Hosted by John McGee, Senior Director of Watermark Resources, the Church Leadership Podcast discusses relevant topics for church leaders to encourage and equip them for ministry at their own churches.
Episode: 183Oct 15, 2025
Crisis Communication for Churches
When crisis hits your church, how you communicate can build—or break—trust. In this episode, John McGee sits down with Watermark’s Executive Director of Communications, Caitlin Van Wagoner, to talk about what it means to lead with wisdom, calm, and clarity when a crisis hits.
Care & Recovery
Church Leadership
Church Operations
Episode: 182Oct 1, 2025
5 Lessons from John Calvin
In this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, John McGee and Dave Bruskas, take listeners on a journey through the life and legacy of John Calvin. Fresh from visiting Geneva, John shares powerful reflections on walking where Calvin once preached and the lessons he carried home. Together they unpack what every church leader can learn today from Calvin’s example.
Church Leadership
Teaching & Theology
Episode: 181Sep 17, 2025
How to Lead in This Cultural Moment
Last week was sobering. Between heartbreaking acts of violence, the anniversary of 9/11, and the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk, many pastors and church leaders found themselves asking: How do I shepherd my people in moments like this?
Church Leadership
Episode: 180Sep 3, 2025
How Church Leaders Should View Social Media
Social media can amplify your ministry—or quietly erode your soul. For church leaders, it raises a critical question: do you really need an online presence to be faithful and effective?
Church Leadership
Church Operations
Episode: 179Aug 20, 2025
Cultivating Zeal in Ministry
Zeal is more than emotion. It’s an abiding passion for Jesus that sustains us in both fruitful and difficult seasons of ministry.
Spiritual Formation
Church Leadership
Episode: 178Aug 6, 2025
Becoming a Sending Church
In this week’s episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, J.D. Greear shares one of the most compelling leadership talks from Church Leaders Conference 2025. He challenges us to rethink how we define success in the church.
Church Leadership
Evangelism & Missions
Episode: 177Jul 23, 2025
How Godly Leaders Respond to Opportunity
In this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, we’re sharing a talk that John McGee, Senior Director of Watermark Resources, gave at the Church Leaders Conference 2025. Drawing from John 15:15, where Jesus says, “I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you,” John lays out a powerful pattern for spiritual leadership: Listen to God. Trust Him. Go. This episode is a call to spiritual attentiveness and bold obedience—because the time to lead with urgency is now.
Episode: 176Jul 9, 2025
The Real Cost of Discipleship
In this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, we’re sharing a talk that Dave Bruskas, Executive Director of Discipleship, gave at Church Leaders Conference 2025. Teaching from Luke 14, Dave reminds us of the true cost of following Jesus, and then challenges us to consider: Are we following Jesus on his terms, or ours? Dave encourages leaders to be disciples who are loyal to Jesus above all people, pursuits, and possessions. This message is an invitation for us all to rediscover the true cost and beauty of discipleship.
Discipleship
Church Leadership
Episode: 175Jun 25, 2025
The State of Your Heart and Calling
In this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, Timothy Ateek, Lead Pastor of Watermark Community Church, shares his opening talk from the 2025 Church Leaders Conference. In a room full of ministry leaders, TA invites us to pause and reflect on three powerful questions: What’s the state of your heart? What’s the status of your calling? What’s the real win in ministry? Through 1 Chronicles 28, TA offers honest encouragement for leaders who may feel spiritually stuck or stretched thin. Whether you’re running strong or feeling weary, this episode is a timely invitation to return to your first love and reignite your passion for the work God’s called you to.
Spiritual Formation
Church Leadership
Episode: 174Jun 11, 2025
How to Invest in Young Leaders
In this follow-up episode to "7 Ways to Develop Young Leaders,” John McGee sits down with Emma Dotter, Director of Join The Journey, and Kylen Perry, Executive Director of The Porch, to unpack practical ways to develop young leaders. In this conversation, Emma and Kylen reflect on pivotal moments from their own leadership journeys and offer wisdom for both young adults navigating their calling and for veteran leaders looking to invest well into the next generation.
Church Leadership
Next Generation
Episode: 173May 28, 2025
7 Ways to Develop Young Leaders
We keep asking why the next generation is leaving the Church, but Grant Skeldon thinks we’re asking the wrong question. Instead, we should be asking, how are we discipling the next generation? In this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, recorded live at the 2025 Church Leaders Conference, Grant calls us to stop handwringing over what is wrong and to start identifying what is working. He explores key discipleship moments for raising up the next generation leaders and what you can do to help develop more young leaders in the church.
Discipleship
Church Leadership
Next Generation
Episode: 172May 14, 2025
How Athanasius and Nicaea Shape Your Leadership
Seventeen centuries ago, a courageous pastor named Athanasius, and the historic Council of Nicaea defended an important truth of our faith—that Jesus is both fully God and fully man. In this unique episode, John McGee sits down with Rob Barry, Garrett Wikle, and Grant Wilkie to unpack why the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) still matters for your faith, your leadership, and the life of the Church. Recommended Books on Church History:
Church Leadership
Teaching & Theology
