Live from the Siburt Institute

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.
 
0:00-4:00: Intro
4:00-12:30: Search Process and Committee Experience 
12:30-18:30: Process of Looking
18:30-24:45: Emotions and Mistakes Throughout the Process
24:45-31:30: Actually Hiring Someone!
31:30-40:00: Knowing Who Your Church IS & Importance of Questions
40:00-45:30: Remembering and Recognizing God’s Faithfulness
45:30-48:00: Contact and Closing

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.
 
0:00-4:15: Intro
4:15-10:15: Missy’s Pre-Ministry Background
10:15-19:00: Missy’s Transition to Her Ministry Role
19:00-25:30: Influences to Missy’s Turn to Vocational Ministry
25:30-30:00: Contributing and Formative Life Experiences
30:00-34:15: Serve Where You Are Planted
34:15-37:00: Contact and Closing

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).
 
0:00-3:30: Intro
3:30-8:00: Sabbaticals During Ministry
8:00-12:30: Sabbatical Policies and Practices
12:30-16:30: When Is Ideal for a Sabbatical?
16:30-22:45: Preparation for Sabbatical
22:45-27:45: What Did Conversations About Leaving Look Like?
27:45-34:00: Regular Practices of Sabbath
34:00-38:15: Exiting Sabbatical
38:15-45:00: Starting Sabbatical Conversations
45:00-47:00: Contact and Closing

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.
 
0:00-2:00: Intro
2:00-4:00: Death Bible
4:00-13:30: Trauma: What Does It Mean?
13:30-16:30: Amy’s Reason for Interest in Trauma
16:30-22:00: Widespread Impact of Trauma
22:00-24:30: Secondary Trauma
24:30-33:30: 5 Sustaining Ministry Practices
33:30-39:00: Theology and Trauma Resources
39:00-43:00: Listening Ear and Witness to Haunting Wounds
43:00-45:00: Contact and Closing

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.
 
0:00-3:45: Intro
3:45-8:00: “Sex Bible”
8:00-11:30: Where are Students Hearing about Bodies in the Church?
11:30-16:45: “Intimacy Famine” in our Young People
16:45-20:00: How Do Churches Need to Be Supporting Parents?
20:00-26:45: Talking about God’s Design Rather Than Just “Rules”
26:45-30:45: How Do Church Leaders Have a Heart for Young People?
30:45-35:30: Just Have to Try
35:30-37:00: Contact and Closing
 

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.
 
0:00-2:00: Intro
2:00-5:45: Beliefs about Children’s Spirituality
5:45-8:50: Why Churches Struggle with Children’s Ministry Oftentimes
8:50-12:25: What “Sacred Space” Looks Like with Children
12:25-15:50: Recognizing Spiritual Capacity in Children
15:50-21:30: What Does “Intentionality” Look Like in These Spaces?
21:30-27:15: Research on Children and Worship
27:15-29:30: CoPilgrims in the Journey: Reciprocal Interactions
29:30-33:00: Intergenerationality and Including Children in the Whole Church
33:00-35:15: What Messages are Being Expressed to Children by the Church?
35:15-37:30: Closing

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.
 
0:00-2:00: Intro
2:00-8:00: Josh’s Background
8:00-10:45: Josh’s Alternative “Path to the Pulpit” (And Why He Hates This Term)
10:45-14:15: Josh’s First Year at Preston Road 
14:15-19:00: Challenges and Victories from the First Year
19:00-21:45: Intentions of First Year
21:45-23:30: Sharing Wisdom (NOTE: Mic Seems to break up here)
23:30-28:15: More Advice(Mic Comes Back!)
28:15-31:00: Contact and Closing

Cheryl Russell: Dialogical Preaching

Jennifer Schroeder and Cheryl Russell discuss the transformative nature of dialogical preaching, where the pulpit becomes a meaningful dialogue between the minister, the congregation, and the message. Explore with Cheryl how dialogical preaching can inspire, challenge, and unite churches and listen as she talks about her church's experience with it.
 
0:00-2:00: Intro
2:00-3:30: What is Dialogical Preaching?
3:30-6:00: How Cheryl Became Interested in Dialogical Preaching
6:00-8:00: Challenges & Blessings to Dialogical Preaching
8:00-9:30: Was There Trouble Transitioning to This Method of Preaching?
9:30-11:00: Dialogical Preaching and Children
11:00-13:30: How Dialogical Preaching is Beneficial to the Church
13:30-15:45: Preparing a Dialogical Sermon
15:45-17:30: Impact of Dialogical Sermon on Cheryl
17:30-19:15: Welcoming Perspectives and Voices in the Church: Recognizing Wisdom in the Community
19:15-22:20: Maintaining Harmony while Keeping an Open Floor
22:20-27:15: Letting the Spirit Lead in the Church
27:15-28:45: Practical Speaking Tips for Dialogical Preaching
28:45-32:45: Advice to Those That Find Dialogical Preaching Intimidating
32:45-34:00: Closing

Kaley Ihfe: Ministering to Ministers’ Wives

David Kneip and Kaley Ihfe talk about the challenges that face ministry wives, as well as some ways that the Lavish HOPE ministry is seeking to support, nourish, and refresh them. 
 
0:00-1:30: Intro
1:30-5:00: Lavish Hope Retreat
5:00-11:45: Kaley’s Story
11:45-18:15: Impact of Connection with Other Ministry Wives
18:15-24:15: How Support and Nourishment are Provided
24:15-27:30: Holistic Elements and Caregivers
27:30-31:30: Future for Lavish Hope Retreat
31:30-34:00: 2 Pieces of Advice
34:00-37:30: Contact and Closing

Alan Howell: Missions in the Modern World

David Kneip and Alan Howell from Mission Resource Network talk about the changing face of missions in our world, along with resources that MRN has to offer churches and missions workers.
 
0:00-6:45: Intro
6:45-14:30: Mission Resource Network Initiatives
14:30-20:00: Missions: The Good and the Bad
20:00-26:00: Cruise Ship, BattleShip, HouseBoat, and SailBoat Mentalities
26:00-32:30: Everyone, Everywhere
32:30-37:00: How to get Involved in Missions from where you are at
37:00-40:00: Contact and Closing