The Ministry Collaborative Podcast

TMC Staff Mark Ramsey and Jennifer Watley Maxell speak with the Rev. Dr. Reggie Blount ( Oikos Institute for Social Impact , Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary ) about the spiritual yearnings of young people, the importance of knowing them personally, and our unhelpful tendency to "pastor adults and program youth". Episode Transcript.

Executive Director Mark Ramsey speaks with Drs.  Allison Norton and Scott Thumma ( Hartford Institute for Religion Research ) about the latest results from their five-year study into congregational life from the pandemic and beyond, including what the data says - and doesn't - about rising church membership, the mixed news about church finances, and the importance of adapting to new realities....

TMC Program Staff Adam Mixon and Adam Borneman continue their conversation with the Rev. Sherrad Hayes ( Union Baptist Church, West Point, GA ) about the disruption of the Gospel, learning not to see efficiency as the goal, and the importance of fostering genuine encounters with the risen Christ. Episode Transcript.

TMC Program Staff Adam Borneman and Adam Mixon speak with the Rev. Sherrad Hayes ( Union Baptist Church, West Point, GA ) about the "long game" of spiritual transformation, the difference between the immediate and the urgent, and the importance of our core identity in Christ. Episode Transcript.

TMC Program Staff Jennifer Watley Maxell and Adam Borneman follow up our earlier conversation about facilitation, discussing Jesus' model of letting silence linger; understanding that information itself is not transformative; and how learning to move toward tension together can be productive and faithful. Listen to the earlier episode on facilitation. ⁠Contact TMC Staff about Facilitation Trai...

TMC Program Staff Adam Borneman, Jennifer Watley Maxell, and Mark Ramsey talk with Elizabeth Lynn ( Shifting Ground ) about creating space for deeper reflection, alignment vs. agreement, and why facilitation is a critical tool for all areas of ministry. Contact TMC Staff about Facilitation Training. Episode Transcript.

TMC Program Staff Ryan Bonfiglio, Adam Mixon, Mark Ramsey, and Adam Borneman discuss the April data from the ⁠Hartford Center for Religion Research⁠ on church attendance trends, as well as what it might - and most certainly doesn't - tell us about ministry today. ⁠Read the April, 2026, Report⁠ Episode Transcript.

TMC Program Staff Mark Ramsey, Adam Mixon, Ryan Bonfiglio, and Adam Borneman discuss the importance of bearing witness to both injustice and joy, why resurrection calls us to solidarity with those who suffer, and how prophetic preaching ought to be marked by energizing hope. Episode Transcript.

TMC Program Staff Mark Ramsey and Beth Daniel (with a cameo from our producer, Marthame Sanders ) discuss Walter Brueggemann's three-fold assessment of the prophetic tasks of the church: to tell the truth in a society that lives in illusion, grieve in a society that practices denial, and express hope in a society that lives in despair. Episode Transcript.

TMC Executive Director Mark Ramsey speak with Robb Webb ( Duke Endowment ) about their rural church work in North and South Carolina, the importance of prioritizing theological formation ahead of denominational metrics, and why creativity is so critical for ministry today. Episode Transcript.

TMC Program Staff Mark Ramsey, Jennifer Watley Maxell, and Amy Valdez Barker speak with the Rev. Dr. Joe Scrivner ( Stillman College ,  Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church ) about what Nehemiah and Paul have to say about persistence in the face of challenge; the importance of community in helping us move forward in faith; and what the film No Country for Old Men might, surprisingly, have to teach u...

TMC Program Staff Adam Borneman, Adam Mixon, and Beth Daniel speak with the Rev. Katie Nakamura Rengers about joy as a divine gift, even in difficult times; God's delight in our one-to-one interactions; and the critical difference between busy-ness and centerness. Katie's blog post. Episode Transcript.

TMC Executive Director Mark Ramsey speak with the Rev. Drs. Cynthia Hale ( Ray of Hope Church Christian Church ) and Jared Alcantára ( Truett Seminary ) about the balance of truth-telling and hope-bringing, the endurance of God's Word, and learning how to say, "But if not." Episode Transcript.

TMC Staff Mark Ramsey and Adam Mixon speak with Richard DuBose ( Montreat Conference Center ) and the Rev. Pam Driesell about preaching and politics, curiosity as a spiritual discipline, and why context matters. Read Richard's article. Episode Transcript.

TMC ⁠⁠⁠ Congregational and Pastoral Formation Curator Amy Valdez Barker speaks with the Rev. Drs. William D. Watley ( ⁠Across the Generations⁠ ) and Joe Clifford ( ⁠Myers Park Presbyterian, Charlotte⁠ ) about staying rooted in the Word of God, the challenge of preaching in today's context, and how faithful sermons can facilitate an encounter with the Holy. Episode Transcript.

TMC Executive Director Mark Ramsey speak with the Rev. Drs. Cynthia Hale ( Ray of Hope Church Christian Church ) and Tom Long about the challenge of preaching in our current communicational environment, the importance of allowing God's word to speak through you, and how their own preaching continues to grow and change.

Ministry Collaborative program staff (Adam Borneman, Jennifer Watley Maxell, Mark Ramsey, and Beth Daniel) discuss the struggle over narratives; principalities and powers; and why memory is critical for hope. Listen to Jennifer's conversation with Avril Speaks and Julie Tiemann here. Read Adam Mixon's blog post here. Episode Transcript.

Ministry Collaborative program staff (Beth Daniel, Mark Ramsey, Jennifer Watley Maxell, and Adam Borneman) discuss confrontation and comfort, the importance of context, and how the gospel helps us get under our assumptions. Read the original blog post and poem here. Episode Transcript.

Program Director Adam Borneman continues his conversation with Matt Adair ( Transformational Discipleship , United Church Atlanta ), Marcuetta Sims ( Cumberland Counseling Centers ) and Marcus Robinson about expansive diversity, proximity and friction, and how the church can be a powerful witness in a divided world.

Program Director Adam Borneman speaks with Matt Adair ( Transformational Discipleship ), Marcuetta Sims ( Cumberland Counseling Centers ) and Marcus Robinson about the particular challenge of the moment for parents and children, the need for the church to be compassionate and resourceful when it comes to mental health, and why you should never trust a leader who doesn't walk with a limp.

Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Adam Mixon, Jennifer Watley Maxell, and Amy Valdez Barker) invite podcast producer Marthame Sanders into this round table conversation about proximity vs. silos, the difference between gatekeepers and guardrails, and the mess and beauty of life in community.

Ministry Collaborative program staff (Mark Ramsey, Adam Mixon, Jennifer Watley Maxell, and Amy Valdez Barker) discuss the challenge of ministry in the midst of clashing worldviews, the importance of understanding history, and seeing Scripture as both a lens and mirror.

Program Staff Adam Borneman and Mark Ramsey speak with Drs. Scott Thumma and Allison Norton ( Hartford Institute for Religion Research ) about the results of their five-year study into the effects of the pandemic on congregational life, and how they are changing, innovating, and establishing new ministry practices.

Ministry Collaborative program staff (Adam Mixon, Beth Daniel, Adam Borneman, and Jennifer Watley Maxell) discuss why January is a good time to take stock, the importance of spiritual disciplines over shortcuts, and how community undergirds all that we do.

Ministry Collaborative program staff (Jennifer Watley Maxell, Adam Mixon, Beth Daniel, and Adam Borneman) discuss the January church push to ramp up programming, Jesus' instruction not to worry, and what it might look like at this time of year to listen to God and to the rhythms of the natural world.