Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast: Equipping the Whole Church Staff for Gospel Impact

Pastors spend a lot of time thinking about the health of their churches, but healthy churches start with healthy leaders. In this episode of the Road to Elevate series, Roger Severino sits down with Fady Al-Hagal, Multiplication Minister, for a preview of his breakout at the Elevate Church Conference. They talk through what it actually means for a pastor to be healthy, the warning signs that often go unnoticed, and the rhythms that help ministers lead well for the long haul. In this episode, you’ll learn: What "healthy" really means for a pastor, and why it starts with Christlikeness and a sound mind, not just a healthy church Why a pastor's personal health always comes before their ministry's health, and how being a witness first changes everything Four warning signs of a pastor drifting toward unhealth, including the "hidden burnout" most leaders won't admit to themselves The marks of a genuinely healthy pastor, from true passion to a disciplined, teachable life The "secret place rhythm" Fady Al-Hagal recommends for every pastor, and the Charles Spurgeon story behind it The one blind spot Fady Al-Hagal says most pastors overlook: learning to be led before you lead others Who should attend Elevate this year, and why soul care isn't a selfish focus, but the foundation for everything else Meet the GuestsRoger Severino is Minister of Leadership Development at Brentwood Baptist, where he helps equip pastors and leaders across the church for healthy, long-term ministry. Fady Al-Hagal is Multiplication Minister at Brentwood Baptist, focused on disciple-making and church multiplication.

Our Road to Elevate series continues with a conversation for every pastor who feels like they're the only one holding their ministry together. Darrel Girardier sits down with Roger Severino, Brentwood Baptist's Minister of Leadership Development, to talk about how churches of any size can intentionally identify, equip, and send the next generation of ministry leaders, a conversation you'll get to dig into further at the Elevate Church Conference on September 21 and 22, 2026. Roger and Darrel work through why leadership development is bigger than training staff, the five characteristics Roger looks for before he asks anyone to lead, and what he calls "the filling holes problem," the trap that keeps ministries stuck reacting instead of developing leaders ahead of need. They close with what ten residency cohorts have taught Brentwood Baptist about giving young leaders enough runway to actually grow. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why leadership development is bigger than training staff members: Roger defines it as identifying, equipping, and deploying people into spiritual service, whether that's a staff role or a Sunday morning volunteer post The mind shift every minister needs from Ephesians 4:11-12: whatever your role, you're in the people-development business, and your ministry area is just the context where you do it The five characteristics Roger looks for before he asks someone to step into leadership: character, competencies, commitment, calling, and culture What Roger calls "the filling holes problem," and why waiting until a ministry spot is empty to look for a leader keeps churches stuck in survival mode Why leadership development isn't about delegating what you don't want to do. It starts with modeling the work yourself, then giving away even the things you enjoy What ten residency cohorts have taught Brentwood Baptist about how much runway young leaders actually need to grow into their own ministry Why stretching the residency from one year to two years didn't require more upfront teaching. It required a longer on-ramp to hands-on ministry The three questions Roger tells every church to answer before starting a residency: what do you want them to know, who do you want them to be, and what do you want them to do Meet the Guests Roger Severino is the Minister of Leadership Development at Brentwood Baptist, where he oversees the church's ministry residency and has walked with 10 cohorts of residents through two years of hands-on ministry training. Darrel Girardier is the Executive Director of Ministry Resources at Brentwood Baptist, where he oversees the team and resources that help equip pastors and ministry leaders across the church.

As we count down the final weeks to the Elevate Church Conference, our Road to Elevate series continues with a preview of the practical breakout sessions headed your way on September 21 and 22, 2026. This time, Dillon Sherlock sits down with Darrel Girardier to talk about AI and the church: where the real opportunities are, where leaders need wisdom, and how to use these tools without losing sight of what matters most. Darrel breaks down what AI actually is in plain terms, why churches have always been slow to adopt new technology, and what the printing press can teach us about how the church responds when a piece of technology reshapes it. He and Dillon also get honest about where AI is helping churches most right now, why a human always has to stay in the loop, and how to respond to the team member who says AI is the devil. They close with a preview of this year's Elevate breakout: a hands-on look at building a full AI workflow, built for every seat on a church staff, not just the communications team. In this episode, you’ll learn: What AI actually is in plain terms: a prediction engine trained on a massive amount of data, more like a really smart Mad Lib than a crystal ball, and why that distinction matters for how churches use it Why churches have always been slow to adopt new technology out of fear, and what the printing press can teach us about how the church responds when a technology reshapes it (it doesn't die, it reforms) Why this shift is moving faster than any before it, with new capabilities showing up week to week instead of unfolding over decades Where churches are seeing the most success with AI right now: offloading the administrative, non-instinctively-human tasks like forms, emails, and meeting notes so staff can focus on the flesh-and-blood work of ministry Why AI should never be fully hands off, and how keeping a human checking the work at every step (AI still gets things wrong) keeps the tool trustworthy How to respond to a team member who says "AI is the devil": you're allowed to hold that belief, but only after you've actually taken the time to understand what the tool is and how it works Meet the Guests Dillon Sherlock is the Digital Strategy Director at Brentwood Baptist, where he leads how the church puts digital tools and AI-powered workflows to work across marketing and communications. Darrel Girardier is the Executive Director of Ministry Resources at Brentwood Baptist, where he oversees the team and resources that help equip pastors and ministry leaders across the church.

Kristen Patton sits down with Brad Smith to talk about one of the biggest opportunities every church has: walking with parents through a fifth grader's transitional year to help build faith that actually lasts.Kristen and Brad dig into why fifth graders start checking out of typical kids ministry activities, and why that isn't a sign they're losing interest in church. It's a sign they're ready for more responsibility than a sticker chart can offer. They talk through what it looks like to invite kids into real ministry rather than just teaching and entertaining them, what a church risks losing if it misses this window, and how investing in a fifth grader's faith shapes their entire family.In this episode, you'll learn:- Why fifth grade is one of the most pivotal years in a kid's life, with real physical, mental, and emotional change, and why it's easy for a ministry to let that year slip past unnoticed- Why fifth graders start checking out of typical kids ministry activities, and why that disengagement is usually a sign they're craving more responsibility, not less interest in church- Why fifth graders don't need more crafts, stickers, and goldfish. They need real opportunities to lead, like teaching a devotional or a Bible study to younger kids- How Jesus modeled inviting ordinary, unfinished people into real ministry, sending out his disciples before they had it all figured out- What it means for a church to help a fifth grader meaningfully belong instead of just attend, and how that shift changes a kid's whole relationship with the church- What's actually at stake if a church misses this window: bored kids, disciplinary issues that trickle down to younger kids, and the loss of a future leader, missionary, or minister- Why the real risk isn't losing a fifth grader. Their parents still bring them to church. The real risk is losing the moment a child realizes the church needs them- How investing in a fifth grader's faith can ripple out to their entire family, illustrated by a recent baptism story from Brad's church- The endgame of teaching fifth graders to lead: not a better fifth grade year, but a stronger church full of disciples who go on to reproduce themselves in othersMeet the GuestsKristen Patton is a Children's Minister at The Church at Station Hill, where she disciples kids and partners with their parents to help build a faith that lasts well beyond kids ministry.Brad Smith is a Children's Minister at Brentwood Baptist, where he equips kids to take on real leadership and service opportunities long before they age out of his ministry.

Student missions can start to feel like an event on the calendar instead of a way of life. In this episode of the Road to Elevate, Evan Kunz sits down with Billy Mahaffey, our student minister for groups and leadership, to talk about what it actually takes to build a student missions strategy from the ground up, from budgeting and choosing the right partners to helping students carry what they learn on a trip back into their everyday life. This is a preview of their full breakout session at the Elevate Church Conference on September 21 and 22, 2026. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why starting with the "why" matters more than starting with logistics, and how to help students see missions as part of following Jesus rather than a separate activity How the post-COVID years reset a lot of the missions culture in student ministry, and what it takes to rebuild it Why Gen Z and Gen Alpha students often think of "sharing the gospel" as street apologetics, and why that definition needs to be reset early What to look for in a long-term mission partner, and why the same site for years can matter more than a new destination every summer How to bring parents into the process, not just for safety and logistics, but for their own spiritual investment in their student's trip Why taking students outside their own city can actually help them live on mission inside it What it really looks like behind the scenes, budget surprises, lodging problems, and all, when a mission strategy is still being built Meet the GuestsEvan Kunz serves as student minister at Brentwood Baptist, where he has spent several years working alongside Billy to build missions into every part of the student ministry's discipleship strategy. Billy Mahaffey serves as student minister for groups and leadership at Brentwood Baptist, where he has led mission teams to Greece, England, and, most recently, Zimbabwe. Register for the Elevate Conference This episode is part of our March focus on worship ministry, leading up to Elevate Church Conference on September 21–22, 2026. Learn more and register at elevatechurchconference.com .

Our Road to Elevate series continues with a conversation every pastor, stewardship leader, and ministry director needs to hear. Darrel Girardier sits down with Ken Schafer, Brentwood Baptist's stewardship minister, to discuss what it takes to build a culture of generosity, previewing one of the breakout sessions at the Elevate Church Conference on September 21 and 22, 2026. Ken starts by separating two words most of us use interchangeably: giving and generosity. From there, he and Darrel work through why money conversations create friction in churches, why a met budget can still hide an unhealthy congregation, and the specific numbers Ken tells every church leader to go find in their own giving data. They close by rethinking a familiar narrative about generational giving and unpacking the difference between giving to a church and giving from worship. In this episode, you'll learn: - The key difference between giving and generosity, and why treating them as interchangeable holds churches back: giving is a transaction, and generosity is a condition of the heart - Why healthy churches treat generosity as part of holistic spiritual development, right alongside Bible study, worship, and prayer, instead of putting it in a lane by itself - Why "our budget is being met" almost never means a church has a healthy culture of generosity - The difference between average giving and median giving, and why median is the more honest, and often more sobering, number for a church to know - The difference between giving to a church and giving from worship, and why that shift changes how a church should talk about money altogether - And more... Meet the Guests Ken Schafer is the Stewardship Minister at Brentwood Baptist, where he helps individuals and the congregation grow into a biblical view of generosity as an act of worship, not just a line in the budget. Darrel Girardier is the Executive Director of Ministry Resources at Brentwood Baptist, where he oversees the team and resources that help equip pastors and ministry leaders across the church.

August kicks off our Road to Elevate series, a month of conversations previewing what you'll actually experience at the Elevate Church Conference on September 21 and 22, 2026. To start things off, Darrel Girardier sits down with Madi Wuebben to answer the most basic question first: what is Elevate?Madi walks through what makes Elevate different from the conferences most church leaders have already tried: breakout content built for every seat on a team, speakers who are still leading in the trenches every week, and a schedule designed so leaders can actually be filled up, not just informed. She and Darrel also talk through this year's new two-day format, cherry-pick a few breakout sessions they're personally excited about, and get honest about what they hope every single attendee walks away with, both in the room and long after the conference ends. In this episode, you’ll learn: What actually makes Elevate different: breakout content built for every role on a team, so a pastor can bring paid staff, volunteers, deacons, and Sunday school teachers, not just come alone Why every Elevate speaker, keynote and breakout alike, is currently leading in ministry day to day, at churches ranging from about 100 people to several thousand Why local, regional connection is baked into the conference, even as it draws partners from as far away as Germany, Brazil, and Utah The two things Madi hopes every attendee walks away with: genuinely feeling filled up, and getting specific answers for their specific ministry lane Why 2026 adds a second day, with an extended two-hour workshop on day one and a keynote, more breakouts, and extended Q&A on day two A few breakout sessions and speakers Madi and Darrel are personally most excited about, from a session on hard conversations to a workshop on planning group ministry The difference between the one-day and two-day ticket options, and how to think about which one fits The bigger vision behind Elevate: not just content for a weekend, but long-term partnerships, like residency programs and seminary connections, between Brentwood Baptist and the churches that attend Meet the GuestsMadi Wuebben is the Promotions Director at Brentwood Baptist, where she leads how Elevate and other Leadership Resources initiatives get in front of the church leaders they're built for. Darrel Girardier is the Executive Director of Ministry Resources at Brentwood Baptist, where he oversees the team and resources that help equip pastors and ministry leaders across the church.

We're wrapping up our month-long series on preaching with a conversation every pastor and Bible teacher needs to hear. Brandon Hayes sits down with Hunter Melton, campus and teaching pastor of The Church at Woodbine, to talk about sermon research: how to use commentaries, AI, and other study tools well, without letting them replace dependence on the Holy Spirit.Hunter walks through his weekly rhythm, the tools he actually uses, and where he draws a hard line with AI in sermon preparation. It's a conversation about being resourced without losing sight of the text, and about pursuing faithfulness over polish. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why being "more resourced than ever" can lead to analysis paralysis, and how to guard against it Hunter's weekly rhythm for sermon prep (Monday and Tuesday with the text and the Holy Spirit, Wednesday and Thursday with commentaries and tools) Why he calls commentaries and old sermons his "dead friends," and which resources he trusts (ESV Study Bible, CSB Study Bible, Crossway's Exegetical series, Baker Academic) How to know when "enough is enough" in research, and why languages and research should support a sermon without being seen What to do when a Wednesday commentary read reveals you got the text wrong Where AI can genuinely help (finding illustrations, checking timing), and where it becomes a slippery slope for a preacher Why Hunter believes AI reshaping a sermon's content or tone crosses a real line, and what's at stake if pastors export their calling to a tool One concrete step for pastors who love people but struggle to sit down and study Meet the GuestsBrandon Hays is the campus and teaching pastor of The Church at Harpeth Heights. He's hosting the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast this month, where he talks with pastors and ministry leaders from across Brentwood Baptist about how they lead, teach, and shepherd their people well. Hunter Melton is the campus and teaching pastor of The Church at Woodbine. Known among his fellow campus pastors as one of the most quotable voices at Brentwood Baptist, Hunter brings both conviction and humor to how he studies, prays, and prepares to preach each week.

A great sermon illustration does more than entertain. It helps people see the truth of Scripture clearly enough to carry it out the door. This conversation between two campus and teaching pastors covers what separates an illustration that serves the text from one that just serves the moment, what one guest calls a boneless chicken trying to walk: fun to watch, but it isn't moving anyone anywhere.The episode breaks down a simple, repeatable framework for building illustrations that land: aim at the point being made, focus the story on that point, and take the picture by tying it back to the truth. It also covers when an illustration is actually needed, weighing the pace of a sermon, the people in the room, and the point being made, plus how personal stories can build trust with a congregation without turning the sermon into a memoir.The conversation closes with habits any preacher can borrow: journaling ordinary moments before they're forgotten, keeping a searchable database of stories and Scripture, and using the natural plot arc, rising action, conflict, and resolution, to spot a sermon illustration hiding in an average Tuesday. In this episode, you’ll learn: The three-step framework for building an illustration that clarifies instead of distracts: aim, focus, and take the picture. How to tell when a sermon actually needs an illustration, based on pace, people, and the point you're making. Why personal stories build trust with a congregation, and how to keep them from becoming self-serving. A simple test for whether a personal illustration has crossed a line: does it elevate you, or does it elevate the truth you're preaching? How to build a habit of noticing illustrations in daily life, through journaling, photos, and a simple database. Why bookending a sermon, opening and closing with the same illustration, can bring a whole message home, as long as you don't force it. Where to find illustrations you can trust, from personal experience to historical events to AI-assisted research, and how to verify each one before you preach it. Meet the GuestsBrandon Abbott serves as campus and teaching pastor at The Church at West End. He has spent years studying the craft of storytelling, from competitive public speaking in high school to a running database that tracks every illustration he has ever preached, tagged by tone, text, and last use.

In this episode, Brandon Hays continues his monthly conversation on preaching with Jay Strother, senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist, this time zeroing in on application: the moment a sermon has to leave the worship center and start showing up in someone's Monday morning. Jay walks through the "hook, book, look, took" outline he's used since seminary, and the head, heart, and hands framework he writes out before he ever starts a sermon, to make sure a message doesn't just inform people but moves them to respond. The conversation also gets honest about where application goes wrong. Jay talks through the temptation to turn a text into a moralistic checklist, using the David and Goliath story as an example of application that misses the gospel underneath it, and shares Charles Spurgeon's image of every village road eventually leading to London to explain why every passage should lead somewhere near the cross. Jay and Brandon also swap real stories, from a whole church setting phone alarms for 1:14 as a daily prayer reminder, to a Revelation 4 sermon that ended not with a to-do list but with a room full of grieving people standing to worship because God is still on his throne. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why preaching information without transformation leaves people with knowledge but not wisdom The hook, book, look, took outline, and how "took" is where most sermons run out of time How the head, heart, and hands framework shapes application before a sermon is even written Why application built on moralism instead of the gospel eventually falls apart, using David and Goliath as an example How to write application for a whole spectrum of listeners, from the person new to church to the retired pastor in the back row Practical ways to make application memorable, including a citywide prompt built around one verse and a phone alarm Simple habits, like a running story file and a nightly journal, that help a pastor build a stockpile of application over time Meet the Guests Brandon Hays is the Campus and Teaching Pastor at Harpeth Heights, one of Brentwood Baptist's nine campuses. Jay Strother is senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist, where he's served for 24 years across churches of every size before leading the congregation's nine campuses today.

In this episode, Brandon Hays sits down with Jay Strother, senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist, to talk about something every preacher wrestles with: how far ahead to plan a sermon calendar. Jay walks through why Brentwood Baptist plans its preaching 12 to 14 months out, starting with Easter as the anchor point, and how a team of pastors gathers for a planning retreat that includes prayer, an honest look back at the past year, and a Shark Tank-style pitch session before anyone puts a series on the calendar. The conversation also gets practical about what happens when life doesn't cooperate with a plan. Jay shares stories of calling an audible during a season of grief, letting a preaching calendar simmer for months before locking it in, and aligning kids ministry, students, and worship around the same sermon series so families hear one message instead of several disconnected ones. For pastors who have never planned more than a few weeks ahead, Jay's encouragement is simple: start small, and let the process build from there. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why stepping back to plan a year of preaching creates more room to follow the Holy Spirit, not less How Brentwood Baptist plans preaching 12 to 14 months out, and why Easter is the anchor point for the whole calendar What actually happens at a preaching-team retreat: prayer, a look back at the past year, a Shark Tank-style pitch session, and a vote How to build in accountability for calling an audible on a planned series without preaching on impulse How aligning kids ministry, students, groups, and worship around the same sermon series deepens discipleship in the home Where to start if you've never planned more than a few weeks ahead Meet the Guests Brandon Hays is the Campus and Teaching Pastor at Harpeth Heights, one of Brentwood Baptist's nine campuses. Jay Strother is senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist, where he's served for 24 years across churches of every size before leading the congregation's nine campuses today.

Every preacher starts by sounding like someone else. The slow, winding work of ministry is learning to sound like yourself.In this episode, Brandon Hayes sits down with David Hannah to talk about finding your voice in the pulpit and why that work is about far more than communication style. David brings an unusual path to preaching, from preacher's kid to attorney to Bible teacher to pastor, and he's honest about what it has taught him: your voice is shaped by the people you actually know, your confidence rests in who God made you to be, and authenticity is no longer optional for a generation that can see through a facade in seconds. They get practical, too, on outlines versus manuscripts, understanding your sermon rather than memorizing it, watching game film, and receiving feedback without losing your nerve. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why finding your voice starts with confidence in who God made you to be, not in copying a communicator you admire How your context and your congregation, the people you actually do life with, shape the way you preach The difference between memorizing your sermon and understanding it, and why that's where natural delivery comes from How to grow as a communicator without getting trapped in comparison Why authenticity and a willingness to say "I don't know" matter more for this generation than any before it What appropriate vulnerability looks like in the pulpit, and who to run it by first How to receive hard feedback with humility instead of defensiveness The two things David tells every newer preacher: trust the voice God gave you, and watch the game film Meet the GuestsDavid Hannah is Campus and Teaching Pastor at The Church at Lockeland Springs, an East Nashville congregation where, in his words, it's "impossible to not know and be known," and his road to the pulpit ran through law school and years in litigation before ministry. Brandon Hayes is Campus and Teaching Pastor at The Church at Harpeth Heights, a preacher honest enough to admit he still goes back and forth on whether to use notes, whose advice to anyone nervous about preaching without them is simple: leave the iPad on the pew and just go do it.

What does it really look like to help someone move from sitting in the pew to serving the body? In this episode, Stephanie Prince sits down with Michelle Dyer to talk about identifying gifts and helping people use them well in the life of the church. Michelle makes the case that calling is terrain we have to tread, and that church leaders owe their people more than a vague encouragement to "get out there and serve." They dig into the practical tools, assessments, and coaching relationships that turn good intentions into real engagement, and they share stories of what happens when a leader takes the time to see a gift in someone and call it out.This conversation is part of our month on connections, helping churches build pathways for people to belong, serve, and grow. It's all leading up to the Elevate Church Conference on September 21 and 22, 2026. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why helping people find their gifts changes the culture, passion, and mission of the whole church, not just one volunteer slot What happens to a church's vibrancy when people never discover where they're meant to contribute How to pair the concept of calling (Ephesians 4) with practical tools so people aren't left high and unclear The four lenses Brentwood Baptist uses to help people explore who they are in Christ: spiritual gifts, personality, passion, and skills Why the Discover coach relationship, led by lay leaders rather than staff, is a key piece of the membership process How clear on-ramps, defined roles, and diligent follow-up move people from interested to involved Why training lay leaders to see behind the curtain deepens their own sense of belonging and discipleship How intentional leaders spot a gift in someone and shepherd it, and the fifteen-year volunteer story that started with picking up trash What an empowered culture looks like when every member is a minister Meet the GuestsStephanie Prince is the Connections Minister at The Church at Station Hill, where she helps people find their place to belong, serve, and grow. Michele Dyer is the Connections Minister at Brentwood Baptist, where she's spent years developing tools, assessments, and coaching pathways to help members discover how God has wired them to serve.

Membership has a branding problem. For a lot of people, the word sounds like a gym contract or a warehouse club card, something transactional you sign up for and forget. In this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Stephanie Prince sits down with Michelle Dyer to reclaim what church membership was always meant to be: a family you belong to, a mission you commit to, and a body you contribute to.Michelle walks through how Brentwood Baptist has refined its membership process over 20 years, why systems and processes actually communicate a church's values, and how a clear pathway helps people move from simply attending to fully belonging. She also shares where to start if your church has no membership process. Her advice is refreshingly practical: make it simple, make it scalable, and start with the bare bones.Whether you are reworking a membership process you have had for decades or building one for the first time, this conversation will help you connect people to their gifts, their calling, and their church family. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why church membership is countercultural, and why that's exactly why it matters How "people rise to the level of expectation" should shape the way you talk about membership What a healthy membership process communicates spiritually and practically How to build a process that's relational instead of transactional, so it never feels like institutional hoops to jump through The simplest place to start if your church has no membership process yet How connecting people to their gifts and passions transforms volunteers into ministers What the Five G's (gospel conversations, groups, going, giving, and gathering) look like as markers of a growing disciple The warning signs that it's time to reevaluate or rebuild your membership process Meet the GuestsStephanie Prince serves as the Connections Minister at The Church at Station Hill. She brings a practitioner's perspective to every conversation, asking the questions church leaders are actually wrestling with. Michelle Dyer serves at Brentwood Baptist as the Connections Minister, helping people discover their gifts and find their place in the life of the church. She's passionate about helping believers move from simply attending to fully belonging.

On this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Stephanie Prince sits down with Shannon Moore to discuss one of the most important challenges churches face: helping people move from being first-time guests to fully engaged members of the church family.While many churches focus heavily on first impressions, Shannon explains why hospitality is only the beginning. Healthy churches create intentional pathways that help people find community, discover their purpose, and take meaningful next steps toward discipleship.Whether you're leading guest services, groups, membership, or simply want to create a more welcoming culture in your church, this conversation offers practical ideas for helping people belong, grow, and engage in God's mission. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why hospitality is only the first step of discipleship The biggest barriers keeping guests from becoming engaged members How biblical community helps people move from attending to belonging Why clear next steps matter more than complicated processes Practical ways to improve guest follow-up and engagement How Discover coaching creates meaningful relationships and accountability The role serving plays in helping people find ownership in the church Why healthy churches create cultures where everyone welcomes guests How to build systems that help people without losing the relational element The difference between a friendly church and a truly welcoming church Meet the GuestsStephanie Prince Stephanie serves at The Church at Station Hill and helps churches think strategically about connections, discipleship pathways, and helping people take meaningful next steps in their faith journey. Shannon Moore Shannon Moore serves at The Church at Avenue South, helping people connect to biblical community through groups, membership, and discipleship. With decades of ministry experience, Shannon is passionate about creating environments where people are seen, known, and engaged in the life of the church.

On this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Stephanie Prince is joined by Kiefer Johnson to talk about first impressions, hospitality, and what it really means to create a welcoming church environment.From parking lots and signage to remembering someone’s name, this conversation explores the small details that often make the biggest impact. Together, they unpack how intentional hospitality helps people feel seen, known, and invited into genuine Gospel-centered community.Whether your church is large or small, this episode offers practical ways to help guests move from feeling nervous and overwhelmed to feeling connected and cared for. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why first impressions begin long before someone enters the worship center The difference between being friendly and being truly welcoming How signage, volunteers, and environments reduce anxiety for guests Practical ways to create a culture of invitation and hospitality Why remembering someone’s name can deeply impact their sense of identity How consistency builds trust and long-term community The spiritual importance of hospitality and connection ministry Simple steps churches can take this Sunday to improve first impressions Meet the GuestsStephanie Prince Stephanie serves in connections ministry at Brentwood Baptist and is passionate about helping churches create environments where people feel seen, known, and welcomed into community. Kiefer Johnson Kefir Johnson serves in connections ministry and guest services at Brentwood Baptist Church, helping cultivate welcoming environments that make it easier for people to take their next step into the life of the church.

On this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Bill Ferrell is joined by Jay Fennel for an honest conversation about one of the hardest parts of leadership: difficult conversations. From team tension and staff conflict to emotional meetings and misunderstood intentions, they unpack practical ways leaders can pursue clarity, care, and resolution without avoiding the issue or damaging relationships.Whether you lead a large staff team or serve in a smaller church context, this conversation offers practical tools to help you shepherd people well, strengthen trust, and lead with both truth and empathy. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why avoiding hard conversations often creates bigger problems later How clarity and care can strengthen trust on a team Questions every leader should ask before entering a difficult conversation Common mistakes leaders make during conflict How to balance empathy with honesty What to do when emotions rise in a conversation Why mutual understanding matters more than “winning” Practical ways to prepare for conversations that move people forward Meet the GuestsBill Ferrell Bill serves at Brentwood Baptist and is passionate about helping church leaders build healthy teams, lead with wisdom, and strengthen church culture through practical leadership tools. Jay Fennel Jay serves on the leadership team at Brentwood Baptist and brings years of ministry experience in shepherding teams, developing leaders, and helping churches pursue healthy staff culture and unity.

Register now for the Elevate Church Conference on September 21–22, 2026.On this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Bill Ferrell is joined by Brian Coates to discuss one of the most overlooked leadership tools: your calendar. Together, they unpack how a leader’s schedule reveals priorities, shapes team culture, and impacts long-term health. From protecting white space for strategic thinking to building sustainable rhythms for family and soul care, this conversation offers practical insight for leaders trying to lead intentionally instead of reactively. They also explore common warning signs of overload, how to prioritize meetings and commitments, and why healthy leadership requires margin, reflection, and the ability to say no. Whether you lead a church staff, ministry team, or organization, this episode will help you rethink how your calendar supports your mission. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why your calendar reflects your actual priorities The difference between reactive leadership and intentional leadership How to create margin for strategic thinking Warning signs that your schedule is becoming unsustainable Practical ways to prioritize meetings and commitments Why soul care is a leadership issue, not just a personal one How healthy leaders protect time for family, rest, and reflection The importance of saying no in leadership Meet the Guests Bill Ferrell Bill serves at Brentwood Baptist and helps lead organizational strategy, leadership development, and team culture. Passionate about healthy leadership, Bill regularly coaches leaders on building sustainable rhythms and healthy teams. Brian Coates Brian serves as an Executive Pastor at Brentwood Baptist, helping oversee ministry strategy, staff leadership, and operational direction across the church. He is passionate about building healthy teams, creating intentional leadership rhythms, and helping leaders steward their time well.

One-on-ones are not just meetings. They are one of the most important rhythms a leader can build.In this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Bill Ferrell sits down with Darrel Girardier to unpack why one-on-ones are essential for building trust, developing people, and creating healthy teams.They discuss how to structure one-on-ones, what questions actually lead to growth, and how to avoid the common mistakes that cause leaders to drift into miscommunication or disconnection.Whether you’re leading a fast-paced team or just getting started with leadership rhythms, this episode will give you a practical framework you can implement right away. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why one-on-ones are one of the most important leadership rhythms How one-on-ones build trust and communicate care The difference between status updates and real conversations Why small “micro-corrections” prevent major issues later How to tailor one-on-ones to each team member A simple framework: affirm, correct, and coach The most powerful questions to ask in one-on-ones How to create clarity and remove roadblocks for your team Why documentation creates transparency and trust Common mistakes leaders make (and how to avoid them) How often you should meet, and why consistency matters Meet the GuestsBill Ferrell – Bill brings decades of leadership experience and helps teams build strong systems, healthy culture, and effective leadership rhythms. Darrel Girardier – Darrel serves in leadership and communications at Brentwood Baptist, helping teams operate with clarity, strategy, and intentional development.

Healthy teams don’t grow through annual reviews alone. They grow through consistent, honest, and relational feedback. In this episode of the Brentwood Baptist Leadership Podcast, Bill Ferrell sits down with Brandon Hayes to discuss what it takes to build a culture where feedback is normal, helpful, and rooted in care. They unpack why leaders often avoid feedback, how to build trust with your team, and practical ways to make feedback a regular part of your leadership rhythm, not just something reserved for annual reviews. Whether you’re leading a large staff or a small team, this conversation will help you create a healthier culture where people can grow, develop, and thrive together. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why most leaders avoid feedback, and how to overcome it The difference between a feedback culture and formal reviews How trust makes honest conversations possible Why feedback should be immediate, not delayed How to balance encouragement and accountability Simple questions to ask in one-on-ones that lead to growth Why specific feedback is more helpful than general criticism How to navigate emotional or difficult feedback conversations Practical ways to document progress without feeling corporate Why regular “one-degree corrections” prevent major problems Meet the Guests Bill Ferrell – Bill brings decades of leadership experience and helps teams build healthy systems, strong culture, and effective leadership rhythms. Brandon Hayes – Brandon serves as a campus and teaching pastor, leading teams and developing leaders with a focus on growth, care, and intentional discipleship. Register for the Elevate Conference This episode is part of our March focus on worship ministry, leading up to Elevate Church Conference on September 21–22, 2026. Learn more and register at elevatechurchconference.com .