Watermark's Church Leadership Podcast

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. In this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, we’re sharing a talk that Dave Bruskas, Executive Director of Discipleship, gave at Church Leaders Conference 2025. Teaching from Luke 14, Dave reminds us of the true cost of following Jesus , and t...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. In this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, Timothy Ateek, Lead Pastor of Watermark Community Church, shares his opening talk from the 2025 Church Leaders Conference. In a room full of ministry leaders, TA invites us to pause and reflect on t...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. In this follow-up episode to " 7 Ways to Develop Young Leaders ,” John McGee sits down with Emma Dotter, Director of Join The Journey, and Kylen Perry, Executive Director of The Porch, to unpack practical ways to develop young leaders. In this conv...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. We keep asking why the next generation is leaving the Church , but Grant Skeldon thinks we’re asking the wrong question. Instead, we should be asking, how are we discipling the next generation? In this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, reco...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. Seventeen centuries ago, a courageous pastor named Athanasius, and the historic Council of Nicaea defended an important truth of our faith—that Jesus is both fully God and fully man. In this unique episode, John McGee sits down with Rob Barry, Garr...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. Have you ever felt like you needed just one more thing to truly make an impact? In this solo episode, John McGee shares a refreshing reminder from his years in ministry: you already have everything you need to glorify God —and to lead with joy. Whe...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. Money can be a sensitive topic for ministry leaders—but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, John McGee, Dave Bruskas, and John Cox share personal stories and practical wisdom on stewarding personal finances with integrity, cultivating contentme...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. In this episode, John McGee sits down with Emma Dotter (Join the Journey Director) to unpack why Gen Z works differently, how we (often unknowingly) contributed to that shift, and what you can do to build trust, call them up, and help them thrive....

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. Leaders want to make the right decisions, but past mistakes can lead to overcorrection—fixing one problem while creating another. In this episode, John McGee unpacks how this happens in our hiring, theology, and leadership transitions, and how to a...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. Church growth is exciting—but it also brings leadership challenges. Maybe you’re feeling the weight of too many decisions, struggling to keep up with relationships, or realizing that what worked in the past isn’t working anymore. You’re not alone—e...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. Ever feel like you don’t belong in the role you’ve been given? You’re not alone. In this episode, John McGee and Dave Bruskas dive into the realities of imposter syndrome—how it shows up in leadership, why it happens, and how to push through it. Wi...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. In this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast , John McGee unpacks the roles of APEST found in Ephesians 4:11-13 —Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Shepherds, and Teachers —and how these leadership giftings shape the church. He explores their str...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. In today’s fast-paced culture, it’s easy to feel the pull toward the next big opportunity. As a follow-up to December’s episode, Knowing When to Leave , this episode dives into the topic of knowing when to stay and the value of long-term leadership...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. Urgency can make or break a leader. In this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, John McGee unpacks the topic of urgency and why it is the secret weapon of great leaders by driving motivation and action. Tune in for encouragement and practical...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. In the final episode of the year, host John McGee expresses gratitude to listeners for their selfless service to Christ and others. He acknowledges their impactful work and extends heartfelt thanks for their dedication, both seen and unseen. We wil...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. Struggling to discern if it’s time to step away from your current role? In the next episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, John McGee and Dave Bruskas (Director of Re:generation at Watermark) dive into the challenges of navigating career transit...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. Join the Church Leadership Podcast as we celebrate Watermark Community Church’s 25th anniversary by exploring the inspiring history of Re|engage. Since its inception in 2006, our marriage enrichment ministry has transformed the lives of over 137,00...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. In this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, John McGee and Caitlin Van Wagoner dive into Watermark's Master Calendar system. They chat about how it keeps the church mission-focused and resources in sync, tackling the ups and downs of growing...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. In this session from Church Leaders Conference, John and Pam McGee share the importance of prioritizing your marriage as your first ministry. He emphasizes evaluating one's ministry, the significance of character and competency in leadership, and t...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. In this episode, we dive into “Watermarkisms;” the phrases and sayings that help shape the culture at Watermark Community Church. John McGee and Ashley Lawrence unpack the importance of the words we choose, how they influence your team, and create...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. In this week’s episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, Dave Bruskas (Director of Re:generation) shares his personal journey of working in ministry and the hardships he has faced along the way. Listen to be reminded of God's faithfulness and susta...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. On this week’s episode of the Church Leaders Podcast, explore the reasons behind faith deconstruction and gain insight on supporting those going through it. Key themes include church hurt, justification for sin, politics, intellectual doubts, cultu...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. Creating a strong culture is crucial for any organization, including churches. In this week’s episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, John McGee and Dave Bruskas explore how leaders must clearly define and communicate the desired culture, recogni...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. In this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, John McGee is joined by Luke Friesen (Senior Director of Operations) and John Cox (Executive Pastor) to discuss strategies for navigating economic slowdowns and decreased giving. Learn how strong co...

Young Leader Cohort: Go to Watermark Community Church - Young Church Leaders Cohort to apply for 2026-2027 cohort.  Registration closes August 3, 2026. People who see the world in unique ways and have original problem-solving approaches are a huge asset to any team. But if you want to help your creatives reach their full potential, you need to understand how to best engage with them. John McGee, C...