Spiritual Life and Leadership

Markus Watson and Tod Bolsinger reflect on their passion for exploration as an essential element of leadership, discussing the current crisis where the church often resists change and clings to the past rather than venturing into the unknown. Together, they explore the challenges in embracing exploration within the church, examine the role faith plays in embarking on new journeys, and contemplate how our structures often dissuade us from the very essence of adventure that following Jesus entails.Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Dwight Gibson in Episode 25, Organizational Change and the Way of Exploration:“As people of faith I would like to believe we have a greater capacity for exploration because we do recognize there is something beyond ourselves.” THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Faith calls believers to embrace exploration and take on the risks that come with following Jesus.Current church culture often resists change and exploration, preferring to maintain the status quo.The Church Leadership Institute aims to equip individuals with the skills needed to navigate uncharted territories.Believers must learn to let go of the past, embodying humility and accepting potential losses, to move forward.God's presence provides reassurance and support for the faithful as they embark upon new, explorative journeys.Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

In this episode, Warren Brown and Brad Strawn, authors of Enhancing Christian Life, explain how contemporary Christian practices can often lead to what they call a 'puny' experience of Christianity that elevates personal feelings of closeness to God over outward expressions of faith. They argue for a robust, 'supersized' form of Christian life, where followers of Jesus are deeply connected with their church community, contributing to and drawing from a shared life that reflects the teachings of Jesus in tangible and embodied ways.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Warren Brown and Brad Strawn discuss the premise of their book addressing the problem of individualism in Christian life.They elaborate on how this individualism leads to a disembodied Christian life, where the body is given lower status compared to the soul.The concept of "supersizing" Christian life is introduced, suggesting that a communal approach to faith and acknowledging the physical nature of human existence can enhance one’s spiritual experience.Warren Brown stresses that humans are not separate entities of bodies and souls, but fundamentally bodies, which challenges traditional dualistic views.Brad Strawn emphasizes the importance of community and visible actions as markers of a genuine Christian life.The problem of Christian life being treated as a private, individualistic experience is critiqued, promoting a more communal and outward-focused practice.Both guests discuss the transformative power of living out Christian faith in communal and practical ways, such as through church congregations actively engaging in charitable acts.The conversation shifts towards the errors of mind-body dualism, reinforcing the idea that spiritual experiences should not be isolated from physical and communal contexts.Brad Strawn argues that even solitary spiritual practices like meditation are enriched and informed by communal and historical church practices.The dialogue covers how internal spiritual states (often considered private) should ideally reflect and be influenced by one's external actions and community engagements.The discussion concludes by considering the broader implications of their ideas on church practices, emphasizing an active, outward-looking approach to faith that integrates personal reflection with communal action.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Books mentioned:Enhancing Christian Life, by Warren Brown and Brad StrawnThe Physical Nature of Christian Life, by Warren BrownDid My Neurons Make Me Do It? by Warren Brown and Nancy MurphyThe Extended Mind, by Annie Murphy-PaulFuller Studio - Brad Strawn lecturesRelated episodes:A Crisis of Adult Discipleship, with Brian WallaceSpiritual Leadership in the Digital Space, with Laura MurrayeSend me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Get Becoming Leaders of Shalom for free HERE.Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

This episode unpacks the concept of differentiation—how it allows us to recognize when someone else's anxiety affects us and vice versa, and the significance of maintaining our personal identity while staying connected in relationships. With vivid examples and relatable scenarios, we'll explore strategies to navigate crises and anxiety within our congregations and leadership teams without succumbing to the contagious nature of anxiety.Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Steve Cuss in Episode 47, Leadership, Anxiety, and Family Systems:“[Differentiation] is your ability to notice when you’re getting infected by someone else’s anxiety, and how to stop your anxiety from infecting someone else.”THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Contagious anxiety impairs rational thinking and flexibility within communities.A strong identity enables individuals to engage with others without being overwhelmed by external crises.Differentiation involves maintaining a clear sense of self while staying connected in relationships without enmeshment or detachment. Self-aware leaders discern when to shoulder others' problems and when to maintain boundaries for personal well-being.Recognizing and managing one’s anxiety prevents it from spilling over and impacting the wider community.Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Healthy leadership is about paying attention to what God is up to in the people we’re leading.  Our job, then, is not to force people to be something they’re not so they can support our own initiatives.  Our job is to take note of how our people are wired and then help them live that out for the sake of God’s mission.This is true, by the way, not only for the people we lead; it's true for the leader, too.  In this episode, Tommy Nixon, the CEO of Urban Youth Workers Initiative, does an amazing job unpacking that reality.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Tommy Nixon is CEO of Urban Youth Workers Institute.Tommy Nixon reflects on the importance of embracing individual gifts and the problems of emulating other prominent leaders.Tommy Nixon and Markus Watson reflect on their shared experience of walking the Camino de Santiago.The pressures leaders receive from external stakeholders, such as donors and board members, can be profound.  That’s why it is important to develop a deliberate growth strategy.Investing in others is critical, as is the role of conflict and tension in contributing to growth within a team.Tommy Nixon narrates his challenges with wearing multiple hats in leadership roles and calls into question whether individuals are truly multifaceted or should concentrate on their strengths.He advises leaders to have candid conversations with their teams about their abilities and to possibly reconceptualize leadership and teaching methods.Markus Watson shares his insights on the difficulties of transitioning from conventional leadership expectations to a model that involves spiritual formation and surrender.Tommy Nixon speaks on the need for leaders to engage in self-exploration and the advantages it brings, mentioning the use of introspection to seek divine direction and share vulnerabilities to promote a mutual understanding.Nixon shares his own journey of inner healing and self-acceptance through God's love that he has been on since high school.Tommy Nixon has come to embrace a significant truth over two decades, which has revolutionized his approach to leadership and handling disappointments.Markus Watson opens up about being triggered by a comment from a parishioner and the value of introspection and apologizing for his response.The conversation shifts to the idea of leading by allowing people to be themselves and trusting God to work in their midst.Nixon underscores the concept that understanding and joining God's plan is crucial, even when faced with leading a smaller church in the post-pandemic era.Tommy Nixon concludes by advocating for a paradigm shift in Christian leadership, encouraging a more people-centered approach and institutional change within the church and related nonprofits.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Tommy NixonUrban Youth Workers InstituteThe Radical Middle Podcast The Future is Here PodcastRelated episodes:The Beatitudes and Spiritual Leadership, with Mark ScandrettSend me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Get Becoming Leaders of Shalom for free HERE.Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson explore the powerful reminder that as pastors and leaders, we are not God and that recognizing our human limitations can prevent dysfunction within our ministries. This conversation will shed light on the protective nature of limitations for both leaders and those entrusted to their care.Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Mandy Smith in Episode 36, The Vulnerable Pastor:“Limitation is a ministry resource.”THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Limitation serves as a vital ministry resource, protecting both pastors and their communities.Acknowledging our human constraints fosters a necessary dependence on God’s provision.An awareness of personal boundaries prevents dysfunction and burnout among spiritual leaders.Embracing vulnerability in leadership equips us to minister from a place of authenticity.The recognition of our limitations enhances our pastoral care and grounds us in our humanity.Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Terry Walling is Founder and President of Leader Breakthru and the author of Unlikely Nomads. In this episode, Terry Walling shares about people he calls “nomads.”  They love Jesus, but they don’t love the more traditional expressions of the church.  They want to be part of the church, but the way most of our churches are structured isn’t life-giving for them.Terry and I reflect together on what a “nomad” is, what “nomads” are longing for, and how churches like yours and mine can love and bless “nomads” as they seek to live out their love for Jesus.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Terry Walling expresses his passion for mentoring leaders who are willing to take risks within the kingdom.He reflects on his own transformation from pastor to leadership development expert during a significant transition period.Walling shares humorous anecdotes from his pastoring days, particularly while presiding over the church his parents attended.Terry Walling discusses the shift from traditional programmatic church models to environments that foster safe and meaningful community connections.Terry Walling believes that church expressions are changing, with "Unlikely Nomads" capturing this evolutionary process.Walling advises the church to unlearn old paradigms and embrace new ones to stay relevant and effective.He emphasizes the importance of creating safe spaces for community interaction over adherence to traditional programmatic structures.The concept of a "bridging church" is presented as a means to help individuals reintegrate into their local communities.Terry Walling speaks about "unlikely nomads" within the church who seek a more profound journey with God and authenticity in their faith.He discusses the challenge of transforming church structures and the need to focus on personal renewal before organizational change.Terry Walling proposes that a shift towards personal discipleship can lead the way for structural transformations within the church.Markus Watson and Terry Walling hosts highlight the gradual, faithful process required for becoming more genuine followers of Jesus.They discuss the relevance of learning from those who have left the church to gain a broader understanding of faith and community.Walling and Watson emphasize the importance of not forcing individuals to conform to existing church expressions, but to have open conversations.The conversation delves into the difficulties church leaders face when adapting to evolving congregational expectations and societal shifts.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINK:Terry Walling:Leader BreakthruPodcast - The Nomad ChroniclesBooks mentioned:Unlikely Nomads, by Terry WallingStuck, by Terry WallingSend me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Get Becoming Leaders of Shalom for free HERE.Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson unpack a powerful quote from Steve Carter, "You only learn resilience through the fire and through the suffering." This quote emerged from Steve Carter's experience of letting go of everything he had known and worked towards when he offered his resignation from a church leadership position in the wake of abuse allegations against the senior pastor, Bill Hybels. From this, the conversation explores the concept of resilience and how leaders are formed in the crucible of change and suffering. Tod Bolsinger draws from his work in Tempered Resilience to discuss the importance of reflection, relationships, and spiritual practices in developing resilience in the face of suffering.Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Markus Watson in Episode 163, You Can't Be Found if You're Never Lost :“You only learn resilience through the fire and through the suffering.”THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Leaders develop resilience through facing the crucible of change and suffering.Reflecting, nurturing relationships, and spiritual practices are essential in developing resilience.Steve Carter's quote emphasizes the importance of willingly engaging with suffering to learn resilience.Formative leadership happens when individuals courageously face challenges, seeking growth amidst suffering.Resilience isn't just about enduring hardship, it's about embracing reflective practices and nurturing supportive relationships.Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

Daniel Lee is the academic dean for the Center for Asian American Theology and Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary and author of Doing Asian American Theology.Daniel Lee discusses the fact that each of us does theology from a particular persepective.  Recognizing our own "particularities" makes us far better leaders.  Why?  Because the more we are aware of our own cultural particularities, the more we become competent as leaders in regard to one another's cultural particularities.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Daniel Lee discusses the idea of God transcending divisive issues and the theological basis for God's perception of people.Daniel Lee initially saw his Korean heritage as baggage and tried to shed his cultural identity for a more generic evangelical perspective, but later realized the importance of embracing his Asian American identity in relation to his faith and theology.Initially resistant to being an Asian American theologian, Daniel Lee eventually embraced the need to articulate and address the significance of his cultural identity in his theological work.Daniel Lee points out that everyone has their own perspective and that when some perspectives become normalized, others are seen as abnormal. This issue exists in society and churches.Lee highlights the absence of modern-day race in the Bible and emphasizes the interaction between God and individuals, suggesting God's unique interaction with each person.Daniel Lee compares Asian American theology to the witness of God found in the gospels, emphasizing that theology is contextual and filtered through human perspective.It is important to recognize theology from an Asian American perspective and to witness to the one God collectively, while acknowledging that different perspectives yield a robust understanding of God.Ministry leaders need to move beyond crude stereotypes depicted in pop culture and gain a deeper understanding of colonial history and community-specific challenges.It is so important to gain more vocabulary and knowledge about different communities.  We also need humility and adaptiveness when interacting with individuals and communities.Both Daniel Lee and Markus Watson talk about the importance of discerning and joining in with what God is doing within communities.It is important to understand particularity in theology, as well as apply ministry in specific and precise ways rather than using a generic approach.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Daniel Lee:Center for Asian American Theology and MinistryBooks mentioned:Doing Asian American Theology, by Daniel LeeDoing Local Theology, by Clemens SedmakChurch Leadership InstituteRelated Episodes:Episode 173: The Art of Interpreting Culture, with Justin BaileyEpisode 167: Called to Each Other, with Claude AlexanderEpisode 149: Ministry Leadership in a Racialized SociSend me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Get Becoming Leaders of Shalom for free HERE.Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

In this episode, Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson explore a powerful quote from Lisa Lamb: "An abdication of leadership is also an abuse of leadership." Lisa's perspective as a preaching professor adds a unique angle to the discussion, highlighting the responsibility of leaders to recognize and respond to the needs they see in the world. Tod shares insights from his experience, emphasizing the collaborative nature of leadership in calling for change and transformation.Tod Bolsinger and Markus Watson discuss this quote from Lisa Lamb in Episode 161: Preaching for Deep Connection:“An abdication of leadership is also an abuse of leadership.”THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Abdicating leadership responsibilities is an abuse of leadership.Stepping into places of pain and taking responsibility is true leadership.Leadership is about convening people and inviting them to make a difference.Preaching serves leadership by calling people to take responsibility for change.Leadership in a changing world is a collaborative experience that involves using the preaching moment to call people to take responsibility for transformation.Send me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.

In this conversation, Adam McHugh, the author of Blood From a Stone, opens up about his transition from ministry as a hospice chaplain to the world of wine, becoming a wine tour guide and sommelier.  Adam shares about the emotional rollercoaster that goes along with redefining one's identity and faith outside of traditionally established ministry roles.For pastors and ministry leaders struggling with letting go of their church-centered identities, or struggling with transitioning in the way they are called to lead in a constantly changing world, this conversation will encourage you to lean into the patience and the inner transformation needed to live and lead in new ways.THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:Adam McHugh shares his journey from ministry to a new career path, reflecting on the difficulty and fear associated with such a transition.Markus Watson and Adam McHugh explore the prevalence of compassion fatigue among pastors and chaplains, acknowledging the personal toll it takes.The conversation touches on the struggle to redefine personal identity and faith when moving beyond traditional pastoral roles.Adam McHugh recounts his impactful experiences as a hospice chaplain and how they shaped his sense of self and faith.Adam and Markus delve into the "dark night of the soul," discussing the profound search for authenticity amidst life's challenges.Adam McHugh describes his transition from being a pastor and chaplain to a sommelier and wine tour guide, revealing a new chapter of his life.Adam McHugh articulates the struggle of identity and the transformation he underwent from Reverend to sommelier, framing it as an evolution of his humanity.Adam McHugh and Markus Watson emphasize the necessity of acknowledging the end of one life phase before embracing a new one, underscoring the importance of the internal transition process.Markus Watson adds insight into the stress associated with pastoral duties and the importance of embracing one's humanity over a clerical role.Adam McHugh advises pastors grappling with identity transitions to be patient and considerate of the internal processes involved.The discussion reveals Adam McHugh's tumultuous shift from a pastoral identity to embracing a new community and profession.Markus Watson speaks to the ongoing journey of transformation, underscoring the significance of patience and being shaped by God's hand.Adam McHugh advises embracing patience during the difficult process of identity transition, recognizing that it is a part of the continual path of transformation.RELEVANT RESOURCES AND LINKS:Adam McHugh:Email – adammchugh@gmail.comInstagram - @adammchughwineInterVarsity Press bioBooks mentioned:Blood From a Stone, by Adam McHughPowers and Thrones, by Dan JonesManaging Transitions, by William BridgesRelated Episodes:Ep. 142: Navigating the 7 Stages of Transition, with D. Michael LindsaySend me a text! I’d love to know what you're thinking!Get Becoming Leaders of Shalom for free HERE.Click HERE to get my FREE online course, BECOMING LEADERS OF SHALOM.