Advertise on podcast: The Lead Ministry Podcast

Retention is not about forcing every volunteer to stay in every role forever. In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk talk about the healthy exit: how to honor a volunteer's service, learn from the experience, preserve belonging, and leave room for a future return. They contrast gratitude with guilt, show why leaders should release the role without removing the person from the community, and lay out a practical exit conversation: thank, learn, bless, and name the open door. They also explain a no-pressure follow-up that honors a volunteer's season instead of turning every future conversation into a request. Key Topics Covered Why some exits are faithful endings, not leadership failures Choosing gratitude rather than guilt Releasing the role without removing the person A practical exit conversation: thank, learn, bless, name the open door A no-pressure follow-up that preserves belonging Key Quote “Some exits are faithful endings. They're not leadership failures.” Takeaway Thank the volunteer, learn from the experience, bless the ending, and leave belonging open without turning follow-up into another ask. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

A volunteer can still care deeply about the ministry while the role no longer fits the season they are in. In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk unpack the volunteer role half-life: the reality that a once-good role can drift as a person's gifting, capacity, or clarity changes. They show how role creep happens, why a larger assignment deserves a new agreement, and how to review the role before defaulting to replacement. The practical path is simple but intentional: look at the role with the person in mind, ask whether it still fits, and test one role change through a 90-, 60-, or 30-day experiment. Key Topics Covered When a once-good volunteer role stops fitting Gift for the work, capacity for the load, clarity for the win Why a larger assignment deserves a new agreement Reviewing the role before replacing the person Trying a 90-, 60-, or 30-day experiment Key Quote “Keep the person. But now you're going to question the shape and you're going to maybe even redesign the agreement.” Takeaway Review the role with the person in mind, then test one clearly defined change through a time-bound experiment. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

Every ministry has occasional chaos. The problem is when the same dependable volunteers keep paying for it. In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk introduce retention debt: the accumulated trust cost of unresolved ministry friction. They unpack why late changes, surprise asks, broken promises, and rescue mode slowly borrow against volunteer goodwill. Then they turn the framework into a practical reset: audit the last four weeks, retire one recurring rescue, make deposits through earlier decisions and complete preparation, and keep one public promise faithfully for four weeks. Key Topics Covered What retention debt means Why goodwill is the asset repeated friction borrows against How surprise, broken promises, and rescue mode drain trust Three deposits: decide earlier, prepare completely, communicate once A four-week audit and one recurring rescue to retire Key Quote “Retention debt is actually borrowed against the goodwill of your volunteers.” Takeaway Audit the last four weeks, retire one recurring rescue, and keep one public promise faithfully for the next four weeks. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

Volunteer exits rarely start on the day someone gives notice. In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk introduce the stay interview: a proactive conversation designed to happen before an exit interview is needed. They talk through why a broken ministry system can keep new people cycling out, what to listen for when a volunteer's energy or connection changes, and how to ask honest questions without immediately defending the system. The episode closes with a practical challenge: schedule three conversations, use the five questions, and write down what you hear before offering solutions. Josh also points Lead Ministry members to the Open-Ended Personal Survey as a roadmap for the conversation. Key Topics Covered Why recruiting into a broken system keeps the revolving door moving What a stay interview is, and why it is not an exit interview Three signals to notice: energy, friction, and connection How to listen without immediately defending the system A practical challenge to schedule three conversations Key Quote “This is not an exit interview. This is the stay interview. So you do the stay interview long before they ever quit.” Takeaway Schedule three honest conversations. Ask the five questions, write down what you hear, and close the loop before offering solutions. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk explore the multiplication principle behind Dawson Trotman and the early Navigators: do not merely teach people — teach people who can teach others. Using 2 Timothy 2:2 as the foundation, they connect that vision to the life-on-life investment Josh received as a young Christian and the leaders he later developed. If you want your ministry and faith to continue beyond your personal involvement, this episode will challenge you to invest deeply in a faithful few and teach every lesson with the next generation already in view. KEY TOPICS COVERED The Early Navigators – Dawson Trotman, Navy sailor Les Spencer, and the words “You teach him” The 2 Timothy 2:2 Pattern – Teaching faithful people who can teach others Learning With Someone Else in Mind – Receiving truth in a way that prepares you to pass it on The Faithful Few – Choosing your 12, your 3, and your 1 A Legacy Beyond You – Measuring ministry by what continues after you are gone KEY QUOTE “Teach people who can teach people to teach people.” SCRIPTURE REFERENCES 2 Timothy 2:2 – Entrust what you have learned to faithful people who will teach others Mark 3:14 – Jesus appoints the twelve to be with Him and to be sent out Matthew 28:19-20 – Make disciples and teach them to obey everything Jesus commanded TAKEAWAY Do not listen, learn, or lead with only yourself in mind. Invest deeply in faithful people, tell them from the beginning that the message must keep moving, and teach them in a way that prepares them to teach someone else. CALL TO ACTION We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. STAY CONNECTED FOR MORE RESOURCES Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk explain how to turn key volunteers into ministry owners — people who function like volunteer staff because they understand the mission, take initiative, lead others, and reproduce what they have learned. They walk through the structural and relational work required to develop one or two deeply equipped leaders instead of chasing a larger roster of unprepared helpers. If your ministry still rises and falls on your personal involvement, this episode will give you a practical path from doer to developer and from volunteer help to shared ownership. KEY TOPICS COVERED Doer vs. Developer – Why ministry leaders must develop people who can develop people Structure That Supports Growth – Building an org chart around people, not only processes Clarity and Accountability – Using job descriptions, shared language, and useful feedback Think Small and Think Long – Developing one person in one area before expanding Model, Mentor, Multiply – A three-phase pathway for reproducing leaders KEY QUOTE “You don't need more people. You need more equipped people.” SCRIPTURE REFERENCES Ephesians 4:11-12 – Pastors equip God's people for the work of ministry 2 Timothy 2:2 – Develop faithful people who will be able to teach others Mark 3:13-15 – Jesus calls a smaller group to be with Him and then sends them out TAKEAWAY Choose one ministry area and one faithful person. Give them a clear role, model it with them, mentor them as they lead someone else, and establish from the beginning that multiplication is part of the assignment. CALL TO ACTION We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. STAY CONNECTED FOR MORE RESOURCES Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk challenge ministry leaders to stop carrying volunteer recruitment alone. They share seven practical ways to build an invitation culture where enthusiastic volunteers become credible recruiters, equipped with clear language, useful tools, meaningful ownership, compelling stories, and serving seasons that feel manageable. If you are exhausted from filling the same roster by yourself, this episode will help you move from staff-led recruiting to a self-sustaining volunteer culture where everyone carries the joy of inviting. KEY TOPICS COVERED Invite Culture vs. Recruiting Culture – Helping people invite friends into something meaningful Clear Asks and Practical Tools – Tours, connection events, trial experiences, cards, links, and simple language Owners, Not Attenders – Giving key volunteers responsibility for growing their area Vision and Storytelling – Moving from desperate needs to a purpose people want to join Serving Seasons – Creating clear on-ramps, check-ins, and off-ramps KEY QUOTE “Stop recruiting. Start reproducing.” SCRIPTURE REFERENCES Ephesians 4:11-12 – Leaders equip God's people for the work of ministry 1 Peter 4:10 – Use whatever gift you have received to serve others TAKEAWAY Your volunteers can recruit with a level of trust staff cannot manufacture. Give them a clear invitation, something useful to share, a story worth telling, and permission to help build the team. CALL TO ACTION We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. STAY CONNECTED FOR MORE RESOURCES Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart sits down with Lauren Ralston to explore how ministry leaders can disciple volunteers the way Jesus discipled His followers. They discuss the difference between teaching information and giving people access to your life, how to identify a core leadership team, and why multiplication is not complete until the people you develop are developing others. If your ministry structure still depends on you personally reaching every volunteer, teacher, child, or family, this episode will help you build a healthier model that multiplies care without losing personal connection. KEY TOPICS COVERED What Makes a Disciple Maker – Moving beyond personal growth to helping others reproduce Life-on-Life Discipleship – Why people need access to your real life, not only your lessons The 12, the 3, and the 1 – Identifying the people who need your deepest investment A Multiplying Structure – Training coordinators to disciple teachers who disciple families KEY QUOTE “You are not a disciple maker until the people you are discipling are making disciples.” SCRIPTURE REFERENCES 2 Timothy 2:2 – Entrust what you have learned to faithful people who will teach others Exodus 18:17-23 – Jethro challenges Moses to develop leaders who can share the load Matthew 4:19 and Matthew 10:1 – Jesus first models ministry and then sends His disciples to do it TAKEAWAY Do not wait for growth to force multiplication. Identify one faithful person, invite them closer, let them see how you live and lead, and begin preparing them to pass the same investment to someone else. CALL TO ACTION We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. STAY CONNECTED FOR MORE RESOURCES Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk unpack the difference between dumping, delegating, and discipling volunteers. They explore why rushed handoffs create confusion and turnover, how clear systems protect both quality and people, and why the highest form of ministry multiplication requires passing on more than a task — it requires passing on the heart behind the work. If you've ever returned from vacation to discover that a volunteer misunderstood an assignment, or wondered why capable people keep burning out around you, this episode will help you build a better handoff and a healthier team. KEY TOPICS COVERED Dumping vs. Delegating vs. Discipling – Recognizing three very different kinds of ministry handoff Clarity Before Handoff – Why details, examples, and a dry run prevent avoidable failure Build Once, Reap Repeatedly – Creating systems that serve volunteers for years The Be-With Factor – Passing on your heart through time, questions, and shared ministry KEY QUOTE “The cost that you pay to delegate properly and disciple thoroughly is worth it.” SCRIPTURE REFERENCES Mark 3:14 – Jesus appointed the twelve so they might be with Him and be sent out Ephesians 4:11-12 – Ministry leaders equip God's people for the work of ministry TAKEAWAY Delegation may complete a task, but discipleship builds a person. Slow down before the handoff, provide the clarity a volunteer needs, and invest enough time for them to understand both what to do and why it matters. CALL TO ACTION We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. STAY CONNECTED FOR MORE RESOURCES Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk wrap the July Conflict series with ten practical rules every ministry leader needs when conflict shows up at the door. They explore the difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking, offering ministry leaders a working playbook for handling the hard conversations they'd rather avoid.  If you've ever felt unprepared for the relational fallout that comes with leadership, this episode will equip and inspire you with ten field-tested principles you can put into practice this week.  Key Topics Covered Act quickly and lead with the benefit of the doubt – the first two rules that change everything.Make it right, not being right – why winning the argument can cost you the relationship.Peacekeeper vs. peacemaker – the difference that defines the kind of leader you'll become. Key Quote "There's a difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking. Peacemakers take initiative, do the hard work, and choose humility."  Scripture References Matthew 5:9 – "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."Proverbs 15:1 – "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Takeaway Conflict is not the enemy — disunity is. Lead with humility, address tension early, talk to the person not about them, and trust that God is using every hard conversation to grow you into someone who looks more like Him.  Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.  Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Vance Martin of Slingshot Group introduce the Ability vs. Likability framework — a simple chart that places every leader in one of four quadrants. They explore why the most effective leaders are both highly capable AND highly likable, offering ministry leaders a practical self-assessment for becoming the kind of influencer their team actually wants to follow.  If you've ever wondered why your hard work isn't translating into team buy-in, this episode will equip and inspire you with the framework and the action steps to shift your leadership posture this week.  Key Topics Covered The four quadrants of leadership – Influencer, Intimidator, Incompetent, Infamous.Why likability is a leadership superpower – the "benefit of the doubt" advantage.Invitation and challenge – the horse-whisperer model for leading people well. Key Quote "People are not a means to an end. They are the end. Focus on the people and you'll get more done than you ever thought possible."  Scripture References Proverbs 27:17 – "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."Philippians 2:3-4 – "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves." Takeaway Likability gets you loved. Ability gets you respected. You need both. Run the honest self-assessment, pick one axis to grow on this quarter, and watch your influence multiply.  Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.  Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart sits down with Vance Martin of Slingshot Group to unpack the five ways leaders respond to conflict — and why only one of them actually produces healthy outcomes. They explore why conflict isn't a problem to solve but a tension to manage, offering a practical framework for ministry leaders to lean into hard conversations instead of dodging them. If you've ever avoided a conflict and watched it grow worse, this episode will equip and inspire you with the tools to address tension head-on without losing your soul or the relationship. Key Topics Covered Conflict is normal, natural, and neutral – why the discomfort isn't the enemy.The five responses to conflict – retaliate, escape, surrender, compromise, address.Build a fence, not a hospital – the proactive case for early intervention. Key Quote "Sometimes when you win, you lose. You were right. But man, you lost big time. It cost you a lot and you don't even know it." Scripture References Proverbs 27:6 – "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy."Romans 12:18 – "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Takeaway Conflict will find you in ministry. The leaders who flourish aren't the ones who avoid it — they're the ones who address it. Get to the root, stay in the room, and remember that the goal isn't winning. The goal is the kingdom. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk unpack the honey-versus-vinegar principle and how ministry leaders can win people over with kindness instead of force. They explore why a winsome approach builds deeper trust, longer-lasting influence, and a healthier team culture for ministry leaders. If you've ever felt the pull to "go nuclear" on a frustrating staff member, volunteer, or vendor, this episode will equip and inspire you with a kingdom-shaped alternative that actually works. Key Topics Covered Defining conflict and why it's normal in ministry – the "good case of the normals."The honey vs. vinegar principle – kindness wins influence; harshness burns bridges.Honoring the unseen members of the body – why elevating "less honorable" roles matters. Key Quote "You can avoid a ton of conflict if you're just not a jerk." Scripture References 1 Peter 2:23 – "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly."1 Corinthians 12:22-23 – "On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor." Takeaway Vinegar may get results, but it leaves wreckage. Honey builds influence that lasts. Lead with kindness consistently and you'll find the hard conversations get easier — and people will go further with you than you ever thought possible. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk wrap up the June Lead Up series with a critical conversation: what to do when your senior leader hands you a last-minute request that might break your team. They share a brilliant third-option response from Lead Ministry coach Jody Quinn, unpack the difference between “doable hard” and “destructive hard,” and offer a framework for protecting your team while still honoring the leadership above you. If you’ve ever felt cornered between saying yes to your boss and protecting your team, this episode hands you the language to do both. Key Topics Covered The Tightrope – Balancing your supervisor’s voice and your team’s needs Jody Quinn’s Third Option – The script that buys you time and earns trust Doable Hard vs. Destructive Hard – Knowing the difference matters Horse Trading – Making your leader pay the cost of priority shifts Honoring Authority Without Worship – Leaders aren’t divine Key Quote “If you need an answer right now, the answer is no. However, if you give me time to talk to the team, we might be able to pull this off.” Scripture References Proverbs 15:22 – With many advisers, plans succeed Proverbs 11:14 – Where there is no guidance, a people falls Romans 13:1 – Submission to authority Ephesians 6:5-9 – Serving with sincere hearts Takeaway You’re a middle manager threading the needle between your supervisor’s voice and your team’s needs. Pause is power. Time creates clarity. And sometimes the most pastoral thing you can do is push back — not on the mission, but on the timeline. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk close out the June Lead Up series with the strategy that wins more yeses than any other: practicing your pitch. They walk through a four-step rehearsal method built on what Josh calls your “12, your 3, and your 1” — an insider team that lets you pressure-test, refine, and sharpen your proposal before it ever reaches your senior leader. If you’ve been winging your pitches and wondering why they keep getting tabled, this episode names the gap and gives you the system. Key Topics Covered Why Practice Matters – How rehearsal validates your character and work ethic The 12, the 3, and the 1 – Building your insider team Speculative Speaking – Creating safe space for processing out loud The 4-Step Pitch Refinement – Identifying agreement, confusion, and gold Plan for the No – What to do when the answer comes back wrong Key Quote “The distance between your brain and your mouth — there is all kinds of you. It’s so much clearer in your brain than it is out of your mouth.” Scripture References Proverbs 15:22 – Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed Proverbs 16:3 – Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans Luke 14:28 – Counting the cost before you build Takeaway Your senior leader isn’t shutting down your idea. They’re shutting down your delivery. Practice your pitch three times before you walk into that meeting and watch how often the answer becomes yes. Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week. Stay Connected for More Resources Visit our website: http://leadministry.com Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeadVolunteers Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers