LEAD Pods USMB

America is often referred to as a "melting pot" with a wide variety of cultures and ethnicities represented. Clearly we believe the Gospel is good news for everyone, and it's wise for us to be on the lookout for ways we can more effectively serve and minister to under-represented and under-served groups in our American culture. With more immigrants and refugees coming to our shores every day, how can the Church minister to these communities, and how can the USMB family work with them to prepare for the church of tomorrow? 

Henri Ngolo is a minister and church leader from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who recently came on staff with the USMB team as our new integrated immigrant coordinator. Henri is working with many immigrant leaders who are forming new MB churches around the States, and many exciting opportunities are in the early stages through initiatives like the CORD program. Henri shares parts of his story on this episode and ways we can work together to better serve and minister to these immigrant families. 

When you spend time reading the Bible, what kinds of things are you looking for? Does your understanding of the New Testament affect your view of the Old Testament, and vice versa? As you read, are you thinking mostly of yourself, or about God? 

We all slip into ruts with our personal devotions, and sometimes a fresh perspective or reminder of biblical truths can bring life and deeper understanding of the stories and teachings found in the Bible. Today we're talking with author and pastor Ben Connelly about his new book, Reading the Bible, Missing the Gospel, and he has some compelling and thought-providing ideas that may change how you read the Bible this year.  

In this final episode of 2022, we introduce you to Daniel Rodriguez, the new district minister for the Central District. Daniel has a unique story of how he was called into ministry, and he has a genuine desire to reach all the new people groups coming to the U.S.

The Central District covers several states, and Daniel's experience working in bilingual churches is proving to be helpful as he leads several different cultures represented in this district. Daniel shares details of what exactly district ministers do, what excites him about his new role, and what we can all do to be missionaries in our own communities. 

For most couples, your spouse's career probably doesn't affect your day-to-day life THAT much, but that's not always true when you're married to a pastor! There are some unique challenges--and unique joys--that come with being a pastor's wife, and today we hear about those from Melissa Wiebe and Heather Hubrich. Both of their husbands are pastors and church planters at Lakeview Church in Utah. While the pastor's spouse may typically fly a little under the radar, both Melissa and Heather have settled into their niche where they can give and serve the community while also caring for their families--and setting healthy boundaries for themselves. 

Humans are messy, and (sadly) part of being human is dealing with conflict. Especially this time of year with elections and lots of time with family around the holidays, you're likely to find yourself in a difficult conversation at some point. How can we be peace-makers in a divided and difficult culture, and how we can we love those around us who believe and behave so differently than we do? 

Remember: Conflict in itself is not sin. We have a choice in how we handle these things, and on this episode we have some practical takeaways you can work on. Wendell Loewen and Erica Haude both wrote articles about this in the most recent issue of Christian Leader, and today they share examples from Scripture and tips you can keep in mind for next time you're facing conflict with loved ones. 

Changes in senior leadership can make or break any church or organization, especially when a senior, founding pastor retires. Succession is a crucial leadership discussion that often gets forgotten or delayed, but it's a topic we would all be wise to get a head start on.

Today we talk with Eric Nelson, the new lead pastor of South Mountain Community Church in Utah. Eric recently took over after their former leader, Paul Robie, retired at the end of last year. South Mountain took their time and the succession process worked really smoothly, so what outline did they follow, and what can we learn from their story? Eric walks us through each step, shares lessons he learned along the way, and provides some helpful things for us to think about as more and more churches are passing the reins on to the next generation of leaders.