The Tim Ahlman Podcast

What voices are shaping your leadership—encouraging courage, or quietly reinforcing shame? In this episode of the Tim Ahlman Podcast, Tim sits down with pastor, coach, and author Jeff Meyer to explore the concept of your Internal Board of Directors—the inner voices that guide (or derail) your decisions, identity, and spiritual resilience. Jeff shares vulnerably about a dark season that exposed the...

In this episode of TAP, Tim Ahlman is joined by pastor, author, and theologian Carl Lehenbauer for a wide-ranging and deeply human conversation about ministry longevity, marriage, discipleship, and the fire of God’s love that holds it all together. Carl shares his journey from associate pastor to senior pastor—and now into a discipleship-focused role—reflecting honestly on burnout, self-awareness,...

Pastor Raygen Mitchell from Scottsdale Bible Church shares his extraordinary journey—from a traumatic childhood, seven felonies, multiple incarcerations, and meth addiction… to a supernatural encounter with Christ that completely transformed his life. Want to stay up to date on LCMS Happenings from Pastor Tim? Join the LCMS Current: https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent In this episode, T...

Want to stay up to date on LCMS Happenings from Pastor Tim? Join the LCMS Current: https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent In this rich and wide-ranging conversation, Pastor Tim Ahlman sits down with Dr. Joel Biermann, Professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary—one of the most influential voices in the LCMS today. They tackle some of the most misunderstood and debated topics in...

Want to stay up to date on LCMS Happenings from Pastor Tim? Join the LCMS Current: https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent In this episode, Tim sits down with Dr. Andrew Bauman — author, researcher, and founder of the Christian Counseling Center — for one of the most eye-opening conversations we’ve ever had on the podcast. Dr. Bauman recently gathered data from 2,800 women serving in Protes...

Want to stay up to date on LCMS Happenings from Pastor Tim? Join the LCMS Current: https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent Today Tim sits down with Mulu Lemma, education program director for Hope for the Second Generation, an organization equipping and discipling second-generation Ethiopian immigrants and young adults across the U.S. and around the world. Find out more about Hope for Second...

Want to stay up to date on LCMS Happenings from Pastor Tim? Join the LCMS Current: https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent Pastor Tim sits down with Erick Sorensen, church partnerships director for 1517, to unpack the story behind one of the most influential Lutheran movements today. They discuss how 1517 began, its open-handed approach to theology, and why Lutherans shouldn’t be afraid to...

Want to stay up to date on LCMS Happenings from Pastor Tim? Join the LCMS Current: https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent Leadership coach and consultant Naomi Stohlmann joins Tim to unpack her Five Giants and Five Stones model — a Christ-centered framework for leaders to navigate internal and external challenges with courage, conviction, and clarity. From athletics to executive coaching,...

Want to stay up to date on LCMS Happenings from Pastor Tim? Join the LCMS Current: https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent In this powerful episode, Tim Ahlman sits down with Kyla Rodriguez, Outreach & Engagement Coordinator for Lutheran Bible Translators, to explore one of the most ambitious missions in history: giving every person on Earth access to Scripture by 2033. Kyla shares her...

Want to stay up to date on LCMS Happenings from Pastor Tim? Join the LCMS Current: https://www.uniteleadership.org/thelcmscurrent Pastor Aaron Gehrke has served 15 years in one congregation — something almost unheard of today. In this episode, Tim Ahlman sits down with Aaron to unpack what he’s learned about discipleship, leadership development, and staying healthy in ministry over the long haul....

What if the Bible came alive right before your eyes? Interested in the upcoming 2026 Pauline Epistle Pilgrimage through Rome and Greece? It's a life-changing trip that brings the scriptures to life.  Want to Join the 2026 Trip? Contact: ✉️ Jeff Sutherlin: jeffsutherlin@gmail.com ✉️ Mark Renner: stjamespastorcares@gmail.com In this episode of The Tim Ahlman Podcast, Tim sits down with Pastor J...

What if the greatest threat to your ministry isn’t burnout—it’s playing it safe? In this episode, Dr. Cole Braun, CEO of the Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee, joins Pastor Tim Ahlman to unpack what bold leadership looks like in the Church today. From turning around struggling schools to writing his upcoming book Why Wouldn’t You?, Dr. Braun shares how curiosity, collaboration,...

What does it mean to truly live out your calling? In this episode, Tim sits down with Johnny Venegas, worship leader at King of Kings Church in Omaha, Nebraska, to hear his story of faith, music, and mission. From growing up as a pastor’s kid in Chile to finding his place in the LCMS, Johnny shares how God reshaped his heart for ministry, the struggles and beauty of church leadership, and why wors...

In this episode of the Tim Ahlman Podcast, Tim sits down with Pastor Jeff Scheich, who is celebrating 40 years of ministry. Together, they dive into the power of the resurrection, the importance of sabbath rhythms, and how the church can reach those who feel distant from faith. Pastor Jeff shares stories from launching the innovative 2:11 worship experience at Christ Lincoln, his lessons on saying...

Tim sits down with Rev. Dr. Ryan Tinetti, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. Together, they dive into Ryan’s upcoming book, The Quiet Ambition, exploring how everyday faithfulness and small acts of love make an eternal difference in God’s kingdom. Ryan shares his story of parish ministry, his approach to preaching “by heart,” and the hope he wants to insp...

In this episode of the Tim Ahlman Podcast, Tim sits down with Dr. Rachel Ferguson—Director of the Free Enterprise Center at Concordia University Chicago. Together, they explore the intersection of faith, leadership, and economics: - Why business leaders are vital to the mission of the church - How fasting, Sabbath practices, and community can shape our spiritual lives - The history of redlining, f...

Tim sits down with his longtime friend and classmate, Rev. Gene Johnson, to unpack an incredible journey from assistant golf pro, to tour manager for country artist Clay Walker, to now serving as Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Trinity Klein in Houston, TX. Gene shares lessons learned about leadership, humility, and handling conflict — whether on the golf course, backstage at a concert, or in the...

Why does the Western church struggle to talk about grief, loss, and suffering? Pastor Karl Fay joins Tim Ahlman for a raw and inspiring conversation about faith, art, and the power of walking through brokenness instead of avoiding it. Karl—an artist, husband, dad, and senior pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church—opens up about: - Why Western Christians often ignore death and suffering - How gr...

What happens when your life shatters at 30 mph into a telephone pole—and God uses it to reshape your ministry? In this powerful episode, Tim Ahlman sits down with Pastor Nathan Huse of Peace Lutheran in Tustin, CA. Just five years ago, his church had fewer than 30 people in worship. Today, it’s a vibrant, multi-generational community filled with new believers, baptisms, and revival stories. This i...

Most LCMS congregations offer some kind of adult education—but is it actually forming mature disciples?  Dr. Mark Blanke joins Tim to unpack decades of research showing why quality matters far more than quantity, the eight best practices of effective adult education, and why small, intentional shifts could radically change faith formation across our Synod. They explore how Jesus’ question-based te...

Unemployment is one of the most disorienting, painful seasons a person can face—yet the church often overlooks it. In this episode, Tim Ahlman sits down with Dale Kreienkamp, author of "How Long, Lord, How Long?", to talk about the emotional and spiritual toll of losing a job, why many believers suffer in silence, and how congregations can be a lifeline in these moments. Dale shares his...

Let’s start having the hard conversations that move the Church forward. Is church planting just a trendy distraction from revitalization? Or is it exactly what the LCMS needs right now? In this powerful conversation, Tim Ahlman sits down with Mark and Laura Pulliam—founders of Lazarus Church in Spring, Texas—who planted just 10 weeks before the pandemic… and thrived. Together they confront outdate...

What happens when the rituals that once helped us grieve—viewings, funerals, community gatherings—fade into the background? In this deeply moving episode, Tim sits down with grief expert Julie Lynn Ashley to discuss the Western church’s growing discomfort with death, loss, and mourning. Why are fewer Christians choosing funerals? Why do we avoid silence and tears? And what simple things can church...

What if the greatest untapped mission field in the LCMS isn’t overseas—but in your preschool? Dr. Douglas Krengel joins Pastor Tim to reveal jaw-dropping findings from his LCMS-wide research on early childhood ministries—and the shocking disconnect between pastors and preschool directors. With over 76,000 kids in LCMS early learning centers and most pastors having zero training in early childhood...

Ever felt like your Sunday worship experience has nothing to do with your Monday morning reality? You're not alone. In this illuminating conversation with Dr. Jim Marriott, we dive deep into the profound yet often misunderstood connection between liturgy, discipleship, and mission in the Christian life. Dr. Jim Marriott explores how liturgical practices can bridge the gap between Sunday worsh...