Advertise on podcast: Michigan Ministry Network L3 Podcast

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry. Today Pastor Aaron sits down with Pastor Tanisha Finley for a highly relatable conversation about the elusive goal of balance. Pastor Tanisha wears a lot of hats, serving as a presbyter, a student ministry pastor all while working a full time job. Pastors Aaron and Tanisha dive into the realities of managing a demanding schedule alongside a bustling family life. They discuss the practical ways credential holders who work outside the church can successfully juggle their diverse responsibilities without dropping the ball. If you constantly feel pulled in a dozen different directions and need encouragement on how to make it all work, this episode is for you. For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry. Today Pastor Aaron welcomes back Pastor Brad Trask for part two of their conversation on leading a church through tragedy. In this deeply moving episode, Pastor Brad shares the harrowing story of an unexpected, severe crisis that deeply impacted a family in his congregation. He details the immediate pastoral response, the long journey of walking with the survivors through the aftermath, and how the church community powerfully rallied to support them. Pastors Aaron and Brad also discuss the immense emotional toll these traumatic events take on a pastor's mental health. They highlight the importance of seeking professional counseling and explain why taking time to heal is an absolute spiritual necessity. If your church has experienced severe trauma or you want to be prepared to minister to grieving families, this episode offers vital wisdom. For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry. Today Pastor Aaron sits down with Pastor Bradley Trask, for part one of a two part conversation on navigating church tragedies. Pastor Brad shares the heartbreaking experience of an unimaginable tragedy that struck his congregation, the intense and necessary response that followed, and the weight of ministering to an entire church while trying to navigate the emotional toll as a leader. They discuss the unique challenges of being present for an extended period of grief, ensuring you don’t delay your own emotional health, and why taking time for spiritual and emotional renewal is crucial. If you’ve experienced tragedy in your church, or you simply want to learn how to lead through the unthinkable, this conversation is an absolute must-listen. For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry. Today, Pastor Aaron is joined by Pastor Donny Lackey, a ministry veteran with over 30 years of experience who currently serves at Mount Hope Church in Portland, Michigan. In this episode, they discuss the complex process of leading a historic church through a comeback. Pastor Donny shares his firsthand experience of navigating the crucial (and often bumpy) transition into a church that has encountered a downturn in its "life cycle," emphasizing the absolute necessity of resting, observing, and taking the temperature of the congregation before initiating major changes. They also discuss the importance of moving beyond a "survival mindset," and how to manage the pace of change without outrunning your congregation. If you are pastoring a revitalization church and feel overwhelmed by the task ahead, this conversation will give you the practical wisdom and encouragement you need to stay the course. For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry. Today Pastor Aaron is joined by Pastor Kurt Cullison of Grace Valley Church to discuss resilience and church revitalization. Pastor Kurt shares his twelve year journey of leading a historic Saginaw congregation out of a massive downturn and back to health. Pastors Aaron and Kurt explore the emotional toll of pastoring in survival mode, how to honor a church's past while boldly changing its culture, and the absolute necessity of avoiding isolation during hard seasons. If you are leading a church turnaround or just need a fresh boost of hope, this conversation is exactly what you need. For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry. Today, Pastor Aaron is joined by Amanda Mauricio, Executive Pastor at Bethany Assembly. Pastor Amanda shares her experience leading alongside her Senior Pastor and outlines what it takes to effectively drive the vision of the church forward. They tackle the necessity of being in radical alignment with your lead pastor, how to bridge the gap between vision and logistics without quenching the fire, and why understanding the different temperaments on your team is essential for healthy communication. She also shares practical advice for Executive Pastors on how to manage their own spiritual and emotional health while carrying the weight of the church's operations. If you serve in an executive or associate role or if you are a lead pastor wanting to better understand and support your second-in-command, this conversation is packed with valuable insights. For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry. Today, Pastor Aaron is joined by Pastor Kyle Wentzell, Youth Pastor at Connection Church. They tackle a topic that can easily steal a youth pastor's joy or keep them awake at night: doing effective youth ministry on a tight budget. Kyle shares his practical approach to leading a high impact youth group without breaking the bank. Pastor Aaron and Kyle also discuss how to respectfully petition your board or senior pastor for a budget increase by coming prepared with clear key performance indicators (KPIs) and a well defined vision. Ultimately, they remind leaders that a lack of resources should never limit your ability to build meaningful relationships and disciple students. For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry. Today, Pastor Aaron is joined by Pastor Dave Dietzel, lead pastor at Caro Assembly of God, to discuss the critical topic of pastoral resilience. With nearly 23 years of ministry, Pastor Dave has navigated incredible highs and profound lows of pastoring while caring for his family. Pastor Aaron and Dave discuss the emotional toll of carrying secondary trauma, the temptation to isolate when ministry gets painful, and why having "fixed anchors" in your relationship with the Lord is essential to your survival. If you are struggling through a difficult season of ministry and need encouragement to stay the course and trust God with the outcome, this powerful episode is for you. For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry. Today Pastor Aaron sits down with Pastor Dinesh Manik of Bellevue Christian Church to unpack the unique challenges and rewards of co-vocational ministry. They tackle the identity challenge many bi-vocational pastors face, which often includes the heavy feeling of being a second-class minister. Pastor Dinesh explains how a second career creates financial freedom for the church and opens doors to build real relationships with non-believers. He shares practical tools for thriving in dual roles, like enforcing strict family boundaries, managing your time well, and outsourcing tasks to protect your mental margin. If you balance a secular career with a pastoral calling, this encouraging episode is definitely for you. For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry. Today, Pastor Aaron welcomes back Pastor Samantha Jones for part two of their conversation on trauma. In this episode, they shift their focus toward how leaders can effectively minister to those affected by trauma within the church. Pastor Samantha explains the differences between "Big T" and "small t" trauma and how those unresolved wounds often surface in congregational life. She shares practical advice on how pastors can build trust, maintain safe boundaries, and avoid taking on the weight of someone else's healing. The discussion also covers how to help individuals process their pain without over-spiritualizing it and when to recommend professional EMDR counseling. If you want to equip your team to better support hurting people, this episode provides essential tools for healthy ministry. For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry. Today, Pastor Aaron is joined by Pastor Samantha Jones, worship pastor at Lifehouse Assembly, to discuss a difficult but crucial topic: Trauma and the Minister. In the first part of this two-part series, Samantha shares insights from her new book, God in Trauma: The Lessons I'm Learning, to help leaders identify and process their own unresolved pain. They discuss the difference between "Big T" and "Little T" trauma, the danger of suppressing unhealed wounds, and how unresolved pastoral pain can seep into staff meetings, board rooms, and the overall culture of a church. If you want to become a healthier leader, break the cycle of secondary trauma, and create a safer environment for those you lead, this honest and insightful conversation is for you. For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry. Today, Pastor Aaron is joined by Pastor Phil Hall, Lead Pastor at Harvest Church, to discuss a vital calling for every church leader: Connecting your church to your community. For too long, the local church has expected its community to come to them without taking the first step. Phil breaks down how simple, consistent acts of kindness and visibility can radically shift your church's impact. Pastors Aaron and Phil also discuss navigating complex leadership issues like bringing an inward-focused congregation on board with your outreach vision, addressing toxic church culture with humility, and creating safe, welcoming environments that unchurched people genuinely want to be part of. If you want to stop just meeting in your community and start effectively reaching it, this episode is a powerful must-listen. For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry. Today, we are joined by pastor Larry Clair, the new executive director for the Michigan Ministry Network camps, Lost Valley and Faholo. Pastors Aaron and Larry discuss Larry's lifelong passion for camp ministry and his excitement for this new leadership role. They unpack the critical goal of uniting both locations under one shared vision to eliminate any division between the geographically distinct camps. They also discuss eye opening insights about how a majority of Holy Spirit encounters happen at camp rather than the local church. He emphasizes that these facilities are designed to be a direct extension of your local congregation. If you want to learn how your church can better partner with and utilize network camps to facilitate life changing ministry, this conversation is for you. For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry. Today, guest host Jim Riley sits down with Pastor Morris Moos to discuss the physical side of ministry: Stewarding your facilities well. Does your church building draw people in or subtly push them away? Pastor Morris shares insights from over 30 years of pastoral experience on how your physical space can become one of your most effective tools for connection. Jim and Pastor Morris unpack the importance of "curb appeal," the power of creating intentional connection areas and why keeping your building clean and decluttered removes unnecessary hindrances to the Gospel. If you want to transform your facility from a simple meeting room into a welcoming environment where relationships flourish, this highly practical episode is for you. For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.

Welcome to the L3 Podcast! We hope this podcast will be helpful to both you and your ministry. Today, guest host Jim Riley sits down with Adam Bell to flip the script on staff dynamics and discuss a crucial topic: How leaders can best support their teams. While there is plenty of training on how to serve your leader, how well are you serving the people who report to you? Jim and Adam unpack what it means to want more for your team than you want from them, emphasizing that leaders must invest in their staff as people, not just as producers. They discuss the vital role of humility in leadership, the danger of holding onto staff members too tightly, and the importance of adapting your leadership style to fit different personalities and generations. If you want to help your team members become the best versions of themselves, this conversation is for you. For more information on the Michigan Ministry Network, please go to our website at mmn.ag.