StrongTeams.com Podcast

Are you ready to revolutionize your approach to finance and faith? Join me, Rodney Cox, on the StrongTeams.com podcast as I sit down with Harry Pearson, the visionary founder and CEO of OneAscent. This episode is a game-changer for anyone seeking to align their values with their investments and create lasting kingdom impact. Harry's journey from a blue-collar background in Baton Rouge to becoming a trailblazer in faith-based financial advising is nothing short of inspiring. With over 27 years of experience, Harry shares profound insights on integrating biblical principles into financial decision-making, both personally and professionally. In this captivating conversation, we delve into: Whether you're a seasoned investor, a curious believer, or a leader seeking to make a greater impact, this episode offers invaluable wisdom for stewarding your resources in a way that honors God and advances His kingdom. Prepare to be challenged, inspired, and equipped to take your financial stewardship to the next level. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the most innovative minds in faith-based investing. Tune in now and discover how you can align your finances with your faith for maximum kingdom impact! Read the Executive Summery Here Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Are you struggling to build a truly unified, high-performing team? Chances are, one hidden culprit is sabotaging your efforts: pace! That's the central insight from a powerful article by Duane Donner, founder of Heritage Forum and my good friend. Duane examines how the relentless hustle of modern life undermines our ability to lead with empathy, patience, and wisdom. He writes: "Hurry and love are like oil and water - they simply don't mix." When we're stuck in a frantic state, we cannot be the grounded, emotionally intelligent leaders our teams need. Our worst moments stem from that hurried mindset - running late, snapping at colleagues, prioritizing tasks over people. So how do we break hurry's grip and cultivate the stable "pace" that allows strong teams to flourish? READ THE FULL ARTICLE Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Leadership is one of the most rewarding callings in life - but also one of the most challenging. How can you build a team of people who feel valued, empowered and able to bring their best when you're struggling to stay afloat yourself If you've ever felt misaligned, depleted or ill-equipped for the demands of leadership, you're not alone. In fact, my recent conversation with Dr. Gregory Woodard on the strongTeams.com podcast convinced me that every leader faces these struggles at some point. But there is a way forward. As a retired military veteran, Navy chaplain, and leadership coach, Dr. Woodard has seen firsthand what separates purposeful leaders from those just going through the motions. And the key, he says, lies in deep self-awareness and proactive self-leadership. Want to know how to get off the path to burnout and onto the path of purposeful leadership? The latest article on our blog breaks down Dr. Woodard's hard-won wisdom into practical steps you can apply today. Inside you'll discover: The four rhythms every leader must establish to stay emotionally, physically and spiritually strongWhy your team and family might see warning signs that you're off track before you doThe most important trait of a purposeful leader (it's not what you think)Five action steps to help you lead yourself - so you can lead others wellIf you're ready to align your leadership with your deepest values and make the impact you were meant to make, this podcast is for you. Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Do you struggle with feelings of shame, guilt or a distorted view of how God sees you? In this powerful interview, Don Ankenbrandt, author of the book "Your True Reflection," shares his transformative journey of uncovering his true identity in Christ. Over 30 years ago, during a day of solitude, Don had a revelation that he had been looking at his relationship with God through a distorted lens. He felt God was disappointed in him because of his repeated struggles with sin. But God spoke to Don's heart, revealing that he had a completely inaccurate perception of how his Heavenly Father saw him. This experience set Don on a profound journey to study Scripture and discover the truth about who he is in Christ. What he found was life-changing - over 144 terms in the New Testament describing the believer's true identity, such as chosen, holy, blameless, adopted, redeemed, restored and renewed. In this interview, Don unpacks how truly understanding these terms and the spiritual blessings God has bestowed allows believers to break free from shame, overcome the lies of the enemy, and step into the abundant life Christ promises. You'll learn: Whether you've struggled with shame, insecurity or feeling insignificant, this interview will open your eyes to the truth of how God sees you. Don's wisdom and passion for helping believers discover their identity in Christ is inspiring and transformative. Unlock the abundant life today by tuning in to this powerful conversation! You'll gain profound insights into God's unconditional love and learn how to see yourself through His eyes as His chosen, holy, blameless child. Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

One of the most critical moments for any church is navigating a senior pastoral transition. Getting it right can launch a new season of fruitful ministry. Getting it wrong can lead to devastating consequences like decline, conflict, and erosion of trust. So how can church leaders confidently hire the right long-term fit for their unique situation and church culture? In this episode, Rodney Cox talks to Nancy Moore, a true expert in the field of pastoral succession planning. Nancy has helped guide hundreds of churches through these delicate leadership changes over her decades of experience. Nancy shares a wealth of wisdom, including: Why churches must shift from operating on gut feelings to gathering hard data about their realityThe vital importance of first understanding a church's distinct culture, values and expectations How assessments reveal a pastoral candidate's true working style beyond just their resumeThe evidence-based approach that's produced an 83% success rate in Nancy's succession placementsWhether your church is currently in transition or hoping to get ahead of future successions, you'll get practical insights and a clear path forward. Nancy's methods have earned phenomenal results and rave reviews from churches. As one leader said, "Her firm's guidance was invaluable in helping us navigate one of the most critical junctures we've faced." Listen now and get equipped to make a wise, long-lasting pastoral hire that propels your church toward its God-given vision. Read the Executive Summary Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Are you a leader struggling with chaos in your organization? In this insightful podcast episode, we interview Gary Harpst, New York Times bestselling author and former CEO, about overcoming organizational chaos through timeless biblical leadership principles. Gary unpacks the three types of chaos leaders face - external chaos from circumstances, social chaos from team dynamics, and internal chaos from personal struggles. He shares how the Bible depicts God creating order out of chaos, giving us a model for bringing order ourselves. You'll learn Gary's fascinating perspective that all believers are called to biblical leadership to steward their spheres of influence. He emphasizes the necessity of building relational capital by embracing team diversity and differences by design. Gary also outlines his powerful "three-layer pyramid" distinguishing between what we can humanly provide (meeting needs, caring for others) versus what only Jesus can ultimately do (give new identity and purpose). Throughout the conversation, Gary compellingly argues for integrating faith principles into the workplace domain to fully unleash the power of the gospel in people's lives. You can read my article compilation of Gary's insights here: Read the Article Whether you lead a business, ministry, family or just yourself, this episode will equip you with a biblical framework for overcoming chaos and creating order that brings glory to God. Subscribe for more interviews on integrating biblical truth and leadership! Keywords: Biblical Leadership, Overcoming Chaos, Organizational Leadership, Leadership Principles, Faith and Work Integration, Leading Teams, Christian Workplace, Creating Order Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

In our digital age, the way people consume content has radically shifted. Yet many churches still deliver monologue-style sermons designed for a reality that no longer exists. I recently interviewed David Murrow, an online preaching coach, who argues: "Preaching stopped working 20 years ago." As audiences migrated to social media and bite-sized videos, the traditional sermon format has struggled to capture attention. Murrow's fascinating proposed solution? A "hybrid preaching" model that blends shareable video segments into live services, mirroring how Jesus communicated profound truths through 38-second parables and object lessons. While acknowledging concerns about online content undermining in-person community, Murrow provides thought-provoking perspectives on adapting the timeless gospel through new mediums and formats, just as the church has done throughout history. Whether you're a pastor, church leader, or Christian wondering how to most effectively share your faith today, you won't want to miss Murrow's insights. Read Executive Summary: https://bit.ly/3VruFcU Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

If you've ever struggled to connect your faith to your work or felt like your job was just a necessary evil, this episode is for you! Join me as I explore the powerful biblical truth that ALL work is sacred and eternally significant to God. I recently interviewed Jordan Raynor about his paradigm-shifting book "The Sacredness of Secular Work" and it completely transformed my perspective on faith and career. In this episode, I unpack some of the key ideas and share how our everyday work - no matter how mundane it may seem - is a vital way we worship God, love our neighbors, and participate in his redemptive mission. You'll discover: Whether you're an entrepreneur, artist, corporate executive, or stay-at-home parent, this episode will bring you immense encouragement and inspiration to step into your calling with joy! Read my blog post here: https://bit.ly/3PegWCx #FaithAndWork #TheologyOfVocation #WorkAsWorship #ChristianPodcast #IntegratingFaithAndWork Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

What enables some teams to achieve incredible results under intense pressure, while others flounder? Retired Navy SEAL leader Kyle Bucket and business leader Chris Mefford have seen extraordinary teams accomplish the near impossible across military, government, nonprofit, and corporate worlds. In this episode, Chris and Kyle decode the key practices that set elite teams apart. Drawing from experience leading special operations and guiding thriving corporate cultures, they explain the flaws in most organizations’ assumptions about leadership, motivation, and culture – and why traditional management tactics often backfire. Instead, Chris and Kyle advocate for “self-led teams” built on peer leadership, radical transparency about weaknesses, and candid feedback. They outline six practical steps any leader or manager can start taking to unlock greater alignment, innovation, ownership and fulfillment from groups. You’ll learn: • Why investing in recognition, community and purpose pays exponentially higher dividends than incentivizing individual performance • How humility and “emotional capital” from senior leaders create psychological safety for teams to take ownership • Why elite military units and thriving business teams often defer to junior members rather than the highest-ranking officers Gain unconventional yet evidence-based insights from Chris and Kyle on how to strengthen team cohesion, agility, and fulfillment in your organization. The results can be record-breaking. Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

What separates a church that’s just getting by from one that’s thriving and making an impact in people’s lives? Strong leadership – and specifically, a strong senior leadership team. My guest on the StrongTeams.com podcast this week is Tony Morgan, founder of the Unstuck Group, an expert on team development and alignment. Tony consults with churches to help get them “unstuck” and move forward into their God-given potential and purpose. He’s worked with over 650 churches of all sizes. In this conversation, Tony and I discuss: Why singular leadership falls short and senior teams are essential, especially as a church growsCommon questions churches ask that lead them astray in building their team The right criteria and questions to use in selecting senior team membersHow a high-functioning senior team should operate and empower those “downstream”Navigating transitions when a current team member may not be the right fit Executive Summary: Download or Read Here The UnStuck Group: https://theunstuckgroup.com/ Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Rodney Cox spoke with Dr. David “Fletch” Fletcher, founder of XPastor.org, about the vital yet often overlooked topic of strengthening integrity in church leadership. David, or Fletch as he is called by his friends, served as a pastor for 35 years in single and multisite churches ranging in size from 1,000-8,000 members. In 2003 he founded XPastor.org which has become a popular resource for leaders in today’s complex church world. You can find David Fletcher at www.xpastor.org. Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Our guest today is best-selling author and podcaster, Chris Bolinger. In addition to his duties as the co-host of the Throwing Mountains podcast, Chris is the author of the popular devotional titled, Daily Strength for Men -- which has sold over 300,000 copies. Chris’ latest devotional is, 52 Weeks of Strength for Men, which tackles topics like the one we will address today—avoiding pride. Find Chris' podcast at https://throwingmountains.com/ Find Chris' books at https://52weeksofstrength.com/ Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Podcast hosts Rodney Cox and Steve NeSmith discuss some of their favorite clips from the past year. Tune in to find out which clips made the list and what the hosts learned from those guest interviews. Guest clips: 1. Ben Mandrell, Pres/CEO of Lifeway 2. Trudy Cathy White, Chick-fil-A 3. Tom Harper, CEO of BiblicalLeadership.com 4. Christina and Jim Angelakos, Co-founders of VolunteerU.org 5. Mark Miller, VP Chick-fil-A Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Rodney's podcast guest is Dr. Bob Whitesel. Bob is a sought after speaker, church health consultant and award-winning writer of 14 books on missional leadership, church change and church growth. Another area of expertise for Bob is in developing new leaders, which we will talk more about today. He has also earned two doctorates from Fuller Theological Seminary. Find Bob online at https://leadership.church/ Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Our guest today is Robby Angle. Robby is the President and CEO of Trueface, a ministry based in Dawsonville, GA. He specializes in helping churches develop leaders through relational ministry. Prior to Trueface, Robby served for seven years as the Director of Adult Ministry Environments and Men’s Groups for North Point Community Church in Atlanta, a church founded by Andy Stanley. Before North Point, he worked in professional counseling and aid work for Samaritan’s Purse, overseeing international disaster response teams. Robby has a Masters in Community Counseling from Appalachian State University and a Certificate in Biblical Studies from DallasTheological Seminary. Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chick-fil-A executive Mark Miller makes a second appearance on this podcast. We recorded this episode with Mark at the Chick-fil-A headquarters in Atlanta. Listeners may recall that Mark's career at Chick-fil-A began 45 years ago as an hourly team member in one of the local restaurants. At the time of our interview, Mark was serving as Vice President of High-Performance Leadership at Chick-fil-A. During our interview, we learn about his latest book – a graphic novel titled, Heart of the Hero. It was interesting to hear how a graphic novel is developed, but more importantly, we learned about Chick-fil-A’s "Iceberg" leadership philosophy – something we had not talked about in our previous episode with Mark. Buy Heart of the Hero graphic novel at https://leadeveryday.com/ Find Mark at https://www.markmillerleadership.com/ Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Rodney's podcast guest is Chris Turner. Chris serves as Communications Director for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. In addition to decades of work in corporate media relations and two masters degrees, he has worked in 37 countries as a magazine correspondent. Chris is also a former sportswriter. We interviewed Chris because he has done extensive research on internal communications as it relates to leadership. As a result, Chris also teaches organizational and cultural communication on the university level. Books Chris referenced: Case Studies in Courageous Organizational Communication by Alexander Lyon Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin Foreign to Familiar by Sarah Lanier Introducing Intercultural Communication: Global Cultures and Contexts by Shuang Liu, Zala Volcic and Cindy Gallois. Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Rodney's guest on this episode is Shawn Lemon, and in 2013 Shawn founded The Digital Organizer. He shares with Rodney how organizing your assets can help ministry teams operate at a higher level. The Digital Organizer partners with businesses to create streamlined, effective, and easy-to-use digital organization systems. It's their mission to empower people with the tools they need to supercharge their productivity, so that they can get more of the right things done. Shawn has a unique ability to take complex technical concepts and make them understandable to anyone. Find Shawn at https://thedigitalorganizer.com/ Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Rodney's podcast guest is Dave Travis. Dave has advised large church pastors for over 30 years, facilitating focused conversations that drive change and action. Twenty-three of those years were spent with Leadership Network, where he retired as CEO in 2018. Since then, Dave has worked with dozens of churches and their leaders, helping guide them to solve sticky challenges through his role as Director of Strategic Counsel to Pastors and Church Boards at Generis. Dave has also published 11 books. Connect with Dave at https://generis.com/ Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.

Rodney's guest is Bob Hasson. Bob is an accomplished CEO, author, and podcaster. In addition to his entrepreneurial accomplishments, for decades Bob has been active as a consultant and board member for churches, ministries, nonprofits, and school boards. He has authored several books like, Business of Honor, Wired to Hear and his most recent title, Shortcuts: The Proven Path to Purpose, Excellence and Calling. Finally, Bob co-hosts the Exploring the Marketplace Podcast, which ranks in the top 100 of all Christian podcasts weekly. You can buy his book, SHORTCUTS, at https://bobhasson.com/ Host: Rodney Cox Email us at information@ministryinsights.com Tweet us at @Insights_Intl Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook The podcast is a production of Ministry Insights. Visit us at ministryinsights.com. © 2023 Ministry Insights International, Inc. All rights reserved.