Moench Center for Church Leadership at Belmont University

The Hopeful Church

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Welcome to the Hopeful Church, brought to you by the Moench Center for Church Leadership at Belmont University. On The Hopeful Church, we cultivate stories of hope from pastors and congregations. We talk with church leaders about how God is at work in the church today, which gives us hope for the future. Through conversations centered around the next generation of preachers, church health, and innovative ministry practices, Host Dr. Darrell Gwaltney shares stories of courage and hope for pastors and church leaders, asking each guest, “What is a hopeful church?”

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Moench Center for Church Leadership at Belmont University

Episodes

The Connection Between Peacemaking and Discipleship: Todd Deatherage 01.07.2026 31:21

In this episode, Darrell Gwaltney sits down with Todd Deatherage, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Telos, to explore how Christian discipleship is shaped through peacemaking, reconciliation, and honest engagement with complex conflict. Telos’ primary area of focus has been on America’s relationship to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In more recent years, they’ve developed programming aimed a...

Redeveloping Church Buildings, Embracing Risk, and Engaging Community: Kyle Thompson 06.05.2026 22:20

In this episode, Pastor Kyle Thompson shares his inspiring journey of revitalizing SouthPark Church amid urban transformation. His story of hope offers valuable lessons on church redevelopment, adaptability, and staying true to faith in a changing world. If you're involved in church leadership or community development, this discussion provides actionable insights on navigating change while maintai...

Following the Call to Preach and Inspiring the Next Generation of Preachers: Rev. Dr. Larry T Crudup 07.04.2026 23:45

In this episode, Reverend Dr. Larry T. Crudup — Senior Pastor of Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC, and a part-time professor of Leadership at Anderson University and adjunct professor of New Testament at Belmont University — shares his transformative journey of preaching and leadership within the church. Drawing on his experience as a pastor, educator, and scholar of ethical and crea...

The Power of the Spoken Word and the Next Generation of Preachers: Dwight A. Moody 31.03.2026 25:49

This episode explores the transformative role of preaching and the spoken word in shaping lives and communities. Featuring insights from Dwight A Moody, a pioneer in preacher development through the Academy of Preachers, and Darrell Gwaltney, the conversation underscores how effective communication fuels leadership, faith, and personal legacy. In this episode: The origin story of the Academy of Pr...