Engage Church Network

Most pastors don't burn out because they work hard. They burn out because they believe the ministry depends on them. Mike Glenn sits down with Matt Pearson, Senior Pastor of ClearView Baptist Church, to explore how learning to truly know his people transformed the way he leads, preaches, and develops leaders. Together they discuss why the pastor's primary role isn't to do all the mi...

Most pastoral transitions fail because the outgoing leader never truly let go and the incoming leader never truly prepared. Sam Landrith spent more than a year working alongside his predecessor before stepping into the lead role at Thompson Station Church -- and the church barely felt the change. Mike Glenn talks with Sam about what it actually takes to raise up leaders instead of volunteers, why...

What happens when both people in a marriage are called to lead? Greg and Susan Jones have spent decades building something most ministry couples never figure out: a genuine partnership where complementary gifts multiply the work instead of dividing it. Mike Glenn sits down with the President and First Lady of Belmont University to talk about shared leadership, what the next generation is actually...

Excellence in ministry and excellence in craft don't have to compete. Composer and conductor David Hamilton has spent three decades serving his local church while writing for Disney, Broadway, and Dolly Parton's touring show. Mike Glenn talks with him about what it looks like to bring your full gifting into both the professional world and the local body -- and why the church is better wh...

In this episode, Mike Glenn sits down with Adam Comer and Sarah Keel from S2L Recovery to discuss why Christ-centered addiction recovery works differently than secular approaches. They challenge the brain disease model, discuss identity in Christ versus identifying as "an addict," and explore how the church can reclaim its role in recovery ministry.

Thirty-one years of neighborhood ministry has taught David Jordan one thing: the church has to go where people are, not wait for people to come. Mike Glenn talks with the CEO of Agape Memphis about embedding ministry in communities, the complexity of poverty, and what long-term commitment actually looks like on the ground.

Large group teaching has its place. But transformation? That happens one relationship at a time. Mike Glenn and Dave Bachman from Campus Navigators dig into why Gen Z is spiritually hungry but institutionally skeptical -- and how personal discipleship becomes the bridge that programs alone can never build.

Business leaders are some of the most underutilized ministry assets in any congregation. Mike Glenn talks with C12 Chairman Dewey Greene about his journey from corporate success to spiritual calling -- and how pastors can help marketplace leaders discover that their work isn't separate from ministry. It is ministry.

Where do people spend 90,000 hours of their lives? At work. Mike Glenn sits down with Matthew Yates from Corporate Chaplains of America to challenge the assumption that church ministry and the corporate world operate in separate silos -- and why solving that divide may be one of the most important things a pastor can do right now.

In this episode, Mike Glenn sits down with Jamie Heard, founder of Faithfully Restored, to explore how profound loss became the foundation for ministry that reaches hundreds of grieving women across the country. Jamie shares her journey through losing her father to suicide and her son William at age two, and how community showed up in ways that revealed what the body of Christ truly looks like.

In this episode, Mike Glenn sits down with Wayne Howell and Jeffrey Caruth from Franktown Open Hearts, a ministry that started with one man's obedience in a deer stand 29 years ago. Wayne shares how God called him from disobedience to serve kids in Franklin, Tennessee, while Jeffrey explains why successful businessmen are stepping into this work.

In this episode, Mike Glenn sits down with Curt Campbell of Men of Valor to talk about the power of discipleship, mentorship, and second chances. Curt shares how Men of Valor walks with men during and after incarceration, helping them rebuild their lives through structure, community, and faith. This conversation goes beyond prison ministry and explores what real transformation looks like when peop...

Scott Harris joins Mike Glenn for a conversation about why the mission of the Church cannot be confined to a building. Drawing from decades of ministry leadership and his work with Mission Increase, Scott shares why churches must learn to release people into ministry beyond the four walls and recognize that Kingdom work often happens in businesses, nonprofits, and communities around the world. As...

In this episode, Mike Glenn sits down with Miles Terry, managing partner of Gideon Law Group, to unpack why many churches struggle not because they aren’t growing, but because they aren’t prepared for growth. From outdated bylaws to unclear leadership and lack of accountability, Miles explains how internal misalignment often creates the very problems churches fear most.

Elliott Cherry, pastor of Midtown Fellowship in Nashville, joins the conversation to explore what it means to follow the real Jesus in a culture that often prefers a convenient, life-hack version of faith. Drawing from his experience leading a diverse, “purple” church in the heart of a rapidly changing city, Elliott unpacks the tension between cultural Christianity and true discipleship, the chall...

Catechisms have been used for centuries to help Christians clearly understand and articulate the core truths of the faith. In this conversation, Mike Glenn sits down with author and editor Trevin Wax to explore what a catechism is, why it has played such an important role in Christian formation throughout church history, and why it may be especially valuable in today’s cultural moment. They discus...

 Mike Glenn sits down with Sandy Hamilton for a conversation about calling, spiritual gifts, and the growing role of coaching in the life of the church. Sandy shares how a season of prayer and reflection after raising her children led her to discover her gift of discernment and ultimately to a new calling helping others navigate life and faith through coaching. Together they discuss how God uses b...

Mike Glenn sits down with singer, songwriter, and speaker Matt Hammitt for a candid conversation about fatherhood, presence, and what it really means to lead at home. Matt shares the story behind his hit song “Lead Me,” the unexpected success that followed, and the moment he realized his calling as a husband and father required a different kind of decision. Together they explore the pressure many...

What do you do when you see a problem in your city? In this episode of the Engage Church Network Podcast, Mike Glenn sits down with Palmer Williams—attorney, founder of The King’s Academy, and a natural convener—to explore how ordinary believers can move from concern to action. From her childhood spinal cord injury to her work with vulnerable children and launching a socioeconomically diverse Chri...

This Week Mike Glenn sits down with licensed pastoral therapist Chris O’Rear to talk about a topic most leaders don’t realise they’re starving for: therapeutic friendship. The kind of soul-level relationship that brings healing, grounding, and real connection in a world marked by isolation. Chris explains why we all need one or two close friends outside of our spouse, and how the right friendships...

Ian Simpkins joins Mike Glenn to talk about what it looks like to lead a local church with a missionary mindset, where discipleship isn’t something you attend once a week, but you live at every “table” God places in front of you. Ian shares the surprising story of how he moved from a thriving ministry in Chicago to The Bridge Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee, and why the people, marked by humility...

What if burnout isn’t working too much,but working outside the way God wired you? In this episode, Mike Glenn is joined by Patrick Lencioni to talk Working Genius, church staffing, volunteers, accountability, and why healthy churches require clear expectations, courageous conversations, and leaders who embrace the gifts they don’t have. Learn how to build a healthier team culture without sacrifici...

As we step into a new year, the Shepherds Without Sheep panel sits down to talk honestly about ministry, momentum, and the soul work pastors often avoid. From navigating post-Christmas exhaustion to rethinking what truly matters in January, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how seasoned pastors approach the start of a new year with wisdom. They share what decades of ministry have taught...

In this Christmas episode of the ECN Podcast, Shepherds Without Sheep, a panel of seasoned pastors talk honestly about ministry during the holidays-the scars, the joy, and the lessons learned along the way. With humor and humility, they share stories from decades of preaching Christmas and discovering that trusting the Word matters far more than big productions. They dive into the Christmas story...

We’ve had a great year with ECN and some incredible guests. We’re bringing you a special Best of ECN collection featuring some of the most impactful conversations of the year. From leadership to spiritual formation to navigating real-life challenges with wisdom, these moments represent the heart of why ECN exists: to strengthen pastors, encourage leaders, and build healthier churches. This episode...