, his wisdom in humbly leading and balancing a young family is relatable for so many of us. The relationship between Youth For Christ's Board of Directors and senior leadership is thoughtful, caring, and saturated in prayer. The God-honoring succession transition Jacob stepped into is one we all hope can be repeated in our own churches and ministries.Check out more from Youth For Christ: https://yfc.net

The spiritual formation of Christian Leaders can get deprioritized in the face of other metrics of success. Steve Macchia has spent his career teaching the importance of a nurtured soul. As he says, where the soul goes, so goes the leader.  Check out more of Steve's writing here: https://www.stevemacchia.com/

CAFO Leadership released a document to staff that spells out how to have a balanced and healthy work, personal, and spiritual life. It's working!  They call it the Strategic Plan for Thriving Souls. As Jedd Medefind discusses, good fruit comes from good roots.  Find Jedd's Podcast here: https://resources.cafo.org/series/justice-and-the-inner-life/and the Thriving Souls Plan here: https://cafo.org/souls/

Mindy Caliguire leads Soulcare.com and frames Soul Care as a personal resolve to build a life deeply connected to God—the path to true flourishing. Most important, her work imagines the “what if?” of a future where the new norm is one in which leaders thrive, integrity thrives, and churches and ministries thrive because of better soul care.Take the integrity assessment! https://www.soulcare.com/integrity

Our motivations are a shadow to us and others.  Not always good or bad, but present.  Know them, Redeem them.Gary L. McIntosh is President of the Church Growth Network and Professor of Christian Ministry and Leadership at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University.  He has forty years of experience consulting non-profit organizations, coaching of leaders, and seminar presentations.Find more of Gary's work at https://www.churchgrowthnetwork.com/

Good and Bad Leadership can push us towards knowing the Lord deeper.  Glen shares how to find new wells to drink from, to stay resilient as a Christian leader in these times.Check out all Glenn's writing and podcast here : https://www.glennpackiam.com/

Over 2/3's of larger churches in America have an Executive Pastor. There is opportunity to be effective and efficient in church business, all while increasing integrity with a pastor's heart.  David Fletcher of Xpastor.org shares the trends and practical insights all churches can benefit from.Register for the Free Workshop from XPastor and ECFA at www.xpastor.org

What are the legal risks of unhealthy leadership?  Erika Cole, The Church Attorney, gives insight to how important a pastor's role is and how that can be isolating, taxing, and can lead to pastoral burnout.  The importance to stay spiritually and emotionally healthy as a pastor seems obvious, but the legal ramifications of un-health can affect entire churches and communities.  Find Erika's courses and Podcast at www.erikacole.com