“We haven’t just had a change in culture in the last couple of years, we’ve had a cultural shift. We’re in a different playing field.” Many of you know Chris Brown, Senior Pastor and Teaching Pastor at North Coast Church in San Diego, CA. In today’s episode, Sean Morgan leans in with Chris on exactly how North Coast is innovating around online church and why it’s so important. Together, they unpack common misconceptions of online church and encourage leaders that for 2,000 years the Gospel has always found a way to maintain relevancy in a changing culture. Why should now be any different? Welcome to Episode 070 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

“Don’t be so busy trying to turn things around that you neglect the people you’re working with. Start tackling the small stuff to build up a resume and track record of success, then you can gradually start tackling bigger and bigger things that ultimately need to get changed as well.” We’re joined in this episode by Dr. Richard Blackaby, President of Blackaby Ministries, co-author of Experiencing God with his father, Henry Blackaby. Sean and Richard take a deep dive into the practical, daily details of what it takes to be successful in transitions leadership. They unpack gaining credibility as the new leader, making changes while still honoring the original purpose and message of the church, and seeing not just the problems, but the possibilities behind them.” This is a true masterclass on leadership! Welcome to Episode 069 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

“Love the church you have. Not the church you wish you had.” Meet James Forsyth, Senior Pastor of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, TN. James grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland where he met his bride and started his family. He came to the US to go to seminary and stayed stateside as God called him and his family through two leadership transitions. James is an expert on the topic of transition. On this episode he leans in with James specifically on the currency of trust and four key transition leadership principles. If you are a young leader entering into a season of transition, this conversation will be a great resource for you. Welcome to Episode 067 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

“Humility must be the chief characteristic of the outgoing pastor. Their transition feels like death by a thousand cuts. This is what they’ve dedicated their ministry to, their lives to, and they are having to slowly let it go…” Meet Daniel Im, Lead Pastor of Beulah Alliance Church, a multi-generational, multi-ethnic, and multi-campus church in Greater Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Daniel made his transition to the Leader Pastor role just before the pandemic, in January of 2019. He shares his personal transition story with us and gives insight into what he believes are some of the key components of a healthy succession. Daniel’s wisdom will bless you and your church. Welcome to Episode 067 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

“The fear factor of a transition is real. And it will hit you. But you have to remind yourself that that is literally what the devils plan is to do to you. Is to paralyze you. He wants nothing more than to get you on your heels and start to revert back. But the Gospel is going no no, if God is for you who can be against you? I got you. You need to walk forward in faith and be strong and courageous like Joshua.” Meet Kevin Rhineheimer, Lead Executive Pastor of Mission Church in Gilbert, Arizona. Kevin has been on staff at Mission for over a decade and walked through two vastly different seasons of transition. In this episode he compares and contrasts those transitions and talks about his role as the “bridge leader” of the local church. Welcome to Episode 066 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

“We tell our staff… if you are happy or aligned with 70% of what we’re doing as a church, then lay down the other 30% and embrace what God is doing.” On this episode we welcome Mike Bodine from Central Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mike is gracious enough to invite us into his living room to discuss the health of Central’s staff, the health of their church, and the health of the relationship between Mike and his Lead Pastor, Jud Wilhite. Mike shares incredible wisdom on fighting for culture in your church and why it matters. As he so concisely summarizes, “Culture is everything.” Welcome to Episode 065 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

“Leaders are waiting around for their rooms to fill up, but newcomers to your church are waiting for you to make room for them.” In this episode, Sean leans into a question that so many church leaders and staff are wrestling with on this side of the pandemic… “when is our room full?” If you’ve thought maybe the rules have changed since the pandemic, you’d be right. But actually, maybe the rules we had been following were always wrong? Sean challenges listeners to think about what feels best to the newcomer, not to you or your staff, and equips us with leadership principles to support this shift. Welcome to Episode 064 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

“For most churches, if you take 50% of your givers off the list, you’re only losing 2% of the gifts… Rather than talking about fear and anxiety of the coming recession, what if we talk about the real issue? Being broken-hearted about the spiritual condition of our people when it comes to money and possessions.” Meet Jim Sheppard, CEO & Principal of Generis, a firm passionate about coaching churches and creating contagious generosity. Today’s episode wrestles through some very current economic trends like inflation, recession, while guiding church leaders on how the disruption of the pandemic will require churches to change their playbook and update their scorecards. This is a must listen and one you’ll want to share with your team as you head into fall. Welcome to Episode 063 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

“The definition of what the Lead Pastor needs to be and do coming out of the pandemic has changed.” In this episode, Sean sits down with Dr. Warren Bird from ECFA to lean into the challenges pastors are facing coming out of the pandemic, and into recession and inflation. With a heavy focus on Ephesians 4:11-12, Dr. Bird and Sean wrestle with how churches honestly answer the question, “Are we an equipping and empowering church?” and how as a leader, you must be examining your own calling, uniqueness, and gift mix to lead the church God’s way through your leadership. Welcome to Episode 062 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

“The leadership lesson was that it all happened on my watch. It wasn’t all my fault, but it was my responsibility as a leader to shepherd my staff well and I wasn’t doing that.” Meet Jim Burgen from Flatirons Community Church in Colorado. In one of the most heartfelt and vulnerable episodes of our show, Jim opens up about what triggered his six month sabbatical and how God used it for Jim to come back as a better, healthier & stronger leader, just before Covid hit. Jim shares what he learned about himself, about the team at Flatirons, and how all of those lessons were imperative to setting him up well for a succession within the next five years. “I learned that I better be investing in Jesus and my wife, because they will still be there when I’m no longer at Flatirons.” Welcome to Episode 061 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

“In spite of its brokenness, I still have hope for the local church. And I believe it's still God’s Plan A for reconciling the world.” Meet Nancy Beach and her daughter, Samantha Beach Kiley, two influential leaders of the Church and co-authors of Next Sunday: An Honest Dialogue About the Future of the Church. In this episode, Sean Morgan digs deep with Nancy and Samantha on the future of community, the future of inclusion, and the future of the church. Nancy and Sam will challenge our listeners to think differently about the way churches are leading and whether or not we’re actually making an impact on our congregants and our surrounding communities. Get ready to be inspired about what the church can be!

“People kept asking me, are you excited? But I wasn’t all that excited, and I felt like something was wrong. To be honest, I was a little bit scared. There are so many calls in scripture where the call was clear, but it wasn’t something they were excited about.” Meet Dave Dummitt, Senior Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, dynamic leader and pastor who knows a thing or two about transitions. In this episode, Dave invites us into the behind-the-scenes process of being pursued by Willow, wrestling with God’s call to Chicago, and what it meant to leave 2|42 Community Church in its season of thriving. Dave says candidly, “This wasn’t a transition, it was a turnaround.” You won’t want to miss it.

“We’re half the church we were before Covid hit, attendance wise. But the foundation is stronger than it was when we built from where we are now, before.” Meet Greg Lindsey, Lead Pastor of Discovery Christian Church in Colorado Springs, CO. From lawyer, to church planter, to transitions leader, Greg has a transition story that didn’t start well, and then got worse before it ever got better. He shares his approach of leading Discovery with “duct tape and dreams” and encourages leaders to let off the gas in their striving and driving and be far more willing to grow slowly. To be willing to invest more in the people who are showing up right now. Greg doesn’t shy away from his doubts, his fears, his many challenges; and how God has continued to teach him raw dependence throughout his story. It’s a must listen. Welcome to Episode 058 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

“People aren’t looking for solutions to problems they don’t understand. I would have spent a lot more time in my younger years selling the problem, rather than selling the solution that people weren’t in the market for.” Since 2008 Gene Appel has been leading Eastside Christian Church in Anaheim, CA. Prior to his long tenure and catalytic leadership at Eastside, he has modeled (twice) what it looks like to successfully transition into the senior leader role. In this episode, Gene shares the 6 things he set out to do in the first 100 days at Eastside, how important a united front really is in your new position, and the three stages that come before you should expect the harvest. Lastly, Gene shares with listeners the one metric Eastside is using to measure success post-pandemic and why it’s so important. Welcome to Episode 057 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

“The most challenging leadership task we’ll ever take on is letting go.” On this episode of Leaders In Living Rooms, Ashley Wooldridge, Lead Pastor of Christ’s Church of the Valley in Phoenix, AZ shares his personal story of the baton handoff with former Lead Pastor, Don Wilson, five years later. Ashley’s unique perspective on transition comes from his time at Intel prior to joining the CCV team. He leans into how differently the secular world does leadership transitions (typically more successfully than the church) and what we can learn from their proven track record. He encourages leaders to approach a transition with a deep sense of knowing what you think can work, but also with humility; and how to do the same in your realignment efforts post-pandemic. Ashley is a wealth of knowledge and his passion for churches getting this right is inspiring. You don’t want to miss it.

Covid was a black swan event. Something that only happens maybe every twenty years, but completely changes culture. You have the opportunity for a new direction, a new place, a new time. What will you do with it? Meet Larry Osborne from North Coast Church who challenges leaders to understand where they really are today, not where they were two years ago. “Vision is worthless when you only know where you need to go. The starting point is you need to know where you are.”

“I don’t even know what I’m like rested if I live marginless.” Meet Alan Briggs, Director of Culture & Coaching at Stay Forth, an organization passionate about getting leaders healthy. In this episode, Alan addresses burnout, the role sabbaticals play in avoiding it (and how to receive them well). He walks listeners through creating margin by elimination, designation, delegation, and automation. Alan challenges, “By the time we are actually burnout, we are just realizing it. We are less able to name it, the more tired we are. Other people can typically see it before we can and sometimes we’re the last to know. If you get to a sabbatical, and need a sabbatical, you’re already too late.” Welcome to Episode 054 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

Jonathan and Lindsey Hansen moved their two young children and a seventy pound labradoodle across the country. They were packed up and loaded down with passion, excitement, and vision for the church in California God was calling them to lead. What they walked into was a failed transition from the Founding Pastor/Planter, a church split, and a congregation that was in pain from all the change. What they thought would be a new beginning was actually a triage situation of people, of a church, who desperately needed care. In this episode, they reflect back on the “honeymoon phase” of their transition, what they would do differently in hindsight, and what encouragement they would give to others (and themselves) stepping into transition. Welcome to Episode 053 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

Jay Kim’s transition story is so uniquely woven that it puts God’s perfect architecture of our lives on full display. With a story that stems from a longing to lead and a deep calling to shape culture, Jay invites us into the intimate details of his transition from WestGate Church to Vintage Church, and eventually back to WestGate. He talks us through the journey that he’s still on, the right pace of change during his transition, and the opportunities and challenges he faced along the way. “I had to untangle myself enough from my own ego, ambition, and insecurity, to be able to engage the transition process in a healthy way.” His number one piece of advice to leaders in transition? Put yourself in rooms with people who love you, admire you, truly know you, and who will name and shame the stuff that will eat you alive if you allow it. Oh and get comfortable with that feeling. Welcome to Episode 052 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

“God’s call upon our lives doesn’t change. Our context may change, but our call never does.” Meet Eugene Cho, former Senior Pastor of Quest Church and President/CEO of Bread of the World. In this episode, Eugene shares insights about God’s calling for your life, defining your life’s values, and practical ways to monitor your health as a church leader. He encourages us to embodied leadership. To show up. When we feel like we have people on every side of the aisle hijacking the message of Jesus… Eugene reminds us how to place Jesus at the center of it all. Welcome to Episode 051 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

For just over two years, you’ve been invited into the living rooms of over forty leaders; getting privileged insights into their life that few others have access to. Today’s show is a podcast milestone, marking the fiftieth episode of Leaders in Living Rooms! To celebrate 50 episodes, we’ve compiled seven of the top highlights and learnings from our guests. We invite you to listen in on the “cliff notes” from topics like leading your board well with Jud Wilhite to leading on empty with Wayne Cordeiro. You will be encouraged by all seven of these leaders as they speak incredible words of wisdom over the next generation of church leaders. Welcome to Episode 050 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

“Change is painful, but it's better than death.” Meet Tommy Politz, Senior Pastor of Hillside Christian Church, who has served as pastor, church planter, and transitional leader in his 30+ years of ministry. In this episode, Tommy shares with us his own personal journey of transitional leadership and the wisdom he’s gained along the way. Transitional leaders will face high resistance in their quest for high impact. Paying attention to the rate, pace, and acceleration of decision making will be a critical element to a successful transition. Welcome to Episode 049 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

There is both fulfillment and fruitfulness in staying in your current leadership role and in transitioning well to something new if God calls you to go. “We don't always have to leave to build a life of significance.” Meet Daniel Grothe from New Life Church, Colorado Springs, CO who shares his personal story of the road that led him to stay at New Life. If you are in a season of difficulty at your church, you will be inspired by Daniel’s story. He will encourage you that these are the moments where the spirit of the Lord will empower you to live a vow of stability, so you can stand and stay. Welcome to Episode 048 of the Leaders in Living Rooms Podcast with Sean Morgan.

Part 2 of 2 - Seacoast has been a pioneering church for decades and now continues a legacy of fruitful ministry through a senior leadership transition from father to son. Greg and Josh talk about the highs and lows of that transition and offer sage advice to anyone in a leadership transition.

Seacoast has been a pioneering church for decades and now continues a legacy of fruitful ministry through a senior leadership transition from father to son. Greg and Josh talk about the highs and lows of that transition and offer sage advice to anyone in a leadership transition.

Part 2 of Sean Morgan's discussion with Kevin Queen. After a devastating transition of their lead pastor, Crosspoint church in Nashville was without a lead pastor and 3/4 of their executive team moved on. This is the story of Kevin's call to leadership at Crosspoint. Kevin has now led Crosspoint through a leadership transition, a direct hit by a tornado, and now a global pandemic. In part one of this two-part series, Kevin gets real about the most important things that keep him grounded, give him perspective, and encourage him.

After a devastating transition of their lead pastor, Crosspoint church in Nashville was without a lead pastor and 3/4 of their executive team moved on. This is the story of Kevin's call to leadership at Crosspoint. Kevin has now led Crosspoint through a leadership transition, a direct hit by a tornado, and now a global pandemic. In part one of this two-part series, Kevin gets real about the most important things that keep him grounded, give him perspective, and encourage him.

Chapelstreet church recently transitioned senior leadership from Brian Coffey to Jeff Frazier. Their story sets the bar for making room for younger leaders to rise up and then partnering with influence when the outgoing leader not only stays in the church but stays on staff. The story at Chapelstreet will open up your mind to the possibilities of leading well in transition seasons.

We close out our 3-part series on Unity with Carey Nieuwhof bringing some deep thought to the conversation. Carey openly talks about how we get our identity wrapped up in things that can easily divide us, how we need to remain humble with our opinions and conclusions, and how when we move to cancel someone or something it is actually more of a statement on our own lack of ability to deal with adversity.

About the Episode We continue our dive into unity with Glenn Packiam giving insights on the historicity of unity in the early church and four keys to unity: Humility, Hospitality, Solidarity, Mutuality. Who is Glen Packiam? Glenn Packiam is an Associate Senior Pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the lead pastor of New Life Downtown, one of the seven congregations of New Life Church. He is the author of Worship and the World to Come (IVP Academic, 2020), and Blessed Broken Given: How Your Story Becomes Sacred in the Hands of Jesus (Multnomah, 2019). Glenn earned a Doctorate in Theology and Ministry from Durham University in the UK. He also holds BA in Theological/Historical Studies and Masters in Management from Oral Roberts University, and a Graduate Certificate in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is a Visiting Fellow at St. John’s College at Durham University, and an adjunct professor at Denver Seminary. He is also an ordained priest with the Anglican Church of North America (ACNA). Glenn is a regular speaker at conferences for pastors and church leaders, and was one of the founding leaders and songwriters for the Desperation Band and has been featured on several Desperation Band and NewLifeWorship recordings. He has also released three solo projects with Integrity Music, "The Mystery of Faith", "The Kingdom Comes", and "Rumors and Revelations". As a signed songwriter with Integrity Music, he has had the honor of writing and co-writing over 65 worship songs, including several well-loved songs, like "Your Name" and "My Savior Lives." Glenn, his wife, Holly, their four children are enjoying life in the shadow of the mighty Rocky Mountains.  

About the Episode Sean unpacks why our culture is so self-centered, why leaders are losing respect, and how that leads to a lack of unity in the church.  The process of rebuilding the foundation of the unity we need is discussed using the Three Essentials for Church Unity: Commitment, Humility, and Sacrifice. Who is Sean Morgan? Sean Morgan joined CDF Capital in 2014 to launch the Leadership Capital Team – focused on elevating local church leaders and their kingdom impact. A nationally known coach and speaker, Sean finds great joy in navigating ministries from obstacles to opportunities. He has developed a national reputation for connecting ministry leaders and being a catalyst of fresh vision; he founded and curates theascentleader.org. Sean served as Executive Pastor and CFO at New Life Church in Northern California. He’s husband to his amazing bride Stacy and a father to two incredible teenagers, Kaylee and Ayden. In his spare time he serves our country as a KC-10 pilot in the Air Force Reserve.

About the Episode Our 2nd of 2 episodes on the topic of preparing the church for the decisions of a new leader - particularly when it comes to making changes to your org chart, structure, and even transitioning staff off. Jud and Jeff give us great insight. Who is Jud Wilhite? Jud Wilhite is an author, speaker and senior pastor of Central Church, a church founded in Las Vegas with over twelve locations nationally and internationally. Central is recognized as one of the largest and fastest growing churches in America. He is a bestselling author of several books, including Uncaged, The God of Yes, Pursued, and a study Bible for new believers, The Uncensored Truth Bible for New Beginnings. His teaching segments are heard nationally on K-LOVE radio. He and his wife, Lori, have two kids and live in the Las Vegas area. Who is Jeff Brodie? Jeff Brodie is the Lead Pastor of Connexus Church, one of Canada’s most influential churches located north of Toronto. He brings vision and leadership to Connexus’ multiple campuses and partnership network. Jeff has led in the multi-site church context for 20 years. He has a passion for investing in next-generation leaders and helping churches develop strategies and leverage tools to scale for greater impact.  

About the Episode Every church needs healthy change. But many times church culture resists change of all kinds. How do leaders prepare the church for change and make those changes in the healthiest ways possible? In this episode we bring in multiple leaders’ insight and expertise. Who is Dave Stone?Dave Stone served at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY for the past 30 years. The last 14 he served as the senior Pastor and led them into the world of multi-site campuses. Since his "retirement" he's stayed busy as an interim pastor, serving on the Board of Spire, helping churches through transitions and being a mentor in The Ascent program. Who is Ricky Jenkins?From his beginnings in Pearl, Mississippi, to Oakland, California, to Memphis, Tennessee, and Chicago, Illinois, Ricky has been preaching the gospel for over 20 years. Fueled by Acts 20:28, Ricky is called to pursue God passionately and pursue God’s people compassionately for the glory and honor of Jesus Christ. Ricky Jenkins is the Senior Pastor of Southwest Church in Indian Wells, CA. Who is John Fanous? John Fanous serves as Lead Pastor of University Covenant Church in Davis, California. Before this, he served as a consultant, helping churches and businesses develop healthy teams. In addition, he has been a university campus minister in San Francisco and a church planter in Pittsburg, California. His passions are leadership development, building healthy staff teams, and multi-ethnic ministry. John studied Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, and later received a Master's Degree in Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary.

About the Episode Nate and George Ross, pastors of Northside Christian Church in New Albany, Indiana, open up about the father-son dynamics in leadership transitions. There are both pros and cons and no matter what it takes resolve and grace. Who are Nate and George Ross? Nate Ross was a nomad from day one. Living in Scottsburg, Indiana, but being born in Louisville, Kentucky was the beginning of the travels on which God would take him. Being raised in a ministry home meant being obedient to God's calling more than comfort, which led to his family doing ministry in four different states during his childhood. For this reason, he couldn't be more grateful to his parents for being such Godly servants and parents. The Lord led Nate and his wife, Ruthie, to Northside in March of 2008 to be a part of the Church staff as the Associate Minister of Involvement. Connecting people to Christ, community, and God's calling has always been Nate's heartbeat, and he couldn't be more thrilled to serve now as the Lead Pastor of such an amazing staff and dynamic Church. George Ross is the Teaching Pastor at Northside Church. George and his family moved from Las Vegas, Nevada in March of 1999 to begin serving at Northside and he considers this the ride of his life. His time spent in the desert opened his eyes fully to the incredible amount of Grace that Jesus has made available to all of us. After serving 32 years in ministry, George’s heart still beats emphatically to see people fully embrace Jesus as Savior and the Leader of their life. He feels honored and humbled to serve alongside an incredible group of elders, and he can’t wait to see what God does next in Southern Indiana and the world.

About the Episode Nate and George Ross, pastors of Northside Christian Church in New Albany, Indiana, open up about the father-son dynamics in leadership transitions. There are both pros and cons and no matter what it takes resolve and grace. Who are Nate and George Ross? Nate Ross was a nomad from day one. Living in Scottsburg, Indiana, but being born in Louisville, Kentucky was the beginning of the travels on which God would take him. Being raised in a ministry home meant being obedient to God's calling more than comfort, which led to his family doing ministry in four different states during his childhood. For this reason, he couldn't be more grateful to his parents for being such Godly servants and parents. The Lord led Nate and his wife, Ruthie, to Northside in March of 2008 to be a part of the Church staff as the Associate Minister of Involvement. Connecting people to Christ, community, and God's calling has always been Nate's heartbeat, and he couldn't be more thrilled to serve now as the Lead Pastor of such an amazing staff and dynamic Church. George Ross is the Teaching Pastor at Northside Church. George and his family moved from Las Vegas, Nevada in March of 1999 to begin serving at Northside and he considers this the ride of his life. His time spent in the desert opened his eyes fully to the incredible amount of Grace that Jesus has made available to all of us. After serving 32 years in ministry, George’s heart still beats emphatically to see people fully embrace Jesus as Savior and the Leader of their life. He feels honored and humbled to serve alongside an incredible group of elders, and he can’t wait to see what God does next in Southern Indiana and the world.

Joel Thomas was Northpoint Community Church’s first intern back before they were even running 1000 in attendance. He went on to become their Alpharetta Campus Pastor, and while he wasn't looking for a lead pastor gig anywhere, God called him into that role at Mission Community Church in Phoenix, AZ.Mission had just been through a year without a pastor after a devastating moral failure of the prior lead pastor left them hurting and confused. Joel will talk about how pervasive culture was, how he began to diagnose unhealthy parts of their culture and lead them toward maturity while pastoring them through the hurt and pain they were feeling. Joel Thomas is the Lead Pastor at Mission Community Church in Gilbert, AZ.  Joel has over 25 years experience in engaging and inspiring ministry leadership roles. His key strengths include, vision, communication, strategic planning and relational ministry. Joel is passionate about leading people to find a thriving life in a relationship with Jesus.  “Jesus is for everyone and that is why we are a church that is for everyone.”

Joel Thomas was Northpoint Community Church’s first intern back before they were even running 1000 in attendance. He went on to become their Alpharetta Campus Pastor, and while he wasn't looking for a lead pastor gig anywhere, God called him into that role at Mission Community Church in Phoenix, AZ.Mission had just been through a year without a pastor after a devastating moral failure of the prior lead pastor left them hurting and confused. Joel will talk about how pervasive culture was, how he began to diagnose unhealthy parts of their culture and lead them toward maturity while pastoring them through the hurt and pain they were feeling. Joel Thomas is the Lead Pastor at Mission Community Church in Gilbert, AZ.  Joel has over 25 years experience in engaging and inspiring ministry leadership roles. His key strengths include, vision, communication, strategic planning and relational ministry. Joel is passionate about leading people to find a thriving life in a relationship with Jesus.  “Jesus is for everyone and that is why we are a church that is for everyone.”

Sean Morgan continues his discussion with Pastor Danny Anderson of Emmanuel Church in Indiana talks about taking the lead role at a mega church at age 28, a crazy season of leadership, and how he worked to reshape the church toward reaching the unchurched. After over 60% of the church left (yup, you read that right) God began to free the church up to gain momentum in reaching the lost in Indianapolis. Danny has served as Lead Pastor of Emmanuel Church since 2006, having previously served as Emmanuel’s High School Pastor for six years. As Lead Pastor, Danny is the primary communicator for Emmanuel’s weekend messages, and serves as leader of the Staff Leadership Team. An avid reader, Danny also enjoys shooting hoops in his limited free time, as well as spending time with his wife Jackie, their three children (Andrew, Beau, & Ruby), and dog Buddy. He is a dedicated fan of Michael Jordan and has quoted the movie, Braveheart, from the platform on more than one occasion. His podcast, The Breakthrough Podcast, discusses how to reach our full potential and become the people God made us to be.

Pastor Danny Anderson of Emmanuel Church in Indiana talks about taking the lead role at a mega church at age 28, a crazy season of leadership, and how he worked to reshape the church toward reaching the unchurched.  After over 60% of the church left (yup, you read that right) God began to free the church up to gain momentum in reaching the lost in Indianapolis. Danny has served as Lead Pastor of Emmanuel Church since 2006, having previously served as Emmanuel’s High School Pastor for six years. As Lead Pastor, Danny is the primary communicator for Emmanuel’s weekend messages, and serves as leader of the Staff Leadership Team. An avid reader, Danny also enjoys shooting hoops in his limited free time, as well as spending time with his wife Jackie, their three children (Andrew, Beau, & Ruby), and dog Buddy. He is a dedicated fan of Michael Jordan and has quoted the movie, Braveheart, from the platform on more than one occasion. His podcast, The Breakthrough Podcast, discusses how to reach our full potential and become the people God made us to be.

About the Episode Pastor Dave Ferguson is the author of Hero maker: Five Essential Practices for Leaders to Multiply Leaders. Among Dave's many talents are his natural optimism and his innovation in church planting and the multisite model. In this episode of Leaders in Living Rooms we learn how he maximizes his strengths while ensuring the leaders around him still have room to thrive as they operationalize and execute ministry. Who is Dave Ferguson? Dave Ferguson is an award-winning author, founding and lead pastor of Chicago’s Community Christian Church, a missional multi-site community considered one of the most influential churches in America. Dave is also the visionary for the international church-planting movement NewThing and president of the Exponential Conference. daveferguson.coInstagram: @fergusondaveTwitter: @davefergusonHero Maker Thanks to our sponsors: CDF Capital and Food For The Hungry. https://theascentleader.org/dave-ferguson

About the Episode Almost all of us lead things that were started before us. It can be challenging in ways we don’t anticipate. Leaders In Living Rooms remains focused on helping transition leaders lead forward toward health and growth...even if someone else started what they are now leading. In this episode, we discuss these challenges with Tyler Reagin, author of, Leading Things You Didn't Start: Winning Big When You Inherit People, Places, and Possibilities. Who is Tyler Reagin? Tyler Reagin is the founder and CEO of The Life Giving Company (lifegiving.co). He is the author of The Life-Giving Leader (Oct 2018) and Leading Things You Didn’t Start (March, 2021). Tyler was the President of Catalyst, a leadership development organization that exists to unify and equip leaders who love the Church through resources and experiential events. Prior to leading the charge at Catalyst, Tyler served for seven years under the leadership of Andy Stanley as the Service Programming Director of Browns Bridge Community Church (a campus of North Point Ministries). Tyler Reagin received his Masters of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and serves as a leadership coach for teams and organizations. www.TylerReagin.comInstagram: @tylerreaginTwitter: @tylerreagin Leading Things You Didn’t Start Thanks to our sponsors: CDF Capital and Food For The Hungry.  

Andy Wood is our guest this week on Leaders in Living Rooms, where he and Sean Morgan talk about the dangers of limiting ourselves with self-doubt. In his roles of church planter, pastor, and podcaster, Andy has experienced the mind-games that can reduce our capacity for what God has called us to do, and he has suggestions for overcoming them. He and Sean also discuss building better teams and empowering them to perform at their best—which often requires us to grow first. Andy Wood is the Lead Pastor of Echo.Church, one of the fastest-growing churches in the San Francisco Bay area. Echo’s vision is to make a positive difference through serving and loving the community around each of its 4 campuses. Andy is an entrepreneur at heart, a husband, and a father to 3 children.

General Boyd Parker is a decorated Air Force officer at the Pentagon, an accomplished combat pilot, and a key leader who has influenced Sean Morgan in his career and ministry. In this episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, Sean and General Parker dive into the heart behind good leadership—serving others to make things better. They talk about methods that sometimes engulf intent and the significance of personal discipline for leaders. Stationed at the Pentagon, Major General Boyd Parker is the Mobilization Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Integration, and Requirements. He develops Air Force strategy and operational concepts to achieve national defense objectives. General Parker received his commission in 1990 from the USAF Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematical Science. He earned his pilot wings at Williams Air Force Base in 1991 and was assigned to fly the KC-10 Extender. During his 30-year Air Force career, General Parker has held command positions at the squadron and group levels. General Parker is a command pilot with more than 5,000 military flying hours in the T-38, C-12, and KC-10. He is married to Colonel (retired) Marlena Parker and has 2 daughters, Isabel and Olivia. Thanks to our Sponsors: CDF Capital and Food for the Hungry.

Long-time minister at New Hope Church, Wayne Cordeiro has led through incredible circumstances over the years. Sharing wisdom from the heart, he recounts a long and inspiring trajectory of growth and multiplication. He also recalls a challenging time In his 50s when his multi-faceted ministry was interrupted by a heart attack that forced him to make significant changes to his health as a leader. Dr. Wayne Cordeiro is the founding minister of New Hope Church in Oahu, Hawaii. One of the fastest-growing churches in the nation, New Hope oversees 4 Bible colleges and has planted over 150 churches across the Pacific Rim and throughout the western United States. Wayne believes in investing in future leaders and releasing the God-given potential of the new generation. To this end, he serves as president of New Hope Christian College in Eugene, Oregon, which recently planted a lab church, New Hope West, to provide a venue for hands-on practicum for his ministerial students during the Covid pandemic. Wayne has authored 12 books including Leading on Empty, Doing Church as a Team, The Divine Mentor, and The Irresistible Church, and he is the general editor of the Life Connect Study Bible. Wayne and his wife Anna have 3 children and 9 grandchildren and split their time between Hawaii and Oregon, where they have a family ranch. Wayne’s hobbies include teaching the Word of God and discipling leaders for the Kingdom, and he enjoys music, reading, and horses. You can learn more at https://www3.enewhope.org.

In the latest episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, Rusty George shares his ministry journey succeeding church planter Kyle Idleman at Real Life Church in Southern California. He explains what he has learned about leading a church that someone else started and discusses the challenge of planning without becoming a control freak. Finally, he gives us a glimpse into After Amen, his new book on the topic of waiting on God for answered prayer. Rusty George is the Lead Pastor at Real Life Church, a multi-site church with campuses in Canyon Country, Simi Valley, and Valencia, California, and with a large online community. Under Rusty’s lead, Real Life has become one of the fastest-growing churches in America. Rusty is an author and a global speaker, leader, and teacher, focusing his message on helping people to find and follow Jesus. Aside from being a loyal Chiefs, Royals, and Lakers fan, Rusty is first and foremost committed to his family. He and Lorrie, his wife of over 20 years, have two daughters, Lindsey and Sidney. As a family they enjoy walking the dogs, watching the Food Network, and playing board games.

Mike Foster, also known as “the Mr. Rogers of self-development,” has worked with thousands of leaders, and his talks and books are internationally renowned. In this episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, Mike helps us unpack the hard parts of life and leadership, like dealing with our pain before it deals with us, finding our primal questions, and redefining church leadership success. Who is Mike Foster? Mike Foster is a best-selling author, speaker, and executive counselor empowering people to build strong lives by turning their setbacks into superpowers. Like a grace-flavored snow cone on a hot, judgmental day, Mike’s chart-topping and highly acclaimed Fun Therapy podcast and STRONGEST workshop give listeners and participants the one-two punch they need to stop making excuses and start living stronger, better lives. Mike is the author of several best-selling books including Freeway and Wonderlife. His wildly popular Five Dates his/her workbooks empower couples to build togetherness strategically, and his latest book, You Rise Glorious, is the essential guide to breaking shame and living free. He lives in San Diego with his wife Jennifer and their fluffy dog.   FREE DOWNLOAD: Brain Detox

In this must-listen episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, Dr. Dharius Daniels shares with Sean Morgan about his upbringing as a pastor’s kid in small-town America. They discuss disciple development, criticism, and the temptation to live our lives according to the opinions of others. Dharius talks about the shape of the American church—what are we getting wrong, and what direction do we need to head in 2021? Who is Dharius Daniels? Dr. Dharius Daniels is a cultural architect and trendsetter for his generation. He is an innovative leader, a strategic thinker, and an articulate and prolific preacher. As founder and lead pastor of Change Church, he leads a vibrant ministry that impacts people of all ages, socioeconomic, and ethnic backgrounds from locations in New Jersey, Florida, and California. Dharius holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Millsaps College, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is a certified personal coach with a versatile gift, speaking frequently in seminaries and churches across the country and serving on the board of directors for the National Association of Evangelicals. He and his wife Shameka have two sons.

In this episode of Leaders in Living Rooms, Sam Acho talks about handling success as a Christian influencer in the NFL. He and Sean Morgan discuss the power of a good name and the importance of being a lifelong learner. Sam talks about using his relational gifts to influence those around him. Finally, Sam shares how he has been able to see God's blessings during the storms of life. Sam Acho is an NFL player, writer, public speaker, and humanitarian. He speaks at colleges, events, conferences, and churches, and he is the cohost of The Home Team podcast. He is the founder and president of Athletes for Justice, a vice president of the NFL Players Association, and a graduate of the University of Texas and the Thunderbird School of Global Management. In his book Let the World See You, Sam reveals the benefits of a lifestyle lived on purpose.