Leading Conversations

What does revival look like in America's rural communities? John Craft offers a front-row perspective from Wyoming's Bighorn Basin, where churches in towns of just 4,000 people regularly see 250-300 in attendance, many being young families and former Mormons finding new faith in Christ. Craft's journey to this vantage point follows an unexpected path. Growing up in a theologically l...

Join us as Mike reflects on his formative years, shaped by a legacy of faith passed down by his family and community. He highlights how pivotal moments at youth camps not only solidified his own faith but also fostered an environment where young people could experience life-changing spiritual encounters. With an unwavering commitment to reaching lost souls, Mike emphasizes the role of partnerships...

Brad Little shares his inspiring journey from a childhood marked by insecurity in Calgary to becoming a lead pastor and regional executive director in Minnesota. Highlighting the significance of mentorship, prayer, and community connection, this episode emphasizes the essence of leadership in the face of challenges, especially during moments of division. Send us Fan Mail We want to help you find y...

How do legacies shape the leaders we become? Join us as we sit down with the inspiring Jim Jessup from Jessup University, who shares intimate stories of his family's remarkable church planting and leadership history. From his grandfather's founding of San Jose Bible College in 1939 to Jim's journey of answering a call to ministry at 16, Jim opens up about the enduring impact of his...

In our conversation, Roy illuminates the extraordinary ways his community engages with the local Mormon population through initiatives like "Love Gives" and "God's Garage," exemplifying compassion-driven outreach. We discuss how these programs foster meaningful connections, offering genuine support through acts of service and relational evangelism. With cultural insights i...

Steve Ingram's journey is nothing short of inspiring, reflecting both profound faith and unyielding resilience. Imagine facing the heartbreak of losing a spouse shortly after welcoming your child into the world. Steve opens up about his life, shaped by his upbringing in a devout Christian family and his commitment to ministry, which led him to become a youth pastor and eventually the pastor o...

What if a single injury could change your life's trajectory? Join us as we explore the incredible journey of Billy Claudio from Scottsdale, Arizona, whose life took a dramatic turn from aspiring engineer to influential Christian leader after a pivotal childhood event. Billy recounts his transformative experiences growing up in a devout Catholic, military family and the profound impact of his...

Alan Adler's journey is a tale of faith, family, and transformation. In it, He shares how his father's quest, sparked by the Book of Revelation, led their family to embrace Christianity. Through Alan's story, we see how a dramatic church event and the camaraderie with his childhood friend, Karl Roth, played pivotal roles in nurturing his spiritual growth within a supportive communit...

Brendan Prout joins us with a remarkable tale of transformation and faith. Growing up in a Navy family, Brendan's early religious experiences were varied and mostly social in nature, with a particular fondness for youth groups where he could meet girls. However, his perception of church life took a radical turn when he encountered a community that defied musical norms with an electric guitar-...

Discover how a young man's journey from anger and rebellion to a life of faith and ministry takes center stage in our latest episode featuring Josh Huseby, a devoted church planter from Bismarck, North Dakota. Explore the powerful narrative of overcoming personal loss and embracing a calling, as Josh recounts the transformative impact of his father's passing and how it catalyzed his init...

What happens when life takes unexpected turns, leading you away from and then back to faith? Join us as we bring you the incredible stories of Dom and Allie Simmons from Fort Worth, Texas. From Allie's journey of growing up in the church, losing her way during college, and rediscovering her faith as a single mother, to Dom's tumultuous youth marked by gang involvement and a transformativ...

Has your faith ever been shaken to its core? Join us as Jay Kim from Westgate Church in Silicon Valley recounts his profound spiritual journey, marked by his mother's radical conversion from agnosticism to devout Christianity. Relive the 1990s evangelical youth culture with Jay, who opens up about his faith deconstruction during college and how a small group of steadfast mentors reignited his...

Have you ever wondered how a quest for identity can lead to a profound spiritual transformation? Join us as we sit down with Marlon Minx, the National Director of Church Planting for Converge, and uncover his powerful journey from an Irish Catholic upbringing to embracing a life in ministry. Marlon opens up about his formative years, the heartache of losing his father early on, and how these pivot...

What happens when a passion for baseball intertwines with a deep-rooted faith? In this episode of the Leading Conversations podcast, we sit down with Mike Alford from Macon, Georgia, to explore his incredible journey. Growing up in a Christian home, Mike's love for baseball was matched only by the influence of his parents' authentic faith. From playing the game in South Africa to his imp...

What if the foundation of your faith journey began at six years old? Join us as we sit down with David Whitaker, president of Venture Church Network, who shares his compelling story of growing up as a pastor's son and navigating its unique challenges. From the blessings and pressures of being a pastor’s child to the critical role his parents played in maintaining a healthy environment amid ch...

In this conversation, J.D. spends some time with Chan Kwak. If you know anything about the city of Compton, CA, you would never imagine a Korean child who was brought to the United States in the middle of the night by his parents would plant a church and reach that diverse community—his story of perseverance and dedication to sharing the gospel with whoever would listen will inspire you when you h...

In this conversation, J.D. speaks with Haig Kherlopian, a leader, a pastor, and even a stand-up comedian. He shares a brief history of the first Christian nation, Armenia, and details how ping-pong brought his family to the United States. You will want to hear his whole story. Listen and be encouraged. Send us Fan Mail We want to help you find your next steps in ministry. Connect here with EXCEL ....

Today's conversation is with Jason Squires, a worship leader, songwriter, and speaker who travels around the country leading worship and teaching at conferences. His passion is leading people to Jesus through creativity and inspiring creatives to reach their full potential. Listen to his story and be encouraged. Ministry Partner: https://mycccu.com/excel Jason: https://jsmusic.net   Send us F...

J.D. has a conversation with Andrew Alesso.   His full-time job is helping non-profit companies to develop and grow their fundraising. He also happens to be the lead pastor of Thrive LA church. Listen to his story and be encouraged. Send us Fan Mail We want to help you find your next steps in ministry. Connect here with EXCEL . 

  J.D. has a conversation with serial church planter Jay Nickless. Listen to his story and be encouraged.   Ministry Partner: https://mycccu.com/excel Send us Fan Mail We want to help you find your next steps in ministry. Connect here with EXCEL . 

Alex Sweng is the pastor of Missio Dei Oakland, an Urban House Church Network in Oakland, CA. If you have been watching the news lately, Oakland is having quite a season. If you were to ask Alex if the news is all true, he would say that it is worse than you think and better than you think. Despite the city's challenges, God is working in the lives of those in need. Alex, a son of Korean immi...

Jeff Snodgrass is the Lead Pastor at Unite Church located in Pasadena, CA. He grew up in Southern California, where, at 16, he made a life change and began to follow Jesus. After hitting rock bottom in his junior year, he prayed, “Lord, the life I live is now yours. Do with it as you will.” This is the same prayer that led him into ministry and is the same prayer he continues to pray daily. He has...

Josh was born and raised in Sacramento, California. He worked as a youth pastor in Atwater and Santa Rosa. In 2005, he moved back to Sacramento to pastor Northside Church, a church re-planted from Arcade Church. Like most church plants, bringing it back to a healthy place took work. Through all of that, he developed a partnership with Venture Church Network. He is now on their staff as a Regional...

Today's conversation is with Al Soto from Shingle Springs, California. You can't say much more about his journey to become a Christian and his call to ministry; it could be a movie script. His life and journey took turns that one might find hard to believe. This is a conversation you won't want to miss and won't want to end. Make sure that you listen to this one, and you will b...

It’s just easier to call him Pastor Vlad. Today’s JD has a conversation with Vladimir Kotyakov. He came to the United States at the age of 11. Vladimir has a rich Christian heritage. A grandfather died for his faith in a Russian gulag, and his father and other family members were also pastors in Russia. He is currently serving as pastor at the House of Bread church near Sacramento, California. His...