The Lead Ministry Podcast

Latest Episodes:

332. Why Your Church Can't Find Enough Volunteers May 25, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart sits down with Nick Blevins — author of The Volunteer Playbook and co-founder of Ministry Boost — to tackle the volunteer problem head-on. They explore why most church leaders have never been taught how to recruit, offering a five-step framework and the surprising 10X volunteer conversion rate that reframes how ministry leaders should think about building their teams.

If you've ever felt like you're constantly plugging holes and pulling your hair out on Sunday mornings, this episode will give you a system to replace the scramble.

Key Topics Covered

→ The Volunteer Conversion Rate (VCR) – Why you need 10 prospects for every 1 volunteer you want to place, and how to build a prospect pool that actually works

→ The 5-Step Recruiting Framework – Prospects, conversation, orientation, onboarding, and placed — a repeatable system for moving people from the lobby to the classroom

→ Time + Strategy – Why blocking two hours a week for recruiting is the single most important habit a ministry leader can build

Key Quote "You got to be a shepherd before you're a recruiter."

Scripture References Matthew 9:37-38 – "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few." Judges 7 (Gideon) – Referenced as an example of God accomplishing his purposes with fewer people than expected.

Takeaway The volunteer problem isn't a mystery — it's a math and systems problem. Most churches don't lack willing people; they lack a consistent process to find, invite, orient, and place them. Two hours a week, a real prospect list, and a framework that moves people through clear steps will transform your recruiting from frantic to sustainable.

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

331. The Recruiting Tools You Should Already Have May 18, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk break down the specific recruiting resources every ministry leader should have built before they ever pick up the phone. They explore how pre-prepared tools — from slot sheets to pushback scripts to draft follow-up emails — transform recruiting from a dreaded chore into a confident, efficient system.

If you've ever sat down to make recruiting calls and felt completely unprepared, this episode will hand you the exact toolkit to change that.

Key Topics Covered

→ Slot Sheets – Knowing exactly how many people you need and where, so you can recruit with precision and report with confidence

→ The Down-Sell Strategy – How to redirect a "no" into a smaller yes using pre-built offering lists, just like selling magazine subscriptions

→ Pre-Prepared Follow-Up – Draft emails for yes, no, and "let me think about it" responses that you can send within minutes of hanging up

Key Quote "God impressed upon my heart two questions: Josh, what did volunteering at this church do for you? And do you think I can do that in every one of those people I'm going to find for you?"

Scripture References Matthew 9:37-38 – "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few."

Takeaway Recruiting isn't about being pushy or salesy — it's about being prepared. When Josh reframed recruiting as a pathway to discipleship, everything changed. The tools didn't make him a robot; they made him efficient enough to be fully present on every call. Build your resources now so you're ready when the season hits.

Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.

330. Why People Won't Join Your Ministry Team May 11, 2026

Show notes

Episode Description

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Vance tackle the five core reasons volunteers say no — and what it takes to make recruiting an easy yes. They explore why guilt-based recruiting never works long-term, offering a practical framework for building the kind of ministry environment people actually want to join.

If you've ever felt like pulling teeth trying to get people to serve, this episode will show you exactly what's standing in the way and how to fix it.

Key Topics Covered

→ The Five Reasons People Say No – Reputation, unclear roles, unclear vision, no winning team, and lack of relational equity

→ Making Yes Easy – Clear structure, simple job descriptions, ministry checklists, tours, leveraging testimonies, and closing the onboarding gap

→ Recruiting to Vision, Not Need – Why twice as many people signed up when one church shifted from guilt to vision-based recruiting

Key Quote "People aren't moved by a need — they always feel like somebody else is going to fulfill it. People want to join a team that's thriving."

Scripture References Matthew 9:37-38 – "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few."

Takeaway If volunteers keep saying no, the solution isn't to ask louder — it's to fix what you're offering. Clear structure lowers fear and builds confidence. Simple job descriptions remove ambiguity. And when people can see your ministry in action through tours and testimonies, the yes becomes almost automatic.

Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.

329. The Puffer Fish Principle for Recruiting Volunteers May 04, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk unpack the Puffer Fish Principle — a nature-inspired framework for attracting the right volunteers to your ministry. They explore how the environments we create communicate volumes before we ever say a word, offering practical insights for ministry leaders who want to stop repelling potential team members and start drawing them in.

If you've ever wondered why people keep saying no to serving, this episode will equip you with a fresh lens on what your ministry is really communicating.

Key Topics Covered

→ The Puffer Fish Principle – How a tiny fish's elaborate design teaches us about attracting volunteers through order and excellence

→ The Bowerbird Basics – Why appearance, decoration, and presentation differentiate you from every other option competing for a volunteer's time

→ Repel vs. Recruit – How disorganization, chaos, and the "hot mess express" subconsciously push people away

Key Quote "Current chaos communicates future chaos. Order communicates future peace."

Scripture References Matthew 9:37-38 – "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field."

Takeaway Volunteers live in a chaotic world. If your ministry can bring order in the midst of that chaos — clean spaces, crisp communication, logical systems — you're sending a psychological signal that says, "We have our stuff together, and there's more where that came from." That signal is the most powerful recruiting tool you have.

Call to Action We hope this episode encourages and equips you. Share it with a friend and stay tuned for more resources each week.

328. The Power of a Ministry Virtual Tour Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk unpack the concept of a ministry virtual tour — a practical, evergreen video tool that allows prospective families to experience your church before they ever set foot inside.

Key Topics Covered

• What Is a Ministry Virtual Tour – Giving people a real, digital experience of your physical ministry space before their first visit
• The Two-Part Framework – Combining vision-sharing (talking head) video with B-roll footage
• How to Execute It Well – Writing scripts, building shot sheets, walking through your building, and hosting on your website

Key Quote
"A virtual tour is a way for visitors to get a feel for our ministry before they come, or they have a deeper experience after their first time visit."

Scripture References
Luke 14:28 — "For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?"

Takeaway
A ministry virtual tour is not just a tech project — it is an act of pastoral care. When you invest the time to walk families through your spaces before they arrive, you reduce the unknowns that keep people from taking the next step.

Stay Connected
Website: leadministry.com | Facebook: LeadVolunteers | Instagram: @leadvolunteers

327. 5 Digital Tools Every Ministry Leader Should Be Using Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk walk through five digital tools that are actively transforming how ministry leaders work. Bill brings a practitioner's perspective — not theory, but tools he uses every single week.

Key Topics Covered

• SermonDrip – Extend your sermon into a full week of discipleship content
• NotebookLM – A free Google tool that turns your own research into an interactive assistant
• Claude Co-Work – Cut admin time with AI-powered writing and organizing
• Canva – Professional church communications without a designer (free for nonprofits)
• Motion Calendar – Protect important work from being eaten by urgent tasks

Key Quote
"The goal is not more tech. The goal is effective ministry. If a tool doesn't make your ministry more effective, drop it."

Takeaway
Every tool on this list exists for one reason: to give you more time and energy for the people God has called you to shepherd. Technology is the means — people are the mission.

Stay Connected
Website: leadministry.com | Facebook: LeadVolunteers | Instagram: @leadvolunteers

326. Your Church Website — The Digital First Impression Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk dig into one of the most overlooked but consequential tools in modern ministry: your church's website. They unpack what it truly means to make a strong digital first impression, offering a practical five-point framework called FIRST — Fast, Interactive, Responsive, Secure, and Turnkey Automated.

Key Topics Covered

• Fast — Why tolerable load times have dropped to two seconds and what a dedicated server actually does
• Interactive — How engagement elements keep visitors on your site longer
• Responsive — Why 96% of internet users are on phones and what happens when your site isn't built for them
• Secure — Trust signals that make visitors feel safe giving online
• Turnkey Automation — How to serve people 24/7 without adding staff

Key Quote
"Not having a church website is kind of like not having a front door of your church. People show up to the parking lot, they see your sign, and they're like — where do I go?"

Scripture References
1 Corinthians 9:22 — "I have become all things to all people so that by all means I might save some."

Takeaway
Your church website is not a digital brochure — it is the first interaction most new people will have with your ministry. The FIRST framework gives ministry leaders a clear, practical standard to audit and improve their digital front door today.

Stay Connected
Website: leadministry.com | Facebook: LeadVolunteers | Instagram: @leadvolunteers

325. The Power of Digital Ministry Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk open a brand-new month of content on digital ministry with a foundational challenge every church leader needs to hear. They examine why so many churches are invisible to the very people they're trying to reach, offering a compelling framework for understanding why methods must change even as the message never does.

Key Topics Covered

• Why churches die — Changing the unchanging message vs. refusing to change methods that are entirely free to change.
• The digital dating parallel — How people pre-vet a church online, averaging 10 digital experiences before a first visit.
• First-time guest audit — A practical challenge to view your own church website through the eyes of someone who has never been there.

Key Quote
"Churches die for one of two reasons: they change that which should never change, or they are unwilling to change that which they are free to change. Date the method. Marry the message."

Scripture References
1 Corinthians 9:22 — "I have become all things to all people so that by all means I might save some."

Takeaway
Digital ministry is not about chasing trends — it is about bringing the gospel to where people actually live. Your online presence is your front door, and people are standing at it before they ever show up on Sunday.

Stay Connected
Website: leadministry.com | Facebook: LeadVolunteers | Instagram: @leadvolunteers

324. How to Survive an Event Cycle Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

Episode Description

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van

Kirk close out the Lead Events month by tackling the most overlooked phase

of any event: recovery. They introduce a three-part framework — reserves,

boundaries, and recovery — to help ministry leaders survive the full event

cycle without burning out. From doubling up on Sunday prep weeks in advance

to neutralizing last-minute changes with a 97-cent notebook, this episode

is packed with battle-tested strategies. If you have ever finished an event

only to realize you had nothing left for Sunday, your family, or yourself,

this episode will change how you plan every future event.

Key Topics Covered

*The Event Cycle* — Events have a beginning, middle, and end — and the end

includes recovery, not just cleanup

*Burnout as the Villain* — A powerful analogy of burnout as the ominous

character in the movie of your ministry life

*Building Reserves* — Doubling up on regular ministry prep (Sunday school,

midweek, Bible studies) weeks before the event so the tank is not empty

afterward

*Setting Boundaries* — How to neutralize well-meaning but disruptive voices

during and leading up to the event

*The Book Strategy* — A 97-cent spiral notebook that captures suggestions

during the event without derailing execution

*Neutralizing the Senior Pastor* — How to diplomatically set a planning

cutoff date and protect your team from last-minute audibles

*The Coke-Can Blood Rule* — If it will not result in a Coke-can-sized loss

of blood or death, it can wait for the book

*Recovery Planning* — Scheduling vacation 11 months in advance, the same

day the event date is set

*Flex Time* — Understanding your labor rights and church policies to

protect post-event rest

*Standing Your Ground* — Why bold boundaries protect both you and your team

from burnout

Key Quote

"The event officially ends when I have taken my vacation."

Scripture References

None directly cited in this episode.

Takeaway

The full event cycle includes what happens after the event — and your

recovery is not optional. Build reserves by prepping ahead, set firm

boundaries around planning cutoffs and mid-event interference, and schedule

your recovery time the same day you schedule the event. Your ministry

cannot sustain what your body and soul cannot survive.

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

Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

323. The Do's and Don'ts of Ministry Events Mar 23, 2026

Show notes

Episode Description

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van

Kirk lay out the essential do's and don'ts of ministry events. They cover

the three resource budgets every church must manage (financial, human, and

facilities), then dive into practical rules for promotion, delegation,

planning, and follow-up. From leveraging free local promotion through mom

groups to building a task-card system for event setup, this episode is

packed with actionable strategies. If you have ever over-recruited,

under-planned, or measured success by the wrong numbers, this episode will

sharpen how you approach every future event.

Key Topics Covered

*Three Resource Budgets* — Financial budget, human resource budget, and

facilities budget — all three must be managed for sustainable events

*Free Local Promotion* — Leveraging mom groups, community boards, radio

stations, TV event listings, and school backpack fliers

*Social Media Strategy* — Creating Facebook events, building a social media

team for forced virality, and why organic reach beats glossy mailers

*Don't Dump, Delegate* — The difference between tossing a task at someone

and equipping them with detailed job descriptions

*The Do and Done Pile* — A task-card system that gives untrained volunteers

clear direction during setup and teardown

*Volunteer Value* — Why every volunteer role must feel essential and

meaningful, not like standing around

*Plan Months in Advance* — The brain-dump planning session and why

procrastination is a rookie error

*Measure What Matters* — Tracking first-time guests who return, not just

total attendance

*Strategic Follow-Up* — Inviting people back into the life of the church

through intentional next steps, not generic thank-you mailers

Key Quote

*"Don't dump duties in an ambiguous way to volunteers. Delegate by using

detailed job descriptions."*

Takeaway

Great events are not accidental. They require managing three budgets,

promoting through free local channels, delegating with clarity, planning

months ahead, and measuring the right outcomes. Build systems once and

refine them every year.

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

Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadvolunteers

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