What does strategic leadership look like in a church context? In this episode, Chris Goldman, Lead Pastor for Northwest Church (Lynnwood, WA) shares how vision, collaboration, and long‑term thinking shape healthy congregations. Chris shares how his ministry journey, including his training in business and marketing, have influenced the way he approaches organizational strategy in the church. He unpacks the difference between preaching and leading, why strategy can’t be crafted in isolation, and how ministers can build teams that think and plan beyond Sunday mornings. Chris also walks through the Northwest Church’s bold strategic shift: selling its campus, purchasing a vacant fitness gym, and transforming it into a community‑centered ministry hub. This is a practical and insightful conversation for leaders who want to think more clearly, plan more collaboratively, and guide their churches with purpose.

Jay Jarboe, one of our HOPE Network partners and a gifted encourager, joins us to share his wisdom on what makes a good leader, the importance of team leadership, and the power of coaching for church leaders and leadership teams. In this conversation, from our unpublished archives, Jay reminds us that leadership is not about heroic individuals but about communities shaped by Christ, working together in faith. Whether you’re a minister, elder, or simply seeking to grow in your discipleship, this episode offers encouragement and practical wisdom for the journey.

Books recommended in the episode: The COACH Model for Christian Leaders by Keith Webb, The Making of a Leader by J. Robert Clifton, and two books by Henri Nouwen: In the Name of Jesus and Can You Drink the Cup?

Jay Jarboe is the Director of the Emerging Leadership Initiative at Mission Resource Network (MRN), a global network with the vision to multiply healthy leaders to disciple the unreached and under-served people groups of the world. He is a coach and mentor for global leaders with a focus on equipping them to multiply healthy leaders for future generations. Before joining the ministry of MRN, Jay served with the Sunset Church of Christ and Sunset International Bible Institute (SIBI) in Lubbock, TX holding multiple leadership role with the church and the institute. He is married to Sherry, and they have two adult children and four grandchildren. Jay and Sherry were missionaries in Mexico City and now they work with global workers, leaders, and churches around the world. Jay’s passion is seeking to be transformed into the image of Christ and helping others in that same quest.

In today's episode, we’re diving into one of the most important topics for any thriving organization: building a diverse leadership team. For many churches, a lack of thriving may correspond to a lack of diverse voices in the leadership room. Having differing backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences isn’t just about representation. It’s about unlocking creativity, innovation, and resilience at every level of the organization. But this requires strategy, humility, and commitment. In this conversation with author and pastor Sean Palmer, we’ll explore how leaders can open up pathways for underrepresented voices and why diverse leadership is a game-changer for a church's impact. Whether you’re a paid or lay church leader, or simply passionate about inclusion, this discussion will give you fresh insights and practical steps to strengthen your leadership journey. You can read more about this in his article Leading a More Faithful Church: Why Diversity in Leadership Matters found on the Hope Network Ministries blog.

Sean Palmer is the author of Speaking by the Numbers: Enneagram Wisdom for Teachers, Pastors, and Communicators (IVP 2022), 40 Days on Being a Three (Enneagram Daily Reflections), and Unarmed Empire (Cascade 2017). With 24-years of ministry experience, Sean is a sought-after national keynote speaker, teacher, writer, and workshop facilitator. He is also the Teaching Pastor at Ecclesia Houston, one of America’s most innovative and vibrant multi-site churches, serving a predominance of Millennials and young adults. Sean studied Youth and Family Ministry at Abilene Christian University and Homiletics at the Austin Presbyterian Seminary, The Graduate School of Theology at Abilene Christian University, and Fuller Seminary. Sean and his wife, Rochelle, have been married for over 25-years and are parents to two adult daughters. You can connect with and learn more about Sean by checking out The Twists w/ Sean Palmer and www.seanisaacpalmer.com.