The Innovative Church Leaders Podcast

Innovative Church Leaders
  • 4.7 (12)
  • CHRISTIANITY
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Innovative Church Leaders helps pastors experience and bring renewal to their mission field. Discover how to bring Spirit-led innovation, reach new people, and make disciples who make disciples. Sign up for our free email newsletter at https://innovativechurchleaders.org/join-us/ to win free resources including books, access to conferences, and access to cohorts, workshops, and coaching!

  1. Where is God When We Suffer? with Tiffany Stein

    4D AGO

    Where is God When We Suffer? with Tiffany Stein

    What do you do when God feels absent in your deepest suffering? In this raw and hope-filled conversation with host Toriano Mayo (lead pastor of The Well in Austin), Tiffany Stein - author of Mourning God - shares how losing her infant son led her to a secondary loss she never expected: the felt absence of God's presence. Tiffany reveals what Job's friends got right (silence) and wrong (talking), how to lament which includes complaining and ultimately trusting, and what it means to build enduring hope on the only thing that can't be taken away. Key Insights and Time Stamps: 01:51 - What God Is Doing in Austin 07:26 - Mourning the God You Thought You Knew 08:51 - Four-Part Lament: Turn, Complain, Ask, Trust 10:29 - It's Holy to Grieve What Is Not Good 17:56 - Pastoring the Suffering Individual 21:08 - Hope = Expecting Good Things Based on God's Person and Promises 22:37 - Sorrow AND Joy (Not Sorrow OR Joy) 25:10 - Living in the Mystery: God Is Good AND My Son Died Resources Mentioned: * Mourning God: Grieving Loss, Wrestling with God, and Finding Your Way Back to Life by Tiffany Stein * Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering by Tim Keller * https://www.tiffanystein.com/ (bonus content, spiritual practices, lament exercises) Follow Innovative Church Leaders: Website: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeaders Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InnovativeChurchLeaders/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativechurchleaders LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovative-church-leaders/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@innovativechurchleaders Toriano Mayo: The Well Austin: https://thewellaustin.com/ Tiffany Stein: Website: https://tiffanystein.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-post-christian-podcast/id1509588357 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZeQIrzr2tCMyq1VdwxGNn One-third of the Psalms are laments. Learn to practice this missing spiritual discipline at https://www.innovativechurchleaders.org/join-us. #ChurchLeadership #Lament #Grief #Suffering #PastoralCare #Psalms #ChristianGrief #SecondaryLoss #Hope #ChildLoss #InnovativeChurchLeaders #TiffanyStein

    29 min
  2. "You Can't Separate Jesus' Methods From His Teachings" - Mark "Moose" Bright

    MAR 24

    "You Can't Separate Jesus' Methods From His Teachings" - Mark "Moose" Bright

    What if the greatest barrier to making disciples isn't lack of resources—but the assumption you're already doing it? In this paradigm-shifting conversation, Mark "Moose" Bright - Director of Relational Discipleship Network - shares how life groups become the tip of the spear (not the holy huddle). Discover the power of kingdom ambition, why vulnerability sets the bar for discipleship, and how churches are reviving through multiplication instead of addition. Key Insights: 01:30 - "Will You Just Disciple Us?" (And Why Pastors Said No) 04:05 - Why Discipleship Is NOT Just Teaching 08:06 - The Invitation That Determines Everything 10:17 - Set the Bar for Vulnerability 17:02 - 20 People Baptized Per Week (Without Altar Calls) 19:26 - The Holy Spirit Blesses Alignment with Jesus Resources Mentioned: Church Is a Team Sport by Jim Putman Relational Discipleship Network: RDN.org Disciples Shift Conference (2-day experiential deep dive) RDN Coaching Cohorts for Pastors Mark "Moose" Bright: Relational Discipleship Network: https://rdn.org/ Follow Innovative Church Leaders: Website: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeaders Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InnovativeChurchLeaders/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/innovativechurch leaders Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativechurchleaders LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovative-church-leaders/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@innovativechurchleaders Eric Bryant Website: https://ericbryant.org/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-post-christian-podcast/id1509588357 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZeQIrzr2tCMyq1VdwxGNn Programs don't multiply. People do. Learn how to make disciples who make disciples at innovativechurchleaders.org #ChurchLeadership #MakingDisciples #DiscipleshipMultiplication #LifeGroups #SpiritLed #RelationalDiscipleship #SmallGroups #ChurchGrowth #KingdomAmbition #MooseBright #innovativechurchleaders

    20 min
  3. God Is Not Anxious: Lessons from Communion with Hannah Miller King

    MAR 17

    God Is Not Anxious: Lessons from Communion with Hannah Miller King

    What if communion isn't just a ritual—but the most powerful way to practice hope in a broken world? In this moving conversation, Anglican priest Hannah Miller King shares how the Eucharist became her lifeline after losing her father at 14 and her youngest brother to suicide, why the Lord's Table can become "the altar call every Sunday," and how bottom-up healing through embodied rituals can reach us in ways theology alone cannot. Hannah unpacks insights from her book Feasting on Hope: How God Sets a Table in the Wilderness such as why some prayers remain unanswered (and that's a feature, not a flaw), and how communion frames the gospel for me, for us, and for the world. Key Insights: 01:51 - Faith Forged in Unanswered Prayers: Losing a Parent at Young Age 03:18 - Falling in Love with the Local Church as Family 05:51 - How Communion Brings Hope 08:35 - Re-Familied as a Daughter of God at the Lord's Table 11:11 - Looking Back AND Looking Forward at Communion 15:19 - The Lord's Supper and Church Hurt (When the Family Is Dysfunctional) 21:36 - Someone Is at the Helm of History Who Is Not Anxious Right Now Resources Mentioned: Feasting on Hope: How God Sets a Table in the Wilderness by Hannah Miller KingHannah Miller King's website: hannamillerking.comFollow Innovative Church Leaders: Website: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeadersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InnovativeChurchLeaders/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/innovativechurchleadersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativechurchleadersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovative-church-leaders/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@innovativechurchleaders Eric Bryant:Website: https://ericbryant.org/ Hannah Miller King:Website: https://hannamillerking.com/ Pastoral Cohort with N.T. Wright: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/cohort/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-post-christian-podcast/id1509588357 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZeQIrzr2tCMyq1VdwxGNn Someone is at the helm of history who is not anxious right now. Pause and be re-rooted at innovativechurchleaders.org #ChurchLeadership #Eucharist #Communion #Sacraments #ChristianHope #AlreadyNotYet #WomenInMinistry #Anglican #PastoralCare #Grief

    21 min
  4. The Missionary Skill Every Pastor Needs Now With Freddy Davis

    MAR 10

    The Missionary Skill Every Pastor Needs Now With Freddy Davis

    What if 67% of Americans claim to be Christian but only 6% actually have a biblical worldview?  In this eye-opening conversation, Freddy Davis - missionary, author, and worldview expert - reveals why most Christians don't even realize they're viewing reality through a non-Christian lens, how American culture shifted from theism to naturalism while we weren't looking, and why worldview training is now a missionary skill we all need at home. Freddy explains why understanding worldview eliminates 99.9% of confusion when sharing the gospel. Key Insights: 02:03 - What IS a Worldview? (And Why Everyone Defines It Differently) 04:30 - Four Worldview Categories That Contain Every Religion and Philosophy 06:22 - Three Questions That Reveal Any Worldview 09:00 - Reverse Culture Shock: America Changed While I Was Gone 11:46 - 67% Claim Christian, 6% Have Biblical Worldview (Barna) 21:20 - Stop Building Theology from Random Pieces 23:19 - 90% of Youth Leave the Faith After High School Resources Mentioned: The Truth Mirage by Freddy Davis (foundational worldview book) Shattering the Truth Mirage (sharing gospel across worldview barriers) Assaulting the Truth Mirage (offensive Christian apologetics) Understanding the Truth Mirage (encyclopedia of 47 faith systems) The Universe Next Door by James Sire Worldview Survey Tool One Day Seminary for Everyday Believers Youth Worldview Training Follow Innovative Church Leaders: Website: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeaders Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InnovativeChurchLeaders/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/innovativechurchleaders Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativechurchleaders LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovative-church-leaders/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@innovativechurchleaders Eric Bryant: Website: https://ericbryant.org/  Freddy Davis: Website: https://marketfaith.org/ Pastoral Cohort with N.T. Wright: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/cohort/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-post-christian-podcast/id1509588357 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZeQIrzr2tCMyq1VdwxGNn Only 6% of Americans have a biblical worldview. Learn how to equip your church to think biblically at innovativechurchleaders.org #ChurchLeadership #BiblicalWorldview #CulturalDiscernment #Apologetics #Evangelism #YouthMinistry #Discipleship #Worldview #ChristianEducation

    24 min
  5. Why Preston Sprinkle Changed His Mind on Women in Leadership (After 1000 Hours of Research)

    MAR 3

    Why Preston Sprinkle Changed His Mind on Women in Leadership (After 1000 Hours of Research)

    What if the Bible's clearest teaching on women in leadership isn't what you've been told?  In this thoughtful conversation, Dr. Preston Sprinkle — bestselling author and founder of the Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender — shares findings from his three-year, 1,000-hour journey studying what Scripture actually says about women in church leadership. Preston unpacks what shocked him about his research on women and leadership and why the rare Greek word in 1 Timothy 2:12 changes everything. Discover how approaching Scripture with humility and curiosity—even when you disagree—can move us all closer to the truth and the heart of Jesus. Key Insights: 00:40 - Why Being Around People You Disagree With Matters 02:58 - Raised Complementarian: Why This Study Became Essential 05:44 - The Sole Goal: What Does This Ancient Text Actually Say? 06:46 - What Shocked Preston Most About Women in the Bible 10:29 - Women Model the Radical Courage Jesus Requires 12:01 - What IS Christian Authority? (This Changes Everything) 18:07 - Redefining Headship as Self-Giving Service 20:08 - 1 Timothy 2: The Strongest Complementarian Argument 27:32 - The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender  Resources Mentioned: From Genesis to Junia: A Guide to Women in Leadership by Preston Sprinkle Christian Sexuality: Raising Kids  Exiles Conference Theology in the Raw Podcast Preston Sprinkle: ⁠https://prestonssprinkle.com/⁠ Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender:⁠ https://www.centerforfaith.com/⁠ Follow Innovative Church Leaders: Website: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeaders Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InnovativeChurchLeaders/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/innovativechurchleaders Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativechurchleaders LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovative-church-leaders/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@innovativechurchleaders Dr. Eric Bryant: https://ericbryant.org/  Pastoral Cohort with N.T. Wright: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/cohort/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-post-christian-podcast/id1509588357 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZeQIrzr2tCMyq1VdwxGNn Iron sharpens iron. Learn to pursue truth with people you disagree with. Get practical tools + encouragement at https://www.innovativechurchleaders.org/join-us. #ChurchLeadership #WomenInMinistry #BiblicalScholarship #CulturalDiscernment #SpiritLed #Egalitarian #Complementarian #TheologicalHumility #1Timothy2

    30 min
  6. The 12 Habits of Highly Effective Pastors with William Vanderbloemen

    FEB 24

    The 12 Habits of Highly Effective Pastors with William Vanderbloemen

    What if the secret to standing out as a leader isn't about being smarter, more connected, or going viral - but about 12 simple habits you can learn?  In this energizing conversation, William Vanderbloemen—founder of Vanderbloemen Search Group—shares why he's more bullish on the church than he's been in 30 years, what data reveals about top-performing leaders, and the one habit that naturally atrophies if you don't fight it. Discover why agility matters more than ever and how these 12 data-driven habits can transform your leadership starting today. Key Insights: 02:48 - Why William Is More Bullish on the Church Than Ever 05:11 - Are We Living in the Last Days? 07:22 - To Be a Good Pastor, Smell Like the Sheep 08:47 - Your Superpower: You're the Only Pastor for Your Church 12:29 - 12 Habits, Not Traits (You Can Learn These) 16:08 - The Habit of Agility: The Only One That Atrophies 20:39 - Why Agility Matters Most for the Next 10 Years Resources Mentioned: Be the Unicorn: 12 Data-Driven Habits That Separate the Best Leaders from the Rest by William Vanderbloemen Vanderbloemen Leadership Podcast Simple Church by Eric Geiger and Thom Rainer Follow Innovative Church Leaders: Website: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeaders Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InnovativeChurchLeaders/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/innovativechurchleaders Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativechurchleaders LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovative-church-leaders/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@innovativechurchleaders Eric Bryant: https://ericbryant.org/  William Vanderbloemen: https://www.vanderbloemen.com/ Pastoral Cohort with N.T. Wright: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/cohort/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-post-christian-podcast/id1509588357 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZeQIrzr2tCMyq1VdwxGNn You don't need to be the next viral preacher. Your people need YOU—their pastor. Get practical leadership tools weekly at innovativechurchleaders.org #ChurchLeadership #PastorLife #LeadershipDevelopment #BeTheUnicorn #SpiritLed #ChurchGrowth #PastoralCare #DataDrivenLeadership #Agility #Innovation

    31 min
  7. The Historical Significance of the Black Church with Dr. Walter Strickland II

    FEB 17

    The Historical Significance of the Black Church with Dr. Walter Strickland II

    "If it were not for the black church, there would be no church in America." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1931) In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Walter Strickland II—professor, author, and teaching pastor—reveals why Dietrich Bonhoeffer said there would be no church in America without the African-American church, and what that means for leaders today. Dr. Walter Strickland II unpacks the biblical foundation for kingdom diversity, explains why lament is the missing spiritual muscle in American Christianity, and shares forgotten stories of African-American church leaders. Discover how bearing each other's burdens and learning from the past can transform your church into the multicultural witness God intended. Key Insights: 04:46 - Bonhoeffer's Bold Statement About the Black Church 08:35 - Spirit-Led Innovation Means Proclamation + Justice 14:10 - Kingdom Diversity vs. DEI: What's the Difference? 17:34 - Individualistic vs. Collectivistic: Why We Misunderstand Grief 19:32 - Why We Debate Details Instead of Mourning Together 21:24 - Daniel 9: Repenting on Behalf of Your Nation 22:30 - Notable Leaders in Black Church History Resources Mentioned: Website: https://walterstrickland.wordpress.com Swing Low: A Life of Lifting Jesus Higher (Volumes 1 & 2) by Walter R. Strickland II Plain Theology for Plain People by Charles Octavius Booth (republished by Strickland) Removing the Stain of Racism from the Southern Baptist Convention (contributor) God So Loved the World: A Blueprint for Kingdom Diversity by Walter R. Strickland II Juneteenth Documentary featuring Rasool Berry - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmjuDxKTzzg Follow Innovative Church Leaders: Website: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeaders Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InnovativeChurchLeaders/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/innovativechurchleadersInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativechurchleaders LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovative-church-leaders/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@innovativechurchleaders Eric Bryant: Website: https://ericbryant.org/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ericbryant777 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ericbryant777 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericmichaelbryant/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericbryant/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-bryant-397003172/ X: https://x.com/ericbryant Pastoral Cohort with N.T. Wright: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/cohort/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-post-christian-podcast/id1509588357 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZeQIrzr2tCMyq1VdwxGNn Kingdom diversity isn't optional—it's biblical. Learn how to lead a church that reflects Revelation 7:9. Sign up for practical tools at https://innovativechurchleaders.org/join-us. #ChurchLeadership #KingdomDiversity #Lament #BlackChurch #CulturalDiscernment #MultiEthnicChurch #SpiritLed #BiblicalJustice #ChurchHistory #BlackHistoryMonth

    23 min
  8. Healing Forward Together with Tasha Morrison

    FEB 10

    Healing Forward Together with Tasha Morrison

    What does it look like when the church truly sees and mourns with those who mourn? In this powerful conversation, Latasha Morrison—founder of Be The Bridge and bestselling author—shares why lament is essential for healing, how the church can practice true reconciliation, and what it means to create spaces where brown faces feel seen in predominantly white spaces. Tasha unpacks the biblical practice of lament, shares the story of a transformative Starbucks meeting that changed everything, and reveals why reconciliation work isn't political—it's deeply scriptural. Discover how multi-ethnic dinners, honest conversations, and embodying God's justice can help your church reflect the kingdom Jesus came to build. Key Insights: 01:00 - The Power of Lament: A Biblical Practice We've Forgotten 04:21 - Lament Helps Us Heal Forward 06:15 - The Starbucks Meeting That Changed Everything 11:00 - The Collectivistic Nature of the African-American Community 16:11 - Being Seen as a Woman Leader 20:17 - Justice Is God's Inherent Character23:22 - Bad Exegesis Created Our Current Reality25:16 - Jesus vs. Consumeristic Christianity Resources Mentioned: Brown Faces, White Spaces by Latasha Morrison (NEW)Be The Bridge by Latasha Morrisonhttps://bethebridge.org/https://www.instagram.com/bethebridgehttps://www.instagram.com/latashamorrisonFollow Innovative Church Leaders: Website: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InnovativeChurchLeaders Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InnovativeChurchLeaders/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/innovativechurchleaders Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativechurchleaders LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovative-church-leaders/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@innovativechurchleaders Eric Bryant:Website: https://ericbryant.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericmichaelbryant/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericbryant/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-bryant-397003172/ X: https://x.com/ericbryant Pastoral Cohort with N.T. Wright: https://innovativechurchleaders.org/cohort/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-post-christian-podcast/id1509588357 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZeQIrzr2tCMyq1VdwxGNn The church should be known for compassion, empathy, and mercy. Get practical tools for reconciliation + weekly encouragement at innovativechurchleaders.org #ChurchLeadership #Reconciliation #Lament #BeTheBridge #CulturalDiscernment #FaithfulPresence #Juneteenth #BiblicalJustice #MultiEthnicChurch #innovativechurchleaders

    24 min
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4.7
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Innovative Church Leaders helps pastors experience and bring renewal to their mission field. Discover how to bring Spirit-led innovation, reach new people, and make disciples who make disciples. Sign up for our free email newsletter at https://innovativechurchleaders.org/join-us/ to win free resources including books, access to conferences, and access to cohorts, workshops, and coaching!

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