Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast: Equipping the Whole Church Staff for Gospel Impact

In this episode, Brandon Hays sits down with Jay Strother, senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist, to talk about something every preacher wrestles with: how far ahead to plan a sermon calendar. Jay walks through why Brentwood Baptist plans its preaching 12 to 14 months out, starting with Easter as the anchor point, and how a team of pastors gathers for a planning retreat that includes prayer, an hones...

Every preacher starts by sounding like someone else. The slow, winding work of ministry is learning to sound like yourself. In this episode, Brandon Hayes sits down with David Hannah to talk about finding your voice in the pulpit and why that work is about far more than communication style. David brings an unusual path to preaching, from preacher's kid to attorney to Bible teacher to pastor, a...

What does it really look like to help someone move from sitting in the pew to serving the body? In this episode, Stephanie Prince sits down with Michelle Dyer to talk about identifying gifts and helping people use them well in the life of the church. Michelle makes the case that calling is terrain we have to tread, and that church leaders owe their people more than a vague encouragement to "g...

Membership has a branding problem. For a lot of people, the word sounds like a gym contract or a warehouse club card, something transactional you sign up for and forget. In this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Stephanie Prince sits down with Michelle Dyer to reclaim what church membership was always meant to be: a family you belong to, a mission you commit to, and a body you c...

On this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Stephanie Prince sits down with Shannon Moore to discuss one of the most important challenges churches face: helping people move from being first-time guests to fully engaged members of the church family. While many churches focus heavily on first impressions, Shannon explains why hospitality is only the beginning. Healthy churches creat...

On this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Stephanie Prince is joined by Kiefer Johnson to talk about first impressions, hospitality, and what it really means to create a welcoming church environment. From parking lots and signage to remembering someone’s name, this conversation explores the small details that often make the biggest impact. Together, they unpack how intentional h...

On this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Bill Ferrell is joined by Jay Fennel for an honest conversation about one of the hardest parts of leadership: difficult conversations. From team tension and staff conflict to emotional meetings and misunderstood intentions, they unpack practical ways leaders can pursue clarity, care, and resolution without avoiding the issue or damaging...

Register now for the  Elevate Church Conference  on September 21–22, 2026.On this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Bill Ferrell is joined by Brian Coates to discuss one of the most overlooked leadership tools: your calendar. Together, they unpack how a leader’s schedule reveals priorities, shapes team culture, and impacts long-term health. From protecting white space for strate...

One-on-ones are not just meetings. They are one of the most important rhythms a leader can build. In this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Bill Ferrell sits down with Darrel Girardier to unpack why one-on-ones are essential for building trust, developing people, and creating healthy teams. They discuss how to structure one-on-ones, what questions actually lead to growth, and ho...

Healthy teams don’t grow through annual reviews alone. They grow through consistent, honest, and relational feedback. In this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Bill Ferrell sits down with Brandon Hayes to discuss what it takes to build a culture where feedback is normal, helpful, and rooted in care. They unpack why leaders often avoid feedback, how to build trust with your team,...

Healthy churches do not happen by accident. In this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Brian Coates sits down with Fady Al-Hagal to talk about what church health really looks like and why multiplication begins with healthy leadership, healthy culture, and healthy disciple-making rhythms. Together, they unpack common warning signs of decline, false indicators of success, and pract...

Across Middle Tennessee, God is moving. Churches are navigating cultural shifts, leadership gaps, and changing communities—but they’re also seeing incredible opportunities for multiplication and renewal. In this conversation, we explore what’s encouraging, what’s challenging, and what it looks like to build a kingdom-first mindset across our region. In this episode, you’ll learn: What’s encouragin...

On this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Brian Coates is joined by Aaron Bryant to talk about one of the clearest markers of a healthy church: sending your best leaders, not holding onto them. Together, they unpack the tension every leader feels: wanting to keep strong, capable people while knowing the mission calls us to release them. This conversation is part of our multiplic...

Every church wants to be faithful to where God has placed them. But sometimes, faithfulness looks like partnership. In this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Brian Coates and Aaron Bryant talk through when church mergers actually make sense, and when they don’t. This is not about growth for growth’s sake. It’s about discerning where God is at work and how churches can come along...

Leadership development does not happen by accident. In this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Mack Burns is joined by Nick Gonzales to talk about developing the next generation of worship leaders. They walk through a simple framework (detect, develop, deploy) and unpack what it looks like to identify servant-hearted leaders, slow down the process, and build pathways that form sh...

On this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Mack Burns is joined by Luke Roman from The Church at Station Hill for an honest and practical conversation about what it means to shepherd a worship team. Together they explore the rhythms, responsibilities, and spiritual priorities that shape healthy worship ministries. From tending to burnout and protecting team culture to redefining...

A healthy worship team should reflect the body of Christ. In this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Mack Burns and Travis Cottrell talk about what it takes to lead a truly multi-generational worship team. From song selection and vocal ranges to platform representation and relational equity, they explore how to bridge generational differences without falling into people-pleasing....

Worship ministry is more than music. It is people. In this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Mack Burns sits down with Travis Cottrell to discuss what it takes to lead a worship team with a healthy culture, clear communication, and genuine care for the people behind the platform. Travis shares simple, foundational markers of a healthy team, how to set vision and priorities (like...

Communications is where vision meets execution. And without a system, things get chaotic fast. In this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, we walk through the project management stack that helps our communications team serve nine campuses with clarity, consistency, and healthy margin. We break down our full process, from a single intake form called the Commreq to project build-out...

Register Now for the Elevate Conference | September 9 elevatechurchconference.com On this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Dillon Sherlock is joined by Mallory, Senior Graphic Designer at Brentwood Baptist Church, to talk about what church branding really means. This conversation goes beyond logos and colors. It explores how clarity around mission shapes visuals, messaging, pho...

Social media can feel overwhelming, especially for small and mid-sized churches with limited time, staff, and resources. In this episode of the  Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast , Dillon Sherlock is joined by Kat Howard and Laila Al-Hagal to talk honestly about what a healthy, sustainable church social media strategy actually looks like. Rather than chasing trends or overproducing content, thi...

How can churches move beyond polished performances to create worship gatherings where people truly encounter God’s presence? In this episode of the  Elevate Podcast , Wade Owens, Nic Gonzales, and Charley Lowry share practical insights on building a responsive worship culture. From unity with pastors to song selection, prayerful preparation, and creating space for the Spirit, you’ll hear real stor...

The “giving moment” isn’t a throwaway transition—it’s a weekly chance to  disciple your church . In this episode,  Madi Wuebben  talks with Stewardship Minister  Ken Schafer  and Pastor  David Hannah  about planning the moment, delivering it with excellence, and keeping its purpose centered on spiritual formation. You’ll learn how to invite first-time givers, encourage consistency, avoid announcem...

What makes Sunday worship more than just a service? In this episode of the  Elevate Podcast , Ashton Burgos, Jay Strother, and Travis Cottrell explore how churches can plan Spirit-led, strategic gatherings that form disciples over time. From choosing songs to creating space for prayer and collaboration, they share practical insights and stories to help your church make the most of its weekly worsh...

In this episode, Jay Strother and Aaron Bryant unpack the impact of preaching through the entire Bible in one year across all nine campuses of Brentwood Baptist. From planning and unifying the teaching team to watching spiritual maturity take root in the congregation, they share lessons learned, powerful moments, and encouragement for any church leader considering a similar journey.