Best Zach Wooldridge Podcasts (2025)

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CNLP 763 | When Pastoral Succession Hurts: Tim Timberlake on Leading Through Pain and Finding Momentum 1:14:14

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4d ago1:14:14

1:14:14

In a wide-ranging interview, Tim Timberlake reflects on a challenging pastoral succession and how he rebuilt momentum. Plus, he discusses getting divorced in his twenties, what he learned about... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 762 | The Church Model That's Dead: Attractional Church and 3 Shifts Every Leader Must Know 18:39

9d ago18:39

18:39

In this episode, Carey explores why the attractional church model no longer works, what's replacing it, the three shifts that made it ineffective, and what you and your church can do now to reach... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 761 | The Hardest Assignment in Ministry: Tim Stevens on Willow Creek, Firing Well, and Finding Momentum 1:09:49

12d ago1:09:49

1:09:49

Tim Stevens returns to the podcast to discuss the hardest assignment in ministry: his three years at Willow Creek. He also talks about how to spot talent, firing well, how to recapture momentum, and... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 760 | Your Brain is Lying to You 80% of the Time: Judah Smith and Les Parrot on Why Leaders Self-Sabotage and How to Break the Cycle 1:13:57

18d ago1:13:57

1:13:57

Judah Smith and Dr. Les Parrot, Judah's therapist of 15 years, talk about the unique pressures pastors face. Les and Judah explain why your brain is lying to you 80% of the time, offer insights into... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 759 | Preaching Through Depression — Faith Eury Cho on Mental Health, the Holy Spirit, and Gen Z 1:04:34

24d ago1:04:34

1:04:34

Preaching is hard, no matter how you approach it. But throw planting a church during lockdown, a life-long struggle with mental health and anxiety, and planting in a tough to reach area in the mix,... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 758 | Does Simple Church Still Work? Eric Geiger on What Scales and Why Older Church Leaders Need to Die to Themselves 1:14:22

25d ago1:14:22

1:14:22

Nearly twenty years after releasing his groundbreaking book Simple Church, Eric Geiger reflects on why complexity still doesn't scale, how complexity subtly creeps in as you grow, and what he's... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 757 | The Key To Better Preaching is NOT What You Think: Megan Fate Marshman on Preaching and How to Use Your Voice and Body for More Effective Communication 53:03

1M ago53:03

53:03

Megan Fate Marshman is an incredibly compelling preacher who speaks in many of the largest churches in America. She shares how her preaching has evolved since she started, what she does right before... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 756 | Preaching Secrets That Actually Work: 90 Minutes of Strategy, Theology, and the Art of Preaching with Mark Clark and Carey Nieuwhof 1:19:54

1M ago1:19:54

1:19:54

83% of Americans say preaching impacts their decision on a church home. Having just filmed a new 45 video course called the Art of Preaching, Carey Nieuwhof and Mark Clark share 90 minutes of their... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 755 | 29 Stress Points in 14 Months and My Health Wake-Up Call: Inside My Hardest Year in Leadership in 20 Years 1:23:06

1M ago1:23:06

1:23:06

Twenty-nine stressful events in 14 months. One major health crisis. Zero sugar-coating. In this flip-the-mic episode, Sean Morgan interviews Carey to dissect the hardest year Carey's faced in two... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 754 | Rick Warren on What 99% of Churches Don't Do, The Rise of the Global Church, and the Call American Churches Need to Hear 1:16:42

2M ago1:16:42

1:16:42

Rick Warren returns to the podcast to explain what 99% of churches don't do. He discusses the extraordinary rise of the global church and how it's outpacing population growth, and he outlines the... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 753 | Why White Christian Men Are Afraid to Preach the Bible — Therapy, Calling, and Comedy with Julian Lowe 1:21:10

2M ago1:21:10

1:21:10

Julian Lowe never expected to be a pastor, which ironically freed him up to become one. He talks about what he learned at the Groundlings, in Music, and in ministry, sharing why he feels white men... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 752 | How Do You Fire Staff That Are Like Family? Jon Gordon on Making the Tough Calls on Staffing and Creating Great Teams 49:13

2M ago49:13

49:13

Many church leaders think of their staff as family. But if they're family, can you fire them? Jon Gordon has coached hundreds of professional sports teams and companies and explains what it takes to... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 751 | The 6 Surprising Traits of Sticky Sermons And Why Focusing On The Problem is the Wrong Approach—With Dan Heath 1:11:27

2M ago1:11:27

1:11:27

Dan Heath, author of Made to Stick, The Power of Moments, and other seminal leadership books, talks about the six surprising traits of sticky sermons, how to design church experiences people never... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 750 | Inside Tim Keller's Mind: Matt Smethurst on Keller's Preaching, DNA, and Rule of Life 1:14:08

2M ago1:14:08

1:14:08

Matt Smethurst has listened to and studied more hours of Tim Keller's preaching and teaching than almost anyone alive. In this conversation, Matt gets us inside Tim Keller's mind, breaking down what... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 749 | Revival Series Pt. 5 | Why God is Moving So Powerfully Now: JP Pokluda on Gen Z and Gen Alpha Revival and How to Share the Gospel with Your Uber Driver 1:08:52

2M ago1:08:52

1:08:52

In Part 5 of our Revival series, JP Pokluda brings firsthand accounts of how God is moving in college stadiums. He shares the Gospel with your Uber driver, server, and other people you meet, what's... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 748 | Revival Series Pt. 4 | Gen Z Men Converting—UK Church Revival Lessons for America: Nicky Gumbel, Al Gordon and Stephen Foster on Reversing Generations of Church Decline 1:18:59

2M ago1:18:59

1:18:59

In Part 4 of the Revival series, Nicky Gumbel, Al Gordon, and Stephen Foster explain how and why Gen Z men in the UK are becoming Christians in record numbers. They discuss how they're seeing... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 747 | Revival Series Pt. 3 | Revival Broke Out at Saddleback: Andy Wood and Luke LeFevre on How Far the Church In America Has Fallen and the Way Back 1:44:46

3M ago1:44:46

1:44:46

In Part 3 of our Revival series, Andy Wood (Lead Pastor of Saddleback Church) and Luke LeFevre (A Gen Z preacher who works with the Gather movement) discuss a prophetic word Luke received about an... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 746 | Revival Series Pt. 2 | Preparing and Preaching For Revival: Jon Tyson on the History, Dynamics and Prep You Need to Be Ready for Revival 1:14:40

3M ago1:14:40

1:14:40

In Part 2 of our Revival series, Jon Tyson does a deep dive on the history of revival, including a detailed account of what happened/is happening in the Hebrides and in NYC. Jon explores how to... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 745 | Revival Series Pt. 1 | Inside the Asbury Outpouring: Zach Meerkreebs on the Sermon that Sparked Revival, Miracles, and Gen Z's Spiritual Awakening 1:30:00

3M ago1:30:00

1:30:00

In our Revival Series opener, Zach Meerkreeb shares the backstory of the Asbury Outpouring sparked by his sermon, which didn't go particularly well. He explores Gen Z's unique spiritual awakening,... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 744 | This One Thing Separates Ministry Survivors from Ministry Casualties: Ray Johnston's Secret to Lasting Decades In Ministry 1:48:54

3M ago1:48:54

1:48:54

Ray Johnston, senior pastor of Bayside Church in Sacramento, CA, reflects on decades of ministry and how to stay encouraged in ministry even when you feel done, why cynicism is incurable, how to... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 743 | Stuck Under a Bad Boss? Bree Groff on How to Thrive, Lead Up, and Transform Your Job 1:08:54

3M ago1:08:54

1:08:54

One question church leaders keep asking is "what do I do about my boss/lead pastor? Enter Bree Groff, workplace expert who explains what to do when you have a bad boss, don't love your job, and the... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 742 | 2025 Church Trends UPDATE: The Gen Z Revival is Real (New Data) + The Mental Health Crisis is Shifting To A Whole New Front 26:12

4M ago26:12

26:12

Major update to Carey's 2025 church trends with stunning new data. Gen Z church attendance has quadrupled (4% to 16%), with young men leading at 21%. US data shows similar revival patterns. ... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 741 | How To Know When You've Crossed A Moral Line: Max Lucado on Church Leadership, Moral Failure, and How to Tame Your Thoughts 1:09:37

4M ago1:09:37

1:09:37

Max Lucado talks about his new role at Gateway Church, how to carry the trauma and disappointment of a congregation after the senior pastor has breached trust, how to know if and when you've crossed... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 740 | Overpoliticized and Undermoralized: David Brooks on the American Church, Culture, Becoming a Christian and Being Pastored By Tim Keller 1:09:05

4M ago1:09:05

1:09:05

What if our culture's biggest crisis isn't political, but spiritual and relational? New York Times columnist, bestselling author, and Atlantic columnist David Brooks talks about how American culture... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 739 | Young and Fighting About Money, Sex and Power: Ashley and Jaime Wooldridge on How They Radically Transformed Their Marriage and Went On To Lead One of America's Fastest Growing Churches 1:07:50

4M ago1:07:50

1:07:50

There's nothing like honesty when it comes to hearing people's stories. CCV Lead Pastor Ashley Wooldridge returns to the podcast with his wife, Jaime. In a raw conversation, they open up about their... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 738 | Don't Make the Pastor the Product: Ashley Wooldridge on Building One of America's Fastest-Growing Churches Through Team Empowerment 1:32:05

4M ago1:32:05

1:32:05

Lessons from one of America's fastest-growing and largest churches, Christ Church of the Valley (CCV). Senior Pastor Ashley Wooldridge talks about lessons he learned from a decade at Intel before... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 737 | Toxic Masculinity and the Church: Derwin Gray on Using Ministry to Heal Childhood Wounds, Lessons from the NFL, and The Challenge of Finding the Right Team 1:03:51

4M ago1:03:51

1:03:51

Derwin Gray talks about toxic masculinity and how it plays out in the NFL, the culture, and the church. Plus, insights on using ministry to heal childhood wounds and the challenge of finding the... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 736 | Why Dying Churches Need to Give Growing Churches Their Buildings: The Argument and The Main Objections 30:21

5M ago30:21

30:21

Fact: Many churches with facilities and money lack people, while churches with people often lack facilities and funds. In this episode, Carey Nieuwhof argues why dying churches should transfer their... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 735 | 280% More Likely to Come Back: Jason Mitchell on How to Get Visitors To Come Back to Church, The Emotion of Succession and How Preaching Has Changed 1:15:07

5M ago1:15:07

1:15:07

Imagine if your biggest question was, why did our church grow so fast? Jason Mitchell, Lead Pastor of LCBC, talks about what you need to do to see a 280% greater spike in first-time visitors... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 734 | Is Your Church Overstaffed? Amy Anderson on The Pivotal Differences Between Growing and Declining Churches, and The Legacy of Tony Morgan 58:37

5M ago58:37

58:37

The Unstuck Group's Amy Anderson discusses how to know if your church is overstaffed (it probably is), the key differences between growing and declining churches, and leading a company after its... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 733 | You Are Not Your Work: Arianna Molloy's Blueprint for Overcoming Toxic Calling and Boundary Shaming 1:16:44

5M ago1:16:44

1:16:44

Has your calling become toxic? Biola Professor Arianna Molloy discusses the identity crisis most church leaders face: identifying with their calling so much that it becomes toxic. She also discusses... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 732 | When You Want To Punch a Hole in the Wall: Kyle Idleman on Vulnerability, Insecurity and the Spiritual Gift of Disappointing People 1:12:21

5M ago1:12:21

1:12:21

Kyle Idleman discusses why it's easier to admit a fault on stage than to a friend in person, the times you feel like you want to punch a hole in the wall (and what to do about it), vulnerability,... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 731 | Leading With An Inferiority Complex: Chris Hodges Opens Up About Being Bullied, Insecurity, and How to Foster a Successful Succession 1:04:40

5M ago1:04:40

1:04:40

Chris Hodges, founding pastor of Church of the Highlands, opens up for the first time about being bullied as a kid, having an inferiority complex, and how that's impacted his leadership. Plus, he... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 730 | Pick My Brain: Are There Limits to Church Growth? Plus, Being Micromanaged and How to Know Who To Fire 32:55

5M ago32:55

32:55

Carey answers your questions about whether there are limits to church growth, what to do if your elders try to micromanage you, and how to know who to fire and how to do it. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 729 | Church Growth Unleashed: Adam Mesa on Millennial Pastoring and Viral Podcasting 1:19:37

6M ago1:19:37

1:19:37

Patria Lead Pastor Adam Mesa shares how viral podcasting helped grow his church from 1,100 to 7,500+ in five years, his experience as a millennial taking over leadership from his dad, and navigating... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 728 | The Maniac's Advantage: Ryan Leak on Strategic Preparation, Speaking Success & Meeting Heroes 1:30:45

6M ago1:30:45

1:30:45

Ryan Leak has become one of the most sought-after preachers and leadership speakers today. He explains why he prepares for a three-minute offering talk the same way he preps for a leadership talk to... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 727 | Clear Your Space, Clear Your Mind: Andrew Mellen's Radical Approach to Personal Organization and Office Communication 1:13:29

6M ago1:13:29

1:13:29

Organizational consultant Andrew Mellen returns to the podcast to discuss the three rules he uses to help leaders organize their work and home life for mental clarity. Plus, why clutter is deferred... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 726 | Becoming #1 In Your Field: Mark Faris Brings Lessons on Navigating Rapid Growth and Breaking Through Leadership Ceilings 1:28:37

6M ago1:28:37

1:28:37

Real estate mogul Mark Faris talks about going from being cut from professional hockey to becoming the #1 real estate agent and company in the nation. He explains what it took to become #1 in his... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 725 | Too Young to Lead? John Eldredge on Age, Authority, and the Hidden Hunger Success and Marriage Can't Fill 1:29:58

6M ago1:29:58

1:29:58

John Eldredge asks whether 30 is too young to be a lead pastor (and what to do if you're in your 20s or 30s and leading a large church). He also talks about finding spiritual authority and the stages... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 724 | Leadership Wounds That Become Ticking Time Bombs: Levi Lusko on Navigating a Mid-Life Crisis in Ministry at 38 and the Mixed Gifting and Motivations of Preachers 1:26:20

6M ago1:26:20

1:26:20

Levi Lusko opens up about navigating a mid-life crisis in ministry at 38 and identifying wounds that become a ticking time bomb. Plus, Levi and Carey explore the mixed motives and gifting of... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 723 | Pick My Brain: Raw Answers to Your Leadership Questions on Ambition, Being a "Professional" Christian, and Firing People 35:26

7M ago35:26

35:26

Carey Nieuwhof takes the top questions young leaders submitted about ambition and how it works for and against you. Plus, he discusses media consumption habits, being a 'professional" Christian... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 722 | When No One Trust Pastors Anymore: Glenn Packiam on The Nex-Gen Church Leader Mental Health Crisis And The Difference Between Being Weary and Wounded 1:02:34

7M ago1:02:34

1:02:34

Glenn Packiam talks about how to pastor in an age where no one trusts pastors, the church leader mental health crisis (especially among next-gen leaders), and the difference between being weary and... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 721 | When Couples Fight About Everything: Gabe and Rebekah Lyons Open Up About Marriage, Sex, and Honest Advice for Two Career Couples 1:08:44

7M ago1:08:44

1:08:44

In an incredibly candid conversation, Gabe and Rebekah Lyons open up about their 28-year marriage. They discuss how they fight about everything, sex, navigating two careers, parenting, and how,... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 720 | Why Woke Broke: Mark Sayers on the Massive Trump-Era Cultural Upheaval and How to Find Hope in New Global Chaos 1:30:56

7M ago1:30:56

1:30:56

Mark Sayers brings astonishing insight to the rapid cultural, economic, and political change we're seeing right now in America and globally. Carey and Mark cover why woke broke, the massive upheaval... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 719 | Why Teens Don't Trust the Church: Kara Powell on Why Young Women are Dropping Out of Church, And The Keys to Reaching The Next Generation 1:02:25

7M ago1:02:25

1:02:25

In this episode, Kara Powell discusses why teens and young adults don't trust the church. Plus, Carey and Kara talk about why young women are dropping out of church, why young men are leaning in, and... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 718 | When Christians Become the Minority: Warren Bird and Adelle Banks on The Shifts Needed To Make Your Church Future-Ready and the Surprising Reasons People Give for Not Attending Church 1:26:36

7M ago1:26:36

1:26:36

Warren Bird and Adelle Banks share data and case studies on what you need to do to make your church future-ready and to experience church growth. Plus, they go deep on what happens when Christians... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 717 | Does Character Even Matter Any More in Leadership (And Ministry)? 24:31

8M ago24:31

24:31

Does character even matter anymore for Christians? If you look at the moral failure happening among pastors and the current culture politically, you'd think not. But the truth is your character... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 716 | A New Model for Funding Churches: Mark Batterson on Visionary Entrepreneurship, and The Gradual and Sudden Pattern of Success 1:15:00

8M ago1:15:00

1:15:00

Mark Batterson unpacks the funding and church planting strategy of National Community Church. He shares how NCC went from 29 people to owning coffee houses and city blocks in one of America's most... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 715 | The Most Overlooked Group in Your Church: Annie F. Downs on What Many Churches Are Missing in Ministry and the Power of Human Connection On and Offline 43:58

8M ago43:58

43:58

In this live interview, Annie F. Downs returns to the podcast and explains what most churches are missing in ministry. Plus, she discusses the most overlooked group in your church, how to connect... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof

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CNLP 714 | How A Brick and Mortar Bookstore Defied Amazon: Mart Green on The Inner Workings of the Green Family and Navigating the Reaction to the He Gets Us Campaign 1:22:01

8M ago1:22:01

1:22:01

Mart Green joins the podcast to share how his retail book chain stayed profitable and growing in the face of the rise of Amazon, defying the odds. Plus, Mart explains Hobby Lobby's Green Family's... Read the whole entry... » Click the icon below to listen.By Carey Nieuwhof