Center for Congregations Podcast

Center for Congregations Podcast

Your congregation is important, and we know that leading and serving in congregations is hard work. Join current and former Center for Congregations consultants Dr. Terrance Bridges, JC Campbell, Abby Miller, Shellie Riggs Jordan, McKenzie Scott Lewis, Ben Tapper, Matt Burke as they interview thought leaders and experts to encourage, inspire and help you find the right information and resources to address your congregation's needs. Center for Congregations staff will share what they're learning through work with congregations. Speakers, authors and congregational practitioners will share their stories and best practices to help your congregation thrive. The views expressed by podcast guests are their own and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by CfC employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of the CfC. If you have any questions about this disclaimer, please contact us at 866.307.2381 or info@centerforcongregations.org.

Episodes

S8 E13: Seeing What's in Front of You

July 1, 2026 • 53 mins
Will Mancini joins Shellie and Matt to talk about how congregations can best develop vision for their specific context. Will Mancini is a former pastor, author and consultant with decades of experience in congregational life. Resources frunfree.co (organization) Will Mancini's website The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman (book) 7 Laws of Real Church Growth (toolkit)
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S8 E12: Unity And Loyalty Are Not The Same

June 17, 2026 • 59 mins
Dr. Kilen Gray joins JC and Matt to talk about conflict in congregations. Dr. Gray believes that, far from being a negative, conflict is actually something that can strengthen an organization. Resources Dr. Kilen Gray's website Dr. Kilen Gray's Facebook Bates Memorial Church Every Congregation Needs a Little Conflict by George Bullard, Jr. (book) Center for Healthy Churches (organization)
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S8 E11: Your Facility Tells Who You Are

June 3, 2026 • 57 mins
Nathan Parr, Facility Stewardship Specialist at Smart Church Solutions, joins JC and Matt to talk about the importance and prioritization of facility maintenance. Nathan shares his practical knowledge garnered from working with hundreds of congregations on facility management. Resources Smart Church Solutions (organization) Smart Church Solutions YouTube Page (video) Smart Church Solutions Facebook Page (website) Nathan Parr'...
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S8 E10: Vitality: From Swamps to Reservoirs to Canals

May 20, 2026 • 47 mins
Rev. Dr. F. Douglas Powe Jr., joins Kara and John to discuss how relational and resource connections can lead to vital congregations and communities. The conversation includes the importance of continual learning for leaders, assessing your own congregation and how to navigate some of the major cultural shifts that have occurred. Resources The Adept Church by Dr. F. Douglas Powe Jr. (book) Sustaining While Disrupting by Dr. F. D...
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S8 E9: Signs of Burnout

May 6, 2026 • 51 mins
Patrick Riecke joins Miriam and Matt to discuss burnout. Patrick shares from his personal experiences and public studies to shine a light on this under-discussed issue and what to do about it. Resources Burnout Test (website/assessment) Patrick Riecke (website/organization) R3 Restoration (organization) Psychology Today (website) Mental Health America (website/organization) Moving Church Volunteers from Burnout To Their Best...
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S8 E8: Reimagining Vitality: Ministry to Older Adults

April 22, 2026 • 55 mins
Rev. Dr. Richard Gentzler joins Shellie and Matt to talk about ministry for and with aging adults. Dr. Gentzler has been focusing on and working with congregations with older adults for over thirty years. His wisdom will inspire and challenge you to see this ministry with different eyes. Resources Age Friendly Congregation Certificate from Encore Ministry Foundation (curriculum) Encore Ministry Foundation (organization) Demen...
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S8 E7: At The Center of Your Community

April 8, 2026 • 50 mins
Dr. Courtnye Lloyd joins John and Matt to share from her education and experience about how congregations can make collaboration and community happen. Resources The Gathering Church (organization) Microchurches: A Smaller Way by Brian Sanders (book) Big Lessons from Little Places: Faithfulness and the Future in Small Congregations by Kay Collier McLaughlin (book) After the Darkest Hour: How Suffering Begins the Journey to Wisd...
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S8 E6: We Answer Your Questions

March 25, 2026 • 36 mins
Join the Center for Congregations staff as we introduce a new host and answer your questions. Send us questions you'd like us to answer at podcast@centerforcongregations.org or text or call 260-498-8005. Resources How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren (book) "What is a micro church?" by Jordan Moseley (article) "Guide to Asset Mapping" by The Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund (article)
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S8 E5: The Gift of Capital Campaigns

March 15, 2026 • 53 mins
Rob Henson of Solheim Stewardship joins Kara and Matt to share how capital campaigns are much more than just fundraising. Henson maintains that the work of a campaign is woven into the fabric of a congregation's larger work. Resources Solheim Stewardship (organization) Understanding the Stages of a Nonprofit Capital Campaign (article) The Giving Institute’s Eight Steps for Selecting Fundraising Counsel (article) The Afr...
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S8 E4: The Ethics of Using AI

February 25, 2026 • 56 mins
Rev. Dr. Virgil Woods joins JC and Matt to discuss the use of AI (artificial intelligence) in congregational life. Dr. Woods is a pastor, author and tech consultant for congregations who believes that AI can be helpful but guardrails are required. We also answer our first ever mailbag question: how can we implement programming so that it serves everyone in our congregation? Email us at podcast@centerforcongregations.org with ques...
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S8 E3: Those in Your Care

February 11, 2026 • 53 mins
Erin Hill from the Center for Church and Community Impact joins JC and Matt to talk about their work and how congregations are caring for their communities. Resources Center for Church and Community Impact (organization) My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem (book) The Spirituality of Welcoming by Ron Wolfson (book) C3i on Instagram (@baylorsocialwork_c3i)
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S8 E2: Defining and Rediscovering Community

January 29, 2026 • 61 mins
Charles Vogl joins John and Matt to talk about his book The Art of Community. He defines community and we discuss how it plays out in congregations. Resources The Art of Community by Charles Vogl (book) Charles Vogl's website The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman (book) Lost Connections by Johann Hari (book) Team of Teams by Stanley McChrystal (book) Mystic Heart by Wayne Teasedale (book)
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S8 E1: Get in the Room

January 14, 2026 • 50 mins
Lisa Inks, Senior Director of Urban Rural Action, joins Shellie and Matt to talk about their work of healing polarization and divided culture. Lisa shares the origins of the organization, tools for conversation and the importance of this work in our current cultural climate. Resources Urban Rural Action (organization) The Colossian Forum (organization) Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (organization) Project Civility (organizatio...
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S7 E22: Past, Present, Future 2025 Edition

December 24, 2025 • 39 mins
President of the Center for Congregations Rev. Dr. Tim Shapiro joins JC and Matt to talk about what the Center for congregations has been learning through the past, this year and what we see as the futures of congregations.
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S7 E21: Congregations With Community

December 10, 2025 • 46 mins
Congregations with Community (CWC) Senior Director McKenzie Scott Lewis joins JC and Matt to talk about the work of CWC and what they're learning about congregation and community collaboration. Resources Congregations with Community - CWC (organization) CWC Facebook IG @congregationswithcommunity CWC LinkedIn Seed to Oaks (organization) The Art of Community: Seven Principles for Belonging by Charles Vogl (book)
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S7 E20: Telling Stories

November 26, 2025 • 36 mins
Center for Congregations staff Kara Faris, Shellie Riggs Jordan and Matt Burke gather to talk about what the Center for Congregations is learning in 2025. They share several stories of congregations in Indiana that highlight some of the great things happening in congregational life. Resources The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller (book) Undue Medical Debt (organization)
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S7 E19: Ages and Stages - Respecting All Generations

November 12, 2025 • 57 mins
Rev. Dr. Darrell Hall of The Way Community Church joins John and Matt to talk about doing the hard work of understanding other generations and how it is related to loving others. Resources Speaking Across Generations by Dr. Darrell Hall (book) Generational IQ by Haydn Shaw (book) Making Space at The Well by Dr. Jessica Brown (book) Instagram - @IAmDarrellHall X - @IAmDarrellHall
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S7 E18: Marketing for Good

October 29, 2025 • 52 mins
The Center for Congregations' own Christos Reid, Communications and Marketing Strategist, joins Shellie and Matt to talk about marketing and communications for congregations. This episode is full of practical advice and tips on how to incorporate better tools and ideas into your congregation's communications. Resources "Ultimate Guide to Church SEO" by Paul Steinbrueck (article) "Strategic Social Media Planning for Churches: A S...
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S7 E17: Rediscovering Discipleship

October 15, 2025 • 53 mins
Dr. Robert Mansfield joins JC and Matt to talk about discipleship and the importance of your congregation's context in faith formation. Dr. Mansfield believes that there is no copy-paste way to disciple. Each community needs to find ways to form faith based on its unique theology, traditions and specific local history. Resources "Insights from Research and Theory: Practices for Forming Faith with Young Adults" by Leif Kehrwald a...
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S7 E16: Young Adult Ministry - Empathy in Transition

October 1, 2025 • 70 mins
Dr. Steven Argue, Associate Professor of Youth, Family, and Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary, talks with Shellie and Dr. Bridges about meeting young adults where they are: in the midst of their transitions. Matt and Shellie then talk about the Center for Congregation's work with congregations around young adults, unpack the interview and share practical resources that will aid your congregation. Resources Young Adult Mini...
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