Try Tank Podcast

In this episode of the Try Tank Podcast, Father Lorenz Lebrija continues his conversation with Matt Rogers, the vicar at St. Mark's in Grimsby, recorded at Windsor Palace in England. This second part delves deeper into the remarkable journey of revitalizing a church that once had a mere four attendees. Matt shares the innovative strategies he employed for church growth, emphasizing the power of social media and personal invitations that resonate within the local community. He candidly discusses the realities of church planting, including the necessity for adaptability, the significance of prayer, and the celebration of both challenges and successes along the way.As Matt reflects on the first year of their church's revival, he reveals how they grew to a vibrant congregation of around 80 members, primarily through personal invitations rather than traditional marketing methods. The conversation highlights the role of the Alpha course in engaging newcomers and fostering connections among diverse groups, including families with young children. Matt also emphasizes the importance of excellence in worship and the value of building a strong, collaborative team environment.

In this episode of the Try Tank Podcast, Father Lorenz Lebrija engages with Matt Rodgers, the vicar at St. Mark's Church in Great Grimsby, to explore the revitalization of a historically significant yet struggling church. Matt shares the inspiring journey of transforming St. Mark's from a dwindling congregation of four to a vibrant community of faith. He discusses the unique challenges and opportunities of planting a church in Grimsby, an area marked by economic hardship and low church attendance. The conversation highlights the importance of community engagement, innovative outreach strategies, and the role of invitation in fostering a welcoming church environment.Matt reflects on the influence of Holy Trinity Brompton and the broader Anglican network in shaping his ministry approach, emphasizing the need for adaptability and a focus on mission over tradition. He candidly addresses the complexities of church revitalization in a diverse cultural landscape, including the importance of creating a space where all individuals feel accepted and valued, regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs. This episode serves as a reminder of the transformative power of faith and community in even the most unlikely places.

In this episode of the Try Tank Podcast, Father Lorenzo Lebrija engages in a profound discussion with Dr. Josh Packard, the Director of Research at the Try Tank Research Institute and co-founder of Future of Faith. They explore the concept of sacred listening, a vital practice that emerges from a recent study highlighting its significance in faith formation. Dr. Packard shares insights on how listening can be an act of spiritual connection, emphasizing that the simple act of being heard can lead individuals closer to God. The conversation delves into the methodology of the study, which involved a nationally representative sample and in-depth interviews, revealing key findings about the traits of effective listening: being relatable, reliable, and genuinely curious. They discuss the barriers to listening and how these insights can inform ministry practices to foster a more inclusive and empathetic church environment. This episode is a call to action for faith leaders to cultivate a culture of sacred listening within their communities, transforming the way they engage with others and ultimately deepening spiritual connections.Dr. Josh Packard is a leading expert in the spiritual lives of modern American youth and the sociology of religion. His work focuses on understanding the dynamics of faith formation and the emerging expressions of spirituality in contemporary society. Through his research, he aims to equip faith communities with the tools necessary to engage meaningfully with diverse populations and enhance their ministry practices.For more resources on sacred listening and to explore the findings of the study, visit futureoffaith.org.

In this episode of the Try Tank Podcast, Father Lorenz Lebrija welcomes back Gabe Cervantes, the Director of Scalable Foresight at the Institute for the Future, to delve into the concept of scalable foresight and its significance for the church. Gabe shares insights on how organizations can cultivate a culture of futures thinking that involves everyone, not just a select few leaders. They discuss the key principles of scalable foresight, including the importance of collaborative thinking, the need to ask the right questions, and the role of a guide or Sherpa in navigating the complexities of future possibilities. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how to identify signals of change and drivers of change, and how these elements can inform strategic planning within their communities. This engaging conversation emphasizes the necessity of challenging present-day assumptions and fostering a proactive approach to building a resilient future for the church.Gabe Cervantes is a leading strategist in the field of foresight, working closely with organizations to enhance their ability to anticipate and respond to future challenges. His expertise in scalable foresight aims to empower individuals and communities to think creatively about the future and to engage in meaningful discussions that shape their paths forward.

In this episode, Fr. Lorenzo Lebrija welcomes the Rev. Peter Levenstrong, Associate Rector at St. Gregory of Nyssa in San Francisco, to discuss the transformative power of Living Stories. This innovative preaching model shifts the sermon from a monologue to a communal act of storytelling and reflection, inviting congregations to co-create meaning through shared experiences. Peter shares insights into how this method fosters deeper connections within worship, enhances participation, and allows for a multisensory approach to scripture. They explore the practicalities of implementing Living Stories in diverse congregations, including the resources available for those looking to engage more fully with their communities. Additionally, the conversation touches on the intersection of Living Stories and artificial intelligence, highlighting how AI can both enhance and challenge traditional forms of preaching. Rev. Peter Levenstrong is the Associate Rector at St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco and the creator of Living Stories Sermons, an innovative, Montessori-inspired preaching model that transforms the sermon into a communal act of storytelling and reflection. Through tactile storytelling and open-ended wondering questions, Living Stories invites participants of all ages to co-create the sermon, deepening spiritual connection and fostering intergenerational belonging. Peter is also the co-host of the AI Church Toolkit podcast, and he’s currently writing a theological manual on Living Stories Sermons to help congregations across the Church bring this transformative model to life. Workshop sign-up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvw2IRZYgVJYY7EZtz_iz7FXladoagZ5Ky-gx5KCG8rtVOZg/viewform Newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/fAtQQZu/livingstories Website: https://www.livingstoriessermons.org/

In this episode of the Tritank Podcast, Lorenzo Lebrija hosts Bob Johansen and Gabe Cervantes to discuss the intersection of artificial intelligence, leadership, and faith. They explore how AI can augment human capabilities, the fears surrounding its adoption, and the importance of maintaining human connections in a rapidly changing technological landscape. The conversation emphasizes a future-back approach to leadership, the role of AI in theological exploration, and the need for clarity and flexibility in navigating the complexities of modern faith communities.

In this episode, Fr. Lorenzo Lebrija sits down with the Rev. Chantal McKinney, a dedicated Episcopal priest and church planter with over 20 years of experience in ministry. Recorded on the road in Kansas City, they explore the transformative journey of rediscovering a church's missional call. Chantal shares her insights from successfully planting a bilingual, multicultural church in a low-income neighborhood and how she now coaches congregations across the nation to engage deeply with their communities. Listeners will learn practical steps on how to shift church culture, grow in discipleship, and become truly present in their neighborhoods. This episode emphasizes the importance of being proactive in outreach and the joy that comes from building genuine relationships within the community.The Rev. Chantal McKinney, D. Min., ACC is a missional coach and consultant, a faith-based entrepreneur, a speaker and a writer. She was the Founder and church planter at Christ’s Beloved Community / Comunidad Amada de Cristo, a bilingual, bi-denominational church in Winston-Salem, NC. Using Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) and community organizing, their new faith community grew a dynamic neighborhood presence that fostered a vibrant and growing church. She then founded Root Thrive Soar, a parachurch organization that works with denominations, dioceses, churches, seminaries, and ecumenical organizations around the country to nurture, train, and support mutual, circular mission and community engagement. She is passionate about envisioning and co-creating a future church that is centered on community, compassion, and Christ. She lives in Winston-Salem, NC with her family. Learn more at rootthrivesoar.com

In this episode, Fr. Lorenzo Lebrija engages in a thought-provoking conversation with author Carey Wallace about her book, The Discipline of Inspiration: The Mysterious Encounter with God at the Heart of Creativity. They delve into the essence of inspiration, exploring how it transcends mere talent and technique to become a divine gift that fuels artistic expression. Carey shares her insights on cultivating strong creative habits and reframing ministry as an art form, emphasizing the importance of surrendering to inspiration as a path to encountering God. This enriching dialogue encourages listeners to embrace creativity in their spiritual lives and to recognize the sacredness embedded in artistic endeavors.Carey Wallace is the author of The Discipline of Inspiration: The Mysterious Encounter With God At The Heart of Creativity (Eerdmans), The Blind Contessa’s New Machine (Penguin), and The Ghost In The Glass House (Clarion). She works to help people from all walks of life find inspiration and build strong creative habits to sustain a lifetime of creation. She performs as a songwriter, exhibits her own fine art, and has spoken on art, faith, and justice with students at Princeton, Julliard, Emory, Pratt, and Yale. Her articles and poems have appeared in Time, Detroit’s Metro Times, and America. She is the founder of a retreat for artists in Michigan, and the Creative Discipline Class to form strong creative habits, which has been in operation for over a decade across the US and internationally. She grew up in small towns in Michigan, and lives and works in Brooklyn. https://www.careywallace.com/

Rev Tricia Lyons, a Senior Lecturer in Practical Theology at Virginia Theological Seminary, discusses the innovative Mutual Ministry initiative designed to empower both clergy and lay leaders. She explores the historical roots and current significance of mutual ministry in the Episcopal Church, emphasizing its joyful essence. Tricia critiques traditional hierarchical models contributing to clergy burnout and advocates for shared responsibilities within faith communities. The conversation also highlights the necessity of personal well-being in ministry and fostering open dialogues about faith.

In this episode, Fr Lorenzo Lebrija and Fr. Dave Lloyd discuss the Garden Church Network in Norwich, England. Garden Churches Recorded in Dave's kitchen and car, the conversation explores how these lay-led missional communities are redefining faith through liminality, communitas, and radical hospitality. Dave highlights the core values of the Garden Church: devoted worshippers, loving families, equipped disciple-makers, Spirit-filled missionaries, and suffering sojourners. Discover how these communities thrive without traditional church structures, letting the Holy Spirit lead and creating space for unexpected connections. Rev. Dave Lloyd is the Mission Development Officer for the Diocese of Norwich and Leader of The Garden Church Network, a family of 18 lay-led missional communities across rural Norfolk. Passionate about house churches and discipleship movements, Dave thrives on the entrepreneurial edge of ministry. He holds a Doctorate in Church Planting in Post-Christendom Europe from Asbury Theological Seminary and studied Theology at Oxford University before training as a lawyer in London. Called to ministry in 2008, Dave has planted a Church of England free school on a London estate, established a resource church in Norwich City, and revitalized satellite churches. In 2019, he transitioned to a co-vocational role to focus on lay-led missional communities. An adventurer at heart, he loves the sea—whether wakeboarding, sailing, fishing, or swimming—and is an accomplished jazz, gospel, salsa, and folk trumpet player, combining music and mission in venues across Norfolk. Married to Anna, with two teenage children, Zach and Georgia, Dave delights in the rich heritage of Norfolk, home to one of the world’s highest concentrations of medieval churches, as he helps others live a gathered and scattered life with Jesus.  Website: https://garden-church.org/