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

Aligning your church around a clear mission and vision isn’t optional—it’s essential for healthy growth and unified leadership. In this episode of the Elevate Podcast, host Brian Coates is joined by Bill Ferrell and John Joseph to discuss what effective church vision alignment looks like in a multi-campus ministry context. Together, they unpack why mission and vision matter beyond buzzwords—and ho...

Hiring the right people for your church staff is about more than filling a role—it’s about building a healthy, mission-driven team. In this episode of the Elevate Podcast, Darrel Girardier is joined by Michele Dyer and Bill Ferrell to unpack what church leaders need to know about hiring well. From red flags and personality assessments to interview tips and culture fit, this conversation offers pra...

Feeling discouraged in ministry?       Aaron Bryant: Campus and Teaching Pastor at The Church at Avenue South Jay Strother: Senior Pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church 2 Corinthians 11 – The daily pressure of leading the churches Ephesians 4 – Gifts in the body for building up the body of Christ 1 Corinthians 12 – Gifts and talents given to the church Galatians 5:9 – Not growing weary in doing good...

Do you want more volunteers—or better ones?       Stephanie Prince : Connection Minister, The Church at Station Hill Todd Bishop : Executive Pastor, North Region, Brentwood Baptist Adam Dye : Production Director, Brentwood Baptist Ephesians 4:11–13  – Equipping the saints for the work of ministry 1 Peter 4:10–11  – Using our gifts to serve one another     In this episode, Stephanie Prince is joine...

Do you know how to spot the next generation of leaders in your church—and equip them to step up?         Hunter Melton: Campus & Teaching Pastor, The Church at Woodbine Roger Severino: Minister of Leadership Development, Brentwood Baptist Matt Purdom: Executive Pastor, South Region, Brentwood Baptist   The Multiplication Effect  by Mac Lake The Ideal Team Player  by Patrick Lencioni Ministry R...

Is your team burned out by doing ministry  for  people instead of  with  people?         Hunter Melton : Campus & Teaching Pastor, The Church at Woodbine John Joseph : Campus & Teaching Pastor, The Church at Station Hill Garrett Gregory : Care & Campus Pastor, Brentwood Baptist     Valley of Vision  (Puritan Prayers) The Bruised Reed  by Richard Sibbes The Trellis and the Vine  by Coli...

Is your church healthy—or just busy? What if Sunday attendance wasn’t the only way to measure church health? In this episode, Elevate host Aaron Bryant sits down with Fady Al-Hagal to unpack how healthy churches multiply disciples, not just programs. Drawing from years of ministry and regional church partnerships, they offer a fresh framework for evaluating success, leading with the Spirit, and bu...

Can a sermon be both theologically rich  and  crystal clear?         Brandon Abbott: Host, Groups Minister at Brentwood Baptist Jay Strother: Senior Pastor, Brentwood Baptist Church Brandon Hayes: Campus Pastor, Harpeth Heights   00:00 – Why this conversation matters 03:00 – Learning your people and their needs 06:45 – “Exegete the text—and the congregation” 10:00 – Gospel clarity in every sermon...

Is your student ministry just taking trips—or forming missionaries?       Evan Kunz: Brentwood Baptist Student Minister Amy-Jo Girardier: Brentwood Baptist Women's Minister, former Girls & Student Mission Mobilizer at Brentwood Baptist Mac Johnson: Global Worker/Pastor at The Point Church, former Student Minister at Brentwood Baptist    Acts 18  and the “Here, There, Everywhere” strategy T...

Is your church ready to talk about leadership succession?           Preaching in a Post-Truth World  by Dr. Mike Glenn Engage Church Network Brentwood Baptist Church   In this episode, Elevate host Darrel Girardier sits down with Dr. Mike Glenn (Executive Director, Engaged Church Network and former Senior Pastor of Brentwood Baptist church) and Dr. Jay Strother (Senior Pastor, Brentwood Baptist) t...

In this episode, Elevate host Ellie Axford (Special Needs Ministry Director) sits down with Carley Ellis (Special Needs Programming Director) to share how Embrace Special Needs Ministry began, what it looks like today, and why inclusion isn't just for a few—it's essential for the whole church. They share practical steps for churches of any size, advice for new volunteers, and honest storie...

What if leading a team wasn’t a tension to manage—but a calling to steward?       In this episode, Elevate host Bill Ferrell (Executive Pastor of Central Support) sits down with Brian Coates (Executive Pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church) to talk about one of the biggest challenges in church leadership: learning to lead both as a shepherd and a supervisor. From managing team chemistry to navigating...

What if your church’s membership process wasn’t just paperwork and classes—but the start of real discipleship? In this episode,  Elevate  host and Connections Minister Michele Dyer (Connection Minister at  Brentwood Baptist ) sits down with Hadden Finch (Membership Minister,  Brentwood Baptist ) and Stephanie Prince (Connection Minister,  Station Hill ) to talk about building healthy connection mi...

Register Now for the Elevate Conference on September 9, 2025 Join us in Nashville, TN, for a one-day event designed to equip church leaders with practical strategies for sustainable ministry. Learn more at elevatechurchconference.com. On this episode of the Elevate Podcast, host Nic Gonzales (Worship Minister at The Church at Avenue South) is joined by Travis Cottrell (Worship Minister at Brentwoo...

↗️  Register Now for the Elevate Conference on September 9, 2025 Join us in Nashville, TN, for a one-day event designed to equip church leaders with practical strategies for sustainable ministry. Learn more at  https://elevatechurchconference.com/ .  On this episode of the Elevate Podcast, Amy-Jo Girardier sits down with Oksana Field to discuss how to build women’s ministries rooted in discipleshi...

On this episode of the Elevate Podcast, Renee Blain hosts a conversation with Todd Villemont and Amy Keys about ministry to preschoolers and their families. The early years of parenting represent both a critical spiritual formation window and a time when many adults are most open to faith conversations. These ministry leaders explore how churches can seize this pivotal moment—when families are est...

On this episode of the Elevate Podcast, Darrel Girardier and Madi Wuebben tackle one of the most disruptive and promising forces in modern ministry—AI. From writing emails and managing calendars to sermon prep and pastoral care, they explore how church leaders can use AI tools with wisdom, clarity, and discernment. Together, they break down fears around job security, ethical boundaries, and the th...

Register Now for the Elevate Conference on September 9, 2025 at  https://elevatechurchconference.com/ . On this episode of the Elevate Podcast, Truett Ross hosts a conversation with Alec Beard and Amy- Jo Girardier about one of the most critical aspects of church leadership: developing healthy group leaders who can multiply your ministry's impact. Drawing from decades of combined experience, t...

Register Now ↗️ for the Elevate Conference on September 9, 2025 at  https://elevatechurchconference.com/ . On this episode of the Elevate Podcast, Brian Coates sits down with Todd Bishop and Link Taylor to talk about what it takes to create safe ministry spaces. From church security systems to volunteer training and child protection protocols, they share how a strong safety culture isn’t just smar...

↗️ Register now for the Elevate Conference on September 9, 2025 at  https://elevatechurchconference.com/ On this episode of the Elevate Podcast, Keith Holloway hosts a conversation with David Hannah, Campus and Teaching Pastor at the Church at Lockeland Springs, and Danielle Schneider, global worker serving with Living Hope and Children's Director at King of Kings in South Africa. Together, they e...

↗️ Register Now for the Elevate Conference on September 9, 2025. On this episode of the Elevate Podcast, Matt Pearson is joined by John Joseph to discuss the dynamics of preaching within a multi-campus church. They explore how to maintain authenticity, balance individual preaching styles with collaborative sermon planning, and discern when to pivot based on the unique needs of each congregation. M...

Episode Overview In this episode of the Elevate Podcast , host Brandon Abbott sits down with pastors Brandon Hays and Hunter Melton to discuss the challenges and rewards of church revitalization. They share their experiences stepping into historic congregations, building trust with legacy members, and casting vision for a renewed future. Whether you’re leading a church merger, navigating revitaliz...

On this episode of the Elevate Podcast , Taylor Johnson is joined by Alex Rose and Lauren Denton to discuss why kids' discipleship is essential in the church today. They explore the role of parents, the church, and practical strategies for equipping children to live out the Great Commission. Meet the Speakers: Taylor Johnson – Next Gen Minister at T he Church at Station Hill , passionate about eng...

In this episode of the  Elevate Podcast , host  Jay Fennell  welcomes  Shannon Moore  and  Matt Purdom  to explore the role of  on-campus and off-campus small groups  in discipleship. They discuss the  strengths and challenges  of both models, how to build  authentic community , and practical strategies for  group multiplication . Whether you're a church leader or small group facilitator, this...

Register Now for the Elevate Conference on September 9, 2025 On this episode of the Elevate Podcast, Darrel Girardier is joined by Madi Wuebben and Dillon Sherlock to unpack how churches can structure communications for maximum impact with limited resources. Whether you’re a solo comms director or part of a large team, this conversation offers practical strategies for prioritization, managing requ...