Leading Second Podcast

This week, we are joined by Philip Engle, Senior Coach and General Manager at focus412, as we continue our series Inside the Second Chair. Philip offers a unique perspective on ministry as he represents both ministry and the corporate world. We talk about creating healthy leadership habits, being a trustworthy leader, and defining what success looks like in the second chair. We've created an Episode Guide for you to follow along with the conversation, find discussion questions to use with your team, and discover additional resources to help you take your second-chair leadership to the next-level. Download this free resource at leadingsecond.com/podcast

Mixing family and ministry can be tricky, but when we are intentional about both there are great seeds that can be sown. This week we get to hear from Jonathan Brozozog, Lead Pastor at Creative Church in Minnesota, who has some deep insight into balancing family and ministry. Catch the full, extended version of this conversation on Leading Second+ today. Visit leadingsecondplus.com. We've created an Episode Guide for you to follow along with the conversation, find discussion questions to use with your team, and discover additional resources to help you take your second-chair leadership to the next-level. Download this free resource at leadingsecond.com/podcast

This week Larry Brey, Associate Pastor at Elevation Church, sits down for an inside the Second Chair interview with Nate Puccini, Executive Pastor and Chief of Staff at Substance Church in Minneapolis, MN. We've created an Episode Guide for you to follow along with the conversation, find discussion questions to use with your team, and discover additional resources to help you take your second-chair leadership to the next-level. Download this free resource at leadingsecond.com/podcast

Ep 170: We’re joined by Matt and Jennifer Martin from NorthRock Church in San Antonio, TX and Travis Marshall from Christian World Church in Dallas, TX as we tackle some questions from Second Chair Leaders live at the Team Church One Day in Dallas, TX. We've created an Episode Guide for you to follow along with the conversation, find discussion questions to use with your team, and discover additional resources to help you take your second-chair leadership to the next-level. Download this free resource at leadingsecond.com/podcast

This week, we are joined by Wade Joye, founder of the Joyful Leader ministry, as we continue our series Inside the Second Chair where we are diving in deep on the practices, disciplines, and functions of great second chair church leaders.

Tending to our personal discipleship development is crucial to how we lead from the Second Chair. Chris Palmer, Academic Dean with Theos Seminary, walks us through the importance of our growth in discipleship and how it can impact our ability to lead from the Second Chair. We've created an Episode Guide for you to follow along with the conversation, find discussion questions to use with your team, and discover additional resources to help you take your second-chair leadership to the next-level. Download this free resource at leadingsecond.com/podcast.

Do you wonder how great leaders function? Through this series, Inside the Second Chair, we are diving in with different leaders to discover the secret sauce that keeps leaders focused and in the game. Through a series of questions that will be asked of different leaders throughout the season, we will get a first hand look at how each of us can stay ready for what we are called to do from the Second Chair. We've created an Episode Guide for you to follow along with the conversation, find discussion questions to use with your team, and discover additional resources to help you take your second-chair leadership to the next-level. Download this free resource at leadingsecond.com/podcast

Today is an alignment check-up. It’s important to recognize if we are misaligned with the mission and vision of the church and for the leadership to recognize when misalignment could be the result of organizational clarity. The goal of this episode is to continue the conversation on alignment but through a different lens, to learn how to question yourself, and to give a roadmap to seeking alignment with you and your team in mind. We've created an Episode Guide for you to follow along with the conversation, find discussion questions to use with your team, and discover additional resources to help you take your second-chair leadership to the next-level. Download this free resource at leadingsecond.com/podcast

On the creative team at a church, many different areas make a service and a weekend function. Rich and Cass Langton know this all too well. There can be a struggle to ensure there is alignment in the team to make sure the main goal is accomplished, to make Jesus known. Rich and Cass pour out their invaluable knowledge and wisdom in how to lead a creative team, with insights that go far beyond just the creatives in the Church. We've created an Episode Guide for you to follow along with the conversation, find discussion questions to use with your team, and discover additional resources to help you take your second-chair leadership to the next-level. Download this free resource at leadingsecond.com/podcast

There doesn’t have to be a battle over time between ministry and family. They can and should coexist if viewed and prioritized with purpose. Brandon and Dusty Dean, Lead Pastor at Heartland Church in Texas, reflect on their own lives growing up with parents in ministry, how they are approaching their own families, and how our kids can grow to love being a child of someone who is in ministry. We've created an Episode Guide for you to follow along with the conversation, find discussion questions to use with your team, and discover additional resources to help you take your second-chair leadership to the next-level. Download this free resource at leadingsecond.com/podcast.

Alignment is a critical issue for a leader. It’s true that every team member must have an aligned heart, but what if alignment is also an organizational issue? How can someone be aligned if they are unclear of what their authority and role is in the organization? Brandon, Jennifer and Matt Martin from NorthRock Church in San Antonio, TX, and Nick Dekold from Lakeshore Church in Rockwall, TX sit down to discuss how they continue to work to have clarity, alignment, and security for everyone on their team. We've created an Episode Guide for you to follow along with the conversation, find discussion questions to use with your team, and discover additional resources to help you take your second-chair leadership to the next-level. Download this free resource at leadingsecond.com/podcast.

As Second Chair Leaders, we are called to carry the vision of our leaders. But where does the idea of innovation play in the Second Chair? Vance Roush, Founder of Overflow and Executive Pastor at Vive Church in California, brings a fresh viewpoint on how to lead from the Second Chair by being an innovative visionary. We've created an Episode Guide for you to follow along with the conversation, find discussion questions to use with your team, and discover additional resources to help you take your second-chair leadership to the next-level. Download this free resource at leadingsecond.com/podcast.

Every organization has a culture, whether it is by design or by default. When a team is working well together and fully aligned, the momentum towards the mission is unstoppable. Jenni Catron, founder of The 4 Sight Group, joins Brandon and Jennifer Martin, Executive Pastor at NorthRock Church in San Antonio, TX, to talk about the value of culture in an organization. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

Culture is a vital part of why anyone attaches themselves to anything. Establishing and maintaining a strong culture is vital to any church that wants to have a thriving ministry. Brandon is joined by Tracy Keene, Co-Pastor at StrongPoint Church in Columbus, OH, and they sit down with Adi and Claire Olivier, Lead Pastors at Rivers Church Kyalami in South Africa, to talk about ownership, culture, and honor. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

It is so important for each of us to acknowledge that we need to learn from others who have walked and are walking in similar scenarios as we are. Brandon, Nichole Moore from Champion Center in Tacoma, WA, Kyle Heinecke from Fresh Life Church in Kalispell, MT, and Jon Hatto from Hillsong Canada walk us through some questions they have as well as their insight of different situations through their walk in ministry. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

There are many different types of Second Chair Leaders. Different positions, different talents and abilities, and different avenues in which to serve and lead. Giving is not just a Biblical principle, but a very important leadership avenue in the Church. Malachi 3:10 says, "'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.'" Dave Rich joins Brandon and Nichole Moore, Executive Pastor at Champion Centre, to talk about the importance of Legacy Giving for the Church. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

Every leader is on a journey. Throughout the journey, it is important to know where you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going. Scott Riztheimer, founder and CEO of Scale Architects, brings clarity on the stages of Predictable Success as well as some insight into how to walk through the stages of being stuck. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

In ministry, we can get frustrated with people or situations around us. Matt and Jennifer Martin, Executive Pastors at NorthRock Church in San Antonio, TX, provide some invaluable insight, guidance, and entertaining stories to help us see that we aren’t alone in our frustration and how we can thrive in the presence of frustration. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

A dream is a wish your heart makes… but what do you do when the dream in your heart isn’t your reality? Wade Joye, a coach, speaker, podcaster, and author of This Dream Is Not For You, walks us through how to navigate through the reality we are currently in, accept the dreams that have been given to us, and accept when we might be called in a different direction than we thought our dream would go. This Dream Is Not For You is available wherever books are sold - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc, or visit wadejoye.com for more details. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

Being a Second Chair Leader is a sobering position to hold. It takes a confident, humble, and faith-filled person to walk alongside a leader and follow as the leader has called them to do. Manny Arango, a teaching pastor at Social Dallas in Texas and the founder of ARMA, brings an unapologetic perspective on God’s process of refining us to serve Him and His Church.

There’s no perfect formula, but there are some vital areas that must be considered when talking about leadership. Brandon sits down with Kevin Gerald, Founder and Lead Pastor of Champions Centre in Washington State, to discuss our central theme for the year: The Year of the Leader. The need for leaders is all around us. We can’t change what’s happening everywhere, but we can do something where we have been placed.

There have always been and will always be Church critics and when there are stories of any kind of leadership failure in the Church, they will have a feast on it. Brandon sits down with Josh Bingle, Lead Pastor at Genesis Church in Spokane, WA, and Jason Warman, Lead Pastor at CoastLife Church in Venice, FL, for a discussion on how we as the Church can address these areas and be proactive in preventing them. This conversation is spoken out of love for leaders and for the Church with the goal to see every leader walk in the fullness of God’s freedom. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

We’re jumping right into what can sometimes be seen as an uncomfortable conversation about racial unity and the Church. Brandon, Josh Bingle, Lead Pastor at Genesis Church in Spokane, WA, and Jason Warman, Lead Pastor at CoastLife Church in Venice, FL are joined by Monique Duson, President at The Center for Biblical Unity, to discuss colliding kingdoms, to identify what systems are in the world today, and to recognize how to speak to believers about racial issues to bring understanding. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

Brandon, Josh Bingle, Lead Pastor at Genesis Church in Spokane, WA, and Jason Warman, Lead Pastor at CoastLife Church in Venice, FL, jump back into the discussion of the importance of the Church having an understanding and sound ability to communicate its stance on cultural issues. The discussion continues with a challenge in knowing the importance of definitions, being bold to discuss the uncomfortable, and seeking out how to lead in our culture. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

Postmodernism. Critical Theory. Woke Religion. Join us for a deep discussion on how we are called to walk through this new worldview and what our response to today’s culture should look like. Brandon, along with Josh Bingle, Lead Pastor at Genesis Church in Spokane, WA, and Jason Warman, Lead Pastor at CoastLife Church in Venice, FL, dives into a deep discussion on why these conversations matter, understanding wokeness and Critical Theory, and what truth means to culture versus the Church. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

Being “all in” for your pastor and the church is foundational to being a Second Chair Leader. Todd Mullins and Dave Simiele from Christ Fellowship Church in Florida share how being strong in the vision of your lead pastor shapes how you lead others in the pastor’s vision for the church. This discussion calls each Second Chair Leader up to be the leader God has called them to be. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

Everything communicates. To be a strong communicator is to be a strong leader. Omar El-Takrori, the Community Pastor at City Light Church in Las Vegas, NV, brings incredible insight into how we can grow in our communication knowledge and confidence. Brandon, Jesse Rodriguez, the Location Pastor at the Yakima, WA, location for Champion Centre, and Stephanie Blanton, the Central Campus Pastor at Freedom House Church in Charlotte, NC, sit with Omar and discuss the varying aspects of leading through communication. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

John and Dr. Anna Morgan from Word of Life Church in Springfield, VA dive into what it is to be a Second Chair Leader through the eyes of former Second Chair Leaders who are now First Chair Leaders. They bring honest and Biblical truths to how we are called to walk out what God has called us to do. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

Brandon, Joshua Bingle, Lead Pastor at Genesis Church in Spokane, WA, and Kyle Heinecke, Campus Pastor at Fresh Life Church in Kalispell, MT sit down with Nathan Finochio to discuss walking in your calling while still serving under your leader. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

Brandon spends some time with Levi Lusko, founder and lead pastor of Fresh Life Church, discussing several topics to help Second Chair Leaders understand some aspects of leadership and ministry that lead pastors wished their team knew. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

Brandon and Lindsay Stewart take us through their thoughts on family, peer relationships, nonnegotiables, and ways to renew. Dillon Ritchie from CoastLife Church in Venice, FL, facilitates the discussions of different aspects of ministry and how the Leading Second leaders walk through the varying aspects of ministry. Joining the panel are Matt and Jennifer Martin from NorthRock Church in San Antonio, TX, and Jon Hatto from Hillsong Church in Toronto, Canada. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

Pastor Lee Wilson, the founder of Lee Wilson Ministries, fires us up about God’s vision for our lives. With the help of Pastor Tracy Keene from StrongPoint Church in Columbus, OH, and Dillon Ritchie from CoastLife Church in Venice, FL, Brandon dives into what it looks like to manage the tensions between the vision we serve under and the vision we are carrying. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

In this episode, Brandon sits down with Temi Pope, the Senior Executive Pastor at Union Church, and breaks down how she works to stay in tune and stand in for her pastors. Through practical examples, Temi and Brandon walk through how to stand in for your pastor to help move the mission of the Church forward.

We’re back with another installment of our conversation with Les McKeown. He is the President and CEO of Predictable Success and a consultant to companies and many different levels. In the Last episode, we talked about moving from a start-up to a scaling phase in your organization. Jennifer Martin from NorthRock Church in San Antonio, TX, joins us once again as we talk more about scaling, what Les calls Predictable Success, and what it will require of you. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

In this episode, we are talking with Les McKeown, the President and CEO of Predictable Success. In his consulting work, he works with CEOs, Fortune 500 companies, and down on how to achieve scaleable and sustainable growth in an organization. He’s the author of four books, and he leads an organization of consultants. With the help of Jennifer Martin from NorthRock Church in San Antonio, TX, we will hear some brilliant wisdom about moving from start-up to scaling. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

There’s a tension in being under authority while also being called to lead others. Culture can pull at us to see the authority we are led by as “the problem” rather than the sin we each possess. Joshua Bingle, Lead Pastor at Genesis Church in Spokane, WA, and Michael Whittle, Pastor at C3LA in Los Angeles and founder of Vast Media, bring some critical insight into how we are called to see and honor the leaders and authority figures God has placed over us. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

Nate Puccini, the Executive Pastor at Substance Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, discussed his walk to returning to the Church, his views on serving, and how to focus your life to see God and your pastor. Through his story, the relationship between Jonathan and David, and some real talk about walking out the call on our lives, we get to learn how to refocus our perspective on serving and leading. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

The Year of the Leader is here. Welcome to Season 6 of the Leading Second Podcast. On this season opening episode, Brandon sits down with Larry Brey (Elevation Church) to talk through leadership development. They dive deep into how to be intentional in your development as a leader and how important it is to have people in your life to help you walk out what you learn. Find the episode guides at leadingsecond.com/podcast

We begin 2023 with the honor of hearing from three strong, wise, and insightful Second Chair Leaders. We’re joined by Kyle Heinecke, Campus Pastor at Fresh Life Church, Kalispell, MT; Jennifer Martin, Executive Pastor of Ministries at NorthRock Church in San Antonio, TX; and Dillon Ritchie, Ministry Executive Director at CoastLife Church in Venice, FL. This is the Year of the Leader at Leading Second and today we are focusing on how to be strong leaders and how to develop strong leaders around us.

In what has become a bit of a tradition for the Leading Second Podcast, we are closing out our season with one last conversation at the end of the year in hopes of fueling the start of your next year! Few topics are more important to Lindsay and me than family and ministry. Getting this wrong is one of the quickest ways to be taken out, so we wanted to break down some of our top rhythms for this.

“Why we should have left, why we choose to stay.” That is in Natalie Runion’s Instagram bio, and that is what her heart is for any time you hear her speak or, more likely, read the words she has written. You probably know her as “Raised to Stay,” but she started with a passion for seeing people go the distance in ministry. She joins me to have a conversation about church hurt.

For this conversation, I have the pleasure of talking with Jonathan Moore, Matt Martin, and Jennifer Martin from NorthRock Church in San Antonio, Texas. They’ve all been together for over ten years now, and longevity in ministry and leadership is one of the most impressive things to me. So the big idea of the conversation is simple. Why did you stay?

It’s our final conversation in this series of things that will take you out of ministry, and we’re back with the team from The Well in Salt Lake City. We are called to be good stewards of what we’ve been given. With the help of Jason Parrish, Seth Freeman, and Kaisa Freeman, we talk through how we can do that and unlock some things in our leadership and ministry with core competencies.

The longer you’re in ministry, the higher the chance you’ll face some things that could take you out. But knowing what they are can make all the difference in how you respond when they do come. This conversation is with Jason Parrish, Seth Freeman, and Kaisa Freeman from The Well in Salt Lake City, Utah. We’re talking about doctrinal and theological congruence. Those are some big words with a big impact on the foundation of our lives and our alignment with our church.

Spend enough time in ministry, and you will face some things that have the potential to take you out of leadership and ministry altogether. Jason Warman and Trevor and Laydi Ritchie from CoastLife Church join us again. This time we shift our focus and have a needed conversation on character identity and formation.

The title of this conversation and series may sound strong, but it should. If you spend enough time in ministry, you will face things that have the potential to take you out of leadership and ministry altogether. Jason Warman, Trevor Ritchie, and Laydi Ritchie from CoastLife Church join us to focus on cultural alignment and congruence.

This conversation is a continuation of the conversation we had with our Lead Pastor panel last week, but this time is with second chair leaders from those same churches! Dave and Sarah Nelson from The Well, Girly Gordon from The Movement OC, and Jeff Hanson from One Place Church chase down the same big idea that their pastors did. "The better the relationship between the first and second chair, the more aligned our teams will be and the healthier our churches will be."

For this conversation, I am sitting down with a group of lead pastors as they give us a unique perspective into the head and heart of our own pastors. Jason Parrish from The Well, Carey & Meghan Robinson from The Movement OC, and Pace Hartfield from One Place Church, join me. We discuss the idea that the better the relationship between the first and second chair, the more aligned our teams will be and the healthier our churches will be.

In the spirit of opening registration for Camp, this conversation is with our great friend Larry Brey. He is the unofficial cohost for our event and his voice has been a pillar of this tribe. Today we are talking about developing a leadership culture. What is culture, where does it come from, and how do we multiply it? We’re tackling all of that today.

We are joined by James Crocker and Michael Whittle, from C3 Los Angeles. The conversation gets a little spicy, talking about Godly authority, submission, and how to get it right. They share some great wisdom on the topic and give a beautiful picture of what biblical submission under authority looks like in our lives and talk about the benefits that come with it.