Lee writes for Christianity.com on their Preaching Today site - for pastors. That's where I bumped into Lee, and began to appreciate his perspectives on ministry and pastoral life. 

Finally after reading his articles for a couple months, I decided to reach out to him and welcome him to speak to our 200churches pastors, which he has done, with amazing insight and compassion.

Lee shares, almost uncomfortably at times, his own weaknesses and struggles in ministry, and it was encouraging to me to hear them!

You're going to be inspired by what Lee has accomplished in life and ministry, and it will allow you to aspire to all that God is calling your to do as well. Enjoy this wonderful conversation with this retired, yet very active, pastor!

Episode 389 - Rare Honesty About Pain and Struggle In Ministry with Lee Eclov

Jeff and Jonny are pastors who want to encourage pastors of “smaller” churches.  All most pastors see online are the churches that have grown into the thousands in just a few years, the ones that spread out around the city through multiple services and multiple campuses. The ministry leaders with the most influence are the mega church pastors with mega ministries, staffs, and dollars. Praise God for what He is doing in these large and influential churches! We benefit from their vision and influence.Jeff and Jonny know that there are hundreds of thousands, that have 200 or less in attendance.  The work of these pastors and ministries can get lost in the shuffle, and they want to encourage, equip, support, inspire, and cheer on the pastors of 200churches – those churches with around 200 people, give or take a hundred or two! When they talk with guests like N.T. Wright, Scot McKnight, Dan Reiland, Carey Nieuwhof and so many more, they always turn the conversation to small church pastoral ministry.With humor, passion, conviction, and care Jeff and Jonny share methods and inspiration for the small church pastor. If you are a lay, bi-vocational, or solo pastor, the 200churches Podcast is for YOU!

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What a blast to use my podcast to introduce Rick Warren to a church planter who hasn't even launched his first public service yet! 

Willie Johnson is with REDEFINE CHURCH in St. Louis MO. Rick's project these days is FinishingTheTask.com. 

I asked Rick to coach Willie, from his perspective as a church planter who has handed off his church to the next guy - with Willie and his team yet to launch their very first service.

Willie would never ask this, so let me ask this for him - would you like to bless this new church plant?! Why not give them a one-time, or recurring gift as they get started? I love promoting what others are doing! Full disclosure - my church is forming a partnership and has sent thousands of dollars to Redefine Church, and I welcome you, if God so leads, to bless them also. They are a church plant with the Christian & Missionary Alliance!

Enjoy this church planting coaching session!

Episode 424 - Rick Warren Coaches First Time Church Planter Willie Johnson

Greg Atkinson was on the 200churches Podcast 10 years ago! Way back in July of 2013 he joined us, when we were only six months old as a podcast - and now, ten years later he is back for the fourth or fifth time - with a great episode about something so fundamental to our Christian life, that we almost miss it: KINDNESS.

Check out Greg's book: The Secret Power of Kindness - 10 Keys to Unlocking Your Capacity to Change the World.

Check out Greg at GregAtkinson.com where you can find his other resources including coaching and consulting, his First Impressions Conference info, and more!

Thanks for helping us encourage so many pastors Greg!

Episode 423 - The Secret Power of Kindness with Greg Atkinson

Jeff talks with Sam Rainer, Pastor of West Bradenton Baptist Church in Florida, the President of Church Answers, and the author of the new book - The Surprising Return of the Neighborhood Church.

Sam is a great example of a 200church pastor who refuses to imagine a limit on his impact based on the size of his church. This is an encouraging conversation! Sam and his father Thom are co-hosts of the Rainer On Leadership Podcast - check it out. Their podcast is also on YouTube.

Episode 422 - The Necessity of the Neighborhood Church with Sam Rainer

Thom Rainer is the co-host with his son Sam of the Rainer On Leadership Podcast, and the founder of ChurchAnswers.com and ChurchAnswers.University.
 
Thom is a research guy and a data guy and has studied the church for many years. He has written many books which you can see listed HERE. Thom and Jeff spoke about Thom's book, Pray and Go, which releases in June 2023, and about ChatGPT and pastors, and Thom's ministry membership site, Church Answers.

We talked about the HopeInitiative.com which helps church leaders change the culture of their church to reflect the heart of God for lost people.

For information about Church Answers University and questions about potential partial scholarships, contact matt@churchanswers.com

Episode 421 - Prayer, Evangelism, ChatGPT, and Church Answers with Thom Rainer

Robby Angle is the CEO of Trueface.org and joins Jeff today to talk about what he and his team are doing with Trueface, about his life and background, and about how Trueface is resourcing churches with training in best practices for discipleship.

As Jeff said on the podcast, Trueface.org is offering some great training for you and your small group leadership, so you should definitely check it out!

Check out Robby's new book - The Cure For Groups - How to lead a small group people will talk about the rest of their lives!

And check out these other Trueface-related episodes:

Episode 61 with John Lynch - How Not To Impress God As A Pastor

Episode 64 with John Lynch - The Pastor's Secret To Breaking Sin's Power

Episode 304 with John Lynch - A Truckload of Pastoral Encouragement and Hope

Episode 239 with Steve Mason -  What Authors and Small Church Pastors Dream of - A Story of Radical Life Change

Episode 389 - Rare Honesty About Pain and Struggle In Ministry with Lee Eclov

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