What if the people you're praying for are already sitting in your church?

Pastors spend a lot of time waiting.

Waiting for someone to volunteer. Waiting for someone to step into leadership. Waiting for someone to join a group. Waiting for someone to respond to Sunday's invitation.

But what if we've got part of this backward?

What if some of the people sitting in our churches aren't unwilling to engage—they're simply waiting for someone to personally see them, ask them, and invite them into what God is already doing?

In this episode of Pastors Thriving, Kevin Elworth steps away from the formal teaching outline and shares an idea that has increasingly become central to his work with churches: The Church Was Never Meant to Wait.

Jesus didn't simply broadcast an invitation and wait for disciples to identify themselves. He walked up to Peter and Andrew and said, "Follow me."

There was a personal invitation.

And that raises an important question for today's pastor:

Could greater engagement in your church begin with fewer announcements and more intentional conversations?

In this episode:

• Why churches may be waiting for responses they need to initiate
• The limitation of the "stage-down" invitation
• Why a personal invitation produces a different response
• What Jesus' calling of the first disciples teaches us about engagement
• Why the people you're praying for may already be in your congregation
• The difference between announcing an opportunity and personally asking someone
• Why every church needs a clear pathway when someone actually says yes
• A simple four-week experiment you can begin this Sunday

The Four-Week Challenge

For the next four Sundays, personally approach 3–5 people.

Instead of simply asking, "How was your week?", try asking:

"What's God doing in your life right now?"

"What's your next step in your walk with the Lord?"

"How can I help you get there?"

Then listen.

You may discover that the person you've been praying for has been sitting in front of you all along.

Resources

Healthy Church Blueprint Assess the health of your church, identify potential blind spots, and begin building clearer pathways toward greater engagement.

https://hlapi.espeakers.com/widget/form/2ywgbUC7fk1xinaqSU0D

Sunday Prayer for Pastors Kevin prays specifically for pastors every Sunday morning. Add your name and receive the weekly prayer in your inbox.

https://hlapi.espeakers.com/widget/form/Be1dRBkWzCgetiG8yn70

Keywords

church engagement, church leadership, pastor leadership, church volunteers, discipleship, making disciples, church growth, healthy church, Healthy Church Blueprint, Fully Engaged Church, pastoral ministry, volunteer engagement, church systems, church discipleship, spiritual gifts, Ephesians 4, Matthew 4, Christian leadership, ministry leadership, church participation, pastoral coaching, Kevin Elworth, Pastors Thriving

What Happens When God Calls You Outside the Walls? | Ron Armstrong

What happens when God calls you into a place you never expected to go?

In this episode of Pastors Thriving, Kevin Elworth sits down with entrepreneur, nonprofit founder, community leader, and Jacksonville mayoral candidate Ron Armstrong for a conversation that goes far beyond politics.

Ron shares why he believes his decision to run for mayor began with a simple act of obedience—and what he is learning about leadership, criticism, community, conviction, and trusting God with an outcome he cannot control.

The conversation raises an important question for every pastor:

What responsibility does the local church have for what happens outside its walls?

Kevin and Ron discuss:

• Obedience when you can't control the outcome
• Discovering what your community actually needs
• Why consistency builds credibility
• Leading people who don't share your convictions
• Choosing the right people for your inner circle
• Navigating criticism without letting it define you
• Why leaders have to go first
• Leadership and accountability in Jacksonville
• The church's responsibility to its community

THE FIVE-BLOCK QUESTION

Ron introduces a simple challenge:

What if every church took responsibility for knowing and serving the five blocks surrounding its campus?

Before looking across the country—or across the world—what needs, families, businesses, schools, and opportunities are sitting immediately outside our doors?

Ministry doesn't only happen inside the walls on Sunday.

READY TO BUILD A MORE FULLY ENGAGED CHURCH?

If your church is active but you're wrestling with moving people from simply attending to becoming engaged disciples, Fully Engaged Church was built for that challenge.

FEC helps pastors create a clear pathway from first contact to meaningful engagement and discipleship.

Fall Fully Engaged Church cohorts are coming soon.

https://www.pastorsthriving.com/

ABOUT RON ARMSTRONG

Ron Armstrong is an entrepreneur, nonprofit founder, community leader, husband, and father who has spent much of the last 15 years serving and leading in Jacksonville, Florida.

He is currently running as an independent candidate for Mayor of Jacksonville in the 2027 election.

Learn more: TheRonArmstrong.com

ABOUT PASTORS THRIVING

Pastors Thriving helps pastors lead with greater clarity, health, and intentionality—personally, organizationally, and in the communities God has called them to serve.

Subscribe for conversations and practical leadership resources for pastors who want to lead healthy churches without losing themselves in the process.

CONNECT WITH KEVIN

Healthy Church Blueprint: https://bit.ly/4cNU9cf

Fully Engaged Church: https://www.pastorsthriving.com/

Sunday Prayer for Pastors: https://bit.ly/45wQiMQ

#PastorsThriving #ChurchLeadership #PastoralLeadership #RonArmstrong #Jacksonville #Leadership #Discipleship #FullyEngagedChurch

Why do two churches with similar preaching, worship, and ministries produce completely different results?

The answer is culture.

In this episode of The Healthy Church Blueprint, Kevin Elworth explores why culture is one of the most overlooked—and most influential—forces in every local church. Whether it's intentional or accidental, your church's culture is already shaping how people think, lead, serve, and grow.

You'll discover why culture is more than a mission statement or core values on a wall. It's the invisible environment that determines what gets celebrated, tolerated, and ultimately reproduced.

If you're a pastor or ministry leader who wants to build a healthier church from the inside out, this episode will help you evaluate the culture you're creating and give you practical questions to begin strengthening it.

In This Episode

• Why every church has a culture—even if no one intentionally created it
• The difference between stated values and lived values
• How leadership behaviors shape the culture of an entire church
• Why systems either reinforce or undermine your culture
• Five diagnostic questions every pastor should ask
• Why culture is caught long before it's taught
• How healthy culture creates momentum throughout the church

Key Takeaways

✅ Culture is the invisible force behind every ministry outcome.

✅ What leaders celebrate, people repeat.

✅ What leaders tolerate becomes acceptable.

✅ Healthy systems reinforce healthy culture.

✅ Lasting church health begins long before Sunday morning.

Resources Mentioned

📖 Download the Healthy Church Blueprint

A practical assessment designed to help pastors identify strengths, uncover blind spots, and build a healthier church.

Download Here: https://hlapi.espeakers.com/widget/form/2ywgbUC7fk1xinaqSU0D

🙏 Join the Weekly Sunday Prayer for Pastors

Every Sunday morning, receive a Scripture-based prayer written specifically for pastors and ministry leaders to encourage, strengthen, and prepare you for the week ahead.

Sign Up Here: https://hlapi.espeakers.com/widget/form/Be1dRBkWzCgetiG8yn70

Connect with Kevin

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to:

• Subscribe to the Pastors Thriving Podcast
• Share this episode with another pastor or ministry leader
• Leave a review to help more church leaders discover the show

To learn more about coaching, speaking, and ministry resources, connect with Kevin online.