LEAD Pods USMB

Like it or not, money is a part of our daily lives. Some people seem to naturally have a great handle on how to budget, save, and invest, while others struggle to make ends meet and come up with a long-term plan for healthy financial living. The Bible has a lot to say about money and how we use it, but it doesn't necessarily line out details about credit cards, ROTHs, or investment strategies. 

Luckily we have experts like our friends at MB Foundation to help us work out those details. Nate Yoder returns to the show this week to do a deep dive on all kinds of areas related to finance--budgeting, mortgages, investments, retirement, will planning, and much more. Nate does a great job taking complex ideas and condensing them down to actionable steps we can all take to get on track, set realistic goals, and prepare now for longterm financial health.

Thanks to MB Foundation for sponsoring this episode, and thanks to YOU listeners for a great season of episodes this year on LEAD Pods! Merry Christmas and we'll see you in 2022!

COVID rocked the whole world and caused all of us to shift all kinds of things, including how we do church. Not only have the nuts and bolts details changed, but most pastors and church leaders also routinely find themselves in uncharted waters, exhausted from the barrage of challenges the last two years have brought us.

Sound familiar? Pastor Josh Shaw from Lighthouse Church in Denver is hosting a FREE conference for church leaders coming up January 28-29. Take advantage of this two-day experience to hear from great leaders, enjoy powerful worship where you don't have to plan anything, and be encouraged for your next chapter in ministry. You might even come away with a grant to help fund your ministry, and--did we mention--the whole thing is free?

Learn more about the Resilient Conference in this conversation with Josh, and also hear how his church learned to thrive in this difficult season of uncertainty. Get details or sign up for the conference at https://resilientconference.com.

David Janzen took over as Tabor's new president this July. If you haven't had a chance to meet him yet, this episode gives you an introduction to his background in education, his time as a student at Tabor, and even his involvement with a popular mobile app. While being a college president wasn't necessarily on his radar, President Janzen shares how he sees God at work, weaving his story together in a way that positions him well for leading Tabor into the future.

With enrollment up and new programs in the works, it seems good things are already in motion under President Janzen's leadership. Enjoy this episode, and welcome to the USMB family, President Janzen!

When you spend all or most of your life in the same culture, it's easy to become blind to the day to day "norms" around us. We're all "blind to our own blindness" and we forget what the world looks like to those living in other parts of the world. Still, it's wise and helpful for us to have a larger perspective and remember that all people are created  in the image of God, and the world is much larger than North America.

On today's episode we're joined my Multiply missionaries Andy Owen (Thailand) and Travis Jost (Burundi). Both of them are currently back in the U.S. after extended times of service overseas, and they have fascinating insights to share both about their new countries as well as reflections on how America has changed since they left. They have very helpful things to share about racism, politics, COVID, and how our various cultures can work together to grow the church and further God's Kingdom. 

None of us want to think about tragedies or disasters hitting our local churches, but wise leaders are always prepared. If your church encountered an active shooter, tornado, or sudden health emergency, does your team know what to do? How do you get started developing a security plan, and how much can you work in tandem with local law enforcement? 

These are important questions we all need to consider. We hope and pray you never need a plan like this, but just in case you do, this episode will help you get ready. Greg Snider uses his years of experience in both law enforcement and the military to help churches protect themselves so we can focus on sharing the love of Jesus in a secure and safe environment. 

Today's female leaders face several unique challenges--especially in the church. As more and more women are given leadership opportunities, they're often met with unexpected hurdles once they get there. How can female leaders (of all ages) develop an effective "leadership voice," and how can the men around them be supportive and helpful? 

Author and speaker Kadi Cole returns to the show to provide helpful tools for all leaders to know how to pass the baton to future female leaders. How should you offer feedback and praise to female leaders? What analogies do we use that aren't actually helpful? How can the church model biblical leadership, and where do we still have room for improvement in this area? Kadi eloquently shares thoughts on all this and more in a relatable conversation from a biblical worldview.