The Christian Leader Podcast

USMB
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Semimonthly

The Christian Leader Podcast is the official podcast from USMB, featuring honest and practical conversations for anyone following Jesus—in life, ministry, and everything in between. Join us as we disciple, develop, and deploy followers of Jesus for life and leadership.

  1. 2d ago

    The Prodigal Frontman: The Deconstruction and Return of Jason Dunn (Hawk Nelson)

    If you were a Christian music fan in the early 2000s, Hawk Nelson needs no introduction. Jason Dunn fronted one of the era's biggest Christian punk-rock bands, touring nearly 280 shows a year, appearing on NBC and feature films, and selling out theaters before he was old enough to understand what was happening. In this episode, Jason traces the whole arc with Matt, how a youth group worship band became a label act, what fame does to a 20-something, and how he ended up writing a number-one Christian radio single he describes as pure mockery. The heart of this episode is what happened after the spotlight. Jason talks openly about pouring out to fans night after night while no one was pouring into him, the slow drift into cynicism and addiction, and the year he lost both his band and his marriage. He describes the bottom honestly: blowing through everything in New York City, crashing on friends' floors, and finally driving home to Canada with his truck, his dog, and his guitar, collapsing in his parents' driveway. It's a modern prodigal story told without a filter.  But it doesn't end there. Jason shares the unlikely night his faith became real for the first time, the family he has now, and why he believes his calling today is less about music and more about becoming the accountable presence he never had. For pastors and leaders, his reflections on deconstruction, the danger of pedestals, and the cost of giving without receiving are worth the listen. Jason's new album, Formerly Known As, is out now.

    59 min

  2. Jun 11

    When They Can't, Not Won't: Understanding Learning Differences (David Stevens, Crystal Nachtigall, Micki Pollman)

    This is a big episode, and not just because of the topic. After more than 150 episodes as LEAD Pods, we've officially got a new name. Today Matt shares a little context for the rebrand at the top of the episode, but the short version is this: we're now the Christian Leader Podcast, and we think the name better reflects who we're for and what we're about. We're kicking off this new chapter with a conversation that matters. Matt sits down with licensed counselor Micki Pollman, kids pastor and former teacher Crystal Nachtigall, and Tabor College neuroscience professor Dr. David Stevens for a wide-ranging discussion on ADHD, ADD, neurodivergence, and how trauma shapes the way kids learn. Whether you're a parent, a teacher, a church volunteer, or a pastor, chances are you've got someone in your life who's wired differently. This episode will help you understand what's actually going on in their brain and how to show up for them well. From co-regulation to the "can't vs. won't" question, the conversation is full of practical, compassionate guidance you can put to work right away.

    55 min

  3. May 28

    On Mission from the Beginning: The History of MB Conventions (Peggy Goertzen)

    Peggy Goertzen is back for her fourth appearance on LEAD Pods, and she's bringing history to life once again. As director and archivist of the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies at Tabor College, Peggy is the go-to voice for all things MB heritage. In this episode, she traces the roots of why Mennonite Brethren started gathering in the first place, taking us back to the 1870s when MB immigrants fled persecution in Russia and settled across Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas. By 1879, scattered churches came together for a national gathering because, as Peggy puts it, they simply didn't want to be alone. From love feasts and long sermons to big debates about missions, military service, and evangelism funding, Peggy draws a straight line from those early gatherings to why USMB still comes together today. With the 2026 Gathering in Salt Lake City just around the corner, this one is worth sharing with your whole team. Details at usmb.org.

    46 min

  4. May 14

    MCC's Next Chapter and Effective Succession Planning (Ann Graber Hershberger & Rukshan Fernando)

    After five years at the helm of MCC as the world faced some of its most turbulent times in recent history, US Executive Director Ann Graber Hershberger is passing the baton, and she couldn't be more at peace about it. Incoming director Rukshan Fernando brings a remarkable story of his own: born in the US, raised in Sri Lanka amid civil war, and shaped by decades of work across social work, Christian higher education, affordable housing, and nonprofit leadership. Together they reflect on how this leadership transition has unfolded, what it looks like to hold a role loosely and hand it off well, and how MCC's new strategic blueprint is shaping the organization's next season. They also dig into what makes MCC distinct, and why keeping Jesus at the center is so essential. MB church leaders will also want to catch the practical segment near the end, with tangible ways your congregation can connect with MCC's work, from school kit drives to pastor cohorts to learning tours abroad. Visit mcc.org to learn more.

    47 min

  5. Apr 30

    Why We Gather: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Gathering 2026 (Kelsey Ensz, Drew Pankratz, & Alec Alvarado)

    This week Matt sits down with three members of the Gathering planning team, Kelsey Ensz, Drew Pankratz, and Alec Alvarado, for a behind-the-scenes look at what to expect for the USMB national convention this July in Salt Lake City.  The three share the heart behind this year's theme, Cultivate: Living on Mission with Jesus, rooted in 1 Corinthians 3 and the MB family's longtime commitment to disciple-making. They discuss what went into selecting the speakers and workshops, along with details of what to expect if you plan to bring your kids or students along with you.  Plus, we take a fun detour into Salt Lake City itself, with tips on hiking, Pioneer Day festivities, and why July is a great time to make the trip a family vacation. If you've been on the fence about attending, this episode just might be what pushes you to register. Get the details at usmb.org.

    43 min

  6. Apr 16

    Why Leadership Development Is So Hard—And What to Do About It (Andy Owen and Kyle Goings)

    Andy Owen and Kyle Goings return to LEAD Pods for a timely and energizing conversation about one of the church's most urgent challenges: developing the next generation of leaders before a looming leadership crisis arrives. Andy serves as executive pastor at Ridgepoint Church in Wichita, Kansas, bringing over 20 years of international ministry experience from Thailand to his work of equipping leaders today. Kyle serves as next gen pastor at Ridgepoint and director of USMB Next Gen, where he focuses on calling and developing young leaders across the denomination. The conversation tackles why leadership development feels so hard even when everyone agrees it matters, and what the data actually says about where the church is headed. Kyle unpacks striking statistics from Barna showing that more Protestant ministry leaders are now over 65 than under 40, with one in four pastors expected to retire by 2030. He also shares encouraging signs from Gen Z, a generation showing increased spiritual hunger not seen since the Jesus Revolution of the early seventies. Andy offers a personal story about turning 50 and discovering a passage in Numbers 8 that reframed his entire approach to ministry, shifting his focus from doing the work to equipping others to do it. Together they offer practical steps any church leader can take, and Kyle makes a strong case that every church can and should have a summer intern, pointing listeners to leaderpipeline.net for free resources. This episode is a candid and hopeful call for leaders to stop waiting for the next generation to be ready and start doing the work of developing them now.

    42 min

  7. Apr 2

    Loving the Orphan: The Church's Role in the Foster Care Crisis (Amy Jackson-Kincaid)

    Amy Jackson-Kincaid joins LEAD Pods for an eye-opening and faith-filled conversation about foster care, the guardian ad litem program, and the vital role churches can play in one of America's most pressing needs. Amy serves as district administrator for the Guardian Ad Litem Program in North Carolina, overseeing nearly 600 children across three counties. She is also an ordained minister and associate pastor at Boone Mennonite Brethren Church, and serves on the USMB board. The conversation covers how the foster care system actually works, what a guardian ad litem does, and how Amy went from offering one weekend of respite care in 2002 to leading a program that serves hundreds of children today. She is honest about the weight of the work and the hard days, but equally passionate about what becomes possible when churches decide to show up. From providing duffle bags of essentials to supporting foster families with meals and practical help, she outlines accessible ways any congregation can get involved. Grounded throughout in James 1:27, this episode is a clear and compelling call for church leaders to see foster care not as someone else's problem, but as pure religion in action.

    44 min

  8. Mar 19

    Watering Well: Faithful Ministry and Long-Term Growth (Aaron Halvorsen)

    Pastor Aaron Halvorsen joins LEAD Pods for a warm and wide-ranging conversation about preaching, pastoral identity, and the often unglamorous but essential work of long-term ministry. Aaron is the lead pastor of Community Bible Church in Olathe, Kansas, where he has served for over a decade and will soon celebrate the church's 60th anniversary. He shares his journey from the Pacific Northwest to Kansas, his unexpected entry into the Mennonite Brethren world through church planting, and what it has meant to put down deep roots in one church and one community over the long haul. The conversation explores Aaron's passion for expository preaching and a preview of his upcoming talk at the USMB convention. Aaron reflects honestly on the dangers of measuring ministry success by visible results, the temptation of stagnation, and the challenge of maintaining joy and gratitude in the busyness of pastoral life. Along the way, he offers encouragement for pastors to embrace the slow, invisible work of watering, trusting that God is growing things we cannot always see, and makes a compelling case for why gathering together as a denominational family is worth showing up for.

    46 min
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5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The Christian Leader Podcast is the official podcast from USMB, featuring honest and practical conversations for anyone following Jesus—in life, ministry, and everything in between. Join us as we disciple, develop, and deploy followers of Jesus for life and leadership.

Information

  • Creator
    USMB
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    156
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Christian Leader Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Christian Leader Podcast

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