Spiritual Life and Leadership

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!When Bobby Benavides, a California native, went on a short-term mission trip to rural West Virginia in 2003, he never imagined God would call him to stay and serve there for the next fifteen years.  I should say, fifteen years and counting!  Bobby has no plans to leave any time soon.  It was through this experience that Bobby discovered the profound importance of listening to God and living into one’s unique calling.  A few years ago, Bobby Benavides wrote Made for More, a book designed to help millennials live the life they were created to live.  In this interview, Bobby shares about his call to serve in West Virginia and why we each need to discover that we were “Made for More.” THIS EPISODE’S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Bobby Benavides shares about planting his church, New Community Elkins.Bobby moved from Glendora, California (a suburb of Los Angeles), to rural West Virginia.Initially, Bobby didn’t want to stay in West Virginia, but it eventually became clear that this was where God wanted him to serve.A key moment that strengthened Bobby’s sense of call to West Virginia was a conversation with a teenage boy who told him, “You’re the first person to ever sit down and want to hear my story.In West Virginia, one has to be known in order to be trusted. This comes from a history in which coal companies came in with big promises and lots of money, but eventually left, leaving the community with nothing. As a result, local people are slow to trust outsiders.Bobby Benavides wrote Made for More because he encountered a lot of young people who had lots of questions about their purpose in life.We have profound beauty within us. God sees the beauty through our brokenness, even when we can’t.If we’re so focused on what’s to come, we lose what’s right in front of us.God says we need to be fully present where we are now.“Where you are now is your mission field.”“The mission field is everywhere.”Bobby Benavides shares a story about a young woman who read Made for More and was surprised that he talked about Lil Wayne in a positive light! She also told him she now has a strengthened identity in Christ and wants to serve him.Remember whose you are. Your congregation doesn’t own you. The church building doesn’t own you. Your job doesn’t own you. Rest in the fact that you are God’s.“Let God be God and you be his child.” RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Bobby Benavides Website:  https://bobbybenavides.me/Twitter:  @BobBen74Instagram:  bobby_benavidesMade for More: A Journey of Discovery and PurposeOrder on Bobby’s websiteOrder from AmazonTo leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership: Get Becoming Leaders of Shalom for free HERE.Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Mario DeMatteo’s life was turned upside down in more ways than one when he suddenly became a quadriplegic. It was tragedy, to be sure. But it turned out to be the thing that drew Mario closer to God and set his life on a new trajectory publishing graphic novels that tell the stories of the scriptures in a sci-fi universe. Listen as Mario DeMatteo shares about how God used his tragedy then and is using his new calling now. THIS EPISODE’S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Mario DeMatteo had a tragic accident in which he dove into a shallow swimming pool and became a quadriplegic.While in the hospital, a friend brought him a Silver Surfer comic book, at which point he fell in love with comics.It was as a result of his accident that Mario grew in his relationship with Jesus.Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl was a formative book that Mario read in the early months after his accident.Mario DeMatteo describes how he went from merely loving comic books to creating his own graphic novel, a science fiction version of the Apostle Paul.Mario had to invest his own money into this project. Even though some said he should put his money into other more “spiritual” projects, he felt called to invest in his graphic novel.Mario has gotten wonderful feedback from people who have purchased his graphic novel.People sometimes push back on the sci-fi aspect of the graphic novel.Mario DeMatteo is now working on a second graphic novel titled Peter, which focuses on the life of Jesus through Peter’s eyes.Mario shares about his rhythms and practices that keep him close to Jesus.After reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, Mario began journaling first thing in the morning.You can order Mario DeMatteo’s graphic novel at his website, http://www.beartruthcollection.com RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Mario DeMatteo Website:  https://beartruthcollective.com/Twitter:  @beartruthcomicsShort video about Mario“Paul: The Apostle” Graphic Novel Youtube Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTBYb3UvVCATo order online:  https://beartruthcollective.com/products/paulBooks mentioned Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor FranklThe Artist’s Way by Julia CameronInstructions to leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership:Click HERE.Click on the link that says, "Listen on Apple Podcasts."In the window that opens, click the button that says, "Open Link."  This will open iTunes.To the right of the Spiritual Life and Leadership logo, click "Ratings and Reviews."Under the heading, "Customer Reviews," click on the button that says, "Write a RevieGet Becoming Leaders of Shalom for free HERE.Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Jim Mullins is the Pastor of Theological and Vocational Formation at Redemption Church in Tempe, AZ. He’s also the Director of the Faith, Work, and Rest Initiative of the Surge Network in the Phoenix area. But what you really need to know about Jim is that he cares about people. In this episode, Jim Mullins talks about his rich theology of God’s mission and how we are called to participate in God’s mission by loving our neighbors. THIS EPISODE’S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Jim Mullins leads the Faith, Work, and Rest Initiative of the Surge Network in the Phoenix area.The mission of God is God’s mission.God is on a mission to restore all that was lost in the fall, including the spiritual, physical, and social aspects of life that have been corrupted and broken by sin and its effects.There are three primary ways we participate in God’s mission: Stewardship – We display the glory of the Father through the work of our hands.Service – We display the love of Christ by washing the feet of the world.Spoken Word – We display the power of the Spirit by opening our mouths.In stewardship, we reflect God’s character in the ordinary stuff of life.Service is the call to sacrificially love the other.In spoken word, we verbally proclaim the good news of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.In evangelism, we often treat the gospel like Ikea furniture–getting it out quickly and cheaply to as many people as possible–rather than as a “hand-crafted” display of God’s love and beauty.Jim Mullins shares his spiritual journey, his ministry in Turkey, and how his understanding of the gospel grew through his ministry.When we start to ask the question, “How?” we’ve started to ask the question of mission. How do I love God with all that I have?How do I love my neighbor as myself?As we ask these questions, we are functionally asking how we can participate in God’s mission? RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Jim Mullins Twitter:  @jimdmullins3Faith, Work, and Rest Podcast http://surgenetwork.com/start-faith-work-rest/Surge Network Website:  http://surgenetwork.com/who-we-are/Twitter:  @SurgeNetworkRedemption Church, Tempe Website: http://tempe.redemptionaz.com/Twitter:  @redemptionTEMInstructions to leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership:Click HERE.Click on the link that says, "Listen on Apple Podcasts."In the window that opens, click the button that says, "Open Link."  This will open iTunes.To the right of the Spiritual Life and Leadership logo, click "Ratings and Reviews."Under the heading, "Customer Reviews," click on the button that says, "Write a Review."Select the number of stars and write your review.CliGet Becoming Leaders of Shalom for free HERE.Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Jason Coker, pastor of First Christian Church in Oceanside, California, shares about a ministry called Two Shirts. Even though it doesn’t exist anymore, it beautifully captures what God wants to do in the world—healing and wholeness for the whole world. Jason and I discuss this very creative ministry, Jason’s journey of discovering the gospel in a much bigger way than he had ever understood it before, and what it’s like to serve a congregation that includes homeless brothers and sisters. THIS EPISODE’S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Brief description of the Oceanside, CA, community where Jason Coker serves as the lead pastor of First Christian Church. Jason shares how he came up with the idea for the Two Shirts ministry.  It started in Columbus, OH.The Two Shirts concept is based on John the Baptist’s words in Luke 3:11:  “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”Jason Coker was convicted by the idea that the gospel is more than an idea.  The gospel must be embodied.Two Shirts was a website where you could give things away or ask for something you need.An amazing story of a woman who posted that she needed a grandmother for her children.Unfortunately, Two Shirts never really took off in Southern California.  It was hard to build the critical mass.Jason describes the gospel he grew up with–a gospel that is more about disembodied doctrines and ideas.Jason Coker came to the understanding that the gospel is about the restoration of all things and the fulfillment of shalom.First Christian Church in Oceanside includes homeless people in their congregation.“Embodying the gospel means to serve the least in our midst.”Someone described Jason’s church as having “quite the cast of characters.”FCC’s new mission statement:  “To make disciples for the sake of the city who practice radical hospitality, create new expressions of faith, and minister wholeness in a fragmented world.”Jason Coker describes the “ordinariness” of his work as a pastor.  The majority of the church’s work is “unglamorous.” RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Jason Coker Twitter:  @jasonacokerFirst Christian Church Oceanside Website: https://fccoceanside.org/Twitter:  @fccoceansideDisciples of Christ denomination Website:  https://disciples.org/Instructions to leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership:Click HERE.Click on the link that says, "Listen on Apple Podcasts."In the window that opens, click the button that says, "Open Link."  This will open iTunes.To the right of the Spiritual Life and Leadership logo, click "Ratings and Reviews."Under the heading, "Customer Reviews," click on the button that says, "Write a Review."Select the number of stars and write your review.Click submit.I'd be so grateful if you did this.  Thank you!—Get Becoming Leaders of Shalom for free HERE.Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!The fourfold nature of shalom involves four key relationships--our relationship with God, with each other, with the created order, and within ourselves. THIS EPISODE’S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:I was involved in Campus Crusade for Christ when I was in college.  When I learned to share the Four Spiritual Laws, I was told, “Don’t focus on abundant life.  Just focus on eternal life.”When God created the world, it was in a state of shalom.Shalom refers to a comprehensive state of well-being that touches every aspect of life.When God created the world, the world experienced the fourfold nature of shalom: Between God and peopleBetween people and each otherWithin human beings themselves–a kind of inner shalomBetween human beings and the creationBut shalom was broken in all four of these ways.  The fourfold nature of shalom was broken:Between God and people Adam and Eve hid from GodBetween people and each other They saw their nakedness and no longer felt safe with each otherWithin human beings themselves They now felt shameBetween human beings and the creation Childbirth would be painful and the earth would no longer produce without toilGod wants to restore shalom in all four of these ways Between God and people Jesus sacrifice makes restoration of shalom with God possibleBetween people and each other No more war, violence, racism, classism, injustice, poverty, etc.Within human beings themselves God wants to heal our shameBetween human beings and creation Caring for creation is not a liberal or conservative thing; it’s a matter of stewardshipWe are called to participate with God in God’s mission of shalom.  We are called to join God in restoring the fourfold nature of shalom. RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Campus Crusade for Christ Website:  https://www.cru.org/Twitter:  @crutweetsFour Spiritual LawsFlourish San Diego Website:  https://flourishsandiego.org/Twitter:  @FlourishSDAmy Sherman discusses the fourfold nature of shalom in her book, Kingdom CallingTo leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-life-and-leadership/id1435252632— Links to Amazon are affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through any of these links, I’ll receive a small commission–which will help pay for the Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast!Get Becoming Leaders of Shalom for free HERE.Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!What is the mission of God?  As we read the scriptures, we discover a word that captures what God is working to bring about.  That word is shalom–a comprehensive sense of well-being that touches every aspect of life.  God wants to bring healing and wholeness to the whole world in every way.  This is the mission of God that we are invited to join. THIS EPISODE’S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Starting new programs or ministries in my church used to focus on the question, “How will this benefit or grow our church?”The Genesis creation story helps us understand what God wants to accomplish in the world.There is a word that captures the goodness of creation in Genesis 1 and 2–shalom.Shalom has to do with wholeness and completeness.  Shalom refers to a comprehensive state of well-being that touches every aspect of life.God gave human beings “dominion” (Genesis 2:28).Dominion is not the same thing as “domination.”Domination has to do with power and exploitation.  Dominion has to do with stewardship–taking care of something that has been entrusted to us.Jesus lived a life of shalom.  He restored shalom in people’s lives and in the world.Shalom was broken when sin became part of our story.Jesus restored shalom, not through domination, but through surrender and sacrifice.Revelation 21:1-5 paints a picture of the world when shalom has been restored.  This is what God is working toward.The mission of God is the healing and restoration of the whole world.The mission of the church is the same as the mission of God–to restore shalom to the world.Churches need to ask themselves this question:  Whose mission are we on? RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Here are a couple of related posts that I wrote for the Flourish San Diego blog…What is the Church’s Mission?What is Excluded from the Mission of God?To leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spiritual-life-and-leadership/id1435252632— Links to Amazon are affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through any of these links, I’ll receive a small commission–which will help pay for the Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Why am I calling this podcast Spiritual Life and Leadership? Because the church needs leaders whose lives are characterized by a life of deep spirituality and union with Jesus. Yes, leadership techniques are valuable and church growth strategies can be helpful. But if those who are called to lead God’s people into God’s mission are not deeply connected to the heart of Jesus, the church and the world God loves will both suffer.Welcome to Spiritual Life and Leadership! THIS EPISODE’S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:My motives for wanting my church to grow used to have a lot to do with wanting to look successful.I introduce myself–background, education, interests, family, etc.I’m a Star Wars fan!  A real one–since way back in the day…  I love the church.  I don’t love everything about the church.  But I love the church.Even with all its imperfections and, at times, ugliness, the church is the beautiful Bride of Christ.This podcast comes in large part out of my love for the church.My desire is for the church to experience the healing and wholeness that God wants for the world.A person's spiritual life and leadership are not ends in themselves.We don’t have a daily quiet time for the sake of having a daily quiet time.I wanted to be a great leader so that my church would be successful–get bigger, have more programs, higher attendance and bigger budget.Leadership matters so that we can help our churches, our people, participate in the mission of God.The spiritual life matters because it shapes the way we lead and who we are as leaders.Spiritual leadership and leadership requires a deep and growing union with God.I share the kinds of things we will be talking about on this podcast. RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Flourish San Diego Website:  https://flourishsandiego.org/Twitter:  @FlourishSDFuller Theological Seminary Website:  https://www.fuller.edu/Twitter:  @fullerseminaryAlan Roxburgh Twitter: @alanjroxburghMark Lau Branson Twitter:  @marklaubransonEmotionally Healthy Spirituality Website:  https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/Twitter:  @EHDiscipleshipPete Scazzero Twitter:  @petescazzeroInstructions to leave a review of Spiritual Life and Leadership:Click HERE.Click on the link that says, "Listen on Apple Podcasts."In the window that opens, click the button that says, "Open Link."  This will open iTunes.To the right of the Spiritual Life and Leadership logo, click "Ratings and Reviews."Under the heading, "Customer Reviews," click on the button that says, "Get Becoming Leaders of Shalom for free HERE.Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.