Leaders in Living Rooms

“The fear factor of a transition is real. And it will hit you. But you have to remind yourself that that is literally what the devils plan is to do to you. Is to paralyze you. He wants nothing more than to get you on your heels and start to revert back. But the Gospel is going no no, if God is for you who can be against you? I got you. You need to walk forward in faith and be strong and courageous like Joshua.” Meet Kevin Rhineheimer, Lead Executive Pastor of Mission Church in Gilbert, Arizona. Kevin has been on staff at Mission for over a decade and walked through two vastly different seasons of transition. In this episode he compares and contrasts those transitions and talks about his role as the “bridge leader” of the local church. Welcome to Episode 066 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan. EPISODE LINKSAre you in Transition or have one on the horizon? We encourage you to check out more about our cohort work and get connected with us at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ WHO IS KEVIN RHINEHEIMER?I am a Pastor with experience leading through difficult circumstances. My heart beat is staff health and desiring for God to build His church. Relational connection is my gifting which in return helps me understand the heartbeat of the church. I take leadership seriously and see it as a stewardship moment knowing I will answer to it one day. I have an active spiritual life which includes listening to the Holy Spirit guide and direct my life. I hold everything with loose hands and trust that God's promises are true and for me. Out of those promises I lead with confidence. The biggest blessing in my life is being married to my wife, Erin. We've been married for 18 years and have 3 beautiful children together. They keep us on our toes and we love it! Our long term goal is to grow old together while traveling and eating while spending time together as much as possible. We truly are in love!Instagram: @rhineheimerSPONSORS & PARTNERSThanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.  The Art of Leadership Academy - https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-leadership-academy/

“We tell our staff…  if you are happy or aligned with 70% of what we’re doing as a church, then lay down the other 30% and embrace what God is doing.” On this episode we welcome Mike Bodine from Central Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mike is gracious enough to invite us into his living room to discuss the health of Central’s staff, the health of their church, and the health of the relationship between Mike and his Lead Pastor, Jud Wilhite. Mike shares incredible wisdom on fighting for culture in your church and why it matters. As he so concisely summarizes, “Culture is everything.” Welcome to Episode 065 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan. EPISODE LINKSWe are thrilled to announce Executive Pastor Cohorts with The Ascent Leader! Learn more about our cohorts for XP’s and sign-up to be mentored by Mike Bodine at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ WHO IS MIKE BODINE?Mike Bodine serves as the Senior Leader of Central Church. In his over 30 years of full-time ministry, Mike has served in churches in Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, and for the past 17 years has loved serving in Las Vegas. Mike’s strategy for church growth not only makes an impact on Central locations but is also helping churches around the world reach their full potential. Mike and his wife, Lisa, reside in the Las Vegas area where they love spending time with their family and being Pops and Lovey to their 12 precious grandkids.IG: mike.bodineEmail: mike@centralonline.tvSPONSORS & PARTNERSThanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.  The Art of Leadership Academy - https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-leadership-academy/

“Leaders are waiting around for their rooms to fill up, but newcomers to your church are waiting for you to make room for them.” In this episode, Sean leans into a question that so many church leaders and staff are wrestling with on this side of the pandemic… “when is our room full?” If you’ve thought maybe the rules have changed since the pandemic, you’d be right. But actually, maybe the rules we had been following were always wrong? Sean challenges listeners to think about what feels best to the newcomer, not to you or your staff, and equips us with leadership principles to support this shift. Welcome to Episode 064 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan. EPISODE LINKSAre you in Transition or have one on the horizon?  We encourage you to check out more about our cohort work and how you can get signed up at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ WHO IS SEAN MORGAN?Following a successful career in healthcare change management, Sean moved from success to significance and joined the staff of a San Francisco area church that he helped plant, as their Executive Pastor.  New Life Church is known for a dynamic, multiethnic ministry that has grown from hundreds to thousands. After being written about in Thom Rainer’s book Breakout Churches, Sean found himself hosting and coaching leaders from NorCal and around the world. Sean is a nationally known coach who has developed a reputation for connecting ministry leaders and being a catalyst of fresh vision; he founded and curates theascentleader.org. SPONSORS & PARTNERSThanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.  The Art of Leadership Academy - https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-leadership-academy/

“For most churches, if you take 50% of your givers off the list, you’re only losing 2% of the gifts… Rather than talking about fear and anxiety of the coming recession, what if we talk about the real issue? Being broken-hearted about the spiritual condition of our people when it comes to money and possessions.” Meet Jim Sheppard, CEO & Principal of Generis, a firm passionate about coaching churches and creating contagious generosity. Today’s episode wrestles through some very current economic trends like inflation, recession, while guiding church leaders on how the disruption of the pandemic will require churches to change their playbook and update their scorecards. This is a must listen and one you’ll want to share with your team as you head into fall. Welcome to Episode 063 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan. EPISODE LINKSAre you retaining first and second time donors? Get a free copy of the Generis Ebook: First-Time Givers for your team at the Ascent Leader website here. Checkout more about GenerisGet Jim’s book - Contagious GenerosityIntentional Churches - Connect with Doug Parks & Bart Rendell for member engagement beyond attendance. Are you in Transition or have one on the horizon?  We encourage you to check out more about our cohort work and how you can get signed up at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ WHO IS JIM SHEPPARD?Jim Sheppard is CEO & Principal of Generis, a consulting firm passionate about helping churches inspire and cultivate generosity through giving development, coaching, and strategy. After college, Jim passed the CPA exam and pursued a career as a financial executive. Though he grew up in the church, Jim was not a believer until he was 28. That part of his life intersected with his business life in 1991 when he thought he might be called to the pastorate. This came at a time when he was at a very high level in a major financial services company. After an intense spiritual period in his life, Jim realized that was not where God was calling him. Seven months later through a corporate buyout and a series of providentially inspired events, Jim moved from the corporate world to giving development for churches and ministry organizations. Jim is a student of generosity and is passionate about spreading it throughout the Church. For the last 27+ years, he has devoted his life to coaching pastors especially in navigating the resource limitations that restrict their ministry potential. Jim understands the financial challenges that churches face today; annual giving, debt, capital projects, and planned giving. He is a positive force in bridging these needs with the power of spiritually motivated stewardship. Cumulatively, Jim has partnered with his clients to raise over $1.7 billion for local church ministry. Jim is a frequent writer and speaker on generosity and ministry funding. He is co-author of Contagious Generosity: Creating A Culture Of Giving In Your Church. Jim and his wife, Nancy, live in the Atlanta, GA area and they have two married daughters. He is actively involved in his church where he serves as an elder and provides guidance to the Generosity Ministry Team.Instagram: @jim_sheppard and @generisteamSPONSORS & PARTNERSThanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.  The Art of Leadership Academy - https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-leadership-academy/

“The definition of what the Lead Pastor needs to be and do coming out of the pandemic has changed.” In this episode, Sean sits down with Dr. Warren Bird from ECFA to lean into the challenges pastors are facing coming out of the pandemic, and into recession and inflation. With a heavy focus on  Ephesians 4:11-12, Dr. Bird and Sean wrestle with how churches honestly answer the question, “Are we an equipping and empowering church?” and how as a leader, you must be examining your own calling, uniqueness, and gift mix to lead the church God’s way through your leadership. Welcome to Episode 062 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan. EPISODE LINKSThe Simple Church by Thom RainerExperiencing God by Henry Blackaby Large Church Trends Blog by Dr. Warren BirdResearch shows that two determining factors of a church plants success are: 1. Was the planter assessed beforehand?2. Is the planter being coached post plant launch?Check out Church Planter Cohorts with the Ascent LeaderAre you in Transition or have one on the horizon?  We encourage you to check out more about our cohort work and how you can get signed up at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ WHO IS DR. WARREN BIRD?Warren Bird, Ph.D., is ECFA’s senior vice president of research and equipping. He serves ECFA by increasing the scope, impact and depth of our knowledge base while equipping ECFA’s members to apply what ECFA is learning through research. Warren is widely recognized as among the nation’s leading students, researchers, and writers about large, fast-growing and innovative churches. An ordained minister with a big heart for the local church, Warren has led in various pastoral positions, taught at several seminaries, and served most recently for 13 years at Leadership Network, overseeing their research department where they released several dozen groundbreaking reports on topics like multisite churches, large-church compensation, church planting, and church residencies. An award-winning writer, he has also co-authored 34 books for church leaders on topics like breaking growth barriers, healthy mergers, and effective pastoral succession.Twitter: @warrenbirdSPONSORS & PARTNERSThanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.  The Art of Leadership Academy - https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-leadership-academy/

“The leadership lesson was that it all happened on my watch. It wasn’t all my fault, but it was my responsibility as a leader to shepherd my staff well and I wasn’t doing that.” Meet Jim Burgen from Flatirons Community Church in Colorado. In one of the most heartfelt and vulnerable episodes of our show, Jim opens up about what triggered his six month sabbatical and how God used it for Jim to come back as a better, healthier & stronger leader, just before Covid hit. Jim shares what he learned about himself, about the team at Flatirons, and how all of those lessons were imperative to setting him up well for a succession within the next five years. “I learned that I better be investing in Jesus and my wife, because they will still be there when I’m no longer at Flatirons.” Welcome to Episode 061 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan. EPISODE LINKSJim Burgen’s WebsiteRethink Podcast with Jim Burgen The Dark Side of Leadership by Gary McIntoshAre you in Transition or have one on the horizon?  We encourage you to check out more about our cohort work and how you can get signed up at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ WHO IS JIM BURGEN?Jim Burgen serves as the Lead Pastor for Flatirons Community Church, where he is passionate about protecting, overseeing, and leading the Church by developing authentic relationships with his Elders, staff, volunteers, and donors to reach people in a lost and broken world. Known for his dynamic teaching, Jim defines and directs the vision of Flatirons through his raw and real leadership and ability to cast vision and go first through challenges. When he's not serving his Church, you can find Jim spending time with his wife Robin, working out at the gym, or hunting in the Colorado backcountry.https://www.jimburgen.com Twitter: @jimburgenInstagram: @jimburgenSPONSORS & PARTNERSThanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.  The Art of Leadership Academy - https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-leadership-academy/

“In spite of its brokenness, I still have hope for the local church. And I believe it's still God’s Plan A for reconciling the world.” Meet Nancy Beach and her daughter, Samantha Beach Kiley, two influential leaders of the Church and co-authors of Next Sunday: An Honest Dialogue About the Future of the Church. In this episode, Sean Morgan digs deep with Nancy and Samantha on the future of community, the future of inclusion, and the future of the church. Nancy and Sam will challenge our listeners to think differently about the way churches are leading and whether or not we’re actually making an impact on our congregants and our surrounding communities. Get ready to be inspired about what the church can be! Welcome to Episode 060 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan. EPISODE LINKSFind Nancy & Samantha’s book: Next Sunday: An Honest Dialogue About the Future of the Church If you want the results no one else is getting, do what no one else is doing. The best work we do, is the work we do in the living room with our cohorts. We encourage you to check out more about our cohort work and how you can get involved at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ WHO ARE NANCY BEACH & SAMANTHA BEACH KILEY?Nancy Beach serves as a leadership coach with the Slingshot Group, The Ascent Leader, and on the teaching team at Soul City Church in downtown Chicago. Previously, Nancy served as the programming director at Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago. She is also the author of An Hour on Sunday and Gifted to Lead. Nancy and her husband Warren have two adult daughters, Samantha and Johanna.http://www.nancylbeach.com/Twitter: @NancyLBeachInstagram: @nancyleebeachSamantha Beach Kiley is a writer and performer, and the creative arts pastor at Austin New Church in Austin, Texas. Samantha's creative work has appeared in theatres, churches, and non-profit spaces. She has taught at Northwestern's National High School Institute and Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, where she is the co-education director with her husband, Will.https://www.samanthabeach.work/Twitter: @BeachSamanthaInstagram: @samanthabeachkSPONSORS & PARTNERSThanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.  The Art of Leadership Academy - https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-leadership-academy/

“People kept asking me, are you excited? But I wasn’t all that excited, and I felt like something was wrong. To be honest, I was a little bit scared. There are so many calls in scripture where the call was clear, but it wasn’t something they were excited about.” Meet Dave Dummitt, Senior Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, dynamic leader and pastor who knows a thing or two about transitions. In this episode, Dave invites us into the behind-the-scenes process of being pursued by Willow, wrestling with God’s call to Chicago, and what it meant to leave 2|42 Community Church in its season of thriving. Dave says candidly, “This wasn’t a transition, it was a turnaround.” You won’t want to miss it. Welcome to Episode 059 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan. EPISODE LINKSLearn more about Will Creek and Dave Dummitt at http://www.willowcreek.orgInstagram: @davedummittIf you want the results no one else is getting, do what no one else is doing. The best work we do, is the work we do in the living room with our cohorts. We encourage you to check out more about our cohort work and how you can get involved at: https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ WHO IS DAVE DUMMITT?Dave Dummitt is the Senior Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church. He is an innovative leader of leaders with a passion to help leaders win and have fun doing it. Prior to his role at Willow Creek, Dave served as the Founding and Lead Pastor of 2|42 Community Church, ranked by Outreach Magazine for seven years in a row as one of the fastest-growing churches in America. Under his leadership, 2|42 grew from a 40-member launch team meeting in Dave’s living room to over 10,000 people meeting at seven different campuses each weekend. Dave is skilled at helping leaders rise above day-to-day frustrations in order to lead with compelling vision, grow and multiply healthy teams, cultivate great culture, and develop strong systems that support growing organizations. His business savvy combined with his pastoral leadership allowed him to serve on the board of the Solomon Foundation. Additionally, Dave partnered with two gifted technology developers to create GYVE, an innovative generosity development tool for churches and nonprofits. Dave loves great movies, water sports, time at the gym, and being able to take off on his Harley. He and his wife, Rachel, met during their time as students at Wheaton College. Together they have four children: Grace, Luke, Joe, and Alex.SPONSORS & PARTNERSThanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.  The Art of Leadership Academy - https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-leadership-academy/

“We’re half the church we were before Covid hit, attendance wise. But the foundation is stronger than it was when we built from where we are now, before.” Meet Greg Lindsey, Lead Pastor of Discovery Christian Church in Colorado Springs, CO. From lawyer, to church planter, to transitions leader, Greg has a transition story that didn’t start well, and then got worse before it ever got better. He shares his approach of leading Discovery with “duct tape and dreams” and encourages leaders to let off the gas in their striving and driving and be far more willing to grow slowly. To be willing to invest more in the people who are showing up right now. Greg doesn’t shy away from his doubts, his fears, his many challenges; and how God has continued to teach him raw dependence throughout his story. It’s a must listen. Welcome to Episode 058 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan. EPISODE LINKSDiscovery Christian Church in Colorado Springs, CO Sunnyside Christian Church planted Discover 19 years ago.If you’re a new lead pastor stepping into a transition, we want you in our Fall 2022 cohort. Visit https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ to learn more.WHO IS GREG LINDSEY?After having spent a summer at Officer Candidate School in the Marine Corps and 10 years in the courtroom as a trial attorney in both Kentucky and Indiana, Greg left it behind to plant and lead Lifepointe Church in Raleigh, North Carolina in 2002. In 2008 he became the Lead Pastor of Discovery Church Colorado in Colorado Springs, a 5 year old struggling church plant of about 100 people. Discovery grew to over 1400 in the next 5 years and was one of Outlook Magazine’s 100 fastest growing churches in America in both 2014 and 2015. He and his wife and hero Stacy have been married for 38 years and have 4 amazing daughters, three sons in law, and 6 awesome grandkids. He is also one of the founding leaders of COSIloveyou, an organization and movement committed to uniting and igniting the local church in Colorado Springs to show the tangible love of Jesus to all people in the city with no strings attached. Over 100 Colorado Springs churches are now a part of that movement.Instagram: @glindsey360Twitter: @greglindseySPONSORS & PARTNERSThanks to our sponsor: Food For The Hungry.Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.  The Art of Leadership Academy - https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-leadership-academy/

“People aren’t looking for solutions to problems they don’t understand. I would have spent a lot more time in my younger years selling the problem, rather than selling the solution that people weren’t in the market for.” Since 2008 Gene Appel has been leading Eastside Christian Church in Anaheim, CA. Prior to his long tenure and catalytic leadership at Eastside, he has modeled (twice) what it looks like to successfully transition into the senior leader role. In this episode, Gene shares the 6 things he set out to do in the first 100 days at Eastside, how important a united front really is in your new position, and the three stages that come before you should expect the harvest. Lastly, Gene shares with listeners the one metric Eastside is using to measure success post-pandemic and why it’s so important. Welcome to Episode 057 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan. EPISODE LINKSHow To Change a Church Without Killing It (Many Years Ago) by Gene AppelLeading Change by John P. KotterIf you’re a new lead pastor stepping into a transition, we want you in our Fall 2022 cohort. Visit https://theascentleader.org/cohorts/ to learn more.PODCAST PARTNERSFood For The Hungry - Combine your church's heart for the poor and Food for the Hungry’s global experience at fh.org/churches.  The Art of Leadership Academy - The online courses and learning community you need to lead, run, and grow your church. Learn more at https://careynieuwhof.com/the-art-of-leadership-academy/