The Ministry And Podcast

The CCL Network
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Biweekly

The “Ministry &” podcast is a series of authentic conversations hosted by Mike Edmisten and Heather Walton about lament, endurance, and hope in ministry contexts. Each episode features ministry leaders from diverse backgrounds and roles sharing their own stories; offering a place of community.

Episodes

  1. May 28

    Episode 0111 - Ministry & Season One Recap

    The hosts, Heather and Mike sit down with producer Jonathan Burian to talk about season one of the Ministry & podcast. They'll talk about the origins of the podcast, how they came up with the name and their favorite moments from the first season.

    51 min

  2. May 14

    Episode 0110 - Ministry & Lament | Faith in the Breaking: A Pastor’s Story of Loss, Suffering, and Hope

    In the midst of overwhelming circumstances, Matt wrestled with grief, identity, and calling. Yet through it all, his faith in the Lord remained steady. This conversation is an honest look at suffering, endurance, and what it means to stay faithful when everything around you seems to fall apart. His story is a powerful reminder that while roles may change and seasons may break us, God’s presence and purpose remain.

    1h 13m

  3. Apr 30

    Episode 0109 - Ministry & Detours | When Support Breaks Down: A Missionary’s Story of Provision and Return

    A missionary shares the painful experience of betrayal by a sending agency and the unexpected detour that followed. In this honest conversation, they reflect on hurt, trust, and how God remained faithful—providing, restoring, and ultimately sending them back to the mission field. A story of calling that endured beyond disappointment and a reminder that detours are never outside God’s purposes.

    58 min

  4. Apr 16

    Episode 0108 - Ministry & God's Plan | From Career to Calling: Leaving Security to Pursue Ministry

    Kris, serving as a ministry volunteer, shares how God called him out of a secure career in the secular marketplace, and into the unknown world of ministry. In this episode, Kris reflects on the tension of leaving stability, trusting God’s plan, and discovering that true calling often requires surrender. His story is a powerful reminder that obedience to God is worth the risk.

    49 min

  5. Apr 2

    Episode 0107 - Ministry & Frustration | Leading Through Disunity and Restoring the Church

    A ministry leader, David Vaughan, shares how confronting disunity head-on despite deep frustration, became the turning point God used to heal a divided church and restore unity.

    41 min

  6. Mar 19

    Episode 0106 - Ministry & Disappointment | Calling vs. Assignment: Enduring Opposition in Ministry

    A ministry leader, John, shares his experience of enduring a season where parts of his church actively undermined his leadership and resisted efforts to grow and unify the congregation. In the midst of discouragement, he learned a defining lesson: your calling is not the same as your assignment, and when an assignment fails, it does not define your identity.

    59 min

  7. Mar 5

    Episode 0105 - Ministry & Integrity | When Shepherding Gets Complicated: A Journey of Grace and Truth

    A pastor (Sid Tiller) shares how he navigated one of the most difficult seasons of ministry, caring for a family who felt spiritually abused while also responding to the accused with grace, truth, and biblical integrity. This conversation offers insight for leaders facing complex pastoral care and church conflict.

    49 min

  8. Feb 19

    Episode 0104 - Ministry & Perseverance | Leaving a Church Biblically: Choosing Obedience After Betrayal

    An elder (Steven) and his wife (Jenée) share their experience of betrayal within church leadership, the painful discernment process that followed, and why leaving after 30 years became the most biblically faithful response. This conversation speaks to leaders navigating church hurt, broken trust, and obedience to Scripture when systems fail.

    1h 1m

  9. Feb 5

    Episode 0103 - Ministry & Amazement | Planting Churches in a Time of War: Sasha’s Story of Faith and Unity

    A Russian missionary, Alexandr Lukmanov (Sasha) shares his journey of coming to the United States to learn ministry, beginning church service at just 21, and now overseeing church planting efforts across Russia during the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war (as of this recording January, 2026). In this episode, he reflects on the challenges of preaching the gospel in a time of conflict—loving people on both sides of the war, pursuing unity in Christ, and remaining faithful to the mission even when politics, fear, and division surround the church. This is a powerful story of obedience, perseverance, and the unifying hope of the gospel in one of the most difficult ministry contexts today.

    45 min

  10. Jan 22

    Episode 0102 - Ministry & Redemption | When Leadership Hurts: A Story of Hard Decisions and Redemption

    Ministry & Redemption is a candid conversation with Chris Southam about church hurt caused by difficult leadership decisions, the cost of standing firm on biblical truth, and the redemptive work God accomplished even through brokenness, grief, and loss.

    54 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

The “Ministry &” podcast is a series of authentic conversations hosted by Mike Edmisten and Heather Walton about lament, endurance, and hope in ministry contexts. Each episode features ministry leaders from diverse backgrounds and roles sharing their own stories; offering a place of community.

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