The Lead Ministry Podcast

Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and his co-host Vance Martin continue their three-part journey through the Progress Spiral. They explore why leaders must slow down long enough to assess the  real  problem before jumping into action, offering a practical and hope-filled framework for ministry leaders.  If you've ever felt like you’re fixing the sam...

Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and guest Vance Martin kick off a New Year series on productivity and progress in ministry. They introduce Vance’s “Progress Spiral,” a simple framework to evaluate, strategize, and execute in your ministry, starting with a deep dive into the  probe  phase.  They explore how to honestly assess your people, processes, an...

Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart sits down with leadership coach Vance Martin to unpack what it means to build a “move mental” ministry. They explore how organizational clarity, individual accountability, and team innovation work together to create not just programs, but a true movement of people on mission. If you've ever felt like your church is...

Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk unpack what it means to pursue  biblical  productivity at the start of a new year. They explore essential productivity for 2026, offering a God-centered vision of work, diligence, and stewardship for ministry leaders. If you've ever felt torn between “doing more” and staying faithful to your family...

Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk unpack surprising leadership lessons from the winter sport of curling. They explore the roles of the skip, thrower, and sweepers—and translate them into a practical framework for leading interns and teams without micromanaging.  If you've ever struggled to “let go” after delegating—or been tempted...

Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast,  Josh Denhart  and  Bill Van Kirk  tackle a surprisingly emotional topic:  cleaning the ministry closet —and why it should  never  be a one-person job or the default assignment for your intern. They explore a practical, discipleship-oriented process that uses three complementary roles and positions your intern as the  fourth  person...

pisode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast,  Josh Denhart  is joined by  Vance Martin  to talk about what it really means to develop interns—and future leaders—with legacy in mind. Vance reflects on lessons he learned from his father, who modeled mentorship that believed in him, let him fail, and gave him real responsibility. Together, Josh and Vance outline a practical framew...

Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast,  Josh Denhart  sits down with  Brittany Nelson , founder of  Deeper KidMin , to explore how to raise up interns without burning yourself—or them—out. They unpack what it means to  die to perfectionism  and empower emerging leaders through intentional coaching, not just busywork. If you’ve ever felt torn between excellence and delega...

Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk unpack why every church can and should run a ministry internship—without drowning in complexity. They explore a define–develop–do framework and practical ways to reduce friction so you can prepare now and multiply impact this summer.  If you've ever wished for more leaders or felt stuck doing it al...

Episode Description In this episode of the  Lead Ministry Podcast , Josh Denhart sits down with  David Reneau , Lead Pastor of Encounter Church in Toccoa, Georgia. With more than 17 years of ministry experience—most in children’s and family ministry—David brings deep, field-tested wisdom and a passion for helping leaders build ministries that last. He is the author of  Next Level Kidmin  and share...

Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Vance Martin unpack the VIP Huddle—an intentional 5–10 minute pre-service gathering designed to align volunteers around Vision, essential Information, and Prayer. They share practical rhythms that make huddles unmissable and show how these moments become a training ground for future leaders.  If you’ve ever felt lik...

Episode Description In this episode of the  Lead Ministry Podcast , host  Josh Denhart  welcomes ministry coach  Vance Martin  to map out one-on-one meetings that actually develop people. Together they explore the  GRACE Framework —Growth, Resources, Awareness, Care, Encouragement—offering a practical path for meetings that form disciples and move ministry forward. If you’ve ever felt like one-on-...

Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast,  Josh Denhart  and  Bill Van Kirk  unpack the power of one simple question that can completely reframe your team meetings. They explore how great meetings balance  important  long-term growth with  urgent  real-time needs—and how to open every meeting with intentional care that builds trust and ownership. If you’ve ever dreaded anot...

In this episode of the  Lead Ministry Podcast ,  Josh Denhart  talks with  Christen Clark , a seasoned children’s ministry leader and host of  The Collide Kids Podcast , about transforming “crowd-control” volunteers into front-line disciple-makers. Together they unpack practical ways to train, position, and encourage these often-overlooked team members so that every large-group experience thrives....

Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Vance Martin get practical about training that  lives beyond you . They unpack a simple, reproducible path— Model, Mentor, Multiply —so your team grows without burning you out.  If you’ve ever felt the weight of doing it all yourself, this episode will equip and inspire you to build people, not just programs—and to...

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Vance Martin unpack how to train volunteers with simple, repeatable ministry checklists. They move from “Iron Chef” leadership to boxed-cake repeatability, offering a step-by-step way to build clarity, confidence, and consistency across your teams. If you’ve ever felt stuck carrying Sundays on your back, this episode will equip and ins...

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk kick off October’s focus on  Training Volunteers . They unpack what real training is, why it matters, and how any leader can begin immediately. They explore the culture you carry, the power of qualifying people, and why training is the bridge between enlistment and retention for healthy teams. If you’ve ever felt stuck ru...

Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart sits down with Mark, a children’s pastor 66 days into a new role. They unpack how “front-loading with relationships” can compress the storming phase and accelerate health, trust, and momentum. They explore a practical, people-first playbook that any ministry can adopt to move from chaos to clarity. If you’ve ever felt s...

Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Vance Martin return for Part 2 of their two-part series on the  10 essentials every team needs from its leader . In Part 1, they explored communication, community, change, coaching, and care. Now they complete the framework with the final five essentials that build trust, stability, and long-term retention in volunt...

Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart is joined by Vance Martin from Slingshot Group for Part 1 of a two-part series on the  10 essentials every team needs from its leader . They lay the foundation with the relationship vs. results quadrant—helping leaders assess whether their teams are functioning like small groups, independent contractors, mercenaries, or...

Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk break down a simple, powerful retention lever: align volunteers with their giftedness. They explore how “ability + willingness” fuels longevity and how a SHAPE conversation helps leaders seat the right people in the right roles for healthy teams.  If you’ve ever felt stuck replacing the same volunteers...

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk unpack the vital topic of volunteer retention. They explore why keeping volunteers isn’t just about filling slots, but about discipleship, stewardship, and honoring the people God has already entrusted to your ministry. If you’ve ever felt exhausted by constant turnover or afraid of burning out your team, this episode wil...

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast,  Josh Denhart  and  Bill Van Kirk  announce a new monthly, laser-focused content plan for ministry leaders. They outline a year-long scope and sequence—starting with volunteer retention—that aligns the podcast, newsletter, webinars, free resources, and courses into one cohesive system. If you’ve ever felt scattered by competing priorities or stuck on t...

Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart sits down with certified ministry coach Jodi Quinn. They explore the power of ministry coaching, offering practical encouragement for leaders who want to grow in faith, leadership, and life. If you’ve ever felt alone in leadership or wondered if outside coaching could make a difference, this episode will equip and inspi...

Episode Description In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast,  Josh Denhart  sits down with family-ministry pastor  Cathy Story  to unpack how one-on-one coaching can transform every season of church leadership. They explore the power of tailored guidance in both megachurch and micro-church settings, offering practical takeaways for ministry leaders. If you’ve ever felt in over your head after...