This week, Alicia Lee and special co-host Rev. Elliot Johnson welcome Rev. John Edward Cager, Presiding Elder of the Midwest North District of the AME Church, for a candid conversation about pastoral leadership, church growth, and what becomes possible when churches move from a mindset of “I” to “we”. Rev. Cager reflects on initially resisting God’s call to ministry and the journey that eventually led him into more than three decades of service. Drawing from 25 years as a pastor and his current work mentoring and supporting pastors across his district, he explains why being called to ministry does not necessarily mean being called to the pastorate, and why success in ministry should never be measured by someone else’s platform. Whether serving three people or 3,000, he encourages Christian leaders to focus on the specific gifts, responsibilities, and assignment God has placed before them. Throughout their conversation, Alicia, Rev. EJ, and Rev. Cager explore the importance of authenticity and integrity in Christian leadership, as well as the vision and flexibility churches need to meet the challenges of a changing world. From finding creative approaches to church finances and embracing technology to better connect with congregations, to drawing on the gifts already present within the pews, Rev. Cager challenges pastors to think beyond traditional models of ministry. Ultimately, he makes the case for greater collaboration across churches and denominations, reminding leaders that when we move beyond competition and work together for Jesus Christ, we expand our capacity to build the Kingdom. Website: https://www.amec-midwestnorthdistrict.com/ 00:00 Introduction: The Unique Perspective of a Denominational Leader 02:02 The Calling: From Resistance to Surrender 05:52 The Role of a Presiding Elder: Coaching, Mentoring, and Discernment 15:08 Authenticity and Integrity: The Foundation of Kingdom Building 21:13 What Makes Churches Work: Vision, Flexibility, and Spiritual Discernment 22:19 The Financial Reality: Multiple Revenue Streams for Ministry 26:11 Cultural Traditions vs. Biblical Mandates: Letting Go to Grow 30:26 Creative Ministry Models: From Fish Fries to Healthcare Clinics 36:06 The First Step: Possibility Meetings and Unleashing Congregational Talent 42:15 Technology as the New Lifeline: Staying Connected in a Digital Age 48:46 From I to We: The Power of Collaboration and the Federal Security Grant Story Follow us on social media: Website: https://faithly.co/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefaithlyco/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithly.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faithly/ X: https://x.com/faithlyco
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