What does it take to lead with grit, resilience, and humility—especially when stepping into an established church with decades of history? In this episode, Kevin Lewis, Lead Pastor of Lighthouse Church in Newbury Park, CA, joins us for a powerful conversation about resilience in leadership, the tension of honoring the past while leading into the future, and staying faithful to the prophetic mandate God has placed on your life.

From walking through church transition and COVID in California, to rebranding and reshaping culture, Kevin shares candid stories about the challenges, lessons, and breakthroughs that shaped his journey. He talks about the balance between friendship and leadership on staff teams, the value of humility when receiving feedback, and why keeping leaders in their “prophetic lane” is vital for the health of the church.

00:00 – Cold open & “stretching” gag 00:28 – Introducing Kevin Lewis + the resilience theme 02:10 – Taking over a 43-year church: early challenges, budget, culture 05:10 – Transition done with humility: going slower, caring for people 08:20 – On the receiving side of leadership: choosing grace, not replicating hurt 12:00 – Honoring legacy while leading change (rebrand timing, California context) 15:20 – Prayerful, contextual strategy vs. plug-and-play conference models 19:10 – Friendship + leadership duality: hard conversations, real trust 23:40 – Empowering staff, solving problems, and keeping leaders in their lane 27:50 – Prophetic mandate, presence over programming, and closing thoughts

About Sidecar Leader: Sidecar Leader is committed to helping church leaders move further, faster—without going alone. Through strategic coaching, creative services, and a proven three-phase process (Discover, Design, Deliver), Sidecar partners with pastors and leadership teams to clarify their vision, overcome challenges, and execute with purpose. Whether you're scaling your church, shifting your strategy, or simply need clarity in your next step, Sidecar helps you lead with confidence.

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