Influence Podcast

Influence Magazine
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Influence Podcast

The Influence Magazine Podcast is a chance for you to hear from the premiere voices in church leadership…voices who are redefining what church leadership looks like. It's the audio companion to Influence Magazine, a resource full of practical tools, informative news and powerful biblical principals aimed at empowering all leaders. Visit us online at InfluenceMagazine.com

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    368. Handling the Pains of Ministry

    “One of my biggest pet peeves is hearing shepherds say, ‘Ministry would be great if it weren’t for the people,’” writes Craig T. Owens. “In essence they are saying, ‘I am happy to do this, as long as there aren’t any difficult sheep to deal with.” He goes on to conclude: “Sheep are your ministry! Even the sheep that bite you, kick you, betray you, and abandon you.” The question pastors need to ask is how to minister to people who cause them pain. That’s the question I ask Owens in this episode of the Influence Podcast. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Craig T. Owens is pastor of Calvary Assembly of God in Cedar Springs, Mich.; cohost of The Craig and Greg show, a leadership podcast; and author of When Sheep Bite. ————— This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of Bible Engagement Project. The Bible Engagement Project library includes free adult small group resources that build Bible-based small groups. With these resources, your small group will learn how to dig into the Bible and apply it to life. Enriching videos and intriguing discussion questions will create the kind of moments that inspire members to continue engaging deeply with the Bible all week long. Visit BibleEngagementProject.com to create your free account and get started.

    31 min

  2. OCT 31

    366. Pentecostals and the Protestant Reformation

    Happy Reformation Day! On this date in 1517, Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk and theology professor at the University of Wittenberg, posted his famous “Ninety-five Theses” protesting the sale of indulgences on the door of Wittenberg’s Castle Church. Luther intended to reform the Catholic church from the inside. His critique of the church went beyond its corrupt practices to the bad theology underlying them, however. Over time, this critique led Luther and like-minded reformers to break with Catholicism and form new churches — Protestant churches. In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk with church historian Charlie Self about the Protestant Reformation, why there are in fact five Reformations, and what Pentecostals should make of the event. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Charlie Self, Ph.D., is visiting professor of church history at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri, an ordained Assemblies of God minister, and co-author with Johan Mostert and Jamé Bolds of Life in 5D: A New Vision of Discipleship. ————— This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of Bible Engagement Project. Bible Engagement Project equips churches with free curriculum for preschool, kids, youth, and adults, available in both English and Spanish. The curriculum library provides you with discipleship resources that transform lives and anchor your church in the Bible. Visit BibleEngagementProject.com to create your free account.

    39 min

  3. OCT 24

    365. Why Giving Is Down and What to Do About It

    “Evangelical giving is down. Way down. Nearly every measure. Across the board.” So states The Giving Gap: Changes in Evangelical Generosity, a new report from Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts. The report goes on to say: “The numbers paint an increasingly bleak picture of evangelical generosity — a situation which has the potential to impact every church, every denomination, every parachurch ministry, and even many secular nonprofits.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk with Ron Sellers about the details of the report, as well as what ministry leaders can do in response to the trend of declining generosity. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influencemagazine and your host. Ron Sellers is president of Grey Matter Research & Consulting, a firm that regularly serves Christian ministries, denominations, and churches to solve their information needs. He wrote “How Evangelicals Come to Faith” for the summer 2024 issue of Influence. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of MEGA Sports Camp. The MEGA Sports Camp theme for 2025 is In Your Element. This VBS invites kids to discover who Jesus has made them to be. This new theme is designed for kids to engage with the science that supports sports, and it will teach kids about faith and sports in a fun, engaging setting. For more information about MEGA Sports Camp VBS, or to preorder In Your Element, visit MEGASportsCamp.com.

    34 min

  4. OCT 10

    364. Are We Due for a Great Awakening?

    “Today, we see real trouble in America’s churches, and many wonder whether Christianity can survive,” writes Joseph Castleberry. “I believe that we will not only survive, but we will see our greatest numerical growth, our greatest season of anointing, and our most important time of influence in the next 30 to 40 years — if Jesus tarries.” Impressive revivals will come to American churches over the next 25 years, setting the stage for the next Great Awakening —the sixth such Awakening in American history.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Castleberry about why he thinks generational theory predicts a Great Awakening in the coming decades, as well as what Christian churches must do to prepare for it. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Joseph Castleberry, Ed.D., is president of Northwest University in Kirkland, Wash., and author of The Sixth Great Awakening and the Coming Renewal of the American Church. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of MEGA Sports Camp. The MEGA Sports Camp theme for 2025 is In Your Element. This VBS invites kids to discover who Jesus has made them to be. This new theme is designed for kids to engage with the science that supports sports, and it will teach kids about faith and sports in a fun, engaging setting. For more information about MEGA Sports Camp VBS, visit MEGASportsCamp.com.

    41 min

  5. OCT 3

    363. How to Develop Women Leaders

    “Despite the Western church’s slow pace developing women leaders, Western culture is increasingly producing women leaders in business, the academy, entertainment, medicine, and government,” writes Anna Morgan. “If we do not provide leadership development opportunities for gifted young Christian women inside our local churches, then they may well pursue leadership opportunities outside the church, thus weakening it.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Morgan about how egalitarian denominations such as the Assemblies of God can better develop the women leaders God has called and empowered for ministry. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Anna Morgan is an ordained minister with the Australian Christian Churches, a member of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship. She earned her Doctor of Intercultural Studies degree at Fuller Theological Seminary. She is vice president of academics at Ascent College and copastor with her husband, John, of Word of Life, an Assemblies of God church in the metro Washington, DC, area. She is author of Growing Women in Ministry, published by Baker Academic. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of Made for This. With Made for This, kids can intentionally engage in their own spiritual walk. In this easy-to-follow journal, kids will start their lifelong discovery of who God is and pursuing the adventure He has in store for their life.  For more information about Made for This, visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

    45 min

  6. SEP 26

    362. The State of AG World Missions in Eurasia

    “Establishing the Church among all peoples everywhere by reaching, planting, training, and serving” is the mission of Assemblies of God World Missions. AGWM divides its work into five regions: Africa, Asia Pacific, Eurasia, Europe, and Latin America. During the fall of 2024, I plan to interview AGWM’s five regional directors about the challenges, opportunities, and key initiatives they lead. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Joe G. about Assemblies of God World Missions’ efforts in Eurasia. Because of the sensitive nature of AGWM work in this region, I won’t be using Joe G’s last name in this podcast. Joe G. serves as AGWM’s Eurasia Regional Director. In that role, he oversees ministries in 44 nations within seven distinct areas: India, Southern Asia, Arab World, Central Eurasia, Eurasia Northwest, Russia/Belarus, and Israel/Palestine. He also serves as a liaison between the U. S. Assemblies of God and its fraternal fellowships in Eurasia. ————— This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of Bible Engagement Project. The Bible Engagement Project library includes free adult small group resources that build Bible-based small groups. With these resources, your small group will learn how to dig into the Bible and apply it to life. Enriching videos and intriguing discussion questions will create the kind of moments that inspire members to continue engaging deeply with the Bible all week long. Visit BibleEngagementProject.com to create your free account and get started.

    31 min

  7. SEP 19

    361. Making Family Discipleship Work

    “As parents and followers of Christ, few areas of our lives can prompt more guilt, insecurity, and anxiety than discipling our children,” writes Brian Dembowczyk. “We want to disciple. We try to disciple. But more often than not, we fail to disciple.” In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to Dembowczyk about why we fail to disciple our kids and how we can begin to do so effectively. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Brian Dembowczyk, Ph.D., is associate publisher for Thomas Nelson Bibles. He was previously the managing editor of The Gospel Project, a Bible study curriculum used by over 1.6 million adults, teens, and children each week, and he has also been a pastor, discipleship pastor, and family pastor. He is author of Family Discipleship That Works, published by InterVarsity Press, as well as “No Place Like Home: Equipping families for children’s discipleship” in the fall 2024 issue of Influence. He lives in Tennessee with his wife and three children. ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of Including Children with Disabilities. Including Children with Disabilities will help you understand common disabilities and equip you with the practical tools and information you need to effectively teach them. For more information about Including Children with Disabilities, visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

    36 min

  8. SEP 12

    360. Biblical Interpretation for Pentecostals

    “Studying the Bible is of essential importance in our Christian discipleship; therefore, we need to take seriously the interpretive enterprise.” So write Jacqui Grey and Paul Lewis in their new book, Introduction to Biblical Interpretation, part of the Foundation for Spirit-Empowered Christianity series published by BakerAcademic. In this episode of the Influence Podcast, I talk to them about what Pentecostals bring to the task of biblical interpretation, and how to do it well. I’m George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. In this episode of the Influence Podcast. Jacqui Grey, Ph.D., is professor of biblical studies at Alphacrucis University College in Sydney, Australia. She is also a research fellow with the University of South Africa and the Centre for Pentecostal Theology and an ordained minister with Australian Christian Churches. Paul Lewis, Ph.D., is professor of historical theology and intercultural studies at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Evangel University, in Springfield, Missouri, and an ordained AG minister. They wrote “Making Bible Study PERSONAL,” based on their book, for the summer 2024 issue of Influence. ————— This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of Bible Engagement Project. The Bible Engagement Project library includes free adult small group resources that build Bible-based small groups. With these resources, your small group will learn how to dig into the Bible and apply it to life. Enriching videos and intriguing discussion questions will create the kind of moments that inspire members to continue engaging deeply with the Bible all week long. Visit BibleEngagementProject.com to create your free account and get started.

    44 min
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About

The Influence Magazine Podcast is a chance for you to hear from the premiere voices in church leadership…voices who are redefining what church leadership looks like. It's the audio companion to Influence Magazine, a resource full of practical tools, informative news and powerful biblical principals aimed at empowering all leaders. Visit us online at InfluenceMagazine.com

Information

  • Creator
    Influence Magazine
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2024
  • Episodes
    101
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022 Influence Magazine
  • Show Website
    Influence Podcast

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