Influence Podcast

Assemblies of God USA
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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. 2D AGO

    416. Seven Dimensions of Discipleship

    Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. "In the last sixty years in the USA, some churches shifted strategies and adopted a model that focused almost exclusively on numerical expansion," writes Marroquin. "New sanctuaries and program adjustments were made with the goal of reaching the unchurched. And praise God, the model produced some good results." She goes to note that this model replaced Sunday school and discipleship groups to make room for more worship services. "Somehow, churches believed they would still be making disciples without intentionally placing emphasis on God's Word. The results are in: We have many churches filled with followers of Jesus who desperately need help." In this episode, I talk to Marroquin about what churches can do to refocus on discipleship, based on her new book, A Disciple's Growth: 7 Dimensions of Spiritual Formation. Elloy Marroquin is an ordained minister and national director of Christian Education, Discipleship, and Family Ministries for the Assemblies of God. My conversation with her begins after a brief word from our sponsor.   SPONSOR AD This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of Europe 365 Daily Devotions. Europe 365 is a powerful year-long devotional written by Assemblies of God World Missions missionaries serving on the front lines of evangelism. You will be inspired by devotional thoughts and dynamic testimonies of the Holy Spirit in action, answers to prayer, miracles, divine protection, supernatural provision, the call to missions, and more. For more information about Europe 365 Daily Devotions, visit GospelPublishingHouse.com.   SHOW NOTES 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 02:12 — Why did an emphasis on numerical growth displace the emphasis on discipleship depth, and what have the consequences been for American churches? 04:07 — What are the seven dimensions? And how did you arrive at these seven dimensions? 10:53 — How do the seven dimensions relate to Jesus? 16:19 — How can pastors and other church leaders assess (1) how they're doing personally as disciples as well as (2) how their churches discipleship efforts are going? 25:18 — What advice would you give pastors and other church leaders for implementing new discipleship programs or revising existing ones? 28:10 — What are some of the resources the AG provides, whether in terms of curriculum, training, books, etc.? 36:49 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 38:12 — Conclusion

    39 min

  2. FEB 5

    415. Pathfinding for the Next Generation

    Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. In this episode, I talk to Melissa Alfaro about her new book, The Heart of a Pathfinder: Charting Paths for the Next Generation. "A pathfinder's greatest motivation is not the sustainability of their legacy but their ability to launch members of the next generation into their call," Alfaro writes. "Obstacles don't discourage pathfinders. They see obstacles as opportunities to clear a path so the next generation can step into their purpose. Pathfinders take risks. They path the price because they realize that their greatest legacy is not what they have built with their hands, but the paths that they have opened for others with their feet." Alfaro is senior pastor of Tab Church in Houston, Texas, along with her husband Jay. She is an executive presbyter of the Assemblies of God, as well as chair of the Network of Women Ministers.   SPONSOR AD This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of A Disciple's Growth. Get a clear and practical roadmap for following Jesus with depth and purpose. Drawing from Scripture, the power of the Holy Spirit, and real-life examples, discover seven key dimensions of spiritual formation—Bible, Holy Spirit, missions, prayer, worship, service, and generosity—that shape believers into fully devoted disciples. For more information about A Disciple's Growth visit GospelPublishingHouse.com.   SHOW NOTES 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 01:58 — W hat was the impetus for writing this book? 04:25 — What is a pathfinder, and how is a pathfinder different from other ways of describing leadership? 09:43 — You write, "There are three areas that the enemy uses to cause us to camp out in the shadows and stop the flow of God's presence in the life of a leader: comfort, fear, and offense." Expand on that insight. 15:02 — Talk about the kinds of things leaders need to think and do when bad stuff interrupts life. 20:15 — Are ministers embarrassed to admit they have personal things that interrupt their lives? 23:01 — What lessons should we take from Nehemiah during the seasons of ministry when we face obstacles in ministry? 28:50 — How do we use our unique voice for Kingdom purposes, and who are the "five people every leader needs in their life" that you mention? 37:08 — What types of resources does the Network of Women Ministers provide? 41:35 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 42:44 — Conclusion

    44 min

  3. JAN 29

    414. A New AG History

    Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. "The founders of the Assemblies of God believed they were experiencing a significant historical moment," writes Daniel Isgrigg. "They recognized God was moving by His Spirit to enable them to evangelize the world. Leaders were set apart by their understanding that this mission could not be accomplished without the Spirit and without each other." In this episode, I talk to Daniel Isgrigg about his new book, The Assemblies of God: Our Story, from which this quotation comes. Isgrigg is associate professor of the History of Spirit-empowered Christianity at Oral Roberts University and an ordained Assemblies of God minister. He is also author of Imagining the Future: The Origin, Development, and Future of Assemblies of God Eschatology and Aspects of Assemblies of God Origins. I interviewed him about these books in Episodes 277 and 359, respectively. My conversation with Daniel Isgrigg begins after a brief word from our sponsor.   Sponsor This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, publishers of A Disciple's Growth: 7 Dimensions of Spiritual Formation. In A Disciple's Growth, Elly Marroquin provides a clear and practical roadmap for following Jesus with depth and purpose. Drawing from Scripture, the power of the Holy Spirit, and real-life examples, she outlines seven key dimensions of spiritual formation—Bible, Holy Spirit, missions, prayer, worship, service, and generosity—that shape believers into fully devoted disciples. For more information about A Disciple's Growth visit GospelPublishingHouse.com.   Show Notes 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 03:13 — Why should Assemblies of God ministers be interested in church history generally and AG history specifically? 08:43 — How is your new history of the Assemblies of God similar to and different from previous AG histories? 14:27 — Along with Azusa Street, what are the various streams of Christianity that flowed into the AG. 21:35 — What are the three or four major theological controversies that helped refine AG identity? 32:48 — How does the commitment to evangelism and missions explain AG growth and diversification? 37:03 — What are three or four major ways in which the Assemblies of God has changed over the years? And how has it remained the same? 45:57 — What are some things that people routinely misunderstand about the AG, whether inside or outside the Movement? 50:32 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 52:58 — Conclusion

    54 min

  4. JAN 22

    413. Becoming Whole in Ministry

    Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. In this episode, I talk to Mark Hausfeld about how ministers can move toward physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health — and why they should. Hausfeld is executive director of the Institute for Ministerial Wholeness and an ordained Assemblies of God minister, Ministry is demanding, even for Jesus. Matthew 8 tells us "large crowds followed him." Jesus goes on to heal a leper, resurrect a servant, cure Peter's mother-in-law, exorcize demonized persons, and calm a storm on the Sea of Galilee. The detail that strikes me is Jesus falling asleep during a storm (8:24). No wonder! He was tired. If ministry wore out Jesus, it will wear out us too. We need to be rested and ready to do God's work. I'll talk about how with Mark Hausfeld after a brief word from our sponsor.   SPONSOR This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler. The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler equips you with an understanding of the Holy Spirit's role in your life. As a resource for both laypeople and ministry leaders, it also imparts practical insight for anyone discipling others in receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. For more information about The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler visit GospelPublishingHouse.com.   SHOW NOTES 00:00 — Introduction and Sponsor Ad 01:40 — Why is wholeness of body, mind, soul, and spirit necessary? 04:25 — How does physical health or illness impact our ministries, and how do we get healthier? 14:38 — Why should ministers commit to lifelong learning, and what are ways to do that? 23:39 — How does emotional messed-up-ness derail ministry, and how can ministers get back on track? 28:55 — What is spiritual formation? 34:34 — What is spiritual direction, and why is it necessary for pastors? 40:36 — Tell us a little about the certificate in spiritual direction offered by the Institute for Ministerial Wholeness through the auspices of Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. 44:54 — What are you reading right now that is interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 49:15 — Conclusion

    50 min

  5. JAN 15

    412. AG State of the Union 2026

    Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. In this episode, I talk to Doug Clay about the state of the Assemblies of God as the New Year begins. Clay is AG general superintendent and author of Conversations with My Younger Self and 13: Leadership Is More Than Luck, both published by Gospel Publishing House. This past year, the Assemblies of God received favorable notice in political scientist Ryan Burge's popular religious data Substack, Graphs About Religion. One post, titled "The Assemblies of God: A Denomination That May Be Growing," reported that the AG is bucking the trend of denominational decline. "Almost every major denomination is losing members at an incredibly rapid pace," he writes, with the exception of two small denominations. "But there is a major denomination that was on an upward trajectory for a very long time and stood as an aberration in the larger Protestant landscape: The Assemblies of God. They experienced very consistent growth over the last couple of decades." Burge focused on steady AG growth over several decades, but in his editorial for the Winter 2026 issue of Influence, Doug Clay notes that the AG experienced growth between 2023–24, the last year for which there is a complete statistical report. "From 2023–24, adherence rose 2.5%, Spirit baptisms 3.9%, membership 4.1%, in-person attendance 6.2%, conversions 10%, water baptisms 12.1%, and new church charters 33.6%," he writes. Every year, the President gives a State of the Union Address to Congress. Think of this podcast as an AG State of the Union for 2026.   SHOW NOTES 00:00 — Introduction 02:08 — Why is the Assemblies of God growing? 07:00 — How do we balance church growth with the fact that outward success isn't a reliable measure of the Church's strength? 10:16 — The AG in the United States is having a remarkable run, but what can you tell us about what's happening in AG churches around the world that don't share our experience? 13:47 — What new ministry initiatives is the AG pursuing this year? 20:33 — Update listeners on the progress of the building renovations of the national office. 24:10 — What headwinds are the AG facing, and what are the best Spirit-empowered practices for responding to them? 30:03 — Based on your recent sabbatical, make the case for ministers scheduling regular times for rest and recovery. 33:50 — What are you reading right now that's interesting, helpful, and/or personally challenging? 36:03 — Conclusion

    37 min

  6. JAN 8

    411. What To Read in 2026

    Welcome to the Influence Podcast! I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. In this episode, I talk to Allen Tennison about what Pentecostal ministers should read in 2026. Tennison serves as theological counsel to The General Counsel of the Assemblies of God. Reading may not be at or even near the top of many ministers' new year's resolutions, but it should be. In an August 1760 letter to John Premboth, John Wesley wrote: "What has exceedingly hurt you in time past, nay, and I fear to this day, is want of reading. "I scarce ever knew a preacher read so little. And perhaps, by neglecting it, you have lost the taste for it. Hence your talent in preaching does not increase. It is just the same as it was seven years ago. It is lively, but not deep; there is little variety, there is no compass of thought. Reading only can supply this, with meditation and daily prayer. You wrong yourself greatly by omitting this. You can never be a deep preacher without it, any more than a thorough Christian." Even if you agree with Wesley, questions remain: How long should I read every day? What should I read? How do I balance reading with my other pastoral responsibilities? Those are the questions Tennison and I discuss after a brief word from our sponsor.   IN THIS PODCAST 0:00:00 — Introduction 0:01:34 — Sponsor Copy 0:02:38 — How does reading help ministers deepen their preaching and spiritual formation? 0:07:18 — How much time should ministers devote to reading, and what's a realistic goal for how many books they should read? 0:14:43 — What kinds of knowledge should ministers seek in books? 0:20:00 — What Bible study books — commentaries, biblical theologies, reference works, etc. — would you recommend? 0:37:14 — What theology books would you recommend? 0:48:55 — What histories and biographies do you recommend? 1:03:10 — What books about ethics and pastoral theology would you recommend? 1:08:07 — What books on preaching and church administration would you recommend? 1:15:36 — Conclusion   SPONSOR COPY This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by Gospel Publishing House, distributors of The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler. The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler equips you with an understanding of the Holy Spirit's role in your life. As a resource for both laypeople and ministry leaders, it also imparts practical insight for anyone discipling others in receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. For more information visit GospelPublishingHouse.com.

    1h 18m

  7. 12/18/2025

    410. Suffering Pentecostally

    "Jesus is up front with us that there is a cost to following him," writes Craig Keener. "From God's side, the gift of him in him is free—or rather, already paid for by what Christ suffered for us. But we live in a world that challenges our faith, so from the world's side our faith is bound to cost us hardships. Yet God empowers us by his Spirit to maintain our witness for Christ in this world no matter what." In this episode of the podcast, I talk to Keener about how Pentecostal Christians should think about suffering. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Craig Keener is F.M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary, an ordained Assemblies of God minister, and author of Suffering: Its Meaning for the Spirit-Filled Life, published by Baker Academic. NOTE: This will be the final Influence Podcast of 2025. Episode 411 — the first podcast of 2026 — will drop on Thursday, January 8.   ————— This episode of the Influence podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of Open When . . . Parenting through Everyday Moments. In Open When . . . Parenting through Everyday Moments, child development professionals and Christian education experts discuss the most common parenting scenarios faced by families today. Readers will be empowered with knowledge, tools, and strategies for navigating the complexities of each issue while also nurturing the child's spirit through scriptural application. For more information about Open When . . . Parenting through Everyday Moments visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

    48 min

  8. 12/11/2025

    409. How to Retire Well

    Donna Barrett is retiring at the end of this year from her position as general secretary of the Assemblies of God. Elected unanimously by the executive presbytery in 2018 to fill the unexpired term of her predecessor, Jim Bradford, then elected twice by the General Council in 2019 and 2023, she is the first woman to hold executive office at the national level in the history of the AG. Full disclosure: I am one of Barrett's direct reports. But I can honestly say that she is universally regarded by her employees, fellow executives, district officials, and ministry peers as a woman of God, conscientious leader, good friend, and great boss. In this episode of the podcast, I talk to Barrett about her unique perspective on topics such as women's leadership, the grind of ministry, and the necessity of prayer. I'm George P. Wood, executive editor of Influence magazine and your host. Barrett is the 11th general secretary of The General Council of the Assemblies of God. Her final day in office is December 31, 2025. ————— This episode of the Influence Podcast is brought to you by My Healthy Church, distributors of The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler. The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler equips you with an understanding of the Holy Spirit's role in your life. As a resource for both laypeople and ministry leaders, it also imparts practical insight for anyone discipling others in receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit. For more information about The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Discipler visit MyHealthyChurch.com.

    29 min
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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

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