The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast

Patria Lead Pastor Adam Mesa shares how viral podcasting helped grow his church from 1,100 to 7,500+ in five years, his experience as a millennial taking over leadership from his dad, and navigating the strengths and challenges of ADHD. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork BELAY Download BELAY’s free guide today: 5 Blind Spots That Sink Your Leadership. With this resource, you’ll learn how to navigate these leadership landmines with strength and confidence. Text the word CAREY to 55123 for your free download. GLOO+ With the New Mover Program in Gloo+, you can automatically send personalized postcards to new families in your area every month—no printing, no postage, no hassle. Visit gloo.com/plus to activate the New Mover Program and start welcoming your new neighbors today! Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Ryan Leak has become one of the most sought-after preachers and leadership speakers today. He explains why he prepares for a three-minute offering talk the same way he preps for a leadership talk to a Fortune 100 company. He also explains what to do to connect with and leave a positive impression with your leadership heroes. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork STATE OF THE CHURCH The Church Health dashboard takes the guesswork out of important ministry decisions. In minutes, you hear directly from your people on how they are doing and the insights you get are incredibly helpful. Visit https://stateofthechurch.com/carey COMPASSION As a pastor, I desire all people to accept God’s compassion towards us and to live a full life of gospel-driven impact as a result. If you also desire this, I encourage you to visit my friends at Compassion International and begin learning how YOU can grow YOUR compassion today. Find out more at www.compassion.com/carey. Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Organizational consultant Andrew Mellen returns to the podcast to discuss the three rules he uses to help leaders organize their work and home life for mental clarity. Plus, why clutter is deferred decision making, and why you should never email a co-worker. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork THE CHURCH NETWORK Feeling overwhelmed in church operations? You’re not alone. Learn more and register today at thechurchnetwork.com/Conference. SUBSPLASH Go to subsplash.com/carey to schedule a quick, no-obligation demo and save $500 when you sign up. CHURCH.TECH Head to ai.church.tech and use the promo code CAREY and receive your first month for FREE. Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Real estate mogul Mark Faris talks about going from being cut from professional hockey to becoming the #1 real estate agent and company in the nation. He explains what it took to become #1 in his field, how to break through leadership ceilings, and what every leader can learn to keep growing and improving. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork VISITORREACH VisitorReach is an all-in-one platform to help churches grow. Churches that partner with VisitorReach connect with 20 to 120 new people each month and see new visitors walking through their doors weekly! Learn more today at VisitorReach.com/Carey! GLOO Every month, Gloo+ allows you to send up to 50 personalized postcards to new residents in your area—welcoming them, inviting them to service, and making your church their new home. Visit http://gloo.com/plus and start welcoming new families today! Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

John Eldredge asks whether 30 is too young to be a lead pastor (and what to do if you're in your 20s or 30s and leading a large church). He also talks about finding spiritual authority and the stages every man goes through in life, from warrior to king to sage. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork COMPASSION Did you know that partnering with Compassion helps fulfill your church's call to The Great Commission? Bring this mission focus to YOUR church, and then watch God use YOUR church to impact the world. http://www.compassion.com/carey STATE OF THE CHURCH Access the latest research being released about the church. Go to stateofthechurch.com/carey. Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Levi Lusko opens up about navigating a mid-life crisis in ministry at 38 and identifying wounds that become a ticking time bomb. Plus, Levi and Carey explore the mixed motives and gifting of preachers. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork COMPASSION Did you know that partnering with Compassion helps fulfill your church's call to The Great Commission? Bring this mission focus to YOUR church, and then watch God use YOUR church to impact the world. http://www.compassion.com/carey Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Carey Nieuwhof takes the top questions young leaders submitted about ambition and how it works for and against you. Plus, he discusses media consumption habits, being a 'professional" Christian because you work on staff, and how to fire people (well). 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork GLOO INSIGHTS Track attendance, giving, salvations, and volunteers in real-time. Compare numbers year-over-year, across campuses, or even against national trends. https://gloo.com/insights Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Glenn Packiam talks about how to pastor in an age where no one trusts pastors, the church leader mental health crisis (especially among next-gen leaders), and the difference between being weary and being wounded in leadership. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork GLOO AI Train Gloo AI on your church’s own documents, policies, and beliefs—so your team and congregation get trustworthy, on-brand answers instantly. Go to https://ai.gloo.com/ BELAY Download BELAY’s free guide to delegation today: 25 Things to Stop Doing in 2025. Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

In an incredibly candid conversation, Gabe and Rebekah Lyons open up about their 28-year marriage. They discuss how they fight about everything, sex, navigating two careers, parenting, and how, despite all the very real challenges, they've made it through. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork THE ART OF PREACHING BREAKTHROUGH GUARANTEE Until April 11th, I'm offering a Preaching Breakthrough Guarantee with my course, The Art of Preaching. If you don't see a difference in your preaching, just email me by August 31st for a complete and immediate refund. SUBSPLASH Go to subsplash.com/carey to schedule a quick, no-obligation demo and save $500 when you sign up. CHURCH.TECH CHURCH.tech AI is completely customizable to your church. Go to CHURCH.tech and enter the promo code CAREY at checkout for 25% off for the first 3 months. Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Mark Sayers brings astonishing insight to the rapid cultural, economic, and political change we're seeing right now in America and globally. Carey and Mark cover why woke broke, the massive upheaval of the status quo being ushered by Trump and his cadre, and how to find hope for the church in the new global chaos. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork GLOO FEED Text 'carey' to 46816 THE CHOSEN The Chosen: Last Supper is in theaters now, and it’s the must-see event of the Easter season. Grab your tickets for all three parts today at TheChosenLastSupper.com TENX10 Access your free NextGen Simple Mentoring toolkit. Head over to simplementoring.org today and download the Simple Mentoring Jumpstart for Senior Pastors. Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

In this episode, Kara Powell discusses why teens and young adults don't trust the church. Plus, Carey and Kara talk about why young women are dropping out of church, why young men are leaning in, and the keys to reaching Gen Z and Gen Alpha. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork GLOO Easter is the most attended Sunday of the year—and it’s less than 3 weeks away. Are you ready to connect with every visitor who walks through your doors? Get Gloo Messaging set up TODAY so you’re ready to connect when it matters most. Sign up for free at gloo.us/messaging. THE CHOSEN The Chosen: Last Supper is in theaters now, and it’s the must-see event of the Easter season. Grab your tickets for all three parts today at TheChosenLastSupper.com Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Warren Bird and Adelle Banks share data and case studies on what you need to do to make your church future-ready and to experience church growth. Plus, they go deep on what happens when Christians become the minority in the US and the surprising reasons people give for not attending church. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork STATE OF THE CHURCH Check out the latest research about the Church in the United States. Just go to StateofTheChurch.com/carey. BELAY For over a decade, BELAY has matched busy leaders like you with the support they need to start delegating. Download BELAY’s free guide to delegation today: 25 Things to Stop Doing in 2025. STUDIOC Take StudioC's Member Engagement Assessment to see how you can engage your people better. Take the free assessment today at thestudioc.org/carey Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Does character even matter anymore for Christians? If you look at the moral failure happening among pastors and the current culture politically, you'd think not. But the truth is your character matters far more than you think, and it's what the next generation is looking for. In this episode, Carey explores the critical role of character in leadership, especially within Christian ministry. Carey debunks three dangerous myths about character and competence, emphasizing that character is essential for effective leadership. Plus, he shares personal insights and stresses that character impacts relationships, legacy, and overall leadership effectiveness. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork GLOO Gloo gives you 10,000 free texts every month—no cost, no catch. Sign up today at gloo.us/messaging and make this Easter your most impactful one yet! CHURCH.TECH Interactive Clips by CHURCH.tech pauses during the video to ask devotional questions, inviting you to reflect on what you’ve just heard. And here’s the kicker: based on your responses, it creates a personalized next step, help you become who God created and designed you to be. Go to clips.tech now and join the waitlist! Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Mark Batterson unpacks the funding and church planting strategy of National Community Church. He shares how NCC went from 29 people to owning coffee houses and city blocks in one of America's most expensive real estate markets. We also discuss the truth of how 'success' goes from gradual to sudden. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork THE ART OF LEADERSHIP LIVE Super early bird pricing is available for another week, so don’t wait—visit theartofleadershiplive.com to grab your spot today. GLOO Get your FREE State of the Church tools at Gloo. Go to stateofthechurch.com to get your free kit, and light up your own church health dashboard today. TENX10 I’m excited about Future-Focused Church, a new book by Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Raymond Chang. Their team at the Fuller Youth Institute has helped over 1,000 churches navigate change over the past decade, and this book is packed with tested strategies to help you do the same Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

In this live interview, Annie F. Downs returns to the podcast and explains what most churches are missing in ministry. Plus, she discusses the most overlooked group in your church, how to connect them, and the power of human connection on and offline. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork THE ART OF LEADERSHIP LIVE Super early bird pricing is available for another week, so don’t wait—visit theartofleadershiplive.com to grab your spot today. GLOO+ With Gloo+, you get premium texting with unlimited messages and groups, exclusive access to top ministry influencers, and unbeatable deals on must-have church resources. Use code CAREYSAVE20 for an EXTRA 20% off at gloo.us/plus THE CHURCH NETWORK Experience the training and community you need to be a confident church operations leader. Get more information and register today at thechurchnetwork.com/Conference Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Mart Green joins the podcast to share how his retail book chain stayed profitable and growing in the face of the rise of Amazon, defying the odds. Plus, Mart explains Hobby Lobby's Green Family's inner workings and how he navigated the critical reaction to the He Gets Us campaign. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork GLOO How do you know if your ministry is growing and thriving? Visit gloo.us/insights to unlock valuable insights today! UPWARD SPORTS Upward Sports equips churches to run self-sustaining sports ministries in their communities. Learn more at Upward.org/Carey ECFA ECFA’s new Leadership Standard is about creating a culture where boards proactively care for their senior leaders—supporting their well-being and integrity in Christ, not just as leaders, but as whole people. Learn more about Leader Care at ECFA.org/LeadershipStandard Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Surprise. The New Atheism of people like Dawkins, Hitchins, and Sam Harris has lost favor over the last few years. Podcaster and author Justin Brierley discusses why New Atheism isn't resonating anymore, the openness of thinkers like Jordan Peterson, and how to have conversations with spiritually open people. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork THE ART OF LEADERSHIP LIVE Super early bird pricing is available for only a couple more weeks, so don’t wait—visit theartofleadershiplive.com to grab your spot today. SUBSPLASH Go to subsplash.com/carey to schedule a quick, no-obligation demo and save 30% on your platform subscription and set up when you sign up with Subsplash as your exclusive giving provider. GLOO Texting is one of the fastest, easiest, and most effective ways to connect with people right where they are—on their phones. Sign up today at gloo.us/messaging and make this Easter the most impactful one yet! Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Mark Clark talks about the difference between preaching to a pre-Christian and post-Christian culture and how to do both effectively so that you can reach people and grow your church. Plus, Mark and Carey discuss how to leverage your unique gifting and quirks. Mark shares how he's learned to preach and lead with Tourettes Syndrome and OCD. And he discusses how to solve the problem of life for an anxious generation. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork THE ART OF REACHING COURSE In The Art of Reaching—my course with Mark Clark—you get practical strategies, insights, and lessons to reach more unchurched people. STATE OF THE CHURCH I’ll be co-hosting the State of the Church event alongside Nona Jones; with presentations by David Kinnaman, Ed Stetzer, and stories from pastors you need to know. It’s all happening March 12 at 1pm Eastern, 10am Pacific. Visit stateofthechurch.com to sign up and take part in shaping the future of your church Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Christian Apologist Wesley Huff recently debated Billy Carson, which led to an appearance on the Joe Rogan Show. In both cases, Wes demonstrated a powerful approach to apologetics. In this episode, Carey outlines four best practices Wes embodied and offers five takeaways for every leader looking to engage the culture in conversations about Christianity. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork THE ART OF REACHING COURSE In The Art of Reaching—my course with Mark Clark—you get practical strategies, insights, and lessons to reach more unchurched people. STATE OF THE CHURCH I’ll be co-hosting the State of the Church event alongside Nona Jones; with presentations by David Kinnaman, Ed Stetzer, and stories from pastors you need to know. It’s all happening March 12 at 1pm Eastern, 10am Pacific. Visit stateofthechurch.com to sign up and take part in shaping the future of your church Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network

Craig Groeschel breaks down how he's changing and adapting his preaching and communication style for digital ministry, AI, and social media. Plus, he shares the power of extreme habits, how to motivate yourself and others during successful seasons, and why people are bored with 'cool church' and what to do about it. 🔗 Show Notes 📩 On The Rise Newsletter 🗣️ Preaching Cheat Sheet 🧠 The Art of Leadership Academy 🎥 Watch on YouTube Follow @careynieuwhof Follow @theartofleadershipnetwork GLOO+ Start 2025 by reaching families at the perfect moment: when they’re settling into a new home and open to building new relationships. Ready to connect? Visit glooplus.outreach.com today and get started! BELAY Take advantage of BELAY’s special offer this month and download their book, Delegate to Elevate, for FREE. CHURCH.TECH CHURCH.tech AI is completely customizable to your church. Add your mission and belief statements, and it adapts to create content in your church’s unique voice. Imagine having an AI solution that aligns with your beliefs. Go to CHURCH.tech and enter the promo code CAREY at checkout for 25% off for the first 3 months. Brought to you by The Art of Leadership Network