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: 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: 170Apr 16, 2025
Financial Wisdom for Church Leaders
Money can be a sensitive topic for ministry leaders—but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, John McGee, Dave Bruskas, and John Cox share personal stories and practical wisdom on stewarding personal finances with integrity, cultivating contentment, and planning for the future. Whether you’re leading a church or just starting in ministry, this honest, grace-filled conversation will challenge and equip you to lead well—both in your budget and your heart.
Church Leadership
Church Operations
Financial Stewardship
Episode: 159Oct 30, 2024
The Power of a Master Calendar
In this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, John McGee and Caitlin Van Wagoner dive into Watermark's Master Calendar system. They chat about how it keeps the church mission-focused and resources in sync, tackling the ups and downs of growing organizations. Tune in to hear about the power of solid planning, the importance of leadership buy-in, and how teamwork makes ministry more impactful. Designation Service Menu Master Calendar Process Explained
Church Leadership
Church Operations
Episode: 153Aug 7, 2024
Leading Your Church in Economic Uncertainty
In this episode of the Church Leadership Podcast, John McGee is joined by Luke Friesen (Senior Director of Operations) and John Cox (Executive Pastor) to discuss strategies for navigating economic slowdowns and decreased giving. Learn how strong communication, building reserves, and finding creative solutions will help you lead confidently through financial uncertainties.
Church Leadership
Church Operations
Episode: 144Mar 20, 2024
Things I Didn't Learn in Seminary: The Art of Administration
Incompetence isn’t always a moral issue, but it will hobble your ministry just as quickly. People are inherently skeptical of churches, and if you don’t keep the trains running on time, you’ll erode their trust. In the fourth installment of this series, John McGee and Dave Bruskas discuss how the X’s and O’s of ministry administration, from complying with government regulations to maintaining excellent facilities, can either support or detract from the message of the Gospel.
Church Leadership
Church Operations
Episode: 142Feb 21, 2024
Things I Didn't Learn in Seminary: The Art of Organizational Leadership
A lot of us go into ministry unconsciously believing that we just need to know how to teach and preach well, when in fact, leadership involves a huge amount of team management and goal-setting. In this week’s Church Leadership Podcast, John McGee and Watermark Director of re:generation Dave Bruskas return with more things they didn’t learn in seminary that have been invaluable in their pastoring careers.
Church Leadership
Church Operations
Episode: 129Aug 2, 2023
Do This, Not That
God has clearly revealed his moral will to us in the Bible. But what about the “should I?” questions that leaders encounter every single day? How do we make decisions that aren’t morally black or white, but gray? Watermark Lead Pastor Blake Holmes spoke at CLC this year about a framework for godly decision-making. (Want more content like this? Don’t miss CLC 2024--early registration is open now.) Show Notes: Should I? PDF Download Should I? Sermon Series - Part 1 Should I? Sermon Series - Part 2
Church Leadership
Church Operations
Episode: 115Dec 14, 2022
Strategy Made Simple
When is the last time you thought about strategic plans? For many of us, it's probably been a little while. On this episode, we're joined by Harvard MBA and Executive Pastor of Watermark Community Church, John Cox as we dive into the key elements of crafting a strategic plan and common pitfalls to avoid.
Church Leadership
Church Operations
Episode: 113Nov 16, 2022
The Value of Setting Strategic Priorities
In a time of growth and transformation for Watermark, leaders invested extraordinary amounts of time and prayer into identifying, articulating, and reinforcing the church’s four strategic priorities. Elder and senior pastor Blake Holmes shares his takeaways on bringing clarity and focus and securing team buy-in.
Church Leadership
Church Operations
Episode: 108Sep 7, 2022
Why Your Plan May Not Be Working
By the end of his story, Joseph testified to the incredible way God had worked through all his trials. But had you caught Joseph at any other point in his life—say, in the pit, in slavery, or in prison—would he have known that things were going to end up that way? This week, John McGee explores how apparent failure can be a matter of temporal vantage point, as well as possible reasons your plan might not yet have come to fruition.
Church Leadership
Church Operations
Episode: 106Aug 4, 2022
Productivity and Time Management Tactics
Every leader wants to help their team be productive—but what is productivity? How can we be good stewards of the time and energy God gives us? How does a Vespa scooter help John Cox keep things moving? All of this and more on today’s Church Leadership Podcast. Recommendations from this podcast: "Do More Better" by Tim Challies, "At Your Best" by Cary Nieuwhof, "Atomic Habits" by James Clear, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey, "The Productivity Project" by Chris Bailey, App: Coffitivity (coffee shop background noise), App: Bento (time management), App: Waterminder (water reminders), Website: https://alifeofproductivity.com/
Church Leadership
Church Operations
