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: 166Feb 19, 2025
Combating Imposter Syndrome
Ever feel like you don’t belong in the role you’ve been given? You’re not alone. In this episode, John McGee and Dave Bruskas dive into the realities of imposter syndrome—how it shows up in leadership, why it happens, and how to push through it. With personal stories, biblical wisdom, and practical strategies, they remind us that insecurity is a universal challenge, but it doesn’t have to hold us back. Tune in and be encouraged: what’s hard today will become easy tomorrow if you lean in.
Care & Recovery
Church Leadership
Episode: 156Sep 18, 2024
Leading Through Trials and Suffering
In this week’s episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, Dave Bruskas (Director of Re:generation) shares his personal journey of working in ministry and the hardships he has faced along the way. Listen to be reminded of God's faithfulness and sustaining presence, and be encouraged of the ways He uses our challenges to shape our faith and leadership.
Care & Recovery
Church Leadership
Episode: 155Sep 4, 2024
Navigating Faith Deconstruction
On this week’s episode of the Church Leaders Podcast, explore the reasons behind faith deconstruction and gain insight on supporting those going through it. Key themes include church hurt, justification for sin, politics, intellectual doubts, cultural pressures, and personal experiences, with in-depth discussion on understanding truth, authority, and offering empathy. The discussion highlights the importance of being pastoral, patient, and loving while pointing individuals back to scripture during this process.
Care & Recovery
Church Leadership
Episode: 150Jun 26, 2024
How to Lead Yourself After the Fall of Another Leader
When news of a pastor’s moral failure breaks, it’s appropriate to grieve for the pain the sin has caused and the damage God’s reputation has suffered. On this week’s episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, John McGee and Dave Bruskas wrestle with their own complicated feelings about recent scandals and explore how we can lead ourselves well—avoiding self-righteousness and reorienting ourselves to truth.
Care & Recovery
Spiritual Formation
Church Leadership
Episode: 116Jan 11, 2023
Physical Health and the Church Leader
Most of us acknowledge our bodies as temples to be stewarded for God’s glory, but it’s easier said than put into practice. In today’s episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, Luke Friesen and Bobby Rodriguez explain some of the spiritual implications of physical health and some measurable steps you can take toward being a healthier leader.
Care & Recovery
Church Leadership
Episode: 114Nov 30, 2022
Managing Your Emotions as a Leader
Even competent employees won’t last long if they can’t manage their own emotions. Unfortunately, most of us can't even identify our emotions, much less realize when we’re allowing them to drive our decisions. On this week’s podcast, Jeff Ward, Watermark Director of External Focus, shares six tips for understanding, embracing, and managing the God-given gift of emotions. Managing Your Emotions - Notes
Care & Recovery
Church Leadership
Episode: 105Jul 27, 2022
7 Ways to Fight Church Leadership Fatigue
Ask any church leader to summarize how they have felt over the past few years, and they will more than likely say “Tired.” Weariness decreases effectiveness and leads to burnout. On this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, John McGee shares why leaders are so tired and draws strategies for ministry longevity from 1 Kings 19.
Care & Recovery
Church Leadership
Episode: 103Jun 1, 2022
Dealing with Discouragement and Distance
On this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, enjoy this special talk by Blake Holmes (Lead Pastor of Watermark) from the 2022 Church Leadership Conference.
Care & Recovery
Church Leadership
Episode: 93Nov 10, 2021
Finding Freedom from Anxiety
On this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, John McGee is joined in the studio by David Marvin, Young Adults Director at Watermark and leader at The Porch. Together they discuss anxiety and what leaders need to know to step into conversations on the topic.
Care & Recovery
Church Leadership
Episode: 69Jul 20, 2020
How to Care for People in Crisis
On this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, Blake Holmes joins Adam Tarnow and John McGee to talk about how to care for people in crisis. Note, that while this episode was actually recorded pre-COVID-19, we believe it is more applicable than ever.
Care & Recovery
Discipleship
Church Leadership
Episode: 68Jun 15, 2020
Getting Out of a Slump
Have you ever been in a slump? In this episode, Adam and John sit down to talk about what leaders can do to get out of a season of discouragement, apathy, or ineffectiveness.
Care & Recovery
Church Leadership
