FrontStage BackStage with Jason Daye - Healthy Leadership for Life and Ministry

In this highlight from our longer conversation with Andy Crouch (which can be found here: Flourishing in Ministry: Taking Action & Taking Risks - Andy Crouch - 125 - FrontStage BackStage , we explore what happens when suffering feels unmanageable and why so many leaders respond by pulling back, disengaging, or shutting down. Andy introduces his framework of authority and vulnerability, explain...

Top of 2025 // One of Our Most Engaged Episodes of 2025 How can the Church live out the hope of heaven on earth? N.T. Wright joins Jason Daye to explore the powerful, unifying vision of Ephesians and what it means for ministry and life today. How can the Church embody biblical unity in a divided world and reflect heaven on earth by participating in God’s redemptive plan? In this episode of FrontSt...

Top of 2025 // One of Our Most Engaged Episodes of 2025 In our world, emotional distress seems to be increasing. So, can we integrate biblical principles, evidence-based insights from psychology, and spiritual practices to help us master our emotions rather than allowing our emotions to master us? In this week's conversation on FrontStage BackStage, host Jason Daye is joined by Dr. Kevin Chap...

Top of 2025 // One of Our Most Engaged Episodes of 2025 How has instant access to an overabundance of information impacted the way we experience Jesus, and what can we do about it? In this week's conversation on FrontStage BackStage, host Jason Daye welcomes John Eldredge back to the show. John is a New York Times best-selling author, counselor, and president of Wild At Heart, a ministry dedi...

Top of 2025 // One of Our Most Engaged Episodes of 2025 There’s a subtle trap in ministry leadership that many pastors fall into—without even realizing it. In this episode, Jason Daye sits down with Nicole Massie Martin, Chief Impact Officer at Christianity Today, to explore the unseen pressures that can distort your leadership, whether it shows up as insecurity, performance-driven ministry, or qu...

Learning to ask better questions can deepen your relationships, strengthen your leadership, and draw you closer to God. Discover how curiosity and humility can transform the way you lead and live. What happens when we learn to ask better questions? How might that shape our leadership, our relationships, and even our walk with God? In this episode of FrontStage BackStage , host Jason Daye sits down...

Are your thoughts shaping your life? Max Lucado shares three biblical and brain-based tools to help you tame your thoughts, renew your mind, and live with peace in Christ. How do we tame our thoughts and renew our minds to experience lasting peace and transformation? In this episode of FrontStage BackStage , host Jason Daye sits down with Max Lucado, pastor and America’s bestselling inspirational...

What does true, biblical empathy look like for ministry leaders today? Bill and Kristi Gaultiere join Jason Daye to explore how empathy transforms trust, leadership, and our understanding of God’s love. What does true, biblical empathy look like, and why is it essential for spiritual and emotional health in ministry? In this episode of FrontStage BackStage , host Jason Daye sits down with Bill and...

What does it take to finish well in ministry, and how can leaders guard against subtle drift that pulls them off course? In this episode of FrontStage BackStage , host Jason Daye sits down with Peter Greer, president and CEO of HOPE International and author of How Leaders Lose Their Way. Together, they discuss how personal drift often begins quietly, much like mission drift in organizations, and w...

What happens when the pain of an unwanted divorce collides with the calling of ministry leadership?  In this episode of FrontStage BackStage, host Jason Daye talks with Lysa TerKeurst, president and chief visionary officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries and New York Times best-selling author, and Joel Muddamalle, director of theology and research at Proverbs 31 Ministries. Together, they co-host the Th...

How can the Church live out the hope of heaven on earth? N.T. Wright joins Jason Daye to explore the powerful, unifying vision of Ephesians and what it means for ministry and life today. How can the Church embody biblical unity in a divided world and reflect heaven on earth by participating in God’s redemptive plan? In this episode of FrontStage BackStage, host Jason Daye welcomes Dr. N. T. Wright...

Ministry was never meant to be a solo act. In this episode of FrontStage BackStage , host Jason Daye sits down with E.K. Strawser—co-vocational pastor, community physician, founder of the ’Iwa Collaborative, and author of You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone . Together they explore the power of shared leadership in ministry, drawing from Ephesians 4 and the APEST model (apostle, prophet, evangelist,...

What is spiritual authority—and how can it be distinguished from control or abuse? In this episode of FrontStage BackStage , host Jason Daye sits down with Jason Jensen, Vice President of Spiritual Foundations for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA and author of Formed to Lead . Together, they explore a faithful, Christ-centered vision of leadership that relies on the Holy Spirit’s formation. T...

What is Gen Z really asking about God? In this episode of FrontStage BackStage , Jason Daye sits down with Tanita Maddox, national director of generational impact for Young Life and author of What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God . Together, they dive into the surprising questions and spiritual longings shaping Gen Z today. They highlight how the Church can respond with honesty, humility, and...

What if being a small church isn’t a weakness, but a strength? In this episode of FrontStage BackStage , host Jason Daye talks with Brandon O’Brien, director of global thought leadership for Redeemer City to City and author of The Strategically Small Church . Together, they explore how the typical size of most churches, which may be smaller than you think, connects with the story of the early chur...

What helps make a church truly healthy? According to recent disciple-making research, one of the clearest signs of church health is how believers are multiplying disciple-makers. In this encouraging conversation, theologian, author, and Navigators leader Alice Matagora joins Jason Daye to unpack the latest research on disciple-making in the US and what it means for pastors and ministry leaders tod...

What does it take to serve faithfully in ministry for the long haul? In this episode of FrontStage BackStage, PastorServe CEO and best-selling author Jimmy Dodd joins us for a vital conversation about protecting your ministry integrity and steering clear of the failures that have derailed too many in ministry. This is a hope-filled and practical guide for pastors and ministry leaders who want to f...

Conflict is inevitable in ministry—but it doesn’t have to divide us. In this conversation, theologian, conflict mediator, and best-selling author Ann Garrido helps us see conflict through a redemptive lens. We explore how disagreements can be a blessing, a sign of God’s diverse design, and an opportunity for deeper unity. You’ll discover: How to transform conflict into a fruitful exchange rather t...

What if one of the most overlooked paths for healthy ministry leadership… is confession? In this episode, pastor and author Mandy Smith invites us to consider how spiritual confession—far from being a weakness—can actually unlock depth, clarity, and power in our ministry leadership. Together, we explore how recognizing our often overlooked leanings toward self-sufficiency opens the door to greater...

What if the people around you are more open to spiritual conversations than you assume? In this episode, we sit down with author and cultural analyst Mark Matlock to explore the growing spiritual curiosity in today’s world—and what that means for ministry leaders, churches, and everyday Christ-followers. We discuss: Surprising trends in spiritual openness across generations Why assumptions about a...

Ministry leadership doesn’t have to be lonely. In this episode, we explore the surprising value of peer groups for ministry leaders—why they matter, how they work, and how they can be a game-changer for long-term health and impact. In this episode, you’ll hear from Jason Daye and Jim Marvine as they share personal stories and practical insights on: The power of shared wisdom and mutual support Why...

Church revitalization doesn’t start with a new vision statement—it starts with discerning where God is already at work. In this episode, pastor and missional strategist Josh Hayden invites us into a thoughtful, long-term approach to renewing the local church, one rooted not in quick fixes or top-down programs, but in humility, discernment, and faithful presence. Josh introduces the idea of “remiss...

There’s a subtle trap in ministry leadership that many pastors fall into—without even realizing it. In this episode, Jason Daye sits down with Nicole Massie Martin, Chief Impact Officer at Christianity Today, to explore the unseen pressures that can distort your leadership, whether it shows up as insecurity, performance-driven ministry, or quiet pride. You’ll discover: Two extremes that distort he...

Are you stepping into a new season of ministry? Whether you're leaving a long-term role, joining a new church, or sensing a shift in your calling, this episode offers honest insight and practical guidance to help you navigate your transition with clarity, confidence, and faith. Host Jason Daye is joined by longtime pastor Steve Bezner. Join us as we explore: How to recognize when a ministry s...

Feeling constantly distracted by your phone? Struggling to stay focused in ministry? You're not alone. In this episode, host Jason Daye is joined by Reclaimwell co-founder, Joey Odom, to explore how digital distraction affects pastors and ministry leaders—and how you can reclaim your time, attention, and presence. You'll discover practical strategies to: ▪️Break free from phone-based hab...