The Lead Ministry Podcast

Josh Denhart
  • 4.9 (51)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Lead Ministry is here for you, the dedicated people in ministry leadership. Our fast-paced, inspirational podcast offers practical steps in each episode to help you thrive. Our focus: *GET SKILLS - Implement systems to avoid burnout. *GET INSPIRED - Embrace leadership as a path to disciple-making. *GET MOVING - Apply episode ideas to enhance your ministry. Join us on a journey to navigate the challenges of ministry, from volunteer management to team building, and lead with purpose and passion in your service.

  1. 333. How to Lead Up When You’re Not the Boss

    5d ago

    333. How to Lead Up When You’re Not the Boss

    Episode Description   In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk explore the power of the second chair and what it means to lead when you’re not the boss. They walk through seven Bible characters who held significant influence without ever holding the top position, offering a roadmap for ministry leaders who want to move the kingdom forward from wherever they sit on the org chart.   If you’ve ever felt overlooked, under-positioned, or stuck waiting for your turn to lead, this episode will reframe how you see your seat at the table.   The Power of the Second Chair – Why number two often holds the keys Position vs. Influence – How influence operates without title Seven Biblical Examples – Joseph, Joshua, Elisha, Daniel, Nehemiah, Samuel, and Ruth The Heart Posture That Wins – Sovereignty, faithfulness, and diligence   “You may not be number one in charge, but number one doesn’t always hold all the keys. Number two can often hold the keys.”   Genesis 37–50 – The story of Joseph Numbers 13–14 – Joshua and the twelve spies 2 Kings 2 – Elijah and Elisha Daniel 1–6 – Daniel in Babylon Nehemiah 1–6 – Rebuilding the wall 1 Samuel 1–3 – The calling of Samuel Proverbs 12:24 – “The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slack hand will be put to forced labor”   You don’t need the corner office to shape the culture, the direction, or the future of your church. If you crush it where you are, with the influence you’ve been given, God will use you in ways your title could never reach.   We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.   Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers Key Topics CoveredKey QuoteScripture ReferencesTakeawayCall to ActionStay Connected for More Resources

    41 min
  2. 332. Why Your Church Can't Find Enough Volunteers

    May 25

    332. Why Your Church Can't Find Enough Volunteers

    In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart sits down with Nick Blevins — author of The Volunteer Playbook and co-founder of Ministry Boost — to tackle the volunteer problem head-on. They explore why most church leaders have never been taught how to recruit, offering a five-step framework and the surprising 10X volunteer conversion rate that reframes how ministry leaders should think about building their teams. If you've ever felt like you're constantly plugging holes and pulling your hair out on Sunday mornings, this episode will give you a system to replace the scramble. Key Topics Covered → The Volunteer Conversion Rate (VCR) – Why you need 10 prospects for every 1 volunteer you want to place, and how to build a prospect pool that actually works → The 5-Step Recruiting Framework – Prospects, conversation, orientation, onboarding, and placed — a repeatable system for moving people from the lobby to the classroom → Time + Strategy – Why blocking two hours a week for recruiting is the single most important habit a ministry leader can build Key Quote "You got to be a shepherd before you're a recruiter." Scripture References Matthew 9:37-38 – "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." Judges 7 (Gideon) – Referenced as an example of God accomplishing his purposes with fewer people than expected. Takeaway The volunteer problem isn't a mystery — it's a math and systems problem. Most churches don't lack willing people; they lack a consistent process to find, invite, orient, and place them. Two hours a week, a real prospect list, and a framework that moves people through clear steps will transform your recruiting from frantic to sustainable. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

    45 min
  3. 331. The Recruiting Tools You Should Already Have

    May 18

    331. The Recruiting Tools You Should Already Have

    In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk break down the specific recruiting resources every ministry leader should have built before they ever pick up the phone. They explore how pre-prepared tools — from slot sheets to pushback scripts to draft follow-up emails — transform recruiting from a dreaded chore into a confident, efficient system. If you've ever sat down to make recruiting calls and felt completely unprepared, this episode will hand you the exact toolkit to change that. Key Topics Covered → Slot Sheets – Knowing exactly how many people you need and where, so you can recruit with precision and report with confidence → The Down-Sell Strategy – How to redirect a "no" into a smaller yes using pre-built offering lists, just like selling magazine subscriptions → Pre-Prepared Follow-Up – Draft emails for yes, no, and "let me think about it" responses that you can send within minutes of hanging up Key Quote "God impressed upon my heart two questions: Josh, what did volunteering at this church do for you? And do you think I can do that in every one of those people I'm going to find for you?" Scripture References Matthew 9:37-38 – "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." Takeaway Recruiting isn't about being pushy or salesy — it's about being prepared. When Josh reframed recruiting as a pathway to discipleship, everything changed. The tools didn't make him a robot; they made him efficient enough to be fully present on every call. Build your resources now so you're ready when the season hits. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

    33 min
  4. 330. Why People Won't Join Your Ministry Team

    May 11

    330. Why People Won't Join Your Ministry Team

    Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Vance tackle the five core reasons volunteers say no — and what it takes to make recruiting an easy yes. They explore why guilt-based recruiting never works long-term, offering a practical framework for building the kind of ministry environment people actually want to join. If you've ever felt like pulling teeth trying to get people to serve, this episode will show you exactly what's standing in the way and how to fix it. Key Topics Covered → The Five Reasons People Say No – Reputation, unclear roles, unclear vision, no winning team, and lack of relational equity → Making Yes Easy – Clear structure, simple job descriptions, ministry checklists, tours, leveraging testimonies, and closing the onboarding gap → Recruiting to Vision, Not Need – Why twice as many people signed up when one church shifted from guilt to vision-based recruiting Key Quote "People aren't moved by a need — they always feel like somebody else is going to fulfill it. People want to join a team that's thriving." Scripture References Matthew 9:37-38 – "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." Takeaway If volunteers keep saying no, the solution isn't to ask louder — it's to fix what you're offering. Clear structure lowers fear and builds confidence. Simple job descriptions remove ambiguity. And when people can see your ministry in action through tours and testimonies, the yes becomes almost automatic. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

    37 min
  5. 329. The Puffer Fish Principle for Recruiting Volunteers

    May 4

    329. The Puffer Fish Principle for Recruiting Volunteers

    In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk unpack the Puffer Fish Principle — a nature-inspired framework for attracting the right volunteers to your ministry. They explore how the environments we create communicate volumes before we ever say a word, offering practical insights for ministry leaders who want to stop repelling potential team members and start drawing them in. If you've ever wondered why people keep saying no to serving, this episode will equip you with a fresh lens on what your ministry is really communicating. Key Topics Covered → The Puffer Fish Principle – How a tiny fish's elaborate design teaches us about attracting volunteers through order and excellence → The Bowerbird Basics – Why appearance, decoration, and presentation differentiate you from every other option competing for a volunteer's time → Repel vs. Recruit – How disorganization, chaos, and the "hot mess express" subconsciously push people away Key Quote "Current chaos communicates future chaos. Order communicates future peace." Scripture References Matthew 9:37-38 – "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field." Takeaway Volunteers live in a chaotic world. If your ministry can bring order in the midst of that chaos — clean spaces, crisp communication, logical systems — you're sending a psychological signal that says, "We have our stuff together, and there's more where that came from." That signal is the most powerful recruiting tool you have. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

    36 min
  6. 328. The Power of a Ministry Virtual Tour

    Apr 27

    328. The Power of a Ministry Virtual Tour

    EPISODE DESCRIPTION In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk unpack the concept of a ministry virtual tour — a practical, evergreen video tool that allows prospective families to experience your church before they ever set foot inside. Key Topics Covered • What Is a Ministry Virtual Tour – Giving people a real, digital experience of your physical ministry space before their first visit• The Two-Part Framework – Combining vision-sharing (talking head) video with B-roll footage• How to Execute It Well – Writing scripts, building shot sheets, walking through your building, and hosting on your website Key Quote"A virtual tour is a way for visitors to get a feel for our ministry before they come, or they have a deeper experience after their first time visit." Scripture ReferencesLuke 14:28 — "For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?" TakeawayA ministry virtual tour is not just a tech project — it is an act of pastoral care. When you invest the time to walk families through your spaces before they arrive, you reduce the unknowns that keep people from taking the next step. Stay ConnectedWebsite: leadministry.com | Facebook: LeadVolunteers | Instagram: @leadvolunteers

    26 min
  7. 327. 5 Digital Tools Every Ministry Leader Should Be Using

    Apr 20

    327. 5 Digital Tools Every Ministry Leader Should Be Using

    EPISODE DESCRIPTION In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk walk through five digital tools that are actively transforming how ministry leaders work. Bill brings a practitioner's perspective — not theory, but tools he uses every single week. Key Topics Covered • SermonDrip – Extend your sermon into a full week of discipleship content• NotebookLM – A free Google tool that turns your own research into an interactive assistant• Claude Co-Work – Cut admin time with AI-powered writing and organizing• Canva – Professional church communications without a designer (free for nonprofits)• Motion Calendar – Protect important work from being eaten by urgent tasks Key Quote"The goal is not more tech. The goal is effective ministry. If a tool doesn't make your ministry more effective, drop it." TakeawayEvery tool on this list exists for one reason: to give you more time and energy for the people God has called you to shepherd. Technology is the means — people are the mission. Stay ConnectedWebsite: leadministry.com | Facebook: LeadVolunteers | Instagram: @leadvolunteers

    24 min
  8. 326. Your Church Website — The Digital First Impression

    Apr 13

    326. Your Church Website — The Digital First Impression

    EPISODE DESCRIPTION In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk dig into one of the most overlooked but consequential tools in modern ministry: your church's website. They unpack what it truly means to make a strong digital first impression, offering a practical five-point framework called FIRST — Fast, Interactive, Responsive, Secure, and Turnkey Automated. Key Topics Covered • Fast — Why tolerable load times have dropped to two seconds and what a dedicated server actually does• Interactive — How engagement elements keep visitors on your site longer• Responsive — Why 96% of internet users are on phones and what happens when your site isn't built for them• Secure — Trust signals that make visitors feel safe giving online• Turnkey Automation — How to serve people 24/7 without adding staff Key Quote"Not having a church website is kind of like not having a front door of your church. People show up to the parking lot, they see your sign, and they're like — where do I go?" Scripture References1 Corinthians 9:22 — "I have become all things to all people so that by all means I might save some." TakeawayYour church website is not a digital brochure — it is the first interaction most new people will have with your ministry. The FIRST framework gives ministry leaders a clear, practical standard to audit and improve their digital front door today. Stay ConnectedWebsite: leadministry.com | Facebook: LeadVolunteers | Instagram: @leadvolunteers

    33 min
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4.9
out of 5
51 Ratings

About

Lead Ministry is here for you, the dedicated people in ministry leadership. Our fast-paced, inspirational podcast offers practical steps in each episode to help you thrive. Our focus: *GET SKILLS - Implement systems to avoid burnout. *GET INSPIRED - Embrace leadership as a path to disciple-making. *GET MOVING - Apply episode ideas to enhance your ministry. Join us on a journey to navigate the challenges of ministry, from volunteer management to team building, and lead with purpose and passion in your service.

Information

  • Creator
    Josh Denhart
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    333
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Josh Denhart
  • Show Website
    The Lead Ministry Podcast

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