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

S7 E7: How to Grow Leaders

April 9, 2025 • 56 mins
Rev. Dr. Aaron Perry joins JC and Matt to talk about his new book Lay Leadership: For the Care of Souls. Aaron shares from his experience in congregational leadership and academia to help you understand how to engage more lay leaders in your congregation. Resources Lay Leadership: For the Care of Souls by Aaron Perry (book) Our Gifts: Identifying and Developing Leaders by David P. Mayer (book) "Unleashing the Church through Lay...
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S7 E6: Where Two or More Are Gathered . . . You Have Conflict

March 26, 2025 • 59 mins
Laurie Stewart, CEO of Peacemaker Ministries, joins Matt and John to discuss the origins of conflict and how to handle conflict. Resources Peacemaker Ministries (organization) Arbinger Institute (organization) The Colossian Forum (organization) Crucial Conversations by Joseph Grenny (book) The Anatomy of Peace from The Arbinger Institute (book)
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Money and Ministry E5: Rev. Dr Marlene Fuller

March 19, 2025 • 33 mins
In this conversation, Reverend Dr. Marlene Fuller shares her journey as a multi-vocational pastor and the financial challenges that come with it. She emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, financial management, and the need for support within the church community. The discussion highlights the difference between coping behaviors and radical self-care, and the significance of trusting God rather than relying solely on personal...
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S7 E5: Connecting with Young Adults

March 12, 2025 • 46 mins
Kelly Minas, Director of the Lilly Endowment Young Adult Initiative, joins Matt and Shellie to talk about the S.T.A.R. (stories, tools, and resources) for Young Adult Ministry website. This resourcing website is the culmination of years of work in innovation hubs all over the country and can help your congregation sharpen your young adult ministry focus. Kelly shares about the work of these innovation hubs and the eight principles ...
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Money and Ministry E4: Reverend Michelle Brown

March 5, 2025 • 39 mins
In this episode of the Money in Ministry podcast, Reverend Michelle Brown shares her personal journey with finances in ministry, discussing the challenges she faced, the theological implications of money, and the importance of community support. She emphasizes the transformative power of faith in navigating financial struggles and the shift from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance. The conversation highlights the significance...
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S7 E4: Wholeness Through Co-Vocational Ministry

February 26, 2025 • 64 mins
Rev. Mike Snyder joins Shellie and Matt to talk about co-vocational ministry and how it has created a wholeness both for his life and for the life of his congregation. Resources The Power of Co-vocational Ministry by Rev. Mike Snyder (article) Dying to Restart (organization) Covocational Pastoring: What It Is, And Why You Should Consider It (podcast) Bivocational and Beyond: Educating for Thriving Multivocational Ministry (book) Th...
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Money and Ministry E3: Ramon Rivera

February 19, 2025 • 33 mins
In this episode of the Money in Ministry podcast, Ramon Rivera shares his inspiring journey of faith, challenges, and the miracles he experienced while planting churches. He emphasizes the importance of dreams as the first resource from God and recounts his struggles with financial challenges while pursuing his calling. Through various transitions, including moving from Pennsylvania to Florida and then to Arizona, Ramon highlights ...
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S7 E3: Learning to Communicate Creatively

February 12, 2025 • 51 mins
Rev. Dr. Rickey McCray, senior pastor of The Way Church in Indianapolis, joins Kara and Matt to discuss how communicating creatively, and through creativity, can help you lead your congregation. Resources GCW Coaching (Pastor Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes' website) The Small Rural Church Social Media Blueprint (podcast/video) Dr. Rickey McCray's Website We Care Indy (organization) Dr. Rickey McCray's Facebook Page Dr. Rickey McCray's Instagr...
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Money and Ministry E2: Jason Roberts

February 5, 2025 • 30 mins
In this conversation, Pastor Jason Roberts discusses the challenges and opportunities of talking about money within church communities. He emphasizes the importance of reframing the conversation around generosity, building trust, and utilizing curriculum and resources to facilitate open discussions. The dialogue also touches on the significance of legacy planning, the role of the church in financial stewardship, and the need for pa...
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S7 E2: Young Adult Engagement: Listen First

January 29, 2025 • 55 mins
Rev. Dr. Jeff Keuss and Rev. Martin Jimenez, M.Div. join John and Matt to talk about their work and research around young adult engagement in congregations. They share what they are learning directly from young adults in their research that will help congregations learn how to reach out to this generation. Resources Defiant Hope, Active Love (book) Defiant Hope, Active Love (documentary) Pivot NW Research (organization) Pivot NW on...
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Money and Ministry E1: Father Dave

January 22, 2025 • 27 mins
In this conversation, Father Dave Harris shares his experiences navigating the financial challenges faced by pastoral leaders. He discusses the impact of financial strain on ministry, the importance of community support, and the need for intentional financial planning. The conversation highlights the differences in financial management between various church roles and emphasizes the significance of support systems for ministers, pa...
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S7 E1: Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders

January 15, 2025 • 42 mins
Elise Barrett and Bere Gil Soto from the Center for Congregations' Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders program join Matt and Kelly to talk about their work and a new podcast series. This series will highlight specific stories of clergy leaders and the economic challenges they have faced in their vocation. Resources Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral leaders (organization)
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S6 E23: Congregations Past, Present and Future

December 18, 2024 • 44 mins
Join Center for Congregations staffers Kara Faris, Dr. Terrance Bridges, Dr. JC Campbell and Matt Burke as they discuss the changes in congregations over the last six years. A lot has happened since the Covid-19 pandemic and the conversation ranges over what congregations used to be focused on and how that focus has shifted.
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S6 E22: Money as Part of the Whole Self

November 27, 2024 • 50 mins
Rosario and Callie Picardo join JC and Matt to talk about their new book Healthy Money. Their fascinating hypothesis is that our thoughts and attitudes towards finances are driven by deep aspects of our personhood and if we make those aspects healthy it can aid us in viewing and using finances in a healthy way. Resources Healthy Money: A 30-Day Journey toward Spiritual, Emotional and Financial Freedom (book) Kitchen Table Giving: R...
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S6 E21: More Than Tips and Tricks

November 13, 2024 • 50 mins
Rev. Ethan Linder, Discipleship Pastor from College Wesleyan Church in Marion Indiana, joins JC and Matt to talk about discipleship and the process they've developed. Ethan shares the beginnings of the project and what they're learning. Resources College Wesleyan Shepherding Curriculum Facing Decline, Finding Hope: New Possibilities for Faithful Churches (book) The Master Plan of Evangelism (book) Lifelong Faith Associates (organiz...
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S6 E20: Partnerships Are Powerful

October 30, 2024 • 48 mins
Rev. Dr. Que English, Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department and Health and Human Services, joins Shellie and Matt to talk about her work. She shares how congregations can be successful in helping their communities through a mission focus, education and local networking relationships. Resources Flourish by Martin Seligman (book) Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnership...
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S6 E19: Educating Is An Art

October 16, 2024 • 53 mins
Propaganda joins JC and Matt to talk about how to make complex topics easier for your audience to understand. Propaganda is a rapper, spoken word artist, author, speaker and podcaster. And he knows a ton about coffee. Resources Terraform: Building a Better World (book) Terraform: The Sky (EP on Spotify) Terraform: The Soil (EP on Spotify) Terraform: The People (EP on Spotify) Terraform: The Possibility (EP on Spotify) Hood Politics...
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S6 E18: 100 Episodes!

October 2, 2024 • 39 mins
Center for Congregations staffers Rev. Shellie Riggs Jordan, Dr. JC Campbell, Dr. Terrance Bridges, Matt Burke and John James gather to talk about what they're hearing and learning from Congregations around the state of Indiana.
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S6 E17: The Power to Form and Transform

September 18, 2024 • 51 mins
Dr. Christina Davis and Rev. Dr. Tim Shapiro join Dr. Bridges and Matt to talk about their new book The Formative Power of Your Congregation. We discuss the framework of the process of formation in congregations, specific stories from the work and research and how your congregation can be a place of formation. Dr. Davis is the Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology and Marriage and Family Therapy at Christian Theological Seminary...
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S6 E16: Is Your Congregation Healthy?

September 4, 2024 • 48 mins
Melanie Preston joins JC and Matt to share her understanding of how congregations can be healthy organizations. The conversation includes how to define organizational health, the importance of paying attention to burnout, why it's important to develop boundaries and how manipulation can harm a congregation. Matt and JC talk about their experiences working with congregations and the idea of organizational health and share some resou...
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