Is it possible to get to a place in ministry where things seem easy, and less challenging? Bi-vocational Pastor, Chad Halverson, says, “Yes”. But it’s not the promised land that you might think. In this episode, Chad recalls the major shift he experienced going from only ever being in full-time vocational ministry to moving cross country twice within a year, picking up two marketplace jobs, and all the lessons he is still learning from stepping outside of the insecurity of what is "safe".

You’re getting two Chad’s for the price of one for this season’s finale, so let’s get to it!

Resources Highlighted in this Interview:

• Connect further with Chad at wintersetfoursquare.org

Guest Bio:

Chad Halverson has served in the Pastoral ministry for over 30 years. Since leaving full time vocational ministry in 2022, he and his family have settled in Winterset, IA where he is an assisting minister in the Winterset Foursquare Church. He vocationally works for a large farm coop, but continues to have a heart for the local church, church health and pastoral care.

Growing up in the Midwest, he attended Life Pacific University and has been a licensed Foursquare Pastor since 1996. He is married to his beautiful wife, Kerri, of 23 years and has four (mostly) amazing kids. This new bi-vocational chapter in his life has been a challenge, and a great reminder of God’s desired presence in the secular, everyday, mundane Monday through Friday weekly life.

Episode Credits:

Audio Engineer & Editing by AJ Williams

Produced by Chad Garrison

Connect With Ministry w/o Hating It:
Our LinkTree | Support MWH @ Buy Me A Coffee
Thanks for listening! If this podcast is a helpful resource to you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review and sharing it with others.

Ministry is a lot like bull riding. Each day you wake up, and you never know which bull you’re gonna get. In this episode Pastor and Church Planter, Jesse Lambert, unpacks the adventure that has been his journey to serve God’s Church. Jesse talks about how he’s learned to walk out practically, “this is God’s church, made up of hurting people and I am a tool to bring healing.” And that journey may not take you to where you thought you were going.

We’re doin’ the blue for this one, so let’s get at it!

Resources Highlighted in this Interview:

• Connect further with Jesse at The Refuge Texas

Guest Bio:

Jesse Lambert grew up as a military kid and later went and served his country as a United States Marine. The military was a huge part of the Lambert family…one could say it was family tradition as 90% of the family served at one point in their lives. Jesse is one of those guys that can do most anything…and since his military he has owned several small businesses, he even ran remote cameras as an assistant producer for live shows in Branson, MO.

Jesse has been married for 23 years to his wife Rebecca and together they have two amazing boys. Asher is 15 and Gideon is 12…they all serve the Lord as a family and enjoy time away in nature…either in the mountains snowboarding or at the beach Surfing!

Now the Lord is using him and his stories to lead others to Jesus as a Pastor of The Refuge TX in Georgetown, TX. In the past Jesse has served the community and church by helping in children's church, youth group, and leading adults in community groups.

Jesse has been involved in everything from media teams and set-up/tear down to leading men and family groups. Folks love that he is approachable and kind, and he challenges them to grow as disciples of Jesus and as leaders in their community. Jesse is an anointed speaker, and feels humbled that the Holy Spirit would choose to use him to serve in His church.

Episode Credits:

Audio Engineer & Editing by AJ Williams

Produced by Chad Garrison

Connect With Ministry w/o Hating It:
Our LinkTree | Support MWH @ Buy Me A Coffee
Thanks for listening! If this podcast is a helpful resource to you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review and sharing it with others.

If the Lord asked you to lay everything down tomorrow, could you do it? It’s a self-awareness leveling question our guest, Pastor Timmy Hensel, now asks frequently. In this episode Timmy shares how he had never experienced what feels like and means to lay everything down until he recently took a sabbatical. Leaders, you have permission to rest. And this isn’t just for your benefit–laying things down empowers others and ultimately builds our future together.

Timmy also drops some pastoral alliteration like a pro–you gotta hear it!

Resources Highlighted in this Interview:

• Sabbatical Resources
• Connect further with Timmy: Thensel@foursquare.org, River Church Family, River Community Pool, River of Refuge

Guest Bio:

Timmy Hensel and his wife 'Tisha are the co-pastors of River Church Family in Kansas City, Missouri. They’re high school sweethearts that have been happily married for 25 years and have three children: Kai, Asher and Brynnlie. Together with their church family they own and operate a community swimming pool and helped to launch a local nonprofit transitional housing program, River of Refuge. Timmy serves as the Central Southeast Regional Pastor overseeing Foursquare churches in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi and parts of Kansas and Illinois. Timmy graduated from Life Pacific College in 2002 with a BA in Biblical Studies and in 2017 with a MA in Strategic Leadership. He was ordained in the Foursquare Church in 2005.

Timmy is humbled and honored to serve, develop, and celebrate other pastors and leaders throughout our Foursquare family. Timmy loves his city and spends time connecting through various social communities, raising awareness for causes that benefit their neighbors, and involvement in local opportunities to support individuals who have special needs, like his daughter Brynnlie. Timmy loves the sound of frogs and thinks it's God's special way of saying He loves him.

Episode Credits:

Audio Engineer & Editing by AJ Williams

Produced by Chad Garrison

Connect With Ministry w/o Hating It:
Our LinkTree | Support MWH @ Buy Me A Coffee
Thanks for listening! If this podcast is a helpful resource to you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review and sharing it with others.

There’s nothing harder than serving the NextGen Ministry. At least according to our guest, Pastor Joe Martin. In this episode, Joe shares how being a second generation NextGen focused Pastor isn’t just a role, but a continued obedience to God’s call in his life. Together we unpack the challenges and current trends of NextGen ministry, and discuss how getting back to the basics will reach the next generation. We’re bringin’ the serious ‘stache to this one, so listen up!

Resources Highlighted in this Interview:

• To connect further with Joe at lifebridgechurch.com/about
• Living Fearless by Jamie Winship
• Canoeing the Mountains by Todd Bolsinger

Guest Bio:

Joe Martin has served in NextGen ministry for over 12 years and loves to help young people realize their potential in Christ. Along with his wife Becca and their two girls, Kennedy & Madelyn...Joe moved to Fort Wayne, IN from the west coast to serve at Life Bridge Church as the NextGen pastor and The Bridge College Director. Joe also serves as a Regional NextGen Mobilizer in the Central District of Foursquare focused on connecting, collaborating, caring for, and celebrating all NextGen leaders in the central east region.

Joe holds a BA in Ministry & Leadership from Ohio Christian University and an MA in Strategic Leadership from LPU.

Episode Credits:

Audio Engineer & Editing by AJ Williams

Produced by Chad Garrison

Connect With Ministry w/o Hating It:
Our LinkTree | Support MWH @ Buy Me A Coffee
Thanks for listening! If this podcast is a helpful resource to you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review and sharing it with others.

How do we combat stagnation, cultivate fresh vision and lead others to experience God in fresh ways? What if we told you it has a lot to do with the creativity you unlock through the building of your own imagination? In this episode, BrianJames McMahon once again returns to unpack the practice of widening the capacity of what we see and engage through our imaginations. This practice not only expands the parameters of how much of God we experience ourselves, but also in how we lead others in experiencing God in fresh, new ways.

Resources Highlighted in this Interview:

• Church Well Co Website
• BrianJames Therapy Website
• Connect further with Brian James at Instagram: @brianjamesmcmahon @church_well_co

Guest Bio:

BrianJames McMahon is a pastor, counselor, and founder of both Church Well Co, and BrianJames Therapy. He works with pastors, churches, and communities to develop safe(r) relational and emotional spaces for healing and connection.

BrianJames cares deeply that the Church of Jesus embodies the person of Jesus with beauty, bravery, and connection.Never one to shy away from messiness and pain, he has committed his life to helping leaders honestly face the pain present in their lives and callings and to walk into the fullness of the life Jesus has for them in honesty, openness, and bravery.

Episode Credits:

Audio Engineer & Editing by AJ Williams

Produced by Chad Garrison

Episode Artwork Photo by Warren on Unsplash

Connect With Ministry w/o Hating It:
Our LinkTree | Support MWH @ Buy Me A Coffee
Thanks for listening! If this podcast is a helpful resource to you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review and sharing it with others.

This probably goes without saying, but: We believe in Women in Ministry Leadership. That said, in this episode Pastor Melissa Brotherton shares her ministry journey as a female Lead Pastor has formed her ministry as denominational Women’s Mobilizer. Melissa candidly unpacks the psychological, sociological and theological challenges women in ministry face, while speaking encouragement to men and women alike to be functioning together as image-bearers of Christ.

We may have also brought new meaning to the term, “sheep trauma”.

Resources Highlighted in this Interview:

• Tempered Resilience by Todd Bolsinger
• Foursquare Women’s Mobilizer Page
• Hope Boulder Website
• To connect further with Melissa: Instagram, or email here

Guest Bio:

Melissa Brotherton is the lead pastor of Hope Boulder Foursquare church in Boulder, CO, the Foursquare Central District Women’s Mobilizer and a chaplain for the Boulder Fire Department.

She was born and raised in the shadow of Mount Rainier in the Pacific Northwest. She now calls the shadow of the Rocky Mountains (in Colorado) home, where she lives with her husband and four children. She’s a voracious reader, a lackadaisical knitter, an avid Seahawks fan, and deeply devoted to Jesus and her family.

Melissa has a masters in Strategic Leadership from Life Pacific University and is passionate about seeing people step into their true identity as image-bearers of Christ and what that means for how they live their lives.

Episode Credits:

Audio Engineer & Editing by AJ Williams

Produced by Chad Garrison

Connect With Ministry w/o Hating It:
Our LinkTree | Support MWH @ Buy Me A Coffee
Thanks for listening! If this podcast is a helpful resource to you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review and sharing it with others.

Ministry leaders will experience levels of pain, grief and relational struggle that most others will not–it just comes with the territory. What if instead of powering through, withdrawing from or finding ways to cope, we just took time to lament it instead? In this Soul Check episode, our friend BrianJames McMahon returns to unpack how powerful lament can be in our ministry journeys.

Resources Highlighted in this Interview:

• Church Well Co Website
• BrianJames Therapy Website
• SLOW Journal
• Connect further with Brian James at Instagram: @brianjamesmcmahon @church_well_co

Guest Bio:

BrianJames McMahon is a pastor, counselor, and founder of both Church Well Co, and BrianJames Therapy. He works with pastors, churches, and communities to develop safe(r) relational and emotional spaces for healing and connection.

BrianJames cares deeply that the Church of Jesus embodies the person of Jesus with beauty, bravery, and connection.Never one to shy away from messiness and pain, he has committed his life to helping leaders honestly face the pain present in their lives and callings and to walk into the fullness of the life Jesus has for them in honesty, openness, and bravery.

Episode Credits:

Audio Engineer & Editing by AJ Williams

Produced by Chad Garrison

Episode Artwork Photo by Warren on Unsplash

Connect With Ministry w/o Hating It:
Our LinkTree | Support MWH @ Buy Me A Coffee
Thanks for listening! If this podcast is a helpful resource to you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review and sharing it with others.

Did that get your attention? No, this episode isn’t an anti-easter manifesto. It’s a roundtable discussion on the highs and lows, pros and cons and practical approaches to the ministry calendar–specifically the big holidays and ministry events. Let’s talk about the pain points that come along with these, and how we can experience fruitfulness in events without hating it.

Resources Highlighted in this Interview:

• Gloo Text Message Resource
• Connect w/ Billy at http://innovationchurch.cc

Guest Bio:

Billy Holden has has served in ministry leadership for 20 years. Billy and his wife Mandy planted Innovation Church in Lafayette, IN in 2010. They have a total of 5 kids, 2 (twins) of which they adopted out of foster care. They have a huge heart for their community and serve local foster families through fostering, hosting foster agencies and through a foster closet ministry!

Episode Credits:

Audio Engineer & Editing by AJ Williams

Produced by Chad Garrison

Episode Artwork Photo by Hassan yahia on Pexels

Connect With Ministry w/o Hating It:
Our LinkTree | Support MWH @ Buy Me A Coffee
Thanks for listening! If this podcast is a helpful resource to you, please consider subscribing, leaving a review and sharing it with others.