Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss the role of anger in leadership. They emphasize the importance of acknowledging and addressing anger in a healthy way, shifting the focus from retaliation to addressing the systems that need to be changed. They highlight the significance of understanding and navigating the anger of others, especially in the context of leading change in churches and organizations. Through their conversation, they underscore the value of naming anger as a legitimate feeling and taking responsibility for creating healthier systems that promote flourishing and minimize harm.Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Chuck Whitley in Episode 81: Anger and Spiritual Leadership:“We need to shift our anger from responding with retaliation to addressing systems that need to be changed.” THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Tod Bolsinger emphasizes the discomfort often associated with acknowledging anger in a ministry or leadership context.The conversation delves into the relationship between fear, hurt, and the unconscious tendency to retaliate when triggered by anger.Reflecting on the civil rights movement, the episode illustrates the power of addressing broken systems in a transformative manner without resorting to retaliation.The discussion highlights regional variations in passive-aggressive behavior, emphasizing the importance of owning and addressing the impact of every action within a ministry setting.Tod Bolsinger provides practical insights on navigating and addressing the anger of others within a ministry context, emphasizing the value of addressing the deeper emotions behind the anger.The episode emphasizes the legitimacy of healthy anger in leadership and the acknowledgment that change within ministries can elicit fear and anger, often expressed as anger.Listeners gain valuable insights into understanding and responding to anger within ministry, acknowledging that change and faithful leadership can provoke anger, and providing guidance on managing this during significant transitions.Download the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

Roy Inzunza is corporate chaplain at Hoehn Motors in San Diego and works as an adaptive leadership coach with Tod Bolsinger.In this episode, Roy Inzunza shares about his experience as a corporate chaplain.  He shares not only how he began to see needs in the staff and in the organization that no one else saw—or no one was addressing—but he also shares how he began to lead from the margins.  By changing himself he began to change the system.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Roy Inzunza is corporate chaplain at Hoehn Motors in San Diego and works as an adaptive leadership coach with Tod Bolsinger.Inzunza started his own chaplaincy business called SquarePatch, providing spiritual care and well-being to clients.Being a corporate chaplain comes with challenges as the workforce is often diverse in terms of beliefs and issues.Roy Inzunza has dealt with various issues like divorce, addiction, health problems, and workplace dynamics in his role as a chaplain.His pursuit of a Doctor of Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary has helped him explore how the Gospel impacts personal and professional thriving.Inzunza has expanded his focus to include caring for the shared life and health of the organization.The positive response to his recent work has led to requests for training managers to make adaptive shifts in managing conflict.Low morale and a lack of joy in the workplace are pain points that Roy addresses in his chaplaincy work.Roy Inzunza highlights the importance of making adaptive shifts to increase joy in the workplace.Navigating resistance from others when making changes is a challenge that Inzunza has faced.Roy reflects on his initial defensive response to resistance and acknowledges the ongoing issue that needed addressing.Both Inzunza and Watson emphasize that leadership requires personal change as well.Inzunza describes the experiments he is conducting to address adaptive challenges, such as sending a weekly email about workplace courage practices.  The positive responses and conversations sparked by the email have surprised Roy.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Roy InzunzaSquarepatch.org Church Leadership InstituteAdaptive Church Leadership CohortBooks mentioned:Life of the Beloved, by Henri NouwenFuller Theological SeminaryDoctor of Ministry (D.Min.) ProgramDownload the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

In this episode, we’ve gathered a panel of experienced coaches in the world of church ministry to discuss the challenges of adapting to a rapidly changing landscape and the importance of embracing an adaptive approach to ministry leadership.Joining Markus Watson on the panel are Matt Lake, Jonny Weir, and Heather James. All of them, because of their work as coaches with the Church Leadership Institute’s Adaptive Church Leadership Cohort, bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience in guiding churches through the challenges that so many of us are facing today.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Heather James, Matt Lake, and Jonny Weir are ministry leaders and coaches with the Church Leadership Institute’s Adaptive Church Leadership Cohort.Heather James and Matt Lake discuss adapting to a changing church ministry and following Jesus into the neighborhood.Matt Lake and Markus Watson emphasize the need for adaptive leadership and embracing the posture of learning, not being an expert.Matt Lake mentions the freedom in not feeling pressured to have all the answers and the importance of the observation, interpretation, intervention, and action process.While technical leadership is important for technical challenges, adaptive leadership is critical for adaptive challenges.The adaptive leadership approach is suitable for churches of all sizes and styles.In adaptive leadership, it is critical to stay the course and guard the adaptive process.Jonny Weir introduces the Church Leadership Institute’s Adaptive Church Leadership Cohort and the questions it helps answer.The Adaptive Church Leadership Cohort is so valuable both in terms of ongoing learning and experimentation.The Adaptive Church Leadership Cohort’s approach focuses on learning, observing, listening, interpreting, and then taking action.The mindset shift is from focusing on outcomes to focusing on process and transformation.The next Adaptive Church Leadership Cohort begins in February 2023. Sign up soon!RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Church Leadership InstituteAdaptive Church Leadership CohortRelated Episodes:16: Canoeing the Mountains83: Disorientation and Spiritual Leadership108: Leadership as Learning, Part 1: Context and Creativity109: Leadership as Learning, Part 2: Coaches and Cohorts177: Exploring New Forms of Church, with Shannon Kiser187: Tackling Adaptive Challenges in Church LeadershipDownload the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

Markus Watson and Tod Bolsinger discuss a quote from Jeff Crosby. The quote, "The absence of conflict is not always possible nor always good," sparks a conversation about the importance of healthy conflict in leadership and personal growth. They share their experiences as an Enneagram 9 and an Enneagram 8, respectively, and offer insights on staying engaged, asking questions, and navigating conflict in a way that fosters understanding and moves organizations forward. They give an example of a church grappling with change and the tension between staying true to their existing community and reaching out to their changing neighborhood. Overall, the episode highlights the value of addressing conflict as an opportunity for growth and progress.Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Jeff Crosby in Episode 96: Crossing Leadership Thresholds:"The absence of conflict is not always possible nor always good."Download the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

Jay Kim is lead pastor at Westgate Church in the Silicon Valley, and author of a new study on Colossians titled, One Jesus, One People.Syncretism refers to the blending of two belief systems.  In this episode, Jay Kim and Markus Watson discuss syncretism in terms of  its subtle effects on the church today and how to shed those syncretistic tendencies in our faith and ministry.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Jay Kim is lead pastor at Westgate Church in the Silicon Valley, and author of a new study on Colossians titled, One Jesus, One People.The book of Colossians was written to address what many scholars refer to as “the Colossian heresy.”The Colossian heresy involved syncretism, which refers to a blending of beliefs, ideas, theologies.  The Gospel was being mixed with other ideas and that’s what Paul was addressing.Christian nationalism is an example of modern-day syncretism.Jay Kim describes the connection between what Paul says in Colossians and Plato’s allegory of The Cave.Too often we think our programs are the main thing.  But they are only shadows.According to Jay Kim, if we think our programs will change lives, we are pinning all our hopes and dreams on the “shadows” and not the reality.Jay Kim discusses the role of Onesimus in Colossians—and marginalized voices in general—in helping churches grow into who they are called to be.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Jay Kim:Website - jaykimthinks.comBooks and resources mentioned:One Jesus, One People, by Jay KimCanoeing the Mountains, by Tod BolsingerDownload the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss a quote from Scot McKnight. The quote challenges the notion that leaders ought to control and asserts, instead, that leaders, particularly pastors, are actually followers of Jesus. Bolsinger emphasizes the importance of biblical leadership, rooted in self-sacrifice, care, and a focus on mission. He highlights the need to move away from dysfunctional patterns of leadership and instead raise up models of leadership that honor Jesus and reflect God's desire for the world. Ultimately, leadership is seen as a function, not a title, with leaders taking personal responsibility and inviting others to join in following Jesus and fulfilling His mission on Earth.Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Scot McKnight in Episode 92: Against a Culture of Abuse."We are not leaders of others; we are followers of Jesus. 'Join us in following Jesus,' is the pastor's call."Ep. 92 is a conversation inspired by Scot Mcknight's and Laura Barringer's book, A Church Called Tov.Download the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

Angie Ward is director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Denver Seminary and the author of Uncharted Leadership: 20 Case Studies to Help Ministry Leaders Adapt to Uncertainty.What if you’ve got a problem and you cannot for the life of you find a solution.  You also can’t find a book that tells you what to do.  And you can’t find an expert to take care of the problem for you.That's what's called an adaptive challenge and churches are full of adaptive challenges.  And that’s what we’re talking about in this episode with Angie Ward.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Angie Ward is director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Denver Seminary and the author of Uncharted Leadership: 20 Case Studies to Help Ministry Leaders Adapt to Uncertainty.Adaptive challenges are the kinds of challenges no one has faced before and for which there are no experts.According to Angie Ward, a technical challenge is a challenge for which there is a clear path or solution.When there is a gap between espoused values and actual values, that is likely an adaptive challenge.Angie Ward points out that unresolved conflict or work avoidance in a church or organization can be an adaptive challenge.Angie Ward stresses that emotions can shift a challenge to become more of an adaptive challenge.Every change changes everything.Adaptive leadership involves both managing people’s distress and giving the work back to the people.According to Angie Ward, humility is the most important posture we need to take when navigating adaptive challenges.We lead out of who we are, not just what we do.When leading adaptively, Angie Ward says that process matters more than outcome.Emotional health is key to good leadership.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Angie Ward:Website – www.angiewardphd.comThe Big C Church PodcastBooks mentioned:Uncharted Leadership, by Angie WardEmotionally Healthy Spirituality, by Peter ScazzeroDownload the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson talk about the importance of relationship in ministry leadership. They discuss how leaders can fall into the trap of narcissism when they lack deep relationships, leading to a sense of loneliness that they try to fill with success or power. They also explore how relationship is at the heart of adaptive leadership, as leaders must accompany people through change and transformation. The conversation emphasizes the need for healthy relationships both on an individual level and within larger systems, as they are crucial for healing brokenness and nourishing community.Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Chuck DeGroat in Episode 82: Narcissism and Spiritual Leadership."“The story of God is the story of relationship. From the very beginning, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit create human beings in and for relationship. And I think our brokenness is brokenness in and around relationship."Ep. 82 is a conversation inspired by Chuck DeGroat's book, When Narcissism Comes to Church.Download the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

E.K. Strawser is a co-vocational pastor of Ma Ke Alo o in Honolulu and the author of Centering Discipleship: A Pathway for Multiplying Spectators into Mature Disciples.We've got a lot of discipleship programs in our churches.  But how effective are they?  Are they leading to real transformation in people's lives?  In this episode, E.K. Strawser discuss how churches can cultivate real transformation in their people's lives.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:E.K. Strawser is a co-vocational pastor of Ma Ke Alo o in Honolulu and the author of Centering Discipleship: A Pathway for Multiplying Spectators into Mature Disciples.Discipleship, according to E.K. Strawser, is imitating Jesus so that our spiritual confidence increases and our social competence as Christians increases.Discipleship without mission is discipleship without Christ.Discipleship has to be local.When discipleship is peripheral in a church, three things tend to be true:Resources and energy are poured primarily into a weekly teaching time.People are being moved to a weekly worship service.Leadership has a vision for the church (as opposed to a vision for the community).But when discipleship is central in a church, these three things tend to be true:Resources and energy are poured into imitation, providing tools and pathways to help people enter a life of discipleship.People are being moved to the community around them.Leadership has a vision for renewal in their local community.E.K. Strawser describes what centered discipleship looks like in her church.In looking for leaders in E.K. Strawser’s church, they look for “a discipled disciple-maker who has a heart for the community around them and have identified a space of mission and who are inviting others to do this with them.”Mission-oriented discipleship requires lots of experimentation.E.K. Strawser says that every discipleship pathway ought to look different in every community and neighborhood, but all of them should reflect the likeness of Christ.Churches need to look for certain developing marks of maturity in the people engaged in their discipleship pathways in order to know that the pathway they have chosen is actually working.Four marks of spiritual maturity:Character – Are people actually becoming more like Jesus?Christlike theology – Are we actually borrowing from Jesus how to think about God and the world?Christlike wisdom – Are we becoming people who can navigate the complexities of life well together?Being sent – We understand that we are a people sent by God into the world.As leaders who long to lead people into deep discipleship, our first job is to love the people God has entrusted to us.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:E.K. Strawser:Website – www.centeringdiscipleship.comV3 MovementBooks mentioned:Centering Discipleship, by E.K. StrawserChurch Leadership InstituteDownload the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

1In this episode Markus Watson and Tod Bolsinger discuss the challenges faced by ministry leaders in times of change. They discuss a quote from Kurt Fredrickson that highlights how churches were previously overprogrammed and under-discipled. Tod Bolsinger emphasizes the need for adaptive thinking and creative approaches to discipleship, moving away from traditional programming and towards a mission-focused, community-centered approach. They explore the purpose of discipleship as formation for the sake of mission and the need to reframe our understanding of discipleship in light of these changing times.Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Kurt Fredrickson in Episode 103: Willingness to Adapt: The Church After Covid."Churches pre-Covid were over-programmed and under-discipled."Download the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

We live in a world in which it is so easy to demonize and dehumanize people who are not like us.  Or we categorize people and forget their humanity.But that’s the exact opposite of what Jesus did.  Jesus humanized people.  He treated every human being as a beloved child of God.  Jesus treated every individual he encountered as a person.That’s what we're discussing in this conversation with Paul Louis Metzger, the author of More Than Things: A Personalist Ethics for a Throwaway Culture.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Paul Louis Metzger is professor of Christian theology and theology of culture at Multnomah University and Seminary and the author of More Than Things: A Personalist Ethics for a Throwaway Culture.We have a tendency in our society to turn people into things.The issue of treating people as things has become very personal for Paul Louis Metzger ever since his son suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident several years ago.Personhood, according to Paul Louis Metzger, has to do with inviolability, unfathomability, and unrepeatability.Attributing personhood to one another is a matter of seeking to affirm an individual’s agency, showing them respect, listening to them, and being present with them.Paul Louis Metzger reflects on the way those with Down’s Syndrome are often thought of as having a lower quality of life, when the opposite often seems to be true.  And, yet, the value of their personhood is frequently in question.Markus Watson reflects on the ways churches tend to “thingify” people, both inside and outside the church.When we talk about people, communities, and families as giving units, that’s the language of commodification.People consume, but people should not be reduced to patterns of consumption.Paul Louis Metzger unpacks the Prodigal Son story as a way of thinking about treating people as persons.“When we gain a sense of our significance and worth—not because of how big our church is or how well-known we are or whatever the case might be, how many books we sell, how many this or how many that—but because we are loved.  We exist because we are loved.  That frees pastors up to evangelize better.  To be better shepherds.  They’re not going to be hired hands or wolves in sheep’s clothing.”RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:New Wine InstituteUncommon Good, Uncommon God (Patheos blog)Books mentioned:More Than Things: A Personalist Ethics for a Throwaway Culture, by Paul Louis MetzgerThe Way of Chuang Tzu, by Thomas MertonBeyond Thingification: Helping Your Church Engage in God’s Mission, by Markus WatsonLife of the Beloved, by Henri NouwenSharing Faith, by Thomas GroomeDownload the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss the influence of the Enlightenment and individualism on middle-class white individuals, and how this impacts their understanding of faith and community. They emphasize the importance of engaging with different perspectives and reading the Bible in community with people who are not like us in order to break free from these cultural norms and develop a more holistic understanding of spirituality and leadership.Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Tom Sine in Episode 118: Forecasting and Innovation.“I think a lot of us in Western culture have allowed the Enlightenment and a very individualistic way of life to become normative, particularly for middle-class white folks.” Ep. 118 is a conversation inspired by Tom Sine and Dwight Friesen's book, 2020s Foresight.Download the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

Jennifer Holberg is Professor and Chair of the Department of English at Calvin University and author Nourishing Narratives.The church gives us stories to imagine ourselves into.  Stories shape us.  At the same time, pastors and ministry leaders need to recognize that every person in our church brings their own stories.  And, so, how can we create space to share and hear one another’s stories—as we are shaped by the story of the gospel?THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Jennifer Holberg is Professor and Chair of the Department of English at Calvin University and author Nourishing Narratives.Jennifer Holberg shares what she loves about teaching.“As people of faith, we have stories that give us more to be hopeful about, more to tell us how beloved we are.  And they really counteract a lot of the stories that we have been told or tell ourselves.”Stories can be positive forces in our lives or they can negatively impact us.  It depends on the stories we tell and believe.According to Jennifer Holberg, how we interpret stories matters.The stories we tell ourselves about ourselves impact our identity. But Jennifer Holberg holds that we can tell ourselves new stories.Jennifer Holberg says, “Church communities, if they are functional, give us other stories to imagine ourselves into.”The Bible gives us many stories to help us understand our lives.  As opposed to society, which often only gives one story (wealth, success, etc.).Pastors, in their teaching, need to understand what stories people are bringing with them into the church.We need spaces in church for people to tell their stories.According to Jennifer Holberg, it’s important for all the generations in the church to share their stories with the other generations.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Jennifer Holberg:Calvin UniversityCenter fot Faith and WritingBooks mentioned:Nourishing Narratives, by Jennifer HolbergEvidence that Demands a Verdict, by Josh McDowellThe Story of You, by Ian Morgan CronRelated episodes mentioned:Episode 121: Rewrite Your Story, with Ian Morgan Cron, author of The Story of YouDownload the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss the vital role of relationships in ministry leadership. Tod emphasizes the importance of cultivating partnerships, friendships, and mentorships as essential sources of support and vulnerability. They explore the connection between relationships and self-reflection, particularly in navigating challenging leadership situations. With practical insights and personal anecdotes, this episode offers guidance on building a strong support network for leaders seeking to grow both their outer ministry and inner discipleship. Don't miss this enlightening conversation on the transformative power of relationships in leadership.Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Tod Bolsinger in Episode 120: Forming Leadership Resilience."We need more relationships. If you do nothing else this year, ask yourself, 'Do I have the kinds of relationships that allow me to do vulnerable self-reflection?'" Ep. 120 is a conversation inspired by Tod Bolsinger's book, Tempered Resilience.Download the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

Jim Wilder is the author Renovated: God, Dallas Willard, and the Church That Transforms and the resident neurotheologian at Life Model Works.In this episode, Jim Wilder discusses how we become who we are created to be through the lens of neurotheology.  In other words, what role does your brain play in forming you into the person you were created to be?And how can an understanding of how the brain works help us develop environments in our churches that nurture deep spiritual formation among our people and help them both become who they were created to be and fulfill the purpose for which they were created?THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Jim Wilder is the author Renovated: God, Dallas Willard, and the Church That Transforms and the resident neurotheologian at Life Model Works.Jim Wilder explains what a “neuro-theologian” is.Jim Wilder’s book, Renovated, is based on a conference Jim did with Dallas Willard before he passed away.Spiritual maturity and natural maturity are both rooted in relationship and are part and parcel of each other.Attachment love is formed with people who are glad to be with us.Spiritual formation happens as people develop attachment love with one another and with God.Human beings often lose their sense of peace.  To find our way back to peace the brain’s best path is through being thankful.According to Jim Wilder, “mutual mind” (or intersubjectivity) happens when two peoples subconscious processing begins to line up with each other.  Their brains begin to produce the same chemistry, the same thoughts, the same patterns.Jim Wilder asks: Would God give us the capacity for mutual mind and not make use of it himself?Spiritual disciplines create the space where mutual mind with God can develop.According to Jim Wilder, after the Vietnam War, there was a huge professionalization of the clergy, where pastors were now rated on how well they got results in their job, as opposed to developing loving relationships with people.If salvation is about becoming the person God meant us to be—and God was intelligent—then by being exactly who God is creating you to be, you will accomplish what God wants done at the moment.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Books mentioned:Renovated: God, Dallas Willard, and the Church That Transforms, by Jim WilderEmotionally Healthy Spirituality, by Peter ScazzeroShame and Grace, by Lewis SmedesBecoming a Face of Grace: Navigating Lasting Relationship with God and Others, by Ed KhouriDownload the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss a quote by Nicholas Pierce that highlights the challenge of letting go of the past to embrace the future. They explore the work of the Church Leadership Institute in helping leaders navigate the changing world while remaining faithful to their core values. They delve into the concept of adaptive leadership, the difficulty of embracing the unfamiliar, and the importance of relying on God while having hope for the future. They also emphasize the significance of the Lord's Supper as a reminder of Jesus' sacrifice and a foretaste of the future kingdom of God. Overall, this episode offers insights and strategies for church leaders to navigate the tension between the familiar and the unfamiliar as they strive to join God in His current work.Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Nicholas Pearce in Episode 130: Pursuing Your Purpose."Many people don’t let go of their now to be able to embrace their next, and they find themselves out of sync with the times and seasons of God." Ep. 130 is a conversation about Nicholas Pearce's book, The Purpose Path.Download the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

Shannon Kiser is Director of Training and Coaching for Fresh Expressions North America and one of the pastors at Riverside Presbyterian Church in Sterling, Virginia.In this episode, we have a great conversation about how she and the congregation she pastors have experimented with new forms of church, as well as what they've learned in that process.  We also discuss how the Church Leadership Institute’s Adaptive Church Leadership Cohort can help you lean into the kind of experimentation that’s necessary when following the Holy Spirit into whatever new expressions of church you’re being led toward. THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Shannon Kiser is Director of Training and Coaching for Fresh Expressions North America and one of the pastors at Riverside Presbyterian Church in Sterling, Virginia.Fresh Expressions and the Church Leadership Institute together are trying to make sense of what it means to be a vital witness in the 21st century.Fresh Expressions is a movement that comes out of the UK where a traditional and heritage church was experimenting with what it looks like to engage in some experimental missions on the edges while still valuing the inherited church.Shannon Kiser says, according to Fresh Expressions, we don’t have to give up what we love and cherish about the inherited church to also experiment on the edges.Shannon Kiser describes how her church began experimenting with new ways of doing ministry, including opening a coffee shop for the community.A Fresh Expressions kind of ministry as Shannon describes can be messy.  The church doesn’t get to control the narrative.When things get messy, it’s important to be clear on your values so you know when to say yes and when to say no to opportunities that emerge.According to Shannon Kiser, it is possible for you to connect with a changing culture and yet still live out some of the rhythms and depth of the inherited church that feeds you.Churches have to cultivate a culture that is more ripe for experimentation, which then creates the field where new and fresh expressions of ministry can more easily grow.Fresh Expressions teaches as very simple journey.  It involves:Listening to your neighborsLoving our serving your neighbors based on what you have learnedBuilding community with your neighborsAllow a new form of church to emergeShannon Kiser explains how the Church Leadership Institutes Adaptive Capacity Cohort help churches engage this process.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Books mentioned:Canoeing the Mountains, by Tod BolsingerFreash Expressions:www.freshexpressions.comChurch Leadership InstituteAdaptive Church Leadership CohortDownload the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson delve into the importance of understanding and empathizing with others' beliefs, especially in times of political and cultural polarization. They discuss the role of churches in bridging divisions and striving for unity, highlighting the need to move away from comfortable spaces and embrace discomfort as an opportunity for growth. With insights from leaders such as Jim Harrington and Allen Hilton, this episode offers valuable perspectives on creating a sense of shalom across diverse backgrounds.Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Allen Hilton in Episode 135: Leading Your Church Through Political Division.“Our shalom job right now—in this place and time—is to get good at being together across difference.” Ep. 135 is a conversation about Allen Hilton's book, A House United: How the Church Can Save the World.Download the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

How can we avoid burnout in ministry?Jason Young is a keynote speaker, coach, and consultant who helps churches and businesses thrive, and the co-author of Don’t Burn Out, Burn Bright.In this episode, Jason Young and Markus Watson get real specific about what can lead to burnout in ministry and what we can to do prevent it.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Jason Young is a keynote speaker, coach, and consultant who helps churches and businesses thrive, and the co-author of Don’t Burn Out, Burn Bright.Jason wants to help leaders, not only prevent burnout in ministry, but structure their lives and ministries in such a way that they truly thrive in all areas of life.“When discouragement creeps in, destruction is nigh.”According to Jason Young, burnout in ministry leadership is not inevitable.Control isolates.  Control rarely invites.Staff members want to know two things in their work:Will I be successful if I do this?What’s in it for me?Jesus, too, was motivated by what was in it for him.  Hebrews says it was “for the joy set before him” that he endured that cross.Jason Young discusses the connection between entanglements and burnout in ministry.According to Jason Young, leaders read too much.  Maybe leaders need to do less reading.Sometimes in all our reading and consuming of information, we may begin to forget the voice of God.In his early ministry years, Markus Watson wanted to attend lots of conferences.  In his middle ministry years, Markus took lots of classes.  At this stage of his ministry, Markus recognizes that he’s filled his mind with plenty of information; now he wants to pursue life experiences.Exhaustion and burnout in ministry leadership doesn’t show up suddenly; it creeps in and slowly drains you.“If God called you to ministry, it’s his.  And he would like for you to be openhanded with his ministry because he wants to trust you with more.”RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Book mentioned:Don’t Burn Out, Burn Bright, by Jason Young and Jonathan MalmJason Young:Catchfiredaily.comDrjasonyoung.comChurch Leadership InstituteDownload the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.

Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss the transformative power of acknowledging and addressing our own pain as leaders. If our pain isn't transformed, it will be transmitted to others, potentially leading to harmful behaviors and dynamics within our ministries and organizations. By developing self-awareness, emotional health, and adaptive capacity, leaders can prioritize their mission over personal needs and avoid unconsciously inflicting pain on those they serve. This insightful conversation offers valuable insights and practical guidance for cultivating a healthy inner life of faithful discipleship and a healthy outer life of ministry leadership.Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Tod Hall in Episode 136: Healthy Attachment and Spiritual Leadership.“If our pain isn’t transformed, it’s going to be transmitted.” Ep. 136 is a conversation about Todd Hall's book, The Connected Life.Download the FREE course, Becoming Leaders of Shalom.