
Leading Conversations
J.D. Pearring
Conversations between J.D. Pearring, Director of Excel Leadership Network, and church planting leaders, innovators, and coaches from around the country.
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Top 10 Leading Conversations Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Leading Conversations episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Leading Conversations for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Leading Conversations episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Conversation with Scott Lackey
Leading Conversations
06/16/21 • 26 min
Pastor Scott and his wife Kim Lackey founded New Story Church in Buffalo, New York. Home of the most zealous football fans the Bills Mafia. Prior to planting New Story Church, Scott and Kim both worked at The Chapel in Getzville, NY, and a church plant locally. Scott and Kim are passionate about building the local church and inviting all to discover the New Story God has for their life.
Scott also just released a new book called Journey into a Greater Concern. Through the story of Jacob, he discovers how each of us can live in the greater concern that we have been designed for.
Check out his book here: https://amzn.to/2SCmrk4
We want to help you find your next steps in ministry.
Connect here with EXCEL.
Ministry Partner: Christian Community Credit Union

Conversation with Jay Kim
Leading Conversations
09/16/24 • 38 min
Has your faith ever been shaken to its core? Join us as Jay Kim from Westgate Church in Silicon Valley recounts his profound spiritual journey, marked by his mother's radical conversion from agnosticism to devout Christianity. Relive the 1990s evangelical youth culture with Jay, who opens up about his faith deconstruction during college and how a small group of steadfast mentors reignited his belief, steering him towards a calling in ministry. Discover how these transformative years reshaped his career aspirations from business to church leadership, setting him on a path of service and spiritual growth.
We want to help you find your next steps in ministry.
Connect here with EXCEL.
Ministry Partner: Christian Community Credit Union

Conversation with Mike Alford
Leading Conversations
08/30/24 • 35 min
What happens when a passion for baseball intertwines with a deep-rooted faith? In this episode of the Leading Conversations podcast, we sit down with Mike Alford from Macon, Georgia, to explore his incredible journey. Growing up in a Christian home, Mike's love for baseball was matched only by the influence of his parents' authentic faith. From playing the game in South Africa to his impactful involvement in sports ministry with Athletes in Action, Mike shares stories that are both heartwarming and inspiring. His father's role as a pastor plays a significant part in his story, as does his own ventures into ministry and coaching, culminating in the release of his book "Stretched."
We want to help you find your next steps in ministry.
Connect here with EXCEL.
Ministry Partner: Christian Community Credit Union

Conversation with David Whitaker
Leading Conversations
08/05/24 • 47 min
What if the foundation of your faith journey began at six years old? Join us as we sit down with David Whitaker, president of Venture Church Network, who shares his compelling story of growing up as a pastor's son and navigating its unique challenges. From the blessings and pressures of being a pastor’s child to the critical role his parents played in maintaining a healthy environment amid church dynamics, David provides an honest and heartfelt look into his early life. He also opens up about his struggles with faith during his high school and early college years and the search for his own identity beyond the expectations set by his upbringing.
We want to help you find your next steps in ministry.
Connect here with EXCEL.
Ministry Partner: Christian Community Credit Union

Conversation with Dom and Allie Simmons
Leading Conversations
10/01/24 • 36 min
What happens when life takes unexpected turns, leading you away from and then back to faith? Join us as we bring you the incredible stories of Dom and Allie Simmons from Fort Worth, Texas. From Allie's journey of growing up in the church, losing her way during college, and rediscovering her faith as a single mother, to Dom's tumultuous youth marked by gang involvement and a transformative encounter with a youth group, their narratives are nothing short of powerful. Together, they navigate the complexities of their personal faith journeys and their collective mission in ministry, sharing how they met in St. Louis and began their work at I Am Churc
We want to help you find your next steps in ministry.
Connect here with EXCEL.
Ministry Partner: Christian Community Credit Union

Conversation with Josh Huseby
Leading Conversations
10/15/24 • 27 min
Discover how a young man's journey from anger and rebellion to a life of faith and ministry takes center stage in our latest episode featuring Josh Huseby, a devoted church planter from Bismarck, North Dakota. Explore the powerful narrative of overcoming personal loss and embracing a calling, as Josh recounts the transformative impact of his father's passing and how it catalyzed his initial defiance of faith. Learn how a pivotal moment during his college years reignited his spiritual path, leading him to a unique style of ministry that defies traditional conventions, rooted in his Norwegian heritage and the rugged beauty of North Dakota summers.
We want to help you find your next steps in ministry.
Connect here with EXCEL.
Ministry Partner: Christian Community Credit Union

Conversation with Andrew Morrison
Leading Conversations
06/30/22 • 25 min
Sometimes when you are a church planter, you feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. Andrew Morrison, a church planter in Colorado, can actually calculate that weight. It starts at 675 pounds and goes up from there. Andrew participates nationally in Strongman competitions. So if you ever feel like you have a lot on your shoulders, you can be encouraged by his story.
We want to help you find your next steps in ministry.
Connect here with EXCEL.
Ministry Partner: Christian Community Credit Union

Conversation with Daniel Nunez
Leading Conversations
02/15/23 • 32 min
The man, the myth, the legend, Daniel Nunez is the the guest on the podcast today. His journey has been one of faith in an audacious goal of planting 50 churches in the Mexico. It was just crazy enough that only God could make it happen. With a lot of prayer and a lot of work, by the grace of God, church number 50 was launched last month. Learn how how it was done and how Daniel has set up the future that the next 50 can be done. It is a lesson in faithful leadership. Listen and be encouraged today.
We want to help you find your next steps in ministry.
Connect here with EXCEL.
Ministry Partner: Christian Community Credit Union

Conversation with Nathan "Chivo" Hawkins
Leading Conversations
09/15/21 • 28 min
Nathan, "Chivo" to those who know him, has first-hand U.S. church planting experience, having led in a church plant re-launch in New Orleans post-Katrina. As an adoptee and adoptive father, Nathan is passionate about children who come from difficult backgrounds. Originally from inner-city Minneapolis, Nathan grew up in a Christian home in a culturally diverse environment. He served a church in Juarez, Mexico for a year and a half, which led him to seminary, where he caught the church planting bug. Nathan and his wife Joy have three young children: Benicio, Taegen, and Grace. The Hawkins are a family that welcomes foster children and loves connecting with the local church.
We want to help you find your next steps in ministry.
Connect here with EXCEL.
Ministry Partner: Christian Community Credit Union

Conversation with Chris Finchum
Leading Conversations
11/01/22 • 25 min
The call to church planting can lead someone to many places. In the case of Pastor Chris Finchum, he and his wife were led to Yuba City, CA, from Tampa, FL. After a few trips to visit his wife's family, they both saw the need for a church that could reach the people of the community that had walked away from the Jesus that wasn't the Jesus of the Bible. Of course, the fact that wild chickens roam the local In-n-Out Burger parking lot might have had something to do with it. Chris shares the importance of being willing to lean into the call God places on your heart. Listen to his story and be encouraged.
We want to help you find your next steps in ministry.
Connect here with EXCEL.
Ministry Partner: Christian Community Credit Union
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FAQ
How many episodes does Leading Conversations have?
Leading Conversations currently has 93 episodes available.
What topics does Leading Conversations cover?
The podcast is about Non-Profit, Ministry, Christianity, Leadership, Religion & Spirituality, Podcasts, Church Planting and Business.
What is the most popular episode on Leading Conversations?
The episode title 'Conversation with Jason Squires' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Leading Conversations?
The average episode length on Leading Conversations is 30 minutes.
How often are episodes of Leading Conversations released?
Episodes of Leading Conversations are typically released every 15 days.
When was the first episode of Leading Conversations?
The first episode of Leading Conversations was released on Feb 28, 2021.
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