Live from the Siburt Institute

Robert Oglesby: Searching for a Minister (A Consultant's Perspective)

David Kneip and Robert Oglesby discuss ministry searches, specifically focusing on Robert's work with churches and leader groups.  Robert shares about the ways that he helps churches navigate the current shortage of ministers, shares stories of searches gone well and poorly, and provides tips for churches to conduct their searches more wisely and effectively. 

Traci Smith and David Csinos: Family Faith Practices

Jennifer Schroeder talks with Traci Smith and David Csinos about how to incorporate intentional faith practices within families, why it is so important even at a very young age, and how churches and ministry leaders can better support their families in this pursuit. Traci and Dave are active scholars and leaders in the field of children's ministry and draw on both their experience and their research to encourage families and churches.

Olivia Nabb: Searching for a Minister (A Candidate's Perspective)

David Kneip and Olivia Nabb discuss ministry search processes.  Olivia is a recent graduate of ACU's Graduate School of Theology, and at the time of recording, she had been interviewing with several churches but had not yet found a position.  She provides important insights for church leaders as they seek to do their searches well, specifically from the often-unheard perspective of a candidate.

Warren McNeill and Josh Stephens: Searching for a Minister (A Committee's Perspective)

David Kneip talks with Josh Stephens and Warren McNeill, two members of a recent search committee at the Monterey Church of Christ in Lubbock, about the process of searching for a minister.  They discuss ways to do a search well, practices to avoid, and the importance of depending on God throughout the process.  During the podcast, Warren and Josh talk a lot about ways that the Siburt Institute has helped them; you can find information about Siburt's consulting services at https://www.siburtinstitute.org/consulting.

Missy Taylor: Entering Ministry in Midlife

David Kneip and Missy Taylor discuss her story of entering ministry in middle age, with the goal of encouraging those volunteering in churches who may be sensing a call into ministry.

Anna Moser and Sierra Gustafson: Sabbaticals in Ministry

David Kneip talks with Sierra Gustafson and Anna Moser, two children's ministers in Churches of Christ, about the importance of sabbaticals in ministry.  They discuss preparing for and entering into sabbaticals, exiting sabbaticals and re-entering ministry, and the challenges of conversations with leaders and ministry partners.  Resources discussed in the podcast include the Siburt Institute's guide for sabbaticals, which can be found at https://www.siburtinstitute.org/downloads, as well as John Mark Comer's book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (available at https://waterbrookmultnomah.com/books/600096/the-ruthless-elimination-of-hurry-by-john-mark-comer-foreword-by-john-ortberg/), and Ruth Haley Barton's Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again
(available at https://www.ivpress.com/embracing-rhythms-of-work-and-rest).

Amy McLaughlin-Sheasby: What Ministers Need to Know About Trauma

David Kneip and Amy McLaughlin-Sheasby talk about the very current topic of trauma, how prevalent it is in our world and our churches, and things ministers need to know and can do to help.

Steve Hare: Talking about Bodies in Church

David Kneip and Steve Hare discuss why it's important for churches to talk about bodies, sex, and desire. Not a "how-to," this episode encourages church leaders to be proactive in helping their congregants build solid theology around the body.

Dana Kennamer: Children's Spirituality and Spiritual Formation

Jennifer Schroeder and Dana Kennamer discuss the spirituality of children and key elements that are essential in fostering the spiritual formation of children in churches.

Josh Kingcade: Year One as a Preacher

David Kneip and Josh Kingcade discuss Josh's first year as a preacher after many years in other kinds of ministry. The podcast includes reflections on and recommendations for church leaders involved in ministry transitions.