Life Group Leaders’ Lounge Newbreak Church

In this week's podcast, our podcast team shares our Top 10 Lessons We Learned this semester. We believe in the value of reflecting on what we did right, what we need to work on, and what we should celebrate in our leadership journey. Join us as we discuss our top 10 list (see list below).


Not everything is going to be tied in a nice bow each week. (Brooks)
People have great questions and love the format of Life Groups to ask them. (Brayden)
People are especially hungry for fellowship right now. (Raquel)
“The hope of Christ moves at the speed of relationships.” - Matt Demateo (Brayden)
Serve Challenge was a game changer for my group - you don’t know how great it is until you do it. (Brooks)
Be flexible and consistent as a Leader. (Raquel)
Be willing to pivot your topic when your group needs to pivot. (Brooks)
Spiritual retreat was a huge win. (Brayden)
Having a great icebreaker question will especially help new people feel welcomed in the group. (Brooks)
Listen to people outside of your bubble- mentors who are close and far. (Brayden)

Serving in ministry can be so much fun and incredibly rewarding. It can also be really hard on your family. Ever heard the phrase, "Warning: Ministry may be dangerous to your family's health”? Unfortunately, many of us have found this statement to be true. Jared Johnson, Pastor at Newbreak Church in Scripps Ranch, joins our podcast to discuss how this happens and remind us why "winning at home" is vital to everything we do as leaders. Through transparency and a willingness to open up about his own struggles, Jared identifies practical steps that each of us can take to help guard and nurture the well being of our families.

Robert Pedroza, Connections Pastor at Rise City Church, joins our podcast to discuss why being teachable is so important to our development as leaders. Robert also gets real about the dangers of comparing ourselves to others and why we need to be cautious of the trap of not measuring up. This podcast ends with a brief discussion on the types of resources available to help you grow.



Robert is an innovate and passionate follower of Jesus who has served in a variety of Pastoral roles over the last 15 years. Robert is married with three girls and resides in San Diego, California.

JoAnn Johnson, Executive Pastor at Newbreak Church, joins our podcast to talk about why it's essential for leaders to prioritize our own personal growth. Often times our own growth is pushed to the side because we get so worried about everyone and everything else. Join us as we discuss some practical steps to help reignite your growth and development as a leader.



JoAnn is an experienced Executive Pastor who has served in pastoral ministry within the Assemblies of God denomination for over 15 years. JoAnn is married with two kids and resides in San Diego, California.

Sherwood Patterson, Founder and Lead Pastor of Quest Church San Diego, shares with us why it's vital to serve others from the overflow and empowerment of God's Spirit working in our lives. When we learn to marinate in God's presence, and allow Him to tenderize our hearts, we discover that God has endless wells of nourishment available to us. The concepts and mindset discussed in this podcast will radically change the way you do ministry in the future. Check it out!
Sherwood holds a Doctor of Ministry in church planting and multiplication and serves as a church strengthening and revitalization coach for the San Diego Southern Baptist Association. Sherwood is married with four kids and resides in Alpine, California.

We are joined again by Matt DeMateo, Pastor at New Life Community Church and Executive Director of New Life Centers Chicagoland, in Part 2 of our podcast on taking bold steps of faith. Matt gets real with us as he shares from his own experiences of climbing mountains by faith only to find dark valleys on the other side. He also shares some of his biggest lessons learned about God and himself through this journey.

Matt has been working with young people in Chicago since 2000. He lives and serves in the Little Village neighborhood on Chicago's southwest side with his wife Sarah and his three children Bella, Benny, and Robert. New Life Centers services over 5,000 youth and families with more than 750 volunteers.