The RISE Leadership Podcast

Buster Pray has served at Cross Church for almost 33 years — as worship pastor, as campus pastor at Pinnacle Hills, and now leading our Legacy Ministry. Along the way, he buried his father at 20, lost his son Andrew in a cycling accident the day before Thanksgiving 2012, and survived a heart attack seven years ago, all while leading at a high level. This episode isn't about frameworks or five-step plans. It's a conversation about what actually holds a leader together when life falls apart — how to grieve without faking it, how to show up for someone else's pain, and how real hope in heaven changes the way you lead on an ordinary Tuesday. Dr. Jeremy Dixon, Fayetteville Campus Pastor, and Phil McMichael, Executive Pastor, sit down with Buster to talk revival, tragedy, the "God factor," and 33 years of Cross Church and choosing to keep leading, keep following, and keep hoping. Mentioned in this episode: Courtney Pray Duke's book, And She Got Up: Shattered by Loss, Restored by Jesus — and Cross Church's Call to Lead Conference. Send us Fan Mail

The Pipeline series ends where leadership development reaches its highest calling — not just leading a team, but developing the leaders on your team. In Part 4, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Tony Cobb, Director of Training and Development at Black Raven Group and coach at Cross Church's Highway 62 campus. Tony brings a rare perspective: he's been a student pastor in Oklahoma, Florida, and Texas, and now he'scoaching leaders of dream teamers— including the setup and teardown crew when Hwy 62 was still meeting in a high school gym. In this conversation, they break down what a coach actually does, the shift in mindset required to move from producing outcomes to producing people who produce outcomes, the 3C coaching framework (Care, Communication, Coaching), and how Proverbs 20:5 anchors the whole philosophy. If you lead anyone at any level, this episode is for you. Send us Fan Mail

She's the better half of our senior pastor at Cross Church — and today she's finally on the podcast. Meredith Floyd joins Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Izzy Hoffarth for a fun, personal conversation about growing up on a farm in Florida, meeting Nick at Liberty University, and what life with the cookie-baking, song-singing Pastor Nick actually looks like at home. She also shares her heart for the women of Cross Church, what it means to keep your priorities in order, and what's on her heart for our upcoming Women's Gathering. If you've ever wanted to sit down with Meredith over coffee — this is the next best thing. Send us Fan Mail

Two regular people with regular jobs outside of church walls — and they're leading some of the most meaningful ministry happening at Cross Church. In Part 3 of The Pipeline, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Chris and Kendall to talk about what it actually looks like to serve, lead, and find joy in it. From the parking lot to the living room, they share how saying yes changed everything — and why the step you've been putting off might be the one that changes your life too. Send us Fan Mail

Most people think serving is what you do before real leadership starts. They're wrong. In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Nick Bethea — Cross Church's Pastor of Growth and Leader Development — to talk about why serving isn't a stepping stone. It's THE thing. Nick unpacks why leadership is service, service is obedience, and obedience leads to godliness — and what it actually looks like to use the gift God gave you right where you are. Whether you've been waiting for the right role, the right season, or the right moment, this episode is your nudge. The church can't be who she's called to be without you. Send us Fan Mail

What do you do when you can see a problem your organization doesn't know it has? That's exactly where Ryan Blackwell found himself as Executive Pastor of Cross Church — watching a healthy, growing church with campuses, baptisms, and momentum, and seeing something most people at the table weren't seeing: the leadership bench wasn't deep enough for where the church was headed. In this episode, Ryan walks us through how that conviction took shape and what Cross Church actually did to build a leadership pipeline from the ground up. And then there's the turn: Ryan recently stepped down as Executive Pastor of Cross Church to become the 11th President and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources — one of the most significant leadership roles in Christian ministry today. This is Part 1 of a 4-part series called The Pipeline — built for every leader in the local church who wants to grow, develop others, and understand how leadership development actually works. Send us Fan Mail

In this episode Pastor Ralph Johnson discusses lessons of leadership and personal growth that the Lord has taught him through an early career in the Navy and his transition into the ministry. From insight on organizational structures, to discipleship, to personal growth and transformation, Pastor Ralph dives into wisdom that will strengthen any lay leader, minister, or man or woman in the military or work force. Send us Fan Mail

What happens when God blesses your career more than you deserve — and you start believing you earned it? In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with James Young, who spent 29 years at Tyson Foods climbing from a night shift plant manager to Group Vice President of International, overseeing operations across five continents. James gets brutally honest about the demotion that became his greatest stepping stone, the pride that nearly cost him everything, and what God had to strip away before he found real peace. This isn't a theory or a framework. It's a life. And it might be exactly what you need to hear today. Send us Fan Mail

You're praying for clarity. You're waiting for God to tell you what to do. But what if that's not actually what He's after? Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Izzy Hoffarth sit down with Dr. Nick Floyd — Senior Pastor of Cross Church and author of When You Don't Know What to Do — for an honest conversation about the seasons where you feel stuck and God seems silent. Nick opens up about why desperation can be the healthiest place you've ever been, the difference between health and perfection, and why the measure of spiritual maturity might not be what you think. The answer might not be what you're looking for. But what you find might be better. Send us Fan Mail

You're not trying to build a platform. You're trying to steward one. In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Hollywood producer and media consultant Phil Cooke and executive producer Dan Wathen — two men who've spent decades helping the world's largest churches and ministries communicate the gospel more effectively. In this conversation, they get honest about what a media-driven world actually demands from the church, why your story is your most powerful tool, where AI fits and where it doesn't, and why the goal was never performance — it was always stewardship. Whether you lead a media team, run your church's Instagram, or just have a phone with social media on it — this one's for you. Send us Fan Mail

The next generation doesn't need a better show, they need a real home. In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Dixon is joined by co-hosts Ben Stoken and Mark Hutchinson to sit down with Noah Herrin, lead pastor of Way Church in Nashville and author of “Holy Habits” and “Welcome to Manhood.” Noah planted Way Church in September 2023, and in under two years has seen over 1,500 people give their life to Jesus, including 53 salvations on launch day alone. In this conversation, Noah gets honest about what the local church is getting wrong with young adults, why community has to come before mission, what Gen Z actually wants from Scripture, and how older leaders can become the champions that young leaders desperately need. This one's practical, honest, and powerful. Send us Fan Mail

What does it actually cost to say yes to God's call? In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Izzy Hoffarth sit down with Cross Church Missions Pastor Julio Arriola — a man whose story spans Mexico, Argentina, Nashville, Texas, and Northwest Arkansas. Julio planted a church in Guadalajara that grew to become the largest Baptist church in a city of 1.5 million people, and has since coached and deployed church planters across the country. In this conversation, Julio gets real about the hardest decision of his life, the moment his son's tears confirmed their calling, the biggest mistake church planters make, and why prayer and fasting changed everything. Whether you're called to plant or called to stay — this episode is for you. Send us Fan Mail

Shelley Simpson is the President & CEO of J.B. Hunt Transport Services — one of the largest logistics companies in North America, with over 33,000 employees. She started as an hourly customer service rep. She climbed every rung. And she did it without letting go of her faith, her family, or her character. In this conversation recorded at Cross Church’s Summit Business Luncheon, Senior Pastor Nick Floyd goes deep with Shelley on what it actually looks like to lead at the highest level — while navigating a freight recession, a personal health crisis, and the pressure of Wall Street all at the same time. This isn’t just a leadership conversation. It’s a witness. You’ll hear how Shelley keeps her non-negotiables locked in, why she wrote a personal mission statement the day her dad landed in the ICU, and what she means when she says: “Let’s go, God.” For every leader carrying more than they let on — this one’s for you. Send us Fan Mail

What does real leadership growth look like? In this episode of the Rise Leadership Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with executive coach Ben Cashion to talk about the three critical jumps leaders must make as they grow: becoming a five-star contributor, learning to lead as a builder manager, and stepping into enterprise leadership. Ben shares practical insight from years of coaching CEOs and high-capacity leaders, including why promotions don’t always equal readiness, how leaders get stuck when they keep doing instead of leading, and what healthy career progression really looks like. He also brings the conversation into the church context, showing how these same principles apply to volunteers, team leaders, and coaches. This episode will help you recognize where you are, what skills you need next, and how to grow with humility, clarity, and purpose. Send us Fan Mail

Most people picture ministry on a stage. But what if real ministry also looks like boardrooms, budgets, and carrying the weight of decisions that affect thousands of lives? In this episode of the RISE Leadership Podcast, Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Jeff Pearson, Executive Director of Compassion 479 and Strategic Initiatives at Cross Church. Before joining church staff, Jeff spent nearly three decades at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, including 15 years as CFO of the organization responsible for raising the majority of its funding. He woke up every day knowing millions of dollars had to be raised — and that children’s lives depended on it. In this honest conversation, Jeff shares: What the “weight of leadership” really feels like How to view your workplace as ministry The difference between platform and stewardship How to discern when God is releasing you from a role Why obedience sometimes means walking away from something you love If you’re leading in business, healthcare, education, ministry, or anywhere in between, this episode will challenge how you think about calling. Ministry isn’t about visibility. It’s about faithfulness with what God has entrusted to you. Send us Fan Mail

What if the very thing you walked through is the very thing God wants to use? In this episode of The RISE Leadership Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Cross Church dream teamer Kelly Stamps to explore how God turns seasons of waiting, pain, and ordinary obedience into powerful ministry. Kelly never set out to build a platform but through simple faithfulness, God used her story to impact thousands and to connect couples around the world. This conversation will challenge you to see your life differently. Your leadership doesn’t start on a stage—it starts in your story. If you’ve ever wondered whether God could use your past, your pain, or your everyday faithfulness to make a difference, this episode will remind you: He already is. Send us Fan Mail

What really happens behind the scenes of worship ministry? In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and co-host Phil McMichael sit down with Nick Hardeman, Cross Church’s Associate Worship Pastor/ Springdale Campus Director, to give an inside look at worship ministry at Cross Church. From auditions and development to heart posture and biblical worship, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what it means to lead people into God’s presence. Whether you’re a talented musician, someone curious about getting involved, or a church member who simply wants to worship with greater intention, this episode will help you understand the why behind what we do—and how every person has a role to play. This is an encouraging, honest, and practical introduction to worship ministry for dream teamers, staff, seminary residents, and anyone who wants to raise their expectation in worship. Send us Fan Mail

In Part 2 of our Don’t Flinch conversation, Dr. Jeremy Dixon and co-host Phil McMichael sit down again with Cross Church Senior Pastor, Dr. Nick Floyd , for a candid and behind-the-scenes look at how Cross Church is navigating one of the most significant seasons of change in its 150+ year history. Dr. Floyd shares the story of Cross Church’s long legacy of faithful leadership, the evolution into a multi-campus church, and what’s driving the launch of new campuses across Northwest Arkansas. You’ll also hear practical insight into how Cross Church is adjusting its teaching model to scale for future growth, why unified vision matters more than ever, and how leadership development accelerates in seasons of expansion. Whether you’re leading in ministry, business, or any growing organization, this episode will challenge you to stay steady, courageous, and mission-focused when change comes. In this episode, you’ll learn: · Why healthy organizations must embrace change instead of resisting it · How Cross Church has navigated pastoral transitions and multi-campus growth · The tension between personal preference and organizational mission · Why leadership clarity and consistent vision are essential in seasons of expansion · How change creates new opportunities for leadership development and ownership · What it really means to “not flinch” when the pressure increases If you’re leading through change, growth, or uncertainty, this episode will equip and encourage you to lead with confidence, humility, and faith. Send us Fan Mail

As we kick off Season 2 and step into a new year filled with uncertainty, change, and transition, how do leaders stay steady instead of shaken? In this episode of the RISE Leadership Podcast , Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael sit down with Dr. Nick Floyd , Senior Pastor of Cross Church, to unpack what it really means to not flinch when leadership gets heavy. Rooted in 1 Corinthians 15:58 , this conversation explores how the resurrection of Jesus empowers leaders to remain steadfast and immovable—no matter what’s happening around them. Pastor Nick shares personal stories, leadership principles, and practical wisdom for navigating seasons of change with faith, clarity, and courage. Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of The RISE Leadership Podcast , Dr. Jeremy Dixon and Phil McMichael wrap up 2025 with a discussion on the personal prayer life of the leader. As part of this episode they will dive deep into 3 specific prayers every leader should be praying persistently, and how taking those prayers to the Lord will impact their effectiveness as a leader in the new year. Send us Fan Mail