This Week's Stories

• Sports Gambling as a Pastoral Crisis — MinistryWatch reports that sports betting addiction is surging among church members, and most pastoral care teams aren't ready. (ministrywatch.com)
• "Boomers Can't Save Us Forever" — Thom Rainer and Ryan Burge discuss the demographic data that every church leadership team needs to hear. (Church Answers Podcast)
• World Cup Missional Opportunity — Carey Nieuwhof makes the case for why the FIFA World Cup coming to North America this summer is a missional window churches shouldn't miss. (careyniewuhof.com)
• The Danger of Loner Leadership — The Pastors Center episode with Dr. Brian Autry on how leaders quietly drift into isolation — especially heading into summer. (thepastorscenter.com)

Bright Spot: Scarlet Hope

The story of Rachelle Starr — who started by fasting and praying in a strip club parking lot — and how her obedience grew into Scarlet Hope, a ministry now operating in 10 states that has helped more than 10,000 women exit the sex industry.

📬 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter

🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast

• Sports Gambling as a Pastoral Crisis — Legal sports betting is now in most states and quietly spreading through congregations. Gambling addiction stays invisible longer than other addictions, and most church pastoral care systems weren't built for it. Worth getting your team ready before it lands in your lap.
• Carey Nieuwhof on 20 Years After Burnout — Part two of an important series. Hard-won perspective on building a sustainable life and ministry. Especially timely heading into summer.
• Ministry FOMO — The comparison trap doesn't just hit senior leaders. It hits worship directors, children's directors, executive pastors. The comparison trap is an equal-opportunity thief — and the antidote is leaning hard into your specific, God-given lane.

The Bright Spot: Churches launching micro-enterprise programs that help low-income community members start their own businesses — hundreds of graduates, millions in new small business activity. Mission you can measure.

Today's Takeaway: What do you already have that you haven't fully invested in?

Source Links:

• Sports Gambling & Pastoral Care — National Council on Problem Gambling (Churches)
• Carey Nieuwhof — Burnout Series
• Ministry FOMO — Carey Nieuwhof

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter for daily insights delivered to your inbox.

Also check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast with Todd Rhoades.

• Layton Ford Ministries & the Next Generation: Billy Graham's grandson joins the board — what it signals about building for longevity, not just legacy. The question for your team: How are you actively involving the next generation in leadership decisions?
• Five Compensation Issues Churches Get Wrong: A practical look at housing allowances, payroll tax exemptions, and compliance questions that trip up even well-run churches. Essential reading for executive pastors, operations directors, and finance teams.
• Saying No to Good Things: Staff burnout and mission drift rarely happen because someone said yes to something bad. It happens when leaders say yes to too many good things. The inability to say no is sometimes mistaken for faithfulness — it's not. It's a capacity problem wearing a spiritual costume.

Bright Spot: 291 Texas Baptist students commissioned as summer missionaries heading across the U.S. and around the world. The next generation is still saying yes.

Takeaway: Inspired by Carey Nieuwhof: "Stop running from the hard conversation. That conversation you've been avoiding is the one that will change everything." Is there a conversation on your team that's been waiting too long?

📬 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter
🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Today's Stories:

• Salem Communications acquisition: The major Christian radio network (100+ stations) is being acquired by a Colorado Springs-based nonprofit — what does this mean for Christian media and local churches?
• Viral revival or real transformation? A 22-year-old evangelist with 7 million followers is drawing questions from researchers and church leaders: does viral reach actually equal transformation? What happens after the click?
• FIFA World Cup missional opportunity: Carey Nieuwhof makes the case that the 2026 World Cup in North America is one of the biggest missional windows churches have seen — and most are unprepared.
• Bright Spot: A Venezuelan-born pastor launched a Spanish-language church in Florida's rural panhandle on Easter Sunday, reaching Hispanic migrant workers largely overlooked by existing churches.

Sources & Further Reading:

• Salem Communications acquisition news — search "Salem Communications nonprofit acquisition 2026"
• Carey Nieuwhof on the World Cup opportunity: careynieuwhof.com

Subscribe to the free Church Leadership Radar newsletter for daily insights.

Also check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast.

Today's Topics:

• Protecting Worship Services: Multiple state legislatures are moving to toughen legal penalties for disrupting church services, following a protest at a Minnesota church. Is your church prepared legally?
• Daystar Family Rift: The memorial service for Joni Lamb drew significant tributes — but her son Jonathan's absence signals a visible family dispute over control of the network she built. A powerful reminder about succession planning.
• Churches & AI: Can churches approach AI more thoughtfully than they approached social media? Most church teams use AI tools but few have defined their posture on it.
• Bright Spot: A small West Texas church went from 5 baptisms/year to 20+ after their pastor got serious about vision clarity.

Takeaway: Does your organization have a documented succession plan — not "we'd figure it out" but an actual written plan? If not, that's your next important leadership conversation.

---

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter
Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Today's Stories:

• Self-Control as the Backstop — Dan Reiland writes that self-control isn't the caboose of the Fruit of the Spirit — it's the backstop. Without it, every other leadership virtue has a leak.
• What I'd Do Less Of — Chuck Lawless shares 12 things he'd do less often if starting over — a Memorial Day reflection on habits that cost vs. serve.
• Discipleship Pathways That Actually Work — The Unstuck Group on why most churches have a discipleship pathway and why most aren't working. The gap between attendance and genuine spiritual formation is one of the most urgent conversations right now.
• The Bright Spot: Ben's Heart Ministry — Norma Brown lost her son Ben to veteran suicide and built a ministry in his honor. This Memorial Day, they launched a 22-day challenge representing the estimated 22 veterans who die by suicide every day.

Source Links:

• Dan Reiland: Self-Control Is Not the Caboose
• Chuck Lawless: 12 Things I Would Do Less Often
• The Unstuck Group: Discipleship Pathways
• Ben's Heart Ministry

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter | Listen to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

This week's stories:

• Pastor Ezra Jin & Zion Church (Beijing): A Wall Street Journal front-page profile on the pastor who refused to let authorities install surveillance cameras in his congregation — and was arrested for it. President Trump is reportedly planning to raise his case with Xi Jinping.
• The Boomer Wealth Transfer: New research on how Baby Boomers averaging just 1.4 church services/month signals a seismic financial shift — and what the $124 trillion generational wealth transfer means for your church's budget and strategy. Plus: why Gen Z showing up is the underreported story of the decade.
• AI & Spiritual Guidance: 50% of American Christians say they trust AI for spiritual guidance. What does that mean for your church's ministry approach?
• The Big Picture: Gallup data shows only 27% of Americans rate pastors high on honesty and ethics. How the trust deficit and the AI trend are connected — and what the irreplaceable local church offers that no algorithm can.
• Bright Spot — Baptize the World: 650+ churches in dozens of countries are participating in a synchronized global baptism event on Pentecost Sunday (May 24). The Church at its absolute best.

Source Links:

• Wall Street Journal — Pastor Ezra Jin / Zion Church profile
• Church Leaders — "Aftershock: Most Pastors Are Rebuilding on Cracked Ground and Don't Know It"
• Gallup — Honesty & Ethics in Professions survey
• Baptize the World — Global Pentecost Sunday Baptism Event

---

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter for daily intelligence on what matters for church leaders.

Also check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast with Todd Rhoades.

Stories covered:

• McLean Bible Church governance lawsuit — Virginia appeals court revives case involving David Platt
• New research: ~50% of US Christians trust AI spiritual guidance (at least somewhat)
• Ministry professor reflects on 14 years of pastoral ministry — more prayer, evangelism, and leader development
• Paducah, KY churches hit $3.25M capital campaign goal for food pantry and 48-bed emergency shelter

Stay connected:

• Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter at churchleadershipradar.com
• Check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

SBC Abuse Prevention Leader Calls for Cross-Denominational Collaboration — Jeff Dalrymple, chair of the SBC's Abuse Reform and Implementation Task Force, is urging churches to work together ahead of the Annual Meeting in Orlando. Whether or not you're Southern Baptist, this signals a broader shift in how accountability structures are being built across the church.

Can Virality Create Revival? — A Gen Z evangelist with a massive social media following is asking the honest question: does reach produce lasting transformation, or just audiences? Many church leaders are starting to sit with this same reckoning about their own platforms.

King Josiah and the Question Leaders Need to Hear — A brief reflection on one of the greatest leaders in Jewish history circles around a single question: Are you still leading the way you started?

Bright Spot: Two new "Sensational Church" congregations — designed for neuro-diverse children and their families — have launched in Australia and South Africa, just six months after the founding congregation's first service. Forty to fifty percent of attenders are families who had never been to church before.

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter for daily leadership intelligence delivered to your inbox.

Also check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast with Todd Rhoades.

Stories covered:

• Pastor Ezra Jin — Beijing pastor imprisoned for refusing government surveillance cameras in his church (Wall Street Journal)
• Dr. Peter Stafford — Christian surgeon evacuated to Germany after contracting Ebola while serving at a hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo
• Gallup survey: Only 27% of Americans rate pastors high on honesty and ethics — below politicians, accountants, and mechanics
• Eastern Star Church in Indianapolis purchases former Martin University campus for $3.5M to create a community impact center

Takeaway: Trust isn't rebuilt through better marketing. It's rebuilt through consistency — showing up when things are hard, handling money with integrity, treating people well whether anyone's watching or not.

---

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter: churchleadershipradar.com

Healthy Church Staff Podcast: healthychurchstaff.com

In this episode:

• Cracked Financial Ground: Baby Boomers now average just 1.4 services/month, and $124 trillion in wealth is transferring to the next generation. What does this mean for your church model — and what Gen Z data offers real hope?
• AI & Bible Study: Christians are turning to AI chatbots for spiritual direction and pastoral guidance. The discipleship gap this creates belongs on your radar.
• Sunday Service Times: Solid data on what churches across the country are doing with service times — and why gut instinct isn't enough.
• Good News — Baptize the World: 650+ churches from dozens of countries are joining a global synchronized baptism on Pentecost Sunday, May 24. Five days left to join!

Source links:

• Church Leadership Radar Newsletter
• Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Subscribe to the CLR newsletter at churchleadershipradar.com

• James Robison passes at 82 — The founder of Life Outreach International leaves behind a legacy of humanitarian service: feeding millions, drilling water wells, and pointing his platform toward people others overlooked. Life Outreach International now faces a significant leadership transition.
• Youth Pastor Compensation Shifts Fast — The 9th Annual Youth Pastor Compensation Report is out. Only 6.4% of full-time youth pastors now earn below $40,000/year — down from 20% just two years ago. If your church is budgeting based on 2023–2024 data, you're already behind.
• We Don't Need Resilience — We Need Resurrection — Tish Harrison Warren's new book challenges the "bounce back" framework dominating pastoral health conversations. Her case: resilience is a thin category for people who believe in an empty tomb.
• Good News: Churches Bet on Gary, Indiana — A coalition of churches is investing long-term in Gary through housing and sustained neighborhood presence — not a quick project, but a deep commitment to a place most people have written off.

Resources mentioned:

• Life Outreach International
• Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar Newsletter

Connect:

• Healthy Church Staff Podcast
• ChurchLeadershipRadar.com

This week in church leadership: four stories that deserve more than a headline, plus a bright spot that will make you sit up straighter.

• The Pastor Pipeline Crisis: Seminary enrollment for ministry degrees has dropped 14% in five years, and four in ten clergy have seriously considered leaving ministry. A new federal regulation tying financial aid to graduate earnings data could make it worse — squeezing the pipeline from both ends.
• Young Men Returning to Church: New data shows a measurable uptick in young male church attendance — a notable reversal of a decade-long trend. The question is whether churches are ready to actually disciple them when they walk in.
• The Wellness Experiment Is Failing: A Religion News Service essay makes the case that people who traded church for yoga, meditation apps, and spin class are lonelier, more anxious, and spiritually emptier than before they left. The substitute ran out of steam — and the church has a genuine opening.
• Gen Z Is Asking Different Questions: A Christianity Today piece from a Bible professor at Bushnell University captures a theological shift: Gen Z students aren't asking why bad things happen to good people. They want to know when bad people will get what they deserve. That changes everything about how you preach, teach, and present the gospel to young people.
• Bright Spot — St. Paul's by-the-Sea: An Episcopal church in Ocean City, Maryland is under municipal pressure to close its homeless shelter. Their response? "We will not back down." In 42 nights, they've served 892 individuals. That's the church being the church.

Sources Referenced:

• Axios: Seminary enrollment and clergy burnout data
• Religion News Service: "We Traded Church for Wellness. Now We're Paying for It."
• Christianity Today: Gen Z theology piece from Bushnell University Bible professor
• St. Paul's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Ocean City, MD

📬 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter
🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast

In today's episode:

• Wellness Culture's Cracks — New research shows the experiment of replacing transcendence and community with self-optimization is coming up short. What this means for the Church right now.
• Brian Houston Account Hack — A high-profile social media compromise and the digital security lesson every church leader needs: passwords, 2FA, and a response plan before something goes wrong.
• The Staff Member Most Likely to Quit — It's not who you think. The silence from your most competent person may be the signal you've been missing.
• The Bright Spot — Congress and the White House recognize National Salvation Army Week. 27 million Americans served. The quiet, unglamorous work of the gospel.

Takeaway: The culture told people for a decade they could find what they were looking for in a meditation app. That current may be shifting. The question is whether your church can clearly articulate what you offer — and whether people on the edges are ready to listen again.

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter for daily updates delivered to your inbox.

Also from Todd Rhoades: Healthy Church Staff Podcast

• Gateway Church & Robert Morris Update: The founder compensation dispute moves to private Christian arbitration — not a settlement, just headed somewhere quieter. A lesson in governance, documentation, and formalizing founder arrangements.
• Gen Z's Theological Question: Younger people aren't wrestling with innocent suffering — they want to know when evil people face consequences. A shift from theodicy to justice that reframes ministry conversations.
• Technology Eroding Team Relationships: Church staff may be more coordinated than ever but quietly losing authentic connection. A gut-check for teams that look healthy on paper.
• Bright Spot: Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Ocean City, MD is refusing to shut down its homeless shelter despite bureaucratic pressure, having served 892 individuals in 42 nights.

Key Takeaway: Pick one person under 30 on your team and ask: "What's something you think we should be doing differently around fairness or justice in how we operate?" Then listen — don't defend, don't explain.

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar Newsletter | Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Today's Stories:

• Justin Peters' Career Pivot — The well-known apologist steps into pastoral ministry, announcing he's the founding senior pastor of a new church plant in Laurel, Montana. A meaningful shift from watchdog to shepherd.
• AI & Faith Questions — A new piece from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership identifies three questions artificial intelligence is surfacing for people of faith — about humanity, God's image, and what it means to create and communicate.
• Gut vs. Metrics — A guide to spiritual discernment in church leadership: what to do when the data points one direction and your gut points another. Holding data and discernment together without losing either.
• Bright Spot — A Pennsylvania church hands out bicycles in exchange for community service hours, turning a simple idea into a genuine relationship-building engine in their neighborhood.

Key Takeaway: Don't let the metrics crowd out the Spirit. Data is a gift, but wisdom, prayer, and Spirit-led discernment are irreplaceable in church leadership decisions.

---

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter for daily insights delivered to your inbox.

Also check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast with Todd Rhoades.

Today's Stories:

• The Pastor Pipeline Crisis: Seminary enrollment for ministry degrees has dropped 14% in five years, and nearly 4 in 10 clergy say they've seriously considered leaving the profession. Is this a recruiting problem—or a systemic one?
• Financial Aid at Risk: A new federal regulation would tie financial aid eligibility to graduate earnings data—which could effectively disqualify theology and ministry degree programs. The downstream effects on church hiring could arrive faster than you think.
• Young Men Returning to Church: New research shows a measurable uptick in young male church attendance—a reversal of a decade-long trend. The question is whether churches are ready to disciple them well.
• The Bright Spot: A coalition of Christians refusing to give up on Gary, Indiana—one of the most economically devastated cities in America.

Takeaway: Who in your congregation, staff, or volunteer base has real leadership gifts? Have you named it to them? That's how pipelines get rebuilt—one person at a time.

---

📬 Subscribe to the newsletter
🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast

• The Silent Exodus: What some are calling "quiet quitters" on church staffs — team members who are still showing up but mentally and emotionally checked out. Why this pattern is more damaging than dramatic departures, and what leaders should be watching for.
• Matt Chandler on Discipleship: Chandler argues the church has made spiritual formation way too complicated — and that the complexity itself may be the barrier, not the bridge. A practical take on simplifying the path to growth.
• Gen Z and Spiritual Hunger: A generation drowning in noise may be exactly the generation most ready to hear something real. What churches that are positioned well are doing differently.
• Bright Spot: Richard Pope planted Canvas Church in Salisbury, Maryland, weeks after a terminal cancer diagnosis in 2021. Five years later: 327 baptisms, 5 daughter churches, and missionaries sent across Maryland and Delaware.

Hosted by Ted Rhoades (in for Todd Rhoades).

---

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter: churchleadershipradar.com

Check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast: healthychurchstaff.com

This Week's Stories:

• SBC Baptisms Up for 5th Consecutive Year — LifeWay Research's 2025 Annual Church Profile shows 263,000 baptisms (up 5%) and weekly attendance up 4%, even as membership continues to decline. What does it mean when people meet Jesus but skip the membership card?
• Vision vs. Direction — The Unstuck Group's new podcast episode "This Isn't Working Anymore" makes the case that having a vision statement isn't enough. Direction is what gets you somewhere.
• Remembering Joni Lamb — Co-founder of Daystar Television Network passed away at 65 after building one of the largest Christian broadcasting networks in the world, reaching ~100 million households.
• Faith Protects Mental Health — New peer-reviewed research from BYU's Wheatley Institute links religious practice to significantly lower rates of suicidality, self-harm, and depression.
• The Big Picture — Hartford Institute's new congregational study: the church isn't returning to a previous era of glory — it's gaining clarity. Plus: Kanakuk Kamps and Wheaton College accountability threads.
• Bright Spot — Brandon Lake preached at the close of a secular music tour with Nick Jonas and Dan + Shay — and approximately 500 people were baptized. At a pop concert.

Sources & Resources:

• LifeWay Research — 2025 Annual Church Profile
• The Unstuck Group Podcast — "This Isn't Working Anymore"
• BYU Wheatley Institute Research
• Hartford Institute for Religion Research

Stay Connected:

• 📧 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar Newsletter
• 🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast

• Joni Lamb (1960–2026) — Co-founder and president of Daystar Television Network passed away at 65. She and husband Marcus built Daystar into one of the largest Christian TV networks in the world, reaching an estimated 100 million households. A genuine pioneer remembered for decades of faithful dedication.
• Wheaton College Investigation (Part 3) — An ongoing investigation reports that President Phil Ryken allegedly failed to act against a staff member accused of abuse, who then relocated to Turkey where the abuse reportedly continued. A significant story circulating widely in evangelical circles.
• Resource: Cultural Attrition — A piece using a military analogy to describe how church culture erodes gradually — when "who we are and how we do things here" drifts silently from one generation of leaders to the next. Worth a slow read if you're building or rebuilding a team.
• Church Administrator Summit — 200+ church administrators, executive pastors, and ministry business officers from 26 states gathered in Dallas for a two-day summit on sustainable ministry leadership.

The closing challenge: In a culture that rewards the viral moment, the most significant things most leaders build are built slowly — through a thousand unremarkable days where you just keep going.

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter: churchleadershipradar.com

Healthy Church Staff Podcast: healthychurchstaff.com

• Kanakuk Kamps leadership transition: Joe White, the face of Kanakuk for 40+ years, steps down as CEO effective August 31 — and the real question is whether this long-troubled organization will build real accountability, or repeat old patterns.
• Pastor apologizes for UFO briefing claim: Alabama pastor Larry Ragland publicly admits he 'conflated' his opinions with facts after a U.S. Congressman disputed his account — and the bigger lesson is about epistemic humility for every leader with a platform.
• Russell Moore on the infinite scroll and hell: A must-read piece framing social media's endless feed as 'a counterfeit heaven' — with powerful theological language for anyone addressing technology and spiritual formation.
• National Day of Prayer: 75th anniversary — an estimated 60,000+ events across all 50 states unified around 'Glorify God Among the Nations.'

Sources:

• Kanakuk Kamps — Joe White CEO transition announcement
• Alabama pastor Larry Ragland public apology — UFO briefing claim
• Russell Moore — The Infinite Scroll and the Doctrine of Hell
• National Day of Prayer — 75th anniversary, theme: Glorify God Among the Nations

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter for daily updates. Also check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast.

• Dane Ortlund & Naperville Presbyterian: An Illinois judge rules the church retaliated against a female operations director — and what that means for every church with staff and HR processes.
• Southern Baptist 2025 Data: Attendance up 4%, baptisms up 5% (5 straight years of gains) — but membership down 3% to 12.3 million. What does the gap between showing up and formally joining tell us about discipleship culture?
• Pastor Wellbeing Research: New data shows pastors have higher emotional resilience than in years — but job satisfaction has hit a decade low. Called but not satisfied is a different problem than burnout, and it needs a different response.

The Bright Spot: Jordan McCullough, 27-year-old worship director at Zeal Church in Murfreesboro, TN, heads into the American Idol Season 24 finale — and all three finalists are openly Christian.

Takeaway: Does your church's HR process protect the institution, or the person with less power? Clear processes are a form of care.

📧 Subscribe to the newsletter
🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast

• Is the megachurch era ending? High-profile leadership crises and shifting attendance patterns are putting the multi-site, high-charisma model under real stress. What is your church built on?
• Ligonier Ministries donor concern: The ministry's chief academic officer has departed from both Ligonier and Reformation Bible College — and was excommunicated from the connected church — in the same week. The ministry says these are unrelated. A real-time case study in institutional credibility.
• Are corporate performance reviews failing your church staff? Most churches borrowed evaluation frameworks from the business world. A circulating piece breaks down what's going wrong and offers a better framework built for ministry teams.
• Iranian underground church: As regional conflict has shaken communities, Iranian Christians report unprecedented openness to the gospel. A remarkable story of courage and open doors.

This week's reflection: What's your communication plan when something significant happens on your staff? Transparency builds trust long before a crisis arrives.

📬 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter
🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast

• Sam Allberry steps down — A well-known evangelical author and apologist resigns from his ministry roles after disclosing an inappropriate relationship. What this means for the organizations involved, and how you can pastor your congregation through the uncertainty.
• AI and the church — New survey data shows 6 in 10 churchgoers are worried about AI's growing influence on Christianity. Is your congregation having this conversation?
• Young men returning to church — The trend is real, but new research asks the harder question: what do they actually believe when they walk through the door? The discipleship window is open.
• Good news — A Kansas church hands out $4,000 in free gas cards, no strings attached. Making the Gospel visible.

Hosted by Ted Rhoades (in for Todd today).

---

📬 Subscribe to the newsletter | 🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast

This week on Church Leadership Radar:

• The Clergy Act (HR 227) passed the House 350–5 — for the first time, clergy who opted out of Social Security would have a 5-year window to opt back in. It now heads to the Senate.
• Craig Groeschel opened up about his personal battle with anxiety — and why vulnerability from leaders at that level matters for church culture everywhere.
• Christianity Today asked whether the church is ready to enter "the guys' group chat" — young men are returning to church, but are we creating environments where they stay?
• Russell Moore published 8 things he's learned about making major life decisions — theologically grounded and practically essential for leaders navigating transitions.
• Bright Spot: Hillvue Heights Church in Bowling Green, KY wrapped their 20th annual Reach Week with free oil changes for single moms and widows — 15 professions of faith, 9 baptisms. The church at its absolute best.

Source Links:
• Christianity Today — Russell Moore on Major Life Decisions
• Chemistry Staffing — Pastoral Voice & News Cycles
• Craig Groeschel / Life.Church

---

📧 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter
🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast

• Craig Groeschel on anxiety — The Life.Church senior pastor opens up about his personal battle with anxiety and how Scripture became his lifeline. Why leader vulnerability is actually culture-building.
• Staff health in decline — A new assessment shows church staff in the "healthy" category has fallen from 82% to 75% since 2023. What the slow leak looks like — and why quiet fades are more dangerous than dramatic burnouts.
• AI in churches — A Barna/Pushpay study of 1,300+ church leaders found most pastors use AI monthly, but only 5% of churches have formal AI guidelines. Why this is a pastoral identity question, not just a tech question.
• Bright Spot: Re-Hope & the FIFA World Cup — Missouri Baptist ministry mobilizing to combat human trafficking ahead of the World Cup in Kansas City this summer.

Source Links:

• Craig Groeschel on Anxiety — Life.Church Open
• Healthy Church Staff Assessment
• Barna/Pushpay AI in Churches Study
• Missouri Baptist Convention — Re-Hope Ministry

📬 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter
🎙️ Also listen to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

• Camp Mystic Tragedy Goes Before Texas Legislature — The director of Camp Mystic testified before a state legislative committee, apologizing for the deaths of 27 campers and counselors in a flood. A sobering reminder for every ministry that works with youth to revisit their emergency plans, warning systems, and decision-making protocols before a crisis hits.
• Is Your Leadership Voice Getting Drowned Out? — When ministry leaders default to constant cultural commentary, they erode the trust that makes their voice matter. A practical framework for when to speak, when to stay quiet, and how to protect your leadership voice.
• Russell Moore on Major Life Decisions — Eight hard-won lessons on making the biggest decisions in life and ministry. Grounded in real crossroads Moore has navigated publicly and privately. Worth bookmarking if you're in a season of transition.
• Good News: 20 Years of Free Oil Changes — Hill-vue Heights Church in Bowling Green, KY wrapped their 20th annual outreach week offering free oil changes for single mothers and widows. This year: 15 professions of faith and 9 baptisms. The church at its absolute best.

Practical Takeaway: Find 30 minutes this week. Pull out your emergency plan, walk through it with your team, and make sure everyone knows their role when minutes matter.

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter for daily insights delivered to your inbox.

Also check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast with Todd Rhoades.

• Ben Sasse, former U.S. senator, diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer — and what he said about faith on national television
• King Charles III becomes the first sitting British monarch to address a joint session of U.S. Congress — and explicitly called his Christian faith a "firm anchor and daily inspiration"
• New research shows most pastors underestimate the political diversity of their congregations by as much as 50%
• Victory Beyond the Cup: 34,000+ churches equipped to reach FIFA World Cup 2026 visitors with the gospel

Sources & Further Reading:

• Ben Sasse interview on faith and terminal diagnosis
• King Charles III addresses U.S. Congress
• Research: Pastors underestimate congregation political diversity
• Victory Beyond the Cup — FIFA World Cup church outreach initiative

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter for daily intel.
Also check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast.

Today's stories:

• Is the Gen Z revival real? Barna CEO David Kinnaman and Carey Nieuwhof take a hard look at what the data actually says — and the picture is more nuanced than the headlines suggest.
• Church attendance is up for the first time in decades. New research from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research shows median congregation size grew from 65 (2020) to approximately 70 today — the first uptick in decades of decline.
• Why first-time guests don't come back. Thom Rainer's key insight: "People do not return to general warmth. They return to specific relationships."
• Good news: 17-year-old Madison Andrews wrote 17 handwritten letters to church leaders across Arkansas asking for a chance to preach — and sparked a multi-generational worship service being talked about statewide.

Source Links:

• Barna Research — Gen Z and Church Engagement
• Carey Nieuwhof — Revival Data Analysis
• Hartford Institute for Religion Research — Congregation Size Study
• Thom Rainer — Why Guests Don't Return

---

📧 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter
🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Stories covered:

• Life.Church / Craig Groeschel toxic culture and assault allegations (ongoing silence)
• Robert Tebow, missionary, dies at 78 — father of Tim Tebow
• PRRI: Gen Z religion gap growing; young men now slightly more religious than young women
• Bright Spot: Grace Evangelical (Galloway, OH) — Gift of Grace Aid ships 335 containers to Ukrainian refugees, assists 1,500 locally

Sources & Further Reading:

• Ministry Watch — Life.Church story coverage
• Christianity Today
• PRRI — American Values Atlas

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter | Listen to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Stories covered this week:

• Gen Z & Faith Data: Gallup reports 42% of men under 30 call religion 'very important' — but PRRI data shows both genders are disengaging at similar rates. The gender gap is closing for the wrong reasons.
• Russell Moore in Christianity Today: "Against the Casinofication of the Church" — a challenging read on whether churches are forming people or just hooking them.
• River West Church, Oregon: Lead pastor Adam McMurray resigned after an affair. The church responded with radical transparency across all services — a model worth studying.
• XPastor Tax Provision: New 2026 federal tax incentive for charitable giving — especially relevant for donors who take the standard deduction. Share this with your stewardship team.
• Bright Spot — Grace Evangelical, Galloway, Ohio: Outreach Magazine profiles their sustained work with Ukrainian refugee families — slow, relationship-driven ministry at its best.

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter for daily intel. Also check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast.

• Benny Hinn Ministries — A Texas judge freezes a ministry bank account over $160K in unpaid debts to a marketing firm. What church leaders can learn about financial discipline and accountability structures.
• River West Church — An Oregon church models transparency after their lead pastor resigns following an affair. Why honesty in a crisis builds lasting trust — and how to build that culture before you need it.
• AI & Community — Millions are turning to AI companions for connection. What the church uniquely offers that no chatbot ever will: embodied community, genuine presence, and relationships that actually cost something.
• The Bright Spot — Grace Evangelical Church in Galloway, Ohio quietly builds a multi-layered ministry to support Ukrainian refugee families with housing, language help, and long-term community integration.

Links from today's episode:

• Benny Hinn Ministries court filing coverage - MinistryWatch
• River West Church transparency story

📬 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter

🎙️ Also check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast with Todd Rhoades

• AME Church Retirement Fund Settlement: The African Methodist Episcopal Church is on track to recover over $44 million in lost clergy retirement funds — a wake-up call for every church about financial accountability and long-term care for ministry staff.
• Russell Moore — "Against the Casino-fication of the Church": Moore uses the psychology of the gambling industry to examine whether churches have let the pressure for engagement and emotional highs start shaping the wrong things.
• Empathy Burnout in Ministry: A closer look at the specific kind of depletion that affects your most empathetic ministry staff — and what leaders can do about it before it's too late.

The Bright Spot: On Good Friday, the Miami Rescue Mission and Broward Outreach Centers mobilized 200+ volunteers to serve nearly 2,000 homeless guests — and 40 people entered a life-change program that day.

Resources:

• Christianity Today
• Russell Moore's Substack
• Miami Rescue Mission

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter | Listen to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

In today's episode:

• Sarah Jakes Roberts (co-pastor, Potter's House Dallas) fractures her neck in a trampoline accident — and leads with remarkable transparency through the crisis
• New Lifeway research: only 10% of pastors are regular AI users, while congregations are already ahead of them
• Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis goes public about a terminated employee facing abuse allegations — a model of timely transparency
• Kids Hope USA: church volunteers, one hour a week, changing lives in 764 schools nationwide

Key takeaway: Vulnerability in leadership is not a liability — it's one of the most trust-building things you can do.

Sources & Links:

• Sarah Jakes Roberts health update
• Lifeway Research: Pastors and AI
• Bellevue Baptist Church
• Kids Hope USA

📬 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter
🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Today's Stories:

• Craig Groeschel on Hitting a Wall: Craig Groeschel appeared on the Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast alongside his therapist, Dr. Wayne Chappelle, for a remarkably honest conversation about burnout, getting help, and what pastoral health actually looks like.
• The Silent Shift (Thom Rainer): Thom Rainer names the quiet drift of committed, long-time members who start attending less without any warning or conversation — and gives leaders practical ways to read the early signals before it becomes a crisis.
• Texas Church Camps Facing Closure: Dozens of church camps across Texas are facing potential shutdown after new flood-plain safety regulations took effect — a heads-up for churches planning summer retreats.
• Good News: A 19-year-old Chick-fil-A employee named Jaydon Sintron returned a customer's wallet containing $10,000 in cash and turned down the reward — saying it was simply what Jesus would do.

Source Links:

• Craig Groeschel on the Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
• Thom Rainer's Blog — The Silent Shift

📩 Subscribe to the newsletter | 🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Today's Stories:

• A Baptist congregation in Ukraine struck by a Russian missile during Sunday prayer — nine killed, including a pastor
• Leadership transitions as stewardship moments — a fresh framing for navigating pastoral handoffs
• When administrative tasks bury your ministry calling — and how to reclaim the right work
• Fort Graham Baptist in Whitney, Texas: a community rallies after fire destroys their building

Key Takeaway: The question isn't "how do I do less" — it's "am I doing what only I can do?"

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter for daily insights delivered to your inbox.

Also check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast with Todd Rhoades.

This Week's Stories:

• 60% of church leaders use AI tools, but only 5% of churches have an AI policy — and Anthropic is seeking Christian leader input on AI ethics
• Brian Tome placed on leave from Crossroads Church following internal investigation — what the board's response models for church accountability
• Why your best staff members are already looking for another job — and what actually keeps great people around
• Bridging the generational gap on your church staff team
• Christianity Today: A deconstruction story that challenges how the church responds to hurt
• Bright Spot: A small Wisconsin church opens its kitchen — and becomes the heart of its community

Resources Mentioned:

• Carey Nieuwhof Podcast with Jon Acuff on AI-proofing your influence
• Christianity Today — Church hurt and deconstruction

The Church Leadership Radar is hosted by Ted Rhoades, filling in for Todd Rhoades.

📬 Subscribe to the newsletter at toddrhoades.com
🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast

In today's episode:

• Crisis Response Done Right: A youth pastor in Monroe County, Georgia was arrested this week — and the church's response was instructive. They cooperated fully with investigators, sealed the office, and made the campus available to the FBI. Every church needs a written crisis response protocol.
• Your Best Staff Member Is Already Looking: Todd's been writing this week about why top performers leave — and why most leaders never see it coming. The best teams aren't built by reacting to exit interviews.
• AI-Proofing Your Influence: Jon Acuff joined Carey Nieuwhof to talk about procrastination and what it means to make your human leadership irreplaceable in an AI world.
• Good News: A small United Methodist church in rural Wisconsin opened their kitchen instead of their doors — and became the heartbeat of their town.

Source Links:

• Church Leadership Radar Newsletter
• Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast — Jon Acuff on AI-Proofing Your Influence
• Monroe County arrest coverage

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter for daily insights.

Also check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast with Todd Rhoades.

• The AI Policy Gap: 60% of church leaders are using AI tools (ChatGPT, AI graphics, email writing), but only 5% have established policies. Why this matters and how to get ahead of it.
• Anthropic Wants Your Voice: One of the world's major AI companies is actively seeking Christian leaders' input on ethical AI development.
• The Generational Conversation: How to bridge generational gaps on your staff—Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z process feedback and leadership differently. Leaders who recognize and leverage these differences will thrive.

The Bright Spot: Over 250 people with special needs got dressed up for Permission to Dance—a prom designed just for them in Central Oregon. Local churches stepped up, making real inclusion happen.

Your Takeaway: Before going further with AI, ask your leadership team three questions: (1) Where are we already using AI? (2) What do we want AI to do better? (3) What do we absolutely NOT want AI to do? Those answers will tell you if you're leading your church's relationship with technology, or if it's happening to you.

Resources & Links:

• Anthropic – Ethical AI Development
• True North Church Group
• Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Subscribe to Church Leadership Radar: Get daily insights on what matters in church leadership. Join our newsletter.

In this episode:

• The AI Policy Gap — 60% of church leaders use AI, but only 5% have a policy to guide it. How to think through technology intentionally before a crisis strikes.
• Generational Staff Problems — The real friction isn't generational difference, it's leaders assuming everyone learns the way they do. Featuring resources from Chemistry Staffing.
• Summer Safety Planning — Peer-to-peer risk in youth ministry. XPastor's resource on peer sexual abuse prevention for camps and mission trips.
• The Bright Spot — Churches in Central Oregon hosted "Permission to Dance," a prom for people with disabilities that celebrated inclusion as biblical practice.

Key Takeaway: The churches that navigate change well aren't the ones saying "no" to everything new. They're the ones asking questions ahead of time: "What do we actually believe about this? How does it fit our values?" That posture—being intentional instead of reactive—is how you build a healthy culture.

Resources Mentioned:

• Chemistry Staffing — Generational staff resources
• XPastor — Peer sexual abuse prevention for youth ministry

Connect:

• Sign up for the Church Leadership Radar newsletter at truenorthchurchgroup.com/newsletter
• Listen to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast
• Follow True North Church Group for more resources on church leadership

• Beth Moore reflects on ego and legacy as she eyes retirement
• Bethel Church conducts third-party investigation and implements external governance oversight
• How your church's hiring reputation is shaped by former staff—reverse reference checks are real
• A Mississippi church quietly changes 150 lives by welcoming Ukrainian refugee families

Key insight: Legacy isn't what you build—it's what you let go of. The ego you surrender, the credit you give away, the narrative you stop controlling.

Links & Resources:

• Beth Moore on legacy and ego in ministry
• Bethel Church investigation updates
• Church culture and hiring reputation insights
• Refugee integration ministry in Mississippi

Connect with Church Leadership Radar:

• Subscribe to the daily newsletter
• Listen to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Church Leadership Radar is a daily podcast brought to you by True North Church Group. We help church leaders stay on top of what matters in ministry, culture, and faith.

Craig Groeschel talks about hitting the wall in leadership. The global church is growing explosively while U.S. churches face decline narratives. Brian Tome's suspension from Crossroads Church shows what healthy accountability can look like. Plus, the Disability and The Church Conference is coming to Washington D.C.

What's Discussed:

• Craig Groeschel's Breaking Point – His conversation with therapist Dr. Wayne Chappelle on Carey Nieuwhof's Leadership Podcast (Episode 786) about leadership burnout and hitting the wall
• Global Church Growth – LifeWay Research data on Christianity approaching 2.6 billion believers worldwide, with explosive growth in Africa and Asia
• Megachurch Accountability – Brian Tome's suspension from Crossroads Church and the independent investigation into 2015 allegations, demonstrating healthy church governance
• Bright Spot – The Disability and The Church Conference, April 21-23, 2026 in Washington, D.C.

Key Takeaway: Leaders need to address burnout before it destroys them. Your people need you healthy more than they need you heroic.

Resources & Links:

• Carey Nieuwhof's Leadership Podcast
• LifeWay Research
• Crossroads Church
• Disability and The Church Conference

Connect with Us:

• Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on church leadership trends
• Listen to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

• Crossroads Church pastor Brian Tome takes a one-month suspension followed by four-month leave following investigation into inappropriate conduct
• A deep dive into how to actually get your elder board to listen to your ministry needs
• A reminder from Craig Groeschel about leadership in the valleys, not just the mountaintops

Key Takeaway: Leadership isn't about having standards—every church has those. It's what you do when someone falls short. Accountability, transparency, and integrity in action.

Matt Chandler at The Village Church is witnessing record-breaking baptisms and what he calls a "massive movement of God" across the U.S., attributing it to the "death of secularism." But as spiritual hunger rises, pastor burnout continues to accelerate—70% of pastors report having no close friends, and 38% have seriously considered leaving ministry.

We also dive into:

• Gen Z at church: Record baptisms of young adults as churches create space for authentic spiritual exploration
• AI in ministry: 60% of church leaders now use AI monthly, but only 5% of churches have actual AI policies
• BeachReach: 2,000+ students mobilized over spring break, resulting in 863 meaningful gospel conversations

The tension of this moment: The church has an unprecedented opportunity to reach spiritually hungry people, but many leaders are running on fumes. Growth without burnout. Vision without exhaustion. That's the challenge ahead.

Resources:

• Join our newsletter: The Healthy Church Staff
• Listen to Healthy Church Staff Podcast

• Matt Chandler & The Spiritual Hunger Movement - Record baptisms and spiritual conversions at The Village Church, as secularism's frameworks collapse and people seek authentic spiritual depth
• The Hidden Crisis: Spiritual Burnout Among Pastors - 53% of pastors report health-affecting stress, 70% have no close friends to confide in. Critical leadership team health issue
• The ECFA Resignation Story - At least 8 Christian ministries recently resigned from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. An accountability shift worth watching
• Bright Spot - Christian musician Forrest Frank and friend Noah Hayden turned a surfing accident into a $90K+ fundraiser for child trafficking ministry

Key Takeaway: You can't lead people into spiritual depth if you're spiritually burned out. Tend to your own spiritual life first - everything else follows.

Resources:

• Subscribe to Church Leadership Radar newsletter
• Healthy Church Staff Podcast

• The hard truth about pastoral burnout and why it's not a badge of faithfulness
• Why delegation actually kills team morale when leaders don't do it
• A surprising statistic about Gen Z conversion and baptism growth breaking the decline narrative

Key Takeaway: Burnout happens because you're trying to do too much. The way out isn't more self-care—it's rhythm, delegation, and building a team that owns the mission.

Sources:

• Church Answers - "The Pace of Leadership: Why Burnout Is Not a Badge of Faithfulness" (Jacki King)
• Church Leaders - "When the Pastor Stops Feeling God: The Spiritual Burnout No One Talks About" (David Mercer)
• Outreach - "Why Leaders Fail to Delegate (and How It Kills Team Morale)" (Jimmy Dodd)
• Washington Examiner - "Gen Z Is Filling Churches: The Data Behind Surprising Growth"

Want to stay updated on church leadership insights?

• Subscribe to Church Leadership Radar newsletter
• Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Featured Stories & Resources:

• Access Church Leadership Transition: Brian and Sandra Sisneros removed over Easter weekend
• Hope Church (Las Vegas): One of America's fastest-growing churches shifting to multiplication over growth
• Todd's Board Governance Resource: Why Your Ministry Vision Keeps Getting Shot Down by the Board—And How to Fix It (Chemistry Staffing)
• Bright Spot: BeachReach 2026 - 2000+ students, 863 gospel conversations during spring break

Join the Conversation:

• True North Church Group
• Healthy Church Staff Podcast
• Subscribe to our newsletter

This week on the podcast:

• Access Church Firing: A major church in Texas terminated its lead pastor couple over Easter weekend with minimal transparency—and what that reveals about church leadership communication and values
• AI in Ministry: 60% of pastors are now using AI tools, but most churches have zero governance framework for it
• Bright Spot: A Christian astronaut carries his faith to the moon on NASA's Artemis mission

The core message: Leadership communication matters. When churches handle transparency well, it strengthens culture. When they don't, people fill in the blanks and lose confidence.

Subscribe to Church Leadership Radar:

• Newsletter Signup
• More Episodes
• Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.

A major church firing in Texas raises serious transparency questions. 60% of pastors are now using AI tools, but almost none have a governance plan. And a Christian astronaut carries his faith to the moon on the Artemis mission.

Key Stories:

• Access Church in Texas fires lead pastor couple over Easter weekend with no public explanation
• Study shows 60% of pastors using AI for sermon prep and administration, but lack governance frameworks
• Christian astronaut pilots Artemis mission—humanity's first return to the moon in 53 years

The Takeaway:

Leadership transparency matters. When churches hide decisions, people fill in the blanks and lose confidence. The leaders who last are the ones committed to honesty, even when it's uncomfortable.

Resources:

• True North Church Group
• Healthy Church Staff Podcast
• Newsletter Signup

In this episode, we explore three critical issues facing church leaders today:

• AI in Ministry: 60% of pastors are using AI monthly, but 65% worry it could replace their spiritual guidance. Only 5% of churches have an AI policy. We discuss how to lead the conversation about AI thoughtfully rather than fearfully.
• Pastor Burnout: 42% of pastors actively want to quit ministry due to unsustainable emotional and spiritual toll. We examine the research and what church leaders can do to support their pastors and staff.
• Accountability & The Robert Morris Case: Morris was released after 6 months, but survivor Cindy Clemishire continues pursuing accountability. This case reveals the importance of building a culture of transparency and quick action in your church.
• The 200-Attendance Barrier: Churches stuck at 150-180 attendance face a real growth barrier that requires spiritual, relational, and leadership transitions.

Key Takeaway: The AI conversation will define the next few years of ministry. Don't wait for a crisis—lead conversations with your staff and congregation about how your church will use technology while protecting what makes human spiritual guidance irreplaceable.

Sources & Resources:

• Barna and Pushpay AI Study
• Pastor Burnout Research
• Robert Morris Case (Released March 31, 2026)
• Church Growth: Breaking the 200-Attendance Barrier

Connect:

• Subscribe to the Newsletter
• Church Leadership Radar Website
• Healthy Church Staff Podcast

This Saturday's episode covers:

• Accountability in Action: Oklahoma's Cindy Clemishire Act and the Robert Morris case at Gateway Church—accountability systems are working
• Structural Solutions: The Unstuck Group's conversation on structure and lead pastor burnout—it's not about working harder, it's about healthier systems
• Prayer at the Heart: A multidenominational prayer initiative launching this Easter season to mobilize spiritual awakening across America
• Small Church Impact: Harvest Fields Church shows that a 30-member church is reaching 1,400 kids annually—impact isn't about size
• Community Presence: Piedmont Church's "Love Does" ministry transforms how communities see the church

Key Takeaway: Your work matters. Whether you're leading a megachurch or a small congregation, your faithfulness this weekend could change someone's life forever.

Runtime: 10:40

About Church Leadership Radar:
A weekly podcast helping church leaders stay informed on what's happening in ministry leadership. Subscribe to stay updated.

Resources:

• True North Church Group
• Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Resources & Links:

• 9 Church Trends Every Pastor Should Know About in 2026 - Church Tech Today
• Why Executive Pastors Are Your Church's Best Crisis Prevention System - Chemistry Staffing
• Are Churches Including Evangelism in Credentialing & Ordination? - Church Answers
• Delegation That Develops (10-80-10 Framework) - Exponential/Kadi Cole

Hosted by: Ted Rhoades (in for Todd)
Newsletter: Subscribe to Church Leadership Radar Newsletter
Related Podcast: Healthy Church Staff Podcast

• The Southern Baptist Convention just named Evan Lenow as the next president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission
• Amy Anderson from The Unstuck Group highlights the uncomfortable structural truth about why lead pastors burn out
• Why our cultural narrative of independence is costing churches more than we realize
• Piedmont Church showing what it means to be a resource to the community

Key Insight: When your leaders are exhausted, look at your systems first. Burnout isn't always personal—often it's structural. And structures can be fixed.

Resources & Links:

• The Unstuck Group - theunstuckgroup.com
• Life.Church - life.church
• Piedmont Church - piedmont.church
• Southern Baptist Convention - sbc.net

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter: truenorthchurchgroup.com/newsletter
• Listen to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast: healthychurchstaff.com

A troubling trend in church staff health reveals declining wellbeing across churches over the past three years. Plus, major institutional shifts on accountability standards, and a Baptist partnership addressing a critical gap in marriage ministry.

Stories Covered:

• The Hidden Crisis: Why Church Staff Health Is Quietly Declining (Chemistry Staffing)
• Institutional Accountability: Grace Community Church Removed From Counseling Training Center List (Christian Post)
• Marriage Ministry: Texas Baptists and Communio Partner to Strengthen Christian Marriages (Christian Post)

The Bright Spot: Grief Turned to Gospel - Pastor's Courage Leads to 10 Conversions at Teen's Funeral

Key Takeaway: Staff health is foundational. If you're burning out the people doing the work, you can't be the Church you're called to be.

Resources & Links:

• Church Leadership Radar Newsletter: Subscribe
• Healthy Church Staff Podcast: Listen
• Chemistry Staffing: Visit

Church Leadership Radar - Your daily catch-up on what matters in church leadership.

Church Leadership Radar - your daily briefing on what matters in church leadership and culture.

What We're Discussing:

• Oklahoma's Cindy Clemishire Act - Protecting abuse survivors by restricting NDAs in settlements
• Why younger generations are returning to church - and what they're looking for
• Vision drift warning - How to spot when your staff has mentally checked out
• The Bright Spot - Harvest Fields Church reaching 1,400 kids annually with 30 members

Key Takeaway: A church with no clear purpose is in slow decline. But the culture is ready for churches that stand for something real. Sit down with your leadership this week and ask: if we shut down tomorrow, what would the community actually miss?

Resources & Links:

• True North Church Group
• Church Leadership Radar Newsletter Signup
• Healthy Church Staff Podcast

🎙️ Church Leadership Radar - Think daily about culture and leadership

This week we dive into what really matters for church leadership heading into Easter and beyond.

Topics Covered

• Walter Kim & Good Neighbor Day America - Exploring the power of unified community service on May 16th and how togetherness transforms the church's witness
• Carl Lentz on Double Life Pressures - Honest conversation about how church growth metrics can become cover-ups for personal brokenness (with Carey Nieuwhof)
• Barna Research on Biblical Worldview - The encouraging news about 25 million "Emergent Followers" and discipleship opportunities
• Staff Health Crisis - Chemistry Staffing research showing the slow erosion of church staff wellbeing and how to fix it
• The Point Church Bright Spot - 350 volunteers showing what loving your community looks like in action

Key Insight

The most effective churches won't be the biggest or flashiest—they'll be healthy from the inside out, enabling leaders to serve their communities with joy instead of desperation.

Resources

• Christianity Today
• Carey Nieuwhof
• Barna Research
• Chemistry Staffing
• Newsletter: True North Church Group
• Related Podcast: Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Hosted by Ted Rhoades (Todd's AI Twin) | Church Leadership Radar

• Good Neighbor Day America: The National Association of Evangelicals is calling churches nationwide to participate in coordinated service on May 16, 2026. Walter Kim explains: "There is power in togetherness for the church's witness." This is an opportunity for your church to answer whether you're truly about something meaningful.
• Safeguarding Reminder: A critical wake-up call about background checks and volunteer screening protocols. Your church's responsibility to protect the families you serve.
• The Point Church, Charlottesville: A bright spot—this church hosted Local Reach Days with 350 volunteers completing 28 community service projects. Three times per year, every congregation member involved.

Key Takeaway: Good Neighbor Day on May 16 is not just a service event—it's an opportunity to show your community what Christian love actually looks like in action, without argument or politics. Just service.

Resources & Links:

• National Association of Evangelicals: www.nae.org
• Good Neighbor Day America: www.goodneighbordayamerica.com
• The Point Church, Charlottesville: thepointcharlottesville.com
• Subscribe to our newsletter: www.churchleadershipradar.com
• Listen to Healthy Church Staff Podcast: www.healthychurchstaff.com

Church Leadership Radar is your daily catch-up on what matters in church leadership. Hosted by Todd Rhoades.

A powerful insight from George Barna's research on discipleship: while only 19% of Americans show full biblical alignment, there are 25 million "Emergent Followers" in the middle—people with some biblical beliefs but lacking a cohesive worldview. That's not a crisis. That's leverage. That's where intentional discipleship efforts could make the biggest gains.

Plus: The quiet staff health crisis that's eroding your best leaders. Over three years, healthy staff has declined from 82% to 75%—not from one dramatic crisis, but from leaders continuously adding responsibilities without removing anything. And breaking research on church growth: 86% of churches are growing, but the growth rate is slowing from 19% to 14% year-over-year.

The Bright Spot: A Midwest church with just 30 members is reaching 1,400 kids through sports ministry. One thousand, four hundred kids. Thirty members. Not by adding staff or programs, but by having everyone clear on their role.

Key Takeaway: The question isn't whether you can keep adding. You're probably already doing it. The question is: what are you removing so your staff can actually breathe?

Sources & Links:

• George Barna Research on Biblical Worldview
• Todd Rhoades' Staff Health Research
• The Unstuck Group Church Growth Survey

Subscribe & Connect:

• Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar Newsletter
• Listen to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast
• Learn more at True North Church Group

Today's Takeaway: Before Holy Week prep swallows your calendar, ask yourself: Is there something you've been avoiding because you're too busy to face it?

🔗 The Unstuck Group Church Report

📩 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar Newsletter

🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Stories Covered:

• Elevation Church launching onsite college program with Southeastern University
• Adult baptism rates up 10% — fourth consecutive year of growth
• Church staff health declining for three straight years
• Alabama basketball team's Thursday night Bible study building team chemistry

More from Church Leadership Radar:

• Subscribe to the newsletter: churchleadershipradar.substack.com
• Listen to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast: Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Source Links

• Craig Groeschel on Adapting Communication for Digital Ministry and AI — Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
• Beloved New York Pastor and Wife Killed by Drunk Driver — The Christian Post
• Costco Pastor Celebrates Young People's Turn to Faith — The Christian Post

📬 Subscribe to our newsletter for daily church leadership insights.

🎧 Check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast with Todd Rhoades.

In this Saturday edition of Church Leadership Radar, Ted Rhoades recaps the biggest stories from the week in church leadership:

• Exponential 2026 Conference — The "Multiplier" theme and the shift from church planting quantity to leader quality and multiplication
• The Multisite Reckoning — The Unstuck Group's benchmarks, CRC task force report, and why multisite is maturing beyond "just launch another campus"
• Second Baptist Houston Governance Crisis — Bylaw changes, attendance drops of 25-35%, and what every church can learn about process trust
• Church Staff Health & Benefits Gap — Why benefits (not salary) are the #1 reason churches are losing good staff in 2026

Bright Spot: Churches haven't forgotten Portland — Greater Portland Bible Church and Garden Space PDX are showing what salt and light look like in one of America's hardest mission fields.

Links & Resources:

• Exponential 2026 Conference
• The Unstuck Group — Multisite Series
• Christianity Today — Churches Haven't Forgotten Portland

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter for daily updates. Check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast with Todd Rhoades.

Stories Covered:

• Second Baptist Houston governance lawsuit and leadership transition
• Exponential 2026 conference — Multiplier theme with Carey Nieuwhof
• Church staff health and wellbeing data
• Beaumont, TX clergy youth mentoring initiative

Key Takeaway: When a few people make big decisions on behalf of many, it creates a legitimacy gap that becomes a trust gap — and that trust gap becomes an attendance gap. The churches that navigate transitions well over-communicate, over-include, and move at the speed of trust.

🔗 Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Stories Covered:

• Man brings explosive device and firearm into Indiana church service
• The painful truth of hiring your best volunteers — navigating the tension between volunteer excellence and staff competency
• Jennie Allen opens up about wanting to quit everything — spiritual warfare and leadership exhaustion
• Feed My Starving Children Mobile-Pack events — churches packing hundreds of thousands of meals

Connect:

• Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter at churchleadershipradar.substack.com
• Check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

• Brady Boyd Launches New Services Near New Life Church — The former lead pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs is starting Wednesday night services just four miles from the church that asked him to resign, raising questions about pastoral restoration and accountability.
• Moody Bible Institute Wins Settlement Over Religious Hiring Rights — Moody settled with Chicago Public Schools after being excluded from the student teaching program over religious hiring practices. Moody is now an approved partner again, setting a helpful precedent.
• The Great Unmooring: The Church's Opportunity — Cultural and generational upheaval is creating widespread rootlessness, and the argument is this moment is actually the church's biggest opportunity in a generation.
• BOUNCE Ministry Receives Texas Governor's Volunteer Award — A student disaster recovery ministry in Dallas was recognized for mobilizing students to help communities rebuild after disasters.

Key Takeaway

Does your church have a restoration framework for when a leader falls? The time to build that framework is before you need it, not after.

Connect

• Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar Newsletter
• Check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Today's Takeaway: Leadership transitions are one of the hardest things any church will face. The how matters as much as the what — prioritize clarity and trust over speed and control. If a transition is on your horizon, start the conversation now.

Links & Resources:

• Healthy Church Staff Podcast
• Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar Newsletter

It's Monday, March 16th. Ted Rhoades (Todd's AI twin brother) covers today's top church leadership stories:

• Former Ligonier Leader Excommunicated – Stephen Nichols, who previously served in a prominent role at Ligonier Ministries, has reportedly been excommunicated from Saint Andrew's Chapel. What does your church's discipline and restoration process look like?
• The Church Staff Housing Crisis – Churches are losing potential hires because candidates can't afford to live in the community. If your last search took too long or your top candidate said no, housing costs may be the reason nobody's talking about.
• Lakepointe Church Mass Wedding – Led by Josh Howerton, Lakepointe Church in Texas hosted a free mass wedding for couples who couldn't afford a traditional ceremony. Creative, generous outreach at its best.

Key Takeaway

The housing crisis isn't just a compensation conversation—it's a stewardship conversation. Are we stewarding our teams well enough that they can actually thrive in the communities they're called to serve?

🎧 Healthy Church Staff Podcast

📬 Subscribe to the Newsletter

🔗 Chemistry Staffing

• Wesley Huff on The Diary of a CEO — Christian apologist Wesley Huff appeared on Steven Bartlett's massive mainstream podcast, tackling questions about heaven, hell, Scripture, and prayer with clarity and confidence.
• 2026 State of Church Technology Report — Pushpay and Barna Group's new report reveals the key question isn't whether your church uses tech, but whether your tech is aligned with your mission.
• Craig Groeschel on Vulnerability — Groeschel challenges the self-help mindset in ministry, writing in Relevant Magazine and Outreach Magazine about why asking for help is wisdom, not weakness.
• Ben Sasse's Faith Journey — Former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse shares how his Christian faith sustains him through a stage four pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
• East Texas Church Building Swap — An Assemblies of God church and a Baptist church traded buildings in a beautiful display of Kingdom-first thinking.

Key Theme: Authenticity wins. Alignment matters more than activity. As Easter approaches, the question for your church: are you optimizing for impression, or for connection?

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Wesley Huff on The Diary of a CEO
• 2026 State of Church Technology Report (Pushpay/Barna)
• Craig Groeschel in Relevant Magazine

📬 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter

🎧 Check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Today's stories:

• Steve Gaines enters hospice care — The former SBC president and pastor emeritus of Bellevue Baptist Church is battling kidney cancer that has spread to his lungs. A moment for prayer and reflection on his decades of faithful ministry.
• Craig Groeschel on depression and the church — A significant piece arguing that the church should be the safest place to talk about mental health, but stigma too often keeps people silent. Essential reading for every ministry leader.
• Why your volunteers keep disappearing — A fresh resource on flipping the volunteer recruitment paradigm: stop recruiting and start building systems that make people want to stay. Three practical paradigm shifts worth your time.
• Good news: Two Texas churches swap buildings — One Assemblies of God and one Baptist congregation traded buildings to better fit their needs. Kingdom collaboration at its best.

Ted's takeaway: If your church is going to be a safe place for people to talk about mental health, it has to start with your staff. Not a program — a culture.

Your one thing: Find someone on your team and ask them how they're really doing this weekend. Then just listen.

🔗 Subscribe to the newsletter

Stories & Sources:

• How Church Leadership Failures Really Begin
• Revitalization Has a Moment Called Easter
• Will Graham & 145 Churches Gulf Coast Outreach
• Pastor Burnout: Dark Night of the Soul
• Remote Church Leadership

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter for daily insights. Also check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast.

Stories Covered

• Mark Driscoll's $15.5M Building — Trinity Church in Scottsdale acquires a 116,000 sq ft former office building
• 2026 State of Church Technology Report — Pushpay and Barna Group's findings on tech-mission alignment
• Why Easter Guests Don't Come Back — Thom Rainer on retention strategies for big events
• Church Win: Fresh Expressions — 700+ people gather in Ocala, FL for creative ministry models

Links

📬 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar Newsletter

🎙️ The Healthy Church Staff Podcast

• Francis Chan's Public Apology — Chan released a public apology for endorsing fallen leaders like Mike Bickle, raising important questions about the weight of pastoral endorsements.
• Deepfake Scams Targeting Pastors — AI-generated deepfake videos are being used to impersonate pastors and scam congregants, with multiple churches in South Florida already affected.
• Online Influencers Reshaping Faith — A look at how religious content creators are becoming the primary spiritual voices for Gen Z, and what that means for local churches.
• North Point's Gen Z Success — North Point Community Church is packing out 2,800 Gen Zers every Monday night, investing over 25% of their budget in youth and college ministry.

Key Takeaway: Your endorsements carry weight. Take an honest inventory of the names and partnerships you're publicly associating with — not out of fear, but out of stewardship.

—

Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar Newsletter for daily written briefings.

Check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast with Todd Rhoades.

Stories covered this week:

• Beth Moore's Farewell: Living Proof Live announces its final seven events after 29 years of women's ministry, with the last event scheduled for April 2027.
• Jeff Foxworthy on Christianity: The comedian calls Christians the "worst advertisement" for their faith, paired with new Gallup data showing declining religious importance in American life.
• AI in Seminary & Ministry: Thom Rainer on AI-proof ministry roles, the Graduate Theological Union president on AI ethics, and the World Council of Churches hosts an AI panel for faith communities.
• Gen Z & Millennials Returning: New Gloo/Barna data shows younger generations leading a church resurgence — but they want authenticity, not better branding.
• Church Win: New Life Community Church in Carlisle, PA distributes 300+ refurbished bicycles annually to people reentering society after incarceration.

Links:

• Healthy Church Staff Podcast
• Church Leadership Radar Newsletter

Ted Rhoades (Todd's AI twin brother) steps in to cover today's stories:

• Beth Moore Announces Final Living Proof Live Events — After 29 years of women's conferences, Beth Moore is modeling what it looks like to end well. Her intentional, graceful transition is a masterclass in leadership.
• Top 20 AI-Proof Jobs Include Ministry Roles — Thom Rainer ranks the safest jobs in an AI-driven world, and ministry roles like senior pastor, youth pastor, hospice chaplain, and missionary top the list. The common thread: they're deeply relational.
• The Iron Law of Church Growth — New research shows denominations without young adults could lose half their members within a decade. A sobering wake-up call for churches not actively engaging twenties and thirties.
• Good News: Campbellsburg Baptist Goes Old School — Handwritten letters and care packages are making a difference in this small-town church's community outreach.

Takeaway

Ending well is a leadership skill. Is there anything in your ministry that needs a thoughtful, grateful ending?

Links

🎧 Healthy Church Staff Podcast
📩 Subscribe to the newsletter at TrueNorthChurchGroup.com

Today's Challenge: As your team plans for Easter, spend just as much time planning for the Monday after. What's the follow-up strategy?

Sources:

• Thom Rainer on The Easter Illusion
• Barna Research: Gen Z & Millennials Leading Church Resurgence
• Christianity Today: John Perkins Profile
• New Life Community Church Bike Program

Subscribe to our newsletter at churchleadershipradar.substack.com | Check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

• Gallup's Latest Numbers: Only 47% of Americans now say religion is very important in their lives, weekly church attendance has dropped to 31%, and the closing gender gap in church engagement is a shift every leader needs to watch.
• Jeff Foxworthy on Christians: The comedian told an audience that Christians are "the worst advertisement" for what they believe in — and why that's a conversation worth having at your next staff meeting.
• Ministry PTSD on Your Staff: A new piece on why your church staff may be carrying invisible wounds from previous ministry experiences, and how understanding that dynamic could help you keep great people.

Good News: Set Free Sanger in California mobilized 40 volunteers to serve 300 people through their Warm My Sheep outreach — 21 professions of faith and 8 rededications.

The One Thing: This week, look at your Sunday experience through the eyes of someone who chose to be there, not someone who showed up out of habit. What would you change?

🔗 Subscribe to our newsletter | 🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Today's Stories:

• Brian Tome Suspended – Crossroads Church founding pastor suspended pending independent investigation
• Tyler Jones Removed – Acts 29 U.S. VP and Vintage Church lead pastor removed after confession
• What Gen Z Wants from Church – Exponential
• Mountain View Church Nears 1 Million Meals – Queen Creek Tribune

More from Today's Report:

• The SBC Free Fall: Why the Largest Protestant Denomination Lost 3.6 Million Members
• The Pastor Who Can't Say No: The Hidden Cost on Your Family
• Every Superhero Needs a Squad: Why Pastors Need Community

📬 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter
🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Stories covered:

• FBI raids Kingdom of God Global Church properties — forced labor and money laundering charges
• Thom Rainer on why the church staffing pipeline has fundamentally shifted
• Trinity Church in Clovis, NM launches "Messy Church" for special needs ministry
• A pastor's 27-year career lesson: don't neglect friendships with other pastors

More from us:

• 📩 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter
• 🎙️ The Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Stories Covered

• Adam Hamilton Senate Exploratory Committee — Founding pastor of Church of the Resurrection (22,000+ members) announces exploration of Independent Senate run in Kansas
• Barna AI Spiritual Advice Study — 34% of practicing Christians say AI-generated spiritual advice is as trustworthy as counsel from their pastor
• Ryan Burge's "The Vanishing Church" — New book argues revival narrative is overblown; Gen Z less religious than millennials
• LifeWay Research on Religious "Nones" — Nearly two-thirds of unaffiliated still carry spiritual openness
• Karl Vaters on the End of "Cool Church" — The shift from production value to authenticity
• Christianity Today: "The Ministry of Small Things" — The irreplaceable value of pastoral presence

Church Win

Abundant Life Fellowship Church — After a propane explosion destroyed their building and critically injured Pastor Brandon Pitts, the church held its first worship service in a high school gym just 10 days later. "We have not lost our faith."

🎧 Healthy Church Staff Podcast

📩 Subscribe to the Newsletter

Stories covered:

• Barna Study: 34% of Christians trust AI spiritual advice as much as their pastor
• Acts 29 removes U.S. Vice President Tyler Jones from leadership
• Ryan Burge's new book challenges the revival narrative with Gen Z data
• Abundant Life Fellowship Church holds first service after propane explosion

Connect with us:

• Subscribe to the newsletter at churchleadershipradar.substack.com
• Check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Good News: Twenty-five people in Battle Ground, Washington relaunched a 75-year-old church as Saving Grace Church, complete with tap-to-pray tags, free haircuts, and care packs for the community.

Takeaway: Pick one ministry area this week and ask: if the leader left tomorrow, what would we lose? If the answer is "everything," start building systems alongside the person.

🎧 Healthy Church Staff Podcast

📬 Subscribe to the Newsletter

Stories covered:

• Todd White's public apology and calls for independent investigation
• LifeWay Research: Only 36% of religious nones have complete absence of belief
• David Kinnaman on Carey Nieuwhof's podcast: Tapping the brakes on revival talk
• Two churches complete a cross-cultural merger

Connect:

• Newsletter: Church Leadership Radar on Substack
• More from Todd: Healthy Church Staff Podcast

• 1 in 4 Pastors Considered Leaving Ministry — New data shows 24% of pastors seriously considered leaving last year. While that's down from the pandemic peak of 42%, it's still a significant number. The episode explores what boards and elders can do to support their pastors.
• AI Chatbots and the Church — A surprising angle: instead of asking how AI can help the church, the question is how the church can help people harmed by AI. As people turn to chatbots for emotional needs, authentic community and pastoral care become more vital than ever.
• Stewarding vs. Owning Your Ministry — The subtle shift from serving with open hands to gripping tight. A reflection on releasing ministry rather than protecting it.

Good News Spotlight: Evangel Church in Columbus, GA built a public park and coffee shop, seeing first-time visiting families jump from 192 to 582 in a single year — a 70% attendance increase.

🎧 Healthy Church Staff Podcast
📩 Subscribe to the Newsletter

In today's episode:

• AI and Spiritual Advice: New Barna research finds nearly 1 in 3 American adults trust AI spiritual advice as much as a pastor — and among Gen Z and millennials, it's 2 in 5. Only 12% of pastors feel comfortable teaching on AI.
• Craig Groeschel on Mental Health: Life.Church's new series "Heal Your Hurting Mind" pairs Craig Groeschel with clinical psychologist Dr. Wayne Chappelle — normalizing the mental health conversation from the pulpit.
• The Danger of Ministry Entitlement: A new piece explores how power gradually convinces church leaders they deserve exceptions — a slow drift from servant-hearted to self-serving.
• Team USA Hockey & Faith: Players like Jaccob Slavin and Tage Thompson used the Olympic gold medal stage to point to their faith — on the 46th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice.

📬 Subscribe to the newsletter | 🎧 Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Ted Rhoades takes you through the biggest stories in church leadership this week in this Saturday edition of Church Leadership Radar.

This Week's Key Stories:

• Accountability & Abuse: Bethel Church places prophetic ministry director Ben Armstrong on administrative leave amid abuse allegations; Camden Diocese agrees to $180M settlement for ~300 survivors; Former Louisiana pastor receives maximum 7-year sentence
• Church & State: Federal judge bars ICE from warrantless raids at Baptist and Lutheran churches; ~400 Christian leaders sign Ash Wednesday statement; Idaho pastor Douglas Wilson delivers sermon at the Pentagon
• Notable Passings: Rev. Jesse Jackson (84) and worship leader Ron Kenoly (81)
• Faith in Suffering: Former Senator Ben Sasse opens up about stage 4 pancreatic cancer diagnosis
• Bright Spot: Southeastern University spiritual outpouring continues for 9+ consecutive days with students gathering nightly for worship and prayer
• Cultural Trends: Gen Z men leading a surprising return to religion; Record Ash Wednesday attendance across France; Joshua Harris reflects on his deconstruction journey

🔗 Links:

• Church Leadership Radar Newsletter
• Healthy Church Staff Podcast

It's Friday, February 20th, 2026.

Stories Covered

• Ben Sasse's Terminal Diagnosis — The former U.S. Senator shares what stage four pancreatic cancer has taught him about prayer, and the Tim Keller quote that finally makes sense.
• Remembering Ron Kenoly (1944–2026) — The legendary worship leader who shaped what praise music sounded like for an entire generation has passed away at 81.
• SEU Outpouring Revival — What started as a three-day worship conference at Southeastern University in Lakeland, FL has turned into a genuine revival now in its second week.

Links

• Healthy Church Staff Podcast
• True North Church Group

Stories covered:

• Craig Groeschel opens up about burnout and mental health in ministry
• Joshua Harris reflects on his faith deconstruction journey
• Camden Diocese agrees to $180M clergy abuse settlement (~300 survivors)
• Southeastern University revival continues for 9th consecutive day

Connect with us:

• Subscribe to the newsletter: Church Leadership Radar Newsletter
• Check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

In today's episode, Ted Rhoades (Todd's AI twin brother) covers three major stories: a devastating gas explosion that destroyed Abundant Life Fellowship Church in Boonville, New York, critically injuring five people including the pastor and fire chief; new developments in the Bethel Church abuse allegations involving prophetic ministry director Ben Armstrong; and the inspiring spiritual outpouring at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, now entering its second week.

Key Takeaway

When was the last time your church had a professional facility safety audit? Gas lines, electrical systems, fire suppression, structural integrity — the unsexy stuff that nobody puts on a conference main stage, but matters deeply for the safety of your people.

Links & Resources

• Healthy Church Staff Podcast
• True North Church Group

Go lead well today.

• Bethel Pastor on Leave: Ben Armstrong placed on administrative leave amid clergy sexual abuse allegations dating back to 2009. The church is bringing in outside counsel for a trauma-informed investigation.
• Church & Divorce: Barnabas Piper reflects on how the church has improved—but still struggles to hold two truths: marriage is sacred AND divorced people need compassion.
• Hallow's Lent Challenge: With Ash Wednesday tomorrow, the prayer app is launching their Lent challenge featuring Chris Pratt, Mark Wahlberg, and Jonathan Roumie. Over 1.4 million participated last year.

Bright Spot: Calvary Church in Naperville launched "Calvary Champions," serving children with autism, developmental delays, and ADHD. 65 families have joined since it started, and there's now a waiting list of volunteers!

Takeaway: When platforms grow faster than character, the gap becomes dangerous. Who in your life has permission to ask uncomfortable questions?

📬 Subscribe to our newsletter

🎧 The Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Today's Takeaway: When someone takes a step toward Jesus, even a messy one, do they find grace or critique waiting for them?

—

📬 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar newsletter

🎧 Listen to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

This Week's Stories:

• The Accountability Reckoning: Pastor abuse sentencings (Michael Goble, Milton Otto Martin III) and arrest of Texas pastor William Robbins
• Restoration Questions: Tony Evans returns to Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship after 10-month absence; Carl and Laura Lentz announce new book on overcoming infidelity
• Legal Battles: Harvest Christian Fellowship seeks to dismiss 22 federal lawsuits; Gateway Church elders denied dismissal from defamation suit
• Church Security Legislation: Oklahoma's SB 743 signed into law; Alabama HB 363 introduced
• Nigeria Crisis: At least 70 Christians feared dead in coordinated attacks on 35 churches in Taraba State
• Moral Courage: Sandi Patty and Jentezen Franklin speak up on controversial social media post
• Hellgate: Kirk Cameron hosts roundtable on eternal punishment, defends engaging hard questions
• Bright Spot: UniteUS event at UCF sees 5,000+ students gather, 1,600 decisions for Jesus

Go change some lives this weekend. You've got this, and it matters more than you know.

📧 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar Newsletter

🎙️ Check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Here's what's happening today:

• Kirk Cameron's "Hellgate" Moment - Cameron catches heat from his own team for hosting a theological roundtable about hell featuring Gavin Ortlund and Wes Huff. He's advocating for honest conversation over defensive posturing when young people ask hard questions.
• Carl and Laura Lentz Book Announcement - The couple announces "Overcoming Infidelity: 10 Conversations to Help Heal the Hurt" scheduled for October release, stepping back into the public eye after Carl's 2020 termination from Hillsong NYC.
• Bright Spot: 219-Year-Old Church Makes History - First Congregational Church in Whitman, Massachusetts installs their first woman pastor in 219 years of existence.

The Takeaway: Your people are already asking hard questions about faith, suffering, and eternity. The question is whether they feel safe bringing those questions to you. Engagement builds more trust than avoidance.

📬 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar Newsletter

🎙️ Listen to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Today's Stories

• Alabama Church Protection Legislation - Representative Greg Barnes introduced House Bill 363 to make disrupting a worship service a felony (up to 10 years). Oklahoma recently signed similar legislation (Senate Bill 743).
• UCF Revival - The campus ministry Unite US at University of Central Florida has seen over 1,600 students make decisions for Jesus, with 5,000 students showing up and hundreds getting baptized.

The Takeaway

Legislation only goes so far. Have you thought through what security really means for your church context? You can create a culture where safety and hospitality coexist.

📧 Subscribe to our newsletter for daily updates.

🎙️ Check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast for more church leadership content.

In This Episode:

• Pastor Rod Loy steps aside from AG executive role amid lawsuit
• Lifeway study: Only 31% of Protestant churchgoers read the Bible daily
• Bright Spot: Kiera Howell's faith-filled American Idol audition

Links:

• The Healthy Church Staff Podcast
• Sign up for Church Leadership News

Today's Stories:

• Oklahoma Makes History: Governor Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 743, making Oklahoma the first state to criminalize disrupting church worship services. What this means for church security and your rights.
• The Invisible Load: New insights from Tithe.ly on the administrative burden crushing pastors. Plus, Barna's concerning finding: pastoral satisfaction has dropped from 72% to 52%.
• The Bright Spot: The rise of fractional executive pastors - how smaller churches are getting access to experienced operational leadership on a part-time basis.

Today's Challenge: Ask your pastor: "What's the one thing on your plate that nobody sees but drains you the most?"

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to our newsletter at churchleadershipradar.com
• Check out the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

Today's Stories:

• Tony Evans returns to Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship
• CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) announces 8.4% staff reduction
• Super Bowl LX: Mike Macdonald's faith moment after Seahawks win

Takeaway: What does restoration look like? Every church needs a process before they need it. Trust is rebuilt through transparency, accountability, and time.

Connect:

• Newsletter: churchleadershipradar.com
• Healthy Church Staff Podcast: healthychurchstaff.com

Stories Covered This Week:

• Abuse Allegations: Five different stories involving pastors or church leaders facing allegations or charges - including Michael Mohr (LCMS), Joel Firebaugh (Crossroads Church), Tory Hernandez (True Grace Church), Walter Chahwanda (UK), and Rodney Loy (Arkansas AG)
• Robert Morris Visit: Pastor Landon Schott's controversial jail visit to former Gateway Church pastor Robert Morris and the ensuing debate about accountability and forgiveness
• Ron Kenoly: Remembering the worship leader who passed away February 3rd at age 81 - known for "Ancient of Days" and "Lift Him Up"
• Fount NYC Scandal: Pastors Josh and Georgie Kelsey under scrutiny for $1.4 million in credit card charges
• SBC News: Josh Powell nominated for SBC President, joining Willy Rice in the June race
• Saddleback Baptisms: 932 people baptized in January alone!

Key Takeaway:

We're living through a moment of exposure - and that's actually a good thing. Light heals. The question for every leader: What systems do you have in place to keep your church safe?

🎧 Subscribe to the Healthy Church Staff Podcast

📧 Subscribe to the Church Leadership Radar Newsletter