The Lead Ministry Podcast

Latest Episodes:

303. Stop Wasting One-on-Ones Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

Episode Description
In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, host Josh Denhart welcomes ministry coach Vance Martin to map out one-on-one meetings that actually develop people. Together they explore the GRACE Framework—Growth, Resources, Awareness, Care, Encouragement—offering a practical path for meetings that form disciples and move ministry forward.

If you’ve ever felt like one-on-ones drift, run long, or stay shallow, this episode will equip and inspire you with a simple structure that leads to clarity, care, and real growth.

Key Topics Covered
Growth – Invest in strengths and coach course-corrections
Resources – Time, money, and people: the three essentials to execute
Awareness – What they need to know and what you need to know
Care – Genuine interest vs. box-checking
Encouragement – “Run toward the applause” with specific, seen praise

Key Quote
“People don’t do what you tell them—they do what you ask about.”

Scripture References
1 Peter 4:10 – “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others…”
Hebrews 10:24 – “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

Takeaway
Great one-on-ones are more about posture than agenda. Lead with GRACE to grow people, resource their work, keep awareness flowing, show genuine care, and reinforce what you want repeated. When you ask better questions, people rise to meet them.

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

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302. The Best Way to Open Any Meeting Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

Episode Description
In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk unpack the power of one simple question that can completely reframe your team meetings. They explore how great meetings balance important long-term growth with urgent real-time needs—and how to open every meeting with intentional care that builds trust and ownership.

If you’ve ever dreaded another calendar-clogging meeting, this episode will equip you to make them purposeful, people-focused, and genuinely productive.

Key Topics Covered

The one question that transforms every meeting
How to balance important vs. urgent issues
Why “teaching before trouble” prevents future crises

Key Quote
“Teaching important things at non-urgent times is exceptional leadership.” — Josh Denhart

Scripture References
Proverbs 15:22 – “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
Philippians 2:4 – “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Takeaway
Healthy meetings begin with genuine care. When leaders ask what would make the time a “win” for others, they create space for shared goals and stronger teams. Combine that empathy with intentional teaching, and you’ll lead with both clarity and compassion.

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

301. How to Train Front-Line Crowd-Control Volunteers Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart talks with Christen Clark, a seasoned children’s ministry leader and host of The Collide Kids Podcast, about transforming “crowd-control” volunteers into front-line disciple-makers. Together they unpack practical ways to train, position, and encourage these often-overlooked team members so that every large-group experience thrives.

If you’ve ever felt your program unravel during transitions or wished adults in the room would engage before things go sideways, this episode gives you a simple framework to elevate the whole experience.

Key Topics Covered
• Define the role: presence + engagement, not “warm bodies.”
• Why engagement is contagious — adults model the room’s posture.
• The A-C-E framework: Affirm, Coach, Equip your volunteers every time.

Key Quote
“They’re not the backup. They are the front line.” — Christen Clark

Scripture References
2 Peter 1 : 12-13 – “Stir them up by way of reminder.”
Philippians 2 : 3-4 – Serving others with humble, attentive presence.

Takeaway
Recast “crowd control” as discipleship. Assign zones, learn names, close the distance, and model engagement. Then, weekly A-C-E your team: affirm their purpose, coach for the plan, equip with simple behaviors (proximity, participation, gentle prompts). The result is a calmer room, a clearer message, and better retention.

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

Christen Clark is a Christian speaker, worship leader, and children’s ministry veteran with over 17 years of experience serving in the local church. She is the creator and host of The Collide Kids Podcast — a fun, faith-filled weekly show for kids and families launched in 2020 that helps parents and leaders spark spiritual conversations at home.
Christen has served as a children’s ministry leader, worship leader, and now works as a ministry consultant helping churches engage the next generation in faith. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary (2024), she lives in Cumming, Georgia, with her husband Richard and their two children.
Her warm, creative style and gospel-centered approach make her a trusted voice for parents, pastors, and volunteers alike.

Connect with Christen Clark
🔗 Podcast: collidekidspodcast.buzzsprout.com
🌐 Website: christenclark.org
🎧 Apple Podcasts: The Collide Kids Podcast
📸 Instagram: @christenclark | @collidekidspod

About Christen Clark

300. Model, Mentor, Multiply Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

Episode Description
In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Vance Martin get practical about training that lives beyond you. They unpack a simple, reproducible path—Model, Mentor, Multiply—so your team grows without burning you out.

If you’ve ever felt the weight of doing it all yourself, this episode will equip and inspire you to build people, not just programs—and to see legacy while you’re still there.

Key Topics Covered
Model – Be the trail guide and invest in a person, not just a task.
Mentor – Pull back the curtain and teach them to guide others.
Multiply – Train multipliers and become a development “grandparent.”

Key Quote
“Your legacy doesn’t have to wait—train for fruit that remains.”

Scripture References
2 Timothy 2:2 – “Pass it on to faithful people who will be able to teach others also.”
Ephesians 4:11–12 – Equip the saints for the work of ministry.

Takeaway
Don’t lower the goal; build the steps. Start with one person. Keep meeting. Keep modeling. Then mentor them to invest in someone else. Over months—not days—you’ll see a self-sustaining team and a living legacy.

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

299. The Checklist Strategy Every Church Needs Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Vance Martin unpack how to train volunteers with simple, repeatable ministry checklists. They move from “Iron Chef” leadership to boxed-cake repeatability, offering a step-by-step way to build clarity, confidence, and consistency across your teams.

If you’ve ever felt stuck carrying Sundays on your back, this episode will equip and inspire you with lightweight systems that anyone can follow.

Key Topics Covered
Defining a Ministry Checklist – Turning complex tasks into clear steps
Why Checklists Work – Confidence, accountability, and multiplication
How to Build Them – Record steps, test, condense, and “dummy-proof before you laminate”

Key Quote
“Think once. Autopilot forever.”

Scripture References
1 Corinthians 14:40 – “But all things should be done decently and in order.”
Exodus 18:17–23 – Jethro helps Moses create repeatable systems for sustainable leadership.
Luke 16:10 – Faithful in little, faithful in much.

Takeaway
Volunteers thrive when the win is clear. A concise checklist turns anxiety into action, builds trust, and makes excellence repeatable. Train with steps anyone can follow, then let the system—not your presence—carry Sunday forward.

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

298. Train to Retain: Stop Draining Your Volunteers Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk kick off October’s focus on Training Volunteers. They unpack what real training is, why it matters, and how any leader can begin immediately. They explore the culture you carry, the power of qualifying people, and why training is the bridge between enlistment and retention for healthy teams.

If you’ve ever felt stuck running a “Swiss cheese” ministry where volunteers slip through the cracks, this episode will equip and inspire you with practical next steps to train with purpose and retain with joy.

Key Topics Covered
Definition of training – Forming habits, thoughts, and behaviors through instruction
Train vs. drain – Why skipping training leaves people exhausted
Qualifying people – A pathway to confidence, clarity, and care

Key Quote
“Train is putting in; drain is leaking out. Be the leader who puts in.”

Scripture References
Ephesians 4:11–13 – “to equip the saints for the work of ministry…”
1 Corinthians 11:1 – “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”

Takeaway
Don’t hand a mic to an untrained volunteer and hope for the best. Identify your weakest area, gather the faithful few, meet right after a service, ask good questions, and co-build a simple plan. Training is discipleship in motion—and it keeps good people for the long haul.

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

297. Front-Load Ministry with Relationships Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

Episode Description
In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart sits down with Mark, a children’s pastor 66 days into a new role. They unpack how “front-loading with relationships” can compress the storming phase and accelerate health, trust, and momentum. They explore a practical, people-first playbook that any ministry can adopt to move from chaos to clarity.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in the first 18 months of a role, this episode will equip and inspire you with a concrete path to build trust quickly and lead with pastoral presence.

Key Topics Covered
Storming → Norming → Performing—why most leaders get stuck and how to move through it fast
A 50-minute one-on-one template that builds trust and surfaces “hidden gold” in your team
From bathroom duty to stage leadership—redeploying gifts through pastoral listening

Key Quote
“Take off the recruiting hat and put on the pastor’s hat.”

Scripture References
Galatians 6:2 – “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Romans 12:10 – “Be devoted to one another in love.”

Takeaway
You can’t shortcut time, but you can accelerate trust. Schedule focused one-on-ones, pray specifically, cast a clear ‘Egypt → Wilderness → Promise’ vision, and invite people into meaningful roles aligned with their gifts. Ministry speeds up when relationships go deep.

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

296. 10 Essentials Every Team Needs (Part 2: The Final 5) Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

Episode Description
In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Vance Martin return for Part 2 of their two-part series on the 10 essentials every team needs from its leader.

In Part 1, they explored communication, community, change, coaching, and care. Now they complete the framework with the final five essentials that build trust, stability, and long-term retention in volunteer teams.

If you’ve ever wanted a clear blueprint for what keeps people engaged and motivated in ministry, this episode finishes the picture.

Key Topics Covered

Credibility – authenticity that earns trust
Conclusions – decisive leadership that builds confidence
Conflict Management – why healthy teams deal with dirt
Celebration – what you celebrate, you cultivate
Character – being the model you want mirrored

Key Quote
“People move toward the applause. What you celebrate, you cultivate.” – Josh Denhart

Scripture References
Matthew 5:37 – “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’”
1 Corinthians 11:1 – “Follow me as I follow Christ.”

Takeaway
The final 5 essentials—credibility, conclusions, conflict management, celebration, and character—complete the leadership framework for retention. When leaders embody these qualities, volunteers don’t just stay; they flourish.

Call to Action
We hope this two-part series equips you with a roadmap for healthy, lasting teams. Share it with a fellow leader who needs encouragement today.

295. 10 Essentials Every Team Needs (Part 1: The First 5) Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

Episode Description
In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart is joined by Vance Martin from Slingshot Group for Part 1 of a two-part series on the 10 essentials every team needs from its leader.

They lay the foundation with the relationship vs. results quadrant—helping leaders assess whether their teams are functioning like small groups, independent contractors, mercenaries, or thriving cultures. From there, Josh and Vance unpack the first 5 essentials that create healthy, long-lasting teams.

If you’ve ever struggled with retention or wondered why volunteers quietly slip away, this episode gives you the first half of the roadmap.

Key Topics Covered

Communication – Why two-way connection is the gift of leadership
Community – How belonging fuels resilience
Change – Leading teams toward a better future
Coaching – Moving beyond cheerleading to growth
Care – Knowing their world to lead their work

Key Quote
“People don’t quit ministries. People quit leaders.” – Josh Denhart

Scripture References
Proverbs 27:23 – “Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 – “Two are better than one… If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”

Takeaway
The first 5 essentials—communication, community, change, coaching, and care—are what transform volunteers from short-term helpers into long-term partners. Miss these, and people leave. Live them, and your team thrives.

Call to Action
We hope this episode equips you to build healthier teams. Don’t miss Part 2, where Josh and Vance share the remaining 5 essentials.

294. Giftedness, Not Guesswork: How Leaders Keep Volunteers Sep 08, 2025

Show notes

Episode Description
In this episode of the Lead Ministry Podcast, Josh Denhart and Bill Van Kirk break down a simple, powerful retention lever: align volunteers with their giftedness. They explore how “ability + willingness” fuels longevity and how a SHAPE conversation helps leaders seat the right people in the right roles for healthy teams.

If you’ve ever felt stuck replacing the same volunteers month after month, this episode will equip and inspire you with a practical path to keep the “good ones” God has already provided.

Key Topics Covered

Defining giftedness vs. general ability – why the difference matters for retention
Jim Collins’ “right people, right seats” applied to church teams
The SHAPE conversation: Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experiences—how to run it this month

Key Quote
“Wrong seat doesn’t mean wrong person—shift the seat, not the bus.”

Scripture References
1 Corinthians 12:4–7 – “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit… To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
Romans 12:6 – “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…”

Takeaway
Retention starts with alignment. When leaders intentionally discover gifts and place people accordingly, willingness rises, joy increases, and ministries stabilize. Use SHAPE to learn a volunteer’s design, then move them to a role where they’ll thrive—and stay.

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

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