Thriving Church Leadership

Ep 22: Bridging The Gap - Pastors and Church Boards Working Together

In this episode of the Thriving Church Leadership podcast, host Joe Johnson interviews Brian Walker, president of the Grace Gospel Fellowship, to discuss the relationship between pastors and church boards. The conversation explores various board structures, their impact on pastor-board relationships, and strategies for building trust and effective communication. 00:00 - Church Ministry Collaboration: Pastors and Boards Uniting 11:27 - Building Trust 15:04 - Gracious Interpretation is Essential Between Pastors and Boards 21:07 - Encouragement and Appreciation in Church Teamwork 24:42 - Trust is Complex, But Critical 36:33 - Respect for Passionate Pastors and Board Members

Ep 21: Bridging the Gap Between Pastors and Boards

In this episode, we’ll meet Joe Johnson, pastor at Parkside Bible Church in Holland, MI, and the new host of the podcast. Today, Bryan and Joe discuss transitions and positions in church leadership, providing fresh perspectives, addressing the differences between how pastors and board members see things, and touching on logistics in board nominations. Whether you’re a pastor, a board member, or someone interested in church leadership, there's much to learn from this enriching conversation. Tune in below! 00:00 - Introduction 02:46 - The New Perspective on Leadership 5:18 - Training for Pastors & Board Members 8:22 - The Pastoral Perspective 10:00 - Board Members’ Perspective 14:12 - Uniqueness of Pastors 17:46 - CEO vs. Pastor Dynamics 20:32 - Addressing Assumptions 25:22 - Addressing Logistics in Board Nominations

Ep 16: Serving Alone

In this episode: 00:00 - Introduction 02:04 - Today’s Guests 06:48 - What Does It Mean to Feel “Alone” In a Small Congregation? 10:38 - What Was It Like Being Received Into the Congregation? 17:55 - The Most Poignant Aspect of Aloneness 26:05 - Risks of Working Alone As a Pastor 29:26 - Transparency As a Pastor 33:13 - How Board Members Can Help Their Pastors 37:10 - Close Relationships Inside and Outside the Church 42:26 - Advice from Bryan Walker 47:00 - Helpful Resources Resources Mentioned: The Pastor: A Memoir - Eugene Peterson We offer many different resources to help you thrive in your calling to shepherd the church. Reach out to us at info@ggfusa.org to get started!

Mini-Series: Positivity in Grace

In this episode, Pastor John Lowder and Dr. Bryan Walker welcome our special guest, Dr. Sam Vinton. As a vibrant 91-year-old, Dr. Sam has spent his entire lifetime in ministry and has a vast wealth of experience in a variety of service and leadership roles nationally and internationally. Throughout his life, Dr. Sam has invested himself fully into learning about God's Grace and demonstrating it to others around the world. Join us as we interview our dear friend and hear his life testimony and his reflection on the "Positivity in Grace". In this episode: 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - Special guests: Pastor John Lowder and Dr. Sam Vinton 03:30 - Dr. Sam Introduced 04:30 - Why are you still a Mid-Acts Dispensationalist? 06:45 - What influence did Charles Baker have on you? 09:20 - How did you feel teaching Mid-Acts Dispensationalism in a more Charismatic culture? 12:45 - What has kept you a Mid-Acts Dispensationalist? 14:50 - How do you respond to some of the challenges Mid-Acts Dispensationalism faces? 19:30 - Have you ever had doubts about Mid-Acts Dispensationalism? 23:40 - Final thoughts and encouragement 27:00 - Big thanks to Dr. Sam Vinton!

Mini-Series: Emphasis In Grace

In this episode we welcome back Pastor John Lowder, the lead pastor of Frontline Bible Church in Byron Center, MI, and the Director of Pastoral Care at the Grace Gospel Fellowship, to help us interview today’s guest, Pastor Dave Cannon. Pastor Dave Cannon has spent many years serving as a pastor in Florida. He first served as a pastor of a church in Inverness for 18 years before moving to Palm Bay, where he has been pastoring for the past 20 years. We are so grateful for his many years of service and look forward to learning more about his life and walk with God. In this episode: 00:00 - Introduction 00:40 - Special guests: Pastor John Lowder and Pastor Dave Cannon 06:00 - How did you come to know Christ? 07:45 - How did you end up in Colorado? 09:45 - How did you hear the Grace message? 14:50 - When did you fully embrace Mid-Acts Dispensationalism? 17:35 - What is it that’s kept you a Mid-Acts Dispensationalist? 20:35 - How have you maintained your spirit of graciousness? 25:50 - Have you ever had doubts about Mid-Acts Dispensationalism? 28:00 - Final thoughts and encouragement 31:00 - Big thanks to Pastor Dave Cannon!