Ministry Minded: A Podcast by Step Up To Life

Step Up To Life
  • 5.0 (9)
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  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Hear stories from around the globe from ministry leaders, pastors, and individuals who are committed to sticking to Jesus' Message and communicating it with greater biblical clarity for genuine saving-faith in Christ Jesus.  Amazingly, 75% of "decisions" for Christ don't actually last, (*1) and 41% of regular church attenders show little evidence of being genuinely 'born again' Christians (*2).  In light of this staggering reality, Step Up To Life's mission is to eliminate temporary decisions and replace them with genuine conversions by presenting the Gospel with greater biblical clarity. (*1)-David Frost - "Billy Graham - Personal Thoughts of a Public Man" p. 72(*2)-George Barna - 2023 CBN Interview 

  1. MAY 1

    Why Gen Z Is Spiritually Hungry And What the Church Must Do Next

    In this episode of Ministry Minded, hosts Nick Bank and Lincoln Murdoch (briefly, from bed post-surgery) introduce a major development within Step Up To Life: the appointment of Alex Daum as U.S. National Director of Youth Evangelism and Strategic Partnerships. Alex brings over a decade of frontline ministry experience with the Todd Becker Foundation—engaging public high schools, discipling gap-year students, and leading thousands of one-on-one gospel conversations across the Midwest. But his story begins much earlier—with a hidden life of sin, a crisis of eternity, and a moment of deep conviction that led to true repentance and saving faith. This episode is more than an announcement. It’s a window into a growing burden: -Why Gen Z is more spiritually open than we think -The evangelism gap in modern youth ministry -How apologetics and gospel clarity must work together -Why most believers don’t share their faith—and how to change that -A bold new initiative: the Step Up To Life Ambassadors Program Together, Nick and Alex unpack a vision to equip young believers not just to know their faith—but to articulate and multiply it. This isn’t about replacing existing ministries—it’s about refining them. Strengthening them. Igniting a culture where students move from passive belief to active disciple-making. You’ll also hear: -A powerful testimony of transformation from pornography and spiritual apathy to radical obedience -Real stories of students confidently defending the faith in everyday conversations -Insights into building resilient, gospel-centered leaders in a hostile and confused culture -Why fear—not theology—is the biggest barrier to evangelism -How God often leads step-by-step, not all at once This is a conversation for pastors, youth leaders, parents, and anyone burdened for the next generation. Because the question isn’t whether young people are searching. It’s whether the Church is ready to meet them with truth in a way they find compassionate and compelling. 🔑 Key Topics & Timestamps (Optional Add-On for YouTube/SEO) (00:00) Major Announcement: New Role at Step Up To Life (05:00) Alex Daum’s Testimony: From Sin to Saving Faith (15:00) Inside the Todd Becker Foundation Model (25:00) Why Gen Z Is Spiritually Open Right Now (35:00) The Vision: Step Up To Life Ambassadors Program (45:00) Apologetics + Evangelism: A Missing Link (55:00) Real Story: A Teen Defends the Faith at Work (1:05:00) The Future of Youth Discipleship Support the show www.StepUpToLife.com

    54 min

  2. APR 3

    Global Momentum & Ministry Updates

    In this episode of Ministry-Minded, Nick and Lincoln reflect on a remarkable season of global ministry—spanning continents, cultures, and contexts—yet marked by a shared hunger for one thing: a clear, biblical gospel. Fresh off the Asia Summit in Bali, they recount powerful, firsthand stories of transformation—from unlikely leaders in hostile environments to pastors shaped through suffering and perseverance. These accounts don’t just inspire—they raise deeper questions about what true conversion really looks like. A striking theme emerges: across the world, many are beginning to recognize the difference between superficial responses and genuine saving faith. That same realization is now surfacing closer to home, with unexpected responses from students and church communities alike. As the conversation unfolds, Nick and Lincoln also share how new tools and training are helping equip believers to engage in clearer, more faithful gospel conversations—both locally and globally. This episode is both sobering and hopeful: a reminder that the gospel must be clear, and that real transformation still changes everything. Support the show www.StepUpToLife.com

    32 min

  3. MAR 6

    Broadcasting from Bali: SUTL’s 2026 Asia Summit

    In this episode, we sit down with several of our Step Up To Life champions from across Asia—pastors serving in Pakistan, Myanmar, India, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Japan. Through a series of honest, hope-filled conversations, they share how they continue to press forward in ministry amid persecution and ongoing financial challenges, while faithfully bringing the gospel into prisons, their local communities, and school children. You’ll hear how they are using Step Up To Life as a simple, powerful tool to communicate the gospel more clearly and effectively within their own cultures and networks. As you listen, we invite you to join us in praying for a smooth, fruitful season of ministry as these leaders return home and multiply what God is doing through them. Support the show: www.StepUpToLife.com/give  https://youtu.be/oFhq-9ucRSc?si=x7LMx8gNoxMIarNJ Support the show www.StepUpToLife.com

    1h 11m

  4. FEB 6

    Beyond the False Divide: Scripture, Counseling, and the Gift of Common Grace

    Modern psychology is often shaped by humanism and self-definition—frameworks that conflict with biblical anthropology. Many pastors sense that tension but feel unsure how to navigate it faithfully. In this episode of Ministry Minded, Lincoln Murdoch and Nick Bank are joined by licensed therapist Joe Slabaugh of CityCare Counseling (Omaha, NE) for an honest, theologically serious conversation about Scripture, counseling, discernment, and the care of souls. Joe draws from his background in ministry and clinical counseling to explain: Why the “Bible vs. counseling” tension persists in doctrinally serious churchesHow much of modern therapy is rooted in humanistic assumptionsWhy discernment—not rejection or uncritical acceptance—is the biblical path forwardHow the doctrine of common grace helps Christians evaluate counseling wiselyThe difference between distress, dysfunction, trauma, and ordinary painWhy shame is often the hidden root beneath anxiety, depression, and relational breakdownHow confidentiality and structure make counseling distinct from casual pastoral conversationsWhy many pastors carry loneliness and emotional weight in silenceWhat pastors and church leaders should actually look for when evaluating a counselorHow Joe incorporates the Step Up To Life gospel framework in counseling when appropriate—without violating ethical or professional boundariesThis is not an argument for replacing Scripture with psychology. It is a call to clearer theological thinking, wiser pastoral discernment, and more faithful care of human souls. This episode is especially for: Pastors and elders who take the sufficiency of Scripture seriouslyMinistry leaders wary of secular ideologiesChristians who care deeply about soul care, discipleship, and spiritual healthAnyone trying to understand whether counseling can be approached biblicallyYou don’t need less conviction. You need clearer discernment. Guest: Joe Slabaugh, Licensed Therapist – CityCare Counseling Featuring: Lincoln Murdoch, Executive Director – Step Up To Life Host: Nick Bank, U.S. National Director – Step Up To Life CityCare Counseling: https://www.citycarecounseling.org/ Support the show www.StepUpToLife.com

    1h 26m

  5. JAN 2

    An Unexpected Gathering: Reaching Gen. Z with C.J. Greiner & Nick Failla

    What started as gathering of believers has become a living picture of what God can do when generations say yes together. In this episode, C.J. Greiner and Nick Failla share the story behind an unexpected church gathering that began drawing Gen Z—and quickly revealed a deeper calling neither of them saw coming. What they thought was a moment turned into a mandate: to shepherd a community where older and younger believers walk side by side as one family. C.J. and Nick unpack how God invited them into leading together, bridging generational gaps so that seasoned saints could step into their role as spiritual mothers and fathers, and younger believers could be formed, grounded, and sent. They challenge the modern idea of “revival culture,” explaining that revival isn’t about chasing the next emotional high, conference, or moment—but about cultivating Christian discipline, shared life, and faithfulness rooted in ancient community and the practices of the early church. This conversation is a call back to something deeper: A church shaped by relationship, not hypeSpiritual formation over spiritual consumptionIntergenerational discipleship as God’s designRevival as a sustained way of life, not a fleeting experienceIf you’re hungry for a faith that lasts, a church that feels like family, and a vision of revival grounded in history, humility, and holiness—this episode is for you. Pastor C.J.'s Book: https://a.co/d/70HqU9Q Support the show www.StepUpToLife.com

    1h 10m

  6. 12/05/2025

    Untangling Forgiveness: The Gospel, the Heart, and Healing with Jimmy George of Fresh Start

    In this conversation, Jimmy George — Executive Director of Fresh Start for All Nations — opens up about the deeply personal journey behind his ministry. Before he ever helped others walk in freedom, he had to confront a “missing piece” in his own sanctification. Although he carried years of solid biblical training and pastoral experience, Jimmy realized that information alone wasn’t forming him into the kind of shepherd Christ was calling him to be. The Lord invited him to slow down, look honestly at his own hurts, and move from information to transformation. That required facing moments of woundedness, misunderstanding, disappointment, and pastoral pain — and allowing the Holy Spirit to bring healing where he had previously just pushed through. In this episode, Jimmy unpacks what forgiveness truly is (and what it is not), how the gospel frees wounded hearts, and how leaders can walk in greater wholeness through the Fresh Start process. It’s a timely, hope-filled conversation for anyone longing to experience the deep, liberating work of Christ that restores the heart and renews the call. www.FreshStartForAllNations.org or Text: 'Fresh Start' to 55444 Get Dr. Bank's Book: 'Down Like Jesus: Navigating Pastoral Pain in the Footsteps of Christ' here: https://a.co/d/dVK5rWO Support the show www.StepUpToLife.com

    1h 6m

  7. 11/07/2025

    Weekend Wings & Witnesses: God’s Work in Norway

    Step Up To Life Champions Tim and Bente share how God brought them together unexpectedly in Sweden and called them to partner in making Christ known through the Step Up To Life method. Together, they train others to share the Gospel clearly—leading people from belief about Jesus to true saving faith in Him. While Bente, a native of Norway, understood local customs, Tim’s humorous “Weekend Wings” grocery store moment became a memorable symbol of their cultural journey they had embarked upon. Their story also honors the bold legacy of Norwegian missionaries, whose obedience continues to impact the world. Through Step Up To Life, Tim and Bente carry that mission forward, equipping believers to shine Christ’s light in fresh ways. Support the show www.StepUpToLife.com

    1h 29m

  8. 10/03/2025

    Fighter to Follower: A Celtic Rebel Finds Faith

    Taylor Foster wasn’t looking for God. A hard-charging, wild-living young man with Celtic warrior blood and a bullfighting streak, he chased everything the world offered—drinking, drugs, sex, adrenaline—but none of it filled the growing void inside. Raised around church but  unchanged by it, Taylor ran hard in the opposite direction… until God caught him. In this raw and redemptive episode, Taylor—now a Youth Pastor at LifeGate Church—sits down with Lincoln Murdoch and Nick Bank to share his story of wrestling with God, resisting His call, and how an unexpected conversation with Step Up To Life’s late founder, Elmer Murdoch, helped change everything. Through Elmer’s simple challenge—“Let your sin drive you toward God, not away from Him”—Taylor began the journey from rebellion to repentance, and ultimately to Saving Faith. Now he’s calling Gen Z to the same surrender that saved him. www.LifeGateChurch.com   https://www.lifegate.church/team/taylor-foster-efb70  Support the show www.StepUpToLife.com

    1h 25m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Hear stories from around the globe from ministry leaders, pastors, and individuals who are committed to sticking to Jesus' Message and communicating it with greater biblical clarity for genuine saving-faith in Christ Jesus.  Amazingly, 75% of "decisions" for Christ don't actually last, (*1) and 41% of regular church attenders show little evidence of being genuinely 'born again' Christians (*2).  In light of this staggering reality, Step Up To Life's mission is to eliminate temporary decisions and replace them with genuine conversions by presenting the Gospel with greater biblical clarity. (*1)-David Frost - "Billy Graham - Personal Thoughts of a Public Man" p. 72(*2)-George Barna - 2023 CBN Interview 

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