Next Step Leadership

This episode of Next Step Leadership continues the conversation with Erik Goss. Experiences which seemed to shut doors can actually become opportunities which opened doors. How does that fit in your story? How can your grim situation be the right time for God to turn a desert into an oasis? Have you forgotten the truth of God’s deep love for you? What are ways we can become more aware of the Holy...

In this week’s episode of Next Step Leadership, Tracy and Chris enjoy their conversation with Erik Goss. Today’s leaders need to hear from Erik. He offers years of experience in providing ways of connecting with children through media. Rather than just telling children what not to watch, why don’t we offer them better options to learn truth through today’s outlets? Eric’s media and technology comp...

This week offers another conversation with Pastor Hans Hess. His evangelistic heart and academic mind come out in his comments. Hans believes the hope of winning people to Jesus directs him in each of his roles. His pastoral experience offers depth to his stories. Pastoring isn’t simple. Death of a spouse isn’t easy. Discerning God’s guidance isn’t always clear. Not all churches grow quickly. Not...

Pastor Hans Hess joins Chris Maxwell and Tracy Reynolds for this week’s Next Step Leadership Podcast. Hans is a scholar, a musician, a pastor, an evangelist, an author, and a fabulous communicator. His biblical depth and his pastoral heart offer appropriate guidance for today’s leaders. He leads with a desire to bring the love of Jesus to people around the world. As you listen to his testimony, yo...

Jim Thornber continues this week as the guest in Next Step Leadership. His stories remind listeners of lessons he’s learned from orthodox obedience, holy joy, biblical study, and deep grief. Jim hopes audiences hear from his heart as he reveals God’s peace as it visits during life’s tough experiences. Listen to his words as he talks about his wife's battle with Covid and her death. Hearing Ji...

Tracy Reynolds and Chris Maxwell are honored to learn from Pastor Jim Thornber. Jim tells his joyful and painful story about life, ministry, and grief. Jim has written two books—he talks about those books, about his spiritual journey, and about the goodness of God. He also talks about the death of his wife. Jim brings a mixture of experiences, offering thoughts to the wide audience of Next Step Le...

Tracy Reynolds continues answering questions from Chris Maxwell as they talk about Tracy’s new book, Leading from Second Chair . Tracy is a gifted musician, so it was fitting for him to use music as the illustration to instruct today’s audience how to serve under other leaders. They might not have the final word, but their words are important. They might not always get their way, but they can help...

In this episode of Next Step Leadership, Chris and Tracy do not interview an outside guest. Instead, Chris has a conversation with Tracy about Tracy’s new book. Chris is very excited about this book because he has believed a long time in Tracy and hoped this book would be written. Tracy offers an importance perspective for today’s leaders. Not everyone who leads is the senior leader. Most leaders...

This week’s episode continues the conversation Tracy and Chris enjoy with Charlie Dawes. As a servant leader, Charlie talks about life and ministry. Life is not always easy. Ministry is not always easy. But serving Jesus and loving people are the true goals for today’s leaders. Education, a life of learning, finding mentors, valuing pastoral care, pursuing God in healthy ways, vocational ministry:...

Pastor and author Charlie Dawes is an ideal guest for Next Step Leadership. Chris has known Charlie for many years and is excited to see all the work Charlie has done. Charlie serves as a pastor of Hill City Church and is the author of Simple Prayer: Learning to Speak to God with Ease. Charlie tells his story about growing up in church and being mentored well by his pastor. While many congregation...

In this episode of Next Step Leadership, Tracy and Chris continue their conversation with Elias Dummer. As a gifted writer and worship leader, Elias offers deep thoughts on theology and modern trends. Today’s leaders need to gain a better understanding of what key voices like Elias bring. He has concerns about how a few companies control church music, influence the trends of followers of Christ, a...

Chris and Tracy enjoyed a wonderful conversation with singer, songwriter Elias Dummer. Elias has been involved in various bands and worship teams. In this episode, Elias tells his story. His band City Harmonic, his church involvement, and his desire for building a community of faith reveal his hope for being like Jesus and following Him.  As he talks, his wise mind and caring heart are obvious. Ne...

This episode continues the conversation with Tim Elmore about his book A New Kind of Diversity. Tim brings so much wisdom to help today’s leaders learn from and work with each generation. Who is walking along beside today’s leaders? How can every age work well together? What if we receive the strength from each generation? How can the deeply committed, the creative minds, the dreamers, the realist...

Tracy and Chris are honored to interview Tim Elmore again. Tim’s latest book, A New Kind of Diversity: Making the Different Generations on Your Team a Competitive Advantage, is the ideal theme for Next Step Leadership. Instead of just tolerating one another, leaders must leverage the strengths of every generation. Instead of division, this can create teamwork and community. Instead of building wal...

Chris and Tracy continue their conversation with Pastor Sean Seay of Athens Church. Sean’s story is needed to be heard in today’s audience of leaders. He spoke in the previous episode about deep wounds he carried—and each leader carries—into ministry. He now brings listeners back to this important question: “What’s it like to be on the other side of me?” All real growth begins with self awareness....

Sean Seay, the Lead Pastor of Athens Church, is this week’s guest on Next Step Leadership. Sean’s story, wisdom, and leadership role all make him a great voice for this podcast’s audience. He tells about his journey, inviting listeners to his narrative. He grew up in a broken home, knew very little about Christianity, found Jesus during his college years, and became involved with the discipleship...

This week’s episode continues the conversation Chris and Tracy have with Bishop Tim Lamb, the LifePoint Conference Superintendent of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church. Bishop Tim Lamb‘s care for people continues coming out as he tells his stories and offers his wisdom. He is a wonderful example of deep love for people in these difficult days. Any day can be a life-changing day. Every d...

Bishop Tim Lamb has served in pastoral ministry and denominational leadership. His experience, his spiritual maturity, and his compassion for people are clear in this episode of Next Step Leadership. There are many areas Bishop Lamb can discuss and offer wisdom. But before hearing his insights on leadership, Tracy and Chris asked Tim to tell his stories. And in his 34 years of pastoring, he has ma...

Chris Maxwell and Tracy Reynolds continue listening to the inspirational words of author, tv show host, and minister Rebecca Keener. Rebecca is a humble servant who has written creative, practical stories for receiving God’s supernatural strength every day of the year. In this episode, she talks about her latest book, “Holy Spirit 365.” Much of her book was written in a hospital waiting room. She...

Author and minister Rebecca Keener is this week’s guest in Next Step Leadership. Tracy and Chris loved their conversation with Rebecca as she tells her story. This narrative is a wonderful reminder of how God is at work in inviting people to be willing to obey Him. Listen to their laughter, their stories, and what Rebecca is offering to her audience these days. Like her encouraging voice, her word...

The numbers grab our attention. The stories concern us. What stories? Why do those numbers grab our attention and concern us? This episode talks about people, about pastors, about families, about churches. In Next Step Leadership, Chris and Tracy engage in a conversation about these issues. But they are not just discussing the facts and trends. They invited their friend Rick Womack to tell his sto...

The numbers grab our attention. The stories concern us. What stories? Why do those numbers grab our attention and concern us? This episode talks about people, about pastors, about families, about churches. In Next Step Leadership, Chris and Tracy engage in a conversation about these issues. But they are not just discussing the facts and trends. They invited their friend Rick Womack to tell his sto...

This week’s episode is the second conversation Tracy and Chris have with Jason McCary. Jason, again, is very honest. He offers practical ideas. He tells stories. But he not only tells stories, Jason offers the honesty desperately needed among today’s leaders and learners. All three of these men serve in roles where they help mentor and encourage the next generation of leaders. Jason has both the g...

In this week’s conversation, Tracy Reynolds and Chris Maxwell talk to their friend Jason McCary. Jason has served in pastoral ministry and as a college professor. Next Step Leadership hopes to always bring stories, ideas, and encouragement to others in various ministry or business roles. Jason’s does that as he offers thoughts for today’s leaders. His story reminds listeners that each story is dif...

Chris Maxwell and Tracy Reynolds continue their conversation with Dr. Doug Beacham, General Superintendent of the International Pentecost Holiness Church. Through Dr. Beacham’s biblical knowledge and ministry experience, he offers deep and practical wisdom for Next Step Leadership‘s audience. As you listen to his story about those leaders who helped prepare him for ministry, think about yourself a...