Center for Congregations Podcast

Brett Meyer, CEO of Neighborlink, joins JC and Matt to talk about the impact of meeting the basic needs of those in your own neighborhood. Neighborlink is a national program that helps connect those who need some help with those who are able to help. Resources Neighborlink (organization) When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert (book) Making Neighborhoods Whole: A Handbook for Christi...

Seminary Presidents Rev. Dr. David Mellott of Christian Theological Seminary and Rev. Dr. Andrew Pomerville of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary join Elise and Matt to talk about current trends in theological education. Regardless of your denominational background and educational pathways, this conversation will provide a useful window into the "in-between" space of congregational life...

William Wubbenhorst, Non-Resident Scholar for the Institute for Studies of Religion (ISR) at Baylor University, joins JC and Matt to talk about the issue of homelessness and the findings of an 11-city study. The contents of this study are illuminating and William's expertise provides solid advice and support for congregations seeking to help their communities. Resources Assessing the Faith-Based R...

Dr. Josh Packard joins John and Matt to discuss Sacred Listening; a tool that can help your congregation develop deeper relationships and community. Dr. Packard's background in Sociology and his personal faith combine in this set of practical tools and stories. Resources Future of Faith (website) Dr. Packard's website Tricks of the Trade: How to Think about Your Research While You're Doing It by H...

Pastor Dave Fox and Pastor Eric Lehman from The Bridge Community Church in Decatur, Indiana join Shellie and Matt to talk about the impact of pilgrimage on their congregation. They co-led a pilgrimage to Turkey to see sites along Paul's missionary journeys and the cities mentioned in Revelation. Resources Rediscovering the Spiritual Practice of Pilgrimage (article) Christian Expedition (organizati...

Dr. Elise Erikson Barrett, the President of the Center for Congregations, joins Shellie and Matt to talk about her past experience with organizations who work with congregations, the present challenges and future hopes. Resources Hartford Institute for Religious Research (organization) The Attention Merchants by Tim Wu (book) Future of Faith (organization) Rooted Good (organization)

Will Mancini joins Shellie and Matt to talk about how congregations can best develop vision for their specific context. Will Mancini is a former pastor, author and consultant with decades of experience in congregational life. Resources frunfree.co (organization) Will Mancini's website The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman (book) 7 Laws of Real Church Growth (toolkit)

Dr. Kilen Gray joins JC and Matt to talk about conflict in congregations. Dr. Gray believes that, far from being a negative, conflict is actually something that can strengthen an organization. Resources Dr. Kilen Gray's website Dr. Kilen Gray's Facebook Bates Memorial Church Every Congregation Needs a Little Conflict by George Bullard, Jr. (book) Center for Healthy Churches (organization)

Nathan Parr, Facility Stewardship Specialist at Smart Church Solutions, joins JC and Matt to talk about the importance and prioritization of facility maintenance. Nathan shares his practical knowledge garnered from working with hundreds of congregations on facility management. Resources Smart Church Solutions (organization) Smart Church Solutions YouTube Page (video) Smart Church Solutions Faceboo...

Rev. Dr. F. Douglas Powe Jr., joins Kara and John to discuss how relational and resource connections can lead to vital congregations and communities. The conversation includes the importance of continual learning for leaders, assessing your own congregation and how to navigate some of the major cultural shifts that have occurred. Resources The Adept Church by Dr. F. Douglas Powe Jr. (book) Sustain...

Patrick Riecke joins Miriam and Matt to discuss burnout. Patrick shares from his personal experiences and public studies to shine a light on this under-discussed issue and what to do about it. Resources Burnout Test (website/assessment) Patrick Riecke (website/organization) R3 Restoration (organization) Psychology Today (website) Mental Health America (website/organization) Moving Church Volunteer...

Rev. Dr. Richard Gentzler joins Shellie and Matt to talk about ministry for and with aging adults. Dr. Gentzler has been focusing on and working with congregations with older adults for over thirty years. His wisdom will inspire and challenge you to see this ministry with different eyes. Resources Age Friendly Congregation Certificate from Encore Ministry Foundation (curriculum) Encore Ministry Fo...

Dr. Courtnye Lloyd joins John and Matt to share from her education and experience about how congregations can make collaboration and community happen. Resources The Gathering Church (organization) Microchurches: A Smaller Way by Brian Sanders (book) Big Lessons from Little Places: Faithfulness and the Future in Small Congregations by Kay Collier McLaughlin (book) After the Darkest Hour: How Suffer...

Join the Center for Congregations staff as we introduce a new host and answer your questions. Send us questions you'd like us to answer at podcast@centerforcongregations.org or text or call 260-498-8005. Resources How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren (book) "What is a micro church?" by Jordan Moseley (article) "Guide to Asset Mapping" by The Jewish Community Federation & Endo...

Rob Henson of Solheim Stewardship joins Kara and Matt to share how capital campaigns are much more than just fundraising. Henson maintains that the work of a campaign is woven into the fabric of a congregation's larger work. Resources Solheim Stewardship (organization) Understanding the Stages of a Nonprofit Capital Campaign (article) The Giving Institute’s Eight Steps for Selecting Fundraising Co...

Rev. Dr. Virgil Woods joins JC and Matt to discuss the use of AI (artificial intelligence) in congregational life. Dr. Woods is a pastor, author and tech consultant for congregations who believes that AI can be helpful but guardrails are required. We also answer our first ever mailbag question: how can we implement programming so that it serves everyone in our congregation? Email us at podcast@cen...

Erin Hill from the Center for Church and Community Impact joins JC and Matt to talk about their work and how congregations are caring for their communities. Resources Center for Church and Community Impact (organization) My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem (book) The Spirituality of Welcoming by Ron Wolfson (book) C3i on Instagram (@baylorsocialwork_c3i)

Charles Vogl joins John and Matt to talk about his book The Art of Community. He defines community and we discuss how it plays out in congregations. Resources The Art of Community by Charles Vogl (book) Charles Vogl's website The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman (book) Lost Connections by Johann Hari (book) Team of Teams by Stanley McChrystal (book) Mystic Heart by Wayne Teasedale (book...

Lisa Inks, Senior Director of Urban Rural Action, joins Shellie and Matt to talk about their work of healing polarization and divided culture. Lisa shares the origins of the organization, tools for conversation and the importance of this work in our current cultural climate. Resources Urban Rural Action (organization) The Colossian Forum (organization) Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (organization)...

President of the Center for Congregations Rev. Dr. Tim Shapiro joins JC and Matt to talk about what the Center for congregations has been learning through the past, this year and what we see as the futures of congregations.

Congregations with Community (CWC) Senior Director McKenzie Scott Lewis joins JC and Matt to talk about the work of CWC and what they're learning about congregation and community collaboration. Resources Congregations with Community - CWC (organization) CWC Facebook IG @congregationswithcommunity CWC LinkedIn Seed to Oaks (organization) The Art of Community: Seven Principles for Belonging by Charl...

Center for Congregations staff Kara Faris, Shellie Riggs Jordan and Matt Burke gather to talk about what the Center for Congregations is learning in 2025. They share several stories of congregations in Indiana that highlight some of the great things happening in congregational life. Resources The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller (book) Undue Medical Debt (organization)

Rev. Dr. Darrell Hall of The Way Community Church joins John and Matt to talk about doing the hard work of understanding other generations and how it is related to loving others. Resources Speaking Across Generations by Dr. Darrell Hall (book) Generational IQ by Haydn Shaw (book) Making Space at The Well by Dr. Jessica Brown (book) Instagram - @IAmDarrellHall X - @IAmDarrellHall

The Center for Congregations' own Christos Reid, Communications and Marketing Strategist, joins Shellie and Matt to talk about marketing and communications for congregations. This episode is full of practical advice and tips on how to incorporate better tools and ideas into your congregation's communications. Resources "Ultimate Guide to Church SEO" by Paul Steinbrueck (article) "Strategic Social...

Dr. Robert Mansfield joins JC and Matt to talk about discipleship and the importance of your congregation's context in faith formation. Dr. Mansfield believes that there is no copy-paste way to disciple. Each community needs to find ways to form faith based on its unique theology, traditions and specific local history. Resources "Insights from Research and Theory: Practices for Forming Faith with...