Pivot Podcast

Faith+Lead
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Pivot Podcast

Over the past few years, church leaders have been forced to respond to several global crises in the blink of an eye. In a moment with little information and lots of uncertainty, churches reinvented nearly every aspect of church. Season 5 of the Pivot podcast explores the changing landscape of the church. Our co-hosts will dig into difficult questions that faith leaders are asking now, and provide an understanding of the deeper cultural shifts that account for the unraveling of inherited models of church. What are the four key pivots that today's church must make? New episodes post weekly on Thursdays.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    “God Is Running the Universe, Not Me”: A Lenten Reality Check

    What is the true meaning of the Lenten season for today's church leaders? In this reflective episode, the Rev. Blair Pogue explores how traditional Lenten practices can help ministry leaders navigate extreme polarization, institutional suspicion, and personal burnout. Discover how remembering your baptismal identity and spending time in Jesus' loving presence can transform your leadership approach from anxious fixing to faithful discernment. The Lenten season meaning goes beyond giving things up—it's about returning to the core of our faith. Through beautiful reflections on the R.S. Thomas poem "The Bright Field" and the story of Moses at the burning bush, this episode invites leaders to turn aside to discover the "pearl of great price" that awaits in God's presence. Learn practical spiritual practices that will help you become "a watered garden, a repair of the breach, a restorer of streets to live in" during this sacred season.

    9 min

  2. 27 FEB

    How Coffee and Laundry Transformed a Congregation

    Many churches struggle with creating meaningful church community service initiatives that authentically connect with neighbors. In this episode, Nancy Dyson from St. John's Episcopal Church in St. Cloud, Minnesota shares how a simple cup of coffee led to "Laundry Love" - a thriving ministry serving 80-100 people monthly at a local laundromat. Nancy reveals how showing up consistently, listening deeply, and allowing ministry to emerge organically transformed both her congregation and their community relationships. Discover a refreshing approach to church community service that prioritizes presence over programs and relationships over results. Nancy offers practical wisdom for congregations wanting to move beyond their walls: start with no agenda, embrace the "beautifully messy" nature of neighborhood engagement, and remain open to how the Holy Spirit might surprise you. Whether your church is large or small, rural or urban, this conversation offers inspiration and practical steps for connecting with neighbors in meaningful ways. RESOURCES MENTIONED: Laundry Love: https://laundrylove.org/ For more about the four pivots churches need to make in the 21st century, visit https://faithlead.org/. Subscribe to the Pivot Podcast for more conversations with church leaders experimenting with faithful innovation in a changing world. Join us on social:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithleadfromluther/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lutherfaithlead YouTube Video URL: https://youtu.be/s0E9M22sf5o

    35 min
  3. Is Your Church Too Tame? Embracing the Wild Spirit

    20 FEB

    Is Your Church Too Tame? Embracing the Wild Spirit

    Discover a fresh approach to church community building through the concept of "rewilding" with Steve Aisthorpe, author of "Rewilding the Church."

    33 min
  4. The $0 Ministry Experiment that Reached Hundreds of New People

    13 FEB

    The $0 Ministry Experiment that Reached Hundreds of New People

    oin Rev. Canon Dave Male, Co-Director of Vision and Strategy for the Church of England, as he shares practical ways to build authentic relationships in your neighborhood.

    35 min
  5. Wait, Who’s Actually Growing Churches in the West?

    5 FEB

    Wait, Who’s Actually Growing Churches in the West?

    Dr. Harvey Kwiyani, a Malawian missiologist, shares how African Christians are successfully reaching secular Western societies in ways that traditional Western churches haven't.

    49 min
  6. Is Your Preaching Actually Reaching People?

    29 JAN

    Is Your Preaching Actually Reaching People?

    n this episode, Dr. Dee Stokes and Rev. Dr. Adam White share insights from their groundbreaking "And How Will They Hear?" initiative at Luther Seminary, revealing how systematic listening transforms both preaching and congregational engagement.

    39 min
  7. Learn and Fail Like a Skateboarder

    23 JAN

    Learn and Fail Like a Skateboarder

    What does it truly mean to be a missional church in post-Christian America? Bryan Halferty, lead pastor of Anchor Church in Tacoma, Washington, discovered that it starts with a fundamental shift - from trying to fix problems to listening for where God is already at work. Through his unlikely combination of skateboarding and church planting, Bryan shares how embracing "failing forward" opened new paths for mission in one of America's most secular regions. From their innovative approach of being both "harbor" and "base" to their commitment to integrate justice and mercy into every ministry area, Anchor Church offers fresh insights for church leaders seeking to join God's mission in their communities. In this episode, Bryan unpacks how Anchor grew from a single church plant to three distinct congregations in six years, each contextualized to its neighborhood while maintaining unity in mission. He explains why they recently paused church planting to deepen their missional impact, and shares practical strategies for weaving justice and mercy into church DNA. Whether you're planting a church, revitalizing a congregation, or seeking fresh vision for ministry, this conversation offers both encouragement and practical wisdom for moving from "fixing mode" to Spirit-led mission. RESOURCES MENTIONED: Anchor Church: https://anchortacoma.org/centralBryan’s website: https://www.bryanhalferty.com/ Video: What learning looks like (clean): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QSocgE3yFY

    40 min
  8. MLK's Beloved Community: Your Church's Guide Through Divided Times

    16 JAN

    MLK's Beloved Community: Your Church's Guide Through Divided Times

    How can Dr. King's vision of beloved community guide church leaders through today's political tensions? Rev. Dr. F. Willis Johnson shares powerful insights on prophetic leadership, hope, and transformation for our current moment.

    35 min
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About

Over the past few years, church leaders have been forced to respond to several global crises in the blink of an eye. In a moment with little information and lots of uncertainty, churches reinvented nearly every aspect of church. Season 5 of the Pivot podcast explores the changing landscape of the church. Our co-hosts will dig into difficult questions that faith leaders are asking now, and provide an understanding of the deeper cultural shifts that account for the unraveling of inherited models of church. What are the four key pivots that today's church must make? New episodes post weekly on Thursdays.

Information

  • Creator
    Faith+Lead
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    120
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Faith+Lead
  • Show Website
    Pivot Podcast

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