The Future Is Here

As a leader, have you ever felt inadequate, questioned your own motives, or been paralyzed by the fear of failure? If so, you're certainly not alone. Leadership isn't merely about guiding others—it's also about confronting and overcoming the inner battles we face within ourselves. These struggles can be daunting, but understanding them is crucial to becoming the authentic, effective...

In today's podcast, Robert Aboites sits down with Amy Williams, author of Worth Seeing: Viewing Others Through God’s Eyes . With 30 years of experience serving youth involved in gangs, incarceration, probation, and parole, Amy shares her profound insights and leadership principles for working with urban youth on the margins of society. Amy recounts the impactful story of a former gang member...

Time management has challenged leaders for centuries. As William Penn, the founder of Philadelphia, said, “Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” In today’s episode of The Future Is Here Leadership Podcast, Robert & Tommy delve into effective time prioritization, starting not with your calendar, but with your “why.” Prioritizing means focusing on what truly matters by clearly defin...

As leaders, we've all faced team members who aren't meeting expectations. How do you guide these individuals without jumping straight to reprimands? In our latest podcast episode, Robert & Tommy explore how to handle underperformance by creating a culture of support and growth. Learn how to navigate tough conversations with grace and empathy, recognizing that external factors often c...

Ever faced challenges in getting your team on board with major changes, ideas, or direction? Struggling to reach consensus? In this episode, Robert & Tommy dive into how to lead your team through a consensus-driven approach. Discover how to achieve collective agreement by considering diverse viewpoints and landing on the best solution—what we call "Best Idea Wins."  Learn the key ele...

At UYWI we frequently connect with leaders who are either teetering on the brink of burnout or already engulfed in its flames. Sadly, it seems that burning out has become all too common in ministry circles, almost glorified as a badge of honor that says “if you’re not burnt out, are you even doing anything?!’. But is this truly what God desires for us? And how can we break free from this destructi...

When you hear the word "Sacrifice," what comes to mind? For us, it immediately brings to mind Jesus, the ultimate Sacrificial Leader who gave everything, even his life, for us. But as leaders in youth ministry, what does sacrificial leadership really look like for us? In this episode, Robert and Tommy are diving deep into the heart of Sacrificial Leadership. We're debunking some com...

As leaders we've all faced our fair share of challenges and pushback, am I right? In our latest podcast episode, Robert and Tommy are here to unwrap the "Gift of Resistance" and show us how to turn those hurdles into stepping stones. Join us as we dive into the why behind embracing, rather than fighting, the resistance that comes our way. From cultural and organizational barriers to...

Connecting with our team is like uncovering hidden treasures! It's all about digging deeper to understand their unique stories, backgrounds, values, cultures, talents, and dreams. This lays the groundwork for a vibrant organizational culture where everyone can flourish. When we truly know our team members, magic happens—retention rates soar, productivity levels skyrocket, and both individuals...

In a recent Gallup poll, clergy's trustworthiness hit a concerning low, prompting much needed discussions about the trust we have - or don’t have, in leadership. Join us on "The Future Is Here" as we dive into the vital topic of trust. With trust levels declining, it's crucial for leaders to grasp how to build trust effectively. By prioritizing care, reliability, sincerity, acc...

In today's episode, we're diving into the world of leadership vision and how leaders shape the future of their organizations. We'll introduce three distinct leadership types: the "Then and Now" leader, the "Now and Next" leader, and the "Near and New" leader. Each type offers a unique take on scalability, innovation, and organizational growth. The &quot...

Are You Just Keeping Busy or Making Real Change Happen? Ever wonder what makes some leaders truly strategic? It's all about knowing the difference between just doing stuff and actually making a plan. A lot of leaders are used to being busy bees, but they might not be thinking strategically. Sure, it looks good to be super active, but is anything actually changing? Are you moving closer to you...

In our journey working with leaders, especially in churches and ministries, we’ve noticed "empowerment" is a hot topic. You've probably seen it thrown around a lot – but how often does it really happen? In today's episode, we're diving deep into what empowerment truly means. We'll chat about the difference between empowerment and just passing off tasks. Turns out, con...

What does it really mean to be a leader? Is it something anyone can do, or is it reserved for a special few? And what does the Bible have to say about all this? In this episode, we're diving deep into the world of leadership with Tommy and Robert. We'll be taking a look at 1 Peter 5:2-3 to get some insight into the essence of leadership, particularly the role of shepherding God's fl...

Feel like you are doing a whole lot of work, but instead of being impactful, you just feel BUSY??? Sometimes being a leader - especially in ministry, feels like we have multiple jobs… And for some of us, it actually IS something we do voluntarily in addition to our 9 to 5.  If that’s you (or if it’s not but you don’t want it to be), check out our latest episode with Robert and Tommy as they unpack...

Ever wondered how to navigate the complexities of leading the next generation in a world that's rapidly transforming? Join Tommy Nixon and Robert Aboites in this game-changing episode as they kick off an exciting series of leadership conversations. As young leaders coming up in spaces that have never been navigated before, how can we adapt to the evolving landscape of a young, urban, and mult...

We are at a time and point in history where there are white power structures and because of this we have a demographic shift.  Don’t look at it as a loss, but rather as the most Christian thing to do because that’s what Jesus did. We can actually lay down our power for the benefit of others. It’s a dub.  We need to create a new leadership for a new world. Even if power shifts and nothing changes w...

Is Social Justice a Sin? We have seen our Urban Brothers and Sisters go through social justice issues like abortion, immigration, racism, but we fail to wrestle with this tension because we care more about being on the “right side.” So what happens when we embody the values of others as opposed to that of Scripture? We miss the mark. We can’t be a witness when we play the victim. We need to show w...

Is The Church Full Of Hypocrites? The answer may shock you. It’s important that we recognize our hypocrisy and come with a posture of “I do not always live out what I believe.”The most Christian thing you can say is “I was wrong.” Why is it so hard to accept this? When we allow idolatry to play a part in our lives, of course it’s going to be hard to acknowledge our own hypocrisy. We need to embody...

We have experienced a tremendous amount of suffering these past couple of years, but with this comes polarization. As followers of Christ, how can we learn to share the suffering of others?  And how can we learn how to do this well?  What if suffering is imposed? Can we change the “they” narrative of suffering to a “we” narrative?   Join Tommy Nixon & Fredy Romero on A Shared Suffering | The F...

Time and time again, we have seen “whoever controls the Book, holds the Power.” This leads to a toxic Church AND Christian Leadership. We are going through the tension of how we read scripture and how we use it as a weapon to control people. How do we control the narrative when Pastors and Church Leaders are controlling the narrative to fit the Gospel to their beliefs? There are many mini Kingdoms...

“Who am I?” You might’ve asked yourself this question once, twice, maybe more. We have lost the piece that makes us who we are.  As leaders, we have a crisis. We are called to serve the marginalized, but the color of our skin disqualifies us.  What happens when your Christian Community is not fighting for the injustices within our country? Do you lean into the color of your skin and fight?  What c...

How much of American Nationalism has seeped into the Church? We as Christians are in a spiritual battle against the evil forces of this world. When you add American nationalism to this battle, it creates enemies out of other people, and reality is, those people are created in the Image of God. In this current reality we see key groups of people who profess Christ but don’t care about the suffering...

What would it cost for the church to abandon its position on the left and the right? What if you didn't have to choose sides? What if the gray is actually where Jesus led from? Jesus was a paradox and wasn’t afraid to embrace the tension. In The Future Is Here Podcast | Radical Middle Edition Tommy Nixon and Co-Host Fredy Romero break down the fundamental principles of the Radical Middle. The...

In the Season 2 Finale of The Future Is Here #Podcast titled The Third Way: Navigating The Pitfalls of The Right and The Left , our esteemed host and CEO Tommy Nixon talks to Atlanta-based lawyer, political strategist, Co-Founder, President of the AND Campaign , Justin Giboney about what it looks like to live as a Christ-follower in the tension of our current context and culture. If you have ever...